Sharon was frightened of the threat she heard in his voice that her eyes flew open and the warm contentment she felt.
'Bryan.....' frightened, she gazed up into his unreadable face.
'Tell me about Gerhard Alexandria ', he demanded grimly.
'No, I won't ', she stood up feeling too vulnerable with him towering over her. But as she tried to move away, he caught her shoulders, his fingers bitting into her flesh as he turned her to face him. 'I want to know' he said angrily, shaking her slightly.
'It's none of your damned business', she retorted, hating him for his strength, unable to understand his obsession with a dead man.
'You were seeing him behind my back. I'd say that made it my business, wouldn't you?' his eyes were hot, burning with rage. 'God knows I could kill you for what you did'.
'It didn't bother you for three years', Sharon said bitterly, twisting her body in an effort to free herself. 'So why now?'
'You married him', Bryan said through his teeth. 'You were his wife'.
'I wouldn't have thought that a little formality like that would bother you',She spat at him, her voice shaking. 'I read the newspapers, I know the sort of man you are'.
She had gone too far, driven by the fierce emotions he aroused in her. Bryan's hands were violent but as his mouth descended on hers, she couldn't pretend that she didn't want it.
She had been thinking about him, aching for his touch since they parted the previous night. His mouth explored hers deeply, his anger dissolving in desperate need. Heat flamed between them, hunger in the fusing of their mouths. Sharon moaned softly. He had taught her body the motions of desire, of love. He had taught her so well and she longed to experience his lovemaking again. Her fingers traced the tense muscles of his shoulders, sliding between the fine material of his shirt to find his hair roughened chest. She touched him, caressed him as she had dreamt of doing so often. His skin was smooth and tanned, so familiar. The fine abrasive texture of the hair that mattered his chest, well remembered.
Bryan shuddered, lifting his mouth from hers and brushed her lips gently. 'Gid, Sharon, you are driving me insane', he muttered unevenly. He stilled her seeking hands, covering them with his own. He stared down into her own with dark narrowed eyes. 'How many times did you go to him straight from me?' he asked harshly. 'How many?'
Sharon stiffened, afraid that she had given too much away in those wild desperate moments in his arms. She couldn't bear him to know that she loved him. Had he been testing her in some perverse way? Did he already know?
'Does it matter?' she asked defensively.
'Damn it, Yes', his anger scraped along her nerves.
'Well, I don't know ', she lied, unable to shed her pride and tell him the truth. 'I don't know'.
Bryan's mouth hardened. He looked as though he was going to hit her, fighting for and finally gaining control of his anger.
'Why?' The one word question was torn from him, his mouth twisting bitterly. Sharon bit her lip, her lashes sweeping down to hide her eyes. 'I won't talk about Gerhard, I won't. You are not so blameless yourself'.
'Meaning?' His voice was ominous. He was very still, reminding her of a dark panther, poised for the kill.
'I'm too tired to fight', she pleaded, something inside her breaking. She couldn't mention anyone's name but just before she decided that she had had it up to her neck, she had seen him with someone. One if Brenda's friends. As soon as Devon had seen her, she had hugged and kissed him. But before then, they had been standing really close, their bodies touching. Her pride had made her not to say a word to anyone. It was not just his mockery and coldness towards her after what she had considered her most memorable night but his infidelity. That was how she knew that he had never loved her and would never love her but was just using her -- just wanted her body.
He had been close to Devon since his cousin Brenda had come visiting with her and she had not read any meaning to it. The girl had been hostile towards her but she had taken it in her stride thinking that it was all due to her job success like Bryan's old fat friend they had met while in Rome but that was until she saw them together and then she knew what the strife was all about. Devin was thinking that she was her rival for Bryan's attention and possibly love.
She could have laughed. Bryan was not the sort to love a woman but then again maybe he had met his match in Devin because she was witty and could be ruthless and yet very feminine and vulnerable. How she achieved a combination of these was a marvel to Sharon and at first it amused her but later, she became jealous of her and with Bryan's continued coldness and rude remarks towards her, she could bear it no more but left for peace and the health of her unborn child.
'Just one more question, who exactly is the father of your child? David or Gerhard?' he asked watching her through narrowed lashes.
The question shocked her but she hid it with her lashes.
'Bryan, I just told you that I am in no mood for fighting or anymore questions tonight'. She was sick of arguing, close to tears, shaking.Bryan looked at her, taking in the paleness of her face, the dark smudges beneath her eyes.
'Go to sleep then', he said quietly, surprising her. 'You can have the couch, we'll talk again tomorrow'.
'Thank you', she tried to make her voice sound light and sarcastic but failed miserably. She fled from the room feeling very foolish.
In the kitchen, she washed in freezing cold water, staring out of the window. Outside, the sky was clear. Amazingly, the snow had stopped falling and the heavy blanketed silence rang in her ears.
She ran back to the fire, shivering, holding out her hands to warm them. She felt embarrassed as she unzipped her boots,but glancing surreptitiously at Bryan, she found his face impassive. He wasn't even looking at her. She lay down awkwardly, visibly jumping as he moved towards her.
'Relax', He had seen her reaction and a lazy amused mockery threaded his voice. 'You are perfectly safe with me, so don't underestimate your attractions.
'You wanted me before', she heard herself saying, her voice quivering with rejection.
'Is that an invitation, my love?' His eyes were very dark, his mouth sensual as he stared down at her.
'Go to hell!' she said as she buried her face in her arms hearing his soft laughter with her teeth grinding together.
'Damn him!' she thought. He was too strong. Too sure of himself. He always won. She felt him covering her with blankets and did not move. She closed her eyes and willed herself to go to sleep. She seemed to dream for hours, dreams filled with anxiety and dread. In them, she was running, pursued by a dark faceless figure. She couldn't run away. Her legs laden couldn't carry her.
She woke with a scream, Bryan's name on her lips. He was beside her in a moment. Taking the hand that she held out to him, engulfing it in his own.
'You've been dreaming', he said quietly.
'Oh', she lay back in relief. Her forehead was damp with perspiration. 'It was horrible', she said remembering and shuddering.