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His eyes were a raw, turbulent gunmetal; the skin around his mouth was pinched. ‘No, it isn’t. Should Maria see on the news one day soon that a tragedy has happened to Carla and I hadn’t done everything I could to stop it, it’ll finish her. And with Blackwell in charge, it’s not a case of if but when. I can’t let that happen to either of them.’
Rebel let out a shaky breath. ‘So...this engagement is really about helping Carla through forcing her father’s hand, and not a male-pride thing to get back at Olivio because he stopped you from dating her three years ago?’
Already dark brows clenched in a thunderous frown. ‘I see Olivio has filled your head with nonsense. Open the door, Arabella. We’re leaving. I can’t stand to stay in this place another minute. The moment we’re on my plane, you’ll tell me what else that bastard filled your head with. I didn’t think it was possible, but you’ve grown even more insufferable since the damned gala.’
Purely for self-preservation purposes, she opened the door and walked out of the suite. Stefano waited in the hallway and took charge of their bags. The walk to the helipad was swift and they were lifting off within minutes.
They boarded Draco’s plane and took off with Rebel having no clue where they were going since Draco had disappeared to take a shower. On his return, he clamped the phone to his ear, and conducted several conversations in rapid-fire Greek. A solid hour after take-off he finally hung up and flung his phone on the table between them.
He dragged his hands down his face, but she thought the look he levelled at her was a little less incandescent.
‘Is it safe to ask where we’re going now?’
He blinked at her, then his gaze dropped to the ring, which had somehow found its way back onto her finger. ‘I was going to take you to my water villa in the Maldives. It’s secluded and beautiful and rainbow-coloured fish swim up to you to say hello. But after the stunt you pulled tonight—’
‘Which stunt are we talking about?’
Narrowed eyes sizzled at her. ‘The getting-your-head-filled-with-lies part, followed by the part where you tried to dump me.’
‘Oh. Right.’
‘Yes. Right. You don’t deserve the Maldives. And I don’t want to be stuck on a plane for half a day with a woman who drives me insane, and yet who I want to make love to more than I want to breathe.’
Rebel was glad she was seated. His powerful, enthralling words buffeted her like a freak storm, raising her heart rate and melting her insides. ‘I guess that’s completely rational. So do I get a destination?’
‘No. You’ll find out when we get there. Tell me what else Olivio told you,’ he commanded.
She told him, leaving nothing out. Draco shook his head once and uttered a curse. She grimaced. ‘Sorry. But on a positive note, now he thinks I’m not going to step aside easily or be bought off, he might rethink his plans?’
‘I doubt it. Men like Olivio rarely change their ways. But I have to try something. Maria will never forgive me if I don’t,’ he said grimly.
‘Surely you understand that you don’t have total control over this?’
He didn’t reply and several minutes passed before she asked, ‘So, what now?’
His gaze rested on her, scrutinising her from face to midriff and back again. ‘I have my investigators digging deeper for anything they can find on Blackwell. Come here.’
Temperature spiking from an infusion of wicked excitement, she rose and rounded the table.
He drew back and patted his lap. ‘Sit.’
She hitched her gown up and swung one leg over his thighs. His breath hitched as she lowered herself and settled onto him. Shaking his head, he gave a low, deep laugh. ‘I should’ve known better than to expect you to sit side-saddle with your legs daintily crossed,’ he teased.
Face flaming with embarrassment, Rebel drew back. ‘Sorry, I’m fresh out of dainty,’ she quipped. Bracing her hand on the table, she started to rise.
He clamped his hand on her hips. ‘Stay. How is it that your relentless mouth hasn’t seen you thrown into an institution long before now?’
Heat rose higher, but this time from the blatant presence of his arousal between her legs. ‘Umm...I’m nice to little old ladies and I don’t walk under ladders?’
His hands slowly travelled up to shackle her waist. Leaning forward, he stopped a hair’s breadth from her lips. ‘I want you like crazy, Arabella Daniels.’ His voice was a warm, whispered rumble over her lips. ‘Nothing has changed since this morning. So tell me you want me too.’
‘I want you too,’ she delivered, although she couldn’t accept that nothing had changed. Tonight’s events had unleashed emotions she didn’t want to brave uncovering just yet. Hell, she might leave that box sealed for ever.
