Forbidden Surrender (12 page)

‘Maybe we’ll both fall in love with the same man,’ Marie said mischievously, not knowing how near the truth she was, or Sara felt sure she wouldn’t have said it. Marie wasn’t in the least vindictive or cruel, and the remark would have been both those things if she had known of Sara’s feelings. ‘How would you like that, darling?’ she teased her fiancée.

His expression was grim, his mouth a thin taut line. ‘I wouldn’t like it at all,’ he said curtly.

‘I was only joking, Dominic,’ Marie was instantly contrite. ‘I’m sure Sara already has a boy-friend in America.’

Dominic looked at Sara with sharp eyes. ‘Do you?’ he demanded abruptly.

She thought of Barry and then dismissed him. ‘Not in America, no,’ she replied slowly. ‘But I have a—friend here. His name is Eddie.’ And she hoped Eddie would forgive her for using him in this way. But she needed some form of defence, was afraid to let Dominic know just how deeply she had become interested in him.

‘You work fast,’ he snapped. ‘After all, you’ve only been here a little under two weeks.’

She gave him a brittle smile. ‘Sometimes it takes only a glance to feel you know someone, like them.’

‘Love them?’ he prompted tautly.

She gave what she hoped was a light laugh. ‘It’s a little too soon to tell.’

‘You’ll have to invite Eddie over one evening,’ her father suggested. ‘I’d like to meet him.’

Sara shrugged. ‘Maybe the night of the party.’

‘Then we must have the party very soon,’ Marie said eagerly. ‘How about Saturday?’

‘That’s a little too soon for me,’ Sara refused laughingly. ‘Maybe next week, hmm?’

‘All right,’ her sister accepted reluctantly, looking at her wristwatch. ‘I think we should be leaving now.’

At once the nervousness returned to Sara. She didn’t want to meet Dominic’s mother, to know about his family, his home life. Somehow that would bring her even closer to him, make it all the harder for her to accept his marriage to her sister.

She travelled with her father in his car, Marie and Dominic in the Rolls. At least she had been given this respite, time to collect together the poise and control she had been taught during her career, something that seemed to have deserted her the last few days, along with her carefree nature.

‘Relax,’ her father seemed to sense her tension. ‘I can assure you that Diane is a most gracious hostess.’

‘I’m sure she is. It’s just—well—–’

His hand moved to clasp hers. ‘You’ll be fine, Marie and I will see to that.’

Diane Thorne’s house was just what Sara had expected, a detached house set in its own grounds, a butler to show them in and take their wraps, a maid to show them into the gracious lounge where a dozen or so people were already chatting around the room in groups of twos and threes.

The entrance of Marie and herself caused just as much of a sensation as she had known it would. It had been this attention that she had been dreading, and when she felt her father’s arm go protectively about her waist she leant gratefully back against him.

‘Come and meet my mother,’ Dominic murmured against her earlobe.

Sara turned with a start, quickly moving out of the arc of his arm. ‘I didn’t realise—I thought you were my father!’ she accused.

‘I told him I would take care of you—Marie has taken him to get a drink. Now come and meet my mother,’ he repeated firmly.

She nodded, licking her lips nervously; Dominic’s touch had completely unnerved her.

Dominic put a guiding hand under her elbow. ‘I’m sorry about earlier,’ he said huskily. ‘It was—a stupid thing to do.’

‘I’m sorry?’ She shook her head, determinedly not looking at him, knowing that people were watching them as they moved across the room. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

His hand tightened. ‘I was almost tempted to kiss you and not Marie,’ he revealed gruffly. ‘It was an utterly stupid move on my part. Who is Eddie?’ he demanded tautly.

She shrugged. ‘A friend—I told you.’

Dominic turned her to face him, his expression fierce. ‘How much of a friend?’ he wanted to know.

‘Really, Dominic!’ her tone was deliberately taunting. ‘My friendship with Eddie is none of your business.’

His eyes turned almost black, his gaze compelling. ‘You know damn well it is! Sara—–’

‘Dominic!’ A small woman with grey-black hair appeared at his side, a beautiful woman, her make-up and figure impeccable for her age, which must have been at least fifty. Looking at her closely, Sara could see certain resemblances to Dominic, the same deep blue eyes, the same determined chin, so she guessed this to be his mother, which meant she was well over fifty. The woman turned to Sara, a warm smile to her lips. ‘You must be Sara,’ she held out her hand.

She blushed, taking that hand. ‘It’s nice to meet
you, Mrs Thorne,’ she said shyly.

The other woman shook her head. ‘Your likeness to Marie is incredible!’

Sara smiled. ‘And yet you knew the difference.’

Diane Thorne glanced at her son. ‘Go and get Sara and me a drink, darling.’

For a moment Dominic looked like ignoring that imperious demand, then with an angry glare at his mother he turned and walked in the direction of the bar.

Both women watched him go, Sara with relief, and his mother with—Sara couldn’t tell the other woman’s feelings, deliberately so, she felt.

‘My father and Marie—–’

‘Are talking to my other son,’ Diane Thorne nodded.

Sara’s eyes widened. ‘I didn’t realise you had another son.’

‘And a daughter too. I’ll introduce you to them both later, and to Samantha’s husband Brett. They’re expecting their first child soon, my first grandchild.’ She smiled. ‘I’m not sure I’ll like being a grandmother, it’s very ageing,’ she grimaced.

Sara laughed at her rueful expression. ‘My mother always said you’re only as old as you feel.’

‘A good saying.’ Blue eyes twinkled merrily. ‘As long as you don’t feel a hundred at the time!’

Sara spluttered with laughter. ‘I know that feeling.’

‘Dominic tells me you’re a model,’ Mrs Thorne said interestedly.

She frowned at the mention of Dominic. ‘I was. I’m not sure what I am any more,’ She shrugged. ‘My father doesn’t appear to approve of women working for a living.’

‘You mean Marie?’

‘Mm,’ Sara nodded.

Diane Thorne shrugged. ‘I’m sure your father will respect your wish for independence. Marie is different, she likes acting as hostess. She’s going to make
Dominic a wonderful wife.’

‘Yes,’ Sara agreed hollowly, watching Dominic as he strode across the room towards them, the requested drinks in his capable hands.

His mother gently touched her arm. ‘Don’t,’ she pleaded huskily.

Sara looked stricken. ‘Don’t what, Mrs Thorne?’

The other woman’s eyes were filled with compassion. ‘Don’t love my son, Sara.’

‘I—–’

‘Here we are.’ Dominic handed his mother her drink, frowning as he looked at Sara’s pale face. ‘Sara?’ he queried sharply. ‘Sara, what’s wrong?’

‘Nothing. Nothing is wrong! I—Excuse me.’ She pushed past him, heading for the open doors that led to the moonlit garden. She trembled in the warmth of the evening, wondering how Diane Thorne had guessed her feelings so quickly.

‘Sara!’ Dominic spun her round to face him, forcing her chin up. ‘What did my mother say to you?’ he rasped.

‘I—Nothing.’ She looked down at her feet. ‘I—I just felt faint for a moment.’ She forced a smile to her numb lips. ‘I’m all right now. Shall we go back inside?’ She made a move towards the door.

‘No!’ Dominic stopped her, a fevered look in his eyes. ‘I want to know what my mother said.’

‘She—she—Oh, what does it matter?’ she dismissed impatiently, her gaze locked on the strength of his face, the sensuousness of his firm mouth, and she couldn’t break free of the spell he was casting on her. ‘Dominic!’ she groaned, swaying into his arms.

He needed no further encouragement, but devoured her lips with his own, his arms like steel bands about her. Their hearts beat as one, their desire flamed as one, their mouths joined even if their bodies couldn’t be.

‘Oh God, Sara,’ Dominic moaned into her throat, his mouth sending liquid fire through her veins. ‘I want you
so damned much!’ he agonised, his lips touching the firm curve of her breasts.

She feverishly unbuttoned his shirt, her hands moving inside to caress the hard strength of his back and chest. She had never touched a man this intimately, loving the silky texture of his skin, the ripple of muscles as he quivered beneath her touch. He felt so good, so sensually warm and exciting that Sara just wanted to lose herself against him, and she knew he felt the same way, could feel the throbbing hardness of his thighs, his ragged breathing as her fingertips caressed lower to his waist.

Neither of them had the strength to stop this explosion of emotions between them, their hands roaming freely over each other’s bodies, straining for a much closer contact.

‘I want to possess you!’ Dominic shuddered against her as he fought for control. ‘I want to feel you naked against me, to know every inch of your body, every quivering nerve. Am I frightening you?’ he groaned as she trembled.

‘You’re exciting me,’ she instantly denied fear. ‘I want that too, Dominic. I want you so badly!’ She blushed at her own admission.

‘When, my darling?’ he moaned, caressing her breast through the material of her dress. ‘When will you be mine?’

‘Whenever you want me,’ she told him breathlessly, aiding his entry down the low cleavage of her dress, her breath catching in her throat as his hand closed possessively over her bare breast.

‘Now,’
he groaned. ‘I want you now!’

Sara gasped as her nipple hardened and rose to the touch of his fingertips, feeling herself swell into his waiting hand, raw desire ripping through her body. ‘Oh God, Dominic!’ She swayed against him, almost fainting with her need of him.

‘Dominic? Dominic!’

Panic washed over Sara as she realised that was
Dominic’s mother calling to him. God, she thought, what must the other woman be thinking; they had been out here ages!

‘It’s your mother,’ she told him in a choked whisper. ‘I—She—You have to go in, Dominic.’

If anything his hold tightened about her. ‘And leave you here all alone?’ He shook his head. ‘I can’t do that. I never want you to be alone again, Sara. I want to take care of you, but not as a friend, I want you as a—–’

‘Lover?’ she queried shakily. ‘It wouldn’t do, Dominic. No man could bed two sisters, in all decency.’

He closed his eyes as if to shut out the pain. ‘At this moment I don’t feel decent. I feel—–’

‘Dominic!’ His mother’s call was an angry whisper now. ‘Dominic, we have guests!’ She was obviously very agitated.

He gave an angry sigh, reluctantly buttoning his shirt. ‘I have to go in, Sara. I don’t want my mother coming out here.’

Neither did she; her senses were still very much attuned to Dominic’s caresses. ‘Yes—go. I—I want to stay here for a while. If anyone asks, my father or Marie, tell them I have a headache I’m trying to clear.’

His shaking fingers gently touched her cheek. ‘You won’t be long?’

‘No.’ Just long enough to calm down from the excitement he had caused in her body.

‘Oh, Sara, I wish—God, I wish—–’

‘Please go in, Dominic,’ she begged shakily. ‘Please!’

With great reluctance he turned to go, stopping suddenly to turn and look at her. ‘I won’t forget about tonight, Sara, so don’t ask me to.’ His eyes were still alight with his own passion. ‘And whatever my mother said to you—–’

‘She said for the best,’ she cut in firmly. ‘Now go. But first…’ she reached up and wiped all traces of her lip-gloss from his mouth.

His answer was to once again bend his head and crush
her lips with his own, this time wiping his mouth himself, not angrily or roughly, but sensuously soft, as if feeling the taste of her lips against his fingertips. With one last telling glance he was gone, and Sara felt her body relax from the tension she had been under.

She was mad, insane, and yet if she were insane then so was Dominic. He had lost all control, didn’t seem to care that someone could have walked out here at any moment and caught them in what could be called a compromising situation. But perhaps his mother had made sure that didn’t happen, had somehow prevented anyone from coming out here.

Where would it all end? How could such a situation have an
end
? She wanted and loved Dominic, Dominic obviously wanted her, and yet he loved Marie. Sara loved Marie too, could never hurt her in any way, and yet that love didn’t seem to matter when confronted with her wild longing for Dominic. How could he want both of them? How could he do that to either of them? At least Marie didn’t know he was cheating her, at least she was being spared that pain. But Sara knew all about his duplicity, was in fact the ‘other woman’ in this affair. Once again she asked herself where it would all end.

She stepped back into the shadows of the garden as someone else came out on to the balcony, still not feeling up to seeing anyone just yet. The shadow of another person approached, and the first person let out a gasp of dismay.

‘Go away, Danny!’ Marie could be heard saying.

Danny? Sara instantly became alert. The other day Marie had been about to say Dan—something. Could this be the Danny she had been talking about?

‘Marie—–’

‘Leave me alone!’ She pushed him away from her. ‘You know you shouldn’t be out here with me.’

‘You knew I’d follow you,’ the man protested, his voice strangely familiar to Sara.

But why was it familiar? She didn’t know anyone called Danny in England.

‘Marie, we have to talk,’ he went on. ‘This marriage to Nick just isn’t on.’

Nick, this man called
Dominic
Nick! She had met only one person who did that, the man she had met in Soho. That must be the reason his voice was so familiar.

‘You’re wrong, Danny,’ Marie told him firmly. ‘My marriage to Dominic is very much on. In fact, he’s the only man I would marry.’

‘Last year you wanted to marry me,’ the man reminded fiercely.

‘I made a mistake. Every girl is entitled to make one,’ Marie said lightly. ‘You were mine. But I’m over that now, and I’m going to marry Dominic.’