The effect was electric. Annette blushed angrily, memory of her open boasting coming to her belatedly, and for the first time ever Natalie saw real rage on Kip's face.
'You were taping me?' Annette almost choked over the words and Natalie gave her a sweet smile.
'Oh, I always tape my interviews. My shorthand is not too good.'
'It wasn't an interview!'
'But I distinctly remember you asking if I was going to interview local celebrities and Kip said you were one yourself. You did know that I'm part of the media.'
'I never expected this! It's downright underhand to hide a tape recorder!'
'Not at all,' Natalie said breezily, standing and gathering her things. 'The sight of it puts people off. They don't say any of the things they would say normally. I'll let you have a copy, of course, when I've got it typed up.' She murmured her thanks and bowed out gracefully. Kip stood but he said nothing at all and this time the dark eyes were anything but warm and smiling. She felt she had stood on the tail of a tiger who was not quite prepared to bite.
He bit sooner than she had anticipated. There was a knock on her door almost as soon as she had entered her room and, thinking it was a maid, she opened it at once. Kip stood outside looking extremely forbidding
and it was clear that at this moment she was not at all an exotic butterfly but a very disreputable member of the television world.
'What can I do for you?' Natalie looked up at him and tried very hard to outface him, with no success at all.
'You can wipe that tape.' He stepped into the room and closed the door, standing tall and rather intimidating, leaning against it.
'Are you mad? This is what I do for a living.'
'No. This is what you do for spite,' he corrected frostily. 'You invited Annette to make a fool of herself.'
'And she obliged very nicely. If you're worried about her, keep her out of my path. What have you done with her, sent her home alone or settled her with a double brandy?'
'She's in the bar. I'll take her home when I've dealt with you. I don't think a double brandy will restore her temper but it's not that you have to worry about.'
'I'm not worried at all.' Natalie tossed her black hair back and moved away, gasping when he jerked her back towards him.
'Perhaps you should be, television lady. Annette can take care of herself but you know damned well why I kept silent and listened to that boring talk. I was too allured by those green-eyed glances I kept getting to intervene. Make a fool of anyone you like and good luck to you. Make a fool of me and take what's coming to you.'
"I don't know what you mean!' Natalie suddenly realised that he was not in any way as she had known him. He was furious, boiling with a silent rage that altered him completely. He was not now a man to challenge. He was all cold power. He had allowed himself
to be beguiled by her glances and she had done it deliberately. He was in no doubt about that. Audacity left her and only alarm remained.
His hands left her shoulders and gripped her slender waist, pulling her to him with one angry movement.
'Then I'll show you. Look at me with bedroom eyes and this is where you'll find me—in your bedroom.'
One arm lashed round her waist, his free hand tangling in her long hair as he forced her face up to his and took her lips stormily. There was not the sweet possession there had been before. This was savage, cruel, a bitter punishment. This was another man and she whimpered under the fierce pressure of his lips.
It did not make him relent. He was intent on punishment, incensed at her trick to keep him silent as Annette talked.. He pulled her harshly against him until her hips were grinding into his, until the whole hard length of his body seemed to be indelibly printed against her softness.
'Please!' She managed to free her lips and for one frightening moment he looked as if he would continue the hostile chastisement. His body did not relax and his hands held her tightly to him, his dark eyes burning into hers.
'Don't ever tease me again, Natalie,' he said heavily at last, his glance skimming her bruised lips. 'This is not the way I want to crush you. The next time you're in my arms you'll be there willingly.'
'I won't be,' she whispered. 'I'll be gone almost before you know it.'
'I'll know it,' he assured her ominously, 'because by that time you'll belong to me, even if it's only once.'
'No! You have no right to talk like that.' She pushed frantically against his chest, her heart beating with wild dismay as she felt the surge of arousal that hardened his body against hers.
'Give me the right,' he said huskily.
His lips brushed her neck, his hand now teasing against her vulnerable nape, the cruelty gone, the powerful, intoxicating sweetness back, and excitement surged through her as his touch banished fear. His eyes looked into hers, the deep brown darkened to near black, his pupils enlarged, glazed, and she knew just how much he wanted her.
Her breasts tightened and thrust forward, her own body betraying her, and his voice was almost slurred as he breathed her name. 'Natalie!'
She tried to ignore him, to remain aloof, but it was impossible. The chemistry was too strong. The hands that had attempted to hold him off now slid around his neck and he drew her between his parted legs, sensuously pressing her close, his hand moving down her spine, moulding her to his body.