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Each step she took out of the concert grounds felt like a walk towards the opening mouth of a yawning chasm. But Sasha forced herself to keep going, to smile, to acknowledge the accolades and respect she finally had from her team.
Even though inside she was numb and frozen.
The knock came less than ten minutes later.
Marco leaned against the lintel. The buttons of his shirt were still undone; his hair was unkempt. As if hands—female hands—had run through it several times. He stood there, arrogantly imposing, larger than life.
She hated him more than she could coherently express. And yet the sight of him kicked her heart into her throat.
‘What do you want?’ she blurted past the pain in her throat.
His gaze, intense and unnerving, left her face to take in the bikini she’d changed into. ‘Why did you leave the concert?’
‘Why aren’t you back there, being pawed by your Italian sexpot?’
‘You left because you saw me with Flavia?’
‘You know what they say—two’s company, three’s a flash mob. Now, if you’ll excuse me …’ She grabbed her kaftan from the bed and the box containing the diamond necklace.
‘Here—take this back. I don’t want it.’
‘It’s yours. Every member of the team receives a gift for the team’s win. This is yours.’
Her mouth dropped open. ‘You’re kidding me?’
‘I’m not. Where are you going?’
She stared at the box, not sure how to refuse the gift now. ‘For a swim—not that it’s any of your business.’
‘A swim? At this hour?’
‘Singapore is the longest race on the calendar. It’s even longer when you’re leading and trying to defend your position. If I don’t warm up and do my stretching exercises my muscles will seize up. That’s what I’d planned to do before … Whatever—will you please get out of my way?’
His gaze dropped to her legs. A hoarse sound rumbled from his throat. A look entered his eyes—one that made her excited and afraid at the same time.
‘Marco, I said—’
‘I heard you.’ Still, he didn’t move away. Instead, he extracted his phone and issued a terse command in Spanish, his gaze on her the whole time.
Sasha dropped the box on the bed and took a deep calming breath, willing her skin to stop tingling, her heartbeat to slow down. Her senses were too revved up, ready to unleash the full power of her conflicted feelings for this man.
‘Let’s go.’ He finally moved out of the doorway.
‘I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me what you’re doing here,’ she responded.
He speared a hand through his hair, mussing up the luxurious strands even more. ‘Does it matter why I’m here, Sasha? Are you happy to see me?’ he demanded in a low, charged tone.
She hated the fire that raced through her veins, stinging her body to painful life in a way even her first race win hadn’t been able to achieve.
‘Less than half an hour ago you had another woman all over you. Last time I checked, my name wasn’t Sloppy Seconds Sasha.’
He swore under his breath. ‘You know, you’re the most difficult, infuriating woman I know.’
Despite the raspy vehemence in his tone, she smiled. ‘Thank you.’
He took her arm and led her to the lift. ‘It wasn’t a compliment.’
‘I know. But I’ll take it as one.’ She tried not to breathe too deeply of his scent as he stepped in beside her.
