Exclusive!: Hollywood Life or Royal Wife? / Marriage Scandal, Showbiz Baby! / Sex, Lies and a Security Tape

‘Why, baby-pie, it’s Bill—from Hollywood. I’m Janie’s boyfriend. Remember her? She told you about Dr Browne when you were feeling stressed. I heard you were hanging out there on an island, with some prince or other. Guess you won’t be using Dr Browne’s services any more, but I could get you some special candy and deliver it personally to you, if you like.’

A chill gripped Victoria and she stared out to sea, swallowing. ‘I don’t want anything. And how did you get my number?’

‘Wouldn’t you just like to know? Thought you might like to make me a little gift. After all, the newspapers worldwide are lining up looking for folks to give ’em a good story about you. You’re a hot item right now, babe. Thought you might like to do a deal, honey.’

Victoria froze. She glanced at Rodolfo moving around the kitchen area, discreetly staying away while she took the call. This couldn’t be happening. What would he say if he found out who was ringing her?

‘Well?’

‘Look, I can’t talk right now,’ she muttered nervously, playing for time. She had to think, had to decide what to do—maybe talk to Anne and see if she had a solution to the dilemma.

Blackmail.

She never would have believed it was happening.

‘Okay. You’ve twenty-four hours to make up your mind, honey-bunch. After that all bets are off.’ He hung up.

Victoria sat motionless, her hand trembling. What was she to do?

Once he realised she’d hung up, Rodolfo came back outside. ‘Nothing important, I hope?’ he said, and raised a questioning brow.

‘Uh, no. Nothing, really. Just—’ She cut off, unable to lie, yet unable to tell him the truth. How could she explain that she was being blackmailed by a drug dealer who, by some mysterious means, had found out her whereabouts? She wanted to scream with frustration—would have done anything to be able to pour out her troubles to Rodolfo, to tell him the truth and be done with it.

But that was impossible.

He must never know how far she’d got into trouble. He’d been so kind and tolerant. But what if he knew this? He would be disgusted by her. The thought made her shiver.

‘Are you cold?’ he enquired, coming to sit next to her and slipping his arm about her.

‘No, no, I’m fine,’ she lied, swallowing.

‘Victoria, I think you know that I want you very much,’ Rodolfo said, letting his fingers thread through her golden mane of hair.

‘I—’

‘There’s no need to say anything. Just let me lead the way.’

She hesitated. Then he rose. Unable to resist, she did too. She wanted this man more than anything, even though she knew that there was no future with him. But somehow it didn’t matter. What she needed now was to be in his arms, to feel him hold her, forget the nightmare taking place in her public life and give way to her inner desires.

Slowly they moved through the living room and into the bedroom of the extensive apartment. Rodolfo closed the door, then turned her towards him.

‘Cara mia, you are so lovely,’ he whispered, his lips leaving a trail of kisses on her temple, her neck, and down to her breast. Her heart was beating so fast she didn’t think she could breathe. Then his hands began slipping off her top. In one quick movement he loosened her bra. It fell to the floor and she stood before him, her golden hair falling over her naked breasts.

‘Bellissima,’ he murmured, leading her to the bed and laying her down among the pillows.

Soon they were lying naked next to one another. Victoria’s pulse raced as she thought of what she was about to do. This was the first time she’d been to bed with a man. Would Rodolfo be disappointed at her lack of experience? But it was too late to turn back—too late to have regrets. All at once she knew that this man would always be special in her life, even though they would probably only spend a few days with each other.

He would be the first to love her.

‘Victoria, you are so lovely, so beautiful.’ He touched her cheek, then his fingers trailed down her neck to the tip of her breast. Lightly he caressed her, taunting.

And Victoria did not resist. It was too delicious, too wonderful to be here, lying in his arms, prey to new and wonderful sensations. When his lips sought the tip of her breast and his fingers coursed between her thighs she gasped at the novel awareness. Pulling her to him, Rodolfo pressed her against him, making her feel his desire.

‘I want you, cara,’ he repeated hoarsely, eyes holding hers.

Victoria couldn’t reply, simply allowed him to continue this wonderful magic he was performing on her body, which left her pliant and limp with a need so strong she could not do anything but let out a sigh of longing. As though sensing her need, Rodolfo let his fingers venture further, seeking her core, caressing now in new ways, seeking the deepest secrets of her being. And Victoria gave way, let out a little cry when at last he brought her to completion, and she arched before falling back in his arms.

‘You must tell what you like, what you want,’ he whispered, still unaware that she had never shared an adventure like this before. Then, before she could answer, he straddled her, and lowered himself on top of her. How he wanted to reach inside her, feel the wet honeyed heat he’d already touched. But as he eased himself inside her a surprise awaited him. All at once he stopped, and his eyes sought hers.

‘Cara, is this possible?’ he said in a low husky voice. ‘Are you a virgin?’

‘Yes,’ Victoria whispered, flushed with excitement and embarrassment. Perhaps Rodolfo would despise her for being such an innocent.

‘But, my darling, you should have told me,’ he murmured, drawing back. ‘This puts a completely different light on the situation.’

He was about to withdraw completely when her arms came up about his neck and her eyes met his.

‘No. It doesn’t. I want you, Rodolfo. I want the first time to be with you,’ she whispered, drawing him back towards her.

‘Are you absolutely certain?’ he muttered, finding it hard to exercise self-control when her body was arching towards him, her eyes filled with such passion and longing.

‘Absolutely sure.’

For a moment he hesitated. Then slowly he entered her once more. ‘I promise I’ll do my best not to hurt you, cara,’ he whispered.

Victoria knew a moment’s pain as he penetrated her. Then it faded and her body relaxed. Heat rushed to her breasts, to her abdomen. She felt herself melting, needed to feel him deeper inside her. Her hips arched, following the rhythm of this new and exciting dance, until they moved together in a primal ritual. She threw her head back and let out a low gasp of delight when together they came, falling over the edge of a high precipice and collapsing in each other’s arms onto the rumpled sheets.

As he lay holding her in his arms Rodolfo let out a sigh of satisfaction. It was ages since he’d experienced anything so intense as their lovemaking. In fact, if truth be told, he’d only known it once before—with Giada. Now, as he stroked Victoria’s hair and kissed her temple tenderly, he felt a new and heightened responsibility towards this girl who had entrusted him with her womanhood.

‘Are you all right?’ he said, slipping away from her to lie next to her, his hand moving to her abdomen in a protective gesture that did not go unnoticed.

Victoria nodded. Her throat was knotted and she couldn’t speak. So many emotions were going through her. It was wonderful, thrilling. Yet it was difficult to face the fact that the situation was nothing but a transient affair which would end in a few days when life went back to normal.

‘I’m fine,’ she whispered, when at last she was able to speak.

‘Are you sure?’ He looked down at her tenderly, his dark eyes filled with concern. She could read the doubt. Yet there was also a look of pride in his expression. And she realised that he was taking her initiation into the world of love much more seriously than she had expected. It touched her, and tears filled her eyes. ‘Cara, what is the matter?’ he said, frowning, ‘did I hurt you?’

‘No, Rodolfo, it’s nothing. I’m just a bit mixed up, that’s all. So much has happened in the past few days, and now this. Don’t get me wrong. It’s wonderful. I’m glad it happened. I wanted it as much as you. It’s just a lot to handle, that’s all.’

‘I understand, cara.’ He held her close, kissed her hair and let his arms enfold her.

Victoria gloried in the embrace, wished it could go on for ever, and heaved a sigh of regret that soon she would be on her way and life as she’d known it for the past couple of days would be nothing but a distant memory.

CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_abd4b333-90a8-54a8-a8c9-a7e0950a6846)

‘YOU CAN’T STAY HIDDEN there for ever,’ Anne insisted next day, when Victoria phoned her, sitting perched on the balustrade of the terrace looking down past the olive groves at the sea.

‘Anne, I—’ Victoria wanted to tell her about Bill, about the awful phone call and how scared she was. But something stopped her.