Sleeping Love (Work In Progress)

Hi Everyone,

Here is the next chapter of my romantic suspense novel, Sleeping Love. Hope you enjoy it.

Btw, Knight of Swords is now available on Kindle at Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk. If you are interested in buying a copy please follow the purchasing links at the side of the page and on the Published page.

Thanks.

Sara


Chapter Four (Part I)

Anger rose inside Sabrina to fever pitch. She cherished her independence with a passion and not Raoul or anybody else was going to take it away from her. She didn't take kindly to threats nowould she allow herself to be frightened of them no matter who was dishing them out. She slammed the door shut with force and turned to confront him.

He was shaking his gorgeous head and tutting at her with cruel amusement. Sabrina felt her eyes narrow.

'Temper, temper, darling. You always were explosive. A firecracker, I used to call you. I see that you have lost none of your spark.'

His lips curled in a mischievous seductive smile and that damned playful look glinted in his eyes. Her greatest wish that moment was to wipe the smile from his face and it was with a huge effort she kept her hand by her side. Though she did wonder how long she would be able to restrain herself if he kept on provoking her. He seemed to be taking great pleasure in riling her anger. Perhaps it was some sort of revenge for making him feel as if she had deserted him.

'I don't know what kind of woman I was when I lived with you but here and now I do not take orders from anyone, especially from men.' Sabrina's attempt to keep her voice level and calm disintegrated towards the end of her sentence.

To her fury triumph reigned in his eyes. Bastard. He was enjoying his control over her. She swallowed a breath and forced herself to continue maintaining as much dignity as she could, refusing to give him anymore satisfaction.

'I am leaving. If you do anything to stop me I will call the police and have you arrested for false imprisonment. I am sure the they would be interested in what I have to say especially when they obviously believe you are capable of murder,' she snapped loudly, suddenly feeling confident the upper hand was now hers.

A frown creased Raoul's forehead but he appeared undeterred or affected by her words. Sabrina watched him reach into his suit pocket and bring out a mobile. Sabrina recognised it at once. It was hers. He must have taken it from her room when she wasn't looking. He'd planned this reunion well. He shook it at her.

'And how are you going to call them without this?' he asked.

Sabrina's eyes quickly diverted to the land line on his desk.

'I'm afraid that won't help you. I've had all the land lines cut. Like it or not darling wife you are here to stay,' there was no mistaking the bitterness and hurt that she wanted to leave again in his voice. He dropped the mobile to the floor and stepped on it crushing the small metal box. 'There is no escape, Sabrina. Until you get your memory back I am in control . . .'

Sabrina didn't let him finish his sentence. Her temper finally got the better of her. She brought her hand crashing against the side of his face in a heavy slap. Raoul's reaction was swift. He caught hold of her arms and pushed her backwards against the wall. She vainly attempted to raise her hand and slap him again, afraid for her life and the sudden violent darkness in his eyes. He caught both of her hands and held them against the wall at the sides of her head trapping her there. Terrified of what he was about to do, Sabrina caught her breath. What followed spun her head and her thoughts out of control. Far from using violence against her Raoul bent his head and captured her lips in a deep possessive kiss. But what disturbed her the most was her own reaction.

Far from being repulsed or angered by his liberty, Sabrina found herself responding as though it was a pleasure she had been denied for far too long. Slowly her resistance melted and she found herself in Raoul's arms lost in another time.

Raoul rested his head against her forehead. His thumb traced the delicate curve of her cheek as a still quietness surrounded the room. Sabrina could find no words. What could she say? Her thoughts were confused. She was full of anger, resentment, defence yet even after all he had said a part of her responded to Raoul with trust and need. She prayed it was not misplaced. His soothing caress was slowing her frantic heartbeat and out of the blue she felt very tired and weary. Sabrina looked directly into his eyes searching for his intentions. He gave a small laugh.

'I'm sorry Sabrina. I don't mean to make you fearful but I can't let you go. It's been too long. All this time. . . Don't leave me. Stay of your own will not because I force you to. Remember what we had together,' he almost whispered the words. 'Just now. . . it was as if you remembered. Please . . . come back to me,' it was a plea for release from torment.

Unexpectedly Sabrina felt tears gather in her eyes and spill out on to her cheeks.

'There's so much I don't know. I had to restart my life from scratch. The doctors told me I might never find out about my past. It's been ten years now. I only get small flashes of memory. Maybe it isn't going to happen. What if I can't remember ?' she asked feeling the sudden weight of panic and guilt as she swept her eyes over all of the photographs of herself with Raoul. She felt it was now her responsibility to remember and ease Raoul's pain.

Raoul gently wiped her tears away with his fingers and cupped her face.
'Shhh. Listen to me, Sabrina. You will remember. I'll get you all the medical help you need,' he paused and smiled. 'But if by some unbelievable chance you don't, I will just make you fall in love with me all over again.'

A knock at the door and the sound of the housekeeper's voice interrupted their conversation. Raoul caught Sabrina's hand in his and opened the door.

'Francine, Madame Valoire has come home,' he told the woman with pride.

He brought Sabrina's hand to his lips and gently kissed it. That's when she saw the wedding ring on his finger. It hadn't been there when she arrived.

The woman clapped her hands together excitedly and looked at Raoul with relief. She briefly touched his arm and smiled.

'I have done as you asked and moved all of Madame Valoire's clothes into your room again,' she informed him.

Sabrina frowned.

'Good. Now Madame Valoire is very tired and needs to rest but not before a small celebration for her homecoming. Please bring up a bottle of champagne to our room.'

The woman left quickly to get the champagne ready.

'You don't give up, do you?' Sabrina said crossly. 'I am not sleeping with you. I don't even know you.'

Raoul gave a sigh and then a small sarcastic laugh. He waged a finger at her.

'I could strongly argue that point. But relax I will take the sofa.'

Sabrina felt her shoulders relax but then tense once more when he added.

'At least for tonight so you can rest. Tomorrow I want you back in my bed and in my arms where you belong. No arguments,' he told her firmly with that arrogant smile that said he always got what he wanted.

She had until tomorrow night to make her escape. Still it was nice to be so wanted by a man like Raoul. Sharing his bed would be no bad thing, more than desirable. But she wasn't about to let him have his way so easily and dictate to her. If he wanted her back in his bed he would have to prove he was worthy of her trust and her love. Nothing less. She was in for one hell of a fight.