Web of Deception (9 page)

He stood up and ripped off the rest of his clothes. Seeing Kate’s hands drop to the tops of her stockings, he covered her hands with his.

“No,” he told her. “The stockings stay on.”

She was too damn sexy for her own good.

Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her up and lowered her on to the bed. She was so light, so pliant and she would mould herself against him.

His mouth dropped over one succulent nipple, her gasp audible as he suckled on the rosy peak. His hands slid over her curves,
then lower, her legs parting at his touch. She writhed against his fingers and he enjoyed every gasp, every moan, every little sound that came from her lips.

Her breaths grew more rapid. She must be
ready to come at any time.

Suddenly, her hands were upon him, her fingers running along his hardness, caressing him gently. As she wrapped her little hands around him and stroked his erection, he groaned. It was almost too much for him as she slid her hands up and down his length.

But it wasn’t her hands he wanted around him.

Repositioning himself over her, he s
lid his knees between hers. Now the hands that had been caressing him guided him into her hot interior. He plunged inside her and gasped. Then gasped again.

Dear God, it felt so good. There was nothing else in the world. Just the hot ache in his pelvis and the woman who was with him.

“Yes…yes…” Kate moaned.

He wanted to slow down but
couldn’t. He tried to hold back, tried to give her time, but his body was burning and there was only so much he could do.

Her breath quickened and a little moan got stuck in her throat. She gasped. Then called out his name, her body curling around his, the ultimate sexual pleasure surging through her body.

A moment later, the waves of his own orgasm thundered through him, intense sexual relief radiating out from his groin through his whole body.

Yet he didn’t want to pull out of her.

He felt close to her.

A
nd he wanted to stay that way.

*          *          *

The following morning, Daniel looked across at the blond hair spread across the pillow beside him, the brown lashes of her eyes pressed closed, the lush lips parted slightly. Still breathing rhythmically, Kate wasn’t awake yet.

But Daniel was more awake than he’d been in a long time.

He felt a longing deep inside. Not a sexual ache like he’d felt the night before. No, this was different.

Kate
looked so small, so soft, as if something or someone could crush her with ease. He knew she wasn’t weak but she needed someone to take care of her, look after her.

It was strange
. He’d lived a full life but had never felt this sense of protectiveness before. He’d felt lust and passion and the intense drive that made him want to succeed in business. He had friends and he’d felt love – for his mother in particular – but he’d never felt this same longing before, never felt this deep-seated need to take care of someone.

Was this tenderness?

Daniel didn’t know.

He’d never felt it before.

And it would probably pass.

Daniel wondered what Kate had been thinking when she’d suggested a walk along the beach before lunch. She’d said it would help give them an appetite but it was such an unlikely morning. Sydney had wonderful weather, often even in the middle of winter, however this certainly wasn’t one of those days.

There was a front coming across the ocean so the sky, sea and san
d were varying shades of grey. The darkest hue was high above them as black clouds moved quickly overhead.

In a bright red sweater, a smile on her face, Kate looked like a colourful beacon that had been dropped into the greyness. She’d taken off her shoes and rolled up her jeans, though the sand must be cold beneath her feet.
Her hair was flying across her face.

“You chose an odd day
for a walk along the beach,” he said.

She raised her eyebrows quizzically. “Afraid of a bit of wind, Mr Webb?”

“Not at all. I just didn’t think you were much of an outdoors person.”

Kate shrugged. “I’m not really. I just think there’s more than one way of seeing things.”

“What does that mean?”

“Everyone knows we have beautiful beaches here, all the way along the coast. Crisp blue skies, clear water, white beaches. Whichever way you turn, it looks like a postcard. But this is beautiful too. In its own way.” She pointed out to the ocean. “You wouldn’t see a picture like this in any
tourist brochure even though it’s striking. It’s not what most people would consider attractive.”

A
bove all, Kate was practical, yet she saw things in a different light from other people. Most would see only a miserable, grey sky but she looked around and saw beauty.

Perhaps she wasn’t as conventional as
Daniel had first thought. Perhaps she’d be interested in doing things a different way. He hadn’t thought of it before but she might be more accommodating than he’d guessed.

She’d been clear about what she wanted. A husband. A family. Daniel wasn’t planning on being anyone’s husband but if he handled it right, she might alter her goals just slightly. She might come round to a different way of thinking, a different way of looking at things. A way where she might see beauty where others didn’t.

“It’s going to start pouring soon,” he said.

“Not yet. We’ve got a bit of time. We can enjoy it.”

Looking up, he said, “When it starts to rain, it’ll absolutely bucket it down.”

She shrugged.
“Then we’ll get wet.”

He put his arm around her and pulled her close as they walked. “And when we’re both drenched?”

She slipped her arm around his waist. “You can keep me warm.”

“I might not want to hug you when you’re all wet and soggy,” he teased.

“But you’ll be wet too.”

Daniel
shook his head. “No, I’m not going to get drenched. That front is coming in. It’s time to get going.” He stopped and faced her, his hands on her waist. Even through the bulk of her jumper, she felt small and shapely. “Come skiing with me next weekend.”

Kate
slid her hands along his arms, resting them on his shoulders. “I wasn’t expecting that. Where did that come from?”

He knew exactly where that idea had come from. He loved to ski and had a suite booked for the season at the Lords Hotel in Falls Creek. His father had said he’d be there briefly and Daniel wanted to catch him. Quite simple, really.

But most of all, he wanted more time with Kate.

Alone.

Away from the city. Away from other people who might sway her opinion. Somewhere she could free her mind. He could start to put the seed of an idea into her head so she could consider a different way of doing things, a different way of living.

And he wanted her.

He didn’t need any more reason than that.

“My father will be there so it’s a good chance to catch him,” he said. “And I thought you must like the cold since you like it out here so much.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“Don’t you like to ski?”

“I liked it when I was a teenager. It was great fun. My class went on a skiing trip in high school. That’s the only time I’ve been.”

“Then you’ll have to go again. I think you’ll like the hotel.”

She slid her arms more tightly around his neck but her gaze remained fixed on his collar, her expression more thoughtful. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Things are already going so fast. We’re spending so much time together.”

“That’s a good thing. I like your company and I’m sure you enjoy mine too. There’s a strong attraction between us. Why wouldn’t we want to spend time together?”

Kate still didn’t look up at him. “Things have already gone much faster than I would have liked. You know what I’m talking about. Last night. Sleeping together. I’ve only just broken up with Mark and suddenly you and I are together. It’s been very rushed.”

Mark was out of the way and out of her heart so Daniel knew there was nothin
g standing in his way. She wanted some reassurance. That was all.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he said.

Her eyes shot up at him. “I’m just wary. Meeting you. Sleeping with you. None of this was part of my plans.”

“Not everything goes to plan.” His lips curled to a suggestive smile. “It doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves.”

“I didn’t want things to go so fast.”

“Don’t you trust yourself?”

“Of course I do.”

Daniel drew her closer. “There’s a strong pull between us. You can’t deny the chemistry.”

“I told you I don’t believe in that kind of thing.”

He
knew he had her. “No. That’s the reason you’re reluctant. Because you know there’s something between us. Come away with me for the weekend and show me there’s nothing there. Prove to me you don’t feel anything.”

Kate looked flustered. “I don’t want to go away for some dirty weekend.”

Daniel took her hand and the two of them started walking away from the beach.

“It won’t be anything like that,” he said.
“Was last night dirty? Certainly not. And I know you enjoyed it every bit as much as I did. Why are you so scared?”

“Just because I don’t want to go away with you doesn’t mean I’m scared.”

“But you are.”

She shook her head
as she walked. “No, I’ve just made my share of mistakes and I don’t want to repeat them.”

“Last night was no mistake.”

“I meant before that. Before I met you.”

“Everyone makes mistakes. It’s a risk you take by living.”

The wind whipped her hair around her face. She pushed it back in vein. “But I kept making the same mistake over again and now I’m worried I’m doing it again. Falling for the wrong man. The one with all the glitz and glamour.”

“Kate, don’t be ridiculous. You’re not that shallow.”

She smiled wanly. “I was once. I was twenty-four at the time so I can’t even use my age as an excuse.”

Daniel tried to think back. She’d mentioned something about a high-flyer. That was what she’d called him.

“Was this the ad guy you talked about once?”

She nodded. “Craig Deal. I was smitten. Completely taken in by him. I thought we had so much in common because we both work in creative fields. He was a director at an ad agency, and he mixed with exciting people. Knew everyone in the industry. Very well-connected. He was always getting free VIP tickets to concerts. He had no problem getting a table at any restaurant, any time. I thought he was fabulous. Fell for him hook, line and sinker.”

“And you found out he wasn’t as wonderful as you thought?”

“We were together for about six months. It took me a wh
ile to work out that with Craig everything was to do with appearances and being cool. It was all about being seen at the right places with the right people. He knew hundreds of people and they all seemed to bend over backwards for him but I never saw him do the slightest favour for anyone. He never went out of his way to help anyone. Not even me.”

“Was he seeing someone else?”

“No, nothing like that. He just lived his life on the surface and as soon as I started to question that, he dumped me. I found out later that he liked blondes. That was his first criteria in selecting a girlfriend. It made me feel very insignificant. So, after me, it was a younger woman with bleached hair and a bigger bust than mine. I meant nothing to him.”

“You made a mistake. That doesn’t mean you’re shallow. And it certainly doesn’t mean I’m like that man.”

Kate squeezed his hand. “I’m attracted to you, Daniel. That’s what makes me so wary. You can buy whatever you want. I’m sure you only travel first class. You live a glamorous lifestyle. Maybe that’s the part of you I’m attracted to.”

“That’s not the case at all,” he said.
“I’ve made my mistakes too but I know you’re not just attracted to money, to appearances. Believe me, I can spot a gold-digger a mile away and that’s the one thing you’re not. You don’t have to be quite so cautious. I’ve been up front with you all along.”

“Yes, you have.”

“I’m not going to marry you and carry you off into the sunset. But we can still enjoy ourselves. We can have a good time. You know we’re good together. Why on earth
wouldn’t
you come to the mountains with me?”

Kate
hesitated and Daniel knew she was considering his offer. “I guess it’d be silly to turn you down because I was afraid of enjoying myself too much. That wouldn’t really make sense.”

He
stopped and cupped her face in his hands. “It doesn’t have to be the way it was with any other man that came before me. We can set our own standards. Do it our way. Do what works for us. Because, so far, this is working nicely. I know you’ll enjoy our weekend away.”