Emily Arden

As soon as the torch went out the atmosphere of the forest intensified. As her eyes slowly became accustomed to the darkness she started to notice the outlines of canopies above them where trees were silhouetted against the pale moonlight.The sounds around them became more noticeable; the shuffling of an animal through the undergrowth, the whistling of the wind through the trees, and now and then the cry of some creature being captured in the darkness.As they sat quietly, the noises seemed to become louder still until both visitors felt absorbed into the forest world.

He was looking at her with that intense blazing gaze _ the one that made her feel she was the only woman in the world. Oh God, don__ let him get to her. She__ tried to raise her defences against him, but he was so very attractive _ almost irresistible. It would be easy to admit defeat_

The first time he wrapped his arms around her and bent his head to caress her lips with his, she was caught by surprise and felt a breathless tingle shoot through her. Was this it, she wondered?

She__ been feeling pleased with a couple of moves, had thought she was gaining the upper hand. But she__ been overconfident. She__ failed to notice his stealthy approach until he turned the tables on her with a move she hadn__ expected and now she was fighting for her life.

She hated him _ she hated everything he stood for. But when they said hate is akin to love they were certainly right. Because she needed him with every fibre of her being. And hard as it was to admit it, that need was only part of what she felt for him. The whole was love _ a love which recognised how wrong he was for her, but still clung to him. To everything about him.

Sometimes it is worth taking a risk, no matter what the consequences.

It was a perfect moment and she was shocked to feel a tear roll slowly down her cheek. The warm droplet reached his finger where it lay against her skin, and even though it was far too dark to see anything clearly, she sensed that he was bringing it up to his mouth.

Perhaps it was the darkness and secrecy that lent an extra layer of excitement to their meeting? Certainly, all of her other senses felt heightened to an almost unbearable extent. She couldn__ see, but she could hear the distant strains of dance music as the steady beat thrummed through her body; and she could feel so much with just one touch.

It wasn__ often he met someone who had her emotions so on display. Most of the women he knew were interested in more material things and kept their emotions well hidden beneath a mask of sophistication. It was refreshing to find someone who was so natural _ so passionate.

Rosa had achieved the sort of serene and confident happiness that Tamsin had never really known. She was connected to Roberto in a way that made Tamsin long for something similar. A man with whom she could share all parts of her life, someone to be her equal and her inspiration.

She was forthright to the point of rudeness, yet he couldn__ help admiring her for saying what she really thought. It was rather refreshing to be challenged for a change _ it had been many years since anyone had dared to do that. His wealth and power generally seemed to strike rather too much awe into those he associated with. It seemed this Tamsin was different.

His muscles flexed as he stood, and Rosa couldn__ prevent herself from watching with veiled admiration. He was certainly a very beautiful man. She looked away in embarrassment, worried she might say or do something inappropriate.

Roberto reached out to gently stroke a finger down her cheek. __ou were like a miracle to me _ how could I help loving you and wanting to protect you? I only want the best for you Rosa.

Her heart ached to be nearer him _ to know that he would stay with her no matter what. She couldn__ imagine how she__ feel if he left _ he__ become so necessary to her.

Do you know how many acres of beautiful forests and moors have been destroyed by your company? How many animals have lost their homes and how many trees have been murdered? I am sick of being bothered by you people.

For you, it__ all about money, money, money. But what about the forests I say? Some of those trees have been there for hundreds of years. What right have you to destroy that?

Fate was cruel to play this trick on her, although if she were honest she knew she only had herself to blame. She had taken the chance and now she had to pay the price.

You may not mean to, but you do seem to look down your nose at many of us mere mortals muddling along down here. I feel as though you think everyone should be better than they are. I certainly think you expect me to behave like some sort of perfect princess. But I__ just an ordinary girl who wants to grow up and find out where I belong in the world.