Brand Of Possession

‘Fear. Nervousness. There could be any number of reasons.’

It was both of those, and a lot more. The trouble with this man was that he was too attractive for any woman to resist for long. Not that it made him conceited, he had merely seen something he wanted and wasn't afraid to say so. But his age and experience made her nervous, gave her the feeling that this was a battle she was going to lose, which was why she had to stop it now.

‘Matthew and I are very good friends. We even lived together for a time.’ Which they had, on a purely platonic basis. Matthew had been thrown out of his digs and she had let him sleep on her sofa for a while.

‘But not now?’ Jake persisted.

‘Not now.’

The tension seemed to leave his body. ‘Then it couldn't have worked out between the two of you, which means there's nothing between you now. I'm not asking for virginity from you, Stacy.’

‘I don't think you have the right to ask anything of me.’ She gave him a searching look. ‘I hardly know you, but I can tell you're no novice when it comes to making love.’

‘At thirty-eight, no.’

‘Not even at my age,’ she rebuked.

‘Probably not,’ he acknowledged mildly.

‘I would say definitely not.’

He laughed softly. ‘I think you're right.’ He stood up. ‘Let's go for a walk in the garden.’

She looked up at him, wrenching her eyes away from his muscular thighs only inches in front of her. ‘It's after ten o'clock at night, it's dark out there.’

Jake pulled her effortlessly to her feet, retaining a hold on one of her hands as she would have pulled away. ‘The garden is illuminated at night,’ he said tolerantly.

‘Yes, but I——’

‘Come on, Stacy. It's too noisy in here, we can't talk properly.’

‘I think we've talked enough for one day.’

‘About certain things, perhaps, but I have other things to say to you.’ His voice lowered. ‘Things I would rather say when we're completely alone.’

That was what she was afraid of! ‘No, I don't think——’

‘I'm not asking you to think. Don't be such a baby, Stacy. Is there no adventure in your soul, no craving for danger?’

Not when she knew she had a good chance of losing to him. ‘No,’ she said huskily.

‘I don't believe you.’

He pulled her along behind him and Stacy had no choice but to follow him. She was conscious of many people curiously watching their exit, and this didn't improve her mood.

She pulled away from him once they were outside, glaring at him resentfully, her colour heightened. ‘It's cold out here,’ she lied. ‘I want to go back inside.’

His answer was to put an arm about her shoulders and pull her hard against the side of his firm muscular body. ‘It isn't cold, Stacy,’ he contradicted. ‘But if you are just stay close to me, I'll keep you warm.’

‘Perhaps that's what I'm afraid of.’

‘That's what I thought.’ He turned to face her, his arms about her waist as he moulded her thighs to his. ‘I can't do much to you in a garden, now can I?’

She gulped. ‘I suppose not.’

‘Besides, I like the comfort of a bed when I make those sort of advances. I've gone past the impetuous youth bit where I can make love anywhere. Also, I want things to be right between us the first time.’

She gulped again. This man was unlike anyone else she had ever known, said things no one else would dare to say on such short acquaintance. ‘The——’ she licked her dry lips. ‘The first time?’

‘The first time we make love,’ he told her calmly.

She gave a short breathless laugh. ‘I can't decide whether you're conceited or I've just gone mad,’ she said dazedly.

‘Neither of those things,’ Jake murmured huskily, his eyes never leaving her parted lips. ‘Your mouth was made for kissing. I've wanted to kiss you ever since I saw you in the lift this evening.’

‘But you—you were so distant.’

His dark eyebrows rose. ‘I could hardly make love to you in a lift, and I don't think you would have let me on such short acquaintance. Besides, I knew you were going to be here this evening. It was the only thing that persuaded me to be here at all.’

All the time they were talking she was aware of the hardness of his body curved into her own, her hands crushed against his chest. ‘But surely you had to be here, to protect your employer?’

‘Does it look as if I'm doing much protecting?’

‘No,’ she admitted.

‘That's because I'm not. I abhor parties and I dislike crowds. I'm only here to see you.’

‘You flatter me!’

‘Maybe, but I don't usually put myself out for other people.’

He was very arrogant, considering he was only a lowly employee like herself. ‘You're very lucky if you don't have to, some of us aren't so privileged.’

‘You don't seem to have made any concessions in your argument with Payne this afternoon,’ he taunted.

She blushed. ‘That was different.’

‘Not at all. You make your own set of rules and you have to live by them.’ His hold about her waist tightened. ‘And I'm very glad you kept to yours today. It could have caused quite a scene if I'd had to fight Forbes to get you.’

Her eyes widened. ‘You would have done that?’

‘Oh yes, Stacy, I would have done that.’

‘You make it very hard for a girl to refuse you,’ she admitted.

His head bent slightly, his face only inches away from her own. ‘That's because I don't intend to have you refuse me. I'm patient, I can wait for the right moment.’

‘And if there isn't one?’ she murmured.

‘Then I'll make one.’

His dark head lowered slowly and his lips took possession of hers in a kiss of languorous passion, a deliberate onslaught to break down any barriers she might have against him. He needn't have worried, his charm had seduced her into submission long ago.

But this was wrong! She had known this man only a matter of hours. And yet she couldn't hold back her response, couldn't deny the effect he was having on her, his mouth making slow leisurely love to her, his hands gently caressing her back.

Finally she pulled away from him, her head dizzy with the emotions he had aroused in her, emotions that had lain dormant until his mouth had touched hers. This couldn't be happening to her, it must be his experience that was making her melt against him like this; people didn't fall in love so easily.

She licked her lips, tasting the whisky Jake had been drinking earlier, her whole body shaking. ‘I——’ she cursed herself for letting her voice shake like this. ‘I want to go back inside,’ she said more strongly.

‘Why?’ he asked huskily, not releasing his hold on her.

‘I think you know why.’

‘Because I kissed you?’

And because of her reaction to that kiss! ‘Well, I—Yes! I hardly know you,’ she added, as if that explained everything.

‘Mm, perhaps you're right.’ Jake moved away from her. ‘My mother always told me you should never kiss a girl on your first date.’ He smiled. ‘I never did listen to my mother.’

Stacy smoothed down her skirt. ‘Then perhaps you should have done.’

‘Perhaps,’ but he didn't sound as if he should. ‘I'll take you back to the party now.’

‘I think I would rather go to my room.’

‘So would I,’ he agreed throatily.

‘Alone,’ she said sharply.

‘But of course. I promise to leave you at your door.’

‘I can find my own way,’ she refused.

He took hold of her elbow. ‘I'm sure you can, but I've always believed in seeing a lady to her home—and as this place is temporarily your home …’

‘Oh, all right,’ she accepted with ill-grace.

Jake grinned down at her as they walked back to the entrance. ‘I wish I could have seen your argument with Payne. I bet it was something to watch!’

Stacy gave a wan smile. ‘He didn't seem to think so.’

‘So he told me. I believe you implied he was past it.’

She blushed painfully as she remembered the rude things she had said to the director.

‘Something about us being past the age of the studio couch,’ he added teasingly.

‘Oh—oh yes,’ she blushed even more. ‘I—I lost my temper.’

Jake laughed softly. ‘So I gathered.’ He picked up a strand of her glorious red hair. ‘So this hair really does denote the fiery nature reputed to go with it.’

‘In my case, yes,’ she admitted almost guiltily.

Jake tilted her chin. ‘I like the temper. It adds to your attraction.’

‘It does?’

‘I like a woman who can stand up for herself.’

‘Oh.’

‘You aren't sure that's a good thing, are you?’

‘No,’ she answered truthfully. She held back as he opened the door for her. ‘Could we go in another way?’

‘Why?’ He looked at her suspiciously.

‘Well, because I—I——’

His teeth gleamed whitely in the darkness. ‘Your lipstick isn't smudged, if that's what you're worried about.’ He gently touched her lips as if to emphasise the point.

Her breath caught in her throat. ‘It isn't that.’

‘Then what is it?’ His hand dropped away from her mouth.

She gave an impatient sigh. ‘I don't want to simply walk through the room and us to go upstairs together. I know exactly what conclusion the people in there would come to.’

‘You do?’

‘Yes,’ she snapped. ‘And don't pretend you don't too.’

He shut the door with a shrug. ‘Okay, we'll sneak in the back way.’

‘I didn't mean——’

‘Grow up, Stacy!’ He was angry now. ‘Do you think the fact that we just disappear is going to give them any less food for thought? I would have thought it would have given them even more to get their teeth into.’

‘Damn you!’ Her eyes blazed angrily. ‘Damn you, damn you!’ She flung open the door and marched into the room, uncaring about whether or not he followed her in.

She walked gracefully across the room with unhurried steps, looking to neither left nor right, a defiant look to her mouth and an angry glitter to her eyes. As she reached the reception area the anger started to leave her tensed body. After all, she shouldn't let a comparative stranger annoy her like this.

It wasn't until she put her hand out to press the lift button and a long tanned muscular hand beat her to it that she realised Jake was standing beside her. She stubbornly refused to look at him, although all her senses told her it was him, from the pleasant aroma of his aftershave to the much more potent male smell that belonged exclusively to him. He had done nothing but anger or excite her since the moment they had met, and she would no longer give him that satisfaction.

Once inside the lift she still kept her eyes averted, although it was becoming increasingly difficult to do so. Finally she just had to look at him, the silence between them oppressive, only to find his caressing gaze fixed on her face.

‘Oh!’ she gasped, looking hurriedly away again.

He moved to stand in front of her, a hand on the wall either side of her head, his body only just separate from her own. He looked at her beneath lowered lids. ‘I told you I like the tempter. You won't get rid of me that way.’

‘I wasn't trying——’

‘Oh yes, you were, and we both know why. If what I said earlier bothers you that much just forget I said it.’

‘It isn't the sort of thing you can forget,’ she retorted. ‘It isn't every day a man tells me he'd like to go to bed with me.’

‘Maybe other men don't tell you, but they think it.’ He lifted her chin so that she had no choice but to look at him. ‘Is it because I'm so much older than you that you find the prospect so daunting? Or is it that you think I only want you for one night and then I'll pass on to another conquest?’

‘Both of those things,’ she croaked. And more, much more!

‘I can't refute the latter, I have no idea how a relationship between us would turn out, and I've never considered my age a barrier before. Or is it the experience that goes with the age that bothers you, the other women I've known and left?’

‘Yes! And—and we've known each other such a short time.’

Suddenly he had moved away and was standing on the other side of the lift, extracting a long thin cheroot from a gold case before lighting it. ‘I wouldn't insult you by asking you to go to bed right now,’ he said. ‘All the best things in life are worth waiting for—and you're one of them. It will happen in your time, not mine. Will you go swimming with me in the morning?’

She should be perfectly safe with him in the hotel swimming pool, and she would like to see him again. ‘What time?’ she asked.

‘Ten o'clock?’

She could be making a mistake, and yet she wanted to see him. ‘Fine. I'll meet you in the reception area.’

Jake held the doors open so that the lift couldn't move. ‘Off you go to your room—I won't come any further and frighten you any more. Ten o'clock downstairs,’ he reminded her as she hurried to her room.

As she let herself in with her key Stacy had a last impression of him leaning against one of the lift doors, watching her progress with dark brooding eyes.

She heaved a sigh of relief as she leant back against the door. These sort of things didn't happen in real life, being pursued by tall, dark, handsome men with a stated intent on her virtue. But it was happening to her.

She was in bed pretending to be asleep when Juliet came up to bed. She had no wish to answer questions about Jake, especially questions she had no answer to. It was for this reason that she also pretended to be asleep the next morning as Juliet got ready to go down to breakfast. Once her friend had left Stacy got up and ordered herself some coffee. She didn't intend seeing anyone who could ask embarrassing questions.

Jake was already waiting for her when she arrived downstairs at ten past ten, looking at her impatiently as she moved to the desk to leave a message for Matthew telling him she wouldn't be needing transport into London after all.

‘Good morning,’ Jake greeted softly. He was dressed in cream slacks and a matching short-sleeved shirt opened almost to his waist in the heat of the day. He looked very attractive, his skin appearing very dark against his cream clothing.

Stacy eyes alighted on the picnic basket at his side. ‘What's in the basket?’ she asked lightly.

‘Our lunch.’

‘Lunch?’ she frowned. ‘Surely we won't need that by the pool.’

‘We aren't going to the pool.’

She looked up at him. ‘We—we aren't?’

He shook his head. ‘I've borrowed Payne's motor launch. We're going for a ride along the coast to find a secluded beach where I can seduce you in private.’

CHAPTER THREE

SO much for her being safe by the pool! ‘You didn't tell me that last night,’ she said resentfully. ‘I automatically took it you meant the pool.’

‘Does it matter?’ Jake looked bored.

‘Of course it matters,’ she said sharply.

‘Why? Don't answer that, I think I can guess,’ his voice taunted. ‘You didn't expect to be alone with me today. Well, I'm not going to the pool so that all your friends can stare at us. I'm going out in the boat anyway, you please yourself if you come with me.’ He picked up the picnic basket. ‘But if you're too scared …’ he shrugged, walking away.

Stacy caught up with him as he got in the low two-seater sports car parked outside, throwing the basket in the space at the back of the car. She got in beside him, her rolled-up towel on her knee. ‘I'm not frightened of you,’ she glared at him furiously.

The car shot away with a roar, its driver turning to grin at her. ‘I knew you wouldn't be able to resist a challenge like that.’

‘Why, you——!’

‘Fair's fair, Stacy. Last night you did agree to come with me.’

‘Yes, but—— Oh, never mind,’ she said impatiently. ‘I bet you always win an argument.’

‘I try to. I was a very spoilt little boy.’

‘I can imagine,’ she retorted dryly.

‘And I can imagine you as a very charming little girl.’

‘I wasn't,’ she laughed. ‘I was hateful. I was plump, had crooked teeth, and so many freckles it was hard to see where one ended and another began.’

His gaze ran over her appreciatively in her lemon slacks and black vest-top. ‘Looking at you now I would never believe it.’

She blushed in confusion, realising she had invited that compliment. ‘Oh, I should believe it, Jake, the hateful little girl underneath hasn't changed very much.’

‘Is that a warning?’

‘If you like.’

He laughed softly. ‘I like a challenge too. No man has ever liked to win a woman too easily, just as he doesn't like to be the pursued instead of the pursuer.’

‘You think you're going to win with me?’

‘I'm hoping so.’

She gave a pitying smile. ‘I wish you luck.’

‘I don't like the sound of that.’

‘You weren't meant to.’

They were nearing the harbour now, the gleaming boats bobbing at their moorings. Jake parked the car, apparently knowing which boat belonged to Martin Payne. He carried the picnic basket over to a white gleaming boat, its sleek lines beautifully reflected in the still water.

‘I didn't expect anything like this.’ She looked about the luxurious interior, coming back up on deck to sit on one of the plush leather seats.

Jake stowed the picnic basket down in the galley, unpacking a bottle of wine to put it in the small refrigerator provided. He came back up into the sunshine. ‘Just what did you expect?’

She shrugged. ‘I'm not really sure.’

He grinned. ‘But certainly not this. I do know how to work it, you know.’

Stacy looked at him, squinting in the bright sunshine. ‘I never for a moment doubted it.’

He laughed softly. ‘Are you ready to leave?’

‘Mm,’ she took a deep breath of the sea air. ‘I'm going to like this.’

‘I hope so.’ He quickly untied their moorings, guiding the boat out of the quiet harbour before increasing the speed.

Stacy threw back her head, laughing as the wind blew through her hair. ‘Mm,’ she sighed, laying back on the seat that stretched across the back of the boat, ‘this is relaxing.’

Jake turned briefly to look at her, his sunglasses shielding his eyes. ‘Did you bring any suntan oil with you? We're very lucky to be having such warm weather for this time of year, and although it may seem quite breezy out here the reflection of the sun on the water will burn your skin.’

She sat up, delving into the recesses of her shoulder-bag. She held up the tube of oil with a smile. ‘I thought I had some.’

‘Would you like me to rub it on for you?’ he asked softly.

Stacy blushed, imagining those long tapered fingers moving slowly over her body. ‘No, thank you,’ she said primly.

He grinned at her. ‘I somehow thought you would say that. Did you bring a costume with you?’

‘I have it on under my clothes.’ Thank goodness she had thought to take this precaution! She wouldn't have relished the idea of getting into her bikini with this man so near.

‘Why don't you strip off and try to get a tan?’

‘Er—no. I think I'll wait until we reach the cove.’

He shrugged. ‘Please yourself. Take the helm for a while so I can get out of these hot clothes.’

She stood up, looking at the controls uncertainly. ‘I'm not sure …’

‘Relax, honey. I'll be standing right behind you.’

She sat down on the chair he had vacated for her, shivering slightly as his arms came either side of her from behind to place her hands on the controls. His warm breath gently moved her hair against her cheek and she kept her head held rigid, conscious of just how close he was. She had only to turn her head slightly to the right and his mouth would be against her cheek.

But she wasn't going to turn her head! She had to be careful with this dangerous man, simply because he was dangerous. He ate up and spat out little girls like her almost every day of his life.

‘Perhaps that's what I'm afraid of,’ she said huskily.

‘You needn't be,’ Jake murmured close against her ear. ‘I won't ever do anything to you that you don't want me to.’

‘Then I wish you'd move away from me.’ She gulped. ‘I don't like it,’ she lied.

The arms about her were instantly removed and he moved to stand beside her. He started unbuttoning the rest of his shirt, pulling it out of the waistband of his trousers. ‘Is that really true?’ he asked softly.

She was aware of his bare torso as his hands lowered to the fastening of his trousers. She turned hurriedly away. ‘Yes,’ she snapped.

He threw his clothes down into the cabin and Stacy was tempted to turn and look at him. He was dressed only in navy-blue swimming trunks that moulded to his lean hips. His body was tanned a deep brown all over, at least as far as she could see, a dark mat of hair covering his chest and finishing at his navel. His body was firm and muscular, and he was in much better condition physically than a lot of men half his age. He was just a damned attractive man—and each moment Stacy found herself becoming more and more attracted to him.

He took over the steering of the boat. ‘Are you sure you don't want to take off those things?’

‘Very sure.’ She studiously ignored him, as she rubbed oil into her bare arms.

‘I'll see you when we get to the beach,’ he taunted. ‘I take it you are going to swim today?’

‘I am.’

‘Then I'll just have to wait until then,’ he sighed.

‘Shame!’ she teased, forgetting to be distant with him. ‘I can assure you that I don't have anything any other woman doesn't have. In fact, I'm a bit on the skinny side.’

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