Mr. Insatiable (14 page)

“Amazing.” Enya stopped by a mural depicting the signs of the Chinese zodiac. “Oh, this is beautiful.”

“Mm,” Kit said, looking at her rather than at the mural.

She flicked him a warning glare before Charlie turned to face her. “I don’t know my sign unfortunately.”

“I looked you both up before you arrived.” Charlie smiled at Enya. “You’re a horse—they are free animals and adore travelling, love, and intimacy. They are supposed to be great at seducing.” He winked at her.

“Oh.” Her cheeks burned and Kit chuckled.

“Don’t laugh too soon,” Charlie said. “You’re a rat.”

“Figures.” Enya poked her tongue out at Kit.

Charlie laughed. “Rats are quick-witted, clever, charming, sharp, and funny. They have excellent taste, and they welcome challenges.”

“I think that about sums me up.” Kit held her gaze, and she remembered the way he’d kissed her in the door of their hotel room.
We’ll see,
he’d replied in answer to her statement that he couldn’t have her.
I want you.
She shivered at the memory of his words. How was she going to be strong enough to tell him no?

For lunch, Charlie offered with a straight face to take them to the exclusive penis restaurant to sample the dishes made from the private parts of deer, snakes, yaks, horses, seals and ducks, but they politely declined, so he treated them to a light meal of roast duck pancakes instead.

Afterward, he took them to the Thunder Dragon Fireworks Factory, where they spent several hours having a tour of the site, followed by a meeting in the manager’s office to discuss business. Enya sat quietly as the men talked, unable to stop her eyes drifting over Kit. He was at his most animated when talking about
Catherine’s Wheel
, and she watched him sit forward, elbows on knees, gesturing enthusiastically while he told the manager about his business.

This was a side of him she saw rarely, because when they were together, he didn’t talk about his company, other than to mention new fireworks he might have found, or events he had organized. She’d hardly heard him talk business at all, although she’d known he was the cool head behind the firm, whereas Tris was more involved in the practical side of things. It was nice to sit and listen to him talk about shipping prices and exchange rates, and to have the chance to study him when he was too busy to notice.

At one point, however, as he was talking, he reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. He didn’t look at her, almost as if it was an involuntary movement, unthinking. Her cheeks burned, although none of the men present batted an eyelid, but it was as though he was marking his territory.
Mine,
he was saying. Enya’s heart thumped in response. She wasn’t his, but couldn’t squash the feeling of pleasure that rose within her at his possessive gesture.

Kit came out of the meeting buzzing with enthusiasm. “That was excellent. We’ll make significant savings on many of our regular buys.” He shook Charlie’s hand. “Thank you so much for organizing this.”

“You are welcome.” Charlie patted him on the arm.

Kit turned to Enya, blue eyes alight with pleasure. “Thank you for coming with me.”

“That’s okay. Now I’m going to make you sit through a tea ceremony,” she teased.

“I don’t care–I’d do anything for you.”

Charlie laughed and walked off, but Enya caught her breath as he pulled her against his firm chest. It was an extremely hot and humid afternoon, and the subtle smell of his aftershave rose from his warm skin to assault her senses. Moisture glistened in the hollow at the base of his throat, and his hair curled damply around his neck.

He released her, and she flicked him a quick smile, but the thudding of her heart continued for some time.

* * * *

Charlie took them to a traditional teahouse. The muted tones of its decor gave it a relaxed and peaceful air. An elegant Chinese lady wearing a beautiful blue silk dress carried out the tea ceremony.

She went through the various steps of warming the pot and rinsing the leaves as Enya asked several questions, and the woman appeared thrilled to have a customer who actually knew something about tea. It was an interesting ritual, but Kit’s eyes were constantly drawn back to Enya. Her cheeks glowed and her eyes shone with enthusiasm at the methods and techniques she was shown.

When the woman took Enya to show her the different teas she used, Charlie and Kit were alone for the first time since they’d met in the hotel.

“So how’s things?” Charlie studied his old friend. “Tristan told me you broke up with Beatrix.”

“Yeah.” Kit sipped his tea, wishing he had a chocolate biscuit to dunk in it. “A while ago now.”

“Seeing anyone else?”

Kit met Charlie’s teasing gaze. “No...”

Charlie grinned. “Does she know?”

“Does who know what?”

“Does Enya know how you feel about her?”

Kit’s gaze flicked over to her and then back to Charlie. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Charlie tipped his head. “Yeah. Of course you don’t. Come on, man, it’s written all over your face.”

Jeez, was it that obvious?
“She’s Tris’s sister.”

“Yes... I know that. It was only a matter of time though before you two got together.”

Kit stared at him, startled. “What do you mean?”

Charlie shrugged. “She’s loved you since day one, man. I wondered how long it would take you to work it out.”

“She loves me like a brother, Charlie, nothing more.”

“If you still think that, you’re completely blind.”

“It’s...it’s not love. We had a thing.”

“Had?”

Kit’s lips curved at Charlie’s cheeky grin. “Okay, we’re still having a thing. But only until we get back to Auckland. It’s not a long term thing.”

“Why not?”

Kit studied him. “I don’t know.”

They had to stop there because Enya came back, but Charlie’s words had started off a chain reaction in Kit’s mind.

They’d decided it would only be a one-night thing because they didn’t want to ruin their friendship. But who was to say it would be ruined if they got together permanently? Kit studied her as she sat back beside him on the bench. Today she’d pinned her red hair up tightly because it was so hot, but several rebellious strands had escaped the knot to curl around her face. She was so elegant and graceful, funny, warm, courageous, and kind. She’d make a beautiful wife any man would be proud of, and a wonderful mother.

Hold on, mother? He’d only slept with her once. What was he doing thinking about kids? He shook his head, trying to force his brain down another track, but it was too late–he was picturing Enya pregnant, then with a baby at the breast, then with children running around her. His children. His heart leapt at the thought.

She glanced at him, frowning suspiciously. “What?”

“Nothing.” He finished off his tea. This was crazy–she didn’t even want to sleep with him again. Okay, so he was planning to seduce her, and she might even succumb, but it would only be for sex. She’d been determined to keep him as a friend only, and he knew she was stubborn.

Still, for the rest of the afternoon the pictures haunted him, and he knew they weren’t going to go away.

Chapter

12

Charlie stayed with them in the hotel for dinner that evening, choosing his favorite dishes for them to sample, and keeping them entertained with stories of Chinese life. Eventually, he announced he had to go, and they walked through the bar to the exit with him.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for a drink?” Enya was desperate to stave off the inevitable moment when she would be alone with Kit.

But Charlie shook his head. He smiled at them. “Have a great evening, you two.” He kissed Enya on the cheek and shook Kit’s hand. “I’ll see you both at eight tomorrow.”

They said goodbye, and he disappeared around the corner. Finally they were alone.

Kit leaned on the bar and motioned to get the bartender’s attention. He ordered himself a double whisky before finally turning to where she stood, frozen on the spot, unable to move. Linking his fingers, he studied her as the bartender poured his drink. He didn’t say anything. He was waiting for her to make up her mind.

If she stayed now, she knew where this was going to end. There were a thousand reasons she should say no and go to bed. She forced herself to think of his father, to remind herself that it was dangerous to spend more time with Kit, because he wanted a family, and the last thing he needed was for her to complicate their relationship. She should go up to him now, kiss him on the cheek, and say thank you for a lovely day before heading up to her room.

He’d understand– he wasn’t pushing her now and that proved to her that he understood what a quandary she was in. All day he’d teased her and openly tried to seduce her, but now he was saying to her–without actually saying anything–that it was her decision, and he would abide by it.

Go on feet, move.

The bartender put the glass in front of Kit, and he sipped the whisky, replacing the tumbler on the bar before he glanced back at her. The bartender looked at her expectantly. “Would you like a drink, madam?”

It’s just a drink.
But it wasn’t, and she knew it. If she said yes, she was telling Kit they were going to have sex.

She couldn’t make up her mind, torn with indecision, between what was right and what was in her heart. As she hesitated, she waited for Kit to frown impatiently, to roll his eyes or sigh and tap his foot, but of course he didn’t. Because he was Kit, patient, gentle, passionate, and kind. He wanted her–he’d made that quite clear–but he also wanted the final decision to be hers. He waited, and studied her with his gorgeous blue eyes, letting her come to the conclusion that he’d probably known she’d come to from the beginning.

Even as she made the decision, he obviously saw something of it in her face, because his lips curved and he winked at her. She sighed and smiled at the bartender. “I’ll have a whisky as well, please.” He nodded and took another glass. As he went off to the pour the drink, she gave Kit a sideways glance. “You needn’t look so smug.”

He chuckled and sipped his drink. “I’m not smug. Just very, very relieved.”

She met his gaze. Was it true–had he thought she’d say no? As she looked into his eyes, she realized he hadn’t been lying–there
wasn’t
any smugness there, only pleasure at the fact that she’d stayed, and a spark of excitement at the thought of the evening to come. Her heart gave an answering thump, and she didn’t move when he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Just a quick kiss, but it was enough to make her blood race through her veins. They were going to have sex. Now she’d made the decision, she was excited at the thought. He wanted her. She wanted him. It was only temporary–for a few days. Where was the harm in that?

The bartender brought her drink, and Kit gave him his room number. Then they carried their glasses to a long seat that overlooked the inner garden of the hotel. Enya sat one end, kicking off her sandals and curling up with her feet under her–Kit sat at the other end, turned toward her.

They sipped their drinks in silence, the thought of what was going to follow hanging in the air between them like the rising moon in the sky outside.

In spite of the air conditioning, Kit’s dark hair curled damply around his temples, and moisture still glistened in the hollow of his throat. He sat relaxed, propping his head on his hand as he leaned on the windowsill, looking back at her. He ran his gaze down her body, examining the curve of her legs and pausing on her breasts before returning to her face. His eyes were bright with amusement, but he still didn’t say anything, sipping his drink. He was so damn sexy she was close to pushing him back on the seat and doing him right there and then, but she didn’t think the bartender–or the other guests dotted around the bar–would appreciate that.

“Hello,” she said, wanting to break the silence.

He smiled. “Hello.”

She couldn’t help but protest one last time. “We shouldn’t be doing this, Kit.”

He swirled his drink around the glass, cooling it on the ice. “Yeah, I know.” His smile broke into a wide grin. “That’s what makes it such fun.”

She gave him a reprimanding look, sipping her own drink. “You’re a bad boy.”

“Yeah. And you’re such an angel.” His amused gaze dared her to argue with him. Her lips curved, and they both started laughing.

“You lead me astray though,” she complained. “It’s your fault.”

“I can think of far worse things to be accused of.”

She smiled wryly. “You like the thought, don’t you? That you’re corrupting me. Showing me things I haven’t done before.”

“Maybe.”

She looked out at the garden. Kit said nothing, seeming content to let her think. “I didn’t mean for this to happen again,” she said eventually, turning her gaze back to him.

“I know.”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen the first time. I don’t know why it did. I think the alcohol had a lot to do with it.” She looked ruefully at her glass. “And I was down because of Andy. I feel a bit guilty because of that–like I was using you.”