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Massimo hesitated briefly and then took her hand in his. Her grip was firm, but not too tight, and it felt strangely relaxing walking beside her. It wasn’t something he’d ever done before. He smiled grimly. Usually with a woman his hands were otherwise occupied. But he liked the way her fingers curled loosely around his.
He glanced at her sideways. She was such an intriguing mix of contradictions. One moment teasing him about bringing his wallet, the next bombarding him with questions about the boat. But he liked that too.
His mouth twisted.
Not that it really mattered either way. She was here because he wanted her here. It was a demonstration of his power, not some affirmation of her charms.
And, of course, it was a chance to enjoy the pleasures offered by that delectable body with no interruptions. Pushi
ng his free hand into his pocket, something shifted inside him, as he felt the space where his phone should be.
‘It’s like paradise!’
Flora gazed happily at the clear blue water and the long, curving crescent of white sand and then turning to him, she frowned. ‘But I don’t understand why nobody else is here.’
He looked at her with amusement. ‘Probably because it’s private property!’
Catching sight of the confusion in her eyes, he grinned. ‘Don’t look so worried. I’m an old hand at trespassing. Remember?’
She felt a tingling warmth tiptoe over her skin. It was a good thing their relationship would only ever be about sex, she thought weakly. It would be perilously simple to start craving that curling smile; to start dreaming of ways to become the focus of that steady clear blue gaze.
She punched him lightly on the arm. ‘I can’t believe you brought me here. That’s makes me some kind of accomplice!’
He gave her a long, slow smile. ‘I wanted to see where your boundaries are—’
Transfixed by the many possible and all equally unsettling implications of his words, Flora decided it was definitely time to move the conversation on.
‘So why is it so empty, then?’ Unsettled by his glittering gaze, she spoke too quickly. For a moment, he simply stared at her so that she was holding her breath, her heart hammering in panic that he might have read her thoughts.
But after a long pause, he said coolly, ‘Like I said. It’s privately owned. Fortunately I happen to know the owner and he said we could stop off for lunch.’
She stared at him suspiciously. ‘You’re not the owner, are you?’
‘One day, perhaps.’ His expression was gently mocking. ‘I might make him an offer when I’m ready to buy.’
He spoke calmly—as though he were discussing the possibility of buying a neighbour’s car.
Suppressing a sigh, Flora nodded politely. Living with him day to day, she’d been aware that Massimo was wealthy. But there was wealthy and then there was the sort of mind-boggling wealth that was quite impossible to picture. No wonder he’d been so furious when she’d refused to move out of the palazzo. If he could afford to buy an island, it must have come as a bit of shock when his money had failed to change her mind.
She felt another flicker of panic. Earlier, she’d felt strong and sure of herself. Despite wanting nothing more than to tumble back into bed with him, she’d forced him to see her not just as a conquest or a commodity but as a person. But now, transported by his luxury yacht to an exclusive piece of paradise she felt vulnerable and out of her depth—alone on an island with a man who not only didn’t live in her world but clearly didn’t expect to play by its rules either.
‘You’re very quiet.’
Massimo’s voice broke into her thoughts.
‘I was thinking.’
‘I’ve got a cure for that.’
She felt his gaze sweep over her and, looking up, she found him watching her curiously. ‘Thinking isn’t a bad thing.’
He looked past her out to the open sea. ‘Depends what you’re thinking,’ he said cryptically.
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him what he was thinking. But just in time she remembered. This was just sex.
She didn’t need to know what he was thinking and she certainly had no intention of sharing her thoughts. In truth, she’d rather die first.
She smiled up at him. ‘Actually, I was just thinking that I would never have got to see the Spiaggia Rosa if you hadn’t brought me out on your boat today.’ She hesitated. ‘So thank you.’ She shook her head slowly. ‘I still can’t believe it’s actually pink.’
