Aren't you dressed yet? We agreed we'd meet at Eight o' clock'. Bryan reminded her, his gleaming eyes roaming slowly over her dishevelled, damp could of auburn hair, her flushed face, the short black robe that she wore which left her long legs bare and revealed the deep cleft between her breasts.
They had indeed agreed to meet to discuss and pull ideas concerning the conference that was going to take place the next day at nine o'clock am.The way Bryan was undressing her with his eyes made her self conscious and she instinctively put a hand to pull her robe lapels together to hide her breasts and saw Bryan's mouth twist in wry comprehension.'I must have fallen asleep', she said feeling disoriented. 'Why don't you go ahead into the bar and keep yourself busy with a drink, I shall be ready in a jiffy, I promise'.She shut the door quickly, afraid that he would notice that she was trembling, switching on the light, she leaned on the bed for a moment, to steady her nerves. What on earth was wrong with her? Maybe she had picked up some bugs? The same one David had got? If that were the case, she wouldn't be surprised because that was exactly how she felt - I'll, feverish, weak- legged, shivery.She didn't want to get dressed or do her hair nor even have dinner with Bryan Ferdinand. She did not feel strong enough But how could she get out of it? They were here, representing the bank, standing in for David. She couldn't simply duck out of her responsibilities. She would be letting David down.She would just have to pull herself together.With Shaking hands and nerves, she began to get dressed. She had picked out her dress before having a quick shower: a dark green velvet, figure hugging, with a deep scoop neckline along which ran a Greek key pattern in gold thread, a tight waist and very short skirt which left her legs bare.It was formal and elegant but once she had put it on, Sharon had second thoughts.She stared at herself in the mirror biting her lip. She had forgotten how tight the dress was, how short the skirt. It made her feel half naked.It had never bothered her before and she wondered why it should suddenly do so.Even David had loved the dress, that was why she had picked it but wearing it for David was one thing and wearing it when she was going to spend an evening with Bryan was a different ball game entirely. The very thought of it made her hair stand up on the back of her neck.She looked at her watch and groaned. There was no time to change either. If only she hadn't fallen asleep on the bed!She still had to do her hair and her face. She picked up her brush and began to work hurriedly.When she walked into the hotel bar, she saw Bryan watching her from a table on the other side of the room and a shudder ran through her.Deja Vu, she told herself hurriedly. That was what it was, deja Vu because this was almost a re run of the night they had met and she remembered with another shudder the way their reflections had shimmered in the dark glass behind the bar. It had seemed significant then, more so now.He is dangerous to me, she thought. Dangerous to David and dangerous to the bank.Yet there was something darker involved. Something she had not quite faced or didn't want to admit.She did so now. I'm afraid of him, she admitted, ice trickling down her spine. He terrifies me.She thought of David's pale face and tired eyes, the sadness in his heart and she hated Bryan Ferdinand. David didn't have the drive nor the desire to fight back if he was attacked but Bryan was going to destroy him irrespective of that.But he wasn't going to destroy David if she could stop him and she was determined to do just that. So, she pushed her fears away and began to walk towards him through the crowded bar.Her auburn hair glowed like a dark flame in the light if the chandeliers. Her oval face so classical with her green shadowed eyes, elegant nose, wide full generous red mouth. Her slender, rounded figure swayed under the tight green velvet, the low neckline drawing eyes to her high white breasts. Her pale legs moving gracefully, the green dress constantly sliding up to give glimpses of her slim thighs.The lively hum of voices,the clink of glasses, the laughter died away as people's heads turned to watch her, although Sharon was unaware of the effect she was having on all the other people in the bar, she was too absorbed in trying to stay cool and getting herself under control.The only watching eyes she was aware of was Bryan's. She did not raise her eyes to meet them but she could feel them fixed on her, black, brilliant, intent and the way they watched her made a pulse beat hard on her throat.He stood up to greet her. She slid into the upholstered seat beside him and the noise in the bar broke out again.'That was quite an entrance', he said drily. And then, 'What would you have to drink?'She looked at his glass and was not surprised to see that it was mineral water with a twist of lime in it.'The same as you, thanks', she said.He ordered the drink and handed her the menu. 'I have decided what I want to eat but take your time and choose. The food is terrific here a d since this is a special occasion, I thought we might try a glass or two of their excellent wine. You do take wine, don't you?''Sometimes, not always', she said looking at the menu and realising that she was hungry.She hadn't eaten on the plane because she hated unreal food and with shock, she realised that her last meal had been breakfast at the airport.'What a huge menu, I do not know what half these dishes are'. Remembering that he had been in Switzerland for some time, she looked at him and asked, 'Could you recommend something?'He shifted along the seat and looked over her shoulder. She felt his thigh touching hers,his arm against her, smelt his cologne.'This is probably good at this time if the year", he suggested pointing. Autumn is the best time for wild mushrooms and I love them served with seafood'.'Mushrooms and seafood?' Sharon asked.'Exactly'. Bryan's deep voice had a husky tone. She felt his warm breathing on her bate shoulder.'Okay, I'll have that', she said hurriedly, nervously aware of him and his body even closer to hers.'And I suppose that I'll just have pasta for the main course'.She would have moved away then but Bryan shook his head, pointing to the menu again.'Don't be so predictable!', he said softly, very close to her ear. 'Try the saltimbocca....''What's that?''It means...hmmmm...'Jump in the mouth'... it's veal escalope, rolled in harm, flavoured with sage, fried and then simmered in Marsala wine. Very rich but it's a Roman specialty. You must try it once at least. While you are in Italy and especially in Rome,you must be more adventurous, take a few risks for once in your life!'She tensed. Picking up t
They talked about the conference over the table at first then as the evening wore on, Sharon spoke less and less. She was feeling light headed, dreamy, a heat and excitement running through her veins.Across the table, Bryan watched her with those hypnotic eyes while they drank their coffee.'Liqueur?' he suggested as the wine waiter arrived with his rattling trolley of bottles.She hastily shook her head. 'I have already drunk too much wine. I don't want a headache in the morning', she looked at her watch. 'In fact, I think that I should be on my way to bed now, we have to get up very early and there's a very crowded day ahead of us'.On their way to the lift, she paused to look out through the main doors at the Rome night.'It's stopped raining.What I wanted to do this afternoon was take a walk round the city, but I couldn't go out in all that rain'.'Why not take a short stroll now?' Bryan suggested.'It's much too late and I haven't got my jacket with me', she said. But she was dra
Sharon felt cold indeed. What had she been thinking? How could she have allowed this arrogant man touch her the way he had? What a mess. He must think that he had her where he wanted her.She had always known that he was dangerous to her but she had not really known the extent of the danger.What weakness could have made her lose herself, her self control and all this way?She could not look at him, she did not know what she would find in his eyes, mockery? scorn? triumph? condescension? She did not want to know. She just did not want anything to make her feel lower than she was already feeling just then.'Come to my room, Sharon's, Bryan said with an urgency that made her stiffen.She turned on him, her face white now. 'I feel sick, do you know that?' she broke out. 'You got me drunk and you knew that I was not used to drinking and you kept pouring wine into me, right the way, through dinner. You had this in mind all the time, didn't you? You set me up and it nearly worked. I almost
Sharon had her breakfast in her room: black coffee,orange juice, a couple of rolls with black cherry jam.She may have slept badly but like she had already decided, it was nothing a careful make up job would be unable to hide.She made up and her make up hid most of the evidence of her bad night. She put on the clothes she had delibrately picked which was smoothly tailored dark grey suit, short jacket, straight skirt with a crisp white shirt under it, to make herself fade into the crowd, mostly men, in city suits who would be attending the conference.Even her auburn hair was pulled back austerely from her face but she could do little about her long legs in their sheer black stockings. Men always starred at them. a car was coming at eight-twenty to take Bryan and herself to the hotel where the conference would be held, so she left her room at eight- fifteen.Bryan appeared a moment later, elegant and formal in a dark city suit, red and white striped shirt with a stiff white collar an
'So is there any man in your life', Gerhard asked again as Sharon looked at him saying nothing but smiling.She shook her head.'Not at the moment. Have you met the girl of your dreams yet?'He laughed. 'I keep hoping, but so far not luck'.'Maybe you are too difficult to please!''I have been brought up to expect the best', he agreed with wry amusement. 'No doubt you are right but never mind, I enjoy my life. I'm free, single and love to mingle as they say'.'You still watch that program on TV?''All the time. When I work at home, I have the TV on the music program blaring, it helps me think and keeps with awake during long nights'.'I wonder how people managed before recorded music!'Sharon said thoughtfully.Gerhard told her how his parents had their own personal chamber orchestra.Sharon ate her salad slowly as she listened to him. She had just finished her salad when the delegates started moving away towards the conference hall. The conference was starting again in fifteen minutes'
Gerhard stood up as she got to him, kissed her on both cheeks gravely.'Thank you for joining me. All the men are going to envy me tonight, having you for a partner. That dress is very sexy and you look breathtaking in it'.'Thank you, Gerhard', she said sitting down, brushing down her filmy skirts as they hissed silkily around her legs.'Ehat would you have to drink?' he asked summoning the waiter.Remembering what happened with Bryan the previous evening, Sharon ordered a mixture of orange juice and mineral water and stayed off wine all evening.The meal was superb and Gerhard kept her continuously amused and it would have been a wonderful evening had she been unable to see Bryan's face from where she was sitting.By some stroke of bad luck, however, he was seated facing her, on the next table. She had to avoid letting her eyes wander that way or she found herself all too often looking straight at him.Everytime it happened, she felt a strange dizzying lurch, as though her sense of
Sharon looked at him with disgust. He's really got guts. Coming to drag her down for breakfast but she did not doubt that he would do it too. His arrogance was becoming intolerable.'Get your foot out of my door!''Are you trying to get me to lose my temper? Bryan ground out between his teeth.'What happens if you do?' she asked. ' Ate you going to turn into a monster and tear us into pieces?'He wasn't amused, a dark colour went round his face as he said coldly, 'Very funny'.On an impulse, she said, ' You were wrong about Gerhard you know. He was a gentleman all through the evening unlike some people I know'.Bryan laughed without humour. 'But that was because I got you out of there before the evening ended'. His gaze slid from her face to her neck, her shoulders and her breasts.His eyes flared with rage, 'If you had come back here with him in a taxi late at night, looking like that, he wouldn't have just seen you off to your door and said goodnight. That dress is an invitation to
The erotic shock of feeling his fingers in her wet self caused her to get away from him.'I must have been out if my mind', She said, ' I can't.....'She made for the light switch but Bryan caught up with her before she could reach it.'Don't run away from it now, Sharon', he said in a smoky voice, 'Not now that we've got this far. His arms went round her from behind, pulling her back against his half naked body and she shuddered as their flesh touched, skin to skin, the roughness of his hair, the masculinity of bone and muscle imposing themselves, making her conscious of her own femininity.'I should never have let you touch me', she said, as much to herself as to him, hating herself because she felt the undeniable rise of desire again.'You're not a virgin?' he murmured, kissing her neck, pressing himself against her.'What's that got to do with it? I don't just sleep with anyone....''I never supposed you did. I wouldn't want you if I thought that you had', he said and his hands co