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'Here, allow me.' Sitting down, he took the box, snapped it open, and before her startled gaze withdrew an exquisite pearl and diamond pendant in the shape of a heart on a heavy gold chain. Lifting the heavy fall of her hair from her shoulders, he placed it around her neck, and with a quick adjustment settled the jewel between. the soft curve of her breasts.
The touch of his fingers against her flesh, the warmth of his breath against her cheek, and she could feel the stirring of renewed arousal. 'It's beautiful, Leo, but you shouldn't have bought me anything.' Maybe she was imagining his coolness, and everything was all right, she told herself, and she stretched out her hand to him, but with an abrupt movement he shrugged her away and once more stood up.
'Rubbish, you deserve it, darling, and I can only apologise for not managing to obtain an antique netsuke; I know that is what you prefer.' He walked across the room and stopped with his hand on the door-handle, the light from the open door illuminating his harsh features. 'But you understand pressure of business; I had no time to go hunting in antique shops. My visit to London was only for a month and then, of course, there was my unforeseen trip to America. You know how it is; you're in a high-powered business yourself.'
'How did you know I collect netsuke? she asked, but she was horribly afraid she already knew the answer. Wrapping the cover firmly around her naked body, she slid off the bed and walked towards him, her eyes searching his hard, handsome face. 'I don't remember telling you.'
'You didn't; I overheard you at Liz's party. The picture you drew was very erotic; what was it you said? "Mr Kozakis will not ask me out, even if I were to strip naked in front of him." Wrong, Jacy.' He shook his dark head; a slow, sensuous smile curved his hard mouth. 'You grossly underestimate yourself, my dear. I determined to have you the minute I set eyes on you again. As for your bet with Liz, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. I'm leaving London tomorrow, and I don't know when I will be back.'
Jacy realised in stricken apprehension that Leo had known about the bet all along. Surely he couldn't believe that was the reason she'd gone out with him? She lifted her free hand and placed it on his shirt front. 'You've got it all wrong, Leo.' If she explained ...
With a dismissive gesture he flicked her hand from his shirt front. 'No, I was right about you the first time.' He slashed her a scornful glance, his mouth compressed in a tight line. 'Then it was to help your career, and now for an ornament.'
She could not speak; her tongue was glued to the dry roof of her mouth as she stared at him in shocked horror. Leo really thought so badly of her...
'A word of advice, Jacy...' And with one hand he reached out and tore the cover from her fingers so she was left standing naked before him. His dark eyes roamed over her in blatant cynical appraisal. 'You're a beautiful woman, but certainly no saleswoman. You sell yourself far too cheap, and, as for gambling, let this be a lesson to you—forget it. Your face is far too expressive; you will never make a poker player,' he derided mockingly.
Jacy was incapable of movement, stunned by his cutting words and the dawning realisation that their lovemaking had meant less than nothing to him.
Tanned fingers closed around her wrist. He jerked her up against his hard body. 'Mute, always the silent act when you're found out. But God! I still fancy you.' Her golden eyes widened fearfully as Leo's fingers pushed up her chin, devilish amusement burning in his gaze. 'Don't worry, not again tonight; I haven't time.'
The stark assurance in his deep-timbred drawl held her mesmerised, but as the full import of his words sunk in she shivered, suddenly aware of her nakedness and the ice creeping through her veins.
'I'll give you a call the next time I'm in London.' With an icy smile his fingers fell from her chin and his hand left her wrist. 'Get back to bed; you'll catch cold.' And, picking the cover from the floor in an oddly gentle gesture, he wrapped it around her shoulders. 'I'll let myself out.'
He left her standing there. How long Jacy stood looking vacantly at the open bedroom door she had no idea; she was listening intently to the loud hammering of her heart. Why hadn't it stopped? A broken heart should stop, she thought fuzzily, and then like an old woman she staggered over to the bed and lay down on it, pulling the
cover firmly around her like a shroud. She curled up in a little ball and willed the pain to go away as tears fell unchecked from her pain-hazed eyes.
Jacy awoke slowly, a niggling warning teasing her consciousness. She struggled up into a sitting position and rubbed the sleep from her eyes with her soft hands, and then it hit her...
She doubled over in pain, her stomach somersaulting, nausea clawing at her throat. She dragged herself to the bathroom and was physically sick. She lifted her head and, grasping the wash-basin, ran the cold water tap, splashing her face over and over again. Finally she straightened and stared at her reflection in the mirror over the wash-basin. The laughing, glowing woman of yesterday had vanished and in her place stood a poor replica. Her eyes were red, and her colour ashen. Between her full breasts lay the pearl and diamond heart. With slow deliberation she loosened the clasp and held it in the palm of her hand. Her payment for sex. She let it drop through her shaking fingers to the floor.
Leo Kozakis, her nemesis. Was she never going to learn? she asked herself bitterly. He had made love to her and walked out to teach her a lesson! It would be laughable if it didn't hurt so much, but she had only herself to blame. How simply she had fallen into his arms, just as she had ten years ago. Only this time it was a hundred times worse. At least at eighteen she had been in love with him and had believed Leo loved her. Last night she had been under no such illusion. She had been perfectly well aware of Leo's reputation, but had justified her own surrender on the strength of a few conversations with the man and a foolishly held belief that, with age and maturity, this time with Leo would be different. She groaned out loud; she had reduced her expectations of love and marriage in favour of a more realistic adult relationship, only to find herself used once more.
Well, that was it! Never again, she vowed, and walked back into her bedroom and forced herself to follow her usual morning ritual. Dressing in a pair of old, well washed jeans and a soft blue cashmere sweater, she applied a minimum of make-up to her pale face, but could do nothing to disguise the dark circles under her eyes, or the haunted look she was unable to hide. Thank God she had taken the Thursday and Friday off work in lieu of working last weekend. There was no way she could have gone to the office today.
She glanced at the rumpled bed; a brief image of herself and Leo, naked, entwined in the throes of passion, flashed vividly through her mind. Clenching her teeth, she marched out of the room. Passing the door to the main bedroom, she hesitated and, pushing it open, walked in. No memories of Leo here, only of her father.
A deep sigh escaped her. Her father, bless him, had returned to England as the editor of a serious British newspaper after the death of her mother, and bought the house, quite happily making a home for Jacy as well. She crossed to the wide bed and sat down. It was a pleasant room, decorated in shades of beige and brown, and very reminiscent of her father. Unbidden, she recalled her father's words when she had once asked him if he was going to marry again. At the time he had been going out with a very attractive lady reporter, and Jacy had had visions of having to move out to make room for his new wife.
'Jacy, my pet, whatever advice your mother gave you about sex, the only thing you need to remember is an old Scottish saying, ' 'A man will never buy the bottle if he can drink of the whisky free".' And then he'd laughed.
She should have remembered his advice, she thought, rising to her feet and walking slowly to the door. All men were basically the same. Leo, even her own father... She had loved him dearly and after he'd died she had never bothered changing her bedroom for his much larger one. Perhaps now it was time she did. She knew in her heart she would never again sleep happily in the bed she had shared with Leo. In a flurry of activity—anything to stop herself thinking—she transferred all her belongings to the master bedroom.
Finally by mid-afternoon she collapsed on the sofa in her living-room, a cup of coffee and a plate of sandwiches which she had no desire to eat on the table in front of her. She drank the coffee and laid her head back against the soft cushions. It was no good; she could not hold back the memories of yesterday any longer, however hard she tried.
The events of the evening ran through her head like a recurring nightmare. Leo had known about the bet all along, from the very night she had made it with Liz, and yet the devious swine had never mentioned it. Not until last night after he had finally got her into bed. Then he had cold-bloodedly thrown it in her face, and added a chilling denouncement of her character. To top it all he had then had the audacity, after once again just about calling her a whore, to turn around and say he'd call...
With hindsight she could see there had been plenty of clues. More than once she had wondered if he knew about the bet, but after he'd gone to America, and their long conversations, she had put it out of her mind. But Leo quite obviously hadn't. He had delighted in throwing it in her face.
She cringed with shame as she recalled the frenzied lovemaking. He had wanted her; that was some consolation, she tried to tell herself, but it was poor comfort when she considered how the evening had ended. He had used her and she had let him. She was an astute businesswoman, but she might as well admit that in the male-female relationship stakes she was a non-starter and resign herself to the fact. Her body ached for the satisfaction only Leo could provide, but with a steely determination she resolved to put him out of her mind for good. She had done it once and she could do it again, she vowed silently.
The phone rang and she reluctantly answered it.
'Hi, Jacy, are you alone?' Liz's happy voice queried.
'Yes,' Jacy said flatly.
