The Mistresses Collection. Оливия Гейтс

Чтение книги онлайн.

       NINE

      James leapt on the phone to stop it screeching. Damn thing. He should have pulled the plug from the wall. ‘Yeah?’ he whispered, glancing at Caitlin’s motionless form.

      ‘You’re still in town?’

      James winced as he heard the reproach in his father’s voice. Hell. Here he was having the time of his life in a no-holds-barred sexual marathon with a virtual stranger instead of going to see his family. How did he explain that? ‘Ah...things got delayed.’

      ‘Delayed for how long?’

      ‘I’m not sure. I could be called away any day.’

      Caitlin’s head lifted, her blue eyes sardonically skewered him. He put a finger over her lips.

      ‘Come home, James,’ his father growled. ‘You should see your mother.’

      James swallowed. He hated the disappointment he heard. But he deserved to feel bad. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

      Caitlin didn’t take her eyes off him the entire rest of the stilted phone call.

      ‘I don’t want to go,’ he said belligerently the second he replaced the receiver on the cradle.

      ‘Why not?’

      ‘You know, I haven’t asked you for the exact specifics of what happened in London,’ he snapped. ‘We’re allowed some privacy.’

      Caitlin immediately withdrew, slipping out of the bed. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said quietly, making a dash for the bathroom. ‘I guess I was concerned. I apologise for overstepping the boundaries.’ But only a pace away the anger hit and she wheeled back to face him. ‘But I’ll just say this, James. I’d love to have a family who cared about me the way yours obviously cares about you,’ she spat. ‘Be grateful for what you have.’

      He stared at her, a stunned look on his face—followed by anger, followed by...what?

      She didn’t know, but rigidly she stared him out. He looked so stunned—did no one pull him up on his bad behaviour?

      He sighed and closed his eyes. A groaning growl emerged from somewhere deep in his gut. ‘You’re right.’

      She was.

      ‘I know you’re right.’ He kept his eyes shut. ‘I’m sorry I snapped. I was feeling guilty. I’ll go see them.’

      Would that make him feel less guilty? About what? ‘Great.’

      He peeled one eye open and looked at her. ‘You have to come with me.’

      ‘What?’

      The other eye snapped open and he sat up, the vital energy sizzling from him again. ‘It’s the only way I’ll go. You promised me unlimited sex for the time I was back in the country.’

      ‘Back in New York,’ she clarified.

      ‘This is still New York,’ he said carelessly. ‘The cottage is in the Hamptons. You don’t come with me, I don’t go.’

      She stared at him as if he was loco. Which clearly he was. ‘I can’t just turn up to your family home uninvited.’

      ‘I’m inviting you.’ He flopped back onto the pillows.

      No, that still wasn’t okay. ‘Your family will get the wrong idea.’

      He looked amused at her concern. ‘What—would it be so dreadful if they thought you were my girlfriend?’

      She clamped her mouth shut for a second. Then breathed. ‘It wouldn’t be honest.’

      ‘We’re having sex round the clock. It’s not entirely dishonest.’

      ‘We’re having sexual relations, not a relationship,’ she said crisply, ignoring his laughter. ‘And it’s precisely because of that, that it’s not a good idea if I come.’

      ‘Your coming is a very good idea. There’s nothing I like more.’

      ‘Juvenile innuendo aside,’ she said loftily, ‘I don’t believe this is sensible.’

      ‘You didn’t want sensible. You wanted fun. And I can promise you fun.’

      She was diverted by that tone in his voice. The thread of promise. ‘Wicked fun?’

      ‘So wicked you might not be able to walk.’

      She СКАЧАТЬ