Betrayed(14)

***

The next day brought a change to the weather. Kat heard rain drumming as she awoke, but didn’t realise how bad. She opened the internal wooden shutters, and a barrage of water thrashed the glass. She took an involuntary step back. In the distance, forked lightning licked at the sierras. The solid pine shutters not only kept the room in darkness, they’d deadened the noise as well.

Kat dressed, trying to take her mind off the storm. She hated storms. They filled her with incomprehensible emotions and memories. Storms made her sad. They often gave her nightmares, though she had no idea why.

She chose her new silky blue pants gathered into delicate pleats at the waist, and a top with a sweetheart neckline. She examined herself in the mirror. She looked good, and felt good. Not to impress, she told herself, but because she happened to like the outfit.

Rafael was already eating as she went downstairs. He said expansively, “Es la tortilla Española for breakfast. It’s warming under the grill. Señora Aliaga has the day off so we’ll have to fend for ourselves. I’ve made it.”

“I’m quite capable.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t. But I happened to be up first and did it.”

Rain lashed the door, and Rafael glanced at the time. “Damn! I wonder how long it’ll be like this. This wasn’t forecast. It can take us by surprise sometimes. The geography of the sierras and sea plays the very devil with weather.”

Katrina watched as he pushed back his chair and stood. He wore a loose shirt that allowed a glimpse of chest as he turned to pick up his plates. Dressed like that, he looked rugged. He’d never realised how enticing it was, even as a student.

He said. “Well we came here to work and it looks as though it’s the only thing that nature is going to allow. When you’ve finished eating, there are things we need to talk over. We’ll make our way to the factory later if the rain eases, but there’s no sense in getting soaked.”

Close contact with him today, was one thing she couldn’t handle. Looking the way he did she was going to need all her wits to keep her thoughts from straying. Today she didn’t feel as if she had the wit. She took a steadying breath. “No,” she said. “I’ll work alone. It’ll give me chance to understand what’s wanted.”

He arched a brow. “Unless you convince me otherwise, we’ll do it my way.”

“And what makes you think you’re so right?”

He disregarded her and walked to the door. “I’ll be in the library when you’re ready.”

She strode to the grill and served herself some of tortilla. She took her time over breakfast, but eventually could put it off no longer, and with a sigh went to join him.

“Ah! Good.” He patted the seat by his side. “I’ll come straight to the point. You’re a sharp designer, Kat. However, Papá’s opinion is that the business hasn’t been handled well. I need to get my head around it.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“I was hoping you might be able to offer a few pointers. Some strange practices have been used.”

“How dare you!”

His eye flicked up. He said quietly, “I dare, because that’s what I’m here to do.”

Kat scowled. “This is my Dad’s company you’re talking about.”

He sat back, “In general, success is brought about by proper planning and by delegation, and Finery & Frocks hasn’t had it.”

“You can’t say that? You know very little about our company.”

“Well for a start, without warning your father has dumped everything onto your shoulders. That isn’t delegation, that’s copping-out, but I’m afraid I still need answers, and you’re johnny-on-the spot.”

Instead of sitting by his side, she sat opposite, frigid. He studied her inquiringly, stood, brought a pile of papers, moved to her side, and sat.

Kat’s fingers fluttered nervously. They were too close. He invaded her space. She edged away, but he edged closer. Why did her stomach feel so damned compressed? She budged away again, furious.

He said, “You seem to have developed a problem. Has someone hurt you? You were never like this before.”

Kat refused to look at him. “I don’t do close contact,” she said carefully, “Perhaps I need to remind you, Rafael. We drifted apart. Had you forgotten? I only do close when I’m comfortable with people.”

“Drifted? Did we drift?”

“Of course.”

“It didn’t seem that way to me. I recall being dumped. This isn’t some stranger you’re talking about. You left with no explanation, no reason. What was I supposed to think, Kat? What was I supposed to do?”

Kat blinked to stop her eyes stinging. How the hell could she tell him that she’d finished with him because she’d wanted him too much? How could she say that her tangled emotions had threatened to take over, that simply being with him had sucked away her life force?

She kept her voice even. “We just weren’t meant for each other. You might be able to kid yourself, but I know my feelings simply altered and I thought yours had too.”

“That’s rubbish.”

“If I was wrong, then I’m sorry, but I can’t help that. Don’t expect me to concoct something, just to soften it for you. Not after all these years.”

“There’s something going on here and I can’t work out what.”

Kat squeezed her eyes tight shut. Her emotions had to be kept tightly screwed down. She said dully, “I have no idea what you’re on about? I don’t know why you keep bringing it up; I feel absolutely indifferent.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Without warning, Rafael kissed her, and his hand found her breast. For a moment, Kat was stunned. Abruptly she slapped his face. “How dare you.”

He cupped her chin between his hands and forced her to look at him. “That’s more like it. Call on everything you’ve felt, good or bad; mix it and throw it at me as hard as you like, but don’t smother your fire and say you’re indifferent. Emotions are too precious.”

“You sound like a bloody college professor. I’m not smothering fire.”

“Then why are you indifferent?”

“You have too high an opinion of yourself. Your ideas are no concern of mine.”

“You’re fooling yourself.”

“You’re an egotistical knob-head.”

He grinned. “That’s better.”

“And you would be a better if you realised you aren’t top of everyone’s thoughts. The idea might be difficult to grasp, but try it sometime.”

“Be angry if you like. Be incensed! The one thing you must never be is indifferent. Not about me, not about anything. Everything has vitality.”

“Go stuff yourself.”

“As one of life’s architects, you must always feel empathy.”

“I have empathy, you knob. You’re confusing indifference with apathy. I just don’t harbour any feelings for you.”

“Don’t you? And I think you’re confusing want with desire. You might not want to, but you still desire me.”

“You shit!”

He pulled her to him and kissed her again. Kat felt his erection pushing against her like a trapped animal bursting to get out. A thrill swept through her.

“My God, Kat,” Rafael whispered hoarsely. “You’re exquisite. I’d forgotten how much.”

In desperation, Kat tried to push him away, tried to pull her top into place, but he was having none of it. Rafael leaned and touched a sensitive nipple. She heard her breath catch in her throat and could do nothing but clutch him. It was as if time had stood still. They were still together; the world had not moved on.

He tugged at her silky blue pants, and, balanced on the edge of the seat, she unconsciously wriggled out of them. Why had she done that?

He knelt in front of her. His lips went to her thighs, to the susceptible area on her inner leg that so excited her. He remembered! With the tip of his finger, he stroked the petite thong she wore. Allowing it would only encourage him, yet she could do nothing to prevent it. She opened her legs wider. He leaned forward, and pulled the skimpy material aside.

Kat fought for air, as if a rubber band squeezed her chest.

She couldn’t help herself, lifted her legs over his shoulders, wriggled closer to him. Gently, he parted the secret folds of skin then pushed his tongue deep into her moist body.

Astonishing sensations scurried through her. This shouldn’t be happening. Not now. Never.

Kat clung to her last dregs of reserve, and pulled his face from the confluence of her body. She dragged a trembling hand over her forehead. Had she provoked him? She had allowed herself to accept him appalling easily.

She had to be dignified. She couldn’t let him see how badly it affected her. She said shakily, “Please don’t.”