His After-Hours Mistress

And when she looked into the smoky depths of his eyes Lucinda saw compassion and wondered if he was suggesting himself. He didn’t stand a cat in hell’s chance. She definitely felt attracted to him, but that was pure sex, nothing more. When, or if, she ever did fall in love again he would have to be someone special, someone whom she could trust and love unconditionally, and who felt the same way. Zane Alexander most definitely didn’t fit that bill.

She pulled her hand away, trying to do it so that he didn’t realise how much he had the power to disturb her. And she broke off a piece of bread and popped it into her mouth.

‘Anyway, we’re not here to talk about ourselves,’ she said firmly.

‘So what else is there to talk about?’

Anything but themselves!

‘Would you like to tell me what you’re thinking of doing to my bedroom, for instance?’ he asked with a hint of a smile.

Swift heat flooded her. Bedrooms were as much a taboo subject as Simon and her manless state. She still thought of silver and grey and ice-blue, although maybe the ice part wasn’t right any more. He was a man of passion. Maybe hot red or fiery purple would make more sense.

Careful not to let him see that the thought of discussing his bedroom disturbed her, she looked at him with cool green eyes. ‘You’ve not yet given me time to come up with any ideas.’

‘There’s a reason behind that,’ he announced calmly.

Lucinda frowned.

‘Before you can design for me you need to get to know me. Properly know me, I mean. Isn’t that the way you usually work?’

‘I like to get a general idea of what clients like and dislike, a little about their personalities perhaps, but—’

‘That’s exactly what I mean,’ Zane declared in triumph. ‘My personality! Can you honestly say that you know me yet?’

She knew enough, thought Lucinda. Enough to want to steer clear of him, to avoid him like the plague, in fact. Even now, sitting here, talking to him, she couldn’t ignore his sexuality. Even his hair was sexy. It was dry now and back to its golden colour, totally untamed, and she wanted to run her fingers through it and stroke it into place. Crazy, she knew, but she couldn’t help herself.

‘No, you can’t, can you?’ he said when she didn’t answer. ‘We need a few days together before you start the thinking process. We’ll go into Castries together, and you can look all you like at whatever it is you need to look at, but primarily it should be pleasure, not work. We’ll dine there—I know a perfect restaurant—and then—’

‘Stop!’ It was Lucinda’s turn to hold up her hand. ‘Don’t run away with yourself. My time’s money, don’t forget. The longer I’m here, the more it’s going to cost you.’

‘I don’t mind,’ he declared indifferently, just as she had known he would. ‘I haven’t had a proper holiday in years.’

‘This isn’t a holiday,’ she reminded him.

His voice went an octave lower. ‘Wouldn’t you like it to be?’

Yes, she would, very much so. But it was far too dangerous. Zane was dangerous. The most dangerous man she had ever met. He was sex on two legs. He did dangerous things to her without even trying.

Even now, sitting here in this most beautiful of places, she was indifferent to her surroundings. Zane was the whole focus of her attention. He had made it that way. And, try as she might, she could not rid herself of him. He filled her thoughts to the extent of all else. How she was going to complete the job she was being paid for she did not know.

‘You haven’t answered my question.’ The low rumble of his voice as he leaned slightly forward reverberated through her nerve-endings as though he was touching each one of them singly, as though he was tuning her body for—for whatever he wanted to do to her. Lucinda felt her breathing quicken and she was afraid to look at him.

‘Business and pleasure don’t mix,’ she declared firmly. Was it she who’d said that before, or Zane? She couldn’t remember. Nothing in her mind was clear any more.

‘It seems to me that you need taking in hand, Lucinda Oliver,’ he said sternly. ‘You’re far too serious. Come, eat some more breakfast and we’ll go out and have fun.’

Castries was a mixture of ancient and modern—glass, concrete and steel vied with wooden buildings with graceful balconies and latticework. ‘It’s because they’ve had a series of fires over the centuries,’ Zane told her when Lucinda commented on the diversity of the architecture.

The market-place was busy and colourful and full of the aroma of spices and tropical fruit. Everyone was friendly and talkative and Lucinda began to relax and enjoy herself. Zane too was being friendly and nothing more. He made no demands of her and for this she was grateful.

They left the main shopping area until last and when Lucinda lost herself in swathes of materials and grew ecstatic over oceans of beautiful furniture Zane left her to her own devices. He was either bored, she decided, or being tactful. Whichever, she appreciated it and when she finally decided that she’d had enough she was weighed down with brochures and samples and ideas.

They had arranged to meet at a restaurant he had pointed out to her earlier. The best one in Castries, so Zane had said. An attentive waiter took away her packages and showed her to the bar where Zane was waiting for her. At first she did not see him; then she discovered him sitting in a deep armchair—and opposite him, laughing at something he had said, was a very beautiful young woman, dusky-skinned and black-haired and very, very sensuous.

For a few seconds Lucinda stood watching them. She saw an intimacy that made her feel uneasy. Zane was at his flirtatious best and his companion was hanging on to his every word, and on to every look from those gorgeous bluey-grey eyes and every breath that he took.

Lucinda suddenly felt as if she was an unwanted third party. Her happiness evaporated as quickly as smoke from a chimney and she turned swiftly on her heel. At the same time Zane looked up and saw her.

CHAPTER SIX

‘LUCINDA!’

Lucinda ignored Zane. She didn’t want to listen to any fancy excuses. He had just compounded her belief that members of the female sex were his playthings. And, Lord help her, she had almost fallen into the trap herself.

It was maybe a good thing that she had caught him working his charm. Judging by what she had seen, his companion was well and truly besotted. Was it someone he had picked up while waiting for her? Or someone he already knew? Whatever the case, Lucinda felt well and truly let down. In fact she felt an idiot. She had been in grave danger of making a very big fool of herself.

‘Lucinda!’ Zane’s hand fell heavily on her shoulder. ‘Where are you going?’

‘I didn’t want to intrude on what looked like a very cosy twosome,’ she told him coolly, shrugging his hand away and continuing her swift exit.

‘Nonsense, you wouldn’t be intruding,’ said Zane firmly. ‘Serafine is a friend of mine; I’d like you to meet her.’

‘Why?’ she demanded. ‘You were clearly bored following me around—I did tell you that I’d prefer to do the job my myself—and she is a welcome diversion. I have no wish to come between you.’ She hated to acknowledge the fact, even to herself, that she felt deadly jealous of Zane’s beautiful friend and she most certainly wasn’t going to let Zane know. ‘I’ll make my own way back.’

‘Oh, no, you won’t,’ growled Zane. ‘You’ll join us for dinner.’ And he took her by the elbow and forcibly led her across the room.

Serafine smiled as they approached. ‘Lucinda, it’s good to meet you,’ she exclaimed. ‘Zane has told me how clever you are.’

Lucinda wanted to ignore Serafine’s outstretched hand, but one glance at Zane’s stern face and she decided against it. ‘It is good to meet a friend of Zane’s too,’ she said quietly, hoping she sounded more sincere than she felt.

‘I would not know where to start if I were transforming his house. It is all right when you are doing it for yourself, but for someone else—how do you do that? Unless you know that person intimately?’

Lucinda had no wish to discuss her job with this woman, with her huge expressive brown eyes and a wide smile which revealed beautifully even white teeth. She was stunning, and would have been even if she weren’t dressed in a haute couture suit and expensive jewellery.

Serafine fingered a diamond and emerald ring as she looked at Zane and Lucinda couldn’t help wondering whether he had bought it for her. The way Serafine kept touching it, and the way she looked at Zane as she did so, was highly suspicious. Maybe Serafine had been throwing out a big hint when she’d mentioned intimate relationships. Not that it worried her. Why should it? She already knew that Zane was into relationships. Nothing permanent, just fun while they lasted!

And she had very nearly become a statistic! Just as Serafine would be one! Did the girl know it? Was she as used as Zane to playing the field?

‘You do need to get to know your client,’ she answered. ‘Their preferences, their dislikes, et cetera. It would be pointless filling a place with furniture that they absolutely hated.’

‘Hence you and Zane staying in the house together?’ suggested Serafine, her brown eyes steady on Lucinda’s. ‘Zane is a man of mystery as far as I am concerned. He never tells me much about himself. Maybe now that he has bought a house here it will change? Perhaps I will see more of him.’ Her eyes switched to Zane, brilliant and flirtatious, suggesting that she would like something far more permanent from their relationship.

Zane’s smile was enigmatic; Lucinda was not sure what to read into it. Serafine, on the other hand, touched her hand to his and he took it, his smile changing, becoming gradually more intimate. ‘Maybe,’ he agreed, his voice a low seductive growl.

Lucinda wanted to get up and walk out; she felt sickened by this open display of—of what? Not simple affection, that was for sure. Lust, perhaps. Physical need. As she had once experienced with Zane!

It had been powerful and she regretted it now. And, looking at Serafine, she knew that this woman had also experienced the magic of Zane’s kisses. They’d probably even made love! Lucinda’s throat closed painfully and she wanted to get up and walk away, but of course that was impossible. She had no intention of letting Zane know how much his attitude towards Serafine affected her.

She was annoyed with herself actually for feeling this way—especially so soon after the Simon affair.

‘What would you like to drink, Lucinda?’ Zane’s attention was once again on her.

‘Whatever you’re having,’ she answered with a shrug. She didn’t care. What she really wanted was to go home. Home? It was odd to be calling Zane’s house home, but she supposed that that was what it was for the time being, and she ought to be there working, not sitting around with Zane and one of his female friends.

With her drink placed in front of her Lucinda continued to seethe over the situation into which she had been forced, and when the three of them went through to the restaurant she felt like screaming. Nevertheless she did her best to be pleasant and talkative and when the time came for them to leave she smiled warmly at Serafine. ‘It’s been nice meeting you.’

‘You too,’ agreed the other woman. ‘You must ask Zane to bring you to my restaurant again.’

‘That was Serafine’s restaurant?’ asked Lucinda with a frown once she had collected her parcels and they were outside. ‘She owns it?’

Zane smiled and nodded, taking the packets off Lucinda and tucking them beneath his arm. ‘She’s some girl. It’s not the only place she owns.’

‘But she never said.’ Lucinda felt that she had been left in ignorance deliberately.

‘That’s because she’s extremely modest,’ said Zane, more than a hint of admiration in his voice.

‘Have you known her long?’

‘We met at a conference in England a few years ago,’ he answered and Lucinda thought she saw a faraway look in his eyes. ‘And I’ve seen her on and off ever since. I’m very fond of her.’

And Serafine was more than fond of Zane!

‘Why all the questions?’ His blue eyes levelled on hers curiously. ‘Forgive me for saying it, but you sound jealous.’

‘Me? Jealous?’ Lucinda was alarmed to hear a faint squeak in her voice. ‘Why would I be jealous of a friend of someone I’m simply doing a job for?’

‘You did kiss me.’

He looked highly indignant and Lucinda was about to make some scathing remark when she realised that he was teasing her and she smiled faintly. ‘Nevertheless,’ she said firmly, ‘I have no intention of being one of your numerous conquests.’

‘Numerous?’ he repeated, his eyes narrowing.

‘I bet there’s a girl in every corner of the world willing to go to bed with you.’

‘You think Serafine and I are lovers?’

‘Well, aren’t you?’

Zane gave a mysterious smile. ‘My private life is just that, Lucinda. Private.’

They reached the car, where the driver sat patiently waiting, and as she climbed into it Lucinda was left thinking the worst. It shouldn’t have worried her; Zane was employing her to do a job for him—nothing more, nothing less. The fact that he had kissed her was of no consequence. It meant nothing to him; it should have meant nothing to her. The trouble was she couldn’t forget the kiss. It played over and over in her mind and she hated to admit it but she wanted more.

The next day Lucinda kept well out of Zane’s way, studying the rooms, consulting her samples, doing the work she was being paid to do. She had brought her laptop with her and spent time building up composites of each of the rooms in turn. In fact she kept herself so busy that until she stopped work she wasn’t aware that Zane had left the house.

‘Mr Alexander went out before lunch,’ the maid informed her, and it wasn’t difficult to guess where he had gone. Zane craved female company and since she wasn’t making herself available…

Images of the beautiful Serafine kept popping into her head and when Zane didn’t come home until late that evening Lucinda knew that her assumption was correct.

‘Where are you going?’ he asked as he walked into the house and saw her heading towards her bedroom.

‘Bed, of course,’ she answered. ‘It’s late.’

‘You’ve shut me out the whole day,’ he said. ‘I think I deserve a little of your time now.’

‘I’ve shut you out?’ she questioned sharply. ‘I’ve merely been doing the job you’re paying me for.’

‘And I have been out on business too. So a little leisure time together will do us both good.’ He sounded cross, as though he was paying her to spend time with him and she was failing in her duty.

‘If you insist,’ she conceded irritably. ‘I am rather tired, though; I’ve had a busy day.’

‘And a productive one, I hope?’ he asked, an eyebrow raised questioningly. ‘When am I going to see these ideas of yours?’

‘Whenever you like,’ answered Lucinda. ‘I’m about ready to discuss them with you. I realise that there will probably be things you don’t like, but—’

‘Hold on!’ Zane held up his hand. ‘I have no intention of talking business tonight. I simply want your company.’

And what else? she couldn’t help wondering. But it didn’t stop her agreeing to stay with him. In actual fact she wanted his company too, needed it even. One taste of him and she had become infatuated. One taste and she wanted more, even though she had sworn to herself that she would never let him kiss her again. Surely they could sit together and talk like two sensible adults and not take their relationship any further?

They sat outside beneath the moon and the stars, sipping wine and not saying very much at all. The sky was midnight-blue. The sea shimmered with silver highlights. There were a few sounds of the night—faint strains of music from one of the boats moored far below them, an animal moving through the undergrowth, cicadas chirruping—and their own breathing!

Zane’s was deep and regular, as though he had fallen asleep. Lucinda glanced across and was startled to see that he was watching her.

‘Have you any idea how beautiful you look in the moonlight?’ he asked.

Lucinda shook her head. ‘I don’t want your compliments.’

‘Then that’s a pity because I believe that all beautiful woman should receive their fair share. And you’re lovelier than most, Lucinda. I’m very fortunate to have obtained your services.’

‘You have no idea yet how I’ll perform,’ she retorted.

‘Oh, I think I do.’

Maybe his expression wasn’t clear but the meaning in his voice certainly was and Lucinda huffed. ‘I’m talking about my work.’ And her body went hot all over.

‘Naturally,’ he agreed, and she could hear a smile in his voice.

Lucinda shook her head vigorously and her hair, which she had brushed earlier and left loose about her shoulders, flew over her face. She flicked it away with an impatient hand.

‘You should have let me do that,’ growled Zane, inching closer. ‘You have gorgeous hair, Lucinda. Has anyone ever told you that? I wish you would wear it down more often.’ And then he surprised her with a complete change of subject. ‘Are you afraid of men?’ he asked, his voice low and considered.

‘I’m not afraid of you,’ retorted Lucinda.

Zane raised his brows. ‘No? Most women I know wouldn’t settle for sitting quietly by my side. They’d want something more.’

‘I’m not most women.’

‘And, as I said, it’s because of Simon.’

Their eyes met and held and Lucinda felt the disturbing power of him. ‘If all you want to talk to me about is my ex-fiancé then I’m going to bed,’ she declared crossly, jumping to her feet.

Lucinda stuck her nose in the air, spun on her heel and walked away. To her relief, Zane let her go. But later, as she lay in bed, she couldn’t help wondering why he had asked all those questions. And it made her think about Simon, to wonder how much she had really enjoyed his lovemaking.

Would it be better with Zane? He certainly made her feel different. Even that one kiss had stirred emotions she had never felt before. What sort of a lover would Zane be? The answer was simple. Exciting! Innovative! Passionate! Considerate! All of these things and more.

And why was she even thinking about it when she had no intention of ever letting him touch her again? Because, answered an inner voice, you want to know what it feels like to be made love to by an expert in the art of seduction. His kiss has given you a taste of what a powerful lover he can be and you want more. Admit it!

She couldn’t get to sleep and even when Zane went to bed over an hour later she still lay there thinking about him. When finally she did drop off to sleep she was woken what seemed like mere seconds later by a loud noise. She shot up in bed and listened. There it was again. It sounded like someone trying to break into the house. Goosebumps rose on her skin. Had Zane heard? She couldn’t hear him moving.

Thoroughly scared but knowing that she needed to do something, Lucinda left her room and pushed open Zane’s door. Instantly he was awake. ‘Lucinda, what’s wrong?’

‘I heard a noise, like someone breaking in,’ she said in a loud whisper.

Zane sprang out of bed—and, to Lucinda’s horror, he was naked. Quickly she averted her eyes, even though the room was lit only by moonlight. And he didn’t even bother to put anything on before he raced out of the room.

Lucinda stayed where she was, fearful of the feelings he had aroused in her—feelings which were much more intense than those of fear she had felt earlier. It was wrong, all wrong, and she didn’t know what to do about it. If Zane should continue to demand her company, if he should attempt to kiss her again, would she be weak and foolish? Or would she find an inner strength?

When he returned she was still standing in the dark in his bedroom. ‘Panic over!’ he said quietly. ‘It was a mongoose. Nothing to worry about.’

Zane touched his hand to Lucinda’s arm and when he felt her trembling he pulled her hard against him. She felt soft and warm and vulnerable and a whole host of sensations rushed through his body. This woman was so different from any other he had known. She might own her own business—was indeed very successful, according to all that he’d heard—but beneath her veneer was a hurt woman. And he wanted to do something about it; he wanted to help her through her pain, to protect her, help her to see that there were men in the world who would treat her as she deserved to be treated.

Why he should feel angry that her fiancé had let her down he didn’t know, but he did. Very much so. And if he ever met him…His thoughts ended there. He wasn’t sure what he would do, but it wouldn’t be gentlemanly, that was certain. And why he was associating her fear now with Simon, he wasn’t sure about either. But somehow he felt the two were intermingled.

‘It’s all right,’ he said softly in her ear. ‘There’s nothing more to worry about. I’ll take care of you.’ And when she didn’t struggle, when she didn’t attempt to move away from him, his arms tightened about her.

‘It’s because I’m in a strange place,’ Lucinda excused herself. ‘I’m not normally scared of the slightest sound.’ And she lifted her face to his.

There was nothing he could do about it. His lips came down on hers almost of their own volition. He tasted sweetness and hunger as well as faint fear. And when she didn’t resist he guided her over to the bed.

They lay down together, mouths still clinging, and when Lucinda’s arms wrapped around him he drew in a deep shuddering breath. He wanted to make love to her but knew that he daren’t. Not yet. There was much ground to cover first; it was too soon—she was only just starting to put her trust in him.

Was she really doing that? Trusting him not to take advantage? Simply to kiss her and comfort her and make her feel better? It couldn’t be. She wanted him to make love to her, otherwise why would she have remained in his room? Why would she have let him kiss her? Why would she have put up no resistance when he led her to the bed?

Once he had followed those thoughts through, Zane no longer stemmed the tide of passion that filled him.

Lucinda knew that what she was doing was crazy but there was something inside her that refused to let go. She wanted his kisses; she wanted him to make love to her. She wanted everything he had to give. Something exciting had happened to her out here on this tropical island and all she wanted now was Zane.

Her job was forgotten; it was as though she was here with this man for a very different purpose—the cleansing of Simon from her system! Zane was the only person who could do it, who could make her forget. She would let him bury himself in her, let him transport her to a world where only senses mattered—and what happened after that—well, she would take care of that when the time came. For now she would lose herself in an affair that she would remember for the rest of her life. It was totally unlike her, went against every principle she held, but strangely it felt right.

Thumb and forefinger played with her nipple through the thin cotton of her nightdress, sending spirals of pleasure through every inch of her body. ‘Take my nightie off,’ she urged him, lying back with her arms above her head.

Zane needed no second bidding and this time it was his mouth that pleasured her, closing over her nipples, playing one against the other, making her squirm and wriggle and cry out in deepest pleasure. She threaded her fingers through the thick springiness of his hair and held him against her, not wanting him to ever stop.

‘This is all right for you?’ He paused and lifted his head slightly to look at her, his eyes dark and seductive in the moonlight. In fact the whole of him felt seductive, his body shining as though cast in pewter—except that it didn’t feel like hard metal at all; it felt warm and firm and infinitely touchable.

She traced her fingers over his back, feeling muscle and sinew and warm, intoxicating man, and she felt as if she wanted to keep him close to her for ever more. Of course she knew that wasn’t possible, but she could dream, couldn’t she? She could take a few moments in the time span of life to let her hair down and enjoy herself. Since the death of her father she had taken life very seriously—it was time for a change.