Da Silva's Mistress (8 page)

She shook her head stubbornly. ‘No, thank you. I like paying my own way. And, besides, I’d be bored to tears with nothing to do all day.’

This was not the first time Morgan had turned down money from him. She’d thrown his cheque back in his face that first day in the office. Since then she’d also refused several gifts of jewellery, claiming she didn’t feel comfortable accepting something so expensive. He’d virtually had to twist her arm to get her to accept the dress he’d bought her in Paris.

And now this.

It was a new experience for him. His past mistresses had been more than happy to take whatever they could get from him—sometimes throwing out not-so-subtle hints if they didn’t think he was being generous enough.

Luca sat down on the couch and motioned for
Morgan to join him. ‘I thought you women liked to shop.’

‘Maybe. But I couldn’t shop all day. I couldn’t afford to, for one thing. I also happen to like working.’

Luca remembered back to one of the first conversations they’d ever had. ‘How are you coping with your mortgage?’

She laughed. It was a harsh sound that grated on his eardrums like fingernails on a blackboard. ‘I’ve had to ask my bank for a temporary halt to my repayments until I find a new job.’

‘I see.’ His heart contracted until it felt the size of a pea. Guilt ate into him like acid into stone. ‘Would you like me to take over the repayments for you? Or pay the mortgage off outright? Then you won’t need to worry.’

Even before he’d finished speaking she was shaking her head. ‘No. I won’t take money from you.’

Her answer made a shiver run up and down his spine.

The crack that had appeared in his belief that she’d had an affair with Joseph had just got one hell of a lot wider. It was impossible to imagine that her values where money was concerned weren’t carried over into the other areas of her life.

Not wanting to think about what that implied, Luca asked, ‘Would you like me to ask around? See if I can find a position for you?’

She shook her head. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she said, ‘You could always get me my old job back.’

Luca tensed. ‘Please don’t ask me to do that.’

‘Why? Because your answer will be no?’

Luca didn’t answer her.

She laughed bitterly. ‘We agreed to put the past behind us, but all I have to do is scratch below the surface to find you think no better of me now than you did before. It doesn’t matter what I say or do, you’re never going to change your opinion of me, are you?’

‘That’s not true,’ Luca protested, but it was a weak protest and they both knew it.

He hadn’t wanted his neutral position to be tested. By asking him to get her her old job back Morgan had just done exactly that.

The hell of it was, it was a test he’d failed…!

Although Morgan didn’t want to go out after that, Luca insisted.

She acquiesced, but the remote look in her eyes suggested she was a long way from forgiving him.

Luca set out to be his most charming. And it worked. By the time coffee was served she’d thawed sufficiently to actually smile once or twice.

They were on their way back to her apartment when Gino suddenly slammed on the brakes. Their car skewed sideways as he pulled hard on the steering wheel to avoid hitting the navy blue sedan in front of them.

Luca acted on instinct, thrusting an arm across Morgan as they were flung forward against their seat belts.

Memories of that long ago accident rushed to the surface. It had been dark that night, too. The sound of metal screeching against metal had rent the air, just as it did now.

His heart was racing, slamming against his ribcage, his skin breaking out in a cold sweat. Images flashed into his head at kaleidoscopic speed. His mother and
father slumped in their seats. Blood everywhere. Stefania screaming.

He began to shake.

He couldn’t move.

He couldn’t think.

He might physically be in the car…but the rest of him was firmly fixed in the past.

Then he heard movement beside him.

Morgan!

In a flash, he was transported back to the present.

He had to get a grip. He was of no use to anyone—Morgan, Gino, the people in the car up ahead—if he didn’t get himself back under control.

Dragging in a breath, he turned towards Morgan, terrified of what he might find.

She looked pale and shaken, but otherwise appeared OK.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked, squeezing the words out through numb lips.

She nodded.

‘Gino?’ Luca prompted as he rapidly removed his seat belt and moved closer to Morgan.

‘I’m fine, boss.’

Looking at the carnage through the front windscreen, it took Luca a few moments to figure out what had happened. A car travelling on the cross street had run straight through a red light into the car ahead.

‘Call the police and an ambulance,’ Luca instructed as he unsnapped Morgan’s seat belt and began running his hands over her. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for. He just knew that he had to make sure she was OK.

If something happened to her…

His heart beat even more frantically against his
breastbone, his mind shutting down on the rest of that thought.

‘What are you doing?’ Morgan asked.

‘Checking for injuries.’

She swatted his hands away. ‘I told you. I’m all right. But I don’t think the people in the car up ahead have been so lucky. We have to help them.’

Before Luca could stop her Morgan had pushed open her door and was running towards the sedan. He sat frozen for one moment, then went after her, aware from the sounds behind him that Gino had finished calling the authorities and was following them.

What followed was a nightmare. A nightmare that seemed to unfold in slow motion so that the horror of it impacted more deeply.

Luca had another bad moment when he realised that the sedan was not only carrying two adults but two children, one of whom was a young girl not much older than Stefania had been when she’d been injured all those years ago. He felt his composure beginning to crack, and it took every ounce of his will-power to rein it back in and do what he had to do.

Morgan gravitated towards the children. Luca did what he could for the parents, both of whom were in pretty bad shape, while they waited for the paramedics.

Gino was nowhere to be seen. Luca assumed he was attending to the occupants of the car that had run the red light.

After what seemed like hours, but was probably only several minutes, the police and an ambulance arrived with sirens blaring. Suddenly there were people everywhere.

Because a fatality was involved—the driver of the
vehicle running the red light hadn’t made it—there were questions.

Lots and lots of questions.

Luca kept Morgan tucked in close to his side as they gave their statement. Every now and then a tremor made her body shake. Finally he’d had enough. His mouth tightened. ‘That will be all for now, gentlemen. Ms Marshall has been through quite an ordeal this evening. It’s time I took her home.’

Her head swung in his direction. ‘I’m all right, Luca.’

Luca searched her face. She was pale. There were purple smudges beneath her eyes and a white ring of tension around her mouth. He shook his head. ‘You are not all right. You are exhausted.’

The officer in charge smiled ingratiatingly. ‘Just a couple more questions, Mr da Silva, and then you’ll be free to leave.’

Luca turned on him, a warning look in his eyes. ’No. No more questions. Not tonight.’ He fished a business card out of his pocket. ‘If you present yourself at this address tomorrow morning we’ll be more than happy to tell you whatever you want. But tonight we’ve had enough.’

The policeman looked from Luca’s determined face to the slender female figure tucked protectively at his side and nodded. ‘I’ll call you.’

Luca led Morgan to the car. ‘Are you OK to drive?’ he asked Gino, who nodded and got in behind the wheel. ‘Kensington,’ he said, and Gino inclined his head to acknowledge their change of destination.

Luca handed Morgan into the back seat and strode around to join her, sitting in the centre and putting an arm around her shoulders.

‘Are you OK?’ he asked.

Her skin was cold. She was shaking. ‘Y…yes. I’m fine.’

His top teeth met his bottom ones with a snap. Fine? She was far from being fine. Now that it was over, reaction was setting in.

‘I just…’ She shook her head. ‘Those poor children.’

He hugged her to his side. ‘I know. But they’re in good hands. I’m sure they’ll be OK.’

She nodded.

Luca pulled her more closely against him. She turned so that her cheek rested on his shoulder for the remainder of the journey.

‘We’re here,’ Luca said quietly as they pulled up in his private driveway.

She started. Looked around. Nodded.

But she didn’t ask where they were—proof in his mind that she was in shock.

Luca helped her out of the car and up the stairs. Gino was already holding the door open for them.

‘Grazie,
Gino. That will be all.’

Luca half-urged, half-carried Morgan along the corridor to his bedroom. Not once did he consider putting her in one of the guestrooms. He wanted to keep an eye on her.

It wasn’t until he’d closed the door behind them that Morgan finally woke from the haze that had been holding her captive since the accident.

‘Where are we?’ she asked, looking around.

Luca tossed his jacket over the back of a chair. ’We’re in my apartment.’

Her head swung in his direction so hard and fast Luca was surprised she hadn’t strained a muscle. ‘Your apartment? What are we doing here?’

He took her handbag and deposited it on the same chair as his jacket, then smoothed a strand of black hair away from her strained face. ‘You shouldn’t be alone tonight. You’ve had a shock.’

‘I’ll be all right,’ she protested, but it was a weak protest and they both knew it.

‘I’m sure you will be,’ Luca said calmly, stroking a finger down the side of her cheek. ‘But I’d rather keep an eye on you.’

The truth of that statement reverberated deep inside him. Even if she’d had a close relative he could have taken her to he knew he wouldn’t have done so. He didn’t trust anyone else to take care of her.

She nodded. ‘OK.’

Of their own volition his hands massaged the curves of her shoulders. ‘The bathroom is through there,’ he said, nodding his head towards the left. ‘I’m sure you’d like a shower.’

‘Yes, please.’ She frowned. ‘What about you?’

‘I’ll shower in one of the guest bathrooms. Then I’ll get us something to drink. How does tea sound? Or would you prefer something stronger?’

She shook her head. ‘Tea will be fine.’ She started to turn away, only to swing back towards him, hands clasped together in front of her. ‘Do you think we can call the hospital and see how the family are doing?’

Something squeezed tight in his chest. Instinct made him pull her towards him. She fitted just under his chin as if they’d been designed that way. He inhaled the citrus tang of her shampoo. ‘Of course. I’ll do that as soon as I’ve showered.’

It was a thoughtful Luca who left the room.

He was, he decided, a fool.

A blind fool.

The truth had been staring him in the face all along.

From the minute Morgan had tossed his cheque back at him he should have known. Known she was not the kind of woman to have an affair with a married man.

He felt the truth of that statement resound deep inside of him.

She’d been telling him the truth, only he’d been too blinkered to see it. Now her innocence was crystalclear.

Despite the tragedy of the evening, Luca felt as if a weight had been lifted off him.

He could hardly wait to tell Morgan.

But not tonight.

Tonight she needed to rest and recover.

Tomorrow he would tell her.

He would take her somewhere special for dinner. He would shower her with flowers and chocolates. Afterwards he would take her in his arms and tell her that he believed her.

He frowned. That was not all he had to do, he realised. He also had to undo the damage he had done.

He would get her her old job back, if that was what she wanted. If not, he’d find her a new one.

But first and foremost he had to release her from their agreement.

Tell her that she was free to leave whenever she wanted to go.

And then he would ask her to be his mistress.

Not because she had to.

But because she wanted to.

M
ORGAN STEPPED THROUGH
the bedroom door wrapped in a huge towel, with another twisted turban-style around her head.

Luca was just setting down a tray on the bedside table. He was wearing a black robe shot with gold and a pair of black slippers. Between the lapels she could see a triangle of golden skin dusted with fine dark hair.

Her mouth ran dry when she realised he was naked under the robe. Clutching her hand to her breast, as much to stop the frenetic race of her heart as to stop the towel from slipping, she said in a voice that hardly sounded like her own, ‘I don’t have anything to wear.’

Luca pointed to the bed. ‘You have a choice. One of my T-shirts or one of my business shirts. Take your pick.’

She picked up a T-shirt and disappeared back into the bathroom to get changed.

‘Did you call the hospital?’ she asked when she emerged a second time.

Luca nodded, face grim. ‘The father is in surgery. The mother and two children are in a serious but stable condition.’

The tension that had compressed her insides into a mass of knots relaxed. Ridiculously, her eyes filled with tears. ‘Thank God for that!’

‘My sentiments exactly,’ Luca said grim-faced. ’When I saw those children…’

For the first time since the accident Morgan looked at Luca properly, and was stunned by what she found. He looked tired, with lines of tension ringing his mouth and nose.

She slapped the centre of her forehead with the palm of her hand, her tears forgotten. ‘I’m so sorry, Luca. How stupid of me! I didn’t think about how this must have affected you. Tonight must have brought back memories of the accident that killed your parents.’

Luca nodded, face tense. ‘It did. As soon as I heard the sound of metal on metal it all came flooding back.’

Her heart wrenched. She hurried over to him, taking both of his hands in hers. ‘I’m sorry, Luca. You must think I’m as insensitive as a plank of wood.’

He smiled and squeezed her hands. ‘No. I don’t think you’re insensitive at all.’ His eyes dropped the length of her as he added huskily, ‘And you don’t resemble a plank of wood in the least.’

His response melted her heart. Taking a big breath, she asked quietly, ‘Will you tell me what happened?’

She half expected him to make some kind of sarcastic comment about Joseph having told her the details, but all he said was, ‘Let’s have some tea first.’

He filled two mugs from an ornate silver teapot and then sat down on the bed, his long hair-roughened legs stretched out in front of him.

He patted the covers beside him. ‘Come and have your tea.’

Morgan hesitated for only a second before going and
sitting down beside him, tugging on the hem of his T-shirt, which barely reached mid-thigh.

Luca handed her a steaming mug. Morgan took it and blew across the surface before taking a sip of the strong, sweet brew. She was about to ask him about the accident when a chocolate brown cat leapt on to the bed, padded across her legs and promptly sat down in her lap.

‘Who’s this?’ She scratched the cat behind the ears and was rewarded with a contented purr.

‘Baci.’

‘Stefania’s cat?’ Morgan said.

‘Yes. You should consider yourself privileged. This is the first time she’s come anywhere near me since I brought her home. The staff have been looking after her.’

‘She’s gorgeous,’ Morgan murmured. ‘You never did tell be what Baci means.’

‘Kisses.’

‘What a delightful name.’

‘I suppose it is.’

Morgan took another sip of her tea, stroking the cat with her spare hand. ‘Tell me about the accident.’

Luca was silent, as if he was gathering his thoughts. ’It was dark that night, too. My parents were fighting—as usual. They fought a lot, you know.’

Morgan shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t know.’

‘My father accused my mother of having another affair.’ He barked out a harsh laugh. ‘She had a lot of those. They argued. My father wasn’t concentrating. He drifted into oncoming traffic.’

Morgan pressed shaking fingers to her mouth. ‘Oh, no.’

She wasn’t sure Luca even heard her.

‘The truck that hit us was travelling at speed. My parents were killed instantly.’

Suppressing a gasp, Morgan put a hand on his forearm, not surprised to find it rigid with tense muscles.

‘The impact pushed in the rear passenger door so hard that the metal fractured inwards, straight into Stefania’s stomach,’ he said, talking in an unemotional tone that somehow made the impact of his words cut all the deeper.

This time Morgan couldn’t suppress the gasp that escaped her strangled throat. ‘I’m so sorry, Luca. So very, very sorry.’

He turned and looked at her, face grim, eyes bleak.
’Si,
so am I. I should have stopped it from happening.’

‘No!’ Morgan pushed Baci off her lap and scooted around until she was facing him, her hand squeezing tight on his arm. ‘You mustn’t say that.’

He laughed, but it was a harsh sound. ‘Why not? Because it’s true. I was seventeen. I could have done something. I
should
have done something.’

She pressed her fingers against his lips and shook her head vehemently. ‘No. You can’t take responsibility for what happened. It was an accident. A tragic accident.’

She could see by the look on his face that he didn’t believe her.

And suddenly it all clicked into place.

The accident was the reason Luca was so over-protective of Stefania. He felt he’d failed her once and was determined not to let it happen again.

That was why he interfered in his sister’s marriage; he probably didn’t even realise he was doing it.

And that was why he’d been so willing to believe
that she and Joseph were having an affair—because he couldn’t risk being wrong.

Her heart twisted tight.

‘Luca—’

She broke off, not sure what she’d planned on saying to him. Luca had been carrying a burden on his shoulders that he should never have had to carry. She wanted to say something to make him see that the accident wasn’t his fault, but other than what she’d already said there was nothing she could say.

But there was one thing she
could
do.

She could tell him the truth, so that he could finally put to bed his concerns about Stefania’s marriage.

But now was not the time.

They were both shocked and tired.

They needed a good night’s sleep.

They needed something else, too.

‘What?’ Luca asked when she failed to continue.

She stared him in the eye. ‘Make love to me.’

He gasped. ‘Why? Because you feel sorry for me?’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘I don’t feel sorry for you. I think you’re crazy for thinking the accident was your fault.’

‘Then why?’

She picked up his hand and brought it to her breast. ’Because I want you.’

He shook his head again. ‘You’re in shock.’

‘No, I’m not. Or at least not abnormally so. I know what I’m saying. The accident reminded me that life is short. I don’t want to waste our time together.’

His eyes searched her face, but he made no move towards her.

She smiled a wobbly smile. ‘I didn’t think that when I finally surrendered you wouldn’t want me any more.’

‘Oh, I want you. Make no mistake about that,’ Luca said in a carefully controlled voice. ‘Saying no, sitting here and not touching you, is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.’

She frowned. ‘Then why do it? Why not just say yes?’

‘Because the week isn’t up. I made you a promise. I intend to keep it.’

Screwing up her courage, Morgan grasped the hem of his T-shirt between her fingers and pulled it up over her head, flicking it away to land who knew where. The turban-like towel went with it, her hair tumbling down around her naked shoulders and breasts. ‘I want you now.’

She could barely breathe as she waited for his response. She had never done anything so blatantly provocative before. She would be mortified if he rejected her.

A smile spread slowly across his face. ‘Then who am I to resist?’ he said, taking hold of her hand and tugging her towards him so that she fell across his chest.

His arms came around her, holding her close.

It was then, with his heart beating out its power and energy against her that Morgan realised she’d fallen in love with him.

Luca rolled over, tumbling her onto her back beneath him. Then he leaned up on one elbow and just looked at her.

She was magnificent.

Miles of clear magnolia skin gleamed in the lamplight, just begging to be stroked and kissed.

He smoothed the silken length of her hair down
between her breasts, admiring the contrast of black against white.

Her breasts were full and rounded. He cupped one with his hand. Her skin was smooth and soft and warm. He brushed the pad of his thumb across her nipple and was rewarded when it immediately contracted into a tightly erect bead.

‘You have beautiful breasts,’ he whispered huskily, turning his attention to the other one. ‘So responsive.’

He put his mouth to the sensitive column of her throat.

She quivered.

He kissed his way down to her breast, where his cupped hand made an offering of it, and took the nipple into his mouth, rolling it around on his tongue.

She shuddered and clutched at his shoulders.

He kept on kissing his way down her body, tracing the bottom of her ribcage with his tongue, then sweeping an erotic circle around her navel. Her stomach muscles contracted as she gasped for breath.

Her fingers dug into his hair. At first Luca thought she was going to push him away. Instead she clung to him as his mouth left a series of tiny kisses on her belly.

His fingers found the nest of curls at the apex of her thighs, seeking the tiny bud that controlled the centre of her pleasure. She began to buck against his hand, her breath coming in gasps.

He explored further, finding the slick, wet heat of her.

She lifted her hips off the bed. ‘Luca—’

‘I know,’ he soothed, kissing his way back up her body. ‘I always knew you would be like this. You are bursting with passion in the same way a peppermint
cream or a cherry liqueur chocolate is bursting with flavour. One bite and your senses explode.’

‘Am I?’

He lifted his head and nodded. ‘Touch me,’ he ordered, his body so taut and tight he thought he might explode at any moment.

She did. Tentatively at first, as though she wasn’t used to touching a man. And then she seemed to gain confidence, her hands stroking his flesh, kneading his muscles.

And then it was his turn to shudder.

He took her mouth with his. She tasted hot and sweet, and a shot of pure need fired through his body. He caressed her until she sobbed out his name. Sucked on her nipples until her head thrashed from side to side on the pillow and she was begging him to take her.

He lifted his head. ‘Look at me.’

Her thick, dark lashes fluttered open, revealing eyes glazed with passion.

Then and only then did he thrust inside her, with one smooth, bold stroke. She was tight. He withdrew slowly, then thrust in deeper.

And then he wasn’t thinking at all.

All he could do was feel.

Sensation spiralled rapidly out of control, spinning him to a place he’d never been before.

It felt as if he’d been waiting for this moment for ever. And in the sweet aftermath of passion, as he lay with his head on her breast, Luca realised that Morgan had been worth the wait.

Two weeks later Morgan let herself into Luca’s apartment with the key he’d given her and headed straight for the shower, undressing as she went.

Given that Luca had once told her he never lived with his mistresses, she was surprised
she
was still living there. She kept waiting for him to suggest she return to her own apartment, but he never did.

And, since she enjoyed sleeping in his arms every night, neither did she.

She’d kept quiet about something else, too.

Two somethings, actually.

Just yesterday she’d been thrilled to receive a phone message from Joseph.

He’d apologised for not being in contact with her before now. He’d explained how Luca had sprung the trip on them as a surprise, giving him no chance to call and warn her of his departure.

Morgan had almost cried when she’d heard his voice; he’d sounded just like his normal self.

He hadn’t mentioned his heart attack, but then she wouldn’t have expected him to—he’d know it would only worry her.

He’d finished the message by telling her that he loved her and would be home soon.

The other thing she hadn’t told Luca was the truth about her relationship with Joseph.

Every day she kept putting if off.

At first she’d justified the delay by telling herself she had to speak to Joseph first. But as the weeks progressed she’d realised she had to do no such thing.

Joseph shouldn’t have asked her to keep their relationship a secret. She’d grown up with a mother who had been ashamed of her existence and had treated her like a poor second all of her life. Joseph knew all that, and yet he’d done exactly the same thing.

Acted as if she was something to hide. Treated her
as if she wasn’t important enough in his life to tell everyone about.

Sure, he had his reasons. She understood that.

But what about
her?
What about what
she
wanted? What about
her
rights?

She’d done nothing wrong. Joseph was the one who had slept with one woman while engaged to another. It was time he stood up and took ownership of what he’d done.

No doubt the stress of keeping their relationship a secret had contributed towards his heart attack. Getting everything out in the open could be just the release he needed.

And she should stand up for who she was and be proud enough to shout it from the rooftops.

If she’d done that in the first place then she wouldn’t be in this mess.

Not that it felt like a mess.

It felt anything but.

Being with Luca made her feel whole in a way she’d never felt before. He made her life complete.