The Spaniard's Woman - Contemporary Romance (4 page)

Gabriel looked at her, face intent. ‘I am sorry for intruding into your relationship with another man,’ he told her quietly. ‘But I cannot believe that he can fully satisfy you, certainly not in the way I can.’

‘You think a great deal of yourself,’ Rhianna snapped, unnerved, ‘Besides, I hardly think your opinion of Grady justifies infidelity. For either of us.’

‘When I saw you the other night I realized that I made a mistake, sending you away. I thought that you would be too much of a distraction from my forthcoming marriage.’ Something touched his face, a strange bleakness, ‘I did not understand then what I was sacrificing. Now, I want you back.’

‘And whatever Gabriel Ortega wants, he gets, isn’t that right?’ Rhianna demanded tightly.

‘In this instance, yes. Stand up,
mi
Rhianna.’

Rhianna stared at him warily. ‘What?’

‘Stand up.’ He rose, over six feet of powerful, sexual male.

Rhianna realized she must appear as if she were cowering back in her chair. He stood over her, a hungry predator, commanding her obedience. ‘No.’

‘I think you will find that things will go more smoothly between us when you learn to do as I say,’ he murmured. With the smooth grace of a panther he moved, bending to scoop her into his arms in one fluid action. Before Rhianna could gather her thoughts she was pressed against him, held easily as if she weighed nothing.

‘Put me down!’

Gabriel laughed and dropped one arm, allowing her to slide into a standing position. He did not release her, however and she found herself held firmly against him, his face inches from her own. ‘Well,
pequeno
?’ he whispered, ‘what shall we do now?’

Her body knew exactly what it wanted to do. The intimacy of his embrace set it ablaze and she arched closer unconsciously, reveling in the hardness of him, the heady sensuality of being held in Gabriel’s arms. ‘Just as I thought,’ he murmured, mouth moving closer. ‘Your lips is an irresistible invitation, Rhianna
hermoso
...’

And the world disappeared beneath the demanding onslaught of his mouth.

Chapter Four

His lips were like fire against her own, commanding her to respond. For long moments, Rhianna resisted, standing rigid within his embrace but it was like trying to hold back the tide; his urgency was irresistible. A sweet, slow ache began deep within her, sweeping her up, infusing her with desire so intense that her resistance crumbled. Rhianna made an inarticulate noise against the mouth that had trapped her own, her body becoming pliant as it molded itself to the hardness of Gabriel’s. The room, the world, everything disappeared as Gabriel’s lips moved with sensual expertise over her own, triumphant and possessive as they reclaimed her after three and a half years.

As the kiss intensified, Gabriel demanded more, his lips insistent and Rhianna opened her mouth to allow the carnal warmth of his tongue to slide in to meet hers and heat blossomed deep inside, the delicious familiarity of memories she had deliberately tried to bury overwhelming her with their urgency. Rhianna could not remember why she had left him. At that moment she couldn’t even remember that she was keeping a precarious secret, or that Gabriel Ortega had once shattered her heart. Everything was lost in the extraordinary magic of his kiss, strong hands firm against her back as he held her pressed tight against him so that Rhianna could feel
exactly
how arousing Gabriel found her.

Without conscious volition, Rhianna pushed herself forward to slide her body against his hardness and this time it was Gabriel’s turn to groan, a deep, almost primitive sound that turned the kiss into one of bruising ferocity. His hand came around to fumble blindly with the hem of her jumper, fingers moving upwards to splay across the swell of one rounded breast and Rhianna gasped as he brushed the tight bud of her nipple through the flimsy fabric of her bra.

It was Gabriel who finally broke her free of the spell he’d cast. With an effort, he dragged his mouth from hers, raising his head to look into Rhianna’s face. What he saw there seemed to satisfy him and he smiled. Rhianna’s deep green eyes were glazed with passion, her expression dazed, almost stunned. Gabriel was far from affected himself, breathing hard. He pulled his hand from beneath her jumper and released her reluctantly. Much more of this and he knew he would take her right here, on the floor or the couch or against the wall... it didn’t matter where, just as long as he could satisfy the intensity of his need for her. And that would not do. He would not make love to Rhianna in another man’s house.

‘I think we should go.’

Rhianna blinked up at him for a moment before reality rushed back in, dispersing all the warmth his kiss had generated. The full horror of her behavior hit her and she flushed with shame, backing away from him, a hand going to her throat.

What was she doing?
She moistened lips that felt swollen and abused. Humiliation mingled with a sense of shock at her reckless lack of control. She could hardly believe that she had allowed him to kiss her like that. Or that she had melted so easily, as if the years they had been apart meant nothing at all.

‘That should never have happened,’ she told him tightly, ‘I made my feelings quite clear the other night. Please... just go.’

Gabriel smiled. She could still see the desire in his brilliant dark eyes, tamped down now but continuing to smolder just below the surface, waiting to explode once again. He looked exactly what he was; a dangerous, sexual predator who made his own rules. Her heart fluttered in panic when he took a step towards her. ‘Things would be easier between us,
mi
Rhianna, if you would simply surrender. I kissed you, yes, and you kissed me back. You can deny it if you like, but your body has given you away.’

‘No.’ Rhianna drew a deep breath, willing herself to be calm. This was no time to lose control, not if she wanted to preserve what she held most dear. ‘I admit that I still find you attractive,’ His soft laughter made her flush all over again. After that kiss, he knew
exactly
how attractive she found him. ‘But I have a new life now, one that I’m perfectly happy with. I’ve changed since we last met Gabriel. You’re my past, not my future.’

Gabriel shook his head, dismissing her words. ‘You are wrong,’ he said with absolute certainty. ‘I will allow that seeing me again must have come as a surprise but I cannot let you run from the hunger we feel for each other, no matter how much you might fear it.’ His voice dropped, taking on a rough edge, ‘Do you feel such passion for this Grady? Do you melt in his arms when he touches you? Tell me you do, Rhianna. I know it will be a lie but you can try and convince me.’

Rhianna had no intention of telling him anything of the kind. She could hardly believe that everything had gone so very wrong. The only thing that could make matters worse was if Dylan appeared. There was no help for it; she
had
to get Gabriel out of the house.

‘Let’s go somewhere else and talk about this,’ she said abruptly.

Gabriel arched an eyebrow. ‘My thoughts exactly, although I am surprised to hear you suggest it.’

Rhianna bit her lip. ‘I am not suggesting that we go and make love somewhere -’

‘I am.’

She stared at him, frightened and uncertain. To go with him, to be alone together somewhere, could very well prove to be disastrous. Not five minutes before she had been in his arms and oblivious to anything but his hands and his mouth. How likely was it that she would be able to resist him if he
really
decided to seduce her? If his touch alone could reduce her to a boneless mess, she hadn’t any hope of protecting herself. Yet she had to get him out of the house. Every minute that they stayed it became more likely that Dylan would wake up.

‘A coffee shop...’

‘My hotel suite,’ he replied immediately. ‘Just how badly do you want me to go, Rhianna? I am more than happy to wait here for your lover to return. It would be as well if he knew that things have changed.’

Rhianna frowned at him, momentarily arrested. ‘What do you mean, things have changed?’

‘I mean that there is no way you can now continue to be with him.’ Gabriel shrugged, a very Spanish gesture that she could remember him making a thousand times before. ‘If he is sensible, he will accept that the two of you are no longer together.’

Rhianna drew in a long breath. ‘You really think you can walk back into my life and just... just claim me like I am so much lost luggage don’t you?’ For a moment, anger obliterated every other emotion. Rhianna lifted her small chin to glare at him. ‘Damn you, Gabriel Ortega, just who the hell do you think you are? You haven’t seen me in over three years and yet you behave as if you still have some kind of
right
to me. Believe me, I’m not the same girl you knew back in Spain.’

‘No,’ Gabriel agreed thoughtfully. ‘You have changed, I can see that. You have a new found... maturity that is very appealing. You have grown up a great deal in the years we have been apart.’

‘Damn right I have,’ Rhianna agreed, wishing she sounded more confident. There was no mistaking the blatant sexual interest in his gaze as he studied her. It was difficult to maintain her anger when he looked as if he were stripping her naked with those heated dark eyes. One thing was painfully obvious; Gabriel saw far too much. ‘I don’t want to become involved with you again, Gabriel,’ she told him bluntly. ‘Why can’t you just accept that?’

‘Because you are lying, if not to me then certainly to yourself. Only minutes ago you were kissing me with all of your heart and your soul. You are frightened of becoming involved with me again. A woman such as yourself,
mi
Rhianna,’ he took a step towards her and Rhianna took a hasty step backwards, unwilling to come into his orbit again, ‘is frightened of losing control. Even when we were together in Spain you were disturbed by the passion that we found together. You could never let yourself go completely, in case you lost yourself. Now,’ he smiled, a slow curve of the lips that sent a rash of goose bumps shivering across her skin, ‘I think you are ready to truly let go and explore the depths of our mutual attraction.’

Mutual attraction
? It felt more like blind lust to Rhianna. If she could, she would have turned tail and run. Gabriel loomed like a delicious threat, his words striking a responsive chord deep within. She knew he was right. Their lovemaking three and a half years ago had been intense and wonderful and she had honestly believed that it was all that it could be. But his kiss had triggered a font of desire within her she had never suspected was there. Perhaps she had always unconsciously stepped back from the intensity of her feelings, scared that she’d be overcome by them. Right now, she had no desire to examine the possibilities. All she knew was that it couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

And running away wasn’t an option.

‘I’ll get my coat,’ she said slowly.

He nodded, his eyes never leaving her face. ‘An excellent idea. Get your coat.’

Rhianna’s hands were trembling as she seized a woolen jacket from the rack in the hall cupboard. She collected her bag from the table in the hallway and, glancing anxiously over her shoulder, put her head in the kitchen. Enid was standing at the bench, slicing onions. ‘I’ll be back soon.’

The older woman looked up, her face inquisitive. ‘Not to worry Rhianna love. I’ll take care of Dylan.’

Rhianna swallowed heavily. Dylan... Turning, she gave a start of surprise to find Gabriel in the hallway. Had he heard what Enid had said? Nervously, she moved towards him. ‘I’m ready.’

‘So I see.’ He held his hand out. It took a moment before she realized that he intended to help her on with her jacket. Rhianna didn’t waste time protesting. Gabriel always helped women with their coats, just as he opened doors for them. It was an integral part of who he was. He slid the jacket over her arms, his hands lingering her shoulders, fingers brushing the nape of her neck and Rhianna shivered.

She cleared her throat. ‘Let’s go. I don’t want to be gone too long. Grady will wonder where I am.’ He said nothing, but his fingers tightened abruptly on her shoulders.

Outside it was so cold that the air frosted in front of her face. Gabriel automatically took her arm, guiding her towards the black Mercedes parked at the curb. Rhianna walked towards it reluctantly, regretting the necessity for this journey. Every instinct was warning her that she was making a big mistake. Her very survival depended on eluding this man, on convincing him that she was not the woman he had known in Spain. So far she was failing miserably. No matter what words came out of her mouth, her behavior seemed designed to convince him that she was more than willing to fall into his bed.

The interior of the car was far too intimate for comfort. As soon as Gabriel slid behind the driver’s seat the space seemed to contract alarmingly. Rhianna fumbled with the seatbelt, then turned to stare directly ahead of her, desperate to do anything but look at the man beside her.

‘Relax, Rhianna,’ he urged softly. ‘Do you expect me to seduce you in the car?’

Rhianna winced, his words setting off a chain of unwelcome images. She could imagine him doing
exactly
that and her body quickened with anticipation, wanting things that it should have long since forgotten. She could not make love to Gabriel Ortega! Somehow, she needed to stay focused on the future,
her
future, hers and Dylan’s.

The traffic wasn’t too heavy at three o’clock in the afternoon and Gabriel drove with skillful precision, cutting through the streets of the inner city suburbs of Sydney. Time and again, Rhianna’s eyes were drawn to the hands that held the steering wheel, relaxed and confident, tanned from the Spanish sun. It took nothing at all to remember what those hands had been able to do to her body, the skill and precision with which he had brought her to the peak of pleasure, over and over again. Doggedly, Rhianna forced her thoughts back to the reality of her situation. She wondered about his wife, left back home, probably taking care of their child.

‘What are you thinking about?’ Gabriel asked abruptly.

‘Your wife,’ Rhianna spoke with deliberation, ‘I was wondering what she thinks about you wandering around the world while she is left behind.’

‘I have no desire to speak of my wife, Rhianna. That is no concern of yours.’ His voice was uncompromising.

‘I’m sure you don’t,’ she agreed. ‘It must be difficult, having to think of her when you’re planning on making love to another woman.’

Rhianna heard his sharply drawn breath. She jumped when his hand reached out to curl around her wrist. ‘I will not discuss that with you,’ he said softly but his words were laced with steel. ‘Not now, Rhianna. Now you only need to think of one thing and that is the immediate future.’

‘My future has nothing to do with you.’

‘If you truly believe that then I feel sorry for you,
mi
Rhianna
encantador
.’ For a moment the fingers encircling her wrist tightened, before he released her. ‘I will tell you again; since I saw you the other night I have not been able to drive thoughts of you from my head. I want you. I want to make love to you until you are weak in my arms. Do you remember lying in my arms Rhianna?’

Rhianna shut her eyes. Remember? She had never been able to forget. A year in Gabriel’s bed had taught her that some things in life were impossible to replace, even if she’d wanted to. ‘I don’t want to remember,’ she whispered. ‘Can’t you see how difficult this is for me?’