Twin Flames (Twin Flames #1)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

S eville, present day

Cara propped herself up in the vast bed and leaned against the fluffy pillow. She was grateful for a few quiet moments. It had been a tough night. Sleep hadn’t come for hours, and when it finally did, it was fitful and unsatisfying. George was always on her mind even when she was asleep. She ran her hand through her messy hair, checked the bedside table and then patted the other side of the bed. Where had she put her phone? There was a text from Daniel from the previous night.

‘Hope you’re settled into the hotel. Sleep well, my love. xx’

She replied, ‘Good morning. Sorry I missed you. I fell asleep. Running a bit late for conference. I’ll be in touch later. xx’

She craved more sleep. Shards of bright light seeped through the blinds making her squint.

What if she and George really were Twin Flames? And stranger still, if possible, what if she really was a time traveller? The psychic’s words whirled around her head as she scanned her emails on her phone.

If what Sylvia said was true, it would explain why she and George were repeatedly drawn back to one another.

Could any of this be true?

She rubbed her eyes and stretched. Every muscle ached, but she must get dressed. She pushed herself to get ready for the day, competing thoughts of George, Sylvia and the conference all battling for attention.

After a hasty breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, orange juice and tea, she rushed downstairs to the conference centre.

The coordinator escorted her to the back of the room, and she was fitted with a microphone and did a quick sound check.

She could really have done without this today. Her head wasn’t in the game.

When her turn came, she went through the motions in a slightly robotic fashion. People didn’t seem to notice, and it was soon over.

‘Thank you,’ said Cara. She smiled and left the stage to an enthusiastic blast of applause.

Thank goodness, I’m done.

She’d not been her best, but she’d managed to pull it off.

She signed copies of her new book, The Rise and Fall of the Tudor Dynasty , for a line of delegates and then excused herself. Her head ached. She took a few gulps of water and then checked her phone. There was a message from George. Her heart did a little jig.

‘Good morning. How did it go?’

She debated whether to resist responding immediately and to instead focus on the next speaker or to reply and risk being carried away on an inevitable riptide of emotion.

Ten minutes passed, then twenty and then thirty. Each minute seemed like an hour, and Cara wasn’t able to concentrate on what was being said. Her fingers twitched with the urge to respond. Finally, her resolve exhausted, she typed a short message to George. It was rude not to reply, she reasoned, and then she put her phone away.

After the dullest hour, they broke for lunch, and she fished her phone out of her bag.

There was one missed call from George. The phone rang almost immediately. ‘How are you doing?’

It was him. He didn’t give up easily.

‘Very well thank you, how are you?’

The sound of his deep voice was all it took. She wanted him.

‘I finished my talk.’

‘How did it go?’

‘I wasn’t my best, but it seemed to go all right.’

‘How fabulous. I bet they love your book. You’re a superstar author now.’

‘Um, not quite,’ she said, embarrassed.

What are you up to for the rest of the day?’

‘We’ve just stopped for a two-hour break and then I’m due back for the afternoon session. How’s your unexpected business going?’

‘I took care of it earlier. Wasn’t as complicated as we thought.’

‘That’s good,’ said Cara. Her heart tolled louder than the cathedral bells.

‘I wondered if you’d like to come for lunch. Valeria, my fantastic housekeeper, is preparing a huge salad and delicious home-baked bread as we speak, and apple pie to follow. You’d truly be doing me a great service by joining me, or I’ll probably scoff the lot.’

Cara laughed. ‘It would be cruel to ignore such an urgent plea for help.’

‘Exactly. You mustn’t! It’s settled then: I’ll send my car for you now. I’ll ask Alejandro to wait for you at the front of the hotel. Keep your eyes peeled for a black Mercedes and a friendly smile.’

Cara rushed out of the conference room and into the elevator. She reapplied a pale lip gloss with precision and checked her appearance. Not too bad. The earlier weariness had miraculously dissolved, and her eyes sparkled. She looked a little feverish.

It must be lack of sleep.

She smoothed her hands over her skirt. It was creased, but there was no time to change now, which was probably just as well because she had nothing better to wear. She was jittery at the idea of meeting George at his villa, and she had no appetite. Again.

Alejandro steered the black Mercedes up the steep bends of the winding hillside while Cara tried to calm herself. It was futile. She was nervous as hell. She was so agitated she began to regret accepting the invitation.

What am I doing? Well, it’s too late now.

Her phone rang just as the car turned into a wide regal driveway lined with crème coloured stone pillars which were adorned with a brightly coloured crest.

Goodness. A family crest. What was that all about?

Daniel’s name flashed up on the screen, and she hastily put her phone away. She couldn’t talk to him now. She’d have to deal with the consequences of her impulsive behaviour later. She was in enough of a spin already.

George stood waiting in the bright entrance hall. The terracotta floor and varnished wooden beams set off to perfection by the white-washed walls.

It was happening again.

I’ve been here before. I know I have.

She did her best to appear calm.

‘Here you are,’ he said as he looked into her eyes. ‘I’m so pleased you came. Welcome to Casa Cavendish.’

Her heart performed a double backflip at the sight of his mischievous smile. He looked so gorgeous she could eat him up. His lips were shapely; as if in high definition.

‘Have I got something on my face?’ asked George, pretending to wipe his mouth, then smiling.

Cara blushed. Oh God, he knows I’m lusting after him. How embarrassing. I’ve never been as hot as this for anyone. Not even Ben, my first big crush at university.

‘Hey,’ he said, drawing her closer and giving her a quick hug.

‘Hey yourself,’ said Cara. She feared she might melt in a pool of desire. He smelled gorgeous as usual: today it was an alluring blend of aftershave and soap.

Lunch was served by his housekeeper, Valeria, on the top terrace of the stucco-style, red-roofed villa. They stood shoulder to shoulder, admiring the views of the city from the hilltop, enjoying each other’s presence. Valeria left for the day, and they were alone.

George turned to face her, gently traced his finger across her cheekbone as if wiping away a tear and then pulled her to him. His lips brushed hers: gentle at first and then with a growing fever. Cara didn’t hesitate. She entwined her fingers in his dark hair and returned his kiss with equal passion as they clung together. All of the complications vanished; she’d never been clearer. He took her hand and led her along the sunny hallway, up the majestic stone steps to the next floor. The moment had finally come.

‘What a beautiful room,’ said Cara, her hand cocooned inside his, as she admired the white textured walls, Spanish rugs and gleaming dark wooden furniture. Everything about the room was elegant and very George, she decided.

He released her hand as he stretched to close one of the heavy shutters and the light instantly receded. With a couple of steps, he was back at her side.

‘I’m so pleased you love the villa,’ he said, looking at her as if he couldn’t drink in enough of her face.

Cara slid into his welcoming embrace. It was like coming home. For a second, she recalled that she had resolved not to do this, but it was inevitable. They had crossed into new territory. There was no going back now.

Sometimes things which make no logical sense and should feel wrong, feel right.

She tasted his warm lips. The electric current between her and George was unlike any she’d known—the energy between them was heated. He dropped light kisses onto her neck as he held her hair in one hand and her waist with the other. Every cell of her being longed to join with him. They were ready to explode before they’d begun, and the prospect of being with him intimately, aroused Cara to a feverish state.

He raised her top gently over her head, as though unveiling a precious manuscript. Her skirt was next and fell to the ground with a shimmer. She stepped out of the crumpled material, still wearing her heels, her lightly tanned skin, bare, but for her silk underwear. She shivered with anticipation; goose pimples covered her skin, and her eyes searched his face seeking reassurance.

‘You are even more lovely than I imagined,’ he said. ‘Come here.’

She helped him pull off his shirt, and he scrambled to remove his trousers. They were both impatient. She ran her hands up his chest, over his biceps and across his wide shoulders. She burned with desire and yearned for the moment he would take her.

It was as if he was her: his pleasure would be hers too. She ached to please him. They fell onto the bed, kissing and caressing, as they explored each other’s bodies. They clung to one another as their passion built.

It was like they’d always been lovers. All shyness and hesitation vanished. His body fitted into hers like a missing puzzle piece. She could wait no longer. Waves of pleasure ripped through them, gripping them in a rhythmic sway until they simultaneously erupted in a long burst of searing pleasure. They collapsed together, damp skin on damp skin.

It was just as incredible as she had known it would be.

Cara’s heart burst with joy as though lit from within like a beacon. She kissed his lips and then his beautiful hands, wishing they could stay locked together like this forever.

If only her time-related gift would allow her to make time stand still. He held her in his arms until they dozed off, basking in the afterglow of passion.

‘Are you hungry? George asked a while later.

‘I am. But I don’t want this to end. Let’s stay like this forever.’

‘Um. I have a better idea. And I think you’ll like it.’

‘What is it?’ she said, searching his dark eyes.

‘Let’s do it again…’

‘You’re right. I do like it,’ she said. ‘Food is so overrated.’

And they were lost in each other once more.

‘Okay. Now I am starving. Let’s go and eat!’ he said.

Cara’s head rested on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. She was at peace for the first time since the day they’d collided in the bookshop.

She withdrew her hand and sighed. ‘Yes, I’m starving too. And I’ll need to get back soon. I agreed to be on the panel.’

‘Of course, no problem. We’ll get you back on time.’

She picked up her skirt and slipped back into it. George’s fingers recaptured hers as he led her down the winding staircase and back outside. Dishes of colourful food awaited them on the terrace. ‘Want some bread?’

She nodded. ‘Ooh, yes, please.’

He popped pieces of Pan Rustico, dipped in olive oil into her mouth.

‘Yum,’ she said, licking her lips and trying to stop oily crumbs falling on to her top.

He served them both a huge pile of salad and tucked into his as if he hadn’t eaten for days.

‘You are hungry,’ she said.

He paused mid-fork, smiled, his eyes widened and then he continued eating at the same furious pace. She laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks, and she bent over and clutched her sides.

‘What’s so funny? What did I do?’ said George. He laughed too. Her laughter was contagious.

Surely, I must have been happy like this in the past.

But she couldn’t locate a memory to match the elation she felt right now. She loved him.

Her phone rang. She picked it up from the table and looked at the screen.

It was Daniel.