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“It is lovely to meet you dear” Sara was surprised at the thick English accent, as she shook her outstretched hand, muttering something appropriate back. Darius however, continued to talk, “Edith runs the house and has a few cleaners come in each week to help, and her husband John looks after the gardens”. The other woman grinned again.
“And my son helps at the moment too...keeps him out of trouble”, she declared in a voice which held a laugh, Sara instinctively knowing that Edith Clark was a happy person as she smiled back, relieved that she and Darius would not be the only ones in the huge home.
“Oh...Miss Balfour...your clothes arrived today and I put them in your closet” Sara bit back the small groan; what must the older woman think of her, a shaky smile rising to her mouth. “Thank you Mrs Clark”, she managed as the woman tutted softly, waving away the words. “Edith...nobody calls me Mrs Clark”, she smiled cheerily as Sara nodded back. “Only if you call me Sara”, she grinned back as the housekeeper nodded approvingly. “Well in that case Darius and Sara, dinner is in one hour” He made an appreciative sound as he took her hand. “We will be there...Edith is the best cook around...would never miss one of her dinners”
Sara thought how easy it was for Darius to charm any woman, seeing how Edith gave an almost girly giggle, shaking her head happily as she returned to her work. As she was pulled out of the kitchen she thought about how he always had been able to get his own way with any woman. Six years ago she was nervous of the builder, never quite knowing what to say to him, his ability to flirt so effectively with the other girls in the office clear to her. Her sister took great delight in telling the many rumours of the women he was allegedly involved with, Sara only too aware how Angela longed to be one of them, her lips curling contemptuously.
When he would appear in the office, his paperwork always done to a high standard, she had been aware of the way her stomach would flip seeing him. His insistence on dealing with her confused her. Sara told herself that it was because having her do the actual paperwork on their side left him free to flirt with the only-too-willing staff in the office.
Pushing the thoughts to the back of her head she followed as he moved into each of the downstairs rooms giving her a tour. He explained the routine of the household and as they entered the large study he moved to his computer as she tentatively requested internet access. Sara watched as Darius set up the account for her, not surprised that he would be so proficient with computers, his ability to learn new skills evident in the time that he worked for her father’s company.
Biting down on her bottom lip, her brow furrowed. “I...I was wondering what your expectations are for me while I am here?” His head rose in surprise asking, “In what way?”, before a small smile played on his mouth. “I thought that we already determined that” Darius once more enjoyed seeing the way her cheeks flushed slightly at his obvious reference to sex. “I...I meant during the day”
His shoulders shrugged softly. “I work in the city most days...don’t come back till late...so do what you like”, his smile once more becoming playful, “so long as you are where I say, when I say...you are free to do what you want”
“Like a well trained puppy”, she bit out, before she could stop herself. The large smile which spread over his mouth made her want to move over and smack it from him, “That a girl...so long as we understand each other” His fingers made one last pass on the keyboard before he stood again handing her a sheet of paper with logon details. “House is wireless, so you can access from anywhere”
Sara gave a short nod, the anger still visible in her blue eyes. “I will ask Edith if she has a bus route” Darius gave another frown, his tone so matter-of-fact “Just take one of the estate cars if you want to go out. I will clear it with John” “Thank you”, her curt reply made him smile even wider as he leant against the desk “You really hate being reliant on anybody don’t you Sara?”, his tone full of curiosity as she regarded him back, eyes scoffing.
“No...I just don’t like to be pushed around by some bully with some perceived vendetta” His eyes grew harder once more as he straightened, moving towards the door. “Let me show you our room” The mention of the reason she was there knocked the fight out of Sara, as silently she followed him up the sweeping grand staircase. There were many rooms along the corridor they walked, but he moved to the corner one, stepping aside to let her in.
The room could have swallowed up the last flat she shared it was so big. A small sitting area was at one end of the room beside floor-to-ceiling doors which she could see led out to a veranda. Silently, she moved inside as he strode to one of two doors. Behind the first she gave a soft gasp at the most beautiful bathroom she had ever seen. Marble and glass, it retained a vintage feeling while offering all of the modern conveniences. The huge tub with what appeared to be Jacuzzi jets; the large walk-in shower, bigger than her last family bathroom, the room was wonderful.
“I am so glad I don’t have to clean this”, she chuckled, her sense of humour rising in spite of the awkwardness of the situation. Beside her she heard the throaty laugh of Darius as he nodded in agreement, moving to the second door in the room. With a groan Sara moved into the large walk-in closet, every woman’s dream she thought, eyes flicking over the walnut interior. One side was filled with his clothes - and there had been many of them - and the other, hers. While they shopped, Sara was shocked at how much they bought, but now seeing them hung on the hangers, the outfits seemed lost in the expansive closet.
As they moved once more back into the main bedroom, she finally allowed her eyes to rest on the king-size bed which dominated the area, her throat suddenly feeling so dry as her hands shook. Trying to seem nonplussed, she gave him a small unsure smile, moving back to the door. “It is very nice”
“Where are you going?” His body moved in front of her, stopping her exit, his voice seductive. Sara felt the instant awareness as his hand lifted a strand of her hair, his eyes focused on it as he allowed it to brush down her cheek. “E...Edith said dinner was in an hour”, she managed, her voice weak and raspy as he made a point of lifting his hand to check his watch.
“We still have forty-five minutes” His arm moved to wrap around her small waist, Sara allowing herself to be drawn against him. She felt as her heart thudded within her chest, swallowing nervously as his fingers dropped the lock of hair and wound through the silky softness to hold her head.
“What could we do for forty-five minutes?”, he whispered, his head moving ever closer, his look dropped to her slightly open lips, as her lashes fluttered closed, unaware as she raised her head slightly in invitation to his kiss. A kiss which never came, as stunned, she was released, her eyes flying open with surprise as she swayed slightly, more than a little disappointed.
He stood a little away from her, his eyes running up and down her. “I would suggest that you have a shower and change...I am pretty sick of seeing you in those jeans” Anger flared within Sara as she glared back at him, swallowing down the words she wanted to throw at him, her eyes daggers of hatred, his mouth curled into a mocking smile. “Obedient – remember”, his voice soft as she turned, moving quickly into the bathroom, slamming the door closed behind her. Inside she pulled off her clothes, cursing under her breath at the way he tricked her. Angered more at her own reaction as she hungrily fell against him, wanted him, giving a small yelp as she kicked her shoe off, catching her toe on the marble side of the shower. As she jumped naked around the bathroom, tears filled her eyes, both at the anger she felt towards him and the pain.
The door opened, a concerned Darius entered as his eyes took in the way she bounced towards the towel, another yelp leaving her lips as she pulled the towel around herself in a movement of coyness. “What happened?” he demanded, Sara noting the sound of concern on his voice, unable to focus on his face as tears filled her eyes. Dropping down on the side of the large tub she grabbed her foot, scowling up at the man before her. “It’s fine...I just stubbed my toe...please...I am fine”
Darius however, moved forward, his hands taking her foot as he examined the toe, the heat of his fingers sending all kinds of tremors through her as she savaged her lip to stop the moan from tumbling from her mouth. “Its fine...thank you”, her tone stilted as she tried to pull her foot from his hold. He was staring at the foot intently, his hold tightening as she tried to move, before he released her and stood up leaning against the vanity, his arms and legs crossed in a relaxed pose. “Seems OK...don’t let me stop you from showering”
Sara stared at him in horror. “I...I am not in the habit of showering in front of people”, she stammered, as he gave a smile, a roguish wicked smile. “Yes. I can see how that would be uncomfortable” Relief washed over her, before her eyes narrowed seeing as he began to unbutton his shirt, her eyes wary. “W...what are you doing?” Darius straightened and flicked on the shower, the powerful jets of water filling the room with noise, his eyes turned to hers. “Joining you”, he answered, his tone matter-of-fact, Sara staring back her eyes wide and aghast. “Y...you can’t”, she cried, her trembling fingers clinging to the edges of the towel, her eyes turned from him as her cheeks burned brightly.
