Millionaire's Women Part 10

For some reason Cory was feeling an illogical sense of panic at the thought of seeing Nick's house. She couldn't actually have said why. It wasn't so much that this was the weekend she would finally take the plunge and go to bed with him, more that this house-his home home-would reveal more about him than the flat ever could. And what if she didn't like what it revealed? Certainly the flat, beautiful as it undoubtedly was, didn't do a thing for her. But then he had said he didn't live live in the flat, merely occupied it. in the flat, merely occupied it.

The morning star was high in a sky which was turning from mauve washed with midnight-blue to deep velvetblack when the car finally turned off the wide, pleasant avenue they'd been travelling along for a minute or so. A smaller road, almost a lane, took them past several houses set in beautifully manicured grounds. After several hundred metres there were no buildings at all, just the high stone wall one side and to their left rolling fields in which the round white bodies of sheep stood out in the evening shadows. Then the stone wall curved round in front of them, forming the end of the lane, and after drawing to a halt Nick opened the wrought iron gates set in the wall by remote control.

This was going to be some property! Even before they drove on to the long gravelled drive winding between established flower beds and mature trees, Cory was preparing herself for her first sight of Nick's home. And then there it was in front of her. A large mellow-stoned thatched building flanked either side by magnificent horse chestnut trees, its leaded windows on the ground floor lit by lights within the house.

'Good,' Nick murmured at the side of her. 'Rosie's remembered to leave the lights on. She always comes in and stocks up the fridge when she knows I'm coming home,' he added as they drew up in front of the huge stone steps leading to the front door.

'Nick...' For a moment Cory was devoid of speech. 'This is beautiful, just beautiful.'

He smiled at her in the shadows, his blue eyes glittering. 'I fell in love with the place the first time I ever saw it,' he admitted softly. 'It dates from 1703, although bits have been added here and there. Come in and have a look.'

The minute Cory stepped into the wide gracious hall she knew the inside of the house was going to match the outside. Warm-toned oak floorboards stretched into every room on the ground floor, their richness interspersed with big rugs. The huge sitting room, which overlooked the grounds at the back of the house, had big squashy sofas, one wall lined with books, low coffee tables and an enormous fireplace with a pile of logs in one corner ready for burning. The dining room, big breakfast room, Nick's study and the farmhouse-style kitchen complete with Aga were all beautifully decorated but with a cosy feel to them which ran throughout the house.

By the downstairs cloakroom off the hall an open tread wooden staircase led to four generous-sized double bedrooms, all with en suite en suite bathrooms, and a gigantic master bedroom. This room caused Cory to take a sharp breath when she first entered it. It wasn't the walk-in dressing room, which would have swallowed her sitting room at home, or even the bathrooms, and a gigantic master bedroom. This room caused Cory to take a sharp breath when she first entered it. It wasn't the walk-in dressing room, which would have swallowed her sitting room at home, or even the en suite en suite bathroom, which was more luxurious than the one in Nick's flat that was the trouble. It was the bed. It was unlike any bed Cory had ever seen. In fact, it was more of an ocean of billowy s.p.a.ce than anything else. bathroom, which was more luxurious than the one in Nick's flat that was the trouble. It was the bed. It was unlike any bed Cory had ever seen. In fact, it was more of an ocean of billowy s.p.a.ce than anything else.

That he had been expecting her discomfiture was obvious in the amused tilt to his mouth when he said, 'You might have guessed I had the bed made specially. I'm a big boy; I like a lot of room.'

'You've certainly got that,' she squeaked weakly, wondering how many of his women he had shared it with.

It was set in front of huge windows, which had the same outlook as the sitting room below, the three carpeted steps which led to it the same length as the bed. The duvet and numerous pillows and cus.h.i.+ons were various shades of coffee and taupe and this colour scheme was reflected through the whole suite. The bed was sensual and outrageous and sinful; it dominated the whole room and declared without any apology that pleasure was its chief aim.

Cory had to clear her dry throat before she could say, 'The...grounds look very nice from what I can see in the dark.' Nick had switched some outside lights on before he had begun to show her round the house, and now an area stretching some distance from the building was revealed.

'Oh, it is nice, Cory,' he said seriously.

Too seriously. She glanced at him sharply. He was laughing at her. She knew it, but she also knew she needed at least two gla.s.ses of a good wine before she could relax enough to contemplate that bed with any confidence or, more to the point, the man who slept in it.

She could just imagine the model type beauties who normally graced its languorous folds, she thought miserably. Suddenly all her imperfections had ballooned to giant size-particularly the vastness of her bottom and the dimples she could see at the tops of her legs when she looked hard enough. And Nick would be looking.

'What's outside, exactly?' she asked with what she hoped was cool dignity.

'Exactly?'

He grinned that fascinatingly s.e.xy grin and Cory upped the wine to three gla.s.ses.

'Let's see. Covered swimming pool and sauna which can be reached via a door off the kitchen as well as from outside. I'll show you when we go downstairs. Plus a tennis court and croquet lawn, an orchard and a walled garden, which is very old-fas.h.i.+oned but quite cute. And lawns and trees and bushes, of course.'

'Wow.' Her eyes had widened. 'Quite a bit of land then.'

'A bit, but manageable. I have a gardener come in once a week for a few hours.'

She nodded. Another world really. Her parents hadn't been badly off and she had certainly never wanted for anything materially, but this sort of wealth was a thing apart. Of course she'd known his little empire was successful-he'd told her early on in their relations.h.i.+p that he'd been in the right place doing the right thing at the right time-but confronted with this beautiful house the reality of how rich he must be hit her for the first time.

She became aware that he was studying her face, the amus.e.m.e.nt gone from his eyes. 'Relax, Cory,' he said softly. 'This is Nick, not William, remember? You're allowed to leave this room without being ravished if that's what you want. I wanted you to see my home, that's all.'

That was only half true and she knew it. He wouldn't be human if he wasn't hoping for more from this weekend and he had been patient, allowing her time. They couldn't go on as they had been doing; their relations.h.i.+p either had to end or go on to the next stage.

And then suddenly he took her hand, his voice quite normal when he said, 'Come and look at the pool and then we'll see about some supper and a gla.s.s of wine. It's a gorgeous night, how about we take it outside?'

'That'd be nice.' Her relief was overwhelming. No doubt girlfriends in the past had just gaily stripped off and jumped into bed without a thought in their pretty heads except how to please him and how he could please them-young, carefree, eager beauties who were self-a.s.sured and modern without any hang-ups. She envied them. How she envied them.

The pool complex was gorgeous but they didn't tarry there. The very capable Rosie had packed Nick's fridge with everything needed for a romantic supper for two, and within a short while they were sitting outside at the patio table, which was spread with all sorts of delicious delicacies. Nick had apparently asked his sister to put a bottle of champagne on ice, and after pouring two gla.s.ses he handed her one, saying, 'To us.'

It was a perfect summer's night. Stars overhead, the stone beneath their feet still retaining the day's heat and the garden bathed in a moonlit silence which was magical. The air was rich with the perfume of scented stock and fragrant night lilies which were in pots all around the patio, a faint breeze carrying the delicious scents on its meanderings.

Cory breathed very deeply and took a sip of the ice-cold champagne that tasted faintly of strawberries. 'I wonder that you can bear to leave here for the city.'

'So do I tonight.' His voice was husky and his blue eyes held hers in the glow from the candles he had lit before switching off the outside lights. The house behind them and the grounds stretching in front had all been relegated to the shadows of the night; it was as if they were the only two people in the world in their flickering circle of light.

Cory s.h.i.+vered suddenly but the chill was from within, not without. She wished he had been an ordinary sort of man-one who did a nine to five job, who was perhaps a little overweight, who maybe had smelly feet. There might have been a chance he wouldn't grow tired of her then. But that was silly-he wouldn't be Nick and she wouldn't love him if he was any different. She'd ignored the caution light even when it had turned from amber to red, flas.h.i.+ng its danger sign in great big letters. Don't let him into your heart and your life. Don't let him into your heart and your life. Yes, she'd ignored it. She only had herself to blame. Yes, she'd ignored it. She only had herself to blame.

But she wasn't going to think of all that now. She gave a mental shrug. There was tonight, this entrancing garden and Nick. Her blood heated, singing along her veins. If this one weekend was all she had, then it would be enough.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

WHEN they had finished the dessert Rosie had brought-a wickedly frothy concoction of raspberries, dark chocolate and meringue topped with las.h.i.+ngs of thick cream-Nick disappeared into the house with the dishes and empty champagne bottle to make the coffee. He refused to let Cory help, kissing her very thoroughly before he left until she felt she was drowning in the taste and feel of him. they had finished the dessert Rosie had brought-a wickedly frothy concoction of raspberries, dark chocolate and meringue topped with las.h.i.+ngs of thick cream-Nick disappeared into the house with the dishes and empty champagne bottle to make the coffee. He refused to let Cory help, kissing her very thoroughly before he left until she felt she was drowning in the taste and feel of him.

She sat in the balmy quiet of the scented garden, wrapped in a sensual glow that didn't fade before he returned. As he placed the coffee tray on the table she wrapped her arms round his neck, pulling his mouth to hers. 'I've missed you,' she said throatily, half smiling.

'I'll have to leave you more often.' He kissed her again before he straightened, adding, 'Drink your coffee. It's one of my specials.'

'Specials?' She picked up her cup, running her tongue dreamily over the creamy foam. It tasted wonderful. 'I didn't know coffee could taste like this. What's in it?'

'I told you, it's one of my specials. I've quite a range,' he said lazily. 'This one's got spices and whipped cream and a coffee liqueur a friend of mine from Brazil brings me when he's in this neck of the woods.' He sat down in his seat again, stretching out his long legs, his body relaxed and at ease.

Cory glanced at him from under her eyelashes as she sipped at the fragrant drink. The black denim added to the aura of masculinity and he made her legs weak. Tonight he would take her into that enormous bed. The morning could take care of itself.

They talked of inconsequentials as they sat there, the flickering candles slowly burning down and the starstudded sky above. When Nick at last rose to his feet, pulling her up with him, Cory felt a brief moment of panic.

She wasn't experienced like his other women. She didn't know any little tricks or moves to keep a man interested in bed. She just had herself to offer and suddenly that didn't seem nearly good enough.

As he put his arm round her she s.h.i.+vered. 'Cold?' He pulled her tighter into the warm protection of his body. His hands began caressing her, their touch as light as down and unthreatening. Slowly she relaxed, her head falling back against his shoulder, her eyes drowsy with desire as they met his. He lowered his head, nipping and teasing at her lips between planting little kisses on her chin, her nose, her closed eyelids. When his mouth finally took hers, his tongue thrusting deep into the warm moisture within, it was a kind of consummation, a woman accepting the powerful thrust of a man inside her body and Cory moaned softly.

He led her into the house still wrapped in his arms and they walked slowly up the stairs, each step punctuated with more caresses and soft murmurings. When they reached the landing Cory didn't realise for a moment where he was leading her. Then, as he opened the bedroom door and she stared into the pretty room beyond, her eyes opened wide. 'But I thought...'

'What did you think, sweetheart?' he asked softly.

She stared at him, so taken aback she didn't know what to say.

'That coming away with me for the weekend was some sort of s.e.xual blackmail?' he continued silkily. 'I told you before, I'm not William.'

'I know.' Her voice was barely a whisper and his face gentled.

'No, you don't, not yet. Make no mistake, Cory, I want you. I want you so much I walk the floor some nights when cold showers don't do the trick. But you're not ready yet. Did you think the reason I told you I loved you before I went to Germany was to set you up for this weekend?'

Now he had voiced it she realised it had been at the back of her mind all the time. But she shook her head. 'No, of course not.'

'I've told you before, you don't lie too well,' he said with a faint little smile. His eyes searched her face. 'I want your trust as much as your body, Cory. Can you believe that? And this minefield of your past has to be cleared before that can come about. The only way I know to make it happen is to show you who I am. If you don't trust me then anything we have will be built on s.h.i.+fting sand; the first strong wind that comes against it will send the whole pack of cards tumbling.'

Cory's throat was locked and she couldn't utter a sound. She had never felt more confused in her life.

'You're bound up by fear; you know that, don't you?'

'Fear?' It unlocked her voice. 'I'm not afraid.'

'Yes, you are. I thought it was of me to begin with but the more I've got to know you, I see it's not that. It's Cory James who frightens Cory James.'

She took a little step away from him. 'I don't know what you're talking about,' she said, backing into the bedroom.

'You're frightened that the person you are isn't good enough or worthy enough or whatever it is.' A note of anger was in his voice for the first time. 'It's a legacy from your parents and it's rubbish, Cory. You know there's a part of me that could almost feel sorry for William if the guy hadn't been such an out-and-out jerk.'

'What?' Now she was angry. It put adrenalin where it was needed and burnt up the feeling of a few moments before which had had her wanting to cry. 'Why?' she snapped. Now she was angry. It put adrenalin where it was needed and burnt up the feeling of a few moments before which had had her wanting to cry. 'Why?' she snapped.

'Because you were waiting for him to let you down, weren't you? All along. And when it finally happened it confirmed you had been right. He had followed the pattern. You d.a.m.n near led him into it.'

'I did not!' Her face was flushed; she glared at him, her hands clenched at her sides. 'How dare you say that?'

'Think about it,' he ground out. 'You picked a low-life who was programmed to treat you badly because that's the way he treats any woman in his life. It's a kind of victim mentality.'

'Victim?' It was fortunate that Nick had brought her to his home rather than a hotel because Cory's shout of sheer outrage would have woken every guest in the place. It was fortunate that Nick had brought her to his home rather than a hotel because Cory's shout of sheer outrage would have woken every guest in the place.

She didn't have to think about what to do next. Her hand shot out with such speed it surprised them both, but Nick more so. Her last sight of him he was nimbly springing backwards as she slammed the door shut with enough force to have broken his nose but for his quick reflexes.

How dared he? How dared dared he say those things to her? She called him every name under the sun under her breath. And to think she had been going to sleep with him tonight; she must have been stark staring mad. She would never forgive him for this, never. If it wasn't the middle of the night she'd be straight out of here to find the nearest railway station. he say those things to her? She called him every name under the sun under her breath. And to think she had been going to sleep with him tonight; she must have been stark staring mad. She would never forgive him for this, never. If it wasn't the middle of the night she'd be straight out of here to find the nearest railway station.

She stood, breathing hard, glaring at the door, halfexpecting he might knock or at least try to speak to her but there was no sound at all. He wasn't going to apologise. As the realisation swept in she became even madder.

She swung round to survey the bedroom. Her overnight case was on a chair by the bed so he had obviously intended that she would sleep alone even when they had arrived at the house. Her cheeks began to burn but the anger was mixed with humiliation now. He must be having a good laugh at her expense.

She marched across to the en suite en suite bathroom, opening the door and surveying the expanse of cream and gold which echoed the colour scheme in the bedroom. She was glad to see there was a nice big bath because if ever she needed a long soak rather than a shower it was now. bathroom, opening the door and surveying the expanse of cream and gold which echoed the colour scheme in the bedroom. She was glad to see there was a nice big bath because if ever she needed a long soak rather than a shower it was now.

Thirty minutes and a refill of hot water later, Cory's rage was beginning to be replaced by self-pity. Half an hour after that she began to ask herself if there was a grain-just a grain-of truth in Nick's accusations. At three o'clock in the morning, after two hours in the bath and with her skin resembling the texture of a shrivelled pinky-white peach, she finally admitted to herself that he did have a point.

But she hated him. She rubbed herself vigorously with a towel before wrapping herself in an enormous bath sheet and padding through to the bedroom, her hair dripping wet. He needn't have been so offensive, and as for saying he felt sorry for William!

He hadn't actually said he felt sorry for William, a little voice in her head reminded her fairly.

As good as, she answered it militantly. Oh, yes, as good as. Well, that was fine, just fine. At least she knew where she stood now. He obviously thought she was off the wall and as weird as a cuckoo; if only he'd made that clear before he invited her down here it would have saved them both a lot of trouble. And she didn't give a d.a.m.n what he thought anyway.

The tears came about four o'clock, but after a good howl she fell fast asleep and slept through until a knock on the bedroom door woke her. She opened her eyes to a room filled with sunlight and lay for a second of absolute confusion as to where she was. Then she remembered. As another knock sounded she scrambled up in bed, glancing around frantically as though a hole would open up in front of her.

Calm, girl, calm. As her thudding heart threatened to jump into her throat, she forced herself to take a deep breath. He was a rat and she loathed him. That being the case, she would treat him with utter contempt this morning and be on her way out of his life as soon as she was up and dressed. She refused to reflect on what she must look like with no make-up, eyes swollen from the tears of the night before and her hair-which had dried itself-one giant tangle.

'Come in,' she called tightly, adjusting the duvet under her armpits with her arms lying across her lap and her hands clasped.

'Good morning.'

He had the nerve to smile at her, she noticed, as he came into the room carrying a tray holding a cup of tea and a small plate of biscuits. She also noticed that he was wearing a black cotton robe and matching pyjama bottoms, and his hair was damp from the shower. He hadn't shaved either. He was devastating. 'Good morning,' she answered grimly.

'Sleep well?'

Swine. 'Perfectly well, thank you.'

'Breakfast will be another half an hour or so, but I thought you might like a cup of tea. I a.s.sume it is tea you drink in the mornings rather than coffee?'

She stared at him. She always had at least two cups of tea before she could begin to function in the mornings but she was blowed if she was going to admit that he was right about anything today. She shrugged, taking the tray as he came to stand close to the bed before nodding her thanks. 'Not really,' she lied coolly. 'Either are fine.'

'Funny, I'd got you down as a tea girl.'

He'd got her down as a lot of things as he'd made only too plain the night before. After taking the tray she refused to look at him, keeping her eyes on the teacup. 'Really?' she said, putting a wealth of disinterest into the one word.

'You're mad at me.'

Dignified contempt, remember, she warned herself silently. She raised flinty brown eyes. 'Why would I be mad at you?' she asked coldly.

'I don't know, unless it's because I've made you face up to a few things.'

The sheer arrogance took her breath away, that and the way the tight black curls on his broad chest-visible through the loosely tied robe-gleamed like oiled silk in the suns.h.i.+ne spilling into the room. 'Hardly,' she said stiffly.

'You sulk beautifully.'

The thread of amus.e.m.e.nt in his voice was reflected in the quirk to his mouth and Cory was sorely tempted to throw the tea over him. She just couldn't bear to spoil the exquisite broderie anglaise cover on the quilt, though-that and the inch-thick cream carpet. Besides, she told herself, she'd decided on cool disdain and that was what she was sticking to. 'Where is the nearest railway station?'

'Why?' he asked calmly.

'Isn't it obvious?'

'Not to me.'

'Well, I wouldn't dream of bothering you to run me back to London when you've only just got here,' she said with heavy sarcasm.

'Good.' He had been standing looking down at her but now he sat on the bed. Cory's senses went into hyperdrive. 'But you aren't going anywhere other than to do some shopping with me today, so cut out the childish tantrums and finish your tea.' He leant forward as he spoke, depositing a firm but swift kiss on her lips before standing again and walking to the door. 'I mean it, Cory,' he said evenly, all amus.e.m.e.nt gone from his face and voice. 'You're spending the weekend here. You're meeting my family. End of discussion.'

She glared at him, hot colour burning her cheeks. How could he make her feel like a recalcitrant child when he had been the one who was way out of line? 'You can't keep me here by force,' she said tightly.

'No, I can't, nor would I want to.' He stood with his hand on the door handle, eyeing her with the piercing blue gaze which seemed to look right into her soul. 'I was being cruel to be kind last night, can't you see that?'

'I thought that was the excuse people normally trot out when they are caught mistreating someone or something.'

'Then you thought wrong, in this case at least. I spoke as I did because I care, Cory. Think about it.' He opened the door and exited the room before she could answer.

She sat, trying to ignore the dull ache in the region of her heart that his last words had produced. She wanted to stay mad at him. She needed needed to stay mad at him. By his own admission he had been cruel last night. How could he say he had been like that because he cared about her? to stay mad at him. By his own admission he had been cruel last night. How could he say he had been like that because he cared about her?