His heart thudded against her as she felt the exquisite tension tighten and grow, until she thought she could not bear it any more, and finally she fell shuddering into a kaleidoscopic world of a myriad sensations and ultimate satisfaction, taking him with her.
Eyes closed, Beth was conscious of every muscle, sinew and nerve of her body in a new way—a wonderful, awesome way that there were no words invented to explain. Euphoric and completely at one with Dante, she relished his heavy naked body over hers, his head resting on her shoulder, the rasping sound of his breath and the thundering beat of his heart against hers gradually slowing.
When he moved to roll onto his back Beth opened her eyes to see him lean up on one elbow and look down at her. Her lips parted in a wide smile, her green eyes shining like emeralds in her flushed face.
‘Beth—Jane—whatever your name is, you are an exquisitely desirable woman and one hell of a surprise,’ he said, but did not smile back.
Beth’s smile faded a little as she stared at his hard, handsome face, not sure if he meant that as a compliment. He was frowning, and she saw the glint of anger in his night-black eyes. Why was he angry?
‘Dante?’ She said his name questioningly.
‘Finally you say my name. It comes a little late after what we have just done, don’t you think?’
Beth heard the hint of mockery in his tone and was chilled by it—but then what had she expected? Avowals of love? Never in a million years. With her euphoria fading fast, she came back to reality. At the barbecue he had told her they had a mutual sexual attraction but that it could not be acted upon.
Now he was no longer engaged and that was no longer the case. It was sex—just sex. Something he engaged in on a regular basis with a variety of women. The fact it was new to Beth meant nothing. It was still just sex. The reason she was here now was to get him out of her head once and for all. Not the best idea she had ever had, but she had proved a point.
‘You know what they say—better late than never,’ she forced herself to say lightly. ‘And after this I don’t think I’ll have to say your name much more.’ With her body still throbbing, she put on the act of her life. ‘Your problem is solved. Now you know you were wrong about me. I have never had sex with Tony or any man.’ Rolling away from him, she slid her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. She glanced down at him to add, ‘And after this I probably never will again—once was enough.’
Unconscious of her naked state, she gathered up her clothes and put them back on without looking at Dante again.
The silence between them was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.
‘Don’t answer,’ Dante commanded.
Beth ignored him and, slipping her feet into her sandals, ran her hands through her hair to sweep it back behind her ears as she walked out of the bedroom. It would probably be a salesman, she thought. But she found that she was wrong. Before she got to the front door she heard a key turn in the lock and Tony walked in.
‘Beth—I thought you would be long gone by now. I saw your car outside and wondered what had happened to you.’
‘I got delayed by Binkie,’ she replied, and conveniently the cat chose that moment to stroll into the hall and wrap himself around her ankles. ‘Then I had an unexpected—’
But her weak explanation was cut off by another voice.
‘Tony—nice to see you. I wondered when you’d be back.’
Beth tensed and glanced back, to see Dante leaning casually against the doorjamb of the bedroom wearing his trousers with his shirt half buttoned and his black hair curling damply on his broad brow. She cringed with embarrassment.
‘Dante!’ Tony frowned. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I called to see you to show you my new Ferrari and knocked on the wrong front door. Beth answered and we had a coffee and a chat.’ He nodded towards the bedroom. ‘I was just looking through the front window to check my car was still there.’
Beth was surprised at his glib answer, but also relieved.
‘Oh, yes!’ Tony drawled. ‘I saw the car. It’s in my usual parking spot.’ His blue eyes flicked suspiciously between Beth and Dante, and finally settled on Beth. ‘Is he right, Beth? I thought you were leaving at one? It’s five o’clock now. That is a heck of a lot of cups of coffee.’
Bending down, Beth picked up Binkie and hugged him to her chest, her mind spinning. The truth was always the best option—or some of it, she decided. ‘I was supposed to be leaving at one, but it was after three before I managed to get Binkie in his carrier for the third time. The doorbell rang and I forgot to fasten it before I answered the door. Dante came in, tripped over the carrier, and Binkie shot out again—causing Dante to stumble and fall flat on the floor. It was quite a crash. He is a big man.’
She saw Tony smile.
‘You fell over her cat?’
‘Yes,’ Dante said dryly, not in the least amused.
‘Now, that I would have liked to have seen.’ Tony chuckled. ‘I’m surprised Beth didn’t kick you out there and then for harming Binkie. She loves that cat.’
&nbs
p; ‘Tony! Poor Dante was really winded,’ Beth chipped in. ‘Though I did consider it.’ It gave her some satisfaction to see Dante discomfited for a change.