Beauty and the Dark by Georgia le Carre Page A

and totally unaffected by it all.
    After dessert I excuse myself and go to the Ladies. In the mirror I see a woman who looks like a cornered rat. I try to remember Lena’s saying. “Life is short. You have to grab it with both hands. Cake, shoes, and the man you want.” The wind has loosened wisps of my hair. I pull them all back into my braid and go back out.
    In the corridor I see Jack approaching. I stop and look behind me nervously. There is no one else around. He comes right up to me and stops in front of me. I retreat and he takes a step forward. I turn and press myself against the wall to let him pass and he cages me against it. His broad, muscular body completely blocks me off from sight, making me feel small and feminine. Brooding power and strength come off him in waves, but it doesn’t fill me with fear.
    It makes me want him more.
    I want to climb him.
    The only thing I fear is my own uncontrollable desire. I look up at him and our eyes lock. His are so dilated they are almost black. Images of our last encounter flood my mind. The sexual tension swirls like thick smoke around us. I feel a bolt of sensation flow through my body. It’s desire. More than I ever thought possible. This man makes me feel things I have never felt before. The kind of passion I thought only existed in books.
    He leans in until there is not even an inch between our faces. I can see a small white scar just under his right eyebrow. His breath fans my forehead. I should tell him that he needs to slow down. Take it easier, but I can hardly speak with the heat inside me.
    “You look delectable tonight,” he whispers, his sexy-as-hell mouth twisting.
    “Thank you,” I choke.
    “Do you know you’re fucking driving me crazy?”
    My chest rises and falls rapidly. I lick my dry lips and he takes a deep breath and rests his forehead on mine.
    “I want to see you with swollen lips after a whole night of kissing.”
    I gasp, a thrill of excitement flushing through my veins. “You shouldn’t …”
    “No, I fucking shouldn’t …” he mutters to himself.
    I swallow hard. “You’re going too fast.”
    “Am I?” he growls.
    His breath is warm and makes my whole body tingle. I want him so bad I can taste the need on my tongue. “Yes. We hardly know each other.”
    His eyes flicker. “I know everything I need to know about you.”
    His words are like a fast moving undercurrent that could pull me under.
    “Sofia,” a harsh voice calls.
    The sensation that there is nobody else in the world but us shatters suddenly. I nearly jump out of my skin, but Jack doesn’t turn immediately. He takes his time before turning to face the voice.
    Guy’s face is stern, his jaw clamped tight. I have never seen such an expression on his face. From the first day he found me he has always been gentle and kind with me. Completely ignoring Jack, he addresses me instead. “Your sister wants you.”
    With my face flaming, I straighten away from the wall and walk stiffly towards Guy. He throws another hard look at Jack before escorting me towards our table.
    “Was he-”
    “No,” I say quickly before he can even finish his question.
    “Are you all right?” he asks, his voice concerned.
    “Yes.” My whole body is still shivering with desire. “I’m fine.”
    He nods, but his forehead is creased with a deep frown.
    When we get back to the table, Lena looks up at me with enquiring eyes. Slipping into my chair I smile tightly and shake my head to indicate that everything is all right. She turns to Guy and he looks deep into her eyes and gently rubs his thumb down her cheek. The gesture is so intimate and so full of profound love that I feel my stomach clench with a mixture of envy and longing.
    After a few minutes Jack comes back, but he doesn’t take his seat. He thanks Lena for inviting him and hopes we enjoy our dessert. Unfortunately, he has to leave since he has an early start in the morning, however he has taken care of the bill. I don’t look