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‘Alicia.’ He practically growled her name as he drew close, and every single treacherous cell in her body went into high alert at his nearness, heat spooling between her legs, breasts aching for his touch. She ground her teeth and kept her eyes focused on a point just beyond his shoulder, on the helicopter that would soon—she hoped—take her part of the way home.
‘Graciano,’ she responded in kind, but without a hint of warmth in her voice.
‘Going somewhere?’
‘Yes.’ Now she forced her eyes to meet his and her stomach dropped to her toes. ‘Home.’ The word quivered a little. She swallowed, tamping down on her emotions as she’d had to do for so many years. ‘I’ve got everything I need, including your assistant’s information. We had a long chat today. I know exactly how to proceed. There’s no reason for me to remain here.’
‘Isn’t there?’ he asked, moving dangerously close, his voice silky. Her throat hurt. She stood her ground.
‘No.’
Perhaps he wasn’t expecting the resistance. His eyes widened for the briefest moment. Then a scowl settled on his brow.
‘However, we had an arrangement. Five nights.’
Her spine tingled. ‘Our arrangement’s changed.’
‘Not from where I’m standing.’
‘You’d seriously want to keep me here against my will?’
‘Is that what I would be doing?’
She swallowed hard, ignoring the swirling desire moving through her, the desire that would wreak havoc with her life if she allowed it—not to mention her self-respect. As if he could read her thoughts, he moved forward, closer, dangerously close so her pulse fired into high frequency and her heart twisted.
‘Stay,’ he murmured, bringing his lips to the base of her throat, kissing her slowly. God, how she wanted to listen to him. Her bones felt as though they were made of molten lava.
‘I’ve told you what I want,’ she said, trying to be firm. ‘I’d like to leave now.’
‘That doesn’t suit me.’
She glared at him. ‘Why not?’
‘Because we had a deal.’
‘Oh, for crying out loud. Is that the sum total of your argument? Because if so, it just underscoreswhyI’m right to leave.’
His eyes skimmed hers and she knew she’d said too much. She’d shown how hurt she’d been when she’d intended to keep that pain wrapped up inside herself.
‘You’re angry that I went away.’
There was no sense fighting that. ‘I’m angry I let you use me. I’m angry I didn’t see through you. And yes, I’m angry that you went away, but I suppose there was no point in staying. You got what you wanted. So now, just let me go.’
He swore softly, then caught her at the elbow and turned her away. ‘I didn’t use you, Alicia. What happened between us was very mutual, very satisfying. Do not rewrite it.’
‘I’m not coming back to the house with you,’ she said, her voice rising, approaching hysteria. She’d already mentally torn herself from the beautiful place. She couldn’t go back. ‘I want to go home.’
‘I’m not going to have this conversation here,’ he said, gesturing to the helicopter pilot and the open air around them. ‘Come inside and we’ll talk.’
‘There’s no point.’ She wrenched her arm free. ‘Nothing you can say will change my mind. I want to go. I have to go.’
‘Why?’
Because I’m one more sensual night away from falling in love with you and I can’t allow that to happen. Because we have a daughter and I need to tell you about her but I can’t work out how or when, when I’m on your island and in your bed. But I will when I have finally found the courage and the words.She almost shouted her response, so awash was she with feelings. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’
‘What did you expect me to say and do the next morning? How did you want me to act?’
Her insides were bruised; his questions hurt. ‘Like a decent human being?’ she muttered, before she could think through her reply.
