A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
“I love you,” she said brokenly, touching his face.“I’ve always loved you.”
For a minute Darryn thought his heart would explode.Hugging her close to him, he whispered her name over and over again.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to say it.I know you don’t feel the same way and it’s—” she said, but when he registered what she was saying, he cursed and sat up quickly.
He had both arms around her to make sure she didn’t move before he had his say.“Damn it to hell, Hannah.How can you say that?”he snapped.“Look at us!We’re both naked and I’m in your bed!”He shook her gently.“Two years ago I lost my heart to you, and however hard I tried, I’ve never been able to get it back.It belongs to you—always will.Because,” he said, cupping her face, “I love you.You’ve touched my very depths, and no one else will ever do for me but you.”
“But you have a different woman on your arm every—”
He kissed her.It seemed to be one sure way of shutting her up.He really only meant for it be a quick kiss, so she would stop talking nonsense, but the moment he tasted her and her lips moved under his, he was lost.
“It’s only ever been you,” he murmured, before he lifted her up so he could become a part of her.
She gasped as he pushed into her.Her eyes opened, and she started moving with him.It had always been like this.It was if she knew what he wanted and moved with him as if they were one.
“I love you,” he said as he increased the rhythm.He tried to watch her, tried to stay focused, but his senses spun into overdrive, spiraling him out of control.
Chapter Eight
Something had wokenher up.It was still dark outside, and behind her, Darryn was still asleep, breathing deeply.Her cell phone was lit up.She was used to getting messages at all hours of the day; it was probably Karen.Carefully, Hannah lifted Darryn’s arm that was holding her against him and slipped from the bed.She had to go to the bathroom anyway and would see what Karen wanted.
In the bathroom, she washed her face and stared at herself in the mirror—she looked thoroughly loved.Groaning, she dried her face.She shouldn’t be awake.They’d hardly slept.She blushed and put her hands to her flaming face.Wow, the man had moves and then some.When she remembered all the things she’d done to him, what he’d done to her, her pulse picked up and she had difficulty breathing.
Phone.That was why she was here.She had to check her messages.She clicked on her phone and the text message jumped out at her.Her legs gave way, and she sank to the floor.No, no, no!Grabbing her mouth to prevent a sob escaping, she put her head on her knees.
The message was from Stephen White.
Although his name didn’t appear anywhere, she knew it was from him.
So you think having your family around you and a Cavallo in your bed will keep me away?GET RID OF THE SECURITY GUARD AND GET AWAY FROM CAVALLO OR I WILL KILL HIM!!!
And below the horrible words were two pictures—one from the four of them when they were having dinner and one of Darryn on her bed.She hadn’t closed the windows, she remembered.
Hannah lifted her head and wiped her cheeks.This was never going to be over; he was never going to stop, and there wasn’t anyone who could do anything about it.The only way she could protect those near and dear to her was to do what she’d been doing—keep as far away from them as possible.But this time, she would have to disappear as well.At least for a while.
For a minute, she considered telling Darryn about the threat.Maybe she could persuade him to disappear with her, maybe they could… With a sob, her face fell into her hands.Darryn would never back away from someone like Stephen White, and if anything happened to him, it would kill her.This was something she would have to do on her own.
Her mind made up, she got up unsteadily while her brain worked overtime.She’d phone Karen when she was on the move.Before the others woke up, she’d have to be gone.None of them would back away if she were to tell them about Stephen’s message, and she needed to know they’d be safe.
She grabbed her toiletries bag.This was all that she would take with her.Whatever else she needed, she could buy or get from her apartment in Cape Town.Her handbag with her passport and cards was on her dressing table.If her luck held, Darryn wouldn’t wake up.Her phone.She’d have to get rid of that.But first she’d send everyone a message.It would be easy enough to get a new phone at the airport and hopefully it would take a while before Stephen had the new number.
Nobody had to be able find her.
And the security guard?She’d have to think of something quickly.
*
Darryn opened hiseyes and he knew—Hannah was gone.The sun was up; a light breeze blew in from the open window.He looked around.Everything looked the same as it did last night, not that he could remember much, he only had eyes for Hannah.But she wasn’t there.
An emptiness filled his being.His phone bleeped.Grabbing it, he sat up.For a long time he simply stared at the message.A sharp knife went right through his side, pierced his heart and left it bleeding.Hannah had indeed left.
Forget about last night, it shouldn’t have happened, she wrote.She was fine; she needed to be alone.He had to get on with his life and forget about her.He reread her words three more times, but the message stayed the same—she had left, she didn’t want to be with him.
Swearing, he grabbed his jeans and, jumping around, finally got them on.A look inside her closets told him she hadn’t taken anything with her.
For a minute, he leaned against the wall, his heart breaking into a million little pieces.This time the hurt cut deeper.After last night, he’d thought she’d trusted him.Hadn’t she told him she loved him?And hadn’t he told her the same thing?Added foolishly that his heart was hers?But she’d left, so last night obviously meant nothing to her.
