The drive to the conference hall this time was endless. Sharon wondered when it would come to an end. The venue was not far from their hotel but today, the distance seemed to have increased tremendously. The car was claustrophobic, stifling her and making her feel like screaming, shut up in it with Bryan. His body far too close, every movement he made tearing at her nerves and making her sweat.
She was so tense that as they got out of the car to go into the conference, she caught her heel on the Kerb.
Bryan put an arm around her to stop her from falling, and as their bodies touched,Sharon had that familiar dizzying sense of the world spinning round her.
She pushed him away, trembling and as she did so, caught sight of a dark red graze on the side of his throat, just under his ear.
Heat enveloped her as she realised what it was. She had bitten him last night in the last moments of their lovemaking. She hadn't realised that she was leaving such obvious marks. What if someone noticed, made a joke about it? She would want to dink to the floor!
'Oh, for goodness sake, stop looking at me like that!' Bryan said his face I ily hostile. 'You are as safe as houses with me after last night. I won't be trying my luck again. David is welcomed to you'.
He turned on his heel and walked away and she slowly followed, fighting tears.
Bryan's delivery of David's speech was impressive. He had the full attention of the conference and a number of questions were asked all of which he was able to answer without needing to consult with her.
A group of women from one of the biggest merchant banks was there and their utterances showed that they were smitten by him. One was even bold enough to say dreamily, 'I wonder what he is like in bed'. This brought about a gale of laughter from them all.
Sharon felt her face burning. She was glad nobody she knew was close enough to overhear the conversation and notice her blush. They might have put two and two together.
The day dragged on, Gerhard was having lunch with some important people from the German bank' fraternity and she only saw him briefly on the corridor. The day seemed to be against her. Being with Gerhard and seen his admiration would at least have increased her confidence in herself and given her something to take her mind of Bryan and the events of the previous night which had at the time been so beautiful that she had wanted a repeat this morning but his coldness, impersonal attitude, icy indifference and rude remarks had spoilt it all for her with the stinging shame of knowing that she had allowed herself be taken by the wrong person and had fallen for him. What was she going to do now? Why did she have to come on this trip at all? Why did David have to fall I'll? Why had she cared so much for David that she had not excused herself from going on this trip with this arrogant and remote, cold hearted son of a gun?
Apart from Gerhard, Bryan was busy too, at least she was spared the torture of his presence that afternoon, and when their car arrived, there was no sign of him, so she went back to their hotel alone.
The ball was the final event of the conference and Sharon had been looking forward to it. But she could not face going, not after last night. On an irresistible impulse, she picked the phone and dialled the airport.
'Is there a plane for London this evening?' she asked.
'Yes, please'.
'Is there a free seat on it?'
'There definitely is ma'am'.
'Okay thank you' Sharon said as she booked herself on the plane, wrote a note to Bryan and went downstairs to check out.
Two hours later, she was in the air on the flight back home to London and away from the disturbing and cold Mr. Bryan Arrogant.
***************************************
Bryan got back to the hotel late and was not happy after reading the note Sharon had written.
He could not fathom what the problem with the girl was.
The first night, he had been sure that she wanted him as much as his need for her. But after his kisses and caresses which she returned with a fervour he found encouraging and exciting, she had accused him of pilling her up with wine so that he could take advantage of her.
He could not deny that he had wanted her right from the first time he saw her. He had told her as such last night. Oh last night. He had felt like he was flying.
He had wanted her as she came down with her short sexy green gown and all eyes had been on her. He had not been able to take his eyes of her.
He had had an irresistible urge to touch her which he had done while suggesting the food she should sample but he had not intended to get her drunk or light headed and then taken advantage of her.
She had wanted it, he was sure. He saw how shaken she had been when she saw those two lovers going at it in the dark shop doorway.
He had been greatly aroused too. He who had been keeping a tight leash on his desire for her. But the sight just loosened all his resolve and he found himself loving her there in the dark and truely if not for the interruption, he might not have waited to get to their room before taking her - he would have taken her there and then. The girl made him lose control.
He was not happy about the words he said to her then nor this morning and he saw how shaken she had been after hearing his words but she had also hurt him by the words she had spoken and how cold and remote she had been after the memorable night they had had.
He had hated her then because he had thought that that night was going to herald a new beginning to a more intimate relationship between them. He had not wanted a one night stand.
Now just when he was looking forward to attending the ball with her, she left suddenly. Damn her!
She must have gone back to her beloved David. He could not fathom what David had that he didn't. How could she choose David over him? Could David satisfy her the way he could? Maybe David could financially but sexually and otherwise, without sounding immodest, he knew David was no match for him and though she had realized it last night but obviously he had been wrong.
He had felt a kind of connection with her and thought that she felt it too but he had been mistaken. She made his blood run hot and cold at the same time, bringing out the best and worst in him. He hated her and yet desired her greatly. She was like an itch that just won't go away no matter how remote he tried to be. And the worst of it all was that she didn't care. Imagine flinching away from his touch after what they had shared last night. Who would not be hurt? Damn her. Damn her.