Conquering Sabrina (18 page)

He sat her down on the sofa and flopped down behind her. It was the most natural thing in the world to curl her body against his powerful male frame, to feel his arm slip protectively around her shoulders and draw her near. She laid her head on his chest as he covered her with a blanket. The more she remembered, the more she was slipping back into her old character with her old habits.

“Sabrina, I want you to tell me just how much of your memory has returned.”

She let her head rise and fall in rhythm with his chest for a moment.

“I don’t remember any more than I told you about what happened to me. If that’s what you are talking about?” she lied.

“Sabrina, don’t be afraid to tell me.”

There was pain in his voice. She always seemed to be hurting him, yet all she was trying to do was to protect him and his family. She watched the fire.

“Why are you afraid of Luc and Alain? Did they have something to do with what happened to you?”

She sat up.

“No, no, of course not. I just feel so nervous around everyone.”

“Sabrina, was it Luc who raped you?”

He demanded the answer to his question with a firmness she found hard to resist. She felt her heart race. She sat up further, trying to get away, but he caught her arm and pulled her back across his chest, holding both of her wrists.

“Answer me, Sabrina. And this time I want the truth.”

His face was hard and cold. She was afraid. She tried to get away again, but he held her fast. He gave her a warning look.

“What is it with men? They always think they can throw their weight around and get just what they want,” she snapped.

“Don’t stall me, Sabrina. I am not letting you go until you tell me the truth.”

She felt her body writhe helplessly across the unmovable male muscled strength and gave in.

“I don’t know,” she blurted out. “But he was there.”

She could hardly look at him. She didn’t want to read the disbelief in his eyes, nor the anger.

“What about Alain?” he snapped.

“I don’t know. But every time I go near him, he gives me the creeps. Raoul, let me go.”

“No, tell me everything you remember about that night.”

“Are you sure you want to hear it? We might never be the same again after you do.”

He pulled her up to his face, forcing her to look into his eyes.

“If you think I am going to let any of this destroy our marriage and our love for each other, you don’t remember me very well, Sabrina. You made vows to be with me and I am going to hold you to them. I love you; now tell me the truth.”

“Luc was stealing from the company and I found out. Our accountant found discrepancies, and he had come to me before he died in that car crash. Maybe he didn’t die in an accident and he was murdered because of what he knew. I think Alain was involved somehow. I confronted Luc in the study and said that I was going to tell you. We argued and he threatened me. It led to a struggle. He hit me and knocked me to the floor. He said he would kill me if I told you anything. Someone else was in the room and I can’t remember who it was. I honestly don’t know if it was Luc or this other person. You have to believe me, Raoul.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“Luc and Cressida told me I was having an affair with Luc and if I didn’t leave you, they would tell you. They knew how ill your mother was and just how it would affect her health if you two were at war again. I couldn’t do it to you. And I couldn’t be sure if I’d had an affair with Luc or not. I couldn’t remember anything, Raoul. It’s like being locked in a dark dungeon without any light or door to get out.”

He let her wrists go and tightened his arms around her.

“I’m sorry, Sabrina, but I had to find out the truth. You are just confirming all of my suspicions that I’ve had for the last ten years. I found out recently that Luc was stealing money from the company. He’s always been jealous of everything I have and I knew when I gave him a job for Maman’s sake that he would try something like that. But I’ve turned a blind eye, hoping, waiting for him to lead me back to you somehow. I’ve always thought he was involved. He was always attracted to you and I wouldn’t put it past him to arrange to kidnap you. And I believe Alain has been in on the game as well. I wonder if Cressida has found out and taken advantage somehow.”

He pulled the blanket over her shoulders, feeling her cling to him. He smoothed her hair and whispered French words of endearment and reassurance. He kissed the top of her head.

“What about my supposed relationship with Luc? They said I was having an affair with him, but I can’t remember doing anything like that. I am gaining my memories fast, but not all of them. Maybe I did…”

Raoul gave a small laugh.

“Trust me, Sabrina, you were not having an affair with Luc. I think it has always been his dream that you would. He wants everything that I have and goes out to destroy what is mine if he can’t take it. I know you weren’t having an affair with Luc because I had you shadowed when you started getting all those phone calls and were followed. I knew your every move.”

“You had me followed?”

She sounded indignant as she dried her eyes and looked up at him. He studied her with concern.

“There has always been a threat to my family ever since my company’s success. The further you climb the ladder, Sabrina, the more dangerous it is. I can’t afford to take risks. I surrounded you with protection, but you were still taken from me and the man I hired couldn’t find out the stalker’s identity. He is good at hiding and throwing a false trail.”

“Who do you think that man was in the forest?”

“It has to be the man who attacked you. I have a feeling that your stalking and Luc’s stealing from the company is all related. I invited everybody this weekend because I suspected it was one of our friends, even though it pains me to say it. I thought having them around would jog your memory. That’s why I was so determined not to let you leave my side.”

“And Maxim was here to investigate?”

“To investigate and protect. I called him and told him where we are. He’s got a warrant out for Cressida’s arrest and is arranging for some officers to be sent to comb the grounds when the weather is better. But it looks as though we will be here for the night. There are a couple of hideouts around here that the man could be sheltering in. If anyone is missing from the house, then we will know who it is.”

“I’m sorry about Luc.”

“Not as much as he will be when I am finished with him.”

His voice was low, a dark menace streaking its tone. She felt fear twist in her stomach again. Her memory was opening a can of worms. The images of her attack bounced off the walls of her mind, refusing to go. But no matter how hard she tried she could not see the face of the man who tore the necklace from her throat. She flinched.

“Sabrina, is it happening again?”

She slowly sat up.

“It won’t go away. And I won’t let it until I can discover the truth.”

She rubbed her forehead and stood up.

“Do you think the counselling will help? I just wish I could remember everything.”

She turned to face the fire, watching the images dance in the flames. She felt his hands on her shoulders, his deft fingers working away the tension that knotted in her neck and shoulders.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Sabrina. You’ve remembered more than I hoped for. You are doing well. Just take it one step at a time.”

She leaned back against him.

“Show me what you’ve done in here. It was so dilapidated last time I saw it.”

He smiled and took her hand, bringing it to his lips, and led her across the wooden floor. Their tour ended up in a small study. There was a red leather reading chair, resembling the ones in the chateau, and a small office at one end of the room bearing state-of-the-art communications technology Raoul needed to conduct business.

Another desk sat close to the reading chair, on which a model of the Cutty Sark lay unfinished. Glue and small intricate pieces of the skilful puzzle lay around it. To one side several books on model ships and favourite classic novels in English,
Moby Dick
and a selection of Dickens’s most famous works were stacked.

Sabrina picked up a piece and examined it closely before replacing it on the desk.

“My father was doing this before he died. I swore I would finish it. But I haven’t as yet.”

There was pain in his voice.

“I remember your father. He was such a gentleman and a kind man, always trying to please your mother. He was very much in love with her, wasn’t he?”

“Besotted is the correct English word, I think.”

He circled his hands over her shoulders.

“Rather like me with you,” he whispered the words next to her ear, his breath making her skin tingle with pleasure.

His lips found her neck as he clasped her hips in his strong hands and lifted her around his waist. She could feel his hard arousal straining to reach inside her body. She rubbed against him as he carried her out of the room, the friction sending shockwaves through her system. He stopped at the foot of the stairs, unable to control his need for her any longer. He put her down and leant her against the wall. He clasped her face in his hands. It was a gentle but firm and passionate hold that she could not escape from. His assault on her mouth made her quiver with a primitive and savage pleasure that made her respond with a fervour that equalled only that of his own.

She slipped her fingers through his soft black hair and held on for dear life as he tugged her trousers down. He snaked his fingers up and around her calves, up the sensitive parts of her thighs, every touch causing her skin to flame and burn with desire. She thrust her pelvis out to beckon the invasion of his fingers inside the warm sheath that rested at the arch of her thighs. But it was not his fingers that probed her so delicately. His intimate kiss was electrifying, sending pulses of energy beating through her body.

She tossed the upper part of her body from side to side as though helplessly tormented by delicious torture. Just when she thought she could take no more of his expert caress, he moved away and stood. He fiercely took her mouth, rendering her breathless and completely at his mercy. She heard the sound of a zipper being pulled down and he was lifting her up around his waist again. With one sharp urgent thrust he was inside her, filling her up to the hilt. His kiss was an exact replica, both acts thrusting and probing until she thought she would spin out of control. Sabrina felt her climax convulse through her body and heard herself cry out with the power of its intense sensation. It was never-ending, carrying her out on a journey to a place she had not been before and back. She felt him ride it with her, slowing his rhythmic pace, making her feel as though time itself had slowed.

She slumped exhausted over his shoulder, attempting to recover her breath. He held her lovingly, his own breath laboured as he pulled his zipper up. He carried her up the steps and laid her in the bed, smoothing the long jumper down her thighs. He covered her body with a sumptuous opulent wine-and-purple satin duvet and undressed. She felt him slip under the satin and pull her to him until her back curved against his body. There were no words spoken; none were needed. Sleep swept its comforting blanket over Sabrina’s body and claimed her as its own.

* * *

Raoul sat up on his elbow and looked down at a sleeping Sabrina. His fingers found the curls of dark chocolate hair and played gently with them. She looked so vulnerable while she slept, yet she bore the heart of a tigress. He lay back down, his hand stroking her hip, raising a soft whimper from her lips. His life was almost complete. All he had to do was to find the man who continued to hurt his wife and threaten their happiness. He’d let Sabrina down, but this time he intended to fulfil his role as husband and protector, whatever the cost.

Chapter Thirteen

Sabrina dreamt she was in the study again. She could hear voices arguing behind Luc as he held her. One of the voices spoke in French. He called Luc away, giving him some instruction she couldn’t understand. Then she was alone in the room with the man. She was so afraid and confused; she couldn’t clearly see his face. But she knew the man personally and couldn’t understand why he was involved in Luc’s scheme to steal from the company. She’d thought Raoul and herself could have always trusted him. But there he was threatening her and confessing he was the one stalking her for all those long months. She knew he was in love with her in some sick twisted way and now he was going to have her and she would be his forevermore. The man tore the necklace from her neck and she heard herself scream.

“Sabrina, wake up. You are just having a bad dream.”

Sabrina opened her eyes sharply. Raoul was leaning over her, gently nudging her awake. Sunlight was streaming in through the small windows in the turret on both sides. She blinked and looked up at Raoul’s concerned expression on his face. He smoothed her hair away from her forehead.

“Were you dreaming about being in the study again?”

She nodded and told him everything. He looked confused and frustrated.

“I just wish I knew who it was. It’s vital we find out if it is someone close to us; they have to be in the house.”

He softened his features as she gave him a worried look.

“I’m sorry, relax. I just want to make sure you are safe.”

“Are we going back to the house? Only I’m not sure I am going to feel safe knowing he, whoever he is, is walking around the chateau. I didn’t tell you yesterday, but someone was in the room when I was showering. I thought it was Luc and I didn’t want to tell you…”

He stood up quickly, running his hands through his hair, lifting it high.

“Sabrina, why didn’t you tell me? How can I protect you if you keep trying to hide everything from me.”

She sat up slowly, eyeing his outburst with caution. It was then that she saw the tray of scrambled eggs, toast, and tea. She tucked the duvet around her middle and sank back against the pillows. He marched back towards the bed and sat down. He caught her wrists and pulled her up.