Love me if you dare Read online

  His eyes always looked like pools of liquid blue flames, and as usual, spitting fire at her. His gaze dropped to her mouth and hesitated for a fraction there, before he bent over and picked up the crumbled letter by his feet. Gently smoothing the wrinkles he walked towards her, capturing her gaze with his.

  Nicolas looked into the violet depths for long moments, trying to understand the emotions flashing there. The tip of her tongue peeked out to wet her bottom lip which forced his gaze to drop and fasten on the shining wet invitation in front of him.

  “I want to be alone, Nicolas.”

  His gaze caught hers again and he smiled; looked down at the letter in his hand trying to find the right words. “If he wrote in here what I think he did, you should really read it.”

  “Why? Is it along the lines of … I forgive you … you were young and didn’t know what you were doing … thanks, but now thanks! It means nothing! I do not want nor need his forgiveness, not now, not ever! I never did … I did no …”

  She swallowed the rest of the sentence and pulled her heated gaze from his, swung her legs down from the branch to get up, but Nicolas swiftly moved between her legs and kept her suspended on the branch … his body pressed tightly in the apex of her legs.

  She frantically pushed against his hard chest and hissed, “Get away from me!”

  Ignoring her, his hands rose to gently close around her cheeks and drew her mouth up to his, whispering against her lips, his eyes fiery.

  “You really should stop making love to me with your eyes every time you look at me … you are inviting this every time…”

  His mouth circled hers, gently at first, softly stroking his lips across hers trying to coach her to open her lips to his seeking tongue, but she kept them pressed firmly together.

  He growled in frustration, ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, his one hand circled her neck to keep her in place while the other stroked sensually down her back.

  “Let me in …”

  His voice was soft and warm as velvet in her ears. Nicolas nibbled softly on her lower lip, his hand on her waist pulled her hard and swiftly tighter against his hardening arousal. She gasped and his tongue immediately surged inside. His tongue stroked hers, gently enticing hers to reciprocate, and when she hesitantly complied the passion erupted between them. She was drowning and desperately grabbed his shirt at his sides. Nicolas devoured her mouth like a starving man, he licked, he nibbled, he sucked, leaving her no quarter and she could do no other than to return his kiss with as much vigor and passion. She was on fire and liquid heat pooled in her groin.

  She loosened her grip on his shirt and followed the muscled contours of his chest and arms to lock around his neck. He growled again and pulled her even tighter into his body. She moaned when she felt the hard ridge of his arousal press against her soft stomach.

  His hand slowly caressed her neck, down her chest to slowly circle her breast. Her nipple tightened immediately and pushed against her clothes. He brushed his fingers over the rigid tip eliciting another moan from her. He pulled his lips from hers to kiss and lick sensuously down her throat. Her head fell back in ecstasy, allowing him full access whilst pressing her breast forward invitingly.

  He groaned and urgently pulled her tee shirt up, found the front clip of her bra and with slow teasing strokes bared her one breast. Her breasts were beautiful, firm but full and round with pinkish brown nipples, surrounded by large baby soft areolas, now fully extended and tightened in hard little nubs. His fingers lightly stroked around her areola … so soft and inviting then lightly pinched the nipple.

  “Stop … Nico …” Her protest died in her throat, when his warm lips closed around her aching nipple. He stroked his tongue over her nipple, softly blew on the tip, causing her breath to freeze in her lungs. When he pulled the tight nub deep into his mouth and suckled she cried out in ecstasy. His passion driving him he drew it deeper in his mouth and suckled even harder and the heat rushed from where he was suckling, down her stomach to center in her loins to drench her panties.

  Just as he started baring her other breast, the sound of someone calling his name, penetrated his aroused mind and he reluctantly pulled away, jarring Samantha out of her passion induced state.

  She panicked and pushed hard at his chest, but he refused to budge. He forced her gaze up to his with a finger below her chin and stared at her, memorizing her swollen lips, still bared and aroused breasts and the obvious desire in her eyes. She was just as affected by their passionate encounter as he was and he smiled, pulled her bra to cover her breasts and snapped the clip closed. She slapped his hands away and dragged her t-shirt down to cover her breasts.

  “I guess that means today is not the day …”

  Samantha huffed and pushed at him again, desperate to escape from his burning heat. How could she have allowed this to happen!

  “No it’s not … nor would there ever be a ‘the day’! Let me go!”

  He took her face in his hands again, ignoring the sound of his name being called getting closer, forced her mouth up to his, covered her lips in a hard, calculating kiss, staking his claim.

  “Make no mistake, Samantha … there will be a ‘the day’!”

  He held out the crumbled letter to her but she slapped his hand away. Unperturbed, he pushed the letter in his back pocket, stepped back and turned away.

  “When you are ready to read this, you know where to find me.”

  The minute he disappeared through the curtain of leaves she sank down the tree trunk, pulled her knees up against her chest and pushed her face between her knees. She took deep, gulping breaths to calm down and get her emotions under control.

  She heard Elaine’s excited call when Nicolas met up with her. “Where have you been, I’ve looked everywhere for you.”

  “Just went for a walk down to the stables. Let’s go grab a soda. I desperately need something to cool me down.” Samantha blushed at the double entre directed for her ears. The voices moved farther away and she slowly started to relax. Just thinking of what she just shared with Nicolas, heat bubbled to life inside her again. She cursed. She was such an idiot!

  Samantha’s mind wandered back to the night of her twenty first birthday, a night that started so happy, full of fun and laughter. Her mother agreed to a big party and all her varsity friends and family were there. She danced the night away, full of energy and sparkle. She felt young and pretty even with her hair dyed blond with purple stripes and cut in a short spiky style and dark make-up. She caught Nicolas’s brooding gaze on her numerous times which excited her to no end. When she ended up on the side patio alone with him, her insides shivered in anticipation.

  He walked right up to her, wished her a happy birthday and gave her a lovers’ kiss, one that took her breath away and curled her toes. All the kisses she’s had up to that point had been from varsity guys, which clearly was no match for Nicolas’s experience and passion. A passion she now realized he held in check at that time. Had he kissed her then as he kissed her now, she would have been frightened out of her mind!

  She gave a wry grin. Yes, she would have. Contrary to how she dressed and behaved she was still very young and very innocent.

  Innocent in love, passion, lust and how it drove deceit and aggression in men!

  She walked back to the party floating on a cloud. Nicolas kissed her and she knew he wanted her, but coming back to the party he danced and flirted with all the other beautiful girls, barely glancing in her direction again.

  She was angry enough at his rebuff to flirt outrageously with her father’s business associates, Jason Wieldman, much older, but still very attractive, distinguished and charming. The way he held her close when they danced, the desire glittering in his eyes when he looked at her, made her reckless. Two could play the game!

  Then Nicolas noticed her, singed her with his eyes as she continued to flirt with Jason, who was nearly thirty years older than her … the one thing that made her think it was safe with him … oh what an ut
ter fool she was!

  Up to that point she was having the time of her life …up to that point … after that … her whole life was ripped apart …

  And no one even knew to what extend her life had been pulled apart, no one but her … and Jason Wieldman.

  All her pent-up emotions suddenly came crashing down and raw, hard sobs wracked through her body. For the first time in six years, she totally broke down. Tears streamed down her face and she wrapped her arms tight around her waist trying to control the deep, hurtful sobs that shook her body. She fell to the soft moss bed, still sobbing and eventually fell asleep curled in a tight circle, a lost sob still shook her body every now and then.

  Nicolas came looking for her nearly two hours later, worried when she did not pitch for lunch. He found her still curled up with her arms wrapped around her waist. He crouched down beside her and noticed her tear streaked face. He frowned and slowly reached out to soothe her hair from her face.

  She woke up with a start. The moment she recognized him, she scrambled to her feet and smoothed her hair back. They stared at each other; Nicolas still crouched on his haunches.

  He rose slowly, but when he started walking towards her, she swung around, dashed through the curtain of leaves and ran towards the bridge.

  Nicolas followed slowly and stood staring after her darting figure with a pensive look in his eyes.

  Chapter Four

  The building reached towards the sky, her eyes followed the sharp lines higher, still higher until her gaze lingered at the point where the skyscraper met the clear blue sky. She remembered standing at this exact spot when she was still a small child, in awe of the building that kissed the sky.

  It excited her every time, and always, always she would skip inside beside her imposing father, chattering away about how she would one day sit at the top of the building and be the boss. He, of course, always smiled and agreed that she would sit at the top one day. Only his office was not on the top floor, rather it was on the tenth floor, the executive level, which had a private roof to the one side, where most of their big events were always hosted. Also, he never intended her to sit in his chair, so why this sudden change of heart in his testament?

  She dropped her eyes from the building, all glass and steel, no walls or bricks on the outside. She read in a magazine that this building had been turned into one of the top ten greenest buildings in South Africa. Something that was clear from the moment you stepped inside the cool interior.

  Natural plants and small gardens gave the impression of an open walkway through a botanical garden. The lighting was soft hues, casting natural light over the complete floor, or rather, an impression of natural light. She ignored the reception area and headed directly to the elevators. Even here, she had to familiarize herself with how they worked, as you had to enter exactly where you were going and be swiftly carried up to the correct floor, without stopping along the way.

  She hesitated a moment before she stepped off the elevator, directly into the Executive assistants open plan offices of the Executives level. All the top Executives were housed on this floor, and the Assistants their gate keepers. Her hesitant steps carried her towards her father’s office, which she assumed were still the one in the far corner, facing towards the center of the city. She breathed out a sigh of relief when Gertrude, her fathers’ Assistant did not appear to be at her desk in the front reception area of his office. Her steps faltered again when she pushed through the door and the lights slowly flickered on above her. Soft, natural light enhanced the office, and she glanced briefly around.

  Gone were his dark, heavy wooden furniture and leather couches he used to favor. In its place where a massive glass and steel desk, white leather couches and a glass and steel conference table surrounded by white executive leather chairs, on the opposite side of the office. Try as she might, she could not picture Alexander DuPont in this setting.

  She walked towards the ceiling to floor windows and stood staring out to the city spread out below her. Had he stood here gazing out while he was thinking out strategies? She was startled out of her thoughts by her cell phone ringing. She pulled it from her pocket and with a start of guilt, recognized her partners name flashing on the tiny screen. She had completely forgotten the reason why she was in South Africa in the first place and never phoned to inform him of what had happened.

  “Hi Charles, how are you?”

  “Samantha, I’m fine, but got worried about you when I did not hear anything from you for so long. How did the meeting with Crayon Solutions go?”

  Guilt gnawed at her even more. Since she heard the news of her father’s death, she had not taken any action to meet with them at all. She rubbed her forehead, turned from the window and slowly sat down on one of the white couches.

  “I’m sorry, Charles, I have not been to meet with them as yet. I ha …”

  “What?” Samantha, you know as well as I do how much a merger with them will mean to our business! It will be our first big merger with a major International company in the Southern Hemisphere. They expected you a week ago already!”

  She sighed heavily and closed her eyes wearily. “I know and once again, I am sorry. As soon as I arrived I heard on the television news that my father had passed away….” Her voice glugged up and she swallowed hard.

  “Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that. Here I am ranting on about a business deal. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, but it has been extremely difficult. You know I do not see eye to eye with my family.” There was a moments’ silence.

  “Do you want me to join you there?” Samantha hesitated. She knew how much comfort she would be able to draw from him by her side. He had been more than a partner; he had been a close friend. On the other hand, she was afraid that he would get the wrong idea. Over the past few months she started to realize that his feelings towards her, had turned to more than purely professional and friendship, however, he had not said anything to her as such.

  “Thanks for the offer, Big C, but I’ll be fine.”

  “And Crayon?”

  “A lot has happened in a very short time that could change my life drastically. I will set up the meeting with Crayon today still, and I will be back in New York early next week. There are some serious decisions I need to make and discuss with you.”

  They chatted for another fifteen minutes with Charles updating her on all their big projects, before she ended the call with, “I miss you too.”

  “So, what did lover boy say when you told him you won’t be back?” Samantha closed her eyes, willing her body to relax, when Nicolas’s smooth voice, dripping with sarcasm rolled over her. His hands closed over her shoulders from behind and she stiffened, but he held her in place when she tried to rise from the couch. His thumbs gently stroked her neck below her hair. His breath was warm against her temple, and she tried to pull from his grip again.

  His one hand turned to circle her neck and drew her chin upward; the blue flames in his eyes singed her, anger glittering in the deep surface.

  “Is her aware of you propensity to kiss other men every chance you get?

  Before she could struggle out of his hold, his head lowered and his lips closed over hers. The heat of his mouth on hers engulfed her, his hand circled her neck slowly stroking the vein pulsing erratically there, the other moved down her arm to fold his large hand around her breast. She gasped and his tongue immediately surged inside her mouth, to go deep, intimately delving and mercilessly pulled her tongue into his to feed from her mouth greedily, whilst his were playing havoc in her mouth.

  So easy and so quickly she was on fire. So easy and quickly did he overcome her defenses. Heat slivered down her body to quiver in her loins. His loud growl when she returned his passionate onslaught brought her to her senses. She literally ripped her mouth from his and scrambled out of his hold to her feet.

  She stood facing away from him, drawing deep breaths in her lungs, and then swung around to face him. The words she intended to fling at him wedged in her
throat when her eyes took in all of him. He still stood behind the couch, his hands grasping the edge in front of him. The look in his eyes that of pure desire and lust, a look that she saw once before, long ago in the eyes of another man. Suddenly, fear rose from deep inside her. She took a step backwards, her whole body suddenly a quivering mass.

  Nicolas could not take his eyes off her; she was just too damn beautiful, too passionate and desirable! She managed to heat his passions by her presence alone! He slowly walked around the couch in her direction and frowned when she stepped backward, with a shaking hand warding him off.

  “D … d … don’t please … stay away …” He frowned, cursed, and then closed the distance between them in three long strides. She screamed when he reached her and he froze, noticing the fear in her eyes.

  “Samantha? What’s wrong? Why are you … my God … you are scared of me!” He lifted his hand to pull her towards him, but she managed to squeeze past him and ran to the door as if the devil were on her heels. Nicolas stood frozen. He was at a complete loss as to what just happened. The look of terror in her eyes had cut him to the bone. He frowned, turned and his eyes fell on the white couch, remembering the fervent kiss they just shared, one she just as passionately returned at the end.

  Then what the hell frightened her so much that she had to run away from him?

  It took nearly two hours and three cups of coffee before Samantha managed to get her emotions under control. She sighed and waived at the waiter to bring her bill. She had no idea where she was or even how she got there. After paying the bill she quickly went to the restroom and received a shock when she saw herself in the mirror. Her hair was windblown and her face pale with tear streaks down her cheeks.

  She never even realized that she had cried – something she seemed to be doing a lot of lately! She searched in her bag for a stretch band and quickly pulled her hair back in a ponytail, then smoothed some face powder on her face to cover the tear streaks. With a light rose lipstick on her full lips, she looked and felt much better. She pulled her shoulders back, took a deep breath and walked out into the street.