Passion's Mistress (7 page)

She could feel his anger emanating through the pores of his skin, and all her

fine body hairs rose in protective self-defence. He could have shaken her to

within an inch of her life, and taken extreme pleasure in her pain. It was

there in his eyes, the tautly bunched muscles as he held himself rigidly in

control. The promise of retribution was thinly veiled, and she felt

immeasurably afraid, aware that such punishment would be swift and

without warning—an utter devastation. But not yet, she reasoned shakily. A

superb tactician, he would derive infinite satisfaction from playing out her

fear.

'You've reached a decision?'

Her heart stopped, then clamoured into a thudding beat. 'Yes.' One look at

his hard, obdurate features was sufficient to ascertain his inflexibility.

'Must I draw it from you like blood from stone?' he pursued, his voice

assuming a deadly softness, and her eyes flared with resentment.

'I won't allow Ann-Marie to be a metaphorical bone we fight over in a

lawcourt,' she said hardily. 'Nor will I put her through the emotional trauma

of being bandied back and forth between two parents.' Her head lifted

slightly and her chin tilted with determination. 'However, I have one

condition.'

One eyebrow slanted in silent cynicism. 'And what is that?'

'You give up your women friends.'

He looked at her for what seemed an age, and she was conscious of an

elevated nervous tension as the silence between them stretched to an

unbearable length.

'Could you be more specific?'

'Lovers,' she said tightly, hating him.

'Does that mean you are prepared to accommodate me in bed?' he pursued

with deadly softness.

Her heart stopped, then clamoured into a thudding beat at the memory his

words evoked, and the nights when she'd behaved like a mindless wanton in

his passionate embrace. With concentrated effort she managed to keep her

gaze steady. 'No, it doesn't, damn you!'

Stefano remained silent, his eyes watchful as he witnessed the fleeting

change of her emotions, then after a measurable silence he ventured silkily,

'You expect me to remain celibate?'

Of its own volition, her hand lifted to her hair and eased a stray tendril

behind on ear, the gesture unconscious and betraying her inner nervousness.

'I'll live in the same house,' she declared quietly. 'I'll play at being your social

hostess. For Ann- Marie's sake, I'll pretend everything between us is fine.'

Her eyes were wide, clear, and filled with resolution. 'But I refuse to share

your bed.'

The edge of his mouth lifted in a gesture of musing mockery. 'I shall insist

you share the same room.'

'Why?' Carly demanded baldly.

His eyes speared hers, their depths hard and inflexible. 'Because I choose

never to lose.'

'Our marriage meant nothing to you!'

'You think not?' Stefano countered with unmatched cynicism. 'I retain a

clear memory of your...' He paused imperceptibly, then added mockingly,

'Contentment.'

'You gave me beautiful things, put me in a beautiful home, took me out to

beautiful parties where beautiful people mingled and made out they were

friends.' She felt incredibly sad. 'Except nothing was beautiful. Not really. I

was a new playmate, someone you could show off when the occasion

demanded.' Her eyes clouded, and her lashes fluttered down to form a

protective veil. 'I was too young, too naive, and I didn't know the rules.'

His expression hardened, and only a fool would choose to disregard the

element of tensile steel beneath his sophisticated veneer, for apparent was a

sense of purpose, a formidability that was infinitely daunting.

'And now you do?' he taunted silkily.

Her eyes were remarkably clear and steady, her resolve derived from an

inner strength she would never allow him to destroy. 'I care for my daughter

more than life itself,' she vowed quietly. 'Her health and well-being take

precedence over anything you can throw at me.'

His eyes reflected an indomitable strength of will, and, unless she was

mistaken, a chilling degree of silent rage.

Self-preservation was a prime motivation, yet right at this instant she felt as

vulnerable as a cornered vixen. 'I insist on continuing with my career- even

if it's only on a part-time basis.'

He didn't display any emotion whatsoever, and she shivered, aware of the

force she was dealing with.

'You'll take an extended leave of absence, effective almost immediately,

until Ann-Marie has recovered fully from surgery and is able to return to

school.'

An angry flush crept over her cheeks as she fought to remain calm beneath

his deliberate appraisal. 'It never entered my head to do otherwise,' she

retaliated, determined to press home every point in her intention to set a

personal precedent. 'However, I studied very hard to achieve my present

position, and I have no intention of giving it up.'

'I'm sure Clive Mathorpe will be amenable to your working a reduced

number of hours consistent with the time Ann-Marie spends at school.'

Cool, damning words, but carrying a weight she found impossible to ignore.

She felt drained, emotionally and physically, and she needed to be alone.

'Will you please leave?'

'When do you collect Ann-Marie from the party?'

Carly's eyes flew to her watch, confirming with immeasurable relief that it

was only minutes past three.

'Soon,' she acknowledged. 'I told Susy's mother I'd join, her and the other

mothers for afternoon tea.'

'In that case, I'll drive you there.'

A surge of anger rose to the surface, colouring her cheeks and sharpening

her features. 'Damn you,' she cursed fiercely. 'I won't introduce you to

Ann-Marie in one breath and reveal you're her father in the next!'

'Putting off the inevitable won't achieve anything,' Stefano stated in a voice

that was infinitely dangerous. 'Invite me to dinner tonight.'

She closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again. 'Can't it wait a few

days?'

'I've spoken to the specialist and arranged an appointment with the

neurosurgeon for Tuesday. It's highly possible she'll undergo surgery within

a week.' His gaze seemed incredibly dark as his features assumed a harsh,

implacable mask. 'It's imperative that you're both established in my home as

soon as possible. Emotional stability is crucial to her recuperation.'

'When she's fully recovered is soon enough,' Carly cried, hating the way he

was taking charge.

'Tomorrow,' he informed her with diabolical insistence.

'No,' she denied at once. 'It will only cause her anxiety and add to the trauma

of hospitalisation and surgery.'

'Use whatever guise you choose,' he insisted softly. 'But do it, Carly.

Ann-Marie will soon accept I have a rightful place in her life—as she has in

mine.'

A holiday, a brief stay, was the only tenable explanation, she decided, aware

that Ann-Marie would probably view the proposal as something of an

adventure.

'I'll be back at five,' he declared hardly. 'And I'll bring dinner. All you'll have

to do is serve it.' His gaze seared her soul. 'Don't even think about running

away, Carly,' he warned softly. 'This time, I'll search until I find you, and

afterwards you'll wish you were dead.'She stood transfixed as he turned and

walked to the door, then quietly left the apartment.

It took ten minutes for her to regain some measure of composure, a further

five before she took the lift down to the underground car park.

To sit with several other young mothers sipping tea and sharing party fare

proved an anticlimax, and Carly felt as if she was operating on automatic

pilot while her brain whirled off on a tangent.

She smiled a lot, and she even managed to laugh with apparent spontaneity

at an amusingly told anecdote. Inside, she was a mess, conscious with every

passing minute, each glance at Ann-Marie, of the impact Stefano would

have on their lives. Especially her own.

The most pressing problem was finding the right j words that would prevent

Ann-Marie from forming any prejudice, one way or the other, about her

mother's actions. Children were incredibly curious, j and Ann-Marie was no

exception.

For the following half-hour Carly watched Susy unwrap her presents, unable

afterwards to remember more than a few, then, when the birthday cake was

cut, she helped distribute the pieces.

Soon it was time to leave, and in the car she tussled with her conscience,

agonising over how she j should explain Stefano and their reconciliation,

aware that the little girl was too excited after the party to really absorb much

of what her mother had to say.

While driving a car in traffic was hardly the time I or place, and as soon as

they entered the apartment she plugged in the kettle, made herself a cup of

strong tea, then settled down beside Ann-Marie on the sofa.

'Someone very special is going to have dinner with us tonight,' Carly began

quietly, aware that she had her daughter's undivided attention by the bright

curiosity evident in a pair of grey eyes that were identical to Stefano's.

'Sarah?'

'No, darling.' She hesitated slightly, then offered quietly, 'Your father.'

Ann-Marie's eyes widened measurably and her expression assumed a

solemnity beyond her tender years. 'You said my father lived a long, long

way away, and you left him before he knew about me.' The eyes grew even

larger. 'Why didn't you want to tell him?'

Oh, dear lord. Out of the mouths of babes! 'Because we had an argument,'

Carly answered honestly. 'And we said things we didn't mean.' An extension

of the truth, for
she
had said them— Stefano hadn't uttered a single word in

his defence.

'How did he find out about me?' Ann-Marie queried slowly.

'Your father moved to Sydney several months ago,' Carly said quietly,

watching the expressive play of emotions evident. 'I've been in touch with

him.'

'Why?'

If only there were a simple answer! 'I thought it was time he knew about

you.'

Ann-Marie's gaze didn't waver, and it seemed an age before she spoke. 'And

you don't not like him any more?'She hid a sad smile at Ann-Marie's

phraseology, and prayed the good lord would forgive her for the fabrication.

'No.'

'Now he wants to meet me,' Ann-Marie said with I childish intuition, and

Carly nodded her head in silent agreement, then endorsed, 'Yes, he does.

Very much.'

'Is he angry with you for not telling him about me?'

'A little,' she admitted gently.

Ann-Marie's expression became comically fierce, and her chin jutted

forward. 'If he's nasty to you, I'll hit him.'

The mental picture of a delicate, curly-haired six-year-old lashing out at a

six-feet-plus male frame brought a slight smile to Carly's lips. 'That would

be very rude, don't you think? Especially when he's a very kind man.' Not to

her, never to her. However, she had no doubt he would be kind to his

daughter.

'Does he want us to live together and be a family?'

Her answer had to be direct and without hesitation. 'Yes,' she said simply.

'Do
you
want us to live with him?' Ann-Marie persisted, and Carly felt as if

she was caught in a trap with no way out.

'Yes.' Two untruths in the space of two minutes. If she wasn't careful, it

could become a habit. 'Let's go and freshen up, shall we? He'll be here soon.'

'What do I call him?' Ann-Marie asked several minutes later as she stood

quietly while Carly tidied her hair and redid her ribbons.

Carly had a terrible feeling the questions could I only get worse! 'What

would you like to call him?'

Ann-Marie appeared to deliberate, her eyes pensive as a slight frown creased

her small brow. 'Daddy, I guess.' Her eyes moved to meet those of her

mother in the mirror. 'Will I like him?'

She forced her mouth to widen into a warm smile, then she bent down to

brush her lips against her daughter's temple. 'I'm sure that once you get to

know him you'll like him very much,' she assured her quietly.

Ann-Marie looked at her mother's mirrored reflection and queried with

puzzlement, 'Aren't you going to put some lipstick on?'

Carly didn't feel inclined to do anything to enhance her appearance, although

she reached automatically for a slim plastic tube and outlined her mouth in

clear red.

The sound of the doorbell heralded Stefano's arrival, and, catching hold of

Ann-Marie's hand, she summoned a bright smile. 'Shall we answer that?'

I don't want to do this, a voice screamed silently from within, aware that the

moment she opened the door her life would change irrevocably.

Carly schooled her features into an expression of welcome, and although she