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He watched her with that clear blue gaze that left scorch marks on her skin, and despite her anger and disappointment she felt a fluttering sensation low in her pelvis. She gritted her teeth. It was not fair that he should still have this effect on her. Far worse though was the thought that he should know it and instantly she met his gaze, determined to match him look for look.
He smiled then—a cool, curling smile of such arrogance and ownership that her hands curled into fists—and her breath felt suddenly hot and tight in her throat. Why was he looking at her like that when moments earlier he’d been acting as though he couldn’t wait for her to be gone? No doubt it was some technique he’d picked up in business—some trick to intimidate a rival. Shape-shifting so that it was impossible to know what he would say or do next.
Looking up, she read the challenge in his gaze and felt her skin start to prickle.
Was it any wonder the sex had been so hot and fierce and wild? she thought shakily. It was just an extension of how they interacted outside of the bedroom: pushing boundaries, playing games; taunting one another. Every word, every touch, was just another move in their desperate power struggle.
She clenched her teeth. It was bad enough that this man had such a strong effect on her. Indecent, almost. But if she didn’t make a stand then she would more or less be giving him carte blanche to walk all over her.
She took a deep breath. ‘Actually, I should probably be going. I’ve got a load of notes to write up.’
She saw his eyes harden and felt a rush of satisfaction. Now he knew how it felt when somebody blew hot and cold. The fact that she really did have loads of notes to write up was actually beside the point; she would happily have told him she needed to fly to Jupiter to collect rare orchid seeds if it meant she could leave his disturbing presence with her pride intact. Or at least with his a little dented.
His eyes narrowed. ‘Really!’ he said softly. She took a small step backwards, suddenly desperate to get some distance between them.
/> He was dangerous. And desirable. Or maybe they were the same thing. She didn’t know any more. Didn’t know anything except that she needed to go somewhere she wouldn’t be tempted to reach out and touch him.
‘Yes. And I’m sure you’ve got meetings and stuff,’ she insisted, pressing her knees together in an effort to stop the teasing ache between her thighs.
He moved away from the door with a languid grace that made her insides melt and she inched backwards.
‘Stuff?’ he repeated. ‘What kind of stuff?’
She looked at him blankly. Every atom of her body was straining with the effort of not turning and running away and her head seemed empty of thought. ‘You know... Shouting and jack-booting around.’ Her voice was tightening up, and nervously she watched his eyes flicker over her face.
‘Shouting and jack-booting isn’t until tomorrow,’ he said quietly, taking a step towards her. ‘Today I thought I’d work from home. Maybe brush up on disciplinary procedures.’
Her cheeks flooded with colour, her lips parting. She stared at him wordlessly, trying to think of something smart and flip to say, but she could hardly breathe much less think straight. Then suddenly she didn’t care about being smart or cool. All she wanted was to get out of the room before he demolished all her self-control and reason.
She took a deep breath. ‘Look, I know there’s probably some slick way of asking this, but I don’t know how to do it. So I’m just going to ask you straight. What are we doing here? I mean, was this it? Or do you want to sleep with me again?’
Massimo studied her face in silence. Her words seemed to hover and hum in the air between them, and he almost reached up to brush them away. He hadn’t expected her to act like this. Although, truthfully, he’d hardly given any thought at all to how she would react to what had happened between them.
Probably he would have imagined her just as she had been a moment ago, lips parted, cheeks flushed. No fear: just fire. But this was different. She was different. Her eyes were wide and clear. Not challenging, just grave and real.
He knew those eyes. Knew what they were asking. Knew too how hard it was to ask. It had had taken a lot of guts.
The silence stretched out between them, dissolving and blurring into the silences of his childhood. How many times had he waited, his heart in his throat, for answers to questions he’d had no choice but to ask? For a moment he was lost, alone in the past, and then her face slid into focus and breathed out slowly.
‘I want you and I know you want me too,’ he said bluntly. Her lashes flickered up and she met his gaze, her face wary but with a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. ‘Besides, that was the best sex I’ve ever had.’
He smiled at her slowly and Flora felt a shimmering pleasure unfurl inside her even as her heart contracted at his stark choice of words. She nodded slowly. ‘Okay, so let me get this clear. This is just sex.’
‘That’s right. Unless you fancy doing my laundry...?’ he drawled.
He was teasing, and part of her wanted to be teased. But she needed to know. ‘And it’s just the two of us?’
It was supposed to be a statement, only it came out like a question and her nails bit into the palms of her hands as something flickered across his eyes. Slowly, he glanced down at her fists and then back to her face.
‘I’m all yours,’ he said softly. ‘And you, cara, are all mine.’
His hand on her skin was warm and firm, and she gave a start of surprise as leaning forward, he slowly began to undo the buttons on her dress. His arm slid round her waist and he pulled her closer. ‘And I’m not sharing you with anyone.’
Her head was spinning. Desperately, she tried to hang on to her self-control. She’d told him she had to leave and she should go. Another minute and she would be lost, all caution gone, her mind sliding away, claimed by the fierce pull of his gaze and the light, teasing touch of his fingers.
‘I really should be going...’ Her voice was husky and she couldn’t keep the shake out of it.
He lifted his hand from her dress and stroked her face, his fingers light and tender, tracing the line of her cheekbone, brushing over her lips. And then, as she opened her mouth to repeat herself, he lowered his head and kissed her.
