AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘A party for my thirty-fifth,’ he announced immediately. ‘At the Lake Como residence when we get there next week.’
Her eyes widened, then she frowned. ‘You don’t need to compete with me in order to throw a party. It’s your birthday. And your property. You can do whatever you want.’ And because every small reference to his memory loss brought brooding displeasure and she wanted to keep this atmosphere light, she refrained from pointing out the possible adverse effect of throwing a party for guests, most of whom he wouldn’t recognise.
He turned and faced her fully. ‘All true. But I find things work smoother for me when your wholehearted endorsement is involved.’
Please. Please...don’t.
But it was too late. Her heart was doing that leaping, exhilarated, roller-coaster-ride thing that made her dizzy. Made her want to shake her head to establish rational thinking.
She was still reeling from his words when he reached out, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and waved the controller at her once more.‘Ne?’
And that was how she found herself playing a video game with Zephyr Diamandis.
Naturally, he trounced her because his dominating, competitive spirit wouldn’t allow for anything else.
And by that afternoon, she was instructing caterers, event planners and liaising with her and Zeph’s PAs to put together a guest list that very quickly risked growing into over a thousand.
She was wondering whether it was wise to broach the subject of exposing himself to so many people at once a few days later when he leaned across the table in the restaurant they’d come to for dinner after docking on the shores of the historic and stunning Hvar on the Croatian coast.
The single candle threw shadows across his breathtaking face as he levelled a stare at her. ‘Dance with me,’ he rasped, holding out his hand.
She started, looked around her, ready to point out there was no dance floor. But indeed, there was one. A small mosaic-tiled floor tucked away into one corner of the restaurant. Currently an older couple were the only occupants on the dance floor, swaying gently to the low but beautifully stirring music.
‘I...’
His nostrils flared at her slight hesitation but a moment later, the flicker of displeasure disappeared from his eyes. ‘Call it an exploratory mission, if you must. I’d rather not discover that I can’t dance at my party.’
‘We both know inadequacy of any kind isn’t in your vocabulary.’
‘Then let’s confirm it, shall we?’
With that neat counter, she had very little else to sustain the argument besides an outrightno. And Imogen...didn’t want to.
She placed her hand in his and let him lead her to the dance floor. Let him draw her into his arms and wrap one arm around her waist.
She swayed, breathing him in, his intoxicating male scent making her stifle a groan.
It was the first time they’d shared a sustained closeness for weeks. Yes, the massages she gave him to ease his headaches required close contact but, more often than not, he succumbed to sleep within five minutes, leaving her oddly satisfied and uplifted, and yet empty.
Something in her leapt in delight and then settled in contentment as they swayed in silence, one slow and rhythmic song blending into another. By the third, her insides were melting again, as they seemed to do around him. Imogen clung shamelessly to him, and when he wrapped both arms around her waist, she stifled a low moan.
The evening was coming to a close but she didn’t want this to end. She—
‘How long are you going to torture us both, Imogen?’
She jerked against him in surprise, rearing back from where she had tucked her face into his neck. ‘What do you mean?’
His face tightened, the barest hint of a grimace crossing his expression before disappearing. ‘I mean how long do I have to endure lying next to you, night after night, unable to touch you?’
Her eyes widened. ‘But you...you fall asleep before I do most nights.’
A wry smile twisted his lips. ‘I have become a master at that act. I pretend to be asleep so we don’t both get agitated by unfulfilled needs.’
Her mouth gaped. ‘No...’
‘Yes,’ he insisted firmly. ‘So I ask again. How long will this torment continue? I want you, Imogen.’
Her heart leapt, then danced wildly. Still she tried to contain it. ‘Zeph, I don’t think...’
