Promises After Dark (After Dark Book 3) (21 page)

‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘I’m just looking at your photographs, I hope you don’t mind.’

‘Of course not.’

I gesture at the photograph of the two children with their parents and say, ‘Is that you?’

Georgie sees where I’m pointing and nods. ‘Yes, me and my brother and my parents. They’re both dead now.’

‘Oh – I’m sorry.’ I think that she seems very young to be an orphan.

‘Yes, it is rather rotten but that’s how it is. My father worked far too hard and my mother drank too much – she was a diplomatic wife and was bored out of her skull by all the endless parties she had to attend, especially as we lived abroad and she missed her home desperately. Eventually the cocktails became her only consolation.’ A wistful expression passes over Georgie’s face. ‘And they killed her in the end. She was only fifty.’

‘That’s so sad,’ I say softly.

Georgie smiles. ‘Yes. I still miss her. It’s turned me into a bit of a health freak, if I’m honest. But that’s no bad thing – perhaps we can sometimes learn from our parents’ mistakes.’

I wonder if she has a partner or a husband to comfort her now that she’s lost her parents, but there’s no sign of anyone else living here and it seems rude to ask. I think of the other child standing on the veranda in the photograph. ‘And does your brother live in New York too?’

She sighs with a wistful smile. ‘I wish he did. But he’s far too high-powered to stay in any one place for long. I adore him but keeping track of him is not easy – he has a habit of vanishing for months at a time. I didn’t even know he was going to be in town until today, I wasn’t expecting him till Christmas.’

Just then the doorbell sounds and Georgie says, ‘That must be him. I won’t be a second.’

She goes out and I turn back to the mantelpiece. My eye is caught by a large photograph that isn’t framed but has been propped behind some of the others. I reach over to extract it. Voices come floating in from the hall.

‘Hi, darling! So where is she?’

The answer comes back in deep male tones. ‘She can’t make it, I’m afraid. It’s just me.’

At the same moment as I pull the photograph out, the voice pierces me like an arrow. I realise that I’m staring at a picture of Georgie and Dominic, their heads close together, big smiles across their faces; their similar, olive-skinned, dark-eyed faces. And I know beyond all doubt that the voice I’ve just heard is his.

I gasp, dizzy with realisation, and turn around. There in the doorway is Georgie. She is saying, ‘Beth, this is my brother, Dominic’ as she turns to gesture to the man behind her, and I’m frozen with disbelief as Dominic stands there, tall, handsome, and the sight I’ve longed for most in the whole world. He’s staring back at me in astonishment and then a huge smile bursts over his face.

‘Beth!’ he exclaims and strides towards me, his arms open. I rush forward and lose myself in them as he wraps me in his embrace. I’m half laughing and half crying but flooded with joy and relief to be with him. His body is warm and delicious against mine and I never want him to let me go, ever again.

‘You have an infinite capacity to surprise me,’ he says tenderly, dropping a kiss on my head. ‘Just when I think I’ve lost you, fate brings you back to me.’ He pulls back so he can gaze down into my face. ‘But what on earth are you doing here?’

‘Wait a second!’ It’s Georgie, who’s standing with her hands on her hips, looking completely bewildered. ‘Are you telling me this is
Beth
? Your Beth, who you were going to meet tonight?’

Dominic turns to smile at her, his eyes sparkling. ‘The very same. She wasn’t at her hotel when I got there – serves me right for thinking a surprise would be a good idea. How did you find her?’

Georgie looks worried and says, ‘Dom, can I have a word please?’ as she beckons him out into the hall.

He’s reluctant to let me go, I can feel that, but he says, ‘Sure.’ He follows her out. I stand in the sitting room, elated and excited, but I can hear what they’re saying out there.

‘Dom, this girl is involved with Andrei Dubrovski!’ Georgie is hissing. ‘I found her weeping in a restaurant bathroom because he’s trying to make her commit to him! Do you know how incredibly dangerous this is? Your history with him is hardly sweetness and light – he’s not going to take kindly to you stealing his girlfriend!’

‘I’m not stealing anything or anyone,’ Dominic returns calmly. ‘Beth and I have been together since before she met Andrei.’

‘What? How?’

‘It’s a long story. I’ll tell you all about it one day.’

‘But Dubrovski has Beth’s stuff. I was going to send you round to get it, but I don’t think that’s such a good idea now.’

‘He thinks he can have her if he wants. Beth isn’t going to let that happen and neither am I. Now – let’s go back and involve her, I don’t like talking about her like this.’

They come back into the room, Georgie looking embarrassed and anxious, while Dominic appears strong and happy. He comes right over and puts his arm around me.

‘It sounds like some crazy stuff has been happening. Is Andrei up to his old tricks?’

I nod, feeling like the terrible weight that’s been oppressing me is lifting from my shoulders. ‘He’s worse than ever.’

‘I want to hear all about it.’ He smiles down at me, his dark brown eyes warm and loving. ‘But first, let’s sit down and catch up a little. I was going to surprise you tonight but, as usual, your surprise is bigger and better. Georgie, how about some tea for me? I’ve missed the way you make it.’ He turns his smile on her.

Georgie shakes her head at him and sighs, as though he’s a hopeless case, but she can’t resist his charm. ‘Okay, Dom. Tea on its way.’

As soon as we’re alone Dominic pulls me to him. ‘Oh God, it’s good to have you back,’ he says throatily, and then he kisses me, his lips tender at first but quickly becoming passionate as my mouth opens under his. When at last we part reluctantly, he says, ‘Thank God you’re all right. I’ve been pretty damn worried since I arrived at the hotel to hear you’d left.’

‘Andrei’s been tailing me,’ I explain as Dominic leads me over to the sofa and we sit down together, our hands clasped, ‘and he’s putting on pressure like never before. He’s making threats, against you and Mark, and he’s made it clear he wants me to be with him.’

Dominic’s eyes sparkle dangerously and he says in a low voice, ‘Does he, now? Well, he’s going to have to learn that he can’t get what he wants with bully-boy tactics or threats. Bring it on, I say. If he wants a fight, he can have one.’

I put my other hand on his knee and say fearfully, ‘Please, Dominic, you don’t know what he’s like . . . the things he’s said . . . I couldn’t bear it if he hurt you.’

‘On the contrary,’ Dominic replies, ‘I know exactly what he’s like. That’s why he’s being like this. He wants to shut me down because I know all his weaknesses. I was prepared to deal honourably with him and keep the secrets he entrusted me with when I worked for him. But he’s made it plain how he wants to proceed, and that’s fine with me. He’s going to regret taking me on.’

‘What are you going to do?’ I’m frightened at the prospect of Dominic facing down someone of Andrei’s power and might, but Dominic seems stronger and more confident than ever.

‘I have an idea or two,’ he says mysteriously. ‘But let’s not talk about him now. Wait until we get to my place.’

‘Your place?’ I echo, puzzled.

Dominic nods. ‘Things are changing, Beth. The work I’ve done over the last few weeks is paying off. I have some big investors coming on board with me and my company is about to become a major player in the mining and commodities world. I’m setting up an office here in New York as well as in London. Dubrovski isn’t going to like it when he hears who my new partners are – mostly because they’re people he’s wooed and failed to win in the past.’ He pulls me tight to him. ‘My assistant here has leased me an apartment until I can find something I want to buy in the new year.’

I stare at Dominic. He’s his own boss now and it suits him. I realise that he’s been hungry for this ever since I’ve known him and now he’s like a panther that’s been asleep but is stretching its limbs and rippling its muscles, preparing to exert its power in the hunt.

Georgie comes back into the room carrying two more cups of tea, puts them on the table and sits down in the armchair. She looks a little happier now.

‘I can’t get over it,’ she says, shaking her head and looking from me to Dominic. ‘When you told me your name was Beth, I thought it was strange because Dom was going off to meet a Beth, but it never occurred to me it might be the same one!’

‘It is weird,’ I agree, smiling at her, my hand still tightly in Dominic’s. I shoot him a look. ‘He’s never even told me he has a sister!’

Dominic frowns and says vaguely, ‘Haven’t I?’

‘No, you haven’t!’

Georgie hands him a cup of steaming tea. ‘That doesn’t surprise me in the least, I’m afraid, Beth. I had no idea you existed either, until today.’ She gives her brother a gently rebuking look. ‘You’ve really got to learn to share a little more, Dom.’

‘I’ll try,’ he says with a smile, taking the cup. ‘Thanks for the tea.’

‘You’ve got to make him change his ways, Beth,’ Georgie says to me as she sits down.

I smile at her. I’m loving seeing Dominic in this family environment. I feel more connected to him than ever now I’m accepted by his sister.
She just assumes we’re together like a normal boyfriend and girlfriend.
The thought fills me with happy warmth.

‘By the way, Georgie,’ says Dominic, ‘I’m afraid it’s going to be a slightly shorter visit than planned. I’m taking Beth away.’

‘I thought you were going to say that,’ Georgie says but without rancour. ‘Well, it’s a treat to see you, no matter how fleeting the visit.’

‘I’ll be around a lot more in the future,’ Dominic says. ‘I’ll be working here for about half the year.’

‘Oh good,’ Georgie says brightly, looking happier. ‘I’ve missed my baby brother, I want to see more of you!’ She turns to me. ‘And what about you, Beth, where do you live?’

‘London,’ I say, suddenly feeling bleak as I realise that for at least six months of the year I’m going to be without Dominic. Then I feel his hand tighten around mine.

‘For now,’ he says softly, and a burst of happiness radiates through me as he smiles down at me.

Half an hour later we are zooming through the streets of New York in a steel-grey sports car.

‘Your sister was very kind; she was going to let me stay at her house. I hope she doesn’t think I’m rude.’

‘I’m sure she doesn’t,’ Dominic says, his eyes on the road.

I pause and then say, ‘You know, you’ve never told me much about yourself. Not about Georgie, and not about your parents either. I was sorry to hear that they’ve both passed away.’

There’s a silence while Dominic stares at the road ahead and then he says softly, ‘You know I’ve always found it hard to open up about things like that. But I’m glad you’ve meet Georgie, I really am. And I will share more with you, I promise.’

I’m so glad to hear that, but I don’t want to push it any more, not right now, so I say, ‘It would have been nice to stay a bit longer with Georgie and get to know her.’

‘Mmm.’ Dominic shoots me a meaningful glance. ‘And I hope you understand, but I can’t do all the things I want to do to you in the spare room of my sister’s house. It isn’t really my style.’

I feel a shiver of delicious anticipation. Tonight promises to end in a way I couldn’t possibly have imagined when I was sobbing in the ladies’ room earlier.

Dominic drives us expertly through the Manhattan traffic, and takes us suddenly off the road and down into an underground car park. He brings the car to a stop and looks at me, his face shrouded in shadow. ‘Here we are,’ he says softly.

My heart begins to race, thudding hard in my chest as the adrenalin of excitement begins to course through me. He opens the door, gets out, comes around to my side and opens my door. He puts out a hand and I take it. As he helps me out of the low-slung seat, he gives a sudden pull so that I fly up and into his arms. He holds me tight, running one hand down my back and over my behind. I’m staring into his eyes, seeing the desire that’s burning there, and then he drops his mouth to mine and kisses me. I surrender to him completely, opening my mouth and letting his tongue take possession of me. He tastes glorious. I want to drink him down, absorb him into my very being, become one with him. I tilt my head back and sink into his arms. He’s pulling me to him and I feel the hard curve of the car’s roof against my back. He has one knee between my thighs, pushing my legs gently apart so that he can press in against me. I feel the hard bulge at his groin and sigh with the delight at the evidence of his lust.

‘I want you right here,’ he says in a low voice. ‘But . . .’ He looks up towards the CCTV camera that’s focused on us. ‘I don’t particularly want the guards getting their rocks off over us. Let’s go upstairs.’

I have to swallow hard to try and regain my equilibrium. I was ready to let him fuck me right there, up against the car, or down on the oily floor of the car park. Instead he takes my hand and leads me over to the lift. Its doors slide open a moment later and we’re in the mirrored interior. I glance up, aware of the dark eye of the security camera.