Kathryn Ross - A Marriage On Paper

‘Aren’t you?’ He trailed one finger down the side of her face. The effect was so devastatingly sensual that she felt her body starting to respond to him in a very strong manner.

His finger trailed down her neck and traced the neckline of her dress. It created little shivers of sensation inside her that were deliciously tormenting. ‘Then it must be the heady mention of success. That will turn me on every time.’

‘I’ll have to remember that,’ she murmured huskily, and reached to kiss him.

At first her lips were gentle, uncertain, then he took control and the kiss deepened, became fevered with desire. Her fingers raked through the dark thickness of his hair as she pressed herself closer.

She felt him unbuttoning her dress, felt the cool caress of his fingers against her heated flesh. His hand closed over the rounded peak of her breast, brushed it with masterful, erotic strokes until she felt hard darts of wanton passion taking her over completely.

The shrill ring of the telephone interrupted them. ‘Damn!’ He broke away from her.

She wanted to tell him to leave it. She wanted him to just continue kissing her, caressing her. Wanted everything else to go away.

Their eyes met. ‘I…I can’t answer it,’ she said unsteadily. Her breathing was uneven, her mind chaotic.

He reached out and picked up the receiver from the desk in front.

‘Dex speaking.’ His voice was crisp, businesslike. Alicia found herself marvelling at his composure. No one could have guessed that two seconds ago he had been as out of control as her. Or had he? She frowned.

‘What this afternoon?’ he asked, sounding very alert.

His other hand left the rosy, aching hardness of her breast to reach for his desk diary. ‘Well, I had a lunch appointment, but it’s nothing I can’t reschedule for later,’ he murmured. ‘OK, see you then.’

Alicia started to straighten her clothing. She was buttoning up her dress as he put the phone down.

‘Sorry, Alli.’

‘That’s OK.’

‘That was Maddie. She’s set up a lunchtime meeting with a banker friend of hers.’

Alicia’s eyebrow’s rose. ‘She works fast!’

‘Yes, she’s quite a woman.’

The admiration and respect in Dex’s voice caused a stir of jealousy to rise inside Alicia. She didn’t like the feeling at all and she tried to squash it. ‘Just as long as you remember that I’m the woman you’re having the affair with,’ she reminded him with a smile, her voice light.

‘There’s no chance of my forgetting that,’ he murmured warmly. His hand went to her breast. ‘You’ve covered yourself up,’ he admonished sternly, rubbing gently over the silkiness of her dress. He smiled with satisfaction as he felt her body hardening instantly beneath his touch. ‘How about finishing what we’ve started here later on tonight?’ he suggested gently.

‘I think that’s a wonderful idea.’ Immediately she felt better. ‘You know it’s our anniversary tonight?’

He looked at her in puzzlement.

‘Twelve months since you head-hunted me from MacDales.’ She grinned. ‘Surely you hadn’t forgotten?’

He laughed. ‘Sorry, I had. But I do recall that I had to wait a full six months before I got the rest of your body.’

He grinned as he noted that he had embarrassed her. He watched the bright flush of colour under her skin. The misty uncertainty in her eyes reminded him of how young she was; just twenty.

‘Trust you to remember that date.’ She straightened his tie with tender attention to detail. ‘Better get back to work,’ she said crisply, and pulled herself away from him.

‘We’ll continue this discussion later.’ He smiled. ‘I’ll come around to your place about eight, all right?’

She nodded.

‘Will you dig last year’s accounts out of the file for me, Alli?’ he asked as she made her way towards the door. ‘I have a feeling I might be needing them soon.’

‘Yes.’ She closed the door behind her and took a deep, shaking breath. What was she going to do…what the hell was she going to do? The question beat inside her. She could have told him when he was kissing her. There was just the two of them here; there couldn’t be a better time. Now she had succeeded in putting it off again.

She went across to the filing cabinets and got out the figures Dex had asked for. Then she sat down and tried to concentrate on her work.

Half an hour later Dex emerged from his office. She noted he had put the jacket of his suit on and had combed his hair neatly back into place. ‘Will I do?’ he asked with a grin as he caught her scrutiny.

‘Very impressive,’ she answered with a laugh. ‘No one would ever guess that I had you all mussed up a little while ago.’

‘Good.’ He went across to the window and looked down towards the street. ‘Maddie’s here. I’d better go.’

‘Good luck.’ She watched as he walked towards the door.

‘Dex?’

He looked around at her a trifle impatiently.

‘You forgot the figures.’ She held the folder out to him.

‘Hell. Thanks, Alli. What would I do without you?’ He took them from her outstretched hand, flashed her a very attractive smile. ‘I probably won’t be back this afternoon. You can knock off early if you want. Just make sure the answer machine is on.’

The door closed behind him. Something made Alicia get up and go across to the window.

Despite the fact that the Australian day was at its hottest, Maddie had the top down on her silver Mercedes. Looking directly down at her, Alicia could just see the top of her dark hair, cut in a silky bob, and the fact that she was wearing a bubble-gum-pink dress that showed a provocative glimpse of the tops of her legs. As she watched Dex emerged from the building and got into the car.

Maddie reached across and kissed him on the cheek. They talked for a minute, then as she swung the car out from the kerb he took his jacket off and tossed it on the back seat.

Alicia leaned her forehead against the glass and watched as they disappeared down the busy road. Dex’s car was parked at the kerb, further down the street. The sight of it brought a smile to her lips. It was no wonder Maddie had picked Dex up; she wouldn’t have liked to be seen in his practical old vehicle. For some reason this made her feel better.

Dex deserved this break. He was the most ambitious man she had ever met, and he had worked extremely hard for success. Had ploughed all profits, all savings into his designs.

She had meant it when she had called him a genius this morning. He was talented and he had a sharp mathematical mind. She was certain that this new computer game he had developed would change his fortunes, open doors for him. And if Maddie held a few keys to those doors then that was great. She was happy for him.

But would he be happy when he discovered that he was going to be a father in a little under seven months’ time?

THE air-conditioning wasn’t working in the apartment. Alicia had struggled to fix it for the last hour, but to no avail. The heat was making her feel a bit sick.

‘Never mind,’ she said brightly to her sister. ‘Dex will be here soon and he’ll be able to sort it out.’

‘I wish he’d hurry,’ Victoria moaned. ‘I’ve got a load of homework to do, but in this heat all I want to do is fall asleep.’

Alicia glanced at her watch. It was seven o’clock. Maybe if she phoned Dex he would come over early. She picked up the phone and dialled his number.

There was no answer from his apartment. Where could he be until now? Surely still not discussing business with Maddie?

‘I’ll get you some iced water,’ she said to her sister as she put the phone down. ‘Maybe that will help.’