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‘You are a good man. The best man I know. There is no one I would rather have guiding my child in times of darkness. You know that.’
Guilt clawed through him. ‘Have you told Sienna yet?’
‘No. Why? Do you want to do it?’ Luca laughed, apparently oblivious to the slip Alejandro had just made—a question that had made it seem he, Alejandro, was in ongoing contact with Sienna.
‘I was just curious.’ Lying was not something Alejandro did well. It was not something he had done in a very long time, since he’d been forced into stealing food to survive. He hated this, and he particularly hated lying to Luca. But the situation was too messy to see a way out of. Besides, Sienna had sworn him to secrecy. Even if he wanted to tell Luca what was going on, he couldn’t without betraying her trust. And so what was his option? To betray Luca’s trust instead?
‘Olivia’s going to wait until they catch up next month. She wants to do it in person.’
‘Got it.’
‘So if you should happen to run into her, mum’s the word.’
‘Why is Olivia so protective of Sienna?’
The question was out before he could stop it. He winced, wishing he hadn’t asked it, but at the same time he stood very still, awaiting the response.
‘Typical older sister stuff.’ There was a note of restraint in Luca’s voice and Alejandro understood. There was more his friend wasn’t saying, secrets he considered private, shared between a wife and her husband. In some ways, it alleviated Alejandro’s guilt a little, because if Luca could have secrets, so could Alejandro. Except Luca was simply protecting his wife’s privacy, whereas Alejandro was indulging his ravenous libido because opportunity had come knocking. Because no woman since Sienna had been able to inspire his interest, and he’d been at risk of turning into stone until she came into his office with her very attractive proposition.
So what? That justified this?
But when he remembered the way she’d looked at him, the hope shimmering in her eyes, the uncertainty and raw, unshaped desire, he knew he’d make the same decision every single time. It might be wrong, it might be a betrayal of Luca, but it was, in so many other ways, completely right.
‘Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. Our family’s growing.’
Our family. That was what they were—like brothers. ‘Congratulations, Luc. I’m truly thrilled for you.’
He disconnected the call and dropped the phone onto the benchtop as though it were a venomous snake primed to bite him. He carried his coffee onto the terrace, gravitating towards the swimming pool, remembering how she’d looked in the water, and as he’d lifted her out of it, her creamy skin glossed by moisture, little droplets running over her that he chased with his tongue as he carried her to one of the sun loungers, placing her down on it and kissing her until she was a pool of desire beneath him. Her responsiveness was the hottest thing he’d ever known. She melted when he touched her, and he sparked into flame and fire.
So how did he stop what they were doing from destroying his relationship from Luca?
It didn’t matter that Luca would never know. Alejandro had to draw up his own boundaries, to make sure he was able to defend his actions, if the time ever came. So how did he do that?
By making sure he was looking after Sienna. Treating her well. And being completely honest with her, which he had been, right from the start. This was no prelude to love. There was no relationship in the offing, for either of them. Neither wanted that. But he had to make sure she didn’t forget. He had to make sure the lines stayed in place, and that they both respected them. And when the week was over, he would move on, once and for all. No more fantasising about her. No more wanting her. And definitely no contacting her. Hers was one number that wouldn’t be making it into Alejandro’s little black book.
Light streamed into the palatial bedroom, waking Sienna some time before seven. She stretched in bed, languid and relaxed, her hands reaching out on autopilot for Alejandro, wanting him in a way that made her blush, particularly given how they’d spent most of the night before. How was it possible she craved him again already? Her hand ran over her nipples and she breathed out heavily, desire snaking through her. Where was he? She sat up, holding the sheet above her breasts, scanning the room. It was clear he wasn’t there; the attached bathroom was silent. Frowning, she pushed her feet out of bed, standing, wrapping the sheet around her as an afterthought as she moved through the bedroom and into the corridor, ears straining for some sight or sound of him.
He was in the kitchen, eating a piece of toast. She paused, watching him for a moment before he became aware of her and looked up, his eyes roaming her with undisguised hunger.
‘Good morning.’
‘Bon dia.’
‘You speak Catalan instead of Spanish?’
‘I speak both.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘You’re familiar with the languages?’
‘Spanish,’ she murmured, her stomach flipping and flopping as she drew closer. She’d studied languages voraciously as a teen—Spanish, French, Italian and German, anything to blot out the silence and tension of her home life. ‘Not Catalan. Want to teach me?’
‘In a few days? Perhaps a few phrases.’
She ignored the odd lurching feeling at his reference to a few days. It was what they’d agreed. ‘I’m an excellent student.’
‘And yet, there are other things I’d prefer to help you learn.’
Heat flushed through her. ‘Ah.’
‘You are also an excellent student of those.’ He reached out, dislodging the sheet, his eyes lightly mocking as the fabric rustled to the floor. ‘Better.’ His approval sent a tingle of warmth through her body.
