Dark Demands - Taken for His Captive Page 6

  “Gina,” the male voice shouted anxiously. “Are you still in there?”

  For one heart stopping moment she’d thought it was Dark but the voice was different, it was Kyle. She shook herself, opened the door an inch or two and peeped out.

  “He’s on his way up, listen you can hear the lift,” he urged and reached for her arm. “You have to leave now or he’ll find you,” he added looking at the lift lights indicating that it was now only four flights away.

  “There’s nowhere to go, nowhere for us to hide,” Gina panicked. She didn’t want to be here when Dark returned. Not now, after finding those things in his bed, how on earth would she deal with him?

  “There’s a staircase round here,” he said pulling her out of the penthouse doorway and onto the corridor. “Come on, it’s the fire escape. We’ll go down a few floors then get the lift.”

  Gina took his hand and ran with him and as the staircase door closed behind them they stood quiet and breathless as they listened to the sound of the lift doors opening. She’d had a narrow escape and she had Kyle Hastings to thank for that. Thank God he’d had the foresight to come looking for her because the alternative didn’t bear thinking about. She’d leave dealing with Dark for another day and she’d leave his key at reception.

  “Can I see you again,” Kyle asked once they reached the safety of the busy ground floor.

  How to answer him, she owed him something that was for sure because if he hadn’t come to warn her, she shuddered imagining what Mathew Dark might be doing to her right now.

  “OK but in a few days. I’ve got a lot to sort out and I’m going to be busy,” she smiled and kissed his cheek. He was nice, good looking and uncomplicated. Kyle Hastings would be a welcome change.

  “Your number,” he asked and tapped it into his cell ‘phone as Gina told him. He kissed her cheek again and left her at the hotel entrance.

  She returned home in a taxi and found Grace curled up on the sofa asleep. She must have decided to wait up for her no doubt anxious to know what she’d been up to and how much help Charlie was going to be. Gina nudged her as she booted up her laptop, she’d Bluetooth the ‘photos onto it and then print each of them a copy to study.

  Grace rubbed her eyes as she gradually woke up. Gina explained to Grace how she’d met Dark and how the opportunity to fish around in his penthouse had presented itself. Gina patted her step mum’s knee and told her she just might have what they needed now then settled back to look the documents. But to Gina they didn’t look significant at all. They were plans for what appeared to be a fairly standard tablet computer. After giving them a cursory glance she was just too tired and confused to understand why Charlie Spence had attached such importance to the development so she decided to leave Grace to it.

  Chapter 6

  Gina’s dreams that night were dominated by Matthew Dark. She dreamt of their time spent on the terrace, the intense intimacy of his embrace and the fierce sexual attraction between them. Somewhere in this cacophony of imaginings she was naked and straining against metal round her wrists while he buried his head deep between her thighs.

  She woke breathless and extremely turned on. Never in her limited sexual experience had any man wanted to tie her down. But Gina knew that with Dark this was how it would be, all excitement and hot, frenzied sex. All this served to inflame her imagination so much so that she awoke confused about how she really did feel about the Scotsman.

  As she lay in bed her body tingling with desire for the man Gina had to try to concentrate on her next move. She had the specifications for his new development but what was the point if this wonderful new development was nothing more than just another tablet computer?

  But one thing Gina did know, she wanted to see him again. Despite what she knew about him now she just couldn’t pretend he didn’t exist, she had to sample more of the handsome, sexy man who had the power to make her feel so hot, and so needy. Despite all her intentions to get even, and reject him, she still wanted him, wanted his body and to feel her own body burn with his touch. And sooner or later Gina knew she’d get her way.

  These vivid imaginings going on in her head were sheer torment and Gina groaned with frustration. Business, she reminded herself. Keep your mind on the business and on retribution, and not on getting into his bed. Easily thought but not so easily put into practice.

  On a more mundane front, if he did contact her again, she needed to think up a reason to excuse her absence when he’d returned to the penthouse. With any luck he’d forgive her, what then, she challenged herself? How did she intend to cope with her intense physical craving for his man? Damn him, she thought, the man’s a devil equipped, even when he wasn’t near her, with the ability to heap sweet torment on her body.

  Gina showered, put on a white fluffy bathrobe and flopped down beside Grace the sofa. Who, she soon learnt, had spent until the early hours studying the notes Gina had given her. As they tucked into the tea and toast Grace had made she seemed quite excited about her discoveries.

  “But it’s just another tablet computer,” Gina told her bluntly and feeling, that apart from the interlude with Matthew Dark, the whole episode just hadn’t been worth the effort. On reflection that bit had been well worth the time she’d been forced to spend with Charlie and his cronies.

  “Despite all the excitement of last night it’s all a bit of a let down really because the market will be awash with them in no time. If we intend to continue then we need something else so I’m just going to have to try again.”

  She took a sip of her tea and watched puzzled as Grace shook her head.

  “No, you’re not, Gina. But you’re quite right about it having nothing particularly new. It’s got a top ‘spec and it looks lovely to handle and its fast. In fact there’s nothing this little beauty hasn’t got. But that’s not it,” she paused and smiled broadly. “It’s the price,” she waved one of the printed sheets at her.

  “Dark plans to market this at less than half the cost of others of this quality.” Grace gave her a moment to consider this and then added. “He’ll clean up. Who wants to pay twice or even three times the price when they can get something this high end for so much less?”

  She should have realised. That’s exactly what Dark Electronics was good at. Repackaging what already existed and offering it to the market at a fraction of the cost. Gina had to admire him. He had the buying power and his factories in China, plus what he’d acquired from the Deverell buy out, to enable all this.

  “So now we know what he’s up to just what are we going to do with the information?” Grace asked. “Even if we tell his rivals they aren’t going to be able to offer their products for less, not yet anyway.”

  Gina gave it some thought for a moment and remembered Ben Carlotti. “But of course there is always Planet,” she smiled at Grace. “From the way they behaved with one and other I would say there was some sort of feud going on there. Carlotti would just love to know about this.”

  But could she do it? Could she really go behind Matthew’s back and help Carlotti ruin his UK plans?”

  “I met their MD last night and he gave me this,” she rummaged in her bag and pulling out the business card flicked it between her long fingers before handing it to Grace.

  “If they know what Matthew Dark’s up to in advance they’re big enough and have all the resources to start a price war with him immediately, and that would completely ruin his plans,” Gina told her.

  But now Grace wasn’t so sure this was such a good idea. They were rushing headlong into things they didn’t understand.

  “This is big business you’d be mixing in and run by powerful men. Are you sure you really want this? You’d be trying to influence deals you know nothing about.”

  These were probably wise words and Gina was about to argue the point when the ‘phone rang.

  It was Dark, full of the familiar charm and apparently keen to redeem his faltering relationship with the girl who, the night before, he insisted, had captiva
ted him so completely.

  Matthew could charm, it was a staple in his arsenal. He told Gina how disappointed he’d been to find she’d gone when he’d returned to his penthouse. But the truth was it just made him more intent on winning the game he was now playing in earnest with her. She must be made to understand that women did not refuse or run out on Matthew Dark.

  “I’m sorry about leaving you last night, Gina,” he began smoothly. “I was detained for much longer than I‘d anticipated. Do you forgive me?” He asked in his seductively attractive Scottish accent.

  Gina smiled to herself and felt a pulse of excitement flare over her skin at the sound of his sexy voice and with what she knew about him now, felt a very guilty ache of need burn throughout her lower body.

  But with Grace watching her as keen eyed as ever Gina knew she’d have to be careful. She didn’t want to have to admit to her step mother just how much she fancied this man. But Grace’s gaze couldn’t stop Gina’s mind from racing. This call must mean he wanted to continue their embryonic relationship and she could hardly believe her luck.

  She would have to somehow separate wanting to get even with this man from wanting to know him better, much better. Gina knew she was probably just deluding herself, but for now she couldn’t help it.

  “Yes, of course I forgive you,” she confirmed gently. “But I must take some of the blame for what happened.”

  Or for what didn’t happen, she reminded herself. “I just couldn’t wait any longer,” she lied. “Regardless of how tempting your offer was, Mr Dark. I just had to get home”

  She heard him laugh and raised her eyebrows at Grace. He was taking this very well and she was sure now he’d want to see her again and hopefully very soon.

  “But we still have unfinished business, don’t we Gina?” He reminded her.

  Did he mean the job business or the attraction business, from his tone Gina couldn’t tell but his words thrilled her nonetheless?

  “Can I take you for lunch today,” he asked right on cue and Gina gave Grace the thumbs up sign. “Do you know ‘Mama Bellini’s; round the corner from my office?”

  Given that his office had once been her father’s Gina knew the place very well, but not from experience. It was a rather expensive Italian restaurant that served wonderful food. She knew that much from ogling the menu on any number of occasions but then due to the cost she’d always settled for the sandwich shop across the road.

  “What time do you want me?” She asked quickly, her brain in overdrive wondering what sexy little number to wear for her next meeting with him.

  “Want you? After the intriguing little taster we shared last night I’m going to take that as ‘in my bed’ want you, Gina,” he replied dryly. “So if you are still eager to impress me into giving you that job then after lunch will do nicely.” He teased, deliberately taking what she’d said quite literally.

  “I can show you round my new offices then we might decide to spend the afternoon in the comfort of my penthouse, what do you think?” He tempted again.

  “I think you’re very naughty and should curb that imagination of yours, Mr Dark,” she replied with a smile playing on her full lips and her voice now husky with the desire that seared through her body. “You could embarrass a girl with talk like that.”

  “What do you expect from me?” He asked his voice deep and still so very sexy. “Last night I was denied the pleasure of your company and that of your lovely body, so I’d like to put that right just as soon as I can,” he paused he was sure he heard her gasp as she considered what he’d said. “You feel the heat too, don’t you Gina?”

  Matthew Dark wouldn’t give her the chance to thwart seduction again. The next time he had her flushed with desire and his hands on her body he’d make sure she couldn’t escape from him. He knew exactly how he was going to take her and it would teach her a valuable lesson. She’d tried to deceive him once and that was a big mistake, a mistake she would come to regret’. And the sexual sparks flying between, well they both knew they were too strong to resist, so he’d use this strong attraction to get his revenge.

  Gina blushed and turned away from her step mum’s curious gaze. She needed to cool this right down she certainly didn’t want Grace knowing there was anything so intimate between her and Dark.

  “Suppose I meet you at your office about one, is that OK?”

  “I’ll be ready,” he promised still with the tease in his voice.

  Gina put the ‘phone down pirouetted around the floor on her tiptoes.

  “I’m meeting Dark for lunch at ‘Bellini’s,” she told a bemused Grace who couldn’t understand her enthusiasm.

  Grace was no fool. Yesterday before the interview the idea of meeting Dark had practically terrified her regardless of what Gina might admit too. But now, her attitude was very different and Grace was beginning to suspect that there was more to this than just wanting to get even. She wasn’t stupid, something had obviously happened between her and Dark to have put Gina in the position she’d found herself in last night. Grace hadn’t pried, in time Gina might decide to tell her and to explain just how she’d got hold of Dark’s penthouse key card.

  Grace was out of her depth. There was no way she could advise Gina on men or how to behave with someone as notorious with women as Dark so she wouldn’t try. She nodded at her news and simply buried her face again in the printouts and decided to wait until Gina wanted to talk.

  But for now Gina had other things on her mind. The problem of what to wear still needed solving. It had to be something not too business but not over the top sexy either. She needed a happy medium. She had a red pencil skirt, short with a split up the front seam she’d wear that with heels and a cream silk wrap over blouse that tied at the front and wasn’t too low cut. To go with it she wore an underwired bra the same colour. As she stared at her reflection she wondered if she’d come across as too obvious, she hoped not. But then she’d certainly made it easy for him to gain access to her body. The tie blouse, the skimpy underwear complete with front fastening bra, she flushed at the thought and waggled a warning finger at her reflection in the full length mirror. ‘Be careful girl,’ she told herself, ‘be very careful’.

  She usually kept make up to a minimum. A little blusher a gloss on her lips and mascara to emphasise her large blue eyes then she’d brush her hair and let it wave naturally on her shoulders.

  Gina was pleased with the finished result and once again pirouetted in front of Grace. “I’m off,” she told her. “Don’t sit here all day go and get some proper rest,” she instructed. “When I’ve met with Dark we can decide on the next move.”

  She had a certain look about her, a glow that made her even more lovely than usual. Grace knew what this meant and she sighed. As she’d feared and despite Gina trying to cover her true feelings, she was smitten and however exciting he might make their affair seem, it wouldn’t end well. It couldn’t, Dark wasn’t commitment material.

  Gina kissed her cheek and grabbing her leather shoulder bag she left the house humming happily to herself.

  Chapter 7

  Once again Gina alighted from the lift and faced the glass walled office that had held such trepidation for her yesterday. It seemed like a lifetime ago so much had changed. Just how much could be measured by the eager wave she gave the dark haired figure sat behind the oak desk today.

  Dark smiled and rising he grabbed his suit jacket from behind the chair and met her at the door.

  “You look lovely, as always,” he complimented kissing her forehead lightly. The greeting was charming, friendly but made Gina clench her fists tight as she tried to control the urge to grab hold of him and go for his mouth. She didn’t want this politeness she wanted to experience the same raw male need he’d exhibited last night.

  “Mama Bellini’s,” she said with a smile and her voice quivering slightly. “Italian and very expensive,” she added.

  “Not your problem, you’re my guest, remember?” Then he took her arm and ushered
her towards the lift.

  Gina felt almost weak at the knees as he touched her. The heat, the need, the sheer urgency for this man to make love to her was just so strong and pounded throughout her body.

  “Can you feel the eyes,” he whispered conspiratorially. “There are several of them watching us and wondering what I’m going to do with you.”

  “And just what are you going to do with me, Mr Dark,” she asked huskily secretly hoping it involved him tearing off her clothes and eliciting every last ounce of pleasure from her sex hungry body.

  “Well first I’m going to feed you, then...,” he paused. “Well, we’ll see how responsive you are later to what I’ve got planned.”

  Gina didn’t doubt he would have plans but could she go along with them this time? Oh yes, she wanted to scream but what about those things she’d found in his suite last night, well, she just have to hope they had nothing to do with his plans for her.