When Abbey's body finally stopped shuddering, she looked up from where she'd let her head fall on Damien's shoulder and she smiled weakly.
He smiled back at her, and the arm around her back gripped tighter, drawing her closer. He held her for a long moment until she finally pulled away. A difficult endeavor with her legs still around his waist and him still inside her.
"We should get back," she said. "Before anyone notices."
He nodded, swallowed. His expression was serious as he brushed the hair from her face, then lifted her sunglasses and placed them on her head.
"Uh, Abbey," he muttered. He touched her cheek with a finger and kissed the tip of her nose.
"Hmmm?"
"About last night..."
She sighed. She didn't want to talk about last night anymore. Talking only seemed to raise their tempers and get them into trouble.
"I know," she said, "you're sorry. I forgive you."
His eyebrows rose. "Really?"
"Don't sound so surprised. Yes, I do, but let's drop the subject, okay?"
He seemed to consider that very seriously.
"Abbey, I want to see you again. Tonight, tomorrow, Friday —"
She placed a finger to his lips. "Don't say anymore. Don't make promises you can't keep."
He stared at her, then shook his head. "I never do that."
She nodded. He was going to say more. He was going to ask her to go to Sydney, fly up and meet him there. She couldn't do that. Whatever happened here, stayed here in Melbourne and mustn't continue. He was married. He had mistresses. She'd already added to that tally, but that was all she was going to do. She wasn't going to be made a fool of when he dumped her. Which she knew he'd do when he got tired of her —his profile suggested he would. She refused to be dealt with that way. She'd learned her lesson with Tarken.
Besides, she wasn't going to be someone's mistress, not on any long term basis, anyway. She couldn't do it. It was way too gut wrenching knowing that someone else was sharing your man. This man. No. It would hurt for a while when he left to return to Sydney, but it had to end. It was for the best.
Because, Abbey realized, she wanted it all. Marriage, babies, one man, one woman. Love. And, it seemed this man wasn't able to give any of those things to her. Not exclusively.
It was just sex to him. He'd already said so. He'd made it clear that this was nothing more to him that a nice way to spend a few days in a new city.
Hell, the guy probably still thought she was a hooker, despite his apology. That wouldn't surprise her either. Damien Vane wouldn't have any qualms about continuing a sexual relationship with a professional. It fitted his profile exactly.
But despite the enjoyment she got out of sleeping with him, there was no way she was going to continue the liaison beyond this week. Perhaps she'd stop it after today, now. It was beginning to sap her energy. Not the sex—the emotion.
Abbey closed her eyes to try to block out the pain. Why did it feel this way? It wasn't supposed to. Not after two nights, not with a man who had a different woman for every week in the year.
Not with a man who had a wife.
She unlocked her legs from his waist and swam to shallower waters where she could stand. She heard him splashing after her. When he caught up, he stood in front of her, blocking her path.
He stared down at her intensely, his eyes suddenly darker, ominous. She pulled her sunglasses back down so he couldn't see hers. She didn't want him to identify the sadness there.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
She shrugged. "Sure."
He took a deep breath. "So will I see you again?"
"Maybe."
He nodded solemnly. "I see."
She didn't know what he saw. A hooker? A woman who slept with a man while her friend took photos? A woman in deeper than she wanted to be?
If he still believed she was a hooker, maybe Abbey should play up that angle. At least when he thought she was a hooker he was cold towards her, and that made it easier for her to hate him. Right now she preferred to hate him than accept the other emotion that was developing.
On the other hand, maybe he realized he couldn't have her because he already had too many women in his life. Maybe he was one of those men who actually fell in love with all his mistresses to some degree. She'd read about them. They fall in love with women, all women, and end up sleeping around, thinking they're in love with each of them. Until the next woman comes along and they fall in love all over again. In reality they're just men unable to maintain a commitment to one single woman.
That sounded like Damien Vane, the man in the profile in Lucy's filing cabinet.
It didn't sound like the man she'd just made love to. But what did she know? She'd met him only two days ago, on the day she learned that her long-term boyfriend had cheated on her. When it came to instincts, Abbey's had led her a merry dance. She couldn't trust them.
"I see," he said again, moving aside to let her pass. She swam until her feet touched the sandy bottom and hooked up her bra and buttoned her dress. Then she waded to where Lucy waited. She wasn't alone. A large, muscular gorilla-like man slickly oiled from head to toe, lay beside her.
"You two back already?" Lucy asked, one hand on the gorilla's forearm. "I was hoping you'd take longer."
"I want to go," said Abbey quickly.
"Well, I was thinking of hanging around a bit."
"Yeah," said the gorilla.
"Why don't you two go get yourselves a drink and I'll meet you somewhere later," Lucy suggested.
"Yeah," said the gorilla.
"Why not?" said Damien. "I saw a nice bar—"
"No!" Abbey stormed off. Hadn't he worked it out yet? Did she have to spell it out to him? This couldn't go any further. It was wrong.
A small arm snaked around her. Lucy was by her side, squeezing her waist.
"Sorry, Abbey Girl, I got a bit carried away. Wherever you want to go, we'll go there."
Abbey suddenly felt very tired. "I want to go home."
"Sure thing. I'm sorry. I thought you and Vane were getting on fine. It looked like it from where I was sitting. I started getting antsy while I watched so when that guy came over I thought I'd fill in some time talking to him. Well," she giggled, "not really talking. The guy can't string two words together."
Abbey giggled despite herself. She turned, looked over her shoulder, telling herself she was having another look at Lucy's gorilla. But her eyes were drawn only to Damien, who stood semi-naked, dripping wet, and staring after her.
***
Nick half expected —hoped —Abbey would be at the hotel when the taxi dropped him off. But she wasn't. She wasn't in the foyer and she wasn't in his suite.