Beyond Temptation (2 page)

Struggling to maintain his composure, Dominic shook his head. His cheeks flushed. He swallowed thickly.

‘Acrylics. He does erotic studies in acrylics. I believe he occasionally uses watercolours, gouache and some oils …’

‘How versatile,’ Robyn broke in. She rolled the tip of the breadstick on her lip, her gaze fixed on him as she spoke. Her eyes, normally the colour of a warm summer sky, shone like sapphires.

Dominic swallowed again and cast a glance at the rest of the diners before continuing: ‘… but he prefers to keep his artwork to acrylics. He says there’s something sensuous about the use of such a viscous medium.’

Robyn continued to toy with the breadstick. Daringly, she teased the tip of her tongue against the rounded end. Then she studied Dominic with heavy-lidded eyes as she pushed it slowly into her mouth. She was rewarded by Dominic’s deepening blush.

‘I really do think I should have a look at some of this Yale’s work.’

He nodded, seeming pleased by her apparent interest. ‘He rates you very highly as a critic. He says that you appraise work, rather than trying to pad out your column with viperous criticism and astringent soundbites.’

Robyn frowned. Again she felt close to forgetting her need for Dominic. He was a pretty boy, but he had some irritating ways.

‘You’ve been discussing me?’

Dominic’s easy smile was an obvious attempt to placate her.

‘He’s an artist and he regularly reads your column. We’ve talked about most of the critics. But yours is the only name that doesn’t make him kick his easel or spatter paint on his studio wall.’

Robyn said nothing, silently encouraging Dominic to continue.

‘When he heard there was an invite for this party floating around, he insisted I come and mention his work.’ Dominic gave her a pleasant smile. ‘He was particularly insistent that I should try and seek you out so I could make you aware of his existence.’

With her suspicions mostly assuaged, Robyn nodded. She pressed her foot against his hard swell and treated him to a reassuring grin. ‘Then you’ve mentioned his name,’ she allowed. ‘You’ve made me aware of his existence. And, as I said, if I ever get the chance to criticise his work I’ll try and do it fairly.’

‘I’m sure that will make him happy.’

Dominic was trying to look unaffected as she rolled her foot over the raging thrust of his erection. Robyn took a sadistic pleasure from the fact that he didn’t quite manage the expression.

‘That’s good,’ she purred. ‘I enjoy making people happy.’

‘Me too,’ Dominic whispered. ‘Perhaps we could do something together where we try to make each other happy?’

She could hear the lewd intent in his words. The warm wetness between her legs caused a tremor of anticipation. Once again discretion was at the forefront of her mind and she glanced warily in Harold’s direction.

His hand was on Sheridan’s arm and the pair were engrossed with each other. Robyn could see the light in her husband’s eyes and found she could read the expression effortlessly. Harold was excited by the woman with the multicoloured hair and he would do anything to have her.

For a moment, Robyn was saddened by the thought, realising it had been a long time since Harold had looked at her that way. She dismissed the threatening wave of melancholy and turned to her right.

Tapping Gayle discreetly on the shoulder, she said, ‘Dominic’s going to need directions to the little boys’ room in a moment. I trust you’ll point him the right way.’ She winked as she said the words, making sure that her unspoken meaning was understood.

Gayle glanced from Dominic to Robyn. When Gayle brushed the dark hair from her eyes Robyn noticed a frown creasing her PA’s forehead.

‘I thought you said Harold had been in a funny mood lately?’

Robyn shrugged. She tried to look indifferent but she did not like Gayle questioning her motives. She particularly didn’t like that Gayle was able to broach such a delicate subject.

‘Perhaps that’s why I’m thinking of spending some time with Dominic,’ Robyn suggested haughtily. ‘Dominic is not in a funny mood.’

‘You’re playing a dangerous game,’ Gayle said. Her dark eyes flashed with some unspoken warning that Robyn chose to ignore.

‘Perhaps I am playing a dangerous game,’ Robyn agreed. ‘But dangerous games are the most fun, aren’t they?’

Without waiting for a reply she slid her foot away from Dominic, eased it back into her shoe, and gracefully left the room.

* * *

As soon as she saw Robyn disappear through the door, Sheridan frowned and placed a hand on Harold’s arm to interrupt him.

‘Where’s your wife this evening?’

Harold glanced towards the foot of the table then scowled over the busy guests. His frown deepened.

‘She must have slipped out for a moment.’

The granite in his voice told her that he didn’t believe such a casual explanation. The sullen line of his jaw showed that he wouldn’t let the matter rest there.

Smiling at her own manipulative skills, Sheridan shook her head. The multicoloured streaks in her hair bounced gaily, enticing his attention back to her.

‘No matter,’ she assured him. ‘I’m sure she’ll be back in a moment. Now, you were telling me about this Scottish manor house you own …’

As he began to respond, Sheridan listened with an uninterested ear. She knew enough about Harold’s Scottish manor house already. She thought it was likely that she knew more about the building than Harold did. Trying to find something of interest to focus on while Harold continued to talk, she glanced around the room and studied the other guests.

She saw Gayle talking to Dominic. There was a sombre expression on the PA’s face as she spoke. Sheridan watched Gayle lead Dominic to the dining room door, where she spoke briskly to him before returning to her seat.

Dominic left the dining hall surreptitiously, and Sheridan knew she was the only one who had seen him go in the same direction as Robyn.

Idly, she wondered how she could convey this information to Harold without giving the impression that she was telling tales and trying to create a divide between him and Robyn.

* * *

Robyn stood at the top of the stairs.

She stared down at Dominic with a predatory smile. Her body rocked slightly to the distant pulse of the
Tafelmusik.
The gentle movement caused the hem of her dress to sway lightly to and fro. It was a contrived position and she used it to maximum effect. As Dominic climbed the staircase she knew he would be able to see beneath the hem. The gusset of her black panties was bound to be visible to him as he stared up at her.

She smiled, excited by her own boldness.

When she saw the anticipatory light flicker in his eyes, she knew his gaze had been caught by her display. His pace up the steps didn’t quicken or slow but she noticed his gait now appeared ever so slightly awkward. Her smile broadened as she realised this was caused by the growing stiffness at the top of his leg.

He finally snatched his gaze away from the hem of her skirt when he was within two steps of her. Robyn stayed in the same position, allowing him to move closer. The scent of his aftershave caught in her nostrils and she inhaled his nearness.

‘Gayle doesn’t think we should be doing this,’ he murmured.

Robyn sniffed. ‘Gayle’s not paid to think. She’s only a PA.’

Not wanting to continue the conversation, she circled her arm around Dominic’s waist and guided him along the galleried landing towards her bedroom.

‘What does your husband think about this?’

Feigning indifference, Robyn shrugged.

‘I don’t believe Harold knows about this. But if you’re that desperate for his opinion, you could always ask him afterwards.’

Hoping the finality in her voice would end that avenue of conversation, Robyn pushed him through the bedroom door.

For a moment, they were locked in darkness. There was only the sound of his breathing, barely audible beneath the eager panting of her own burgeoning desire. Robyn could feel the heat of his lean, hard body close to hers.

In the lightless vacuum of the bedroom her arousal grew. The hectic pulse between her legs slowly transformed into a desperate ache that demanded satisfaction.

The lights came on accidentally. As Dominic took her in his arms and thrust her against the wall, Robyn’s shoulder caught the switch. She blinked against the sudden flood of brightness and smiled up at his boyishly handsome face. Unable to stop herself, she raked her fingers through his tousled blond locks.

‘Robyn,’ he murmured.

He had her pinned against the wall. His eager hands touched and caressed. He traversed the swell of her hips and the line of her waist. Moving upwards, his fingers brushed over the mounds of her breasts and caught the urgent thrust of her nipples. Grinning, he caressed the back of her neck and then stroked his fingers down her spine.

She sighed and prepared to melt for him.

Boldly, Dominic cupped the cheeks of her backside.

Robyn felt herself being pulled against him. His erection pressed forcefully into her stomach. The size of him was large enough to make her shiver.

She bit back a startled cry as he kissed her. His tongue slid into her open mouth. His lips bruised hers with the ferocity of his passion. The tingling between her legs had been urgent before. Now it was sharp and exposed, like a crackle of electricity. The heat of desire seared the flesh of her sex.

Her nipples ached with their need to be touched. Her inner muscles clenched repeatedly as she anticipated the pleasure to come. Her breath had turned to a raw and ragged panting.

‘On the bed,’ she whispered, when he eventually moved his mouth from hers. ‘Take me on the bed. I need you. I need you now.’

Dominic clearly needed no further encouragement.

He glanced quickly around the bedroom, seeming unaware of its sumptuous designer charms and stylised furnishings. His interest was focused entirely on her.

It didn’t matter to Robyn that he was overlooking the brilliant combination of pastel greens and antique brass that she had worked so hard to co-ordinate. The appraisal and the attention he was giving to her more than made up for any offence she could have taken. He carried her across the four brisk steps from the door to the bed. He completed the journey by hurling her onto the bed with an understated show of strength.

Robyn bounced in the centre of the four-poster, momentarily lost in an explosion of faux-suede sheets. She brushed long blonde locks away from her face and shook her hair back into some semblance of style.

When she glanced at him he was smiling down at her with a lusty grin.

Lowering her gaze she noticed the swell at the front of his pants had pushed the fabric out of shape. His erection was clearly large.

She caught an eager breath in anticipation. She was desperate for him.

When she landed on the bed, the hem of her skirt had ridden up. The tops of her stockings were exposed, along with a thin line of the pale flesh at her inner thighs. Although she couldn’t see, she suspected the crotch of her panties was also visible to him. Holding his gaze, she reached down and stroked a finger against the gusset of her exposed crotch.

The desire in his eyes gleamed.

‘Do you want me to take these off?’ she whispered.

Dumbstruck, he nodded.

Robyn raised her eyebrows. Her fingertip trailed lazily back and forth against the silky panel of fabric. The whisper of sensation was like an angel’s kiss against her crotch. She shook her head and prepared to ask the question for a second time.

‘Do you want me to take these off?’ she repeated slowly. ‘Or are you going to do it for me?’

The words were like a switch.

He dropped to his knees beside the bed and placed his hands on her stocking-clad thighs. Smiling into her face, he teased the tips of his fingers against the elasticated band of her panties. Slowly, he began to ease the fabric away.

Robyn was tempted to pull him on top of her and demand that he fuck her hard and fuck her now. She was horny and desperate to have him inside her. But she resisted the urge. She was going to have him eventually and knew that savouring each moment would bring its own reward in the ultimate explosion of her climax.

The panties were eased slowly away from her wanton flesh.

Her pussy lips, wet with arousal, kissed the gusset farewell. And then the fabric was drawn down her legs and over her ankles. When his fingers reached for the tops of her stockings, she placed a hand on his and shook her head.

‘Let me wear those,’ she said firmly. ‘I always believe that sex feels so much more illicit when I’m wearing stockings.’

‘You like illicit sex?’

‘Illicit sex is the best sort, isn’t it?’

His lecherous smile was as good as a nod of agreement.

Moving his head closer he said, ‘The stockings might restrict me a little. If I want to kiss your legs, I can only kiss the skin here.’

To illustrate where he meant he placed his lips against her inner thigh. His warm breath touched her bare skin and his tousled hair tickled her pussy.

Robyn drew a jagged breath.

Every muscle in her body was tense with revitalised excitement. The sensation bit a second time when he moved his mouth to her other leg. Although she couldn’t be certain, she thought he had moved his head higher.

Her heart pounded as he kissed her a third time.

His lips had shifted infuriatingly close to the crease between her legs. His hands caressed her through the sheer denier of her stockings. He was warming her flesh until she shivered. When he placed the fourth kiss against her, she shoved a fist into her mouth to suppress the scream of joy.

* * *

Gayle placed herself deliberately between Harold and the foot of the stairs. In an attempt to appear casual about the stance, she smiled at him and tried to think of an appropriate conversation opener. She had silently selected and discounted half a dozen before the urgency of the situation made her blurt the first thing to cross her mind.

‘I’ve barely seen you in the office for the past few months.’