Cayman Desires by Sabel Simmons Page B

from filling with the enticing woman standing in front of
him.
    “You should not take
your vexations for me out on innocent people, Clarissa.  I am man enough for
any abuse you dish out, but somehow I think you really hurt that young lady
just now.”
    He saw her flinch and
his jaw tightened.  He came to apologize for what happened this morning, and
here he was, twisting the knife again. He sighed again, waiting for her to face
him, but she stubbornly kept looking out the window, her back to him.
    “So, are you going to
turn around and face me, or do you really want me to touch you again?”
    She whipped around so
fast it would have been funny if his emotions were not in such turmoil.  She
glared at him with venom in her eyes, her arms folded so tightly across her
chest he marveled that she could breathe.
    His eyebrow shot high
and a slow grin twisted his mouth.  “Now if I were an emotional man, your
action just now would really have affronted me!”
    “I am so glad you find
so much fun in tormenting me!  So tell me, what have you planned for our
rendezvous this time?”
    He
stared into her eyes and noticing the wounded expression, he nearly gave in.
Then he remembered the years of anguish gone by and he hardened his heart.  His
eyes came to rest on the dark purplish mark just peeping out of her blouse on
her neck and his mouth tightened.
    As if on its own
volition, his hand lifted, pushed away the thin fabric and his fingers lightly
stroked the love mark he had left on her neck.  She stiffened, but before she
could pull away, his hand moved around her neck and he drew her resisting body
closer to his.
    Holding her gaze with
hot blistering eyes, his head lowered slowly, and then dropped to place a soft
tender kiss against her bruised skin.
    Clarissa felt shivers
run down her spine and every nerve ending in her body trembled from where his
warm lips softly caressed her neck to the end of her toes.  He pulled away but
kept her close against him.  His fiery eyes found hers and they stared at each
other for what felt like hours, but could not have been more than half a
minute.
    Then he sighed, pulled
her blouse back to cover the bruise and stepped back from her. He pushed his
hand wearily through his wayward hair and turned away muttering:  “What am I to
do with you, Rissa!”
    Clarissa strained to
hear him not sure if she heard correctly.  “What do you mean?”
    He turned back to her
and looked at her through guarded eyes.   He opened his mouth and just as
quickly shut it again.  He cursed and jammed his hands in his pockets again.
    “Ray … what did you
mean?”
    “Nothing … I came here
to apologize.  I was totally out of line this morning and should not have
behaved the way I did.”
    She swallowed her
frustration. She was so sure he was going to say something else…something like
maybe he still loved her and that is why he treated her the way he did.  So
much for wishful thinking!
    “Yes, you are correct! 
You should not have, especially not in front of Robby!”  His head snapped up
and his eyes glittered dangerously.
    “Meaning I do not know
how to behave in front of my own child!”
    “You know the saying …
action speaks louder than words!”  
    Clarissa realized she
was baiting him and stepped back.  Her hands fluttered upwards, but before she
could say anything, he insolently allowed his eyes to burn a blazing path up
and down her body.
    “Or do you mean that if
Robby was not present you wouldn’t have minded so much?”   She gasped and
sputtered.
    “Oh, you … you … I
don’t know why I even bother to try!   Why don’t you just leave?  And please do
not bother to apologize for something you do mean.  Which in this instance, you
clearly don’t!”
    His eyes strayed to the
bruise on her neck again and the ruthless grin on his lips confirmed the truth
of what she just said.
    “Don’t get me wrong,
Miss Langston.  I am not apologizing for leaving my mark on you, only