Web of Deception - By Nina Blake Page 0,36

And the words came tumbling out.

“Do you know what the worst thing was?” she asked. “He was completely dishonest about the whole thing, not just through the relationship but at the end when I broke it off with him too. He refused to accept that he’d kept anything from me or done anything wrong. I was shattered when it happened but the thing that stuck with me the most afterwards was the lack of honesty and integrity.”

So that was why she’d found a man like Mark afterwards. He wasn’t the kind who’d lead her on or cheat on her. With Mark, what you saw was what you got. The man was reliability personified. That was one of the things that made him a good employee.

“Not all men are like that,” Daniel said. “Not all of us are dishonest. You got unlucky. And if I saw that bastard I’d take great satisfaction in punching him out.”

“I’m sure you would.”

“I’ve been honest with you from the beginning. I wanted you from the start and that hasn’t changed.”

She looked at the glass in her hand. “You’ve never led me on. But surely you can see why I don’t want to be taken for a ride again. My heart has led me astray not once, but over and over again. I don’t want to do it that way any more. To make my choices based on my feelings. I’ve got a good head on my shoulders.” With a wry smile, she added, “I just need to use it more.”

“You’re an intelligent woman, Kate.”

“Mark wasn’t right for me either. He’s a nice guy. Reliable. Caring. I can’t say a bad word about him. But we weren’t right for each other. We didn’t have deep feelings for each other. Certainly not enough to last us a life-time together. It wasn’t anyone’s fault that the relationship fizzled out.”

“Your feelings aren’t always wrong,” Daniel said. “There’s a strong attraction between you and me. Emotional as well as physical. You can’t deny it. But we can make the most of it without hurting each other. It doesn’t have to be that way. And I guarantee I’ll always be honest with you.”

Kate looked at him, her expression serious. “I’ve been honest with you too. I know what we’ve got won’t last forever.”

He returned her deep stare. “But I’m all right for a bit of hanky panky? A good time?”

Her lips parting, she nodded. “A very good time. That hasn’t changed.”

Kate was wrong. Something had changed for him. From the moment he first saw her, he knew he wanted her, but he hadn’t known how she could fit into his plans in the long term. Not for life. But for much longer than a fling. This was a woman who could satisfy him in so many ways.

Lowering her eyelids Kate sipped her champagne, then put the glass to his lips. The fine bubbles of rich liquid were refreshing and he felt a surge of renewed energy. Taking the glass from her hand, he placed it on the edge of the spa with his.

Kate was too fast for him. She slid one leg over to perch herself on his lap facing him. The look in her eye told him she was done with talking. She rested her hands on his upper thighs and leaned forward, her breasts pressed together by her arms.

The wet ends of her hair tumbled forward so he pushed the locks behind her shoulders. He wanted to see her. Those lush, round breasts were put there for his enjoyment, after all.

Tilting her head closer, she covered his mouth with hers.

She was all his.

* * *

Kate’s lips were still swollen and her body limp from their love-making, her hair splayed across the pillow. She lay on her side and reached across to place her hand on his chest.

Daniel wondered if she wanted more. Was it possible he’d found a woman with whom he couldn’t keep up? They’d only been getting warmed up in the spa before ordering room service and spending the rest of the evening naked, rolling around on the bed together.

“Daniel,” she said, “I told you about my past but you’ve never told me about what happened with Jane.”

The way women wanted to talk after sex amazed him. What was wrong with simply lying side by side? Or closing you eyes and falling asleep?

He turned onto his side and cupped her face in his hands. “Surely you don’t want to talk now. Wouldn’t you rather just fall asleep