Heat in the Kitchen (15 page)

'I am not….' She was cut off with a rough kiss. She fought to get her mouth away but he held her in an iron like grip, the pressure of his mouth forcing her lips back against her teeth. The moment his mouth moved she bit his lip.

'Ow! You bitch!' He slapped her across her face.

'You were such an obedient little mouse when you were younger. Now you've got some fight in you. Well, if you want it rough, I can do rough. In fact, the rougher the better. You were just a convenient lay before, something to satisfy my appetite until I got your mother in bed at night. Now, she liked it rough too. Let's see if you take after her shall we?'

With that he yanked her dress, ripping it at the seams as the top fell, exposing her bra covered breasts.

'Oh, how lovely. You know I quite missed you and your mother. But you couldn't stay, not after that headmaster of yours had reported me to the police.' He started pawing at her through her bra. 'I couldn't even stay in the country, just in case…. Well, let's just say you weren't the first. Couldn't afford to be caught now could I?'

Ella kicked out at him but he was too quick for her. With a swift pass of his foot under her knees he pushed her to the floor. She continued to struggle, tried to lash out. She got out a scream before he hit her again to shut her up.

'No-one can hear you. Your struggle and your noise are pointless. We'll have one last session, for old times' sake. If you don't come back over here I don't suppose our paths will cross again. I saw your picture in the paper you know. Knew you were here, so I wangled the chance to chauffeur my boss. I heard the kitchen staff talking about the cosy little meals you've been having with the chef. I've been watching out for you.'

The rasping, common sound of his voice sickened her. Ella frantically thrashed her legs at him as he shoved her dress up. He held them down so she lashed out with her hands and managed to scratch his face. Tears stung her eyes as the futility of her situation crashed in on her.

She felt a rush of warm air across her body as the cupboard door was yanked open. With blessed relief, the pressure from his arms loosened as he was caught by surprise. Then all hell broke loose as a number of men rushed inside the small room. Her assailant was grabbed and yanked off her while arms that had become so familiar to her lifted her from the ground.

'What the hell is going on?' Matt held her close in his arms. He turned to the man who was now struggling against his captors. 'Who the hell are you? How did you get in? If you've hurt her I swear I'll….' Matt let go of Ella and went to take a swing at the pathetic man in front of him. Someone behind him held him back.

'No my friend. You do not want to do time in our jails. Beating that pathetic excuse of a man to a pulp is not worth a week locked up.'

Matt turned to see Azzam standing there.

He read Matt's look and explained his presence. 'I was sent for. Nothing happens in this palace without my knowledge.' Azzam turned to Ella who stood there shaking, clutching her dress to her bosom. 'I apologise Ella. I am deeply ashamed that this should have happened when you are a guest in my country and in my home. Matt, take Ella and look after her, she needs you just now. I shall see to it that this man is taken care of.'

Someone shoved a chef's whites into Matt's hands to drape round Ella's shoulders as they left the room.

As they walked through the kitchen a gloating voice shouted after them. 'We were just getting reacquainted. You see if she's prepared to own up to what she was like as a child!' He turned to Azzam. 'You won't be so ashamed when you know what she was like Your Highness. You won't want a slut like her under your roof.'

Chapter 9

Ella couldn't stop shaking. She was in her suite, and the doctor had been to check her face where she'd been hit and treat her for shock. She'd scrubbed her mouth to rid herself of her assailant's smell - the taste of him.

She felt numb and cold inside - yet her skin was hot. She didn't know how they'd been found so quickly but thank heavens they had been. She remembered all too vividly what he was capable of doing to her. She pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them. She sat on the sofa like that, rocking to and fro, still dressed in the dress he'd ripped from her.

Matt had left while the doctor had been with her and he hadn't yet returned.

She felt so alone.

Just as she'd felt all those years ago when the abuse had first started. It was as if she was fourteen again - she felt trapped in her memories of the pain, the stench, the shame. Only now she was an adult, and it seemed that all the shame would come out. She remembered hearing what he'd called out as she'd been led away. What would Prince Azzam think of her? How many people had been there and heard it? Someone was bound to say something. Matt was bound to ask her what he'd meant.

She lowered her head to her knees in shame as silent tears trickled down her cheeks.

Ella saw herself as a strong person. She'd survived being raped and punished for reporting it, being cruelly removed from school and being more and more unloved by her siblings and mother. She'd built up a good life for herself with a lovely home and a career she excelled at and loved. And yet, just now, she felt broken. All the good in her life snuffed out by one flash of the past that could so nearly have ended in tragedy for her, if her rescuers hadn't arrived when they had.

Matt stood just inside the door and watched her, unobserved. She looked broken, nothing like the confident, beautiful person he thought he'd got to know. His heart ached for her.

This incident was huge. He didn't know what had happened in the past but he could hazard a guess. No wonder she froze every time they got close. He shuddered when he thought about what could have happened if Kasib hadn't followed Ella thinking she was heading for the alcove. According to his account, he'd fleetingly wondered where she'd disappeared to when he realised the cupboard door was shut, which he'd left open just minutes before because he had been putting things away.

It was apparently at that point his brain had registered there'd been a man with her and she'd looked nervous, a bit jumpy. Cursing himself, he'd shouted out instructions to anyone who'd listen and dashed to get the key for the door. Matt had arrived back in the kitchen in the midst of all this commotion, ignorant of the sight behind the door. His heart had almost stopped beating as he'd quickly assimilated the view before him.

He still wished Azzam had let him bash the guy. A week in jail would have been a small price to pay for ensuring he couldn't hurt Ella again.

Azzam had stopped him on the way back to Ella's suite and assured him that the man would be sentenced to jail for a long time for attempted rape.

Matt walked towards the sofa and crouched down.

'Ella?' He got no response. She just continued to sit there, hugging herself.

He put his hand out to her knee. Ella jumped back. 'No,' she screamed.

Matt rocked back on his heels to give her space.

'Ella, it's okay. It's over. He's in custody.'

'It's not over! It'll never be over,' she cried.

This was new territory for Matt. He felt helpless in knowing how to handle it.

'Ella, can I hold you?' She shrank back.
That's a no then
. 'Have you taken the pills the doctor gave you?'

She nodded.

'Don't you think you'd be better going to bed and resting? Do you want me to get someone to help you?' She shook her head.

Matt ran a hand through his hair. He'd never felt so helpless. Even comforting the twins when their parents had died hadn't seemed as hard as this. Maybe it was the lack of touch - he cuddled when he comforted.

He stayed there for a few more minutes and watched her torture herself. She seemed unaware of where she was or what she was doing. He couldn't ignore her any longer.

'Ella, I'm drowning here! Let me hold you - comfort you.' Before she could object he sat beside her and pulled her into his arms.

He held her close and rocked her.

Ella felt the warmth from Matt's body, felt the comfort of his touch. It was the catalyst she'd needed without realising it. She clung to him while the dam burst. It felt like the first time in twelve years that she'd really cried. She didn't recall giving in to tears way back then when she'd been no more than a child.

*

Matt's arms were cramping but he didn't dare shift his posture and disturb her. Ella had sobbed and sobbed, inconsolably. He'd just held her tight, stroking her hair, whispering words of comfort. At times the room had been filled with wracking sobs and she'd clutched his shirt tighter. For the last ten minutes she'd been snuffling one minute and sobbing the next. She seemed to be almost all cried out.

He kissed her hair.

Ella finally felt a calm wash over her. Crying had been cathartic. She didn't know if she'd cried for the loss of her innocence all those years ago, or whether it had been the fear of tonight's ordeal, but she felt ready to face Matt.

As she did so she was confronted by the state of Matt's shirt. Her head fell forward again. 'I'm so sorry.'

Matt shifted her away from him slightly and raised her chin with his finger forcing her to look at him.

'You've nothing to apologise for.' Her face was all blotchy and what remained of her makeup was streaked down her face, but Matt didn't really see any of that. He was just relieved that she had come through the abyss she'd been in.

Ella attempted a watery laugh. 'You haven't seen the state of your shirt.'

Matt looked down and laughed with her. 'Okay, apology accepted!' His shirt was very badly crumpled where she'd clung to it. There was a great big wet patch from her tears along with multi-coloured smudges mixed in from her makeup.

A knock sounded at the door.

'Why don't you go and get ready for bed, I'll see who's at the door.' Matt left her on the sofa and walked towards the door. 'And don't go getting all embarrassed when you look in the mirror!'

*

Matt had been prepared for Ella to refuse to come away with him, but she'd been remarkably compliant.

When Azzam had come to her suite last night, he'd offered his desert home to help her heal. Matt had often heard Azzam talk of the tented community and how being there had helped him come to terms with the loss of his father and the burden of becoming the ruling prince. He'd agreed that it could well be the ideal place to be, with nothing to do but rest. There would be no distractions there - no outside communication or interference - and maybe he would be able to get her to open up about her past. He was convinced she needed to do that if she was ever going to be free of its effect.

He looked across at her now as she stared out the window of the jeep towards the vast desert landscape. She'd eaten nothing at breakfast and had said little in the helicopter.

Well, Matt could be patient. They would stay until she was all talked out. He'd already phoned Zander and asked him to reschedule his filming commitments. He knew from the sound of Zander's voice that he was itching to ask what was going on but he'd learnt over the years Matt would share when he was ready and not before. Zander had confirmed that the papers had now gone quiet on Ella and her father and no other stories had appeared. Azzam had obviously succeeded in keeping last night's activity quiet, at least for now.

Just as Matt was ending the call, Zander had reminded him of the ancient Quinaard custom that assumed a man and woman to be married if they were left alone together in the desert. Matt had hung up with the sound of Zander's laughter ringing in his ears. Zander had an uncanny knack of knowing what was happening. He was very good at making assumptions that were scarily close to reality. Matt had neither confirmed nor denied where he was going and who with. He was thankful Zander was his brother and not a newspaper reporter on the lookout for his next juicy bit of gossip. The throw away comment had sent a slight shiver of fear through him at the thought of being married but not as much as it once would have done.

'Oh, look. That's so pretty.'

Matt glanced across to where Ella was pointing. A set of colourful tents set in a circle were gleaming in the desert sun. Water could be seen just over a dune and off to the left.

'Looks like we're here. Azzam said this was the only oasis in this part of Quinaard.'

The jeep drove over the sand dune away from the tents and towards the water.

'Aah! It's beautiful.'

Matt had to agree that it was. The water sparkled a bright blue as the sun bounced off it and trees and bushes were dotted along the edge. It looked like they were in a secluded cove.

'Look over there.'

Ella turned her head. 'It's a waterfall coming down from that rock.'

'Mmm, that could be a great place to cool off.'

The jeep pulled to a halt beside a large tent. Matt got out and helped Ella down. They both headed inside.

'It's like something out of the Arabian nights. It's beautiful.' The inside was cool and a welcome respite from the heat. Large oriental rugs covered the floor. Sofas and large cushions were arranged around a large, low table. As Ella admired the furnishings, Matt walked through to the back and found a shower room and sleeping area. The bed was huge and swamped by pillows. Ella came up behind him and sat on the bed. 'Oh! This is silk! Look at the stitching. I've never seen anything so delicate. It looks handmade.'

Whilst Ella admired the intricate pattern of desert flowers woven through the silk, Matt admired Ella. She looked tired but to him she was beautiful. He watched her long fingers trace round the flowers and felt his body stir as he imagined them tracing round a certain part of his body.

At that moment Ella looked up and caught the heat in his stare.

She looked nervous. 'Matt, I….'

'It's okay. I can't help how my body responds to you Ella. Nor will I apologise for wanting you but I would
never
force myself on you. I can wait 'til you're ready.'

She shook her head, becoming visibly upset.

Matt crouched down in front of her. 'Hey, things will be alright. I'll be here for you as a friend when you're ready to talk.'