Bound To Love (13 page)

‘I’ll see you tomorrow then.’

She felt hot and needy. If they kept talking she’d be taking the phone upstairs with her and stripping off there and then.

Jake sounded disappointed. ‘OK.’

His tone switched to teasing, ‘Oh, and I’ve something to ask you, but I’ll leave that until I see you.’

He had to know that she was terrible at waiting.

‘What is it?’

‘I’ll tell you tomorrow.’

‘Spoilsport.’ She locked the back door, mentally running through a checklist of things to do before leaving. ‘I’ll see you soon.’

Tempest dressed quickly and packed everything she needed into the car. She hung her black silk cheongsam from the hook above the back seat and stashed her new matching perilously high stilettos carefully in their travelling bag and then walked up the garden to let Skye know she was leaving.

‘I’m going to London.’

‘What, now?’ Skye’s gaze swept her, taking in the high heels and black silk coat, and the hair swept artfully up into a topknot with a few wispy curls framing her face. ‘You look very nice.’ She circled Tempest, a grin spreading across her face. She sniffed, ‘Smell lovely too. Going to see anyone I know?’

‘Jake. I’ll see you tomorrow night at the party.’

‘Does he know you’re coming?’ Skye knew her sister well. ‘Are you sure he’s going to be in?’

‘I know he’s in, and I know exactly where he is. He says he has a surprise for me, and you know how I am about surprises.’ One look from Skye and Tempest spilled it. ‘But no, he doesn’t know I’m coming. I just decided.’

Skye’s tone was disapproving. ‘On impulse.’

‘Yeah, on impulse, but I’ve got a feeling about it, Skye.’ Tempest lowered her voice and walked right out on a limb, hoping no zealous lumberjack was planning to cut it off. ‘I think Jake might be the man for me.’

If she wasn’t watching so closely she might have missed the grimace and the quick eye roll.

‘I’m a big girl, Skye. I can take care of myself.’

Her sister put down the dish she was holding. ‘I know Tee, I just worry, that’s all. You’ve been hurt before and what do you really know about Jake? Everything’s moving so fast.’

‘You married Daniel a week after meeting him,’ she teased. ‘I’m only going for a visit.’

‘I know, but…’ Confronted by the facts of her own impulsive foray into romance, Skye’s lecture trailed off into silence. She hadn’t a hope of winning this argument, they both knew it. ‘We’ll see you tomorrow.’

Skye pulled Tempest close and kissed her on the cheek.

‘You look amazing. Knock him dead.’

The evening sky was growing dark with threatening clouds as she pulled up outside Jake’s office building. It had been an easy run, the roads free of traffic. Lights were on in the lobby and in the Penthouse above. Tempest breathed in deeply. Even though he’d told her not to come, he wanted her there. She knew it.

Outside, the wind snatched at her coat. She pulled the lapels close, glancing up at the darkening sky. The smell of rain was in the air, if she hurried she’d get to the entrance before it struck. Her heels tapped on the path as she dashed to the entrance and rang the bell. If she’d glanced behind her she might have seen the motionless figure watching from the dark confines of the car across the street. But she didn’t look.

Chapter Eight

‘I’m here to see Mr. Forrester.’

She fingered the gold ball on its chain around her neck as the doorman opened the door.

‘Is he expecting you, Miss…?’

‘MacKenzie. Yes he is.’

There was no point telling the tall man in uniform that it was a surprise visit.

‘I’ll call him.’ He picked up the phone and spoke quietly for a moment. ‘The lift is over there. Press P.’

Her heels clicked on the smooth marble, and she exhaled as the doors closed. The lift had mirrored walls and her reflection looked back at her. There was a wrinkle in her stocking and she smoothed it nervously. It was a little late to wonder if he would be happy to see her. Large numbers counted up steadily on the display above the door. Nine, ten, penthouse. The doors slid open and Jake stood in front of her.

The clever quip that she’d practised in the car died on her lips at the look in his eyes. He took one step forward and pulled her into his arms, his lips coming down on hers urgently.

‘This is a surprise.’

Her heartbeat thundered off the scale as he pulled her into the sitting room and kicked the door shut. She wound her arms around his neck. It had been a good idea. A very good idea. Jake pressed her against the wall and claimed her mouth. His hands skimmed over her face, like a blind man feeling his way. Eventually he eased back, keeping her pinned between strong arms planted firmly on the wall behind her.

‘I couldn’t wait,’ she whispered.

‘I can’t wait either.’ He kissed the base of her neck, as his hands slid over her hips to pull her closer.

‘I couldn’t wait to find out what my surprise is,’ she whispered as wild waves of sensation flooded over her.

His eyebrows raised. ‘I thought you couldn’t wait to see me?’

‘Well, that too.’

Tempest reached down and undid the belt that held her black raincoat in place, opening it slowly before unbuttoning the row of buttons that held it closed. Slowly, as if listening to her own private soundtrack she slid first one shoulder then the other from the coat, easing it from her body and letting it pool at her feet.

She’d had second thoughts about her crazy plan as she drove through the threatening storm, but the heated look in his eyes as they scanned her red lace bra and matching panties and the garter belt that held her stockings up proved her instincts were right on the money.

‘Aw, Red. And it’s not even my birthday.’ He grinned as she arched her back and reached both hands out to him. He nuzzled her ear. ‘You’re crazy, do you know that? What would have happened if you’d had a flat tyre?’

‘I would have kept my coat on.’

His warm lips were moving down her neck now, and she stroked her hands up and around the back of his neck, wanting him with a fierce urgency. He bent to slide his hand around the back of her knees, then picked her up in his strong arms and strode into the bedroom. Jake placed her on the bed and knelt on the floor next to her. He pulled his T-shirt over his head.

Lazily, he stroked her ribcage, eyes never leaving hers.

‘Come here,’ she muttered huskily, touching her lips with her fingers.

He needed no further invitation to rise from his knees and slide his body over hers, propping himself up on one elbow to keep his full weight off her. He kissed her hard, frantically undoing her bra and tossing it to the floor. She moaned as he drew her nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. Sensation arrowed through her to her core and she moaned as her hands tangled in his hair.

His voice was dark and deep. ‘Red.’

Her insides clenched as his fingers stroked her, heat flaring as their urgency built to fever pitch. He sank his length into her and buried his face in her neck, nuzzling up to take her ear lobe between his lips and biting gently as their bodies moved feverishly together, carrying them both away.

****

‘Do you want some orange juice?’ Jake asked.

‘Thanks.’

Jake pulled the carton from the fridge and poured two long glasses. Tempest walked up to wrap her arms around him from behind and hugged him tightly.

‘What’s that for?’

‘Dunno. I just felt the need, that’s all.’

She followed him into the sitting room, settling down on the deep sofa in the darkness. He reached for a lamp.

‘Don’t, it’s nicer in the dark.’

Tempest worried her bottom lip with her teeth and waited a beat. Maybe she shouldn’t have come, but the compulsion to be with him had wiped away her doubts. Now, their passion spent, her doubts were back with a vengeance.

‘I’m glad you came tonight. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.’

Joy bloomed at his words.
He feels the same.

‘What have you done since I left?’

He brought the glass to his lips and drank deeply.

‘I, sir, have faced down a dragon, and emerged victorious,’ she said.

‘You’ve lost me.’

‘My mother. A long anticipated joust took place, and I unseated her.’

‘What’s this problem you have with your mother? I know you weren’t talking, but I didn’t get any more of it than that.’

Jake propped his feet up on the coffee table, and angled his head in her direction in the darkness. Buoyed by their closeness, she felt she could tell him anything. Her mother’s betrayal didn’t matter anymore. Strength flowed through her like a vibrant river. He’d been so happy to see her, her heart soared just recalling the look in his eyes as he’d pulled her in and kissed her.

‘It’s a long story, but briefly put, I had a foolish affair with a man who I didn’t realize was married. He works for my mother, and he told her I initiated the affair and was refusing to release him. She believed his side of the story and didn’t even want to hear my side of it. He told her I would tell his wife. Destroy his marriage, as well as getting him fired. My mother assured him she’d take care of it, or should I say, take care of me.’ She snuggled closer to him on the sofa. ‘We haven’t spoken since.’

‘Surely you could have just told her she was wrong?’

The bitterness rose up in her like bile. ‘She didn’t want to hear my side of the story, she believed him.’

She’d denied it to herself but the remnants of her mother’s callous disregard still stung. Jake reached for her hand, stroking its back with his thumb.

‘Well, I can understand how she might.’

His words slammed into her like a sledgehammer wielded at a locked door. She pulled her hand away, holding it to her chest as the pain swelled in her heart.

‘You don’t believe me either?’

‘Of course I believe you, but I can still understand how your mother was fooled. He must be a very persuasive person and a good liar to fool you, Red. You’re no pushover.’

Her voice was soft and quiet. ‘He was.’

Joe Delaney had persuaded her right into his bed. When she saw him with his wife the shock was devastating. That devastation was back now as Jake defended her mother.

He scooted closer, reaching for her hand again.

‘I said I understand how he fooled her, but what you didn’t give me a chance to say is that she was wrong, Red. She should have given you a chance to explain before making her decision. She should have loved you enough not to doubt you.’

He leaned in to kiss her and she puffed out the breath she’d been holding as the pain ebbed away.

****

An insistent ringing pulled Jake from sleep and he reached for the phone on the bedside table, moving Tempest’s arm from where she’d flung it over him during the night.

‘Hello?’ He glanced at the alarm clock, senses on high alert. It was barely five am.

‘Hey, pal.’ Paul’s soft tones chilled him to the bone. He scooted up in the bed and leaned against the padded headboard, gripping the receiver tightly. ‘Sorry for waking you up.’

Jake cursed himself for a fool. They’d known Paul was at large, yet hadn’t bugged the apartment. There was no way of knowing where Paul was calling from. He clenched his teeth together, mind racing with possibilities.

‘Paul. Where are you?’

His blood ran cold at the deep chuckle from the other end of the line, it didn’t sound like Paul. Not the Paul he knew anyway.

‘You’re not going to get me that easily, Jake. I’m smarter than that.’

Tempest turned towards him in her sleep and he forced his gaze away from her, focusing on a spot on the wall, ears straining to glean whatever he could from the background noise of the phone call.

‘It’s over, Paul. The police have picked up your friends, and the gold. Tell me where you are and give yourself up.’

Paul’s voice rose with cold fury. ‘No, Jake. You owe me. You threw away our chance to sign the biggest deal of the century with the Argenti Group. It would have put us on the cover of Time. But no, you just dismissed it out of hand.
It’s not what I want,
’ he whined in a cruel parody of Jake’s rejection of the plan. His voice rose to a shout. ‘Well, it’s what I goddamned wanted. It’s what I goddamned deserved!’

Tempest opened one bleary eye to peer in Jake’s direction.

‘I dropped everything to work for you. I thought you respected my opinions, but when I produced the deal of the century, you showed your true colours. It’s always all about you, man. And now you’re the golden boy and I’m in a phone box that stinks of piss, begging for a new start. A new start
you owe me
.’

He emphasized the last words, hammering home his point of view, spitting mad.

Paul must have completely lost it. There was no way Jake owed him anything. He’d given his old friend a job when the business was new. Paul’s skills were complementary, sure, but he was far from being a pivotal part of the company. Now he was delusional. Dangerously delusional.

‘You kidnapped me and threatened my mother.’

Ice froze Jake’s heart. He’d believed Paul to be his friend for so many years. Had confided in him, trusted him completely. His intuition hadn’t warned him that Paul was foe, not friend. It had done the very opposite. Paul was the one person he hadn’t treated with a healthy dose of suspicion. The only one immune from security checks. And look where blindly following his instincts had got him.

‘I don’t owe you anything.’

Beside him, Tempest sat up, eyes widening. She must have realized who he was on the phone to.

Paul’s laboured breaths seeped through the handset. They’d been friends, once. Maybe Jake could appeal to his reason.

He forced calmness into his voice, and softened his tone. ‘Give yourself up.’

Paul’s bitter tone warned him there was no going back. ‘You owe me, Jake, and you’re going to pay.’

There was a click followed by the dial tone.

‘I’ve got to call the police,’ Jake muttered, and got up to search his jeans for the card Smith had given him.

Tempest dressed quickly in the clothes from her overnight bag. Watching her, emotions tumbled through him, changing like the patterns on a kaleidoscope. Love. Anger. Terror.