‘Yes, Damien.’
He gave a husky laugh. ‘I can see I’ll have to rescue you from sex-crazed attackers more often! It makes you much more submissive.’ His told tightened as she repressed a shudder. ‘We have to talk about it, angel, or else you’ll blow it up in your mind out of all proportion.’
‘But it—it was so horrible.’ She stiffened as she heard the sound of voice outside. ‘I think James has just arrived home.’ She went to move out of his arms.
His hold remained firm. ‘Stay where you are. Perhaps when James sees you in my arms he’ll get the message. I take it you haven’t told him about us?’
‘No. But—’
‘Then stay here and let him draw his own conclusions.’
‘No, I—I can’t!’ She wrenched out of his arms just as the door opened to admit James.
‘Ah, Damien,’ he greeted the other man. ‘So pleased you could make it. I hope you’ve been looking after our guest, Kate.’ He saw the coffee-tray. ‘Ah, yes, I can see you have. Well, I’m glad you’re here now, Damien, to drink a toast with us.’
Damien frowned. ‘A toast? Are you celebrating something?’
‘Mm,’ James grinned. ‘Haven’t you told him about the wedding, Kate?’
‘What wedding?’ Damien asked sharply.
James put his arm about Kate’s shoulders. ‘Why, my wedding, old man,’ he answered happily.
Kate looked in dismay from her brother’s face over to Damien’s, well aware that James had deliberately implied that it was the two of them who were marrying. And from the furiously accusing look Damien was giving her, it had worked.
CHAPTER FIVE
HER heart sank with dismay. James was only trying to protect her, she realised that, but he had chosen the wrong time to do it. She didn’t want to be protected from Damien any more, she just wanted to let things happen between them.
But she could tell by the determination on James’ face that he had no intention of allowing that to happen, that he would do anything to stop it. He grinned down at her now, the humour not quite reaching his grey eyes. ‘Yes, I’ve finally given in. I’ve realised that I just can’t live without her.’
‘A bit sudden, isn’t it?’ Damien snapped curtly.
‘Not that sudden. She’s been in my life a long time now. Besides, I think that once you realise there’s one woman you don’t want to share with anyone else then that’s the time to give in to fate.’
‘I see.’ Damien’s eyes ripped into Kate with a violence that made her wince. ‘And you’ve just suddenly realised that?’
James grinned. ‘Oh, not suddenly. I’ve been realising my fate was decided for some time now. This weekend made my mind up for me.’
‘Did it just?’ Damien’s mouth turned back in a sneer.
James was prevented from answering by the entrance of the butler. ‘Yes, Jennings?’
‘Telephone, sir. It’s Miss Anderson, from America.’
‘Thank you, Jennings. I’ll take it in the study,’ he dismissed the man. ‘Excuse me, I shouldn’t be too long.’
There was a long awkward silence after he had left the room, with Kate giving Damien surreptitious glances from under lowered lids. James had been very clever in his deceit—he hadn’t actually lied once, just omitted the name of his bride. He had made Damien blazingly angry, and she really couldn’t blame him for feeling like that. And what on earth must he think of her?
He soon told her. ‘You used me, Kate,’ he said forcefully.
‘Damien, it isn’t like it looks.’
‘Isn’t like it looks, damn it to hell!’ he burst out fiercely. ‘My God, what a game you’ve been having with us, playing us off one against the other.’
Kate gasped. ‘I’ve done nothing of the sort! I wouldn’t do such a thing.’
He gave a harsh laugh. ‘What a bloody fool I’ve been! I fell for your little game like a prize idiot.’
‘There was no little game!’ she insisted, realising she wasn’t going to convince him. Damien wasn’t willing to believe her and that was half the battle. No matter what she said now he wouldn’t listen, he didn’t want to.
‘Of course there damn well was. You’re quite a clever little girl on the quiet, aren’t you? I should have known yesterday when I heard the two of you declaring your love for each other. I didn’t stand a chance of getting you to move in with me, you just used the fact that I desired you to get St Just to propose.’
‘I did not!’
‘It was a good scheme too, it obviously paid off. No wonder you were unwilling to let me make love to you. That didn’t enter into your plans, did it?’
‘There was no plan! If you’ll just let me explain.’ But what could she explain? The secret of her birth wasn’t only hers to give.
‘You’re not explaining anything to me, honey. I think you’ve already done enough. I suppose Matt Strange was part of your scheme too, just to let James know that even though he’s proposed he doesn’t actually have that ring on your finger yet. I’m sorry it was me and not James who came in and broke up that pretty little scene. I realise I shouldn’t have been here yet.’
Kate gasped her anger. ‘Are you trying to say I arranged that—that attack this afternoon? Is that what you’re saying?’
He shrugged his broad shoulders. ‘Maybe not quite the way it happened. Matt just happens to be slightly more persistent than I am. He won’t take no for an answer.’
‘Neither will you,’ she accused hotly.
‘But I did—twice. I shouldn’t have listened to you either, you were at my mercy this morning. I should have taken you, at least then I wouldn’t have this aching feeling in my stomach. I’ve taken more cold showers over you the last couple of days than over any other woman. And I don’t like to admit defeat, but even I draw the line at married women.’
‘But I’m not marrying James,’ she tried to tell him.
‘You don’t have to keep up this reluctance with me,’ he sneered. ‘James has already proposed. I just hope he
