One Hot Winter's Night (8 page)

He was a very smooth dancer, his warm hand on her waist guiding her around the small dance floor. His comment back in the Ice Hotel,
why don’t you let me lead?
suddenly sprang into her mind, and her lips curved in spite of herself.

“That’s better,” he said.

She sighed. “You’ve probably ruined the deal I was going to make. I guess you’re going to swoop in now and get the figurine for yourself.”

“Oh, I don’t think he’ll be selling to me any time soon,” he said wryly. “My cleavage isn’t as impressive as yours.”

“So why did you do interrupt our dance?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” His warm gaze brought heat to her cheeks.

She looked away across the ballroom, not answering. She didn’t want this intimacy. It was exactly the kind of thing she tried to avoid. She’d been so stupid to go to bed with him. Now he thought he meant something special to her.

He moved a little closer, ostensibly to avoid another couple, but when they’d passed, he kept his hand in the middle of her back. His lips almost, but not quite, brushed her temple. Gosh, he was tall.

“Are you going to tell me you didn’t enjoy yourself in Sweden?” he murmured.

Trust him to be ungentlemanly and bring that up. “I hate to damage your fragile ego, but I faked it, okay?”

His eyes met hers, amused. “Both times?”

Her cheeks grew hot again, and he laughed. She lifted her chin. “Absolutely.”

He smiled. They were really quite close now, close enough for her to feel the warmth from his body.

Something was puzzling her. “Heath?”

“Hmm?” He was almost—but not quite—nuzzling her ear. In public! In Egypt! Thank goodness this was a classy hotel with lots of westerners present or she could see him being frog-marched out of the room by security guards for inappropriate PDAs.

She shivered. “Why aren’t you angry with me? For taking the necklace, I mean.”

“I am. I’m furious, can’t you tell?”

She glared at him. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m covered in melted cheese and you want to lick it all off.”

He raised a dubious eyebrow. “Cheese? Surely you’d prefer chocolate?”

“I don’t like chocolate.”

He stared at her. “Jeez, you call yourself a woman? You don’t like foreplay
or
chocolate?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t
like
foreplay, I said I didn’t
need
it.”

Her words, echoing his in the Ice Hotel, made him smile. “Well, as it’s me that would be doing the licking, I choose chocolate.”

She shivered at the thought of him covering her in chocolate and removing it with his tongue. He was so gorgeous in his tux, she felt weak at the knees. “Can we please stop talking about licking?”

“You started it.”

She heaved a big sigh. “What do you want, Heath?”

“I want to know if you’ll go to dinner with me tomorrow. Just the two of us.”

“A date?” She looked up at him in alarm. “Absolutely not. I don’t date.”

“What, never?”

“Heath, I think there are a few things we should get straight. I don’t date, and I don’t want a relationship. I’m only interested in my job and, as you are already aware, I do whatever’s necessary to get the artefacts I want. I’m not going to change myself for anyone.”

He’d been studying her while she spoke, his face expressionless. Now he nodded. “I see.” He cleared his throat. “What about sex?”

Chapter 10

She stared at him. “What about it? As you know, I don’t have sex.”

“Didn’t,” he corrected with a smirk.

She bit her lip and looked away, embarrassed. “That was a blip.”

“Maybe. But the fact is that we did make love. You liked me enough to finally give up your virginity.”

She glared again. “We didn’t
make love
. We
had sex
. Let’s not pretend it was anything more than that. And…I was curious, that’s all.”

He shrugged. “That’s my point. You must have…needs.”

“There are ways a woman can satisfy herself without having to resort to finding a man,” she scoffed.

His eyes went unfocussed, and she realised he was picturing her pleasuring herself.

He sighed. “What are you trying to do to me?”

In spite of herself, she laughed. Even when she’d flirted with men, they’d never been this intimate. It was a new sensation, and not an unpleasant one. He knew what she was like in bed. She’d pleased him. She couldn’t help but glow at that.

He blinked and re-focused on her. “As gratifying as battery-operated devices are, they can’t kiss you like a
real
lover.”

She met his gaze, remembering his deep, warm kisses as he moved inside her. “True.”

“So maybe I can help you out a little.”

“What do you mean?” She was suddenly breathless.

He nuzzled her ear again. “I’m sure now you’ve experienced the delights of sex you’re interested in finding out more. And I’d be happy to show you. So how about if I agree to absolutely no post-coital contact? I won’t phone, I won’t try and find you, I won’t pretend it’s more than just really, really good sex.” He pulled back and looked at her. “This is one of the most bizarre conversations I’ve ever had. You’re like the complete antithesis of any woman I’ve ever met, do you know that?”

She bit her lip. He was so gorgeous she was close to throwing him on the floor and doing him under the chandelier.

He raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

“Sex is part of a transaction,” she stated, determined not to let him know how tempted she was by his offer. “And you have nothing I want.”

“Are you sure about that?” His eyes twinkled. “I’m sure there’s a certain piece of my anatomy you’d like to get your hands on.” He was so close to her now it was easy for him to brush his lips against hers. “Think about it, Catherine. No commitment, no risk. No strings attached. The only thing I
will
promise you is as many orgasms as we can cram into one night.” His hazel eyes were intense. She had no doubt he meant every word he said.

“Oh.” She felt slightly faint. Orgasms, plural? “Nobody calls me Catherine.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

“Now they do. I have to. You see, don’t tell anyone, but my real name’s Heathcliff.”

She stared at him. “You’re kidding me.” That was too weird.

“I’m afraid not. My mother is a huge Brontë fan.” He grinned, stepping back from her. The band had finished, and everyone had started to move to the tables, ready for dinner.

“Think about it,” he murmured. “Let me know when you make up your mind.” And, taking her hand, he led her toward where Alexander was sitting.

She followed him, her head spinning.
As many orgasms as we can cram into one night.
Oh my. How was she supposed to turn down an offer like that?

The tables seated eight. Alexander was talking to a couple from the Egyptian Museum on his right. Sayed sat the other side of them. Heath led Cat next to Alexander. Then, to her surprise, he took the seat next to her. He shook out his napkin, seemingly oblivious to the glares from Sayed and Alexander, and accepted a glass of champagne from the waiter.

“
Skål
!” he said to her, holding up his glass.

Her lips twitched, and she clinked his glass with hers. “
Skål
.”

Oh dear. This was going to be a very awkward evening.

In actual fact, though, it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable meals she’d had for a long time. Heath started the conversation by asking Sayed about his collection of artefacts, and before long they were all discussing archaeology and relics, and the atmosphere gradually thawed. Only Alexander was quieter than usual, his gaze settling on her thoughtfully more than once.

Toward the end of the meal, Heath glanced at him and then looked across at Cat. “What’s up with him?” he asked her. He was in the process of polishing off his last course, a rich chocolate mousse cake she’d decided not to have.

She wasn’t going to think about what he’d offered to do with the chocolate sauce. “Alexander’s cross with me. No idea why.”

He looked across at the older man, taking another spoon of the cake. “That might be something to do with me.”

“What did you say?”

“He’s worried I’m going to break your heart.” He sucked his spoon, studying her with his warm, hazel eyes. “Don’t worry. I told him we’re only having sex.” He laughed out loud at the alarm on her face. “I’m joking, Catherine.”

“Don’t call me that.” She glared at him. “What did you really say to him?”

He smiled. “I told him he doesn’t have to worry—that I have no intention of hurting you.”

She huffed.

He raised an eyebrow. “What was that for?”

“I haven’t forgotten you’re the Silver Fox. You know what foxes are famous for?”

He scooped up the last of his dessert. “I don’t know any famous foxes, but I’m sure you’re about to enlighten me.”

“For being sly, sneaky, and cunning.”

He licked his spoon. His eyes twinkled. “A cunning linguist?”

She rolled her eyes. “And a master debater? Yes, I’ve watched
Austin Powers
too.”

He grinned. “Actually, that reminds me of a quote from
Hamlet
: ‘Alas poor Yorick, I knew him, Fellatio.’”

They both burst out laughing. Everyone at the table looked over at them, and Cat bit her lip, leaning back as the waiter placed a coffee before her. She glanced at Alexander, who was frowning at her. “Care to share the joke?” he asked.

Cat didn’t dare look at Heath. “We were just talking about Shakespeare.” She sipped her coffee.

Heath scooped a spoon of sugar into his cup. “We were discussing
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
and debating the best actor to play Flute.”

Cat coughed into her drink. Alexander would be perfectly aware of the Ancient Greek term for oral sex, and she was pretty certain Sayed was too, judging by his raised eyebrows.

Heath blew on the hot liquid in his cup, hiding a smile. She kicked him under the table and he winced.

She took another mouthful of coffee and glanced at Alexander. He was staring at her, not smiling, but not glaring either. His gaze slid over to Heath. “I heard you call Cat by her full title earlier. How did you find out about her?”

“I Googled her.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Is that what they call it nowadays?”

Her cheeks grew warm. He’d obviously realised she’d slept with Heath. She’d never discussed the fact that she was a virgin with Alexander, but he was aware of her lack of social life and had come to accept that she never got involved with anyone. The thought that he knew she’d gone to bed with the guy she was sitting next to made her unusually self-conscious.

Heath just smiled, leaning back in his chair, relaxed. “She’s splashed all over the Internet, sir. You can’t be that successful an archaeologist and not be available in the public domain. It was hardly rocket science.”

She looked at Heath and then glanced over at Alexander. Her eyes narrowed. In spite of Heath’s relaxed pose, there was some undercurrent here, something she wasn’t picking up on. What had she missed?

Sayed finished off his drink, smiling at her. “My dear, would you care for one last dance before I have to leave?”

“Of course, that would be lovely. A complete dance. To a whole song.” She shot a warning glance at Heath, who merely raised his eyebrows at the silent reprimand.

Sayed stood and offered her his hand, and she slipped hers into it. He led her toward the dance floor. Someone had dimmed the lights, and there were already several couples waltzing around the wooden floor.

“Can you waltz?” he asked, turning her into his arms.

“As long as you don’t do any fancy steps.”

He grinned, and they began to twirl. Luckily, it was a slow beat, and Cat relaxed in his arms once she realised she wasn’t going to fall flat on her face and make a fool of herself.

“We should talk business,” he said.

“Of course.”

“We were interrupted last time.”

“Um, yes, sorry about that.”

Sayed glanced across to their table. “He doesn’t take his eyes off you.”

“I know. He’s very rude. Please ignore him.”

Sayed gave a short laugh and brought his gaze back to her. He looked at her thoughtfully. “We both know I am going to sell the figurine to you.”

“Do we?”

“My dear, it is a splendid piece and I am not a Philistine. It belongs in a museum, and you know I hold the British Museum above all others.”

She smiled. “That is a very wise choice.”

“So now we come to the matter of payment.”

“Yes.”

He studied her with his dark eyes. “I think you need to make a choice.”

“Between?”

“Don’t mock me, my dear. I am well aware he has already propositioned you.”

Her cheeks grew hot, but she tossed back her long hair and met his gaze openly. “I want that figurine. The sale is everything, Sayed, you know me.”

“Are you sure?”

Unbidden, Heath’s words to her echoed in her head:
As many orgasms as we can cram into one night…
Oh, damn the man. Why the hell had he said that? She glanced across the room at him, staring as she saw his seat empty. As Sayed turned her around the dance floor, she twisted her head, trying to spot Heath. Damn it. Had he left?

She finally saw him talking to a young Egyptian man on the other side of the room. He was deep in conversation, but his gaze was still fixed on her. Relief washed over her at the thought that he hadn’t disappeared.

Sayed turned her, and she stumbled, her concentration broken. He stopped dancing. “I think I have my answer.”

They stood in the middle of the dance floor as the other couples waltzed around them. She stared at him, mouth open, speechless for once. He smiled and touched her cheek. “Do not look so alarmed, my beautiful Cat.”

She blinked and made herself snap out of it. “I think you’ve misunderstood, Sayed. I really do want that figurine.”

He shook his head. “You have the money, I know. I would not come between lovers.”

“Lovers? There’s no love involved, believe me, unless you count his affinity for confectionary.”

Sayed laughed. “Good sex does not come around often, Cat. Make the most of it.” He took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “Come. The figurine is in the hotel safe. Let us go and make the transaction.”