One Night in the Orient by Robyn Donald

Author:Robyn Donald
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781408926031
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2011-08-12T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

SIENA understood. Nick was deliberately turning the clock back, trying to restore their relationship to its previous standing of almost-family. Shocked by the strength of her dismay, she stemmed the protest that trembled on her tongue.

She said quietly, “Yes, of course.”

“I’ll get you something to drink.” His mouth quirked in a familiar mixture of mockery and amusement. “You’ll need to rehydrate after all those tears.”

“Thank you, but I can get some water for myself.” Desperate for him to go, she glanced at the door to the charming small en suite bathroom.

“Stay there,” he said tersely.

Hurt by the edge to his voice, she tried to suppress the strange jumble of thoughts and emotions churning through her, closing her eyes until he came back.

Not that she’d hear him. He’d always moved silently—a born predator, her father once had called him.

Well, her father had been wrong. If Nick had been a predator then right now—at this very minute, she thought with a voluptuous heat melting her bones—they’d be erotically entwined in the great bed.

Because she had as little resistance to his dangerous charm as when she’d been a virginal nineteen-year-old.

Fortunately—fortunately, she emphasised to her wistful heart—he’d had the self-control to stop and make sure she understood his lovemaking would be what it had been then. Nothing more than an emotionless passion—mere animal hunger with no feelings beyond the physical.

He’d given her the chance to pull back.

She had to be glad she’d taken that chance. Surrendering would have been the most foolish thing she’d ever done—apart from yielding to her own importunate desire that long-ago, better-forgotten night.

Nick’s voice jolted her lashes upwards. “Most people prefer to sleep lying down. Here, drink this.”

“Thank you,” she said huskily, fingers gripping the smooth, cool tumbler. Her hand shook, so she hastily lifted it to her mouth and managed to get some of the water down her parched throat without spilling any.

“Sleep well,” he said after another of those metallic, unreadable glances. He turned and walked out of the room, the light gleaming golden over his lithe, powerful form.

The chill Siena had felt after the kiss was reinforced by his very definite rejection.

So what was new? She sipped more water and tried to organise her chaotic, bewildered thoughts.

Nick’s first instinct had been to comfort. The situation had changed only once she’d calmed down enough to realise what was happening to her. Men could want women they disliked, so it wasn’t surprising he’d responded to her unconscious nestling against him.

But why had she allowed the security of Nick’s arms around her, his rock-solid embrace, to banish everything else from her mind?

Had her love for Adrian, that gentle, safe refuge from any chance of anguish, not been love at all?

That was even worse, she thought miserably, sickened by the possibility of her own self-deceit. Surely it wasn’t true—after all, she’d been shocked by Adrian’s email.

Shocked and upset.

Gemma’s email had added to her distress, its wildly passionate tone a real worry. She needed to get back home as quickly as

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