Page 27 of Vistaria Has Fallen

“Tell me you can still think of taking another man to bed,” he rasped in her ear.

The truthspilled from her. “Not in a million years.”

His arms came around her waist. “Then we are even.”

She took a deep breath so she could speak properly again. “I am to be tortured by what I cannot have, while you slake your need with whoever you please. You are being unfair, Nick.”

His lips came down upon her neck. “You misinterpret me. I have simply brought you to the point where I have been fortwo long nights.”

She grew still. “You mean...?”

“Yes, Calli. I have not been able to touch another woman since I met you.” His tone became dry. “Although I have tried.”

She closed her eyes. “Why me?” she asked. “Why, of all the women you have met? I know what I am. I’m a discarded economics tutor. I even have two cats at home.”

His voice came right by her ear again and she could feel hisbreath against her shoulder. “There was a moment, in the holding cell, when I first stepped in. You had not seen me, yet I saw you. You looked out the window, with your hands on the bars. I had just spent an hour sorting out the true story from the men in the hospital and the arresting officers and the liaison your uncle called. When I saw you, I had already looked into the matter. I knew you rushedto Vistaria when your uncle phoned asking for your help for the summer, with little warning or preparation. Because he asked, you came. Within an hour of landing in a country where you didn’t speak the language, you were put in a situation that would tax the nerves of most men. I did not see a petrified, cowed woman standing at that window, though. When you turned to face me, you did not pleador beg or whine. I saw your spirit and knew it could not be crushed. That strength is so very rare.”

She absorbed his words with difficulty. “Oh, Nick, you’re so wrong. Ihavebeen crushed. Ask Minnie. She will tell you I haven’t yet dragged myself back to anything like normal.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You guard yourself now, that is all. The woman last night that looked me in the eye andplanted that last barb, just to even the score...she was not defeated.”

“Must I now guard myself against you?”

“I would never hurt you.” Total conviction rang in his voice.

“Just standing here places me, both of us, in danger.”

Again, she felt him draw a large breath. Bracing himself. As abruptly as she had been drawn to him, she was freed. She shivered as cool air touched the skin at herback and turned to face him.

He stared out the window again. “You should go,” he said, without looking at her.

“Calli?” Peter’s voice.

She turned to see Peter emerging from the dining room. “Sorry, I got caught up,” she told him.

“Have you seen the view from here?” Nicolás added.

Peter climbed up to the landing and looked. He gave a low whistle. “No, I’ve never been up here before,” he confessed.“Quite a view, huh?”

“Yes, it is,” Nicolás agreed. He pushed his sleeve back and glanced at his watch, the gold band glittering in the light from the chandelier overhead. “You must excuse me, both of you.”

“Of course,” Peter agreed. “It was good of you to stop and say hello.”

“My pleasure,” Nicolás murmured. He turned to Calli and bent his head. “Miss Munro.”

“Goodbye,” she said politely.

He moved to the front door, said something to the waitress that made her giggle with her tray covering her mouth and shut the heavy door behind him. He didn’t look back.

As it should be, Calli told herself.

Yet she could still feel the imprint of his hand on her breast, the feel of his heart beating against her back. Her sleep would be as broken tonight as it had been for the last two nights.

“Could you please take me home, Peter?” she asked.

* * * * *

Peter dropped her outside the apartment. She did not invite him in. Her silence on the way home conveyed her mood, for he did not attempt to kiss her. He simply braked and put the car in neutral, the engine running, his hand on the gear stick.