Dark Demands 04: Bound to Him by Nell Henderson Page B

with Dark and perhaps he with her so there was always that possibility.  And the venue for the party tonight wasn’t helping.  It was being held at that same hotel – the one where Dar k had first forced Gina into his bed. 
    “You know where we’re going, don’t you,” he asked her softly rubbing her small hand lightly .  “If you feel you can’t then I will understand,” he offered.
    “Don’t be silly – this party is for us.  Benito has very kindly organised it to celebrate our engagement so that’s that,” she told him with a firm nod of her head while twisting the huge diamond on her finger around and around nervously.
    She was desperate to appear casual, easy about it but as Gina bit her lip she realised s he hadn’t been in side that hotel since Dark.  Dark had taken her to his penthouse there and done those things to her.  She felt a surge of heat flame throug h her body and mentally scolded herself for feeling this way.
    Stop it , she mentally scolded herself.   Don’t go over and over it in your head again .  He’s gone – you left him and he didn’t come after you – so you have Kyle now – be content , she told herself with a feeling of regret.  But the truth was Matthew still had the power to make her feel like no other man ever could – not even Kyle – a small voice in her mind niggled .   No, not even Kyle, she’d acce pted that – settled for the soft , neat relationship and the safety of a man she could really trust.  She ’d always known that despite the obsession – despite the hot sex and excitement that she could never have any sort settled life with Matthew Dark – could she?
    Getting out of the taxi and stepping through the main doors and into the hall where the party was being held was like stepping back in time.  Months before she’d done exactly the same with Charlie Spence and that night her own and Mat thew Dark’s fate had become intertwined.  Intertwined forever, the voice teased again.   She bit on her bottom lip – but that was her little secret and no one else would ever know.
    Gina needed to get a grip – it was this place, being here again was playing with her head.   But history would not repeat itself, she mentally reassured.  It couldn’t – fate could never be so cruel.
    “Kyle, Gina,” a rich Italian voice called out to them and taking Gina’s arm Kyle led her across to the centre table to join Ben and their friends.
    “Congratulations to both of you,” the Italian offered and rising to tak e Gina in his arms he kissed her cheek affectionately.  “You two look so good together – a perfect match and we couldn’t be happier for you both ,” h is words of praise washed over then and were joined by nods of agreement from the others at the table. 
    Gina smiled and clung to Kyle’s arm.  She liked Ben but she never really felt relaxed in his company.  There were questions he’d never asked her and information she’d never volunteered.  Another shudder – she hoped he never would because she never wanted to be in a position where she felt forced to talk about Matthew’s business.  So all they ever really did was exchange pleasantries – like tonight and then they always allowed the past to lie still.
    “We agonised over what to buy the pair of you,” Ben explained with a grin.  “But then we thought you both might like a break before the baby comes and all that brings with it ,” Ben added handing a folder of documents to Kyle.  “ So g o and enjoy yourselves – two weeks in the Seychelles – soak up some sun and get spoil t ,” he laughed and winked at Gina .
    Kyle thanked his colleagues and took the champagne offered to him.  Gina rolled her eyes and helped herself to some orange juice.  Hadn’t they been spoilt already – Benito, Ben was obviously very fond of Kyle.   Two weeks in the Seychelles , she thrilled.  How very generous of Ben and how like him to want them to have this time together before they