“You will give Mister Kent the wrong ideas Carmen.” said a cool mocking voice from behind me and my heart skipped a beat as I saw Marc standing there. Why did he have to look so handsome even when he was sick? I just stared at him not wanting to argue with him. “Don’t speak otherwise my love, I have our wedding photos to prove that you are my lawfully wedded wife." He said with such possessiveness that wanted to run. Eric Kent was shaking, and his eyes were angry. I looked at him in despair and knew precisely what he was thinking. He was imagining that I had deceived him. He was furious at me. Shoving a hand around the back of his neck he said briskly, “Excuse me I need to take a shower and change my dress.” He walked up the stairs and I looked at Marc bitterly. Ada vanished discreetly leaving us alone in the Hall. “My God I hate you, Marc!” I flung at him. “Do you? Marc sneered and his face was Savage. “Well I've got news for you my darling what you feel for me is lukewarm compared to what I feel for you." The remark took me by surprise. I stared at him my mouth open and he gave a cold malicious smile. “That took the weight out of your feet, didn't it?” He said sarcastically. “You hate me,” I said. I was conscious of a peculiar mixture of reaction to that hurt and anger and burning resentment. “It wasn't me who………..” “Wasn't it?” He lifted those heavy black brows and said with challenging sarcasm. “Only a matter of time that was, wasn't it before you would have given yourself away to Taylor and you knew damn well that he wanted you.” He moved closer and I was no longer conscious of where we were or of possible eavesdroppers. His voice dropped to harshness. “When Carmen? Was it after that night I left you that you went to his house in his arms and betrayed me.” My heart was beating fiercely and painfully as I was beginning to shake his closeness was overwhelming. When he lay on the bed he had been somehow diminished. The powerful muscle strength of his lean body was less obvious but now he was on his feet again and although he still looked very pale he was very strong. The tight black curls were no longer able to give a touch of appeal to his tired face. His physical mental arrogance saw that. His arrogance made me back away like a frightened animal. “You have no right to ask me questions and I'm not answering them.” I flung at him. “Why did you lie to Mr. Kent? I am not your wife anymore it's just in papers and I am going to divorce you very soon. I will tell him about it myself and clarify his misunderstanding. whether you like it or not." Marc smiled grimly. “I know you will not,” he said taking my right arm in one hand his fingers pressing down into my flesh. “I certainly shall! “ I tried to pull my arm out of his grip but he dug his fingers down holding me fiercely. “You can't do that!” but he could and they both knew. What he had to do was order one of his men to take Eric elsewhere and it would be done without question there was nothing Kent could do about it because Marc was the master here and his will was all-powerful. I knew it and that was in the back of my head. I was furious with him. “Can't I?” He sounded as though he would enjoy doing exactly as he had threatened. “I can go further, I only have to whisper a word in the right places and his precious thesis goes whistling down and if I want him out of Italy he will out make no mistake about that. The doors will be closed to him everywhere he goes. Nobody will talk to him nobody will have him in their homes. He will be on the next plane back to England before he knows what's going on .” “You are a brute! “ I said, hating him my voice was trembling as I felt so helpless. His hands held me closely, preventing me from backing away and staring into my angry face with his contemptuous eyes. “I could be nastier than that”, he said. “ Just remember that when you get in your next clever little idea of getting away Carmen." I flushed. “ I don't know what you're talking about. “ I tried to make it sound like I had no idea what he was talking about but I failed miserably. “Oh yes you do, I am not stupid. The moment you met Kent you saw him as an escape route didn't you?” “You can't stop him from taking me with him,” I said urgently and I know it was useless. He laughed unpleasantly.” Try it, just try it, I did have you off the car in two seconds flat. And his friend is working in my friend’s vineyard, so don't even bother about thinking of escaping.” “You can't keep me here against my will!” I shouted at him. "Your will? He smiled then, a cool mockery in his dark eyes. “We will see how strong your willpower is shall we Carmen? “ “No.” I stammered, and my breathing became fast, as Marc dragged my head forward his fingers hurting my neck. He found my mouth forcing my mouth with savagery in the pressure of his lips on mine. I protested and pushed but I was helpless against his force and then it was all too late anyway because something had happened inside me, some six-year-old blockage, had roughly melted away, and long-driven-away emotions were erupting within me. Marc felt the melting of my body and his kisses altered in response. My arms went around his neck and my hands were pushing into his curly hair, my whole body tilted to arch against him and I was groaning my lips parting in a welcomed response. “Oh God,” Marc muttered thickly moving his hand down my back-stroking, caressing. A footstep split them apart. They moved away from each other, breathing heavily, their eyes bewildered because of those few moments they shared, everything else had faded out of existence and only the burning urgency of their own needs had mattered. Eric Kent gave them a quick, embarrassed look. “Oh sorry,” he mumbled. “I did not know …” Marc regained his composure first, " Mr. Kent," he said. "Smiling coolly, and moving forward. “Mr. Kent come and have a drink with us. You must be really hungry; lunch should be ready by now. I'll call Ada and tell her to get it ready.” “Thank you.” Eric Kent glanced awkwardly at Carmen. Who looked away, guessing that he must be thinking her as a lair. from his point of view, it must look as though she had involved him in some marital conflict between them and put him on a spot. "I must change," I said huskily turning towards the stairs. “Do that darling, “said Marc and he was laughing at me, I heard the amusement in his deep voice and I wanted to dig a hole for myself. I ran up to my room and ran the shower as cold as possible and stood gasping beneath the icy shock. Gradually the relentless pounding of the cold water began to bring me back to my senses and turning off the shower I began to dry myself briskly and dressed again in trousers and a sun top. Drying my hair swiftly with the dryer provided I tried to warm myself up. I stared at myself in the mirror critically seeing with an impatient mind, my overheated skin and bright eyes. What had come over me responding to Marc like that? I knew I would start behaving this way around him There was a deep ache in the center of my body, an unaroused hunger that I recognize with relented dismay. I wanted to be immune to him but in such a short time his lovemaking had got it all back. I have never experienced this kind of sensation with Don. What exactly was Marc trying to do to me? Why had he brought me here? Tricked and trapped me and made me a prisoner?