Chapter Twelve #2
To his delight, Greer stretched out her leg across his lap. Their eyes met and Conall struggled to remember his train of thought. Carefully he smoothed his fingers over her instep before massaging her sole.
Greer’s eyelids lowered as she sank into the cushions. Instead of answering she asked a question of her own. ‘Is he always like that?’
‘Greedy, entitled and infuriating?’
She chuckled and some of the tension wrapping around his neck and shoulders eased. If Jason had scared or hurt her, Conall wouldn’t answer for his actions. ‘Yes. And stupid too, to think I’d betray you with him.’
‘He wanted you?’
Of course he’d wanted her. She was beautiful inside and out. She was also the most effective, insightful person in his employ. He hoped that, over time, she’d take a much higher profile role.
Conall’s hand tightened and she stretched out her other leg, offering a second foot to be massaged.
‘It was a bit clumsy, really. He said he wanted me but he couldn’t really have expected me to say yes.’
‘You’d be surprised. An excess of self-confidence and wealth can be attractive.’
Greer’s eyes narrowed but this time not in pleasure. ‘He also said you were used to him taking things off you.’
Conall put his glass down with careful precision, then turned his attention to massaging her feet.
He hated talking about his family. He preferred not even to think about them.
But if he’d overcome his abhorrence and told Greer about his relatives perhaps she wouldn’t have let his half-brother corral her alone.
‘I’m sorry. I should have warned you.’
‘You weren’t to know he’d be there.’
‘I knew you’d meet my family eventually. They had to find out we’d married sometime.’
Those indigo eyes held his steadily. ‘He said another guest mentioned you were here with your bride.’
‘If I had my way, neither of us would have anything to do with my relatives.’
‘Does this have anything to do with why you kept our marriage secret?’ There was an edge to her voice.
‘Partly. I grew up in the full, intrusive glare of the public eye, and while things are much better now, I remember what it’s like to have people turning your private life into news stories.
I told you that at the time. I wanted to give you time before the press got you in its sights. ’ He frowned. ‘Didn’t you believe me?’
Greer shifted her weight as if to sit higher but he held her foot firmly, running both thumbs up the centre of her sole until she sighed and sank back.
‘I did. But I also wondered if you thought I wouldn’t make the grade in public as a rich man’s wife. My background is so different.’
Shock gripped him. ‘You thought I was ashamed of you?’
She looked away. ‘I didn’t know. You said it was to protect me but I couldn’t help wondering. I’m your PA, remember? We come from different worlds.’
Conall stared, trying to process the idea. ‘You’re the most phenomenal person I know.’ Her gaze locked on his and he felt her surprise. ‘How could I be ashamed of you?’
But not everyone had been raised to believe the world was theirs for the taking. Greer wasn’t shy or self-effacing. She seemed comfortable dealing with everyone, from colleagues to wealthy and powerful business contacts.
Yet one of her core competencies was the ability to hide her thoughts and feelings. He’d only learned recently how much she hid behind an air of calm.
‘I’m sorry,’ she murmured. ‘I shouldn’t have read anything else into your actions. But you took me by surprise when you suggested marriage. Everything happened so fast and I was playing catch-up.’
He exhaled. He remembered only too well her reticence about marrying and his secret indignation that she didn’t immediately say yes.
For him their marriage couldn’t have come fast enough. When Greer became pregnant and spoke of keeping the baby, maybe giving up her job to care for it alone, he’d realised how much he needed her in his life. He couldn’t watch her walk away, especially with his child.
Conall knew what it was like to be young and vulnerable, without a protector. When his mother died he’d been shunted into his father’s so-called care. If anything happened to him he wanted Greer and their child to have every legal and financial protection.
‘I’ve never been ashamed of you, Greer, and I never will. I have wanted to keep you safe.’ He shook his head. ‘I should have explained better, especially about my family.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘My father has five children by four women and Jason’s probably the worst, if you don’t count my father.’
‘Jason said you were used to him taking things from you.’
‘Not for a very long time.’ At her enquiring gaze he continued. ‘The last one was my first serious girlfriend, when I was eighteen.’
‘But he’s years older than you!’
‘Twelve years.’ At her horrified stare he shrugged. ‘I’m the youngest and there’s a gap between me and the rest. But we were taught to be competitive at everything. Besting one of our siblings at something was applauded. Losing was weakness.’
‘What did she see in him? She had you and he was so much older. And why would he do such a thing?’
Conall smiled, warmed at Greer’s astonishment that any female would prefer Jason. ‘I was a kid, albeit a kid with big plans. He was already established and very wealthy.’
Still Greer stared.
‘My family isn’t like others. When we were young our father never gave us support or love. He made the rules and we obeyed. People talk about strict disciplinarians but he was in a league of his own.’ Conall had no intention of going into detail.
‘For him, life is about winning at all costs. Triumphing over everyone else. Wielding power and accruing wealth. But he’s short on ethics, happy to bribe or browbeat people. He moulded us into mini versions of himself.
‘He supported all of us until we finished our education. But meanwhile we spent every vacation working without pay, and I do mean working. Jason was a jackaroo on a cattle station my great-grandfather established. I was a chainman for a surveyor working on a new road through the Pilbara.’ It had been one of the harshest yet most beautiful environments he’d ever experienced.
‘He wanted to toughen us up and above all he fostered competition between us. People ask who will inherit his business. What no one outside the family knows is that it will go to the one who has the most net wealth. Everyone’s scrambling to make their own business bigger and better.
He set up a perpetual competition between us and believe me, it’s dog eat dog. ’
Conall had never shared that with anyone. But it felt good, telling Greer, as if he bared some shameful secret he’d been too scared to reveal, only to find she didn’t judge him for it.
For instead of retreating, she slid her feet out of his hold and moved to sit beside him. ‘You’re in competition with each other? All the time?’
‘For years I was. That was drummed into me—succeed at all costs, beat everyone else, come out on top. It was a way of life for all of us. But a couple of years away from the old man and things changed. I changed.’
Conall watched her closely, wondering if she’d believe him. ‘I realised I have no interest in inheriting his money. I know some of the rules he broke, the palms he greased and the people he took advantage of to get that money. I opted out. I go my own way.’
‘But your siblings don’t?’
He lifted one shoulder. ‘They don’t confide in me. We’re not close.’
Greer’s sputter of laughter made his own mouth tug up in a rueful smile. ‘That’s an understatement!’ Then her expression sobered. ‘It’s hard to take in.’
‘You can understand why I don’t discuss it. Even as a child I knew we weren’t normal.’
Her hand closed, warm around his. ‘You shouldn’t lump yourself with your family. You’re not like them.’
Thank God she thought so! Since she’d pushed him away he’d begun to wonder if she saw the ugliness he’d tried so hard not to let grow inside him. He strived not to be like his old man but sometimes, when he was strategising his next commercial move, focused totally on winning, he wondered.
Was it any wonder he hadn’t shared this with Greer?
‘Jason’s trying to stymie your business deals here?’
‘Or somehow cut me out and take my place.’ Conall saw her dismay and curled his hands around hers. ‘It’s okay, Greer. Lee might have invited him to the party but he wouldn’t work with him. Jason doesn’t have what it takes. He’s not me.’
Her eyes danced. ‘I’ve always liked your confidence.’
He was confident all right, when it came to sealing a profitable deal.
But you haven’t been so successful in your personal life, have you?
Greer hadn’t jumped at the chance to marry him. And instead of turning to him when tragedy struck, she’d left him. He’d never felt so alone. Even now their marriage didn’t feel secure. They teetered between needing each other and treating each other like strangers.
No more.
They had so much to discuss, but at least they’d begun talking. Greer had listened and not turned away from the ugliness he’d kept to himself so long. He hadn’t shared that because he felt it tainted him.
‘Is that what you like about me?’ He leaned close, letting his intent show. He lifted her hand and peppered it with kisses.
‘Not all.’ Her eyes darkened. ‘No one kisses like you.’
That was better.
Conall kissed his way up her arm, pausing at that sensitive spot in her elbow, making her squirm and sigh. Goosebumps prickled her skin as he reached her shoulder and grazed her flesh with his teeth. She shivered in response.
He put his hands on her knees, pushing her dress higher. Her thighs were warm and smooth. ‘Just my kisses?’ He nuzzled his way across her collarbone.
Greer’s head fell back as he kissed her throat then worked his way to her ear.
‘What else do you like?’
She cradled his head, pulling him closer, her tender need a balm to his wounded soul. A flush warmed her features and her slumbrous expression made his rising erection heavy.
‘Everything. With you.’
Not breaking her hold, he levered himself off the sofa enough to swing her legs along it then settle over her, in the process shoving her skirt to her hips. He found damp silk between her thighs and pressed the heel of his hand there. Her hips rose, pelvis twisting against his touch.
His pulse catapulted higher. ‘Tell me what you like, Greer. What you want.’
‘You, hard inside me until I can’t feel anything else.’
Her words unleashed everything he tried to hold back in one sudden, searing blast. She didn’t stop there, holding his gaze as she breathlessly described how she wanted him to take her the first time, and the second. And what she wanted to do to him.
Conall couldn’t remember pulling back but found himself kneeling astride her, fumbling at the fastening of his trousers, simultaneously yanking his wallet from the pocket, scrabbling for a condom.
‘Undo your dress.’
His voice was so ragged as to be almost incoherent. But she reached behind her as he shoved his trousers down. He was rolling on the condom as Greer pulled her arms free of the dress and shoved it down to her waist.
Incendiary heat blasted Conall. That excuse for a bra was pure sin. Strapless, made of see-through lace and barely covering her nipples, it took him past careful, beyond needy and into must-have-her-or-die.
He froze, not trusting himself.
Greer looked at his bobbing erection and pouted. Pouted! ‘You haven’t changed your mind?’
A rough growl filled the air. He realised the noise came from his constricted throat. Words were beyond him.
Taking his weight on his arms he moved off the sofa, provoking a protest from her.
He pulled her up to a sitting position and swept her legs off the seat and onto his shoulders as he knelt. One tug, the sound of tearing, and her underwear was gone.
Conall didn’t pause to acclimatise her to his touch. He went straight to her core, tracing folds, finding her nerve centre and caressing her there, feeling that delicious quiver of response as her muscles tightened and her pelvis lifted against him, so beautifully needy.
Her arousal scented the air. She tasted like every dream come true and when she shouted his name, her fingers tight around his skull as she shuddered and quaked then dissolved, Conall felt like he’d burned off some of the doubt he’d carried that he could win her back.
It was a start.
‘More,’ she breathed.
‘Yes.’
He was already moving, sliding her thighs off his shoulders as he straightened. She looked gloriously wanton in the remnants of her red dress, yet—did he imagine her eyes held something other than lust?
Any hope he’d had of finding restraint faded. He’d wanted to taste her breasts and tease them free of that barely there bra. Later. His groin was so tight he felt like he was about to combust.
Sliding his hands beneath her, he tilted her up towards him. Greer reached down, guiding him and he thrust home. She took him as deep as he could go. Until there was nothing but her, this woman who eclipsed everything else.
Conall was drowning in a sea of lapis lazuli, waves lapping around him, warm and silky smooth.
For a moment he held there, awed, until stillness was impossible. They moved together, Greer’s brow knotted in concentration even as her eyes glazed. Another thrust and the gentle waves became a maelstrom of pleasure, pulling him deeper, harder, drawing the very essence of him.
Greer shouted his name, fingers digging into his shoulders and still she held his gaze so he saw everything she felt, felt everything she felt as they exploded, shattering into oblivion.
Except it wasn’t oblivion, because she was there.
The woman he loved.
Conall tasted the confession on his tongue, opened his mouth to share it, but through the blur of ecstasy, reason returned. He couldn’t blurt the truth suddenly. He didn’t want to scare her off. Every time he’d thought they were on solid ground, he’d almost lost her.
He needed to understand why she’d run from him before. Why she tiptoed around the idea of marriage. Then he’d overcome her fears and change himself to be the man she wanted, a man she trusted. Not a man she hid from.
He’d win her and keep her. Whatever it took.