COUNTERPOINT
An original romantic serialFrom Alina Adams the author of "When a Man Loves a Woman" (DELL 4/00), "Annie's Wild Ride" (AVON 8/98), "Inside Figure Skating" (METROBOOKS 11/00 & 9/99), "Thieves at Heart" (AVON 12/95) and "The Fictitious Marquis" (AVON 6/95)
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CHAPTER 28
In spite of Victoria's setting the alarm for seven a.m., Robin awoke first. Accustomed to mornings in unfamiliar surroundings, he lay on his back for a beat, blinking and wondering why, along with the geographic confusion, his head wasn't pounding, his stomach not churning, or his tongue needing a shave. When Robin recalled where he was, he smiled, rolling over onto his side. Victoria lay curled up, facing him, her arm tucked under the pillow beneath her head. It hadn't been a dream. For a moment, Robin had doubted his memory. But, it had been no dream. She was really here, with him, and, last night, Robin had held her and made love to her and heard her cry out his name, her voice hoarse with yearning. He'd never imagined a woman putting aside her principles and yet still giving herself to him so absolutely could touch Robin this profoundly. He didn't understand it. All he knew was, he liked it very much.
Victoria stirred, and Robin wrapped his arms around her, so that, when she awoke, she was looking up into his eyes.
"Good-morning," he whispered, not sure of precisely why he was being so quiet, but certain that the last thing he wanted to do was startle or disturb her.
It was her turn to blink, struggling to regain her focus, and her memory. Unlike Robin, though, Victoria hadn't logged nearly as much experience waking up to a new face. Her eyes widened a bit at the sight of him, and she smiled feebly in answer to his greeting.
Victoria sat up, rubbing her face with the heels of her hands. Robin pushed himself up to mirror her position. Ducking his head in the hope of meeting her eyes, but being greeted only by her hair brushing the side of her cheek, Robin gently asked, "Victoria?"
She practically jumped at the sound of his voice, turning her head only far enough to avoid seeming rude, yet stubbornly refusing to look at him.
Robin kissed her shoulder, and sadly guessed, "You regret what happened last night."
Her chin jerked upward. Victoria scrambled out from under the blanket, and then out of bed, padding to her closet, pulling out a robe and wrapping herself in it.
"I don't regret anything." She turned around, approaching the bed, and perching on the edge, this time looking Robin straight in the eye. "Making love to you last night was -- it was magic. You made me feel desirable, and beautiful, and safe. You made me feel safe enough to let myself go. It was wonderful. I don't remember the last time anybody did that for me."
"Then why," Robin indicated the distance she'd imposed between them. "All this?"
"Because," she spoke calmly and clearly, the result of having given the matter plenty of thought. "I know how you made me feel. But, I would never presume to speak for you. You've been straight with me from the beginning. You've never concealed the kind of man you are, or what you wanted from me. That's why I understand last night couldn't possibly have meant as much to you, as it did to me. And I don't want to put you in a position of feeling like maybe you should pretend otherwise for my sake."
Robin smiled ironically. "Do you ever stop thinking of other people ahead of yourself?"
"Why does, coming from you, that sound like an insult?"
"Consider it a cultural difference." He raised his knee and propped his elbow up on top of it. "We're a bit more self-centered where I come from."
"Maine?"
"Money."
Victoria smiled. He looked so earnest, she wanted to hug him. How could one man be such a jaded skeptic, such a fervent romantic, and such a little boy, all at the same time? Maybe that explained how he could inspire such assorted passions in her. How she could simultaneously ache to pull him close and push him away. How she could be afraid of him and yet unable to shake the feeling that he needed her protection. How her body could liquefy under his touch, while her mind questioned what she was getting into.
Victoria covered her face with both hands, and shook her head. "Everything is so confusing right now. I feel like, no matter how hard I try, I can't make myself concentrate on more than one thing. Do you think -- would you mind terribly if you and I sort of tabled this discussion until after I settle the mess with Gabriel?"
Robin rubbed his chin with his palm, and sighed. "I'm not a big fan of coming in second. Especially not behind a guy who gets on my nerves like the good Dr. Scott."
Robin's irrational hatred of Gabriel was yet another element that continued to puzzle Victoria, and emphasize the dichotomy of his nature. As far as she knew, Gabriel had certainly never done anything to inspire such enmity, yet Robin acted like Gabriel knew exactly why he'd been singled out.
"However," he conceded. "I know how hard today is going to be on you. And, in the interest of not making things harder, I will agree to temporarily -- temporarily, mind you -- hold off talking about us, so you can focus on St. Gabriel. But, I warn you. I am not a patient man. Now that I've had a taste; a sweet, beautiful, wonderful taste of you, you can be sure, Miss Morgan, that I intend to come back for more."