The Collector's Edition Volume 1 (11 page)

D
AN
didn’t want any negative vibrations intruding on this, his first night with Jayne for over two years. The apartment in Xi’an would undoubtedly evoke a sense of violation since Anya and Chunz had been taken there. Apart from which, he couldn’t bear the loss of time in travelling.

He had a private word with Lin Zhiyong, who was only too happy to arrange for a suite to be immediately available for them in The Palace, a hotel that advertised itself as an oasis in the heart of Beijing. It combined the grandeur of the past with the luxuries of the present. Luxuries were definitely on Dan’s agenda tonight.

From the moment they arrived at the hotel they were given celebrity treatment; flowers everywhere, complimentary fruit and champagne, the hotel staff offering instant attention and swift service for anything they required. The best of everything. And so it should be for Jayne, Dan thought, wanting her to feel cherished and admired and respected for the marvellous woman she was.

A cot was produced for Anya, with toys to entertain her. A new set of baby clothes and diapers
were brought. She was bathed, fed, pampered, and finally put to bed. Tonight she would sleep by herself. As dearly as he loved his adopted daughter, Dan wanted, needed, to spend this night exclusively with Jayne.

It had been a long, eventful, fateful day. If Jayne was too exhausted…well, he could wait. He would make himself wait. She deserved the best from him. He’d give her anything she wanted. He still felt awed, humbled by the person she had become without him.

Yet there was no doubting she wanted him back as her husband. The decisive commitment to him had blazed in her eyes. She hadn’t asked for promises or guarantees. She had simply and unequivocally placed herself in his keeping, trusting him with her life, her dreams, her love.

A fierce determination burned in his mind and pumped through his heart. He would not let her down. He would never again take a decision without her participation and approval. Partners in everything.

‘I desperately need a long, hot shower,’ she said, sighing her relief when they at last had complete privacy. She flopped into a chair and pulled off her shoes and socks.

He moved before he realised he was moving, drawn irresistibly to touch, to express the feelings she stirred in him. ‘You must be tired. Let me help.’

He lifted her to her feet. She came fluidly, unresistingly, a weary little smile suggesting she was grateful for his offer. She stood still as his hands slid the denim battle jacket from her shoulders. As brave as any soldier could be, he thought, yet her shoulders were softly fleshed, womanly. He eased the sleeves down her arms. The jacket dropped to the floor. Neither bent to pick it up.

‘We used to shower together,’ she said huskily.

Her eyes were dark blue pools, fathoms deep, inviting him to drown in their luminescent warmth. ‘I’ll wash you,’ he murmured, his fingers working quickly to unbutton her shirt.

Her fine, silky skin pulsated under his touch, her breasts lifting with tantalising fullness as she took a deep breath. He hurried to remove her shirt, her bra, dying for the exquisite pleasure of seeing, feeling, the lush femininity of her body unveiled.

She was breathtakingly beautiful. Always had been. Always would be to him. Her nipples stood out enticingly, the aureoles dark, extended, revealing her excitement, her desire to be loved. He didn’t have to wait. She wanted him.

The painful control he had exerted over his need for her burst under the rampant rush of desire that shot through his body like red-hot needles. His loins throbbed with an urgency he could barely contain. The constriction of his clothes grew acute. His fingers trembled as he
unfastened her jeans and tugged them down her long, lissom legs; satin thighs, the sensual curve of knees and calves, the narrow delicacy of her feet.

He was so aroused, he was tearing off his shirt as he stood again, wanting to press his flesh against her. ‘Jayne…’ he breathed hoarsely, pleading for her understanding. He meant to be patient. He would be. He wanted her to feel more loved than she’d ever felt before. It was how he felt. But his body had a life of its own.

‘It’s been so long,’ she whispered, her hands reaching up, sliding yearningly over his chest, making his heart hammer with an intensity that flooded him with tingling heat.

Boots, socks, pants; he flung them away from him. He swept her into his embrace, trapping her body against his. A shuddering reaction of sheer pleasure rippled through him as her soft, voluptuous nakedness yielded to his tension-hard flesh.

‘Jayne…’ It was a groan of gut-wrenching relief. She was his again. The words from the marriage service,
to have and to hold,
pounded through his mind. ‘I want you to know there wasn’t anyone else for me.’

‘Nor for me,’ she said, her lips feathering his throat.

‘No other woman could ever be to me what you are. And now you’re so much more. Like a rosebud that has burst into magnificent bloom.
And I swear to you I’ll nurture this bloom until the day I die.’

She wound her arms around his neck and leaned back, her lovely, vivid face glowing with pleasure. ‘I believe you, Dan.’ Her voice was a seductive purr, her mouth barely parted, her lips a sensory invitation.

Slowly, he cautioned himself. Take it slowly. Show her how precious, how perfect, how uniquely special she is. He brushed a line of butterfly kisses over her temples, tasted the warm flush of her cheeks, closed her fluttering lashes with a soft flick of his tongue on her eyelids, trailed his lips down her nose. Her mouth was waiting for him, eager, passionate, burning.

He fought the intense wave of desire she stirred. He lifted her and carried her into the bathroom, turning on the taps in the shower and testing the temperature of the water before stepping in and letting her legs slide down his to stand again.

The sensual pleasure of soaping her all over was worth the restraint he imposed on himself, but when she took the soap and did the same for him his excitement was difficult to contain. There was a quick flurry of towelling each other dry, urgency mounting for the absolute intimacy they both craved.

Bedroom…Jayne sprawling in wild abandonment on the bed, blatantly provocative, wanting him, her arms outstretched in welcome. He lowered himself between the open invitation
of her long, beautiful legs. Her hands raked his back, dragging his body to close the gap between them. ‘Now?’ he cried, the hot moistness of her drawing him inexorably on, shaking his control.

‘Yes…yes…’ Her head threshing, hair tumbling in fiery disarray around her passionate face, her legs wrapping around him, urging, co-cooning him in sweet ecstacy as he thrust forward, plunging through the pulsing sheath to the innermost heart of her womanhood, feeling the soft creamy spill of her climax, the rippling sigh of fulfilment as her muscles contracted, closing around him, holding him deeply inside her.

Dan gathered her to him, capturing this perfect moment of reunion in a body-imprinting embrace, in a kiss that heightened the exquisite intimacy of melding together again. ‘I love you, Jayne. With all that I am, I love you,’ he murmured, and the need to show her, to give her all the pleasure he could, moved him into a slow, sensual rhythm that he knew would excite continual waves of exquisite feeling.

‘Oh, Dan…’ A soft, melting sigh that was music to his ears.

Her thighs quivered. She languidly moved her legs up to a higher lock around him, offering him her inner self as an incitement to his pleasure, rocking with him, her hands playing sensually over his shoulders and back.

She wanted him.

The two years without her washed away like insignificant flotsam on a grand sea of swelling emotion that rolled toward a homeland of milk and honey. She was glorious, tantalising, enthralling, heavenly. Dan knew he would never have enough of her, however long they lived. She called to him like some magical, elemental being that stroked every instinctive chord within him. The touch of her, the feel of her, the scent of her, he knew them all as essential parts of himself, and he marvelled at the power of nature that instinct could supersede knowledge.

He had loved her without really knowing her, yet knowing her enriched the love a thousandfold. He felt his body flood with urgent need, quicken to the pace of free-bolting desire, and she arched underneath him,
wanting him,
and he released the essence of himself deep inside her, spasmic bursts of the seeds of his whole genetic history, searching for their complement in her.

And the giving flowing from her told him it was all right now, told him she wanted their child, too, that this was a moment of total bonding, of creation, of starting anew, of opening up a new life of sharing in ways they had never explored before.

She moved with him, keeping the sealing of the bond intact as he shifted his weight, rolling them both onto their sides. He wanted to hold her so closely, so tightly that their entire bodies would meld and they would become as one, never to be separated again.

He wanted to tell her his thoughts, wanted her to know how much had changed for him, the perceptions that had opened up, making him see what he’d been missing.

He touched her lips. ‘I’ll always listen to your voice, Jayne. Will you forgive me my arrogance, and for everything I’ve done wrong?’

‘If you forgive me my silence,’ she answered, her hand pressing against his heart in need for his understanding.

‘It’s behind us,’ he murmured, having no doubt it was true.

‘Yes.’ It was a blissful breath of unshadowed happiness.

He trailed his fingertips adoringly around her face. ‘I thought the world was the ultimate experience of life, Jayne. I know now that isn’t true. It offers a vista of different societies, different environments, but it cannot provide the biggest adventure of all.’

‘What do you think that is, Dan?’ she whispered, her eyes shining with her desire to know.

‘Exploring all the wonderful facets of the people you love. You most of all, my darling. Baby Anya. And the children we’ll have together. That’s what belonging is all about, isn’t it? That’s a family. It’s how we make a home.’

Tears welled into her eyes, giving them an incandescent glow. ‘Yes. Oh, Dan! I love you so much.’

He cuddled her closer. ‘We’ll have a home, Jayne. A home of loving and sharing and contributing
to each other’s happiness and well-being, a home where needs are answered and dreams are pursued. I promise you I’ll do my utmost to make this happen.’

‘I know you will, Dan.’ He was a man of his word. ‘And I will, too.’

‘You’ll never feel lost again.’

‘I know.’

‘I’m here for you.’

‘Yes.’

He felt her heart beating in unison with his and rested content. She was with him.

Jayne…

His wife.

His partner for life.

T
HE
American ambassador called on them the next morning.

Jayne and Dan and Anya were enjoying a leisurely breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup, bacon and eggs and hash browns, muffins, croissants, and a selection of fruits. They had very healthy appetites. The tensions and uncertainties of yesterday were behind them. Today was the first day of a future shining with love and a new togetherness.

Their distinguished visitor did not stand on ceremony. He greeted them affably, declaring it a pleasure to meet them both. He and his aide accepted coffee and sat down with them, apparently intent on having a long, relaxed chat.

Jayne wondered if there were deplomatic repercussions over the blowing up of Sheikh Omar El Talik’s Lear jet, but the ambassador did not look a worried man. Trained not to be, she thought, but refused to be worried herself. Nothing was going to dash her happiness today.

After a general discussion of current affairs in the U.S., the ambassador came to the point of his visit. ‘There has been a flurry of activity along official channels regarding the events of yesterday.
Not, let me hasten to add, in any way critical of your response to the action taken by Omar El Talik. Your…uh…resolution to the problem has been much admired, Mr. Drayton. Indeed, applauded in many circles.’

‘My wife made it work,’ Dan told him with a smile at Jayne that shouted to the world how he felt about her. ‘She acted with such conviction she left Omar no room to manoeuvre.’

The ambassador gave her a respectful nod. ‘Many people think very highly of you, Miss Winter. The Chinese…’ He smiled, as though somewhat bemused. ‘Have a special name for you, I believe. Dragon Lady. Very apt in the circumstances.’

Jayne smiled back at him. ‘Thank you.’

‘Have we caused a political problem?’ Dan asked.

‘Not at all,’ the ambassador hastily assured him. ‘No harm whatsoever. Quite a bit of good has come out of it, in fact. New negotiations taking place. Very favourable to everyone concerned. However, I have been asked to convey a message to you from Omar’s father, Sheikh Abdul El Talik.’

‘The old man is not happy with his son?’ Dan observed dryly.

The ambassador sighed. ‘An understatement, Mr. Drayton. Sheikh Abdul was hoping to…uh…rehabilitate his younger son from various dissolute habits he had fallen into. Give
him responsibilities appropriate to his status. Make him prove himself worthy of the position he inherited from his uncle. Omar was entrusted with the task of gaining your services, Mr. Drayton. He did not wish to confess failure to his father. It was a matter of pride, you understand.’

‘A man has to know when to take no for an answer,’ Dan said sternly, totally unsympathetic to any mitigating plea on Omar’s behalf.

‘He threatened to shoot us,’ Jayne put in for good measure.

‘There is no question that Omar overstepped all normal boundaries in trying to prove himself effective,’ the ambassador acknowledged. ‘Sheikh Abdul is anxious to make amends for the…uh…pain his son caused you. Very generous amends.’

He paused, coughed delicately, then added, ‘You may or may not be aware that we, the U.S. government, have an interest in Sheikh Abdul’s mining operations. It could be politically advantageous if you could find it in your heart to accept his offer, Mr. Drayton.’ He shot a deferential smile at Jayne. ‘And Miss Winter, of course.’

‘What’s the offer?’ Dan asked.

‘Three times your previously negotiated fee for the contract, free use of his hunting palace for the duration of the contract with absolute guarantees of every service and security you require,
plus the unencumbered gift of a house in London. A very fashionable address, I believe.’

‘A house?’ Jayne repeated incredulously.

‘Sheikh Abdul owns several properties in London, Miss Winter. Investments.’

‘My wife does not have happy memories of her last stay in the Middle East,’ Dan said firmly. ‘I would not agree to anything that would make my wife unhappy.’

‘Darling, if Sheikh Abdul is prepared to keep his son, Omar, well away from us, I can be very happy with you in his hunting palace,’ Jayne assured him, then couldn’t help grinning from ear to ear. ‘It would be lovely to own a house.’

Dan looked surprised. ‘I thought you were set on establishing a home is Australia.’

‘You and I can make a home for our family anywhere,’ Jayne answered with sublime confidence in their new partnership. ‘If you think it’s best for us to take up Sheikh Abdul’s contract and mend political fences, that’s fine by me.’

He paused to consider. ‘There is Monty’s offer,’ he reminded her.

‘I don’t know how you feel about that,’ Jayne answered cautiously, not wanting to make him feel pinned down.

He grinned. ‘We’ll talk about it.’ He turned to the ambassador. ‘Tell Sheikh Abdul we’ll give his deal our deepest consideration. It’s obviously in everybody’s interests to have a happy resolution
that is beneficial to all of us. I would expect your people to make sure the paperwork is iron-tight.’

‘You can count on that, Mr. Drayton.’ The ambassador and his aide stood to shake hands and take their leave of them. ‘We’ll be in touch.’

His visit reminded Jayne of Chunz’s part in yesterday’s drama. Lin Zhiyong had told them Chunz had been safely returned to her husband and son, but Jayne felt the little Chinese woman needed to be reassured that she had not let Dan down in any way whatsoever over looking after Anya.

‘We should give Chunz something, Dan. Even though it wasn’t her fault, she’ll still feel devastated that the kidnap happened while Anya was in her care.’

‘What do you suggest?’

She thought out loud. ‘Chunz probably wouldn’t accept anything for herself. She’d feel wrong about it. Perhaps, even be insulted. There’d be a lot of face involved.’

‘True,’ Dan agreed.

‘I know!’ Jayne cried excitedly. ‘Chunz is so proud of her son. He’s eleven and this year he started on computers at school. Chunz has great hopes for him because he’s very clever at it. Could we buy him a personal computer? It would give him an enormous advantage.’

‘That’s a brilliant idea, darling! No Chinese parent would refuse something that benefits their child.’

Jayne glowed under Dan’s admiration. She wasn’t quite so bad at people skills, after all. She didn’t think she ever would be again. Having confidence in oneself made an enormous difference.

Dan suggested that the gift-giving could wait until tomorrow. The hotel manager had warned them there was a lot of media interest in their story and they decided a day secluded in their suite was a good idea. Anya’s afternoon nap gave them the opportunity to take a leisurely rest themselves, although not much resting was done. The exercise, however, was intensely satisfying and wonderfully relaxing.

It was fortunate that Anya awoke when she did, because soon afterward Lin Zhiyong was announced as a visitor. He entered their suite with his usual entourage to inform them that he had arranged with the hotel to hold his ten-course duck dinner in a private banquet room, and he hoped they would still be his honoured guests this evening.

Jayne and Dan duly attended, dressed in entirely new and appropriate outfits from a selection of clothes sent up to them from the hotel boutiques.

The first course was made up of a cold platter with various cuts of duck cooked in a dark soy sauce. Jayne didn’t care to identify anything too
closely. Dan ate with gusto and appreciation. He always did.

The pièce de résistance was supposedly the skin of the duck which was roasted to perfection. It was dipped in a sweet-salty soy sauce and wrapped in a pancake. The meat was stir-fried with noodles, the wings braised. Other bits were fried with a variety of vegetables. The bones were made into a clear soup. Jayne was somewhat relieved that dessert did not include duck in any form.

Although the banquet was something of an endurance test, Jayne did enjoy it. It was a rare pleasure to see Lin Zhiyong in such obvious good spirits. He was a very happy Buddha tonight, his enigmatic face completely cast aside. Dan, of course, did his habitual trick of drawing everyone out and, all in all, it was a grand party.

Lin Zhiyong capped the evening with a speech.

‘It has been decided that in Denjing a special house and garden will be built in honour of Mr. Drayton and his wife, Miss Winter. This is to be a home that will always be held ready to receive them and their family, welcoming them whenever they return to visit China. Today they have been made honorary citizens of our great new city.’

From having no house at all to having two houses offered as gifts to them in one day certainly called for celebration. Jayne and Dan were
feeling very pleasantly merry when they returned to their suite.

As they entered the sitting room, the telephone rang. It was Monty Castle calling from Australia, wanting a firsthand account of what he’d been hearing on news bulletins. Dan explained how the situation with Omar El Talik had developed and led up to yesterday’s drama.

‘What’s this about you and Jayne being married?’ Monty demanded to know.

‘We were married before Jayne came to work for you, Monty. Our marriage went through a bad patch but now we’re back together again. No more separations.’ His eyes seared Jayne’s with that conviction.

‘All the more reason to accept the partnership deal. Settle down,’ Monty urged.

‘We’ll discuss that in another couple of months, Monty. Jayne and I think we should take up the deal with Sheikh Abdul El Talik first. However, if Jayne approves, I’d be happy to take up the partnership, although not on a gift basis. I’d rather buy my shareholding fair and square.’

‘That’s not necessary,’ Monty argued. ‘You’re worth your weight in gold as it is.’

‘I’ll do it my way or not at all, Monty. And only if it’s what Jayne wants, too.’

‘Jayne wants a house. That’s what she was working for. Tell her I’ll throw in a house as her
bonus for finishing up the Denjing contract. That’ll settle things.’

Three
houses! Jayne shook her head in incredulous amazement. She had heard of disasters coming in threes. Did dreams come true in threes?

She vaguely heard Dan finishing the conversation with Monty. Then he was turning her into his arms, smiling broadly, his eyes dancing with teasing mischief.

‘Well, my love. Do you fancy putting roots down in Britain, China, Australia, or somewhere else? At the rate we’re going, we could grow a forest over at least three continents.’

Jayne laughed, feeling giddily intoxicated from wine, events tumbling over each other, and most of all, the wonderful closeness to Dan. ‘Maybe we should collect some more options first. Do you think the ambassador might offer us a house in the U.S.?’

Dan’s arms trapped her lower body against his, swaying in a dance as old as the legends of mankind. ‘For Dragon Lady, anything is possible.’

She linked her hands behind his neck and leaned back, arching her body in provocative incitement. ‘Only because one day a determined warrior found his way to her lair and blew up the mountain to set her free.’

Dan smiled, his head bending toward hers. ‘It had to be so,’ he murmured, his mouth coming closer and closer. ‘Dragons are powers of the air, and in Chinese mythology they represent the principle of heaven. More than anything else, the warrior wanted the heaven she could give him.’

Then his lips brushed hers and there was the fire of desire, the sweet air of freedom from all barriers, and the heaven of knowing they had come home to each other