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‘I thought you’d stopped coming because you’d lost interest.’ She searched his face as if he held all the answers to every question she’d ever had. ‘I didn’t think...’ She stopped, the flush in her cheeks deepening, the blue flame in her eyes glowing brighter.
You could take her now. Right here in front of the fire.
He could and she wouldn’t resist him, he could see that right now. But the need inside him felt too big and too strong. Something that he should resist, not give in to. Especially when he knew himself and his desires. They were powerful and, if he wasn’t careful, if he wasn’t vigilant, he could fall prey to them like his father had.
His mother had been clear about the dangers when he’d been a child and he’d never forgotten those lessons. He couldn’t afford to. And if he needed a reminder, he only had to look at the woman in front of him.
A woman he’d taken without any thought for her and her future. Who was now pregnant and alone, just as his mother had been.
No, he couldn’t let himself be at the mercy of his own desires, not now, not when his control was so tenuous. He had lost so many battles since meeting her, but he would not lose this one.
He held her bright gaze, freezing every part of the fire that leapt inside him. ‘Constanza will have prepared your suite by now,’ he said, keeping his tone casual. ‘Perhaps you would like to change your gown and refresh yourself.’
Lia took an impulsive step towards him. ‘But I—’
‘It was not a request,princesa.’ He held himself still, ignoring the warmth of her that lapped around him, tugging at him. She needed to be out of his vicinity and quickly.
Uncurling his fingers with a certain deliberation, he lifted his hand and instantly Constanza reappeared. ‘Show the Lady Amalia to her suite, please.’
Lia stared at him a long moment, then abruptly her lashes lowered, veiling the glow in her eyes. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Now that you mention it, perhaps that would be for the best.’
She didn’t say anything more, turning and following Constanza, shoulders back, her chin held high, sweeping from the room in a cloud of silken skirts. It would have been dignified if her gown hadn’t been almost fully open at the back and only on her shoulders because she was holding it there.
Rafael watched her leave, standing rigid until she’d gone, before turning back to the fire and getting a grip on his recalcitrant body.
If he wanted to try that tactic again, use their chemistry to get her to do what he wanted, then he was going to have to be very careful. That was a flame that could easily burn out of control if he let it.
His phone went off and he pulled it out of his jacket pocket, answering it absently, his head still full of Lia.
‘What the hell are you doing?’ a deep voice said in his ear.
Zeus. One of his three closest friends and the one least likely to judge Rafael’s current behaviour. Which wasn’t a point in his favour.
Why on earth had he answered his phone?
‘Is there a point to this call, Zeus?’ He kept his tone negligent as he stared into the flames. ‘Because if not, my hands are rather full right now.’
‘A point? Not at all. But I’ve had Vincenzo and Jag yelling in my ear for the past hour and I’m sick of it. Why aren’t you answering our calls?’
‘I would have thought that would be obvious.’
‘You took your brother’s bride right from under his nose,’ Zeus said. ‘You just threw her over your shoulder in full view of everyone. I have to say, I’m impressed. I didn’t think you had it in you.’
Rafael gritted his teeth. He’d always been the most restrained of the four, while Zeus wouldn’t know restraint if it punched him in the face. ‘She’s pregnant,’ he growled. ‘What was I supposed to do?’
‘Pregnant?’ Zeus sounded surprised this time. ‘Rafael, did you—?’
‘Yes,’ he interrupted. ‘The child is mine.’ And then, because this was an old friend after all, he added, ‘It’s complicated.’
‘Apparently.’ Zeus’s tone was dry as dust. ‘So, what are you going to do now?’
‘What do you think I’m going to do now? I’m going to marry her.’
‘Oh, good.’ This time Zeus did not sound in the least bit surprised. ‘I’ll get the jet ready.’
‘No,’ Rafael said. ‘It’s a white out. All the roads are blocked and no one can get in or out.’
‘Well, that’s disappointing. I was looking forward to marrying another of my friends. How is the prospective bride?’
