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He tasted of mint and salt, and she felt her stomach tense as he parted her lips with his tongue and kissed her hungrily. She pressed against him as his hands travelled over her skin, pulling her against him so close that their bodies felt as one. His breathing was raw, almost savage against her throat, his pulse jerking with hers as he licked and kissed the skin of her neck.
She bit into his shoulder as his fingers curved under the swell of her buttocks, firm and sure, their touch so precise and so in control. Every touch, every breath was changing her. The room was growing lighter and lighter in time with the tantalising beat pulsing through her body.
And then from somewhere outside the window she heard the faint humming of a bee, and with an almighty effort she pulled away from him. ‘No. Not now—’
His eyes narrowed. ‘What are you talking about?’ He glanced down at the thickness of his erection through the towel. ‘Do you think I can put this on hold?’
She glared at him. ‘I don’t know. Anyway, why are you yelling at me? It was you who started it. You didn’t have to kiss me.’
‘I’m not yelling. And what was I supposed to do? You were waiting to be kissed—’
‘I was not!’ Her eyes flashed angrily. ‘We were just talking. Getting things straight. I’d already told you I have work to do.’
‘Work!’ He blew out a long breath. ‘I think it can probably wait, don’t you?’
She glowered at him. ‘You mean it’s okay to put that on hold?’
He shook his head slowly, his eyes glittering. ‘Why are we even having this conversation?’
She stared at him furiously, her cheeks flushed with anger. ‘Because you didn’t listen to me.’
His face twisted irritably. ‘I didn’t realise you were being serious.’
‘No. What you meant was that you don’t think my work is serious. Well, it is and I am. I actually do have work to do.’ Not that it was really about that. She just wasn’t about to let him walk all over her. ‘Look... Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.’ She bit her lip and glanced away.
He stared at her in silence.
Work aside, this was probably the longest conversation he’d ever had with a woman. Probably the only conversation he’d ever had with a woman. And he still wasn’t exactly sure why he was having it. She wanted to have sex and so did he. That was what they’d agreed. His face tightened. Only now she was saying she had to work! And that their sleeping together wasn’t a good idea.
Was she seriously going to choose her thesis over him? As if that compared to running a global company. Although truthfully neither his business nor even the palazzo project seemed as important as convincing her that this affair could work.
He gritted his teeth. Who the hell did she think she was? And what possible reason would he have to hang around while she wrote up her notes? Didn’t she know how many women would be more than willing to satisfy his needs? But for some inexplicable reason he didn’t want just any woman. He wanted this stubborn, maddening woman standing in front of him.
Abruptly, he held out his hand, frowning as she eyed it warily. ‘It’s okay. I’m not going to jump your bones.’ Reluctantly, she took his hand and, curling his fingers around hers, he pulled her closer. ‘You’re right. And I’m sorry. I can wait...’
He breathed out slowly and drew away.
‘Go on. Go and do your work.’ His gaze locked onto hers. ‘But only if you promise to let me take you out to lunch.’
He stared at her intently, watching the indecision in her eyes. He hated having to negotiate with her. It reminded him of his childhood. Of the fear and uncertainty of life with his father and stepmother. But let her play her games—let her think that this act of defiance would somehow change the balance of power between them. He’d soon show her exactly who was in charge.
She nodded slowly, her face softening. ‘Okay. But you have to let me pay half. That way it won’t feel like a date.’
She met his gaze, and he nodded, but as he watched her walk out through the door his smile faded. She might think she was going out to lunch in Cagliari, but a crowded restaurant was not the place for what he had in mind. He needed somewhere private—somewhere he could strip her naked and play a few games of his own.
In the meantime, though, he needed to take another shower. And the colder, the better.
* * *
Pushing the gearstick hard to the left, Massimo dropped down a gear and effortlessly steered the Lamborghini down the curving hillside. It was a beautiful day, with a clear delphinium-blue sky and a warm breeze. Glancing at Flora, he grinned as he saw the golden flecks in her eyes. She was enjoying herself.
As though reading his mind, she turned to him and gave him a smile of such sweetness that he almost crashed the car.
‘It’s incredible!’
He laughed. ‘I like it—even though it is a bit of cliché!’
She frowned. ‘Does that make me a cliché too?’
