strong.
Yet how could she have known, she asked herself in bewilderment, how, in spite of everything, he might make her feel? How her body might act against the strength of her will?her anger?tempting her to surrender.
Then, as she found she was actually beginning to struggle to maintain her self-control, she heard his breathing change, and was aware of his pace quickening, until suddenly he cried out, his voice harsh, almost agonised, and she felt the pulsating heat of him deep within her, before he slumped forward, his sweat-dampened face against her breasts.
Natasha waited for a few moments, but he did not stir, so slowly and carefully she began to ease herself away from him.
Immediately, his arms tightened around her. ?So the statue comes to life at last,? he said huskily. ?Now, when it is over.?
Over, she thought with thankfulness. Over?exactly as she?d wanted it to be, and she?d given him nothing. So it was ludicrous to feel so?bereft. Mortifying, too, to know that, for the briefest instant, she?d actually been tempted to cradle his head between her hands, and stroke his hair.
She said in a small, wooden voice, ?You?re heavy.?
?Forgive me.? His voice was softly ironic. ?Treat it as just one more inconvenience among so many others, Natasha mou .?
He lifted himself off her and lay back against his pillows, staring in front of him as he steadied his breathing.
After a while, she spoke again. ?Please, may I use your bathroom? I?d like to have a shower.?
?Later,? he said. ?After we have talked a little.?
?I don?t think there?s anything left to say.? As she tried to turn away his hand snaked out and captured her chin, making her face him.
?Then you would be wrong,? he told her. ?As a beginning, tell me about your English lover.?
?He?s warm, kind and decent,? Natasha said shortly. ?Your exact opposite, in fact, Kyrios Mandrakis. What else do you want to know??
?When you are in bed with him, do you come??
She gasped, and colour flooded her face. ?Yes,? she said jerkily, pushing his hand away from her. ?Yes, of course.?
?And before him,? the quiet voice went on. ?How many other men were there??
?Dozens,? she said defiantly.
Alex Mandrakis sighed. ?If I teach you one thing in our time together, Natasha,? he remarked tersely, ?it will be to tell me the truth. Until I took you a little while ago, you were a virgin, so do not bother to deny it. Or did you think I would not know??
?I?I wasn?t sure,? she muttered, aware that her flush had deepened.
?Yet you did not think to tell me,? he said. ?Why not??
?Because you?d already made up your mind what I was,? she said. ?Thanks to that revolting letter. So you wouldn?t have believed me, whatever I?d said.? She paused. ?Besides, even if you had known, would it have made any difference to?to what you were planning for me??
?No,? he said. ?Except that I would have made sure that your body was rather more receptive to such an initiation.? His mouth twisted wryly. ?I hurt you, Natasha mou, but by the time I realised the truth, it was too late, and I regret that.?
He paused. ?My only excuse is that I wanted you very badly.?
?Well, please don?t let it weigh on what passes for your conscience,? she said tautly. ?In the broad scheme of things, it?s hardly the worst injury you?ll make me suffer, I?m sure.?
He said slowly, ?It does not have to be like that.?
Her eyes flew to his. She said hoarsely, ?Do you mean you?re willing to let me go after all??
?No,? he said, ?I am not, so do not even hope.?
?But why?? She swallowed. ?You?ve got what you wanted, so you don?t need to keep me around any longer. There?s no point.?
?There is the pleasure of your company,? he corrected silkily.
?You can say that when you know I hate you?? Natasha shook her head. ?When you must realise that I wouldn?t voluntarily choose to spend five minutes with you??
?Perhaps, Natasha mou, you will discover that I improve on acquaintance.? His voice was solemn, but, to her fury, amusement was dancing
Yet how could she have known, she asked herself in bewilderment, how, in spite of everything, he might make her feel? How her body might act against the strength of her will?her anger?tempting her to surrender.
Then, as she found she was actually beginning to struggle to maintain her self-control, she heard his breathing change, and was aware of his pace quickening, until suddenly he cried out, his voice harsh, almost agonised, and she felt the pulsating heat of him deep within her, before he slumped forward, his sweat-dampened face against her breasts.
Natasha waited for a few moments, but he did not stir, so slowly and carefully she began to ease herself away from him.
Immediately, his arms tightened around her. ?So the statue comes to life at last,? he said huskily. ?Now, when it is over.?
Over, she thought with thankfulness. Over?exactly as she?d wanted it to be, and she?d given him nothing. So it was ludicrous to feel so?bereft. Mortifying, too, to know that, for the briefest instant, she?d actually been tempted to cradle his head between her hands, and stroke his hair.
She said in a small, wooden voice, ?You?re heavy.?
?Forgive me.? His voice was softly ironic. ?Treat it as just one more inconvenience among so many others, Natasha mou .?
He lifted himself off her and lay back against his pillows, staring in front of him as he steadied his breathing.
After a while, she spoke again. ?Please, may I use your bathroom? I?d like to have a shower.?
?Later,? he said. ?After we have talked a little.?
?I don?t think there?s anything left to say.? As she tried to turn away his hand snaked out and captured her chin, making her face him.
?Then you would be wrong,? he told her. ?As a beginning, tell me about your English lover.?
?He?s warm, kind and decent,? Natasha said shortly. ?Your exact opposite, in fact, Kyrios Mandrakis. What else do you want to know??
?When you are in bed with him, do you come??
She gasped, and colour flooded her face. ?Yes,? she said jerkily, pushing his hand away from her. ?Yes, of course.?
?And before him,? the quiet voice went on. ?How many other men were there??
?Dozens,? she said defiantly.
Alex Mandrakis sighed. ?If I teach you one thing in our time together, Natasha,? he remarked tersely, ?it will be to tell me the truth. Until I took you a little while ago, you were a virgin, so do not bother to deny it. Or did you think I would not know??
?I?I wasn?t sure,? she muttered, aware that her flush had deepened.
?Yet you did not think to tell me,? he said. ?Why not??
?Because you?d already made up your mind what I was,? she said. ?Thanks to that revolting letter. So you wouldn?t have believed me, whatever I?d said.? She paused. ?Besides, even if you had known, would it have made any difference to?to what you were planning for me??
?No,? he said. ?Except that I would have made sure that your body was rather more receptive to such an initiation.? His mouth twisted wryly. ?I hurt you, Natasha mou, but by the time I realised the truth, it was too late, and I regret that.?
He paused. ?My only excuse is that I wanted you very badly.?
?Well, please don?t let it weigh on what passes for your conscience,? she said tautly. ?In the broad scheme of things, it?s hardly the worst injury you?ll make me suffer, I?m sure.?
He said slowly, ?It does not have to be like that.?
Her eyes flew to his. She said hoarsely, ?Do you mean you?re willing to let me go after all??
?No,? he said, ?I am not, so do not even hope.?
?But why?? She swallowed. ?You?ve got what you wanted, so you don?t need to keep me around any longer. There?s no point.?
?There is the pleasure of your company,? he corrected silkily.
?You can say that when you know I hate you?? Natasha shook her head. ?When you must realise that I wouldn?t voluntarily choose to spend five minutes with you??
?Perhaps, Natasha mou, you will discover that I improve on acquaintance.? His voice was solemn, but, to her fury, amusement was dancing
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