yours had too.”
“That’s rubbish.”
“If I was wrong, then I’m sorry, but I can’t help that. Don’t expect me to concoct something, just to soften it for you. Not after all these years.”
“There’s something going on here and I can’t work out what.”
Kat squeezed her eyes tight shut. Her emotions had to be kept tightly screwed down. She said dully, “I have no idea what you’re on about? I don’t know why you keep bringing it up; I feel absolutely indifferent.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course.”
Without warning, Rafael kissed her, and his hand found her breast. For a moment, Kat was stunned. Abruptly she slapped his face. “How dare you.”
He cupped her chin between his hands and forced her to look at him. “That’s more like it. Call on everything you’ve felt, good or bad; mix it and throw it at me as hard as you like, but don’t smother your fire and say you’re indifferent. Emotions are too precious.”
“You sound like a bloody college professor. I’m not smothering fire.”
“Then why are you indifferent?”
“You have too high an opinion of yourself. Your ideas are no concern of mine.”
“You’re fooling yourself.”
“You’re an egotistical knob-head.”
He grinned. “That’s better.”
“And you would be a better if you realised you aren’t top of everyone’s thoughts. The idea might be difficult to grasp, but try it sometime.”
“Be angry if you like. Be incensed! The one thing you must never be is indifferent. Not about me, not about anything. Everything has vitality.”
“Go stuff yourself.”
“As one of life’s architects, you must always feel empathy.”
“I have empathy, you knob. You’re confusing indifference with apathy. I just don’t harbour any feelings for you.”
“Don’t you? And I think you’re confusing want with desire. You might not want to, but you still desire me.”
“You shit!”
He pulled her to him and kissed her again. Kat felt his erection pushing against her like a trapped animal bursting to get out. A thrill swept through her.
“My God, Kat,” Rafael whispered hoarsely. “You’re exquisite. I’d forgotten how much.”
In desperation, Kat tried to push him away, tried to pull her top into place, but he was having none of it. Rafael leaned and touched a sensitive nipple. She heard her breath catch in her throat and could do nothing but clutch him. It was as if time had stood still. They were still together; the world had not moved on.
He tugged at her silky blue pants, and, balanced on the edge of the seat, she unconsciously wriggled out of them. Why had she done that?
He knelt in front of her. His lips went to her thighs, to the susceptible area on her inner leg that so excited her. He remembered! With the tip of his finger, he stroked the petite thong she wore. Allowing it would only encourage him, yet she could do nothing to prevent it. She opened her legs wider. He leaned forward, and pulled the skimpy material aside.
Kat fought for air, as if a rubber band squeezed her chest.
She couldn’t help herself, lifted her legs over his shoulders, wriggled closer to him. Gently, he parted the secret folds of skin then pushed his tongue deep into her moist body.
Astonishing sensations scurried through her. This shouldn’t be happening. Not now. Never.
Kat clung to her last dregs of reserve, and pulled his face from the confluence of her body. She dragged a trembling hand over her forehead. Had she provoked him? She had allowed herself to accept him appalling easily.
She had to be dignified. She couldn’t let him see how badly it affected her. She said shakily, “Please don’t.”
She took her legs from his shoulders and he sat up. She said, “This is a terrible mistake, Rafael.”
“Sometimes an artistic force can release tremendous empathy in a person.” Rafael’s voice became thick with emotion. “I sense that force inside you. Don’t you?”
“A force inside me? Is that what you were feeling for?” Kat clutched her silk pants; avoided his eyes, carefully covered the moist petals of skin that had been brought to life by his magic. The force generated in her had nothing to do with art. The intoxicating urge had been managed fine until now. She had to regain control somehow.
She desperately dragged in a lungful of air. “I don’t believe I have the force. I don’t even know if this project is worth carrying forward. I think we should stop.”
She pulled her trousers back on.
“Then you’re a lost soul. You’re a fool, Katrina Bligh, a damn fool.”
Air stuck in her throat. The passion spilling from him threatened to