AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I’m not.’ She had to be bold, to make him understand. ‘I’ve only ever been with one man before, Thirio, and I was never really into him, physically. Not like this.’
Thirio’s expression was tortured. That was the only word for it. He stared at her, a plea in his eyes, disbelief etched around the lines of his mouth.
‘I’venevermet someone and wanted them like I do you. That’s not to say Ilikeyou, or even have a crush on you. I’m grown up enough to know that physical desire is a whole separate ballgame to love. You don’t need to worry that I’m getting unrealistic expectations. But I do desire you, Thirio. I do want you. And I guess I’m not really in the mood to ignore that, given how rare this is for me.’
He stared at her, stricken and lost, and she waited, aware that she’d just dropped a bombshell on his lap.
When he spoke, it was slowly, with consideration behind every word. ‘The fact that you are so inexperienced is simply another reason for us to avoid this.’
This.He wouldn’t put a label on it, but it was there, between them, an actual feeling and need.
‘Why?’
He compressed his lips.
‘You think because I’ve only ever had one lousy boyfriend before—and believe me, he was lousy—I won’t be able to sleep with you and keep a level head.’
He leaned down, his forehead pressed to hers, eyes pinched shut. ‘Stop.’
‘Why? I didn’t come here intending to say this. In fact, I came here planning to focus on the job, and not you at all. But within one minute of seeing you again, all this bubbled up inside me. It’s an uncontainable desire. If you don’t feel it too, then tell me. I’ll respect that. But if you’re going as mad with longing as I am, then, please, put us both out of our misery.’
He groaned. ‘I have thought of you.’ His breath fanned her face. ‘I have dreamed of you. I have wanted you.’ He closed his eyes, as if seeking strength. ‘But you don’t understand what you’re asking of me.’
‘I know that you want to stay here, alone and cut off from the world. I’m not offering any kind of permanent reprieve from that. When your sister’s wedding is over, we’ll never see one another again, I promise. My life is wrapped up in my father’s company, and that’s just how I want it. But we have this small window of opportunity, Thirio, and I’m here, with you, asking you to stop fighting what we both want. Just for now.’
‘Damn it, Lucinda.’ She braced for his rejection. She knew it was coming. She was sure of it.
But then, to her surprise and delight, he scooped her up against his chest and carried her, through the lovely timber doors, across the parquetry dance floor, and straight into her wildest fantasies.
