had since she first arrived in Berlin. She'd discovered that her apartment TV had a cable channel showing English films in the evenings, and she was sprawled on the sofa in Caroline Jackson's silk kimono, savouring the black humour of Shallow Grave and a bottle of Sancerre.
The film had just reached the point where Christopher Ecclestone was holed up in the loft with the money when the entryphone buzzed. Surprised, she hit the mute button, rolled languidly to her feet and went through to the hallway. The only person it was likely to be was Radecki, she thought. She wasn't in the mood for his company, nor was she dressed for it, but she could probably put him off.
Carol picked up the handset. 'Who is it?'
'It's me, Tadeusz. Can I come up?'
'I'm in the middle of some work, Tadzio. Can't we meet tomorrow?'
'I really need to see you. I can't stay long, I have to be at the TV studios in an hour.'
She could manage an hour, she thought, pressing the door release button and hurrying through to the bedroom. A silk kimono was far too suggestive for Radecki right now, she knew. She pulled on some loose linen trousers, hastily fastened her bra and grabbed a shirt, then he was knocking at her door. She dragged the shirt over her head as she walked back into the hall and let him in.
He gave her no time to greet him, simply hauling her into his arms and kissing her hard and fierce on the mouth. He moved into the apartment, taking her with him, kicking the door shut as they went. Carol managed to free her lips from his, rearing back and laughing nervously. 'Hey, whoa! This is all a bit sudden,' she said.
'I've been thinking about you all day,' he said. There was an intensity to his voice that she had never heard before. 'I know you wanted time to think, but this is driving me crazy. I want you so bad, I can't eat, I can't sleep.' His hands were all over her, strong and urgent, giving her no opportunity to break free. He nuzzled her neck, nibbling at her ear with sharp little bites.
Carol started to feel nervous. This wasn't in her mental script of how things would go. She had been in control, but now she felt the situation running away from her. 'Tadzio, wait,' she said plaintively.
'Why?' he demanded. 'Last night, you wanted me as much as I wanted you. I know, I felt it. Why do we need to wait?'
'I'm not ready for this,' she said, trying to slip out of his embrace. But he was too strong, his encircling arms too tight around her.
'You know you are,' he said, his voice softer now. 'I didn't mean to scare you.' He raised a hand to the back of her neck, his long fingers caressing the soft skin there.
In spite of herself, Carol began to feel the sheer animal pleasure of his body against hers. There was a thrill in the power of his desire for her, no escaping it. But there was no way she could afford to yield. She was a cop, she reminded herself. Everything would be wasted if she let him seduce her. Besides, she wasn't about to do anything she would be ashamed of telling Tony. 'I'm not scared,' she said. Tm just not sure.'
'I'll make you sure,' he said, backing her into the living room and running both hands down her back to her buttocks.
Carol saw her chance and managed to slip out from under his grasp. She took a couple of swift steps away from him. 'This is too sudden,' she protested. Tadeusz stared wildly at her, his hair awry. God, he's gorgeous. The very thought felt like treachery.
'Please, Caroline,' he said, his voice cracking. 'I know you want me. We were both hot for each other last night. But if you won't trust yourself to make love with me when you want to, why should I believe you're someone I can trust in business? What's the big deal? We're both adults. We want to fuck each other's brains out. It's not like either of us has anybody else, is it? There's no question of infidelity. Just two people going crazy with desire.'
What was the right answer? Carol struggled to find something that would make sense to him, that would keep the deal alive while preserving her position. 'I can't explain,' she said. 'I just need some time,