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She ought to be wary of his request. Spending three weeks with this man had the potential to seriously endanger her heart. But then his Adam’s apple bobbed.
He was nervous, or at least apprehensive, about her answer and trying extremely hard not to show it.
It was the first time she’d ever been able to read him, the first time she’d seen a crack in the wall of confidence he presented to the world.
The bubble of hope swelled to the size of a hot-air balloon in her chest.
This was progress. Maybe it was only baby steps, but still it felt important and exhilarating in a way she would never have believed possible. And it felt like enough, for now.
‘Will you come with me?’ he asked, his tone curt. But the edge of uncertainty made the hot-air balloon bob under her breastbone.
‘Yes,’ she said, fighting her own fears to give them both a chance.
‘Good.’ He whipped his hands out of his pockets, cradled her cheeks between rough palms and captured her lips with his.
The kiss was deep, hungry and demanding. His tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, commanding her response—which rioted through her body on a wave of emotions she couldn’t even begin to control.
But when they finally parted, the line of his jaw had softened, and along with the hunger, the satisfaction, the cast-iron confidence she could see the flicker of relief, and it was enough to steer the hot-air balloon full of hope towards her heart.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
KASIA SIGHED AS she stepped onto the balcony of the Parisian hotel’s penthouse suite. The Eiffel Tower seemed close enough to touch, its elegant steel beams lit by a million tiny lights in the sunset, while it watched over the warren of streets like a benevolent giant.
‘Wow.’ She spun round as Raif joined her on the terrace, having just tipped the battalion of porters who had brought up their luggage. ‘This view is incredible.’
‘I’m glad you approve.’ He wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her back against his body. His lips found the rapidly beating pulse in her neck—the pulse that hadn’t stopped fluttering since he’d arrived at her hall of residence in a chauffeur-driven car three hours ago. The pulse that had been going a little haywire ever since: when he’d escorted her aboard the Kholadi Corporation’s private jet; when they’d been picked up by another chauffeur-driven car at Orly Airport; when he’d pointed out the cluster of iconic landmarks they’d passed on the drive through the Eighth Arrondissement to their hotel.
She had sighed over the elegance of the Élysée Palace, gawped at the splendour of the Grand Palais, fed her passion for people watching as they’d cruised down the Champs-Élysées and almost got a crick in her neck as they’d passed the Arc de Triomphe. She’d never been to Paris before, had never really been outside Cambridge during her five years in Europe, having been far too focused on her studies.
But her elevated pulse as she took in the magnificence of the City of Light for the first time had more to do with the man beside her and the thought of spending three whole weeks in his company.
She had made a decision the day before, after they had parted in Walmsley’s office and he had contacted her later that day with details of their trip, that she would embrace the chance he was giving her to get to know him. He wanted this trip to end in marriage, she understood that. And she had no doubt at all that he would pull out all the stops to make that happen.
But just because he wanted marriage for all the wrong reasons—for honour, and duty and responsibility and because she was carrying his child—it didn’t mean they couldn’t fall in love, or at least use this trip to find an accord that would stand them in good stead when they became parents.
She wasn’t going to rule anything out. She wanted to keep her heart and her mind open, to absorb every sight and sound and sensation and to discover everything she could about a man who had always fascinated her.
Raif trailed kisses up her neck, the teasing licks and nips of his tongue and teeth sending the familiar shivers of anticipation darting down to her core. She softened against him, the magnificent view nowhere near as awesome as the feel of having his arms around her again. She tilted her head to give him better access, and covered his hands with hers as her breathing accelerated.
He hadn’t touched her since the kiss they had shared to seal the deal they’d made in Walmsley’s office. And she’d been looking forward to continuing their sexual relationship every moment since—because sex was the one thing in their relationship that was uncomplicated and straightforward. And sex seemed like the perfect way to get closer to him, to continue knocking down the wall he used to shut people out.
Feeling his erection pressing against her back, she shifted in his arms, more than ready to take his tantalising kisses to the next level. But as she lifted her arms to draw him closer, his hands gripped her waist, keeping her at arm’s length.
‘Stop, my little witch,’ he said, a tight smile on his face. ‘We cannot.’
‘Why not?’ she asked, unable to hide her disappointment as she let her arms drop, suddenly hesitant and unsure of herself.
‘There is not enough time,’ he said, as he brushed a thumb across her cheek, setting off all the usual reactions at her core. ‘I have an important meeting to attend this evening.’
‘Really?’ she said, perplexed now as well as disappointed. ‘But it’s almost dark.’ And she’d been looking forward to some quality time alone with him ever since yesterday’s kiss.
Why had he started something he couldn’t finish? Her gaze darted down to the thick ridge in his pants that suggested she hadn’t read the situation entirely wrongly.
‘In Paris, they conduct business at all hours,’ he said, giving a strained chuckle. ‘I must shower and change before I go. And you should rest,’ he added. ‘It has been a long, tiring journey.’
No, it hadn’t. He’d only picked her up a few hours ago, and being transported in a chauffeur-driven limousine and a private jet—and waited on hand and foot—was hardly stressful.
‘I’m not tired,’ she said. Then, getting up all her courage, she added, ‘Perhaps I could join you in the shower?’
