Spanish Doctor, Pregnant Midwife
Author
Anne Fraser
Reads
18,8K
Chapters
14
Chapter One
ANNIE slid into a pew of the cool, cavernous Spanish church and let the peace wash over her bruised and battered soul.
In two days’ time, her holiday would be over and she would be returning to England and Penhally Bay. Which meant work and reality.
Despite her parents’ entreaties that she join them on at least part of their Christmas and New Year worldwide cruise, Annie had insisted that she wanted to take this break on her own. Once and for all, she had told them gently, she needed to put her heartache behind her, including the break-up with her fiancé Robert and especially the horribly cruel reason behind it. The last thing she needed was to be on a luxury liner filled with happy families or, even worse, spend Christmas in Scotland with her sister Fiona and her young family. Even staying in Penhally Bay for the holiday season would be more than she could bear.
But her holiday to the small whitewashed village in Andalucia had helped. She had spent the days tramping the narrow streets and walking the hills, tiring herself out until she had fallen into bed too exhausted even to dream. Although nothing would ever take away the terrible void in her life, she was beginning to feel she could face the future. Whatever it might bring.
A group of excited children accompanied by a heavily pregnant woman disturbed the silence. As Annie looked at the brown-faced children with their heads of shiny dark hair, she felt her heart tighten. One little girl in particular caught her attention. Unlike the others, she was subdued, her thumb stuck in her mouth as she looked about her with wide-eyed solemnity. She hung back from the rest of the group, resisting the pregnant woman’s attempts to pull her into the circle.
Annie followed the youngsters with her eyes, wondering once more what it would have been like if she had been able to have children of her own. She eyed the expectant mother’s bump enviously. She must be nearly at term and Annie would have given anything to be in her position.
She would even have been prepared to adopt. God knew, there were enough children out there who needed the pent-up love Annie had to give and she knew she would have made a good mum, if only she had been given the chance. She sighed. But men didn’t seem to think that way. Was it so very different for them? After she had accepted that she’d never be able to conceive naturally, she had suggested to Robert that they consider adoption. But he had been horrified at the idea, and over the following months he had withdrawn from her bit by bit until she had finally forced the truth out of him. He couldn’t face a future without children. His own children. It had been a double blow to her when he had left. She had thought he had loved her. Well, no more. From now on it was just her, by herself. And she would manage. More than manage, she told herself firmly. She would throw herself into her work at Penhally Bay. She would make a good life on her own. It was the start of a new year and a new beginning. Of that she was determined.
Squaring her shoulders, Annie slung her bag over her shoulder and stood up. She had only taken a few steps when she heard a cry of pain ringing out and she swung round to see the heavily pregnant woman bent over, clutching at her stomach.
Instantly, Annie was by her side.
‘What is it?’ she asked. ‘Are you okay?’
The woman stared at Annie with enormous brown eyes stretched with pain and fear.
‘Bebé,’ she gasped. And then doubled over again.
‘When is your baby due?’ Annie asked, keeping her voice calm, but the woman just frowned at her and shook her head. It was obvious she spoke no English. Annie bit back a sigh of frustration. Although she had learned a few words of Spanish, it wasn’t up to the demands of the occasion. She needed someone to translate. And soon.
‘She say the baby is coming. Now.’
Annie placed a hand on the woman’s abdomen and felt the contractions. She counted slowly. They were coming one after the other, at two-minute intervals. She was absolutely right. The baby was on its way.
Annie lowered herself to the level of the little girl. ‘What’s your name, sweetheart?’
‘Maria.’ She gestured to the woman. ‘This is my cousin, Señora Lopez.’ She removed her thumb for only as long as it took to impart the information.
‘Okay, Maria, I need you to be my helper. Can you do that?’ When the little girl nodded her head, Annie continued, raising her voice above the babble of excited voices.
‘Has your cousin other children?’
Maria nodded again. ‘Three.’
‘Ask her if they were normal deliveries. Then find out if anyone has a phone. We need to call an ambulance.’
An older woman with a nut-brown face pulled a mobile out of the pocket of her cavernous overall and, muttering something frustratingly incomprehensible to Annie, punched numbers into the phone. Hopefully she was calling an ambulance.
In the meantime, Maria had spoken to the labouring woman and listened to her reply.
‘She say her other children all come quickly. This baby not supposed to be here for another few weeks.’
‘Okay Maria, Well done. I need to find somewhere private for Mrs Lopez to lie down. Could you ask if there is such a place?’
As Maria spoke to the watching, chattering audience, Annie felt her hand being squeezed tightly as another contraction racked Señora Lopez’s body. It was clear that the baby was going to be born right here. Annie guessed it would take time they didn’t have for the ambulance to get here from the nearest town. The narrow, winding roads weren’t built for speed.
Suddenly the crowd of chattering women parted and a dark-haired man pushed his way through. Annie only had time to note deep brown eyes and high cheekbones. The man spoke in rapid Spanish to the distraught woman holding Annie’s hand and Annie saw her visibly relax.
‘Mi hijo,’ the older woman with the mobile said, nodding down at him. ‘Médico.’
My son. Doctor. Annie felt a wash of relief. At least she wasn’t on her own any more. She prayed he could speak English. It would take the responsibility of translating from Maria. Although the little girl was doing her best, waiting for her questions and commands to be translated was frustratingly slow.
The man bent over and scooped the woman into his arms as if she weighed nothing. His mother gestured him to follow her while the other women took control of the children. Annie noticed that little Maria followed behind, obviously feeling as if she had a stake in the drama.
‘I’m a midwife,’ Annie said as she followed the dark-haired man with his burden to the rear of the church. ‘Do you speak English?’
For a second, he stopped and looked at Annie. His mouth quirked. ‘Sí. Yes, I speak English. I am Dr Raphael Castillo, obstetrician. My mother has called an ambulance, but it will be some time before it gets here. It has to come from the city and the roads aren’t very good. Have you made an assessment?’
‘I haven’t had a chance to examine her properly, but the contractions are coming one after the other. She could deliver at any time.’
He nodded. ‘I think you are correct.’ He smiled, flashing even white teeth. ‘Looks like it is going to be you and me delivering this baby—right here.’
As he spoke, Señora Lopez cried out again, followed by a string of Spanish words. Dr Castillo responded in the same language as he laid her down on a couch in the priest’s room.
‘She says the baby is coming,’ he said, stripping off the jacket of his suit and rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt. ‘There is no more time.’
Noticing a sink at one end of the room, Annie crossed to it and began to scrub her hands. Dr Castillo, speaking to Señora Lopez over his shoulder, joined her. It was obvious from the look on Señora Lopez’s face that she knew that the baby was going to be delivered in this tiny room. At least it wasn’t a stable, Annie thought wryly. Then while the dark-haired doctor finished rinsing the soap from his hands, Annie examined the woman.
‘The head is crowning, Dr Castillo,’ she called over. ‘I’ll deliver the baby if you tell her what to do.’ She turned to Maria, who had slipped in beside them. ‘Go and see if you can find some towels, sheets anything. Something to wrap the baby in.’
As Maria ran off, Annie turned to him. ‘How many weeks is she?’
‘Thirty-nine,’ he said. Although heavily accented, his English was perfect.
‘How sure of her dates is she?’
‘She is certain. By the way, her name is Sophia.’ Then he turned back and said something to Sophia. Annie didn’t need to understand the words to know that he would be telling her to push.
Just as Maria and the doctor’s mother appeared at the door with a bundle of shawls and scarves, the baby’s shoulder appeared. But then, to Annie’s horror, the baby’s progress down the birth canal halted. It was stuck. She felt her own heart rate rise. Where was that ambulance? But in the same moment Annie realised that even if it turned up in the next few minutes, it wouldn’t help. Sophia was in no position to be moved right now.
She looked up and found Raphael Castillo’s calm brown eyes on hers.
‘What is it?’ he asked quietly.
‘The baby’s stuck,’ she said. ‘I think we have a shoulder dystocia.’ Seeing the answering look of concern in Raphael’s eyes, Annie knew he grasped the gravity of the situation. If they were in a hospital, it would be serious enough, but here, without instruments, not even a pair of forceps, there was every chance they could lose the baby. She stood aside to let him examine Sophia while Maria and the older woman watched silently from the doorway. Sensing something was wrong, the labouring woman called out in panic. Raphael’s mother rushed to her side and spoke softly to her. What ever she said seemed to reassure the woman and she flopped back down.
After another couple of minutes of Sophia pushing and the baby not making any progress, Annie was certain they were in serious trouble. It seemed as if Raphael had arrived at the same conclusion.
‘I’m going to ask my mother to help me pull Sophia’s legs above her shoulders. Then I want you to press down just above the pubic bone as hard as you can.’ His expression was grim, but his voice was calm. Somehow Annie felt confident that if anyone could save mother and child, he could.
As soon as Sophia’s legs had been manoeuvred into position, Annie followed his instructions. With a cry of pain, Sophia gave a final push and the baby slithered into the Annie’s arms, giving a gusty cry a few seconds later. Annie and Raphael’s eyes locked over the exhausted mother. He grinned widely, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and Annie’s world tilted.
‘A healthy baby girl,’ he said, repeating the words in Spanish to the new mother.
Quickly Annie checked that the baby’s breathing was unrestricted before wrapping the tiny infant in a shawl and passing Sophia her daughter to hold.
‘Gracias, gracias, Raphael,’ Sophia whispered, nuzzling her newborn. She looked up at Annie. ‘Gracias, Señora.’ In the distance Annie could hear the sound of a siren approaching. They just had time to deliver the placenta before the ambulance crew hurried in.
Raphael spoke to the paramedics as they prepared to transfer Sophia to the hospital, and Annie studied him surreptitiously. He really was the most gorgeous-looking man she had ever seen in her life! His black wavy hair was worn slightly too long and a lock fell across his eyes. He swept it away impatiently with long, tapered fingers. He had high cheekbones, an aquiline nose and his olive complexion showed off even white teeth. He wasn’t overly tall, but every muscle was clearly defined under his white shirt. Tailored trousers clung to thighs that looked as if they had been honed by hours in the gym. All in all he exuded sex appeal. Annie had never met anyone like him before. Quite simply, he took her breath away.
‘Well done,’ he said to Annie over the cries of the infant. ‘I am sorry, I don’t even know your name.’
‘It’s Annie,’ she said. ‘Annie Thomas. And there’s no need to thank me. I was glad to help. Although I’m relieved you appeared when you did. I’m not sure I would have coped—even with my two helpers here.’ She nodded at the older woman and the young girl, who were now fussing over the baby.
‘My mother—’ he indicated the older woman with a nod of his head ‘—called me. Fortunately, I was waiting for her in a café nearby. She wanted to say a prayer before we went home for lunch.’
His mother glanced up from Sophia and the baby and Raphael introduced them. Señora Castillo nodded vigorously and said something to her son in rapid Spanish.
‘She says you must come for lunch too.’ By this time Sophia and her baby were being loaded onto a stretcher, with Raphael helping.
‘Shouldn’t we go with them to the hospital?’ Annie asked.
He looked at her and grinned. ‘I will go with them. There is no room for you. Anyway, you are on holiday, no? I am sure you have other things you would like to do. Even if you don’t care to join my family for lunch.’
Annie felt unreasonably disappointed. But whether it was because she wouldn’t be able to follow up her patient as she was used to doing, or whether it was because Raphael was about to disappear from her life for good, she didn’t know. Not that she was in any mood for romance. Not when she had just decided to get her life back on track. The last thing she needed was more complications in her life.
‘What about this little one?’ Annie asked, indicating Maria, who remained watching with enormous brown eyes.
Raphael laughed and chucked the little girl under her chin. ‘Maria is staying with my mother. She will go home with her. Everyone will be there. It is our New Year family gathering. Maybe you will think about coming and I will see you there later?’ He quirked an eyebrow in enquiry and Annie felt a shiver dance down her spine. How on earth was this man having this effect on her? She had only just met him, for goodness’ sake! Maybe it was something to do with those intense brown eyes and that body, an inner voice whispered. Maybe it’s because she’d never met anyone who looked like him before. Everything about him sent warning signals flashing in Annie’s head and she knew the wisest thing she could do was put as much distance as possible between her and this man—and the sooner the better.
As she opened her mouth to protest that she couldn’t possibly intrude, Raphael smiled again. ‘Actually, you can’t say no. Mama will not let you, so you might as well give in now. My mother is—how do you say? Formidable. But, look, I must go. The ambulance is about to leave.’ He stared down at her for a long second, holding her gaze with the intensity of his own. ‘I hope you will decide to come.’ And then he was walking away, leaving Annie reeling.
Sure enough, Mama Castillo was tugging at Annie’s arm, making it clear that she expected her to follow. Silently Maria slipped her hand into Annie’s and it seemed that she was going for lunch whether she wanted to or not. Well, it wasn’t as if she had anything else planned for the rest of the day, and, if she was honest with herself, she’d had enough of her own company. Moreover, hadn’t it been one of her New Year resolutions to try and experience more of life? She refused to let herself think too long about the real reason she wanted to go. The thought of seeing Raphael again was irresistible, no matter what the sensible part of her brain was telling her. What could it hurt? She was leaving soon and she would never see any of them again. And what was the point of being wise anyway? Right now, she had nothing left to lose.
‘Okay. I’d love to,’ she said, finally throwing her hands up in surrender. When Maria translated for her an enormous grin lit up the tiny woman’s weatherbeaten face.
They stepped outside just as the ambulance sped away. Although it was winter, the sun was high in the sky and Annie could feel it warming her skin. She felt a shiver of anticipation. This holiday was turning out to be not at all what she had expected!
Unsure of where they were going or how they were going to get there, Annie was dismayed when Mama Castillo lifted her voluminous skirts and climbed onto a small moped, indicating that Annie should jump on behind her.
Annie looked to Maria for confirmation.
‘She says she will take you. I will walk. It is not far. Just up there.’ Maria pointed up a narrow road towards a cluster of whitewashed houses. ‘In the hills,’ she added.
‘Could I not walk with you?’ Annie said doubtfully. But Maria shook her head decisively. ‘No, you must go with Grandma. She says it is too far for an English woman to walk in this sun. I am used to it. It is better if you go on the bike.’
It seemed to Annie as if she had little choice in the matter. Mama Castillo looked in no mood to debate the matter. Reluctantly Annie climbed on the moped and hoped for the best.
In the event Annie kept her eyes closed as they raced up the hill, scattering chickens and goats in all directions. For the whole of the ten-minute journey, Mama Castillo didn’t slow down once, not even for a group of men trudging up the hill in front of them. It was obvious to Annie that she only had one speed, and nothing and no one was going to slow her down.
When they eventually stopped outside a farmhouse perched on the side of the hill, Annie felt a huge wave of relief. There had been moments when she’d been sure that she wasn’t going to survive the journey.
As soon as they climbed off the moped they were surrounded by what seemed to Annie to be most of the village. There were a number of young men, at least two of whom bore a striking resemblance to Raphael, as well as half a dozen women. There were also children, almost too many to count, running around the large courtyard, squealing and laughing.
Overwhelmed by the noise, Annie stood back, feeling suddenly shy. Why on earth had she agreed to come here? she wondered. After a few minutes a stunning woman with thick wavy hair and hazel eyes detached herself from the crowd and came across to Annie holding out her hand.
‘Welcome to our home,’ she said. ‘Mama told me you helped Sophia and her baby today. Sophia is a cousin of my father’s so we all are in your debt.’ So this dark-haired beauty must be Raphael’s sister. Annie could see the resemblance in the high cheekbones and sensuous mouth.
‘It was nothing,’ Annie replied. ‘I was glad to help.’
‘My name is Catalina.’ The woman continued. ‘I heard Raphael was there too.’ She stood on tiptoe, looking over Annie’s shoulder. ‘So where is my brother now? He promised to be here.’
‘He went with Sophia and the baby to the hospital. To make sure there were no complications. He said he would come as soon as he was finished there.’
Catalina pouted. ‘That’s Raphael for you, always working. We don’t see him very often. He is supposed to be on holiday with us, just for these few days, but we’ve hardly seen him. Pah! But seeing as it is our cousin he is attending to, I won’t tell him off when he comes.’
And then, before Annie had a chance to say anything, she was being led into an enormous farmhouse kitchen where a large table had been laid out as if to feed the five thousand. It was covered with bowls of fruit and olives and large platters of paella as well as other Spanish dishes that Annie couldn’t identify, but which smelled delicious. Soon she was part of the chattering group, absorbed into their friendly warmth that needed little translation. Catalina made some introductions, but there were too many for Annie to possibly remember all their names. It seemed that she had guessed right and the two men she had thought were Raphael’s brothers turned out to be just that. Apart from Catalina, there were another two women who were his sisters. Annie had just been guided into a seat at the table when Maria, smiling shyly appeared silently at her side where, after squeezing in beside her, she remained for the rest of the meal. Gazing around the crowded table, Annie couldn’t be sure who Maria belonged to. As far as she could tell, all the children appeared to be shared.
During a spell when no one’s attention was on her, Annie wondered wistfully what it would be like to be part of a family just like this one, and in an instant the sadness came flooding back. She squeezed her eyes closed, forcing back the never-far-away tears. She would never know.
When she opened her eyes again, it was to find Raphael looking down at her, his dark-winged brows knotted in puzzlement. His eyes had an intensity that made her feel as if he could see into her soul, and as he held her gaze Annie thought she recognised an answering sadness in their depths, but knew she had to be mistaken. What could this vibrant, gorgeous man have to feel unhappy about? As far as Annie could see, he had everything. Her eyes swept the happy chattering family again; at least, everything that mattered.
He leaned over her. ‘Don’t be so sad,’ he murmured in her ear.
She could smell his aftershave and his breath on her cheek was like a caress. Her heart gave an involuntary leap. What was it about him that made her feel like a schoolgirl with her first crush? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such an instant and powerful response to a man. In fact, she couldn’t remember responding like this to a man ever—and that included Robert. Maybe it was the Spanish sunshine and the couple of glasses of sangria that had been served with lunch. Whatever it was, she couldn’t deny she was pleased that he was back before she had made her excuses and left.
‘I’m not sad,’ she retorted. There was a sudden lull in the conversation and her words rang out around the table. To her acute embarrassment, all eyes swivelled her way. There was a moment of deathly silence before everyone resumed their conversations. Annie felt herself blush to the tips of her ears.
‘How is Sophia?’ she asked, determined to change the subject.
‘Mother and baby are doing fine,’ he said. ‘She told me to thank you again.’ Then he turned towards the others and said something in Spanish to which they all raised their glasses. ‘To Sophia! To Annie!’ If it were possible, Annie felt more self-conscious than ever, and it seemed by the broad grin on his face that Raphael was enjoying her discomfort.
All of a sudden she wanted nothing more than to put as much distance between herself and this man as possible. She stood, almost knocking over her wineglass in her haste to get away. ‘Thank you for the meal, but I really think I should be going,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I’ve taken enough of your family’s kind hospitality.’ She stumbled as her head spun with the sudden movement.
His hand shot out and grasped her wrist, steadying her. The touch of his fingertips seemed to burn her skin.
‘I will take you. Where are you staying?’
‘Oh, no, it’s quite all right. I’m sure I can find my own way. My apartment is opposite the church. It won’t take me more than half an hour to walk back. And after that meal, I could do with the exercise.’ She was miserably aware that she was babbling on, but she seemed powerless to halt the words erupting from her mouth. The longer she was in his company, the more she felt like a star-struck schoolgirl.
‘Anyway, you haven’t had a chance to eat yet.’ She checked her watch. ‘It’s almost 5.30! You must be starving by now. Please don’t worry about taking me.’
‘It is no trouble. My mother would never forgive me my poor manners if I didn’t see you home. I told you how formidable she can be. I wouldn’t put it past her to—how do you say?—box my ears!’
Annie laughed, suddenly relaxing. ‘Okay, then. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for that,’ she said. ‘But I insist you have something to eat before we leave.’
‘Only if you promise me you will stay a little longer.’ Then he frowned. ‘But forgive me, I am stupid. You are sure to have someone waiting for you? Back at your apartment?’
‘No,’ Annie said heavily. ‘I’m on my own, so there isn’t really a need for me to rush away.’ If she were honest with herself, the last thing she felt like doing was returning to the little flat she had rented. After two weeks of her own company, she was heartily sick of it. Besides, there was something about this family group that made her feel warm and wanted. Perhaps just for tonight she could pretend she belonged and forget about her life back home?
Raphael looked puzzled. ‘You are here in Spain on your own? Over Christmas? And New Year! How can that be?’
Annie had no intention of telling him the truth. The last thing she wanted was his sympathy. ‘I thought a little bit of winter sun would be nice,’ she said.
If anything, Raphael looked even more perplexed. ‘It is winter here, too,’ he said.
“At home, right now it’s snowing.’ Annie had to laugh. ‘I can assure you there is no comparison.’
‘Whatever,’ he said, grinning back at her. ‘I for one am glad you came to Spain.’ There was something in the force of his gaze that sent shivers of anticipation up Annie’s spine. ‘And I know Sophia is, too,’ he added.
The last comment was a reality check. Of course, Annie thought. Why would a man like Raphael Castillo be interested in someone as ordinary as her?
It was growing dark by the time they left and Annie felt a pang as she was subjected to dozens of warm embraces and repeated pleas to return and see them again. All in all, it had been a magical afternoon, and she wished she could stay for ever. But, of course, that wasn’t possible. She had her own life to return to even if it was a lonely and barren one—in more ways than one. Just as Raphael opened the wrought-iron gate to the road, Maria came running over and flung herself into Annie’s arms, burying her face in Annie’s shoulder. Annie felt her heart contract as she cuddled the little girl, breathing in the scent of oranges on her skin. What she would give to be able to hold her own child in her arms.
She released the little girl as Mama Castillo called to her with softly spoken words and Annie watched Maria cuddle up, the inevitable thumb back in her mouth, in the older woman’s lap. Regretfully Annie gave a final wave, before following Raphael down the dirt road away from the house.
‘Who does Maria belong to?’ she asked. ‘She is such a sweetheart, but she seems so…I don’t know…lost.’
‘Ah, little Maria,’ Raphael said slowly. ‘Her mother, my cousin, died suddenly a few months ago. Her father…’ he sucked in his breath, his mouth tightening with disapproval. ‘He is weak. He left Maria behind. What kind of man is that? If Maria were my child, I would do everything I could to keep her with me.’
Suddenly the warmth drained from his eyes and Annie shivered. Instinctively she knew that Raphael was not the kind of man to give up anything he thought he had a right to. He was not the kind of man she would ever want to cross swords with.
‘He must have been in some state to abandon his child. People do all sorts of things that are out of character when they are hurting,’ Annie said. But she couldn’t really understand how any father could abandon his child—especially when that child had just lost her mother. It was too cruel.
‘There is no excuse,’ Raphael said curtly. ‘A father has his duty. How he feels is of no importance when it comes to the child.’ He looked away, but not before Annie read the bleakness in his eyes. ‘So now she lives with my family. She loves my mother but she still grieves for her own,’ Raphael went on. ‘She is sad—like you—but every day she is getting stronger.’
There it was again. The reference to her sadness. Was she so transparent? Or did this man just seem to be able to see into her soul?
They walked along the narrow road, the scent of the heavily laden orange trees that edged the pavement drifting in the still air, the velvet sky punctuated with stars. He asked her about her job, and she told him about Penhally Bay, how much she loved living there and how much she enjoyed her job at the hospital. He listened closely, then he told her about his job in Barcelona. That he missed the countryside and regretted that he wasn’t able to see his family more often. He grinned down at her.
‘As you can tell, we Spaniards are big on family. What about you?’
‘I have my parents and a brother as well as a sister. They both have small children. My brother lives in Australia and my parents are going to stay with him there for a few months after their cruise. My sister is in Scotland with her family.’ She slid a glance at him. ‘I envy you, having your family all so close,’ she admitted.
Once again, she thought she saw a shadow pass across his face. But when he smiled she knew she must have been mistaken.
‘It’s not all good. I have to put up with my sisters and my mother wanting to know everything about my life. Dios, they never give me peace.’
Before Annie knew it, they were outside her apartment. The nearby houses were draped in Christmas lights, lighting the cobbled street.
She didn’t want the evening to end and it seemed as if Raphael didn’t either. He hesitated then said, ‘If you are not too tired, there is this little restaurant a few minutes’ walk away. It has the most excellent tapas. And I am suddenly hungry again. Will you come with me?’
She let her gaze sweep his muscular frame. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on it as far as she could see. Where did he put all that food?
‘Okay,’ she said softly. ‘It’s my last night. I might as well make the most of it.’
He steered her towards a small restaurant behind the church. It was packed inside, but there was no one sitting at the outside tables in the plaza.
‘Do you mind if we sit here?’ Annie asked.
‘Of course. If that is what you want.’ He took off the thin sweater he had been wearing, revealing a short-sleeved shirt. ‘But I insist you put this on.’
Sensing that it would be useless to argue, Annie slipped the sweater on over her shoulders. It smelled faintly of a mix of citrus aftershave and the warm tang of his scent. It was much too large, falling almost to her knees and slipping off her shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat as he leant forward and turned up the cuffs. The gesture was both tender and erotic and as his fingers lightly brushed against her bare skin, Annie felt darts of electricity tingle up her arms.
Raphael studied her slowly, his smile turning up the corners of his mouth and creasing the corner of his eyes. Annie thought yet again that she had never seen a man so gorgeous yet so sure of his masculinity. A part of her, sensing danger, wanted to run from him as fast as she could, but at the same time she knew that she couldn’t bear to see him walk out of her life. At least, not yet.
When their order of seafood arrived, it felt like the most natural thing in the world for Raphael to feed her small morsels of lobster and shrimp with his fingers. The touch of his hands on her lips sent small explosions of desire racing through her body.
Then, without saying anything, they stood and Raphael took her hand again. She led him back up the path to the front door of her apartment. Knowing that what was about to happen was beyond her control, she opened the door and, keeping her hand in his, went inside.
‘Are you sure?’ he said. He looked into her eyes and it was as if he knew her most hidden thoughts. Despite the ready smile, she saw something in the depths of his ebony eyes that mirrored her own pain. All she wanted was to give comfort and to be comforted in return. The rest of her life could take care of itself.
‘It’s not too late to change your mind.’ His voice was soft, yet there was an undercurrent that caused her pulse to leap.
‘No,’ she said, stunned by her brazenness. ‘It’s what I want.’ She knew she was risking danger. Not that she didn’t trust him—she instinctively knew he would never harm her. But she could no more resist her need for him than she could walk back to Penhally Bay.
He picked up her hand and pressed it to his lips. She shivered as shock waves of desire coursed through her body. She had never experienced lust like it before, but she wasn’t naive. She knew what those dark brown eyes were asking her. She didn’t want to play games. All she felt was an overriding need to be held in his arms—to have her femininity reaffirmed. It had taken such a beating in the last few months. Surely just this once she could throw caution to the wind and take a chance?
He dropped her hand and pulled her hard against him, one hand on her hip, the other cupping her bottom. She could feel every muscle of his hard chest through his T-shirt and the pressure of his thighs on hers. Flames of desire flooded her body and she turned her face up to his, seeking his mouth. He brought it down on hers, gently at first and then harder as he seemed to draw her very soul. She snaked her hands around his neck, pulling him closer. She was drowning, her legs weak with her need for him.
He pulled away. She could see that he too was shaken by the strength of their mutual desire.
‘Are you sure?’ he asked gently. It was all she could do to nod, then with a triumphant smile he picked her up and, holding her close in his arms, he carried her up the stairs and into their own private world.
Later, when the sun was beginning to lighten the sky, she lay on one elbow, looking down on him. Asleep he looked softer, more vulnerable somehow. He had been a passionate but considerate lover, taking his time with her, waiting until she cried out with her need to have him inside her before he took her. She smiled. Several times he had taught her things about her own body that she hadn’t known. Time and time again he had brought her to a climax that had left her shuddering and almost tearful with release. She traced a finger over his lips, memorising the contours of his face, knowing she would never see him again. But it was almost all right. In one wonderful night he had managed to heal something inside her that she’d thought was beyond repair. And for that, she would never forget him.
