Page 8
Story: Capture the Rainbow
She wasn’t disappointed. He lifted his head with a low groan that was half growl, and his expression was infinitely sensual. Kendra felt a jolt of pure, primitive satisfaction.
“You’re driving me insane.” His words were punctuated by the swirls of sensation that spun through the rainbow mists surrounding them. “That’s right, love, move. Come to me.”
How could she help coming to him, she thought hazily. He was absorbing her, piercing her, not only with his body but with his sorcerer eyes and his words of need and desire. She could see the delicate rainbow rays of pink and gold and violet beyond the naked bronze of his shoulders, and it only deepened the beautiful, physical reality of their lovemaking. He had to be wrong, Kendra thought. This was no illusion, no ephemeralarc en ciel.Its brilliance was increasing with every passing second, every move, every breath. Then, with a shimmering burst of color that was like the birth of a world, she found it. She felt Joel tense above her and heard his low, savage cry as his arms tightened possessively around her. He sensed it too, she thought joyfully. It belonged to both of them.
He was quiet in her arms, his body heavy upon her, and she could feel the beat of his heart against her breast. Then he rolled over, his arms still clasping her to him. One hand stroked her hair lazily as his lips brushed the delicate veins at her temple. She curled up contentedly against him, her head nestling into his shoulder like a trusting child. She was suddenly so weary she could hardly keep her eyes open, but the sorcerer had given her his gift of joy and she felt compelled to say something.
“Thank you.” Her voice was a drowsy murmur, as she cuddled closer. “Thank you very much, Joel.”
His chuckle reverberated beneath her ear. “You’re very welcome, rainbow lady,” he said. “Thankyou.I think we can consider this a very even exchange of pleasure.” Just then his relaxed body stiffened warily against her. “Or was that what you meant? Perhaps you were talking about the part? You should have held out for a bigger role, sweetheart. In a town like this, there aren’t that many women who have what you had to trade. Virginity has a definite appeal for a certain type of man. I for one find it very exciting to know I was the first. You would have been wise to capitalize on that.” The hand stroking her hair suddenly tightened spasmodically. “But don’t worry, sweetheart, you won’t lose because of your inexperience in negotiating this agreement. I’m always ready to pay a fair price for what pleases me. I’ll make sure that the next role is juicy enough to satisfy even the most ambitious tastes.” His tone became mocking. “However, you’ll have to promise to stay in my bed and continue to please me. Agreed?”
She didn’t answer and his voice hardened to steel. “I wouldn’t try to bargain too hard if I were you, Kendra. You’ll find I can be very determined and I don’t hesitate to be as ruthless as I need to be to get what I want.” He tilted up her chin; his eyes narrowed on her face. “You’ll give me exactly what I…”
His voice trailed off as he noticed that her russet lashes were closed and her breathing deep and even. How much had she heard before she drifted off so peacefully? Probably not much, judging by how soundly she was sleeping. His lips curved in wry amusement as he realized that she had once more wrested control of the situation away from him—and without even trying.
Why wasn’t he feeling the resentment he’d known earlier, instead of this weird protective tenderness? His throat felt oddly tight as he noticed how vulnerable she looked with her lips parted slightly in slumber. He pulled the white wool coverlet over them and then carefully, gently, he brought her closer into his embrace.
Mine.
Even before Kendra opened her eyes she was conscious of the familiar little ache in her lower back and the even sharper one behind her eyes. She sighed unhappily, and nestled closer to Joel’s comforting warmth. Joel?
Her lids flew open and her gaze focused in shock on the mat of coarse black hair on Joel Damon’s chest. Oh Lord, what on earth had she done? Then, as the memories and sensations of last night tumbled helter-skelter back to her, she realized very well what she had done. Rainbow mists and a sorcerer’s green eyes and a driving, explosive physical magic. How many times had he taken her last night?
She bit her lip in vexation. How stupid to worry about how many times they had made love when the obvious problem was that it had happened at all! How could she have done such a thing? Ending an evening in a stranger’s bed might not have been all that unusual for some women, but it was for her, dammit. It was even more bizarre for her to abandon herself to a hedonist like Joel Damon, who was also her boss. For someone who prided herself on her professionalism, there couldn’t be a bigger mistake. Had it been the painkiller she had taken that was responsible for this insanity? She had rejected that idea last night, but she was beginning to wonder now. Perhaps in combination with the champagne she’d drunk…oh, she just didn’t know. Maybe it was the man himself who’d caused this temporary insanity. He had certainly had an incredible impact on her senses even before her abrupt mood change. Well, the catalyst didn’t matter now. The only important thing was that she had regained her usual cool sanity and could act accordingly.
She scooted carefully away from Joel Damon. With any luck she could get out of here without waking him and avoid a confrontation that would be excruciatingly awkward.
Luck wasn’t with her and she was still struggling with the zipper of her gown when Damon’s eyes flicked open. He was instantly wide awake. “Going somewhere?” he asked as he sat up and regarded her intently. “Your bed manners leave a little to be desired, sweetheart. Haven’t you ever heard that a good mistress makes herself available in the morning as well as at night? Take off your gown and come back to bed, Kendra.”
Kendra could feel the color rush to her cheeks as she hurriedly yanked at the zipper. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Mr. Damon,” she said as her eyes searched the floor wildly for her shoes. “I have to leave now. As soon as I finish dressing, I’ll be on my way.”
“Mr. Damon?” he echoed blankly. “Isn’t it a little late for that degree of formality? If I remember correctly, a few hours ago those long, lovely legs were wrapped around me and I was—”
“That was a mistake,” she interrupted, her cheeks definitely scarlet now. “I wish you’d just forget last night ever happened.” She spied one sandal half under the bed and pounced on it. “I realize the entire situation was as much my fault as it was yours, but it still should never have happened.” Where was the other damn shoe? “I’m sure when you think about it, you’ll agree that working together would be very difficult if we allowed any personal relationship to interfere.” How had that shoe gotten under the covers of the bed? “I promise to stay out of your way as much as possible when I come to Sedikhan.”
He muttered a low curse, his face darkening stormily. “Trying to back out of our agreement so soon, Kendra? I believe I warned you about that last night. I’m not settling for a one-night stand when I had a more permanent arrangement in mind.” His green eyes were glacier cool. “You’ll get the part and all the additional roles I can manage to throw your way, but I’m the one who calls the shots. Now get out of those clothes and come back here.”
“The hell I will.” Her brown eyes were blazing as she stomped into her sandals. “On the set you may call the shots but that’s the only place, Mr. Damon. I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about, but I’ll be damned if I’ll stand here and let you threaten me like some kind of petty dictator. Last night was the only time I’ll ever be in your bed and it would be wise if you’d recognize that fact. As soon as I finish this job, I’ll take pains to avoid working on any more of your films.” She tossed her head angrily. “I’m going to have enough on my plate just handling the gags on this picture without having to tolerate a director with a colossal ego.”
“Gags?” His eyes narrowed.
“Gags,” she repeated impatiently. “Stunts. You’re a director, you know what I mean, for heaven’s sake!”
“Yes, I know what you mean,” he said, his expression grim. “I think you’d better come back here and sit down. We’ve got some talking to do. So you’re not an actress?”
“An actress?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Of course not. What ever made you think that? I’ve been hired to do Billie Callahan’s stunts inVenture.” Then all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place and she glared accusingly at him. “You thought I was sleeping with you to get a part inVenture?”
“Sleeping had very little to do with it,” he drawled, “but yes, I thought that’s why you were vamping Balding, then me.” His lips tightened. “Upon reflection, it could still be reasonable. The business you’re in is very competitive andVenturehas a big budget.”
“Sell myself into your film? I’m a professional stuntwoman, not a hooker,” she spat. “I’m very good at my job and I have no need to earn any fringe benefits on my back.” She drew a deep steadying breath and tried to control her temper. “As for Dave, I’ve been friends with him and his wife for years. He’d laugh himself silly at the idea that I was trying to vamp him.”
“You could have fooled me,” he said, scowling at her. “You two were all over each other last night.”
“Affection, not lust,” she said caustically. “I suppose it would be too much to expect you to recognize the difference. You were so busy dreaming up dirty little pictures with that fertile imagination of yours. You wanted me to be some kind of prostitute so that you could feel comfortable about going on the prowl yourself. Not that you need any excuse from what I hear.”
“No, I don’t.” He leaned back on the pillows and regarded her calmly. “And I believe I could be excused for the mistake under the circumstances. You weren’t exactly reluctant to be lured into bed, Kendra, and you displayed a very satisfactory degree of lust yourself.” He paused. “For an amateur.”
She inhaled sharply, feeling as if she had been hit in the stomach. “I told you last night was a mistake. Perhaps Dave was right and I had too much to drink.” Her gaze was steady. “I won’t be dishonest and try to shift the blame onto your shoulders.” She tried to smile. “Suppose we both chalk it up to temporary insanity and just go on from here.”
“You’re driving me insane.” His words were punctuated by the swirls of sensation that spun through the rainbow mists surrounding them. “That’s right, love, move. Come to me.”
How could she help coming to him, she thought hazily. He was absorbing her, piercing her, not only with his body but with his sorcerer eyes and his words of need and desire. She could see the delicate rainbow rays of pink and gold and violet beyond the naked bronze of his shoulders, and it only deepened the beautiful, physical reality of their lovemaking. He had to be wrong, Kendra thought. This was no illusion, no ephemeralarc en ciel.Its brilliance was increasing with every passing second, every move, every breath. Then, with a shimmering burst of color that was like the birth of a world, she found it. She felt Joel tense above her and heard his low, savage cry as his arms tightened possessively around her. He sensed it too, she thought joyfully. It belonged to both of them.
He was quiet in her arms, his body heavy upon her, and she could feel the beat of his heart against her breast. Then he rolled over, his arms still clasping her to him. One hand stroked her hair lazily as his lips brushed the delicate veins at her temple. She curled up contentedly against him, her head nestling into his shoulder like a trusting child. She was suddenly so weary she could hardly keep her eyes open, but the sorcerer had given her his gift of joy and she felt compelled to say something.
“Thank you.” Her voice was a drowsy murmur, as she cuddled closer. “Thank you very much, Joel.”
His chuckle reverberated beneath her ear. “You’re very welcome, rainbow lady,” he said. “Thankyou.I think we can consider this a very even exchange of pleasure.” Just then his relaxed body stiffened warily against her. “Or was that what you meant? Perhaps you were talking about the part? You should have held out for a bigger role, sweetheart. In a town like this, there aren’t that many women who have what you had to trade. Virginity has a definite appeal for a certain type of man. I for one find it very exciting to know I was the first. You would have been wise to capitalize on that.” The hand stroking her hair suddenly tightened spasmodically. “But don’t worry, sweetheart, you won’t lose because of your inexperience in negotiating this agreement. I’m always ready to pay a fair price for what pleases me. I’ll make sure that the next role is juicy enough to satisfy even the most ambitious tastes.” His tone became mocking. “However, you’ll have to promise to stay in my bed and continue to please me. Agreed?”
She didn’t answer and his voice hardened to steel. “I wouldn’t try to bargain too hard if I were you, Kendra. You’ll find I can be very determined and I don’t hesitate to be as ruthless as I need to be to get what I want.” He tilted up her chin; his eyes narrowed on her face. “You’ll give me exactly what I…”
His voice trailed off as he noticed that her russet lashes were closed and her breathing deep and even. How much had she heard before she drifted off so peacefully? Probably not much, judging by how soundly she was sleeping. His lips curved in wry amusement as he realized that she had once more wrested control of the situation away from him—and without even trying.
Why wasn’t he feeling the resentment he’d known earlier, instead of this weird protective tenderness? His throat felt oddly tight as he noticed how vulnerable she looked with her lips parted slightly in slumber. He pulled the white wool coverlet over them and then carefully, gently, he brought her closer into his embrace.
Mine.
Even before Kendra opened her eyes she was conscious of the familiar little ache in her lower back and the even sharper one behind her eyes. She sighed unhappily, and nestled closer to Joel’s comforting warmth. Joel?
Her lids flew open and her gaze focused in shock on the mat of coarse black hair on Joel Damon’s chest. Oh Lord, what on earth had she done? Then, as the memories and sensations of last night tumbled helter-skelter back to her, she realized very well what she had done. Rainbow mists and a sorcerer’s green eyes and a driving, explosive physical magic. How many times had he taken her last night?
She bit her lip in vexation. How stupid to worry about how many times they had made love when the obvious problem was that it had happened at all! How could she have done such a thing? Ending an evening in a stranger’s bed might not have been all that unusual for some women, but it was for her, dammit. It was even more bizarre for her to abandon herself to a hedonist like Joel Damon, who was also her boss. For someone who prided herself on her professionalism, there couldn’t be a bigger mistake. Had it been the painkiller she had taken that was responsible for this insanity? She had rejected that idea last night, but she was beginning to wonder now. Perhaps in combination with the champagne she’d drunk…oh, she just didn’t know. Maybe it was the man himself who’d caused this temporary insanity. He had certainly had an incredible impact on her senses even before her abrupt mood change. Well, the catalyst didn’t matter now. The only important thing was that she had regained her usual cool sanity and could act accordingly.
She scooted carefully away from Joel Damon. With any luck she could get out of here without waking him and avoid a confrontation that would be excruciatingly awkward.
Luck wasn’t with her and she was still struggling with the zipper of her gown when Damon’s eyes flicked open. He was instantly wide awake. “Going somewhere?” he asked as he sat up and regarded her intently. “Your bed manners leave a little to be desired, sweetheart. Haven’t you ever heard that a good mistress makes herself available in the morning as well as at night? Take off your gown and come back to bed, Kendra.”
Kendra could feel the color rush to her cheeks as she hurriedly yanked at the zipper. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Mr. Damon,” she said as her eyes searched the floor wildly for her shoes. “I have to leave now. As soon as I finish dressing, I’ll be on my way.”
“Mr. Damon?” he echoed blankly. “Isn’t it a little late for that degree of formality? If I remember correctly, a few hours ago those long, lovely legs were wrapped around me and I was—”
“That was a mistake,” she interrupted, her cheeks definitely scarlet now. “I wish you’d just forget last night ever happened.” She spied one sandal half under the bed and pounced on it. “I realize the entire situation was as much my fault as it was yours, but it still should never have happened.” Where was the other damn shoe? “I’m sure when you think about it, you’ll agree that working together would be very difficult if we allowed any personal relationship to interfere.” How had that shoe gotten under the covers of the bed? “I promise to stay out of your way as much as possible when I come to Sedikhan.”
He muttered a low curse, his face darkening stormily. “Trying to back out of our agreement so soon, Kendra? I believe I warned you about that last night. I’m not settling for a one-night stand when I had a more permanent arrangement in mind.” His green eyes were glacier cool. “You’ll get the part and all the additional roles I can manage to throw your way, but I’m the one who calls the shots. Now get out of those clothes and come back here.”
“The hell I will.” Her brown eyes were blazing as she stomped into her sandals. “On the set you may call the shots but that’s the only place, Mr. Damon. I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about, but I’ll be damned if I’ll stand here and let you threaten me like some kind of petty dictator. Last night was the only time I’ll ever be in your bed and it would be wise if you’d recognize that fact. As soon as I finish this job, I’ll take pains to avoid working on any more of your films.” She tossed her head angrily. “I’m going to have enough on my plate just handling the gags on this picture without having to tolerate a director with a colossal ego.”
“Gags?” His eyes narrowed.
“Gags,” she repeated impatiently. “Stunts. You’re a director, you know what I mean, for heaven’s sake!”
“Yes, I know what you mean,” he said, his expression grim. “I think you’d better come back here and sit down. We’ve got some talking to do. So you’re not an actress?”
“An actress?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Of course not. What ever made you think that? I’ve been hired to do Billie Callahan’s stunts inVenture.” Then all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place and she glared accusingly at him. “You thought I was sleeping with you to get a part inVenture?”
“Sleeping had very little to do with it,” he drawled, “but yes, I thought that’s why you were vamping Balding, then me.” His lips tightened. “Upon reflection, it could still be reasonable. The business you’re in is very competitive andVenturehas a big budget.”
“Sell myself into your film? I’m a professional stuntwoman, not a hooker,” she spat. “I’m very good at my job and I have no need to earn any fringe benefits on my back.” She drew a deep steadying breath and tried to control her temper. “As for Dave, I’ve been friends with him and his wife for years. He’d laugh himself silly at the idea that I was trying to vamp him.”
“You could have fooled me,” he said, scowling at her. “You two were all over each other last night.”
“Affection, not lust,” she said caustically. “I suppose it would be too much to expect you to recognize the difference. You were so busy dreaming up dirty little pictures with that fertile imagination of yours. You wanted me to be some kind of prostitute so that you could feel comfortable about going on the prowl yourself. Not that you need any excuse from what I hear.”
“No, I don’t.” He leaned back on the pillows and regarded her calmly. “And I believe I could be excused for the mistake under the circumstances. You weren’t exactly reluctant to be lured into bed, Kendra, and you displayed a very satisfactory degree of lust yourself.” He paused. “For an amateur.”
She inhaled sharply, feeling as if she had been hit in the stomach. “I told you last night was a mistake. Perhaps Dave was right and I had too much to drink.” Her gaze was steady. “I won’t be dishonest and try to shift the blame onto your shoulders.” She tried to smile. “Suppose we both chalk it up to temporary insanity and just go on from here.”