The Marriage Possession
HELEN BIANCHIN
For the past year, Lisane Deveraux has been a successful lawyer by day and millionaire Zac Winstone's passionate mistress by night.A surprise pregnancy changes everything. Zac insists on commitment. But is he simply protecting his prize possessions–his beautiful lover and his future heir? For the sake of their baby, Lisane will become Zac's trophy wife…knowing that his heart will never be part of the deal.
The Marriage Possession
Helen Bianchin
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
Coming Next Month
CHAPTER ONE
THE legal soirée was invitation-only, hosted in a luxurious hotel and presented for the city’s legal eagles and their partners.
Judges, barristers and eminent lawyers of note. Where friendships flourished and opponents left the rigours of the court-room behind.
‘More champagne?’
The familiar male drawl had the power to quicken Lisane’s heartbeat…and more, so much more.
Lisane tilted her head a little, met Zac’s dark, gleaming eyes, and almost drowned in their depths. ‘Do I appear to need it?’
A loaded query, if ever there was one!
Mingling with her peers would be a breeze in comparison with the formal dinner, where seating arrangements would place her at Zac’s side in the company of his parents, and Allegra Fabrisi, their preferred choice of a partner for their son.
Tonight she would field empty compliments, the brilliant female smiles that didn’t reach the eyes…each of which were a mere salutation in deference to attract the attention of the man at her side.
Zacharias Winstone, wealthy in his own right, a prominent barrister and son of an eminent judge, he was the embodiment of everything that was charismatic male.
In his late thirties, tall, with dark hair and dark eyes, broad-shouldered, wide-boned, sculptured features, a sensual mouth and piercing dark eyes, didn’t come close to describing the inherent sensuality he projected with effortless ease.
Zac, the babe magnet.
One had only to look at him to know he could drive a woman wild. It was there in his eyes, the faint, teasing smile…the promise, simmering beneath the sophisticated façade.
Women undressed him with one lingering, seductive look, and blatantly moved in for the kill. For some it was a challenge, others had more serious plans in mind…So far none had been successful.
For the moment he was hers. Friend, lover…
Commitment wasn’t a word Zac mentioned and marriage didn’t enter the equation.
Relationship? Lisane pondered the word, sought its true meaning, and failed to pin it down.
Together…for now, seemed appropriate.
A pensive smile tilted the edge of her mouth.
It was enough…wasn’t it?
They shared much, yet in many ways were poles apart.
His wealth earned him a position on an accredited list of Australia’s wealthiest names, while she came from an ordinary family of humble means and her education had been gained via scholarships and part-time work to help pay expenses.
Within the legal profession, Zac was recognised as one of the best in his field of criminal law…while Lisane occupied a position in the Crown Prosecutor’s office.
He had chambers in Brisbane, resided in a city apartment and owned a magnificent waterfront mansion on Sovereign Islands, an élite suburb on Queensland’s Gold Coast, seventy kilometres distant.
Vastly different from the small, weathered cottage in fashionable suburban Milton that Lisane had bought, mortgaged and was in the process of renovating.
A Sydney-based girl of French-born parents, she’d relocated to Brisbane a year ago…a move due in part to the need for change. And the desire to remove herself from what had become an awkward situation.
Two couples…two blonde, blue-eyed sisters dating two brothers. Except whereas Solene and Jean-Claude had fallen in love and planned to marry, Lisane didn’t share the same feelings for Alain. Friendship, yes, and affection. But not love.
Something it had taken a while to divine, given the almost life-long connection. Solene’s engagement to Jean-Claude had prompted Alain’s marriage proposal, and Lisane accepted his ring, temporarily caught up in Alain’s persuasion and her sister’s euphoria…only to have doubt soon cloud her perspective.
It hadn’t been easy to break off the engagement, nor to leave the city of her birth. Except it wouldn’t have been fair to Alain to stay.
He deserved more. So did she.
The law had fascinated Lisane from an early age, fostered and shaped by gritty television police and court-room dramas…none of which bore much resemblance to reality, she reflected with a tinge of wry amusement.
At twenty-seven, she hadn’t found it difficult to settle into a new job in a different city. In many ways she’d relished the changes, new faces, forming tentative friendships…and running into Zac.
Literally. Three days after assuming her position in the Crown Prosecutor’s office.
The momentous occasion had occurred in the city courthouse when she exited from the lift on the wrong floor.
It had taken only seconds to realise her mistake, and she’d swiftly turned…only to collide with a hard male frame.
An immediate apology had left her lips, and in the same instant she became aware of the man’s physical impact…his impressive height, breadth of shoulder, his sculptured facial features. Not to mention the fine quality of his clothing, the faint aroma of his cologne. The slight smile curving his sensuously moulded mouth. And foremost, his indisputable aura of power.
Definitely off the Richter scale in terms of the wow factor, she had acknowledged a few minutes later as she rode the lift to the correct floor.
Who was he?
Discovery hadn’t taken long. The family Winstone was well-known in legal and social circles. Zac Winstone was a legend in both.
The fact he sought her out had seemed little short of amazing. So, too, had his invitation to join him for coffee. A week or two later it had been followed by dinner, then a show…
‘Pleasant thoughts, I hope?’
Lisane spared him a stunning smile. ‘Why shouldn’t they be?’
He was something else. Tuned in to her in a way that made her wonder if he’d become adept at reading her mind. Although pure people skills, the ability to weigh up character traits and successfully divine them, contributed much to his success in the court-room. Very little, if anything, seemed to escape him.
Zac curled his fingers through her own, and leant in close. ‘Just remember I get to take you home.’
A teasing light entered her eyes. ‘That’s supposed to see me through the next few hours?’
‘It won’t?’
His place or hers. It hardly mattered which, as long as they shared what remained of the night together.
‘The jury’s still out.’
His soft laughter almost undid her. ‘Let’s commence the tour of duty, shall we?’
Zac’s parents, Max and Felicity Winstone, had just entered the large lounge area, followed, Lisane saw, by Leo Fabrisi, his wife, Charmaine, and their daughter, Allegra.
Two brilliant judges married to two equally qualified solicitors, who had each borne a child destined to follow in their footsteps into law.
There was little doubt the coupling of Zac Winstone with Allegra Fabrisi would make a perfect match. Or that both sets of parents were intent on actively encouraging it. Allegra made no secret that snaring Zac was her prime focus.
Tonight the glamorous barrister had chosen a designer gown in sinful black which hugged her tautly honed curves like a second skin. Long, gleaming hair the colour of rich sable cascaded in loose waves halfway down her back, and even from this distance her make-up resembled perfection.
Wonderful.
Lisane couldn’t compete. Her budget didn’t allow for the purchase of designer originals, or the Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo stilettos that inevitably graced Allegra’s slender feet. And her jewellery was limited to a diamond pendant and matching ear-studs she’d inherited from her mother.
Fortunately, her talents included the skillful use of a sewing machine, and she doubted even the most observant society maven would spot that the exquisite gown in floral silk she wore had been fashioned by her own hand.
Muted music provided a pleasant background to the social chatter abounding among numerous patrons in the large lobby, and Zac’s progress was frequently stalled as they paused to speak with a friend or associate.
Lisane briefly entertained the uncharitable thought that they might escape detection for a while longer, and thus delay a confrontation with the Winstone and Fabrisi parents.
Fat chance.
She watched with detached fascination as Zac’s elegantly attired mother caught sight of her son, and began leading the group of five towards him.
‘Darling.’ Allegra stepped in close and pressed glossy lips to Zac’s cheek. ‘We’re a little late.’ Her mouth performed a pretty teasing pout. ‘Traffic.’ Dark, eloquently warm eyes assumed a cool tinge as she acknowledged the young woman at his side. ‘Lisane.’
She bore Allegra’s studied appraisal with a practised smile before greeting each set of parents with a politeness gained from instilled good manners.
Wealth and social position lent that certain indefinable air some people exuded with an inborn ease acquired almost from birth. Maximilian Winstone, or Max, as he preferred to be known, could trace his ancestors back several centuries to an era of obscene wealth, enormous holdings and a social position almost second to none.
‘Go fetch some champers, darling.’ Allegra issued Zac the directive with a seductive look that was definite overkill. ‘I need something to kick-start the evening.’
There were waiters and waitresses in abundance. Zac merely lifted a hand to catch attention, and within seconds a waiter bearing a tray of filled champagne flutes moved to their group.
Allegra wrinkled her perfectly shaped nose. ‘Not, I think, the house variety.’ She placed a beautifully lacquered nail on Zac’s arm. ‘Shall we adjourn to the bar?’
‘We’re about to be seated.’ His voice was even, yet there was a warning hint beneath the surface.
One Allegra chose to ignore.
‘There’ll be at least thirty minutes of boring speeches before they serve the first course. We’ve plenty of time.’
Lisane felt her body tense. For what? An intimate têteà-tête? To cause a temporary division between her and Zac?
She should be used to Allegra’s ploys, for they occurred at frequent intervals and without doubt were deliberately orchestrated to diminish Lisane’s existence in Zac’s life.
It was a relief to see the ballroom doors swing open, and they joined the mingling guests entering the large room.
Polite, superficially pleasant conversation tempered the evening, and the addition of a further three guests at their table provided some light relief from Allegra’s not so subtle attempts to command Zac’s attention.
The food was superb, although Allegra barely sampled a morsel from each course while sipping Cristal champagne.
Discretion and client privilege ensured that only generalities within the legal system were discussed, and Lisane did her best to appear interested in Charmaine and Allegra’s recount of a recent shopping expedition in Sydney, where it seemed Allegra had been intent on adding to her collection of expensive shoes and bags.
‘Prada, darling,’ Allegra extolled. ‘And the most gorgeous Louis Vuitton.’ She subjected Lisane to a sweeping appraisal. ‘Your gown. Is it a Collette Dinnigan?’
I wish! ‘D’Aubigne.’ It was her late mother’s maiden name, and one she felt entitled to use.
An eyebrow slanted in overt puzzlement. ‘I’m not familiar with the label.’
‘It’s French,’ Lisane enlightened solemnly.
‘Of course. One can tell from the superb craftsmanship.’
Lisane restrained the desire to smile. Allegra was completely unaware she’d inadvertently gifted a compliment.
It was almost a relief when the evening drew to a close. Allegra’s attempts to monopolise Zac’s attention had moved Lisane from mild amusement to irritation. Had the beautiful barrister no scruples?
Don’t answer that!
The ‘goodnight’ process took a while, and Lisane felt her tension ease as she slid into the passenger seat of Zac’s sleek Jaguar shortly before midnight.
Thank heavens for the weekend. It would allow time to put the finishing touches to the kitchen trim, then mid-week, when the laquer paint had hardened, she could hang the lace curtains.
The cottage was gradually coming together. She adored the homely country-style furniture and refurbishing she’d chosen. It suited the one-hundred-year-old wooden structure, and she’d painstakingly polished the wooden floors, added rugs and wall-hangings in cross-stitch and tapestry.
She could walk indoors and feel at peace with her surroundings. Her plans for the garden were underway, a vegetable patch already yielding some fine produce; and while she still had some work to complete in the flower borders, there was time to bring it to its full potential.
Tomorrow, after a lingering breakfast at one of the city’s pavement cafés, Zac would deliver her home.
Tonight…what remained of the night was theirs.
Just the thought of how it would end caused her heartbeat to accelerate and heat to course through her veins.
Gentle fingers brushed her cheek, almost as if he sensed what she was thinking, and she covered his hand with her own for a few timeless seconds before releasing it to offer him a lingering smile.
The Jaguar swept down into the underground car park beneath the tall city apartment building and came to a smooth halt in Zac’s designated space.
He took hold of her hand as they entered the lift and buried his lips in her palm. His eyes were almost black, and she was willing to swear her bones began to melt at the degree of emotion reflected in those dark depths.
She needed to have his mouth on hers…his hands on her body, moulding each sensitised breast, exploring pleasure pulses, bringing her sensual heart alive and aching…for him, only him.
The lift slid to a halt, and minutes later they entered Zac’s luxurious apartment. Floor-to-ceiling glass provided a panoramic view of the city, myriad lights and bright neon winking against an indigo sky.
It was a sight which never failed to enchant her, and she crossed to the tempered glass and gazed beyond the cityscape to the darkened outline of distant hills.
There was piped background music cued in low, courtesy of Zac’s sound system, and she turned as magnificent curtains swished closed from the touch of an electronic button.
Dimmed lighting provided soft illumination, turning the large lounge area into their own private world.
‘Come here.’ Zac’s voice was deep, husky, and Lisane took hold of his outstretched hand.
He drew her in and held her close to his hard body, then lowered his head to nuzzle the sensitive skin beneath her earlobe.
‘I’ve waited all night to be able to do this.’
Slow-dancing.
Lisane closed her eyes and let emotion take over her body. It felt so good to be like this with him. To breathe in his male scent beneath the fine tailoring; to have the freedom to slide her hands beneath his jacket and savour the heady warmth. Feel the hard musculature and sense the quickened beat of his heart.
This was where she wanted to be. With him. The physical whereabouts hardly mattered, nor did the soft, lilting music drifting from expensive speakers.
There was only the man, the heady, dreamy sensation, and the need to feel his hands, his lips on her body, arousing, with the promise of how the night would end…and the journey.
He was a generous lover, intent on gifting the ultimate in pleasure, and she swayed slightly, almost missing her step…and felt the slide of his hand to the base of her spine as he held her firm against him.
His arousal was a potent force, and she lifted her arms to encircle his neck, then sank in against him as he lowered his head down to hers.
Magic.
She felt his fingers loosen the slide-comb holding the length of her hair, sensed the silky fall of it around her shoulders, and the slow threading of his fingers through its length.
He adored the feel of it, the faint fresh smell of her favoured floral-scented shampoo. The way she tossed her head in the throes of passion, and the tumbled mass of waves that fell like a curtain across each cheek…or cascaded down her naked back as she arched up against him and flung back her head.
He could bury his face in its silky length and savour the sweetness…her.
Beautiful, so very beautiful inside and out. Intelligent, clever, yet without artifice or contrived coquetry.
He wanted her…in his life. In his bed. He hadn’t given much thought for how long. There didn’t seem to be the need. The status quo suited him…suited them both. He couldn’t see any reason for anything to change.
Zac took the kiss deeper, and Lisane experienced the familiar deep pull of desire.
Had they stopped moving? She wasn’t sure, didn’t care.
All that mattered was his mouth on hers, possessing with such tactile skill she became lost. His, solely his in a way that rendered her wanton…and wanting.
His clothes, hers, were an inconvenient barrier they each sought to remove. Urgent hands, accompanied by barely audible sounds as the need to feel skin-on-skin contact became unbearable, closely followed by the shimmering satisfaction as the last shred of silk slithered down onto the carpeted floor.
In one fluid movement she leapt up against him and curled her legs around his waist, and sensed rather than heard the soft, laughing groan deep in his throat.
Seconds later he eased his mouth free from her own and feathered light fingers down the length of her spine, teased the curves of her buttocks, then unerringly found the warm, moist heat of her.
Wickedly clever fingers sent her high, the spiralling sensation causing her to gasp with the intensity of it, and she clung on to him, unaware of the soft, guttural sounds emerging from her throat as he brought her to climax.
He reclaimed her mouth, sweeping the soft inner tissue with his tongue, before tangling with her own in an erotic exploration that mirrored the intimacy of sexual possession.
She wanted more…so much more, and she lowered her body a little so the intimate heart of her rested against his powerful arousal. Then she moved, slowly, in an evocative teasing slide that had his heartbeat thudding in his chest and rendered him almost without breath.
‘Minx.’
A soft knowing laugh emerged from her throat. It had been Zac who’d taught her to totally relax and enjoy sex. To receive and gift pleasure without inhibition.
‘Bite me.’
‘Now, there’s a thought.’
‘Promises, huh?’
Lisane moved up against him, then gave a surprised gasp as he adjusted her position, eased his length into the moist heart of her…and surged in to the hilt.
She was aware of stretched tissue, intimate muscles enclosing him…and their readiness to convulse at his slightest move.
‘What are you waiting for?’ Her query was a breathless murmur, and she felt the press of his mouth against the vulnerable curve of her neck.
‘You. To catch up.’
‘Wretch.’If he wanted a challenge, she’d give him one!
The move was hers, and she relished being in control…until he took over. Then nothing mattered except their escalating pleasure and a libidinous climax that shattered them both.
Afterwards he carried her into the shower, where they gently bathed each other beneath the pulsing water, then, once dry, they walked naked into the bedroom and slid beneath the cool percale sheets to indulge in a slow, sensuous after-play…drifting fingers sliding over smooth skin, the gentle brush of lips, and soft, indistinct murmurs of appreciation.
On the edge of sleep Lisane sighed a silent word of thanks. For the man who cradled her close, and the place she’d reached in her life.
It was good. Very good.
No other man had made her feel so aware of her emotional heart…or so alive and incredibly sensual.
There was a certain danger in analysing her feelings in depth, for she was wary of repeating her mistake with Alain.
Although what she shared with Zac was different…so very different.
Love?
She didn’t want to go there. Dared not. For it would mean contemplating an admission of sorts…one she wasn’t ready to make.
It was enough their togetherness lasted a while.
CHAPTER TWO
LISANE came awake to the feather-like drift of fingers teasing a path over one hip, and the breath caught in her throat as they slid a little and sought the warm, moist, intimate heart at the apex of her thighs.
Soft lips nuzzled the sensitive curve at the edge of her neck, and she felt her pulse thud to a quickened beat as those skilful fingers found the highly sensitised nub, stroking it gently until she arched against his hand, wanting, needing more.
‘Good morning.’
Zac’s musing drawl sounded close to her ear, and her mouth curved into a generous smile as she opened her eyes to look at him.
Tousled dark hair, beard-shadow darkening his sculptured facial features…those eyes, so warm and liquid brown, and a mouth to die for.
‘It’s Saturday.’
Silent laughter lightened his gaze and his lips curved a little. ‘And this is important…because?’
‘I get to do this.’
He’d taught her so much. Where to touch and how. She knew what caused his breath to hitch. The way his body tensed when she enclosed his arousal and began to tantalise, driving him to the edge, the faint hiss as she brought him close to climax in what became a test of his endurance. The times he reached it and assumed control…the occasions when he allowed her to take charge.
Their loving was at times hungry, primitive, when passion ruled and surpassed all else. Mostly, it was slow and incredibly erotic, a true feast of the senses.
Lisane moved in close and brushed her lips to his cheek. ‘Do you have anything important planned for the next hour?’
Zac moved a little so her mouth met his. ‘Nothing without you.’
Morning sex, Lisane mused as they rose from the bed, was a great way to begin the day.
Together they shared a leisurely shower, then, towelled dry, she followed him into the bedroom and collected fresh underwear from her overnight bag and pulled on jeans and a pink singlet, added a cropped top in black and slid her feet into kitten heels.
With quick, smooth fingers she caught her hair into a loose knot, applied minimum make-up, added a touch of lip-gloss, then packed her overnight bag.
Zac took it from her hand, and trailed light fingers down her cheek. ‘Hungry?’
‘Uh-huh.’ Her eyes sparkled with mischievous humour. ‘For food.’
He pressed a thumb-pad to her lower lip. ‘Of course.’
She was something else. Intelligent, savvy and possessed of an innate honesty. What was more, there wasn’t an ounce of coquetry…which made for a refreshing change from most young women of his acquaintance.
Together they decided on a Park Road café not far from Lisane’s cottage, selected a pavement table and ordered a full breakfast, preluded by strong, hot coffee.
The sun shone brightly, promising a warm late-spring day, and there was a freshness in the air that would dissipate as the temperatures rose, along with the humidity.
It seemed almost a shame to consider spending most of the weekend indoors. For a moment Lisane thought wistfully of Zac’s waterfront home at Sovereign Islands, his cruiser moored at the jetty, and the occasional weekend they’d spent together there when the constraints of work had allowed them free time.
‘More coffee?’
Lisane was seriously tempted to delay their departure, and it helped a little to know she could. Except she knew time was an important factor, given Zac was engaged in a particularly difficult case, one that required long, tedious hours as he meticulously built undisputed evidence and framed his questioning technique in preparation for a trial due soon to go to court.
‘I’m fine.’ She slid her sunglasses into place from atop her head, and rose to her feet. ‘It’s time to hit the road.’
Zac paid the bill, then caught hold of her hand as they walked to where he’d parked the car.
‘Thanks for breakfast.’
He slanted her a warm smile. ‘My pleasure.’ As the night had been. And the early hours of the morning.
She made it easy for him to relax and unwind, didn’t make any demands, and rarely rose to anger. None of which were an act. He never felt the need to play a part, and her wit and wisdom provided a lightness that had been seriously missing before she entered his life.
They reached the Jaguar, and he saw her into the passenger seat before crossing to the driver’s side.
A few minutes, maybe five, was all it took to reach the street where her cottage was situated, and Lisane leant towards him as soon as he brought the car to a halt outside her gate.
‘Take care, and don’t work too hard.’ She brushed her lips to his cheek, and bit back a faint gasp as he framed her face with his hands and took possession of her mouth.
Oh, my.
She could hardly find her breath when he released her, and she met his warm, steady gaze, glimpsed the faint wickedness evident…and wrinkled her nose at him in teasing remonstrance.
‘I guess that’ll hold me for a while.’
A wide smile curved his generous mouth. ‘Sassy. Definitely sassy.’
Lisane reached for the door-clasp, caught up her overnight bag and slid out from the car. ‘Go suss out the legal arguments that’ll tie the bad guy up in legal knots.’
His soft laughter remained with her as the car disappeared from view, and she smiled a little as she extracted her house-key and unlocked the front door.
The morning was spent on household chores, and clearing the detritus of a hectic week. Wielding a very careful paintbrush, she completed the finishing touches to the remaining windowsills and two architraves.
Strong paint fumes provided a reason to escape the house for an hour or two, and she took the car to the nearest supermarket and stocked up on essential groceries. On her return she swiftly changed into old jeans and top, and spent time tending her garden. It wasn’t a chore, for she loved the smell of freshly-turned soil, the caring work that produced a fine vegetable patch, the neatly trimmed ornamental shrubbery, and her pride…several herbs in terracotta pots.
Lisane liked to cook, and her kitchen bore all the necessary utensils needed for almost every dish in her late mother’s repertoire of fine cuisine.
Who would have thought such a serious law student would thrive on domesticity? Or choose an aged, rundown cottage instead of high-rise apartment-living?
It probably had everything to do with her inherited French gene pool, she mused as she showered and washed her hair before pulling on shorts and a fresh top, then fixing an omelette stuffed with mushrooms, chives and a hint of garlic for her evening meal.
Afterwards she slotted in a DVD, watched it to the end, then climbed into bed and fell asleep within minutes of her head touching the pillow.
Sunday morning was divided between the gym, fixing decorative borders on the walls in the guest bedroom, then adding the white embroidered bedcover with its numerous ruffles and matching pillow covers.
It looked great, the numerous sewing hours necessary in its making well worthwhile.
Initially, she’d made allowances to cover tradesmen’s expenses, for, although she could take care of the painting and most of the finishing touches, the kitchen had been in serious need of a complete overhaul and the acquisition of new electrical appliances. The bathroom and laundry also required new fittings. Electrical wiring replaced, the plumbing checked…
In many ways, it had been a mission. But now, twelve months down the track, she could honestly say she was pleased with the result, aware that the money spent had added measurably to the property’s market value.
Lisane spent the afternoon completing the remaining architraves, then she cleaned up, took her laptop out to the small table and chair set beneath a magnificent jacaranda tree and caught up on work she needed to review in preparation for the following day.
Dinner was a mixed salad and smoked salmon, a bowl of fresh fruit, and she had just finished dispensing with the dishes when her cellphone rang.
She quickly dried her hands and picked up.
‘Lisane…Solene.’
It wasn’t seven already, surely? ‘I was going to call you.’ A quick glance at her watch assured it was a few minutes past the hour. ‘How are all the wedding preparations?’
Her sister gave a faintly hollow laugh. ‘We’re contemplating an elopement.’
Lisane crossed into the lounge and sank into a comfortable chair. ‘That bad, hmm?’
‘Like you wouldn’t believe.’
It didn’t take three guesses to determine the source. ‘Jean-Claude’s beloved maman?’
‘Uh-huh. Two weeks before the wedding she wants to change floral arrangements for the church…again.’
Two months ago it had been orchids, only to be discarded last month for cream roses.
‘It gets worse,’ Solene lamented. ‘She thinks ivory would complement my gown, rather than pale pink, for the flower-girl, when the dressmaker has already finished the dress.’ Solene gave a heartfelt groan in despair. ‘I’m about ready to scream.’
Oh, dear. ‘You’ve tried diplomacy?’
A significantly eloquent sigh echoed down the line. ‘Been there, done that.’
Jean-Claude’s mother had taken both Lisane and Solene beneath her maternal wing when they lost their own mother a few years ago, wistfully looking upon them as the daughters she’d never had. A kindly woman, with good intentions. Except for one slight flaw…she liked to be in control.
‘It’s your wedding,’ Lisane pointed out gently.
‘Hah!’
‘Jean-Claude—’
‘Issued an ultimatum this afternoon.’
‘And?’
There was a few seconds’ silence. ‘Tears, apologies, more tears.’
She could imagine just how it went, and how distressed her sister had been. Wedding preparations should be pleasurable and exciting…not fraught with nervous tension.
‘Two more weeks, Solene, then you can relax.’
‘You think?’
‘Definitely.’
‘Your dress is gorgeous.’
They’d shared images via email, decided on colour, and as they were the same height and dress size it had been a simple matter for Solene to take Lisane’s place with fittings.
‘Can’t wait to see you.’
Solene’s faintly wistful response brought a slight lump to Lisane’s throat. ‘Me, too.’ Weekly phone calls and email contact didn’t cut it. ‘Saturday.’ She relayed her flight details, then ended the call.
Monday soon proved to be one of those days when whatever could go wrong…did.
Lisane woke late, saw the red digits blinking on her digital alarm, cursed the electrical fault through the night and hit the floor running to complete the fastest shower on record. Once dressed, she filched a cereal bar from its packet, collected her briefcase, laptop, and unlocked her garage.
She could still make it into the city on time if the traffic flow was unhindered by roadworks…
Lisane slid in behind the wheel of her VW Golf, ignited the engine, reversed out onto the street, navigated it, only to groan out loud minutes later as she saw the long stream of vehicles stretching as far as the eye could see.
When at last the endless convoy began to inch forward, no one seemed inclined to allow her to ease into the flow of traffic. Desperate measures were called for, and minutes later she made it amidst a cacophony of irate car horns accompanied by a few graphic hand gestures and mouthed blasphemy.
Why would the city council choose peak-hour traffic to conduct road repairs? Although, to be fair, this particular stretch bore heavy traffic all through the day and into the night.
She extracted her cellphone, activated the loudspeaker function and called work, notified her superior she’d be late, then continued the crawl-like pace into the central city.
Arriving late involved some serious catch-up time, and she examined the day’s agenda, liaised with the police prosecutor, went through case notes, consulted with her client prior to his appearance in court—and, despite her cleverly structured questioning of the witness, the magistrate deemed in conclusion that there was sufficient evidence for the case to be heard in a higher court before a judge and jury at a future date.
It wasn’t the result her client had hoped for, but, given his prior conviction and the strength of the witness’s testimony, she could only reiterate fact and arrange a debriefing consultation.
Lunch was a chicken and salad sandwich followed by fresh fruit eaten at her desk, after which she made several phone calls and outlined pertinent points on her case notes prior to a late-afternoon consultation with a solicitor and his client, involving documented injuries incurred in an accident, which should conclude in a reasonable financial settlement for the client.
It was after five when Lisane saved all data to disk, closed down her laptop and pushed paperwork into her briefcase.
Home sounded good. She’d shower, don comfortable clothes, eat, then put in a few hours reviewing documentation in regard to a consultation scheduled for the following day.
An hour later she checked the contents of her refrigerator, decided she wasn’t in the mood for food just yet and crossed to the small second bedroom which housed a desk, bookshelves filled with law books, her sewing machine and a dressmaker’s dummy bedecked in a partly finished gown.
She could already ‘see’ the completed garment, the total picture with stiletto heels and evening bag, and her fingers began to itch as she viewed the soft drape of silk chiffon.
It wouldn’t take much…
Within minutes she was attaching the requisite tacking, and she soon became lost to everything but the artistry of creation as she fed the chiffon carefully through the machine.
The thin spaghetti straps required a steady hand, and she measured the length, then fitted both.
There was immense satisfaction in the knowledge that only the fine hand-stitching remained, and she switched off the machine then stretched her arms high to ease the slight kink in her shoulders.
Food seemed a sensible option, and she fixed a tuna salad, filched bottled water from the refrigerator and ate while scanning the day’s newspaper headlines.
It was after nine when she opened her briefcase and began reading documentation.
At some stage the burr of her cellphone intruded, and she picked up to discover Zac on the line.
‘Hi.’
His soft chuckle curled round her nerve-ends and tugged a little. ‘You sound distracted. Bad day?’
‘It could have been better.’
There was a slight pause. ‘Want to talk about it?’
What was the point? ‘Not really.’
She could almost see the way his deep brown eyes darkened, the hard acceptance beneath a degree of cynicism. Criminal law dealt on occasion with the underbelly of society, people who possessed few if any scruples and some who committed unspeakable acts.
‘All we can do is our best.’
Lisane gave a slight grimace. ‘And when the best isn’t good enough?’
‘For whom? The client whose prior record makes him a threat to the community?’
It wasn’t about winning, but representing the law within the parameters of a legal system designed to seek justice for all.
Her lips curved into a faint smile. ‘OK, now you’ve made me feel better…how was your day?’
‘I could come tell you in person.’
She was tempted. Seriously tempted. Terrific sex, and afterwards strong, warm arms to cradle her close. For a moment the image was overwhelming, and she queried lightly, ‘Are you waiting for an invitation?’
‘No.’
A bubble of laughter escaped her throat at the faint mockery in his voice, and she voiced teasingly, ‘See you in fifteen.’
Fourteen, Lisane determined as headlights threw a sweeping beam across the front of her cottage, followed seconds later by the faint snick of a car door closing.
Lisane met him on the front porch, her eyes wide and faintly luminous in the dimmed light as he framed her face.
His mouth brushed hers, felt her lips part in welcome, and he angled his head and went in deep, savouring the taste and the scent of her. Wanting, needing her warmth, her touch.
Dammit, all of her.
He was aware of her arms reaching to encircle his neck, and felt her fingers weave into the thickness of his hair, sensed their soothing movement against his scalp and he feathered a light path down the length of her spine to cup her bottom, bringing her against the thick hardness of his desire.
He could take her now, dispense with her clothes, his own…the effect she had on him was a sorcery both sweet and carnal.
For a moment he’d neglected to remember where they were, clearly visible in the dim porch light to anyone who chanced a look.
Zac eased back a little, and reluctantly relinquished her mouth as he leant his forehead against her own.
She was incapable of saying a word as he shaped her shoulders, then he let his hands slide down her arms to thread his fingers through her own.
‘Let’s take this indoors, hmm?’
The cottage design was simple. A wide hallway separated the lounge on one side from the main bedroom opposite. From there the hallway opened into a large living area, with two small bedrooms to the left. The kitchen, bathroom and utility room stretched across the rear of the cottage.
Silently she turned at his direction and together they entered the hallway and closed the door behind them.
Zac lifted a hand and trailed fingers down her cheek. ‘Are you done with work for the night?’
It would be easy to say yes, only for honesty to win out. ‘Not quite.’
His thumb pressed against the centre of her lower lip, and his smile held a tinge of amusement as he released her. ‘I’ll go make coffee.’
Lisane watched him turn towards the kitchen, and she let her gaze linger on the wide expanse of shoulder, aware of the powerful musculature beneath the fine chambray shirt. The taut waist and the tight butt moulded by figure-fitting black jeans.
Just looking at him made her heart rhythm accelerate to a faster beat. And that was only part of it! Her nerves flared and took on a life of their own, almost humming with the anticipation of his touch…his possession.
To be so attuned to him scared her a little. It was as if he was a part of her, attached but not bound.
There were times when she could tell what he was thinking, predict how he would react in a given situation.
Then just as she thought she could read him, he would surprise her…as he did now.
Coffee?
He’d disappear calmly into the kitchen and do coffee, when she could have sworn he’d sweep an arm beneath her knees and carry her into the bedroom?
Sure, she could follow him, wind her arms round his neck, pull his face down to hers…and invite him to continue from where he’d left off.
It was what she wanted to do.
Instead she settled down, found her place in the documentation and continued reading, pausing occasionally to make notes.
Minutes later Zac placed a mug of steaming coffee on the desk, then he crossed to the bookcase, retrieved a book and trailed light fingers across her shoulders.
‘I’ll take this into the lounge. Join me when you’re done.’
Lisane lifted her head, caught his warm smile…and felt her bones begin to melt.
The anticipation, the promise of how the evening would end, sent heat curling deep in her belly, and a faint tinge of pink coloured her cheeks as she caught the teasing quality evident in his dark gaze.
‘Go,’ she directed with mock severity, and heard his husky chuckle as he left the room.
Dammit, how could she possibly focus on work when all she could think of was him?
Fifteen minutes later she closed the bulky file and slid it into her briefcase. Then she stood, stretched her arms high in order to ease the faint kink at the base of her neck, collected her empty coffee mug and returned it to the kitchen before entering the lounge.
Zac looked up, closed the book he’d been reading and extended his hand without offering so much as a word.
Lisane crossed to his side and let him pull her down onto his lap.
His hand shaped the back of her head as he eased her cheek into the curve of his shoulder. ‘Tired?’
It was so good to feel the solid thud of his heart and have his fingers begin a soothing massage at her nape.
Restful…not. How could she relax when her entire body was incredibly attuned to his?
The exclusive subtle scent of his aftershave teased her senses, as did the clean smell of his skin, his clothes. But it was more than the shape and form of him. She admired his sharp mind and his degree of integrity, adored his sense of humour and his ability to relax away from the strictures of his profession.
Yet on another level his legal expertise in the court-room held her in awe, exposing as it did a steel-like ruthlessness that showed no mercy. A quality that put him ahead of his contemporaries and earned immeasurable respect.
A man one coveted as a friend, and had every reason to fear as an enemy.
‘Difficult case?’
Lisane lifted her head and met eyes that were dark and slumberous. ‘Just a lot of information to absorb.’
Zac inclined his head in agreement. ‘In order to cover any unexpected contingencies.’
Even in the most open-and-closed case, one needed to be prepared for the element of surprise by opposing counsel.
‘Anything you want to run by me?’
One minor detail kept sticking in her mind, and she voiced it, instinct rather than purported fact providing the slight niggle of disquiet.
She knew all the angles, and had explored each and every one of them, consulted her superior…yet still it refused to gel.
‘Instinct should never be ignored.’ Zac’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘Where are you tempted to go with this?’
It sounded illogical, even as she relayed her thoughts, yet his slight indication of agreement gave a sense of satisfaction.
‘It’s possible.’
Lisane examined his features carefully. ‘But not probable.’
‘Always be prepared to expect the unexpected.’
It was a mantra every law student learnt by heart, and she gave him a lopsided smile. ‘Point taken.’
His fingers threaded through the silky length of her hair, shaped her head and brought it close to his own.
The touch of his mouth was warm against her softly parted lips, and she was unable to prevent a husky murmur of approval as he slipped a hand beneath the hem of her T-shirt and sought a silk-encased breast, teasing the firm flesh as he unerringly found its hardening peak.
His mouth firmed over hers, taking her deep as his tongue tangled with her own, seeking to conquer in a manner that tore the breath from her throat.
Lisane wound her arms around his neck and held on, savouring his touch, his possession, as she met and matched his own.
There was no sense of time or place. Only the desire to assuage a mutual need.
His clothes, hers, became a frustrating irritation and she didn’t protest as he tugged her T-shirt over her head, then freed the clasp on her bra.
Her hands were equally busy as she undid the buttons on his shirt, then reached for the fastener on his jeans.
With one fluid movement Zac rose to his feet with her in his arms, heard her bubbling laughter, stilled it with his mouth, and carried her through to the main bedroom.
‘Witch.’ The huskily voiced imprecation held amused resignation as he tumbled them both down onto her bed.
‘And that makes you…what?’ she teased, then gasped as he removed his jeans, shucked off his briefs and dispensed with the remainder of her clothing.
‘Let’s find out, shall we?’
His erection was a potent force, and she soothed the silky head with an exploratory touch, heard the breath hiss through his teeth, then she brushed the taut skin with a few finger-pads, lightly, in a deliberate tease that brought a husky groan from his lips.
Control…he had it. Yet she was fascinated to discover what it would take to break it.
How far would he allow her to go?
Seconds later it was her turn to gasp as he sought the satiny folds at the entrance to her femininity and latched on to the highly sensitised nub, initiating a deliberate stroking movement that sent her wild.
Soon it wasn’t enough, and she was barely aware of urging his possession as sensation spiralled, sending her high…so high it was almost more than she could bear.
‘Now.’ Was that her voice begging for release? The part of her brain that engaged rationale insisted it had to be.
‘Not yet.’
Oh, dear heaven. Yes. Otherwise she’d go insane with need.
Except he wasn’t done. And she almost wept as he brought her to fever pitch…with his hands, his mouth in an oral supplication that blew her away, so far out of her mind she barely stifled an exultant scream as he entered her in one powerful thrust.
Her vaginal muscles contracted, tightly sheathing him as she stretched to accommodate him. When he began to move, she met and matched his rhythm as shameless, pulsating emotion took them to an electrifying high, held them there, then tipped them over into a magically sensual nirvana that was erotic and exquisitely primitive.
Treacherous, Lisane reflected later as she lay in Zac’s arms on the edge of sleep.
Because she never wanted it to end.
An inner voice silently demanded, ‘Does it have to?’
Sadly, she didn’t have an answer.
CHAPTER THREE
THE day’s workload commanded all of Lisane’s attention, and it was mid-afternoon before news of a colleague’s promotion reached her ears.
Well-deserved, given Sue’s attention to detail and unrelenting dedication to each case she handled.
‘Celebration time. Champagne on me. Tomorrow night?’ came through via inter-office email, and over the next hour responses indicated a resounding ‘yes’, followed by Sue’s instructions re time and place.
The thought of a girls’ night out was a pleasurable one, and Lisane spent Tuesday evening making notations from various law books. Gradually, with steady persistence, she was gathering sufficient information to present a strong case. Together with covering every contingency opposing counsel might draw from.
Even so, there was that edge, the knowledge she may have slipped up on one unexpected but important detail.
It kept her up late, and resulted in pertinent dialogue with her superior next day.
Consequently it was a relief to slip behind the wheel of her car and juggle peak hour traffic clogging the arterial roads leading from the city.
She reached the cottage with an hour in which to shower, dress and be on the road again.
Basic black was ‘go anywhere’ attire, and Lisane fixed her hair into a careless knot, applied blusher and lipgloss, then slid her feet into stilettos, collected her purse, her keys, and locked the front door before slipping in behind the wheel of her silver Golf.
Traffic flow into the city was steady, and she parked beneath the inner-city hotel, then took the lift up to the Atrium lounge.
Three of her associates were comfortably settled with drinks before them, and no sooner had Lisane greeted them than the final member of their coterie arrived.
It was lovely to relax and unwind away from the office. To talk without the constant constraints of work, and they took their time before crossing into the restaurant.
Champagne was the celebratory toast of choice, and Sue’s promotion was given due merit before a waiter delivered their starters.
Fine food and drink, and good company. Who could ask for anything more of an evening spent with friends?
The amazing thing in being the fabulous five, as they regarded themselves, was the friendship they shared in and out of the office. There was no element of envy, jealousy or the desire for one-upmanship…just five young women who got along.
‘Oh, my. Look who’s just walked in.’
Someone of note, obviously, Lisane deduced as she discreetly turned her head, only to feel her stomach twist at the sight of Allegra in the company of her parents.
Dressed to kill in a red cut-away cocktail gown that ventured into the almost-too-much-skin territory, Allegra resembled a catwalk model…confident, faintly aloof, and stunning.
‘Wow.’
Sue’s hushed comment didn’t come close, and the questions followed in tandem.
‘No male partner?’
‘Maybe he’s joining them?’
‘The question is…who?’
Speculative conjecture at its best…and discretion, given it was no secret Allegra had her eye on Zac Winstone.
More than an eye, Lisane accorded silently. The female barrister was in for the kill, and didn’t care who knew it!
‘Uh-oh, she’s just picked up her cellphone.’
‘She’s smiling.’
‘The woman’s a bitch. In and out of the courtroom.’
‘OK, girls, let’s move it along, shall we?’
Sue lifted her champagne flute. ‘Sure. Here’s to women doing it for themselves.’
‘Ah…you might like to rephrase that.’
Amelie grinned. ‘Just checking you’re on the ball.’
‘Wicked.’
‘But fun.’
Truly a girls’ night out, Lisane decided with a degree of humour. Memorable, in that their jobs dealt with serious issues within the parameters of the law. Where evil intent superceded good, and justice needed to be seen to be done. Not always successfully.
Making it work was the challenge. Examining legal precedents in order to close any slight loopholes opposing counsel might offer. And above all, attempting to do one’s best for the client…whether guilty or innocent.
‘What are your thoughts on the Marshall case?’
There was a collective groan. ‘Forbidden territory. Nothing, but nothing to do with work is going to escape our lips tonight.’
There was a pause while the waiter delivered their mains, and Sue barely waited until he was out of earshot before voicing,
‘OK, so let’s have an update on the men in our lives.’
The theme was familiar, Lisane mused. Lack of dedication to the relationship, little if any commitment, and emphasis on sex. Two young women in their group were content with the status quo, while one appeared misty-eyed and vowed she wanted the ring, marriage and family.
‘Lisane?’
‘Pass.’
‘Not good enough. Answer the question.’ Sue’s teasing mockery brought some light laughter, and Lisane entered into the spirit of the game.
‘Sorry, counsellor. Privileged information.’
‘Damn.’
‘Don’t look, but a serious hunk of a guy is being led towards Allegra’s table.’
Lisane controlled the desire to check. Common sense reassured her that it couldn’t be Zac. But just for a few seconds the possibility didn’t seem beyond the realm of reality. The Winstone and Fabrisi families were legal and social equals, dedicated to charitable causes, and were frequently seen in each other’s company.
Surely Zac would have told her if he intended to join Allegra and her parents this evening…wouldn’t he?
Allegra had developed manipulation into an art form, and possessed few, if any, scruples where Zac was concerned.
‘Wonder who he is?’
‘Family friend?’ Sue ventured. ‘The parents are greeting him like a long-lost son.’
The waiter cleared their plates and took an order for dessert…sinful choices in the name of celebration, and warranting some serious time in the gym to compensate.
Coffee followed, and they lingered a while, then took care of the bill and made their way to the powder-room.
Lisane was the last to leave, and just as she opened the door it swung in, causing a hasty few steps back to avoid a collision.
The last person she wanted to see up close was Allegra…but there was no avoiding a confrontation. One Lisane opted to make very brief.
‘Allegra.’
‘He’s my cousin, darling.’ Words spoken without preamble, and the woman’s smile held a brilliance that was totally at variance with the cool glitter in her eyes. ‘On a brief visit from Perth.’
‘How nice for you.’ She stepped around Allegra in a bid to leave the powder-room, only to have her passage blocked.
‘He’s serious eye-candy, and does service as a social handbag.’
Lisane held the young woman’s gaze and successfully masked her disquiet. ‘My friends are waiting for me.’
‘Another minute or two won’t matter.’ Allegra smoothed a hand over one slender hip, then she speared a lacquered nail in the air a few inches from Lisane’s face. ‘Take note. Zac is mine.’
It took two to fight, and she wasn’t about to go there. ‘If that’s true,’ she managed evenly, ‘why is he with me?’
Allegra’s eyes became ice. ‘You must know Zac will never marry you.’
She needed an exit line, fast! ‘Did it occur to you we might be content with the relationship,’ she waited a deliberate beat, then added quietly, ‘the way it is?’
‘Not for long.’ The woman’s triumph was tainted with evil satisfaction. ‘Any time soon his ring will be on my finger.’
‘Really?’ How could she sound so calm, when inside her nerves were shredding? She held Allegra’s gaze as she took a determined step forward, silently challenging the woman to step aside.
For a moment it didn’t appear as if Allegra was going to move, then she lifted one eyebrow in a gesture of disdain and shifted slightly.
Lisane stilled the urge to rush out the door, choosing a measured, unhurried pace, and braced her shoulders against the nervous tension feathering icily down her spine.
‘We were about to initiate a rescue mission,’ Sue declared quietly as Lisane joined the group of four young women lingering a few feet distant. ‘Are you OK?’
‘Fine.’ She managed a warm smile. ‘Let’s go, shall we?’
It wasn’t difficult to keep up a carefree façade as they took the lift down to the car park, and she kept the smile in place until she slid in behind the wheel of her car.
Allegra’s taunts echoed inside her head, and she almost wished she’d told the woman to get a life…except common sense had silently warned of the possibility of professional repercussions.
Allegra Fabrisi held a degree of power…a word here and there, an unfair criticism, and it could result in the speculative attention of Lisane’s peers.
Roll on Saturday!
Three weeks’ absence in Sydney would provide a welcome breathing space. There were the final planning stages, the wedding itself and a lovely break in which to visit the beach, check out the shopping malls, and just relax.
Lisane collected the sack of groceries from the seat of her car and carried them indoors.
The dinner menu she’d planned for Friday evening was relatively simple, and she toed off her stilettos, then quickly assembled ingredients and began preparations.
An evening meal timed for seven enabled her to cook, then shower and change and set the table.
She made it with a few minutes to spare, and she slid the herb bread into the oven as the doorbell rang.
Zac’s familiar tall frame filled the aperture, and the mere sight of him sent the beat of her heart into overdrive.
‘Hi.’
He’d discarded a professional business suit for black tailored trousers, a white chambray collarless shirt and a black butter-soft leather jacket.
Wow seemed an inadequate description.
‘Come through,’ she managed steadily, and she stood aside so he could precede her down the hallway.
With considerable ease he paused to drop an overnight bag in her bedroom, shrugged out of his jacket, then he gathered her in against him and took possession of her mouth in a leisurely kiss.
Oh, my, was all she could think when he released her.
He’d brought wine, which he took into the kitchen, uncorked and let breathe while he admired the finishing touches she’d made to the room.
‘Would you like a drink?’
Zac turned towards her. ‘Just wine with dinner.’
Lisane checked the herb bread, saw it was beginning to crisp, and enquired about his day.
‘Fact-gathering, validating authenticity, a conference call.’ And one intriguing brief he had yet to decide whether to accept. ‘You?’
‘Nothing out of the ordinary.’ Just a pile of paperwork she’d needed to shift before day’s end, notations for ongoing cases ensuring the colleague taking over her workload for the next three weeks was au fait with current files.
Last night she’d packed her bag ready for the flight to Sydney. As bridesmaid, she’d also assembled games and prizes for Solene’s bridal shower party, and the hen-party. All she needed to do in the morning was add last-minute essentials before Zac drove her to the airport.
The food with its delicate sauce was a hit, and she took pleasure in Zac’s compliment.
She was far from a domestic goddess, but she liked making her home attractive, cooking good food and presenting it well. It seemed to be a family trait, for Solene read cookbooks as others read…books.
Dessert comprised a fresh fruit salad jazzed up with wine and accompanied by whipped cream drizzled with crystallized sugar, and afterwards they took coffee in the lounge.
It was comfortable having him here like this. Her territory, with its easy familiarity.
She was going to miss him, miss this, being with him, sleeping with him…forget the sleep part, making love with him.
For her it was love, not simply the act of sharing physical sex. Had he guessed how it was for her? In a way she hoped not, for it would only increase her vulnerability level.
Tonight was special. She’d set the scene with fine food, and soon…soon he’d take her hand and lead the way to her bedroom.
It was there they’d indulge all the senses, and make love long into the night. Her imagination took flight, creating images which heated the blood and set her pulse racing to an increased beat, until the wanting became need.
He knew. Had to, and the warmth of his smile held sensual promise as he rose to his feet.
His kiss possessed warmth, then heat, and she leant into him, absorbing his strength as she kissed him back with hungry passion.
A hunger Zac returned in kind as they moved towards the bedroom, shedding clothes along the way.
Naked, he cupped her bottom and lifted her high against him, then he lowered his head and took the peak of her breast into his mouth, nipping the hardened aureole with his teeth until she reached the brink between pleasure and pain.
Lisane retaliated with a love bite to the sensitive curve at the edge of his neck, felt his body tense, then he shifted his attention to her mouth in a possession that shredded every nerve-cell in her body.
Just as she thought she might need to communicate a need to breathe, he positioned her to accept his hardened length and surged into her moist heat, filling her as he released her mouth and buried his lips in the hollow at the base of her throat.
She was with him, part of him, body and soul, and she began to move, slowly at first, then with increasing abandon until she became almost a wild thing in his arms.
It wasn’t enough, for there was so much more, and together they fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and laughter, to love each other again and again through the night until exhaustion overcame passion and they drifted to sleep in each other’s arms.
The alarm sounded loud, too loud, and Lisane groaned, hit the off button, glimpsed at the darkened room and buried her head beneath the pillow.
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