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Jesse’s hands clenched together.
‘I told myself I couldn’t believe in anything that had happened. I’d forced us into this situation. You told me yourself you’d do anything to get off the island. And then when you told me about your father …’
Jesse felt emotion rising inexorably and looked at Luc. He stood up, and she faced him squarely and leaped into the terrifying darkness.
‘The truth is that I wanted to believe in you so badly, and I wanted to believe in what had happened here, between us … wanted to believe it was more than just manipulation or seduction … and that scared me to death. I didn’t want to go back to reality with you and find out that once you were free you’d walk away …’
‘I wouldn’t have walked away, Jesse, and realising that only made me want to punish you more,’ Luc said softly.
She put a hand to her mouth to stifle an emotional sob.
Luc seemed to be holding himself very still. And then he said, ‘I’ve been cynical and mistrustful for a long time. I thought I knew women—knew how to handle them. I had no expectations, nor did I want anything more after Maria had burnt me. Until I met you. Within days you shattered every wall I
’d built around myself. Every time I thought I had you in my sights, conforming to what I expected, you’d turn everything—me—on its head. You’ve turned my life upside down and inside out. And I thought I didn’t want that. That I didn’t need it.’
His mouth twisted and he looked disgusted.
‘I sleep-walked through the last two weeks of hell, trying to convince myself of that. I crossed the globe twice in an effort to stay out of your orbit. And then in New York, when I saw you under siege on the news, I felt as if someone had shocked me back to life. The thought of you alone … the thought of something happening to you … I couldn’t bear it.’
He took a deep breath.
‘I love you. Just that. I love you, but those words can’t even begin to convey the depth and breadth of how much I love you. I want to start over—right here and now. Wipe the slate clean. I want to seduce you all over again, and I’m warning you now that I’ll play dirty if you resist.’
Feeling very shaky, Jesse said, ‘How do you know this isn’t just Stockhausen Syndrome … or whatever it is?’
Luc smiled. ‘It’s not Stockholm Syndrome. Apart from getting me here rather ingeniously, you were a pretty rubbish kidnapper.’
Jesse could see the nerves behind his smile, and it cracked her heart open. She believed him. ‘So how do we start again?’
He held out a hand and said, ‘I’m Luc …’
Jesse didn’t wait. She flew across the space dividing them and straight into Luc’s arms, legs wrapped around his waist, arms around his neck. The impact drove him back, but he held firm, arms like steel around her waist.
She finally pulled back, smiled through her tears and said, ‘Hi, I’m Jesse.’
Luc smiled a sexy smile, and she could see his innate cocky confidence returning.
‘You’re a bit eager, aren’t you? But I think I like it.’
Suddenly Jesse was serious. She cupped Luc’s face with her hands and pressed a kiss to his mouth. She drew back. ‘It terrifies me to admit it, but I love you too, Luc Sanchis. I think I love you more than life itself.’
Luc mock-groaned, but she could feel the effect of her words as his chest swelled against hers. ‘Only think? That’s not good enough. I think you need some serious convincing …’
Jesse pressed kisses down Luc’s neck as he started walking out of the den and up the stairs. She said, ‘Try to convince me, Sanchis. See how far it gets you.’
Luc growled softly. ‘I’ve already got you, Moriarty, and I’m never letting you go again.’
Jesse looked up at him as he laid her back on the bed and touched his jaw with her hand. Her voice was husky. ‘Is that a promise, Sanchis?’
‘Yes,’ he said briskly, ripping off his polo shirt before divesting Jesse of her sandals and trousers. His impatient hands were soon on her top, lifting it up. ‘And how many times have I told you we’ve gone way beyond second names?’
When her top had sailed off, to land on the floor somewhere, Jesse wrapped her arms around Luc’s neck and dragged him over her, spreading her legs so she could feel him hard against her.
Luc stopped moving for a moment and Jesse rolled her hips. He cursed softly and then said, ‘Jesse Sanchis—now, there’s a name …’
Jesse stilled, her heart tripping. She looked at Luc and felt dizzy. ‘I might need convincing of that too. I’m very attached to Moriarty, and the way you say it …’
Luc pulled down one cup of her bra, thumbing her nipple. He looked at her, and at the hectic colour rising in her face, and his heart swelled with awe and adoration for this woman.
