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His black eyes followed hers. 'Do you suppose they're thinking what an attractive couple we make?' he murmured. 'Do you suppose that they are imagining the contrast of your pale skin being pinned down by the darkness of mine? Are you imagining it too, Cara mia , just as I am? Do you think that they would be disappointed if they knew the reality of our lovemaking?'
Her pulse rocketed. 'Cesare—stop it. Just go. Please! Why are you doing this?'
This was better, much better. Her lips parting in breathless appeal, her eyes darkening at his erotic taunt. With a cruel pleasure which excited him, Cesare continued to play with her as a cat would a helpless mouse. "What a way to greet the man you once
claimed to adore. '
Sorcha felt the blood rushing to her ears so that they were filled with a roaring sound, like the ocean. 'I was young and stupid then/ she said hoarsely.
"And now? '
'Now I'm old enough to realise the lucky escape I had. '
"Well, then, we are agreed on something at least/ he answered evenly.
Sorcha hesitated. Maybe she had got him all wrong. Maybe he wanted to make peace. Maybe...She peered over his shoulder to where the brunette in the biliously coloured outfit was still standing staring at him and her heart pounded. 'Is that your...girlfriend?'
He heard the acid tone in her voice even though she did her best to disguise it, and turned his head to glance over at the woman, who wiggled her fingers at him in a
wave. "Sindy? ' He gave a slow smile. 'Jealous, Sorcha? '
'Not at all.' But she was lying, and Sorcha wondered if Cesare realised that. She found herself wanting to lash out like a little cat—to say that the woman's skin was sallow, that she was wearing the wrong colour, that she was not fit to be his girlfriend. But that was all wrong—she shouldn't be feeling this way. Not now.
'Have you spoken to my mother?'
'Not yet. I'll catch up with her at the reception.'
Sorcha froze. 'You're coming to the reception?' she whispered.
Cesare smiled. This was better than he could ever have anticipated! 'You think I have flown all the way from Rome to hear a couple repeat a set of vows which will probably be broken before the year is out?' he questioned cynically. 'I may not be a big fan of weddings, but nobody can deny that they offer an opportunity to indulge in some of
the more pleasurable aspects of life. And I shall look forward to being back in your house. ’
The black eyes glittered in a way which took her right back to forbidden territory— more emotional than erotic, and all the more dangerous for that.
'Shall we dance together later, Sorcha? ' he finished. 'Perhaps even go for a swim, just like the old days—si?
But the old days were gone—long gone. She wanted to convince herself that the person she was then had been markedly different—so that if the younger Sorcha had walked up and said hello she wouldn't be able to recognise her. And yet while in many ways she was different—in others she felt exactly the same. Why else would there be such a dull ache in her heart when she looked at the man she had believed herself to be in love with?
'I would tell you to go to hell’ she said slowly, 'if I didn't think you'd already taken up a
Permanent berth there! '
"Why? Do you want to come and lie in it with me? '
His soft mocking laughter was still ringing in her ears as Sorcha pushed her way through the crowds to where a dark limousine was waiting to whisk the bridesmaids and pageboys back to the reception. Four young faces pressed anxiously against the glass as Sorcha gathered up armfuls of tulle and silk and levered herself in next to them.
The bridegroom's niece scrambled onto her lap and planted a chubby finger right in the middle of her cheek.
"Why are you crying ' , Sorcha? '
Sorcha sniffed. 'I'm not crying. I just got a speck of dust in my eyes. ' She dabbed a tissue at her eye and then beamed the worried child the widest smile in her repertoire.
'See? All gone! '
'All gone!' they chorused obediently.
Sorcha bit her lip and turned it into another smile. How simple it was to be a child in a world where things vanished just because an adult told you they had. The monster under the bed had gone away because Mummy said so.
