One Passionate Night: His Bride for One Night / One Night at Parenga / His One-Night Mistress

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

‘HOW do you take your coffee?’ Charlotte asked, glancing over at Daniel.

He was sprawled out on one of the sofas, eating grapes, his upper torso bare, a bath sheet slung low around his hips.

Charlotte was wearing one of the hotel’s white towelling bathrobes. She’d spotted her overnight bag in the dressing room when she’d stripped off earlier, but hadn’t bothered to open it yet.

‘Black. One sugar,’ he replied.

‘I wish I had a rubber band,’ she muttered as she made them both coffee. ‘I’d like to get this hair out of my face.’ Still damp, her hair was a heavy mass of wayward waves that fell across one eye all the time. She pushed it back and tried to anchor it behind her ear, not altogether successfully.

‘Don’t be silly. Your hair looks great like that. Very sexy. Like you.’

Charlotte flushed. ‘You honestly think I’m sexy?’

‘Do you doubt me?’

‘I’m different from usual with you,’ she confessed as she carried over the two mugs and placed them down on the black-lacquered coffee-table. ‘I don’t make a habit of doing what I did in the shower. In fact, I’ve never done anything like that before.’

But she’d wanted to. That was the most shocking thing of all. She didn’t just feel sexier with him, she felt wicked. Lust had turned her from her usual reserved self into a vamp.

‘You are constantly surprising me, Charlotte,’ he said as he picked up his coffee mug, his eyes meeting hers over the rim.

Lord, but he had incredible eyes. His body wasn’t too bad, either.

Not too hard. Not too soft. Just right.

Like baby bear’s bed.

Charlotte smiled at this unlikely simile. There was nothing babyish about Daniel.

‘What’s so amusing?’ he asked.

‘Nothing.’

‘Don’t go all mysterious on me. I like it that you’re so honest and open.’

‘I was thinking what a great body you have,’ she confessed.

He actually looked surprised by her compliment.

‘It’s adequate enough. The person in this room with the really great body is you.’

She flushed. ‘Flatterer.’

‘Don’t be coy. You must know you look great in the buff.’

‘My bottom’s too big,’ she protested.

He laughed. ‘I don’t think too many men would agree. I certainly don’t. You have a delicious bottom. And beautiful breasts. And fabulous legs. Or so I recall,’ he added, a devilish smile playing around his mouth. ‘Why don’t you take off that robe so that I can see it all again, make sure I wasn’t mistaken?’

She froze, the mug at her lips. ‘Out here?’ she choked out, her heart stopping in its tracks.

OK, so the lighting was soft and romantic, but the curtains were wide open, and whilst it didn’t look as if anyone could see in, how could she be sure? There were lots of high-rise buildings down this end of town, and lots had lights on in the windows.

‘Why not out here?’

‘M…maybe when I finish this coffee,’ she stammered.

‘Now would be better. Then I could look at you whilst we drink.’

Her hands shook as she lowered the mug to the coffee-table. Did she dare? Had she become that wicked?

It seemed she had.

Her thighs trembled as she stood up, but a second glance over at the tinted window reassured her that no one could see anything at that distance.

The looped sash of her robe undid with the slightest of pulls, the sides falling apart. His eyes narrowed but he didn’t stop sipping his coffee. In fact, he leant right back against the sofa in an attitude of total relaxation.

Charlotte was far from relaxed. This was what it must feel like, she imagined, just before diving off one of those high boards.

She sucked in a deep breath, then shrugged the robe off her shoulders. It fell to the floor, leaving her feeling more naked than she ever had in her life.

Not just her body but her very soul. Both were naked before him, this man who could make her do things and feel things that no man had before.

He put his mug down and just drank her in. Slowly.

‘Beautiful,’ was all he said, but it left her shaken.

Because she knew in that telling moment that she would do anything he asked her to do.

‘Why don’t you sit down and finish your coffee?’

His suggestion—delivered oh, so coolly—confirmed what Charlotte already suspected, which was that Daniel was far more sophisticated than any man she’d ever been with. Clearly, he was used to playing erotic games like this, in having women do his bidding in the bedroom.

Maybe that was what was turning her on so much. Not just his handsome face and great body but also his suave know-how; that air of supreme confidence that clung to him in everything he did.

Hadn’t Louise said this was what she needed, to have an older man teach her everything?

Daniel wasn’t all that much older than her in age but he sure was in experience.

Silly of her to waste a moment of the time she spent with him.

‘I don’t think I’ll be wanting any more coffee,’ she said, her voice sounding determined.

He raised one eyebrow before putting down his own coffee, then stripping the towel from around his hips. ‘Best come over here, then, don’t you think?’ he said, tossing the towel aside and lightly slapping one of his muscular thighs.

Her knees felt like jelly but she went, mouth dry and heart racing, her belly tightening as she settled her shapely bottom across his lap and wound her arms around his neck.

‘No, this way,’ he instructed, and lifted her round till she was straddling his thighs, their faces almost level. His eyes held hers as he took hold of her hips and eased her up onto her knees.

Charlotte sucked in air sharply.

His hands slid round behind her knees, gently drawing them forwards, causing her to slowly sink downwards and take him in, inch by glorious inch.

She could have wept with pleasure. He was buried very deep inside her, filling her entirely. She loved the feeling, but was anxious for more.

‘What now?’ she asked tautly.

His brows drew together. ‘Are you saying you haven’t done this before either?’

‘Not on a sofa. And never very well.’

‘Use your knees to lift your bottom up and down, like you’re riding a horse. Have you ever ridden a horse?’

‘Please. I’m country.’

Charlotte could not believe she could sound so calm and casual at such a moment. No doubt she was keen to impress him, if not with her sexual expertise, then her willingness to learn.

Her hands curled over his shoulders, her nails digging in as she started to rise and fall.

What had felt wonderful inside her in repose, now felt incredible. She could not get enough of the sensation of being filled by him, over and over. Those frantic feelings returned, stronger this time and more compelling. She began to move faster.

His raw moan brought her to a fearful halt. She’d hurt him. Oh, she was hopeless.

‘No, don’t stop.’ His voice was hoarse, his face anguished. ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing. It feels fantastic. You’re fantastic.’

She happily obeyed, closing her eyes in an effort to concentrate. But it became increasingly difficult to focus on anything but the tension building inside her. Her belly tightened. Her thighs quivered. Her heart stopped. Then suddenly she was there, splintering apart around him, practically sobbing with the intensity of her release.

He cried out at the same time and for the first time Charlotte understood what it meant to be as one. They were fused together, flesh within flesh, both shuddering in ecstasy at the same time. She was still contracting around him when his hands cupped her face and drew her gasping mouth down to his, kissing her till their mutual pleasure died away.

Only then did his lips leave hers.

‘More than fantastic,’ he murmured, his eyes heavily hooded with spent passion.

When he gathered her close to his heart, she sighed a deeply contented sigh, her mind and body already beginning to shut down.

‘Enough for now,’ he said as he smoothed his hand up and down her spine. ‘Go to sleep, sweet Charlotte.’

‘I don’t want to sleep,’ she mumbled.

‘Don’t worry. I’ll wake you up later.’

‘Promise?’

‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’

‘Don’t take me to bed,’ she told him, sounding for all the world as if she was drugged.

‘Why not?’ He sounded startled.

‘Not the bed. Not yet. Promise.’

‘Crazy girl. All right. I promise.’

‘Good.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHARLOTTE woke slowly, drifting out of a deep haze of sleep that seemed to want to drag her back and cocoon her forever. She yawned. Stretched. Then, finally, opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was herself in the ceiling mirror. And Daniel next to her. Still fast asleep.

He was sprawled face down, the white satin sheet covering him up to the waist, his arms folded under the pillow on which his head rested.

Charlotte caught herself smiling. She should have felt wrecked. Instead, she felt wonderful.

A glance at her wrist-watch showed that it was twenty past ten. Not all that late considering she’d been awake most of the night.

And what a night!

If she hadn’t been at this moment looking at Daniel’s real-life reflection, she might have thought it was all a dream. Rolling over, Charlotte placed a kiss of gratitude on his nearest shoulder, rubbing her lips lightly back and forth across his skin.

He didn’t stir. Understandable. The man had to be exhausted.

He’d been incredible last night. The kind of lover women fantasised about but rarely ever experienced. He knew exactly what to do to turn her on, and to keep her there. He’d made love to her in ways she hadn’t even read about.

He made a better sheikh than she could’ve ever imagined. Dominating and demanding at times, but wonderfully tender at others. He seemed to know exactly what she needed to obliterate her sexual history. With him, there’d been no sign of the rather timid, fearful lover she’d become over the years. Any tension she felt with Daniel had been strictly sexual. She did so love the way he had mercilessly taken her to the edge, wickedly leaving her there till she begged him for deliverance from her torment.

But it was a delicious torment. She loved it, really.

Charlotte would have liked to stay there in the bed, reliving every delicious moment in her mind, but nature was calling, and so was their lack of time. Of course, Daniel had suggested again at one particularly satisfying moment that he come with her up to the Hunter Valley today. And of course this time she’d said, yes, please.

If she was still worried at the back of her mind that her newly discovered desire might deepen to something else, her worry was not as strong as her need. Having Daniel make love to her some more was worth the risk of some heartbreak afterwards. Worth just about any risk, to be honest. Such was the power of her passion for him, and the pleasure he could deliver.

Charlotte wasn’t sure what time checkout was, but even if it was late checkout at twelve, that didn’t give them all that much time. Besides, she wanted to make herself perfect for Daniel before he woke.

Careful not to disturb him, she climbed out of the bed and tiptoed to the bathroom.

Daniel woke to the sound of the shower running. With a groan, he rolled over and checked the time on his watch, which was lying on the black-lacquered bedside table. Ten-thirty.

Checkout wasn’t till twelve. Time enough for a decent breakfast. He was sure Room Service would organise something. This was the bridal suite, after all.

And it was worth every penny, he thought with a satisfied smile as he lifted the phone next to the bed. Charlotte had finally agreed to his coming with her up to the Hunter Valley today, giving him a few more days to convince her that he wanted her for more than a holiday fling. He wondered if she would consider coming back to America and living with him…

‘Housekeeping,’ a woman’s voice answered when he punched in the number six.

‘This is Mr Bannister in the Arabian Nights suite. We’d like to order some breakfast.’

‘Yes, of course, Mr Bannister. What would you like? Lots of newlyweds opt for the champagne breakfast.’

‘I don’t think so.’ They’d had more than enough champagne last night. ‘We need something far more substantial this morning. We’ll have muesli, freshly squeezed orange juice, bacon and eggs, wholemeal toast and brewed coffee.’

‘Yes, Mr Bannister. And when would you like that delivered?’

‘Make it eleven.’ That gave him time to shower and shave.

‘Very good, sir.’

Daniel hung up, got up and glanced around for something to put on, but there was nothing but the clothes he’d worn the day before. His bag was in the dressing room and the only access to that was through the bathroom. Not wanting to burst in on Charlotte again, he strode out to the sitting area, where he knew he’d left a towel during the night.

As he swept it up from where it was spread over the coffee-table, images flashed back into his mind of an abandoned Charlotte spread out across that table whilst he’d made love to her.

Daniel’s chest contracted at the memory of how it had felt, taking her like that. It had been wild. She’d been wild.

For a girl with so little experience, Charlotte had been very quick to embrace the delights of the flesh. If Daniel had any worries this morning, they lay in the fact that sex might be the only thing Charlotte would ever want from him. However, she’d been quite adamant the other day about wanting marriage and children, and having no intention of settling for less.

Which rather left Daniel in a dilemma. Because no way was he marrying any woman, no matter how much he loved her!

Daniel froze, with the towel dangling in front of him.

Love. He loved her.

Well, of course you do, you idiot, came the exasperated voice of long-ignored logic. Why else do you think you’ve been acting the way you have? Pursuing her like some madman. Going through with that pretend wedding. Turning yourself inside out last night to make her feel fulfilled.

No man does all that if he’s not in love!

Daniel slumped down on the nearest sofa, stunned. Somehow, admitting that he loved her changed everything. And forced him to face a fear far greater than his fear of marriage.

What if Charlotte never loved him back? What if, after the next few days were over, she said ‘Goodbye, Daniel. Thanks for all the great sex. Off you go, lover. No, sorry, I don’t want your love and I don’t want you. I want a man capable of true caring and commitment, not some man who has no confidence in himself being a good husband and father’?

Daniel bristled at these imagined insults. Of course he could make a good husband and father. Now that he realised he was capable of love, he was capable of anything!

His sigh carried relief. That felt better. Much better. In fact, once the idea of marrying Charlotte took hold, Daniel liked it a lot. He even liked the idea of having children with her. She’d make a wonderful mother.

One problem still remained, however. Getting Charlotte to fall in love with him. Lusting after him was one thing, love something entirely different. He knew that now.

Daniel might have succumbed to a crisis of confidence if his male ego hadn’t galloped to the rescue.

You’ve had no trouble getting women to fall in love with you in the past, he was reminded. You have a hell of a lot going for you.

Still, it might help to tell Charlotte he’d fallen in love with her, and that he’d changed his mind about getting married.

He would have to pick his moment, however. Not too soon. She might not believe him. No, he would have to wait. Meanwhile…

Daniel stood up, wrapped the towel around his hips and headed for the bathroom. The sound of water running had stopped. Hopefully Charlotte was dressed by now. Still, he would knock and make sure.

Charlotte was about to start blow-drying her hair when a firm tap came on the bathroom door.

‘Yes?’

‘I’ve ordered breakfast for eleven,’ Daniel called through the door. ‘I need to shower and shave before then. Are you finished in there?’

She wasn’t. Not even remotely. But the hair-dryer wasn’t one of those connected to the wall, so she could finish her face and hair elsewhere. There was a carved wooden desk in the sitting area, she’d noted last night, with a gilt-edged mirror on the wall above it. That could serve as a dressing table.

But she was disappointed that Daniel would see her as Louise did most mornings. She’d wanted to be all made up for him, with her hair looking as if she’d just stepped out of a salon.

Oh, well. At least she had a new outfit on, one of the ones she’d bought to wear on her honeymoon. Crisp white hipster jeans—the stretch kind that clung and didn’t crush—teamed with a buttercup-yellow halter-necked top and white slip-on sandals. Strappy ones with sexy little heels.

Thinking of sex brought Charlotte’s mind to her underwear, which was very sexy but not altogether comfortable. Her bra was a silky cream push-up number she’d bought in that expensive lingerie shop. There was a matching G-string with a lace edging, which looked great.

Picking up the hair-dryer and her toilet bag, Charlotte reluctantly clip-clopped across the black marble floor and opened the door.

Daniel tried not to stare at her. Love, they often said, was blind. In his case, however, it was anything but. As he looked down into her freshly washed face and clear blue eyes, he was overcome with emotion.

He almost told her he loved her right then and there.

Instead he swore, which brought a startled glance to her beautiful eyes.

‘Sorry,’ he apologised rather grumpily. ‘But you have no right to look so damned gorgeous this morning. You should be all bleary-eyed. Like me.’

Bleary-eyed! Was he kidding? He looked scrumptious, that designer stubble on his chin only adding to his sex appeal. As did his only having a towel draped around his hips. Daniel had a great upper body, with broad shoulders, well-defined pecs and a flat, hard stomach.

Charlotte knew she was staring at the man quite shamelessly. But she didn’t care. She was totally besotted.

‘I’ve been thinking,’ she said. Anything to get her mind off ripping that towel off him, right here and now. ‘What’s your sister going to say to your going away with me today? I mean…she’s the one you’ve come all this way to visit, after all.’

‘She won’t mind,’ he returned abruptly. ‘I can always extend my visit.’

Charlotte’s heart jumped at this news. ‘Really? I thought you had to return to LA in a fortnight.’

He shrugged. ‘I’m my own boss.’

‘Oh. I see. Good. I wouldn’t want you getting into trouble because of me.’ And with a supreme effort of will she pushed past him. ‘All yours,’ she said blithely over her shoulder as she walked off.

Once the bathroom door was safely shut behind her and she heard the shower taps snap on, Charlotte bolted for the other room, dropping her things on one of the sofas and picking up the phone. Once she had an outside line she punched in her home number. She simply had to talk to Louise, had to have some common sense talked to her. And fast!

‘Yes,’ a foggy voice answered.

‘Louise, it’s me. Wake up.’

‘Charlotte! Brad, it’s Charlotte!’

‘I don’t want a three-way conversation, thanks,’ Charlotte said sharply. ‘I want to talk to you and only you.’

She heard some muffled sounds in the background before Louise came back on the line.

‘I’m on my way to the kitchen right now. Shoot!’

‘Tell me again it’s only lust.’

‘Oooh. That good, eh?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then it’s definitely only lust. A specially addictive kind. There’ll be no going back now, sweetie.’

‘So you don’t think I’ve fallen in love with the man?’

‘Nah. What’s to love?’

Charlotte could think of many things to love about Daniel. He wasn’t just a stud. He was kind, and intelligent, and sensitive, and successful, and generous.

Her heart contracted as she thought of how he’d given her father all that money. Thousands, it must have been. He needn’t have done that. She’d been angry at the time but that had been her problem, not Daniel’s. She must have seemed awfully ungrateful to him.

‘Hey there!’ Louise said. ‘Why so quiet all of a sudden?’

‘No reason. Louise, could you do me a favour?’

‘Anything.’

‘Pack a bag for me. There’s a navy sports bag in the bottom of my wardrobe. Throw in all those new clothes I bought for my honeymoon. And whatever accessories you think I’ll need. I already have my make-up, perfume and toiletries with me, so you don’t have to worry about those. I’ll be by to pick it up around twelve-thirty.’

‘I won’t be here by then. Brad’s taking me to his house for a barbeque.’

‘Oh…’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll pack it and leave it near the front door. Gosh, I’m so glad last night was a success, but I can’t stay and chat. Not if I have to pack you a bag and get ready myself. Brad’s just come in and given me strict orders to hurry.’

‘That’s fine. Thanks, Louise.’

‘No sweat. Take care.’

Louise hung up with Brad still looking impatiently at her. He came forward and pulled her into his arms. ‘Forget the coffee and come back to bed.’

‘I can’t. I have to pack Charlotte a bag before we go.’

‘Why can’t she pack her own bag?’

‘Because she wants to get lover-boy up to the Hunter Valley as soon as possible, I guess. Have some more of whatever she had last night.’

‘And you don’t?’ He looked offended.

‘I would have thought after six months of continual sex you’d have had enough by now.’

‘I’ll never have enough of you, babe. When are you going to realise that?’

Louise didn’t reply. Impossible with Brad’s mouth clamped solidly over hers. But underneath his kiss, her heart was doing strange things. Damn that wedding yesterday. It made a girl want things. And think things. And feel things.

Maybe the time had come to give love another chance.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

‘I’M SORRY about this, sis,’ Daniel said as he hastily repacked the clothes he’d unpacked a couple of days earlier. ‘I know you must be disappointed.’

‘Yes, and no,’ Beth replied.

Daniel flicked her a questioning glance. ‘Meaning?’

‘I had been looking forward to your stay. I won’t deny it. I’ve been lonely since I gave up work to have this baby. But I’m willing to sacrifice the immediate pleasure of your company for the long term.’

Daniel zipped up his natty travelling case then glanced up at his sister again. ‘Meaning?’

She smiled. ‘I know my big brother well enough to know when he’s finally fallen in love.’

Daniel’s smile was wry. ‘Have I been that obvious?’

‘Afraid so. Vince said it was written all over your face at the wedding. Says he’s never seen a groom so much in love with a bride.’