The Millionaire's Redemption (20 page)

He laughed. “Don’t be so melodramatic. If you’re worried about other women, don’t be. I’ll be too busy. This is strictly business.” He nibbled his lower lip. “Maybe I’ll take a couple of weeks off later on so the three of us can go to
Fiji
.”

She had to be satisfied with his vague promise or risk having a full-blown argument with him. They had fought a lot in recent weeks. Her temper was volatile, his cold and cutting, but she couldn’t shake off the feeling of impending doom. It tied her stomach up in knots.

After he left, she returned to bed and lay there cuddling Lilly. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Why did she have to care so much for him?

Holly must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew was Lilly climbing all over her.

“Well, darling.” She kissed the baby’s plump cheeks. “We’ve got the place to ourselves for a week. What are we going to do with our spare time?”

After they were both bathed and dressed, they went out into the kitchen for breakfast. On the bench near the refrigerator lay a pile of money and a note.

In case you need cash while I’m away. Spend it anyway you choose, Justin.

No words of love. She never expected any, but some regret, reluctance even, because he was going away. Was that too much to ask? When she counted up the money it added up to five hundred dollars.

“Come on Lilly Pilly,” Holly scooped her up off the floor. “We’ll go for a walk in the park to fill in time.”

“Juju.” The baby looked around for the man who had become a major focus in her young life. On the one hand, it pleased her that Lilly loved him. On the other hand...

If, no, when, Justin banished them from his life she would be distraught.

“I know you want him to be here with us. So do I, but Justin will do exactly what he pleases.” A commitment shy man like him couldn’t offer them a long-term future. Couldn’t he see there was more to life than merely making money? He had more money than a single man could go through in a whole lifetime, no matter how extravagantly he spent yet he seemed driven to increase his wealth. Maybe it became an obsession for men who weren’t born into wealth, to those who clawed their way up from humble beginnings.

***

Holly lay in bed reading a book. It was ten o’clock, but she knew she wouldn’t sleep for hours. When the phone rang, she pounced on it straight away. “Hello.”

“Holly, it’s Justin.”

Hearing his voice turned her insides mushy. “How are you?” she asked excitedly, but didn’t let him answer. “It’s so good to hear your voice. I can’t sleep when you’re not lying next to me,” she gabbled, knowing she should stop but somehow unable able to. “Are you very busy? When will you be back?”

“Hey, hey, steady on.”  Laughter filled his voice, and he sounded so clear he could have been in the next room. “How’s Lilly?”

“Good, missing you.”

“Are you in bed?” he asked in a low, sexy voice.

“Yes, but I can’t sleep.”

“Me either,” he growled in his throat. “I want to make love to you.”

Her heart leapt. He did miss her. “Well, come home then.”

“I wish I could. What are you wearing?”

“The black nightie, I...”

“With the split up the side?” he asked huskily.

“Yes.” Heated excitement skidded along her veins. “You’re not doing what I think you’re doing?”

He gave a low feral growl. “What do you think I’m doing?”

“M...Making love to me over the phone.” She couldn’t believe the effect such a thought had. She was shocked, but felt fabulous, out of this world. Her hand trembled so much she nearly dropped the phone.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed in a low sexy voice. “Push your nightie up over your hips – slowly, and put the phone down.”

With trembling hands, she laid the phone on the bed. Grasping the silky material between her fingertips, she raised her hips and pushed the garment up to her waist before stretching out flat on her back.

She picked up the phone. “What next?” she whispered.

“Keep your eyes shut and think of your favorite flower.” His soft purr slid over her like warm, sweetly perfumed rose oil.

She could almost feel Justin’s hands on her body, strong, sure, sensuous. Heat built up in her sex, making it tender and sensitive.

“Are you hot?”

“Yes, are you?” One part of her wanted the tautened agony to end. The other part wanted it to go on forever.

Silence reigned for a moment. Was he doing what she thought he might be doing? It raised the sexual tension between them and built up the need until it became a flaming pyre.

“Draw your knees up.”

She did so.

“Let them fall open. No wider. Oh God,” she heard him groan and tried to visualize what he might be doing. Was he lying naked like her on silky sheets, flat on his back, trembling with need, massaging his arousal? Just the thought, let alone the pictures building up in her mind almost made her climax.

“Not yet, it’s too soon.” The relentless, sexy voice continued. “Take your forefinger and touch it to the tip of your tongue. Is it wet?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” She could have sworn she heard the rustle of silken sheets, almost felt the heat of Justin’s body, the power of his manhood, the way the hairs on his legs tickled as they rasped against her skin.

“Put it on that divine, rosy bud of yours and start massaging it gently, slowly building up the speed. Are you doing it?”

“Yes. Oh, Justin.”

“Faster, harder.”

She obeyed the sexy command instantly. It felt so good.

“Hold the phone close to you,” he growled. “I want to hear you when you come. Imagine it’s me. Oh God, Holly this is killing me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“If all else fails, take a freezing cold shower.”

She moved her finger faster and faster, building up the tension. Her whole lower body convulsed as the deepest, most intimate parts of her anatomy ignited.

“Justin,” she cried out his name as she climaxed. The cooling gush put out the flames, and she floated on a sensuous cloud of euphoria.

“How do you feel?”

“Wonderful,” she sighed.

“Will you be able to sleep now?”

“Oh Yes.”

“Lucky you.” He gave a rueful chuckle. “Sleep tight Holly.” He hung up the phone. He couldn’t believe the way he felt, breathless, trembling. Agony and ecstasy all rolled into one. He started working to slake his physical desire, as for his tumultuous emotions…

Why the hell didn’t he tell her about Owen being suspended from the hospital pending an enquiry over sexual misconduct? It was the reason he’d rung her, not to have phone sex, enjoyable though it was.

That sleazy little bastard had lied about Holly. Fired her because she rejected his advances. And you’re just as bad he thought with distaste. He had wanted to salve his conscience for blackmailing her into his bed by deliberately refusing to believe she hadn’t offered Owen sex for money. Deep down he knew she wasn’t capable of doing such a thing.

Oh God, he wanted her so bad it was killing him. The urgent call to
Sydney
was like manna from heaven. He needed time to get his emotions under control. To work out how he felt about her without sex. What a load of crap. He didn’t have the guts to admit his true feelings even to himself. He was terrified of making a mistake. Every time he thought of poor Brad, driven to suicide by a vicious greedy wife, he broke out in a cold sweat.

***

Next morning at about ten o’clock, the door buzzer went off. Holly lifted Lilly out of the high chair and went to see who was there.

“Holly Kirwan?” asked a young flower delivery boy almost hidden behind a huge arrangement of red roses.

“Yes.” 

“These are for you.”

“Oh thank you.” She took them and buried her face in the sweet smelling blooms. “They’re gorgeous.”

She put the roses on the kitchen bench. They were in their own container so she didn’t even have to find a vase for them. She took off the small card attached to the side of the box.

Just so you’ll know I am thinking of you, Justin
. No words of love, but going to this trouble must mean he did felt something special for her.

***

A week passed. There was no further word from Justin except a message from his PA saying he was too tied up with important negotiations to call. Holly wanted to hate him for the stress he caused. She didn’t sleep well. How she missed his warm, strong body next to hers in bed, the fiery passion they shared every night, most mornings and during the day when Lilly went down for an afternoon nap on the weekends.

One night she felt so lonely, so desperate to hear his voice, she rang him on his mobile. “Justin Devereux speaking.”

Hearing his deep sexy voice gave her goose bumps. “It’s me.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I got the message from your secretary, but I wanted to hear your voice. Lilly and I have missed you.” She brushed the tears away, willing herself not to blubber in his ear.

“I can’t talk now. I’m sorry.”

“It’s eight o’clock at night.” She could hear noises in the background but couldn’t distinguish exactly what they were. “I thought you’d be finished work by now.”

“I’m not,” he sounded tired. “I’m working fourteen-hour days. I’m not on holiday.”

“I didn’t mean to bother you,” she said, feeling contrite. “I got lonely. I just wanted to know how you were getting on and I thought I saw...”

“Look, I’m inundated with problems. Things are an absolute mess. I’ll be here another couple of weeks at least.”

“And you weren’t going to tell me?” she shot back.

“Calm down. I would have given you a ring in a day or so once I knew what was happening. Lilly all right?”

“Yes, but when I was at the market I thought I saw the English PI man following me.”

“Imagination. You’ve got nothing to worry about. John in security says there hasn’t been anyone suspicious lurking around or asking questions about you. I’m certain you won’t have any more problems with the Kirwans now my lawyer has given them an ultimatum.”

“Are you sure? I get scared every time I think about them.”

“Of course I am. I wouldn’t leave you and Lilly in danger.”

“Thank you. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about them any more. I miss you.”

“Same here. Take care, Holly.”  The line went dead.

What was wrong with her? Seesawing emotions, crying at the drop of a hat, thinking people were following her. She had nervous butterflies in her stomach most of the time now. Maybe she should see a doctor and have a thorough checkup. Her hormones were probably rampaging out of control. She still hadn’t got a period, even though Lilly only had intermittent feeds now.

Chapter Fourteen

Two weeks after her phone call to Justin, he rang up. It was ten o’clock at night as she lay in bed trying to read a book. “Oh, Justin how are you?” Her heart started racing like it always did on hearing his voice.

“I’m exhausted. Sorry I didn’t ring you before, but it’s been frantic up here. I’ve been trying to get everything fixed up so I could get back to you. I’ll be home tomorrow about seven.”

“That’s wonderful. I’ll cook you a special dinner. What would you like?”

“Surprise me, but I’ll be wanting an early night.” His low, deep growl did funny things to her insides. Liquid fire skidded along her veins forcing a sudden surge of moist heat between her thighs.

“You won’t be disappointed,” she promised in a deliberately husky, sensual voice.”

“I’m sure I won’t be. How’s Lilly?”

“She’s good, misses you like I do.” In his wildest dreams he couldn’t know how much they missed him, how the days dragged and the nights felt cold and empty.

“I have to go now. See you tomorrow.” The line went dead. One thing about Justin he certainly didn’t waste words or linger over saying goodbye.

Something special. Traditional roast beef with all the trimmings and sticky date pudding for dessert. With a surge of excitement, she recalled the special treat she had prepared for him at their rooftop barbeque. The autumn evenings were too chilly for that now. No, she would have to come up with some special indoor activity.

***

After breakfast next morning, they took the elevator down to the ground floor. She stopped to have a chat with John at the security desk.

“How are you, Holly? You’re looking cheerful? Won the lottery?”

“No, better.” She gave an excited little skip. “Justin’s coming home tonight.”

He grinned. “No wonder you’re happy.”

There wasn’t time to go out for the supplies she wanted. Everything had to be prepared for their meal and the apartment cleaned from top to bottom to meet Justin’s exacting standards. For Justin, she could tolerate the patronizing attitudes of the older staff in the department store and ignore the jealous hostility of a couple of little hotties who had designs on him.