Lovers In The Afternoon. Carole Mortimer

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СКАЧАТЬ surprises me. Do you honestly not remember what it was like between us, the bitterness, the pain of knowing we were all wrong for each other from the start?’

      ‘As a married couple, not as lovers,’ he insisted forcefully.

      ‘Have you forgotten what that was like between us?’

      ‘Didn’t this evening prove that it doesn’t have to be that way?’ he reasoned.

      ‘I’m still the same person, Adam,’ she told him with a sigh. ‘I’m still sixteen years younger than you are, with the same inexperience—no matter what happened here tonight,’ she added pointedly. ‘I’m still the same klutzy person I was when we were married——’

      ‘That’s a new name for it,’ he laughed softly.

      ‘I read it in a book somewhere,’ she dismissed impatiently. ‘It seemed to suit me perfectly.’

      ‘It does,’ he nodded, still smiling, his eyes a warm grey, crinkled at the corners.

      ‘Don’t you remember how angry all those “incidents” used to make you!’

      ‘You’re right, I was intolerant——’

      ‘You’re missing my point, Adam,’ she said frustratedly. ‘It would take a saint to put up with all the things that happen to me in one day—and that’s one thing I know you aren’t!’

      ‘Have I been angry tonight at all?’

      ‘That was only one night,’ she sighed her impatience. ‘It would drive you insane—it did drive you insane, on a regular basis.’

      ‘Haven’t you heard, lovers are more tolerant?’

      ‘Adam!’

      ‘Leonie?’

      She glowered at him. ‘You aren’t listening to a word I’ve been saying.’

      ‘Of course I am,’ he placated. ‘You’re young and klutzy.’ He smiled. ‘I really like that word, it describes you exactly.’ He sobered. ‘As a husband I was rigid and intolerant, lousy at making love to you. As a lover I will be generous and understanding—and very good in bed.’

      ‘In your experience,’ she snapped waspishly.

      He raised dark brows. ‘You sound jealous, Leonie.’

      She felt the heat in her cheeks. ‘I most certainly am not!’

      ‘It’s all right if you are.’ His arms came about her as he moulded her body to his. ‘From a wife it would sound shrewish, from a lover it sounds possessive. I like that,’ he stated with satisfaction.

      That wasn’t all he liked from the feel of his body pressed so intimately against hers, aroused for the third time tonight. Leonie couldn’t pretend not to be shocked by this evidence of his renewed desire; their sex life had deteriorated so badly at the end of their marriage that it was an effort for them to make love once a week; Adam had never wanted her three times in one night before!

      ‘Adam, please stop this.’ She pulled agitatedly away from him as her own body quivered in reaction to his. ‘You’ve had your fun——’

      ‘It was mutual,’ he drawled confidently.

      ‘Not that sort of fun!’ she snapped. ‘God, I can’t believe this is really you proposing this preposterous arrangement! Have you thought of the consequences of your actions?’

      ‘I already know you’re on the pill to regulate your periods.’ He dismissed the idea of pregnancy.

      ‘Not those consequences!’ It was embarrassing how intimately this man knew the workings, and malfunctions, of her body! ‘We both have families, Adam, have you thought of their reactions to the relationship you’re suggesting?’

      ‘My father and your sister.’ The amused glow to his eyes left for the first time that evening. ‘I’m thirty-nine and you’re twenty-three, do you really think either of us needs their permission?’ he ground out.

      ‘Your father hates me.’ She deliberately didn’t mention her sister’s feelings towards Adam, although she was sure they were both aware of those feelings; it had been one of the reasons their marriage had proved such a failure.

      ‘My father doesn’t understand you,’ Adam corrected gravely.

      ‘There’s nothing to understand,’ she dismissed scornfully. ‘I am what you see. A little more accident-prone around you and your father, but otherwise I’m an open book.’

      ‘Then a few of the pages must have got stuck together, because I never felt that I knew you completely either!’ He gave a deep sigh. ‘I don’t intend to argue about the past with you now, Leonie.’

      ‘Lovers don’t argue?’ she mocked.

      His mouth quirked. ‘Only when they know it will take them back to bed to make up.’ He took her back in his arms, his mouth claiming hers.

      Her lips parted of their own volition, allowing access to the thrust of his tongue, trembling as desire claimed her, clinging to the broad width of his shoulders as she swayed weakly against him.

      ‘Stay tonight, Leonie,’ he urged against the creamy warmth of her throat.

      She was tempted, God how she was tempted. But she couldn’t do it. It had taken her eight months to put herself back together after the devastation of loving this man; she couldn’t leave herself open to that sort of pain again.

      ‘No, Adam.’ She pushed away from him, breathing hard, knowing by his own ragged breathing that he was as aroused as she was. ‘There’s something else lovers can do,’ she told him tautly. ‘They can end the relationship at any time; I’m ending it.’ She turned on her heel.

      ‘Where are you going?’ Adam asked softly.

      ‘Home!’ She didn’t even turn.

      ‘How?’ his gentle question halted her. ‘Your car is still at Thompson Electronics, your keys to the car are in your handbag, your money, too, in case you were thinking of taking a taxi home, and your bag is in my car downstairs,’ he reminded softly.

      She had done it again! ‘So much for my grand exit,’ she said dully as she turned around.

      His smile was sympathetic. ‘It really was very good.’

      ‘Don’t humour me, Adam,’ she snapped.

      ‘Lovers——’

      ‘We are not lovers!’ she bit out between clenched teeth. ‘And we never will be. Now if you’ll give me your car keys for a few minutes I’ll go down and get my bag.’

      ‘No.’

      ‘You can’t keep me here by force, Adam!’ There was an edge of desperation to her voice.

      ‘I don’t intend to,’ he soothed. ‘I’m СКАЧАТЬ