Double Dare Read online

  She looked poised, and yet she awaited his explanation. He wanted to take her into his arms but restrained himself.

  "The best I could do for you was to show you how much I loved you, and let you do what you do so well. You told me how important it was for you to remain professional. I respect that. I wanted to let you do that, but I was there for you every step of the way."

  "I know you were, I can see that. But why didn't you tell me I was working for you?"

  "At first I thought why complicate things? Then I realized something more important, that I wanted us to negotiate our relationship on our own terms, not those forced on us by our circumstances. When I invited you to Paris, it was because I wanted us to be alone, to be ourselves."

  "But you knew. You had me at a disadvantage."

  He shrugged. "That was no easy thing to carry, believe me. This last week has been hell for me, trying to decide what would be best for you. I've wanted to tell you every second of every day, but once I felt I understood you, I realized how important your work is to you and I didn't want to step in the way of your professionalism. In the end I decided to walk the line, to let you do your job and to try to show you how I felt in a way that you would remember after this strange moment in time has passed."

  Her eyes flickered. "When did you know? Did you already know when you came here with the courier package?"

  "No, not until after that. When I gave you my card, I didn't know. I wanted to know you, the woman. That was my only motivation. After that, things got complicated."

  "You knew when I came to The Hub."

  "Yes, by then I'd taken over. When you came to The Hub I tried really hard to resist getting involved." He shrugged. "I couldn't."

  She stared at him, listening. Then she frowned. "I feel as if I should've known."

  "Why? You could never have guessed. This was no ones fault, it just happened. We just happened. But we were meant to."

  She nodded, silent as she took in his words.

  He never tired of looking at her, eating her up with his eyes. "Today and what it signifies doesn't have any bearing on how much I want you or how I've felt about you since I met you. Abby, I believe that this isn't about what and who we are, it's about a connection that would have happened whatever jobs we did and how we met."

  "You were at the auction, at Fitzsimmons, weren't you?"

  He stared at her, shocked that she'd seen him. "Yes. I'm sorry. I had to know before I left for Paris. I wanted you to get the place so badly. The night before, we..." He remembered the night, and he ached for her.

  She nodded when his words trailed away. "I know. The castle purchase became special. The whole time I was looking at it, I was thinking of you."

  He nodded. Relief hit him and hit him hard. He needed to know. "Did you mean what you said in Paris? Do you still feel the same?"

  "I did. I love you, Zac, you know that. But this is a lot for me to take in. You were demanding a level of trust that might have been beyond me."

  "Might have?"

  "Might have." A tinge of amusement warmed her expression.

  He felt the barriers between them falling away, and his chest filled with emotion. "Where do we go from here?"

  She turned away from him slowly.

  "Tell me about this job," she said, carefully.

  Hope had him firmly in its grip. She hadn't thrown him out, screamed or accused him of all sorts of dishonest activities. But then she wouldn't would she, logic said she'd keep her head. God, he loved her.

  She wandered further into the office and shifted something on her desk, dropping her papers onto it and sitting on the edge of it.

  He looked around the space, taking her other life into his consciousness. They still had so much more to learn about each other, it was going to be good. He began to walk in her path.

  "I would want you to take full responsibility for all matters relating to the Ashburn account. You would be independent. I'm aware that you need that." He paused significantly and looked at her. "You may even want to work from your own company, as a consultant for us."

  Her eyes glistened softly. That meant a lot to her, he knew it would. "Go on."

  He reached into his pocket to pull out some papers.

  "A draft contract for your perusal." He moved closer to her. His gaze roamed her body and he stroked the folded sheets over her shoulder, to lie across her breast.

  "You've taken a lot for granted." She arched her eyebrow at him, but a gentle smile lifted the corners of her beautiful mouth.

  He wanted to kiss her and take her in his arms. "No," he said and assured her that he didn't with a serious expression. "But I like to have every eventually covered." He reached down to kiss her gently on the lips.

  She leaned up to meet the kiss, as hungry as ever for him.

  He pulled away after a moment and reached into his pocket again. "However, I have taken the liberty of booking us a flight to Ireland next weekend. I thought you might like to come and look over this property I recently acquired?"

  "You've got a bloody cheek, Zachary Bordino." Her eyes flashed at him and her hand rose as if to slap him.

  He stood his ground and waited for her hand to fall, but it paused before it touched him and slowed its pace to stroke across his face instead. Then it slid down to his jaw and her thumb rested on his lips.

  She still wanted to have him. Life was worth living.

  "Zac," she whispered, calling him to her.

  He smiled and covered her hand with his.

  "Here, I'm right here, my love," he murmured. Then he closed on her and kissed her deeply.

  She stood against him and slid her hands inside his jacket, running them over his chest and up his back.

  He flexed under her touch, responding to her readily.

  "What about working my notice?" Her eyes twinkled suggestively. She was thinking what he was thinking, he could tell.

  "We could try to get you fired. I'm sure there's something in your contract about not having sex with the clients."

  "True." Her hands moved down and closed over the taut line of his buttocks as he drew the material of her dress up with his hands.

  "But maybe we should do it right here, now, just to be sure." The skirt swished up over her legs and he slid his hand under it to stroke the back of her thigh and caress its inner softness.

  She smiled, pressed her hips into him and dropped her head back, looking into his eyes. "If I do accept the contract you're offering, I would want lots of extras with the job."

  Her hand embraced his erection.

  "I could have it written in to the contract."

  Her beautiful cat's eyes were burning from the inside, her breath hot on his face. She caressed his cock through his pants and it swelled readily against her hand.

  "That's okay," she said, laying back on the desk and pulling him over her. "I think I can trust you with that."

  Epilogue

  Six months later

  Abby wiped the steam off the mirror and peered at herself. Her skin was glowing, her eyes bright. The pure Irish air had done her good, even if it was brisk and fresh to the point of icy, at this time of year. The seasonal beauty was even more mesmerizing than she had dreamed with roaring skies overhead, the smell of smoke from peat fires wisping across the rolling landscape from the distant cottages, and the joy of drinking hot toddies in the local pub after a windswept walk on the shore.

  She shrugged on her robe and glanced around the bathroom as she tied it. The fitments were superb, beyond her wildest hopes for the restoration. She noticed that the bathroom was somewhat reminiscent of the hotel they stayed at in Paris, but maybe that was her subconscious intention. She had put a personal stamp on features like this, when she'd got together with the interior designer they hired for the project.

  The suite was another fine salon in style, breathtakingly decorated in luxurious fabrics, but it was the bathroom in particular that reflected the surrounding landscape, so that it was personal to the build
ing and its location. Large moss-colored marble titles covered the walls and floor, where an ornate bathtub was sunk beneath soft hazy spotlights. The inset tiles around the tub were the colors of the sea where it merged into the rich mottled greens of the land. Under the hazy light from the sunken spotlights it was a treasure trove, a cave of sensuality. It functioned as a wet room and coming in from a day walking on the shore and stepping into the shower and all this gorgeous color was perfect, a union between the land the sea and the house.

  "They've done so well with the fitments," she called out.

  "I think we should keep this suite for ourselves," Zac replied from the bedroom.

  She couldn't help chuckling. It was the only part of the restoration that was fully complete. He'd insisted on it so they could be here at this time of year, when snow was expected. "This is the show suite. You'll never make any money if you want to keep everything for us."

  "Let's have less of the investment manager advice and more about taking time for the important things in life, please."

  She heard the phone ringing, then his voice as he answered it.

  She shook out her hair, pulling it as straight before it dried. By the time she rejoined him in the bedroom he was nearing the end of his conversation and laughing into the phone.

  He looked like the Lord of the Manor, so darkly handsome, dressed in a black robe and laid out on the many pillows and cushions on the big white bed, and so he should. Her dark prince. She walked over to the window and once again admired the fabulous view, while he completed his call.

  After he put the phone down he sauntered over and joined her. Standing behind her, he nestled her in against his warm body. Together they looked out across the grounds at the beautiful shoreline. On the other side of the castle the view was of rolling fields, miles and miles of lush countryside. It was so different to their vibrant city life—now divided between Paris and London, until Pharamonds was ticking over—and it was such a perfect extreme. Like the ebb and flow of the tide, they tuned into each and every difference, enjoying it together.

  He kissed her ear. "Happy?"

  "Oh yes."

  "That was Suzanne."

  "Problems?"

  "Nothing she can't handle." He chuckled softly. "She's dealing with that pretentious artist with true panache, by the sounds of it. She's a dynamo PR guru."

  Abby smiled. "I'm so pleased. She loves it, too."

  "She said to tell you she bumped into Caroline on the tube, yesterday."

  Abby turned to face him, looking up at him with curiosity, her hands linked around his neck. "Oh yes, and did she say how she is?"

  Zac nodded. "Says working at Robertson's is 'doing her head in' now that you and Suzanne have gone there's no one with a sense of humor any more. I think we should try to poach her." He grinned, but she knew he was serious.

  "Don't you think you've poached enough of Tom Robertson's staff already?"

  "I poached enough of his staff when I got you, my love." He kissed the end of her nose. "The rest is just a bonus. It serves him right for coveting my woman."

  She loved the way he said 'my woman.' She pulled him down for a kiss.

  "Besides," he said as they separated. "Now that poor old George has announced his retirement, we'll need someone to deal with all the legal stuff for us. He'll soon be off doing Tai Chi with my mother, I can just picture it."

  She smiled. It was quite a picture. "If that's the case and Caroline is unhappy, I could speak to her when we get home, let her know about the opportunity. Then it's up to her if she wants to go for it."

  "That's decided then." He put his hand inside her robe, caressing her breast gently. "Now come back to bed." He attempted to move her away from the window but she laughed and glanced over his shoulder as he spun her round in his arms.

  As she did something caught her eye. The sky was laden with thick clouds rolling in from the sea, flurries of snowflakes drifting down from it. "Zac!" She gestured at the window. "Look, it's snowing! Our snow filled beach."

  He glanced over but opened his robe, nestling in against her warm body. "The snow can wait."

  She wriggled in his arms, looking out once more of a view. "But Zac, I'm curious. I want to know what happens now, does it melts into the sea? Does it sit on the sand?"

  He dropped his robe off, pushing hers from her shoulders as well. "I love your inquisitive mind, but the snow can wait for just a little while. I've opened champagne. I want to make love to you."

  She smiled affectionately. He could indeed distract her from anything, including snow on a beach.

  "Besides, I've got something I need to ask you."

  "What is it?"

  He bent and lifted her, carrying her to the bed. Resting her down against the pillows, he moved between her thighs, easing them open. His cock was hard against her, drawing her attention away from just about everything in the world, apart from him and the way they molded together so perfectly, in every way.

  "Do you love me?"

  She chuckled. "Is that what you wanted to ask me?"

  "No, but I wanted to hear you say it again."

  "I thought you'd be bored with hearing it by now."

  "Never." His eyes were filled with longing.

  "I love you, Zac, always will."

  He pushed his hand under the pillow and brought out a ring, which he turned between finger and thumb, catching the light with the diamonds. "In that case, will you marry me, Abigail Douglas?"

  "Zac!" Her heart swelled with pleasure. She pulled his head down and kissed him, her body clinging to his.

  "Hey." He pulled back, denying her the kiss. "Don't avoid the question. Will you marry me?"

  She put one finger on the end of her chin and looked away, with mock concentration. "Well now, I don't know."

  He growled, pinned her arms to the bed and nudged her face with his, forcing her to look at him. "I dare you to say yes. In fact I double dare you."

  She gave a happy sigh. "Yes, Zac. Dare or no dare." She flashed her eyes. "I will marry you."

  ###

  About Saskia Walker:

  Saskia Walker is an award-winning British author of erotic fiction. Her short stories and novellas have appeared in over seventy international anthologies including Best Women's Erotica, The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica, Secrets, and Wicked Words. Her erotica has also been featured in several international magazines including Penthouse, Bust, and Scarlet. After writing shorts for several years Saskia moved into novel-length projects. Her erotic single titles include Along For The Ride, Sorceress, Rampant, and The Harlot. Fascinated with seduction, Saskia loves to explore how and why we get from saying "hello" to sharing our most intimate selves in moments of extreme passion. She has lots more stories in the pipeline! Saskia lives in the north of England, close to the beautiful Yorkshire moors, with her partner, Mark, and a houseful of stray felines. Visit her website for more info.

  Connect with Saskia Online:

  Twitter: http://twitter.com/saskiawalker

  Blogspot: http://www.saskiawalker.blogspot.com/

  Double Dare is a Walk on the Wild Side release

  Anne Calhoun

  Portia Da Costa

  HelenKay Dimon

  Alison Kent

  Charlene Teglia

  Saskia Walker

  Sasha White

  http://walkonthewildsidebooks.com/

  go Wild with us!

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