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‘And I’ve told you, I’m not going to run for president.’
‘Can you afford not to? Soon there will be no Cardosia left to find on a map. Hell, he was heard floating the idea that our beloved country should become a province of one of her larger and more powerful neighbours.’
His chest clenched. ‘What? Are you serious?’
‘I’m an old man, Seve. I can’t afford jokes when the stakes are this high.’
‘And I’m telling you to focus your energies in that regard elsewhere. Cardosia will be in more capable hands than in mine. Politics bore me to death.’
The old man snorted. ‘Says the man who’s livid at what’s happening to his homeland. If that isn’t what pure passion of a patriot looks like, then I’ve led a very wasted life thus far.’
Pure passion.
He hated that those two words threw up a different image. That of having Genie Merchant underneath him, of pumping into her tight sheath as she screamed her pleasure. Unadulterated pleasure expressed without an ounce of manufactured performance.
Seve shifted in his seat when his blood rushed south and awoke senses he didn’t need awakened right this minute. Clearing his throat, he forced his focus on the conversation. On the utter abomination of what his uncle was doing to Cardosia. ‘Tell me who Lorenzo has been speaking to. I need to know who to put on my red list.’
‘A red list is all well and good, Seve. But you’re attacking the symptom instead of the disease. I know you don’t want to consider it, but you really are our only hope. Time is fast running out.’
His nape tingled with dread at the finality in the man’s tone.
Long after that conversation had ended, Seve was reminded that one of the reasons he liked dealing with Santiago was because he didn’t exaggerate or overdramatise a situation. Which meant things were as dire as stated. Perhaps even more so.
Gritting his teeth, he placed the next call on his list, making no bones about the consequences for those who supported his uncle in his efforts in hastening Cardosia towards perilous straits. His last was to the private bank he knew his uncle used. But even as he threatened fire and brimstone, he knew there was only so much his threats would achieve.
Which was why he was still locked in full frustration mode three hours later when he ordered lunch for Genie and, tray in hand, retraced his steps.
She was sitting up in bed when he entered, her hair a little tousled and the remnants of sleep in her eyes. Slivers of sunlight slanting through the windows formed a halo around her and his gut clenched against the enticing picture she made in his bed with his covers and pillows tossed around her.
It would have been no effort at all to set the tray to one side, to prowl onto the bed, nudge her back against the pillows and take his fill of that satin-soft mouth. Would she gasp and moan as she had nine weeks ago? Would those bottomless green eyes reflect every facet of her pleasure as she clung to him?
Sí.She would. He was sure of it. Her unfettered passion lurked just beneath her no-nonsense surface, waiting to be reignited to life.
Except if he attempted such a thing, she would probably claw his eyes out, considering the glare she was directing his way. For now, he needed her less...stressed about his intention to install her fully in his life. At least until the baby arrived.
‘You’re awake.Bueno.’
Striding across the room, he frowned down at the tray. Nothing looked particularly harmful to a newly pregnant woman, but then what did he know? Was he failing his child even now? So soon?
He would remedy that lack of knowledge before morning, he vowed silently. Hell, he would consume every report ever written on pregnancy and parenting, if necess—
‘You look...distressed.’ Her head tilted to one side and he couldn’t stop his gaze from tracking the smooth line of her neck, a place he’d thoroughly explored during their night together. A place he yearned to explore again. ‘Is it socially unacceptable to say I hope your guilt is eating you alive?’
Seve was stunned by his first instinct to laugh. Hell, he couldn’t help cracking a smile, which made her eyes widen to alluring pools that roused his libido.
‘You never have to be circumspect around me,pequeña. In fact, I would prefer you not to even try. I can handle raw honesty.’
‘Can you? You don’t believe in practising it yourself.’
His mood soured further and he didn’t appreciate the pangs that irritated his insides. ‘You need to stop insisting I lied to you. I showed you my true colours. You chose to disregard it. That’s on you, not me.’
Her lips pursed and he bit the inside of his cheek to stop him from surging forward, tugging the plump curve into his mouth. She would probably claw his eyes outandleave her gouges on his skin if he tried.
So why did that make his blood thicken even more in his veins?
He would definitely have some serious explaining to do to his grandmother if he landed in Cardosia with claw marks on his face. Even more than he anticipated was coming his way.
‘What’s so funny?’ she griped, and he realised, despite his mood, his lips had curved at the thought of what awaited him in Cardosia.
