Fighting Destiny (19 page)

“I want you too,” she echoed.

Without another word
, they returned to Candasee’s room quickly and as soon and the door was locked, Nathan wasted no time in pulling Candasee down onto the bed on top of him before recapturing her mouth.

How she moved suddenly from standing to lying on Nathan’s chest kissing him was a blur. He was tangling his hand into her hair holding her head firmly as he plundered her mouth with insistent strokes of his tongue against hers.
This kiss felt different, well actually more than that as her body tingled in response to him.

Nathan rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his and began nibbling on her earlobe and tracing a path of passion along the side of her neck, before slipping the spaghetti strap
s of her top over her shoulders.

“Candee, I want you so much right now!
I’m going to make love to you and I’m going to prove to you again that we are perfect for each other! I want you to know and see exactly what I do about us!” said Nathan kissing her lips, cheeks, eyelids, and finally the tip of her nose as he spoke.

She wanted to give
Nathan more. She wanted to feel in control again instead of doubting everything she did with him. She wanted to throw caution to the wind and to just put aside the fears of what it could mean to let a man into her heart again. Was Nathan the one she could trust? Nothing could be gained by constantly running away, besides nine months was long enough to keep him waiting wasn’t it?

Exasperated by the litany of questions filling her mind Candasee silenced them all by leaning toward Nathan and he breathed a sigh of relief a
s their lips came together once again.

H
e flipped her over and roamed his hands freely over her body finally raising and removing her camisole and gasping with amazement at the beauty of her body now unveiled before his eyes. He knew she was gorgeous and unique but she was more than perfectly shaped and her taut nipples beckoned to him like the sweetness of gourmet chocolate. He took her into his mouth and sucked gently and her body arched into his mouth as she breathed her pleasure and held his head down to her breasts! She was driving him crazy! He held her breasts in his hands and kissed and tasted every inch of them before pushing her tights down and off her body. Pulling off his t-shirt and pants, his engorged arousal strained against his boxers and he fought the urge to unite their bodies’ right then. He wanted this moment to be special, to be memorable.

Candasee looked up at Nathan as he undressed admiring the lean strength in his body and forc
ed away the thoughts of Darius that were straining their way to the surface of her consciousness. This would be her time to allow herself to feel the flames of fire and passion kindle in her with someone new, with someone she could trust. Nathan was literally chiselled muscle and perfection and a light sprinkling of dark hair covered his chest and grew from his navel before disappearing down in his boxers. All that separated them now were the flimsy materials of her sheer panties and his boxers.

“Candee, I want to hear you say it to me this time!
How do you feel about me? asked Nathan with his voice ragged with pent up desire. “I don’t want your silence, tell me you want this as much as I do!” he said raking his hot gaze over the length of her body as she lay half propped on her elbows with her body fully open to his view. His eyes had darkened and scant restraint registered on his features as he waited for her answer.

Candasee closed her eyes and steeled herself inwardly, begging her heart to cooperate and to be present in this. She
was wiping the slate clean, making a fresh start here. She would finally be able to forget Darius and all the pain and disappointment and forget all the confusion and desire he had set ablaze in her with that one stupid kiss on the beach. She had to do something to resist being drawn back into his world so easily, to avoid looking so weak and pitiful!

“Nathan, yes,
I love you and I do want you!” said Candasee almost not recognizing her own voice as she spoke.

“Nathan quickly removed his boxers and free
d the hardness of his arousal. He was completely male as he stood before her with his magnificent body and rippling contours. She drank in his appearance and she felt her body preparing itself for him.

He wanted nothing more than to bury himself to the hilt in the welcoming heat of her sex but before that there was something he dreamed of doing
all night ever since he got his first taste. He wanted her to know passion with him, to erase every memory of Darius and whatever hold he had over her that she could not seem to break free of. He needed to rebrand her as his and now that he had her love he swore he would hurt any man who thought he could be so easily put aside. Pulling her hips to the edge of the bed he buried his mouth between her thighs tasting her first through her panties and she arched against his mouth. He removed her panties and plunged his tongue into her warmth finding it sweeter than any dream he could ever have imagined. He lapped and stroked her through her cries until her body shuddered and trembled with her release flooding his tongue with her juices once again. He lapped them up like a precious elixir.

Then h
e quickly thrust deeply into her until they were both gasping for breath. He captured her mouth again and she could taste herself on his lips as he filled and stretched her to capacity.

Nathan knew he wouldn’t last much longer and as he let himself go, Candasee came again around him and
he experienced the greatest high his life seeing her come apart in his arms like that. She was his and he wasn’t ever letting her go now that he’d claimed her. Nathan shifted his position so that Candasee was lying on his chest and he held her close to him like she was the greatest treasure in the world.

She never came! She never even called!
thought Darius concealing the agony he was experiencing under a deceptively impassive demeanour. And now sitting here at the conference table in his boardroom this morning beside Nathan she was practically glowing. The orange tones in her sundress made her eyes appear a warm grey and sensual through her long lashes. The cut of her dress revealed her muscled, toned arms and the softness of her breasts.

Darius was desperately fighting a losing battle with
insane jealousy every time he saw Nathan lean in close to her ear and whisper something only they knew about and to watch her laugh. It was obvious there was a special intimacy between them. But what did he expect anyway? She never did say that she would come to talk to him. He’d left it totally up to her! She would be here for another five days and it would be pure torture for him if he had to watch this until then.

The redeeming quality of it all was when Nathan presented th
e list to all gathered there and a few video previews of their best pieces. It seemed to be a pretty balanced repertoire of dance, song and instrumental renditions and Nathan assured the planning committee that the intensive delegates were the crème of the crop in their own countries which made the show one of high calibre. Also, all of the instructors would be participating and many had professional performing careers outside of their teaching assignments at the academy as well. Even Candasee would be performing a solo piece. If what he saw two nights ago was anything to go by, she was the star of the show as far as he was concerned.

The meeting concluded with the events team
and a representative from the Tourism board being pleased that the entertainment requirement was satisfied especially seeing that the cast were not all Derrien Islander’s. Nathan and Candasee had discussed what additional props and equipment might be required for the upcoming performance so all was set. The cultural foundation would be able to supply all the extras that were needed and plans were made to have the necessary fittings done that day.

The meeting finished and after
cordial handshakes and well wishes everyone stood up to leave.

Candasee rose to leave as well
hoping that Darius would think twice about talking to her with Nathan there. She didn’t know what to say to him and hoped that he would let it all go. After Nathan fell asleep last night she’d spent a long time just sitting on her balcony thinking about what finally happened between them. She was determined not to have any regrets about making love to Nathan twice, but to her chagrin it hadn’t changed anything about the way she felt about Darius. She’d resigned herself to allow time to take care of that and the trip she would take with Nathan when this was all over would be a great start. She couldn’t lose! He loved her, and most importantly he loved and accepted her dancing. He supported her like no other man had and her father liked him which meant that she wouldn’t have to hear a litany of warnings and I told you so’s ever again. She loved him too, she realized, not to the same depth as she’d loved Darius but she loved him and with time that would grow and deepen as well.

She could feel Darius
’ eyes on her as she rose to leave and she felt naked and exposed under his gaze. She wouldn’t show him any weakness, ever again, she thought. Nathan was her safe choice, her sensible choice and after last night she knew that she could experience passion with him too. It was bad enough that she still loved Darius even after all this time but he would never know it. She just couldn’t open herself to that kind of heartbreak again!

Darius noted the od
d nervous expression on Candasee’s face when her eyes rose slowly to meet his before she turned away to leave. He had to speak to her before she left.

“Candasee,
may I speak with you please?” he asked and to his surprise not only did she turn around but so did Nathan. This man was really beginning to irritate him.

“Alone!” he emphasized looking pointedly at Nathan.

Nathan’s expression narrowed as he turned fully to face Darius and was about to speak when Candasee touched his arm lightly restraining him.

“It’s ok
ay Nathan, I’ll be fine. I will meet you and the others downstairs in time for breakfast.”

“
No Candasee, it’s not okay and I think both you and Mr. Brogan here know exactly why! The meeting is over,” Nathan seethed angrily.

“Darius I’m sorry!” Candasee replied not wanting to offend Nathan again so soon after they’d made up. He was her future, not Darius.

“Look Candasee, I know the meeting is over but this is urgent and important. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise,” Darius added emphatically.

Candasee exchanged a glance with Nathan who was clearly unwilling to have any private meetings taking place.

“I’m sure that whatever he needs to discuss won’t take long Nathan, will it Darius?” asked Candasee looking at him pointedly willing him not to make a scene. His face was impassive and almost a cold mask of steel as he looked over her shoulder at Nathan without uttering a word!

The silence was uncomfortable as both men continued their silent ultimatums and finally Nathan relented.

“Okay! Candasee, but not too long, I will be waiting for you in the restaurant, and I trust you,” he replied meaningfully before giving her a lingering kiss on the lips and leaving reluctantly. Darius winced inwardly at the sight.

Darius waited until he closed the door and waited for Gerald to announce that the outer office was clear before he said anything else.

“Won’t you sit down?” he said offering Candasee a seat at the boardroom table again.
She sat and waited for him to continue.

“So should I assume that you no longer wish to hear what I have to say
to you?” asked Darius sitting in the chair beside her.

Candasee took a deep breath before responding
steeling herself against revealing what she truly felt.

“
Darius, I never promised you that I would come up here and to tell you the truth, I think we’ve already said all we need to say to each other,” she replied with attempted nonchalance.

“
I don’t believe that for a second Candasee. Your classes were over by two-thirty and you never called or left a message with my secretary, so I was left to guess and to wonder. Then I see you and Nathan arrive this morning looking...” he said as his voice trailed off as he took a deep exasperated breath.

If her skin was any lighter the blood that rose to her face would have made her redder than a beetroot.

“Darius what do you expect, Nathan’s my fiancé and I love him. We have a close relationship and he understands and loves me unlike anyone I know,” said Candasee, not knowing just how deeply her deliberate words wounded the heart of the man who sat before her. “Look, we would not even be having this conversation if we went to the Meridian hotel! Why are you still pushing this issue? Don’t you realize that I could be married with a child on the way by now? It’s been two years!”

“
I realize that, but don’t you see that isn’t the way things worked out? We have a chance here to see what could be different between us. That kiss we shared yesterday should have been evidence enough of that for you!” he said.

“How do you expect me to just tell Nathan that I have to break up with him because I have to see if my ex-husband and I have any hope of patching up a relationship that we already tried and failed
at making work!” she retorted. “That’s right Darius, this relationship was a failure and you know it! Let’s not dredge up the past anymore! Your stubbornness with this is hurting all of us. Let it go! Please!”

He had everything anyone could possibly dream of owning, he could articulate himself to close multi-million dollar deals, but Candasee left him tongue-tied
and unsure of himself for the first time in his life. And to make matters worse she was fell in love with another man.

Darius stood quickly and walked away from Candasee, shoving his hands deep into his pockets
and looking out over the ocean through the wall. He saw none of the landscape; in fact, nothing held any appeal, and the glass wall’s breathtaking views did nothing for him now. Maybe he’d misjudged her and it was indeed time to give up and respect her new life with Nathan. After all, she was right that he wouldn’t have known she was even on the island with her fiancé. Hell, she could have been married already and he wouldn’t have known, but she wasn’t, not yet, and that was all that mattered. He had to keep up faith that they could work out their relationship and he had a plan.

“Is that all that you wanted to say to me? I got the impression that there was more
, you said it was something important!” said Candasee pointedly, noting Darius’ quiet and pensive silence. He was hurt by what she said just now but she had to keep up her appearances no matter what. She was moving on with her new life, with Nathan.

Taking a deep breath
, before he spoke to make sure he had a strong voice, Darius paused before replying.

“
Yes, I do have something else to talk to you about! My mother said she paid you a visit yesterday afternoon and left her calling card with your...ah... with Nathan. Did you receive it?”

“No. What card?”

He should have known that Nathan was the one behind her not responding to his mother’s request
, Darius fumed silently.

“She left her
contact card because she wanted to speak with you yesterday about something very important to her,” he replied aloud.

Darius turned and walked
back toward Candasee again now that he felt he could control the emotions flitting across his face.

“Mom is having her engagement party tonight and she really wants you to come.
She knew it would be late notice for you so she tried to contact you about it yesterday, hoping that you would’ve at least called her back!”

“Marianne is getting married
? I am so happy for her! This is really good news!” exclaimed Candasee excitedly.

“Yes
I’m really glad for her too, she deserves to find this much happiness after the hard life she’s had,” he said recalling his difficult childhood.

“It would be my pleasure to attend
her party, Darius!” replied Candasee without hesitation, thinking warmly of the woman she considered her to be own mother, sensing relief as well at the change of subject.

“Good,
I am glad to hear that. I’ve already arranged transport for the family and the dress is formal. I know you might not have come prepared for this and it would’ve come to you as a surprise, so I arranged to have some of the formal dresses you had while we were married transferred out of storage here for you to try on yesterday evening. Perhaps you can do that now before you leave.”

“You kept my formal dresses?” asked Candasee with a sharply arched brow registering her surprise.

“There are many things that would surprise you about what I’ve kept where you are concerned Candasee,” Darius replied with a low voice and a hint of tenderness.

“Apparently!” she replied
trying once again to harden her senses against the gentleness and meaning hidden in his voice.

“
They are over in the bedroom area and you can go in and try them on and determine which one you’d like to wear. Whichever you select, I will have it cleaned and returned in time for tonight so that you don’t have to worry about anything. I know that you will be busy most of the day at the intensive”.

Darius always showed such uncanny devotion and love to anything where his mother was concerned and that was one o
f his shining qualities. There was a saying that a man treats his wife like he treats his mother and somehow in the latter months of their marriage Candasee couldn’t comprehend the sudden disconnect. She’d experienced the extravagance which was showered on her as Darius’ wife, but it was his love for her that was the most powerful feeling she’d ever experienced in her life. So the fall from grace really hurt. Unable to harness her curiosity anymore, Candasee followed Darius over to the bedroom in his living quarters, and gasped at the huge pile of elegant gowns draped across the bed.

Darius followed her in
to the bedroom and witnessed her audible gasp as she noted just how many dresses she’d had.

“I always wondered why you left them behind when you left
,” he whispered standing behind her in the doorway.

“I guess I didn’t want too many reminders of the life I was leaving behind me
. Maybe I wanted to punish you a little too by wasting the money you’d invested in them!” she said harshly, fingering the fabric of a few pieces.

“Well it worked! There wasn’t a day I
was in our closet without remembering how you looked, sounded and how you smelled, how you tasted many nights after we got home and let the parties continue,” he said meaningfully.

Darius had spent a small fortune on them and
to her, leaving them behind, was like her slap in his face for his offensive insistence that she try to keep a certain look and status just to please him! Looking at the beautiful gowns now and how much she actually missed the feel of the cool silks and sheer fabric against her skin, she wondered what she’d been thinking to leave them behind! They were exquisite!