Carnal Vengeance (28 page)

Holly considered the timing he referred to and all the things that had recently taken place in her life. She still didn't think it would be wise to tell him about the Little Sister Society or their goals, and she certainly couldn't confide in him about David. Instead, she let him believe what he wanted. There didn't seem to be any harm in it.

"Any plans this weekend?" he asked as she was leaving.

As casually as possible, she lied. "I think I'll pamper myself a little. Get a manicure, read a good book, sleep a lot."

"Call if you want company," he said, hope hanging heavily on his words.

"I will," she promised, giving him a friendly hug. As his arms loosely circled her waist, she thought he felt rather frail and realized she was comparing him to another man—a younger, stronger, more sexual man. On impulse, she pressed her lips to Philip's, hoping to find the spark of passion that had failed to surface in all their years together, wishing that he could be the one whose kiss had the power to take her to heaven.

Philip inhaled deeply when she ended the kiss. "Are you sure you want to go home?"

Her smile was neutralized by the sadness in her eyes. "Yes, I'm sure."

Chapter 13

"Good morning, Pop. What's cookin'?"

"If you hadn't called within the next ten minutes, it was going to be your bottom."

"Sorry I'm late. I slept in. You okay? Mom?"

"Mom's also sleeping in this morning, but we're fine. And we'll soon be even better. I'm going to take her on a little vacation next weekend, maybe up into the Poconos."

Holly thought he sounded lighthearted—not at all disturbed as her mother had described him. Maybe she hadn't told him the name of her attacker after all. "What about the restaurant?"

"Got it covered. Anyway, Mom needs a break. She's been... a little down lately."

"Oh, no."

"It's okay, baby. I think she just needs a change of scenery. The doctor recommended that rather than a new prescription, so I'm willing to try."

She considered asking about what her mother had said about him being preoccupied with thoughts of revenge but figured it might cause problems between them.

"Then I guess Mom's invitation for me to come home for a weekend is postponed?"

"Since when do you need an invitation to come home? Why not make it the next weekend? And bring Philip. We could have a marathon pinochle game."

Holly forced herself to sound pleased with the idea, but she was already thinking up excuses to avoid a weekend that would include her parents' not-so-subtle hints about marriage. She didn't think she could laugh it off under the present circumstances.

"I've got to run, Pop. Why don't you give me a call when you return from your little getaway and I'll let you know then how the following weekend is shaping up."

"Sounds good to me, sweetie."

"Take care of Mom. I love you both."

* * *

At ten minutes before six on Saturday evening, the lobby security guard/doorman buzzed Holly's apartment. "There's a David Wells here to see you, Miss Kaufman."

"Tell him I'm not quite ready, Pete. Make him wait until six o'clock, then let him up."

She was ready and waiting but it wouldn't do to let him know that. As she had guessed, it hadn't been necessary to give him her address.

At exactly 6:01, there was a knock at her door. She opened it, certain she was in control of all her faculties. The sight of him, handsomely clad in his black tuxedo, holding a single pink rose, rearranged the circuits in her brain. She told herself he probably chose the symphony because he knows how great he looks in a tux. She took the rose, sniffed it then walked to the kitchen. He didn't need to be invited in.

"I'm partial to pink roses. Did you research me?"

He came up behind her and kissed the bare curve of her neck as she filled a bud vase with water. He smiled when he felt her shiver of response instead of the usual flinch away from his unexpected touch. "Didn't need to. It's how I think of you—beautifully delicate, yet complicated, with lots of layers, like a rose, but also innocent—pink."

Turning, she smiled up at him. "Why, Mr. Wells, you should consider a career in writing. You definitely have a way with words."

He stepped back and scanned her from head to toe. The dark-blue beaded sheath she wore fit as if it had been designed for her—except for the scooped neckline: More of her appeared to be out of it than in. A thin diamond choker complemented her stud earrings, and he promised himself he would see her wearing nothing but the diamonds before the evening was over. "I may have made a slight miscalculation about the innocence, though. That dress doesn't promote innocent thoughts. It's very... alluring."

"Thank you. I've had it for ages."
Ever since this afternoon.

"Why didn't you wear the one you wore at the benefit dinner, like I asked you to yesterday?"

She touched his cheek as she moved around his side carrying the vase. "Probably because you didn't
ask
.
You
told
me to wear it. Now, had you asked..."

"Like a good little boy? Sorry. You can't turn a big, bad wolf into a good little boy. Only witches can do that." He tweaked her nose as a reminder that she had no such power then followed her back into the living room. She set the vase down on a table and picked up a small silver purse that matched her shoes.

With a perfectly sincere expression, she said, "The last man who underestimated my power now spends his days barking and chasing cars. Shall we go?"

He rolled his eyes to the ceiling, wondering if she hadn't already worked some sort of spell on him. How in the world was he going to keep his hands off her for the next five hours?

As it turned out, he didn't, though not in the way he had been imagining. During dinner he opened his hand on the table and she placed her palm on his. As they spoke of inconsequential things, their fingers intertwined, slipped apart, and came together again. He fed her a bit of buttered bread and she licked his thumb. She pushed a wayward lock of hair out of his eyes and he kissed her wrist.

Although he had been to the symphony with women before, he couldn't remember actually enjoying the music. It was just one of those places sophisticated men took classy ladies to impress them. But Holly loved the music, so
he
loved the music.

And they held hands. No playing footsie or running fingers up and down thighs until they could finally escape the necessary preliminary rounds and get on to the main event. They held hands and let the music of Brahms and Mozart stimulate their souls. He had never experienced anything quite so sensual.

For the first time in his adult life, he accepted a woman's invitation to "come in for a nightcap", and actually sat down to have one. He found he really wanted to continue talking to Holly. But when the brandy in their snifters was drained, his mind, and body, were ready for what came more naturally to him.

She could not recall ever having such a perfect evening. As much as she would have preferred to dislike David and remain unaffected by his charm, it was impossible. Throughout the evening he behaved like the suave gentleman he appeared to be. In spite of a restaurant and concert hall full of beautiful women, he only had eyes for her.

He had suppressed his innate sexuality beneath a civilized veneer, and her reaction to that was somewhat shocking. She realized she had come to enjoy his innuendos and the constant teasing that kept her in a state of expectancy. All evening his touches and caresses were attentive without being aggressive. She should have been pleased with that. Instead she was wondering how long he was going to make her wait for another of his heart-stopping kisses. God help her, she was dying for him to make love to her again.

As if admitting it to herself was the key, her waiting was ended. He took her glass and set it on the table then helped her rise from the couch. Only one word was needed, and he spoke it. "Where?"

She led him to her bedroom.

Unlike the first time, they savored each moment of their undressing. Their kisses were a physical reflection of the tenderness that had been building between them all evening. And when they moved to the bed it was with a mutual desire to please and be pleased. "Holly, as much as I'd like to continue this without further discussion, there's something we neglected the last time. I'm normally very careful but I wasn't exactly prepared for what happened between us."

She tilted her head at him. "Are you admitting that David Wells, Most Eligible Bachelor in D.C., lost his cool?"

He nipped her earlobe. "And whose fault was that? Don't answer. The point is, we're both mature, responsible adults, and should have handled things better. It's a little late but I want you to know I have always used protection when I, um, have been with other women, so—"

"So, I won't catch anything? Neither will you, if that's what you're worried about. I'm perfectly healthy."

"Actually, it never occurred to me that you weren't. I just wanted you to know I usually don't—"

"Get carried away? Well I do seem to recall your having the presence of mind to ask if I'm on the pill."

"Yeah, but I'm not sure I would have stopped if you hadn't said yes. So, I guess that means you and Philip..."

She smirked at him. "First, that's none of your business. But the truth is, I take the pill because of bad periods, not to prevent pregnancy."

She hadn't really given him the information he was fishing for. "That's great. I mean, I just wanted to get
the conversation
out of the way. Officially." His erection had instantly softened with the mental picture of her in Philip's arms. He blocked out the image, pulled her against him and began stroking her once more.

The most foolish notion had wormed its way into his thoughts since yesterday. He wanted to put his mark on her in a way that was unfamiliar to him. Their loving was alternately gentle and fierce, and he demanded everything she could give and more.

David had no idea why it bothered him so much to think of Holly with another man. After all, he was hardly celibate. The difference seemed to be that he couldn't immediately remember which woman had been the last one before Holly. She was the only one he had been thinking of lately.

For that night he chose to forget the fact that he had an ulterior motive for establishing a bond with her. He only wanted to gather as much of this sweetness as he could before it turned sour, as he knew it would once he uncovered her secrets.

Perhaps she really was part witch.

After he had satisfied her a second time, he curled himself around her spoon fashion and went still.

"David?"

"Mmmm?"

"I'd like to go to sleep now."

"So, turn off the light."

"No, I mean, alone."

He raised himself up on an elbow to look at her. "I beg your pardon?"

"Aren't you going to leave?"

"No."

"But I never let, I mean, um—"

"I'm staying, Holly. Turn off the light and go to sleep."

"I always leave it on."

"Fine." He fell asleep with two thoughts—she was not used to sleeping with Philip and she had a vulnerable spot in her psyche. She was afraid of the dark. He'd have to remember that.

Holly sensed that an important change had occurred in their relationship. As before, he drove her wild with desire, then satisfied her to an extent she hadn't known existed, but he seemed to be more emotionally involved this time. She wanted to believe it meant she had put a dent in his arrogance, that he was beginning to care for her a little.

He had to want to keep her by his side for a while. He had to want her more than the parade of women before her. Perhaps she should be unavailable the next time he asked her out. But how could she put him off, knowing how wonderful he made her feel?

She had been certain she wouldn't even close her eyes, not with him literally wrapped around her. She fell sound asleep, though, only to be awakened again hours later by the most delicious dream turned reality.

They were still on their sides with him behind her, but the hand that had been covering her breast was now stroking between her legs. Even in her sleep he had aroused her to the brink of explosion. When she moved against his hand, he slipped inside her without the slightest effort. They rocked together slowly, and came together quietly, and fell back to sleep, still together.