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Giada suspected too that his revelations during their dinner had been more personal than Alessio had intended. Whileshecouldn’t replay every moment of it without her heart, mind and body reacting in varying degrees of intensity that shocked her, forcing her to scramble for a distraction.
On the fifth day, seeking another form of distraction, she walked into the basement level at sunrise, intending to wake herself up with a vigorous swim...to find Alessio had beaten her to it.
Every self-preservation instinct shrieked at her to turn and walk away, return when the coast was clear.
But firstly, she was over walking on eggshells around him. It wasn’t her fault they were stranded here. Okay, maybe not totally. If he hadn’t chased her down in Gstaad, he might’ve boarded the helicopter with his brother.
Secondly, the way Alessio moved in the water was almost transcendental in its splendour.
His powerful strokes were hypnotising, making her footsteps slow but not stop entirely as she was propelled to the edge of the sparkling pool.
Whether he was totally oblivious to his audience or knew she was there and was ignoring her—her money was on the latter—he kept swimming for another five laps. Her bet proved right when he stopped directly in front of her.
She stiffened, expecting more of the chilly atmosphere they’d inhabited for the last few days. Instead, he stared at her with open interest. Not warm, but not frosty either.
Then he took in the swimsuit she wore under her parted robe and jerked his head at the steps leading into the pool. ‘Get in. I’ll race you.’
Shock tightened her midriff before she grimaced. ‘That’s hardly fair, is it? I was just watching you. I know how fast you are.’
The glint in his eyes made her yearn to know what he was thinking. ‘Maybe not. But life isn’t fair. I’ll tell you what, let’s make it interesting. I’ll give you a two-lap head start for a five-lap race.’
Was it insane that she’d expected something entirely different? Something more...daring?
His eyes gleamed some more as he watched her, the dark gold stare seeming to decipher her thoughts. ‘And when I win...’
Her breath caught. ‘What happens when you win?’
‘I will demand something from you that you’ll willingly give.’
‘What happens when I win?’
He shrugged. ‘You will demand the same of me.’
Her eyes bulged, the tiny fireworks beneath her skin igniting faster. ‘That’s...’ she paused and frowned ‘...surprisingly broad but weirdly acceptable.’
His lips twitched in a smile that said only he knew the kind of web he spun, just as he was sure it would eventually capture her.
It was a warning she needed to heed.
And yet, her feet propelled her to the edge of the pool, then down the steps, all while he watched, his eyes devouring every inch of her skin as if he had a right to it.To her.
He remained at the deep end, content for her to swim to him. Giada was aware the wild beating of her heart wasn’t great for a race that hadn’t even started, but she couldn’t calm it.
Couldn’t do more than remain poised beside him, ignoring the danger signs lurking in his eyes. ‘Ready?’ he drawled.
She licked her lips, the water she was treading gliding over her body like cool silk. ‘Yes,’ she breathed.
He nodded, then remained silent for a fistful of heartbeats. Before, ‘Go,’ he ordered, his words just about a silky murmur.
Giada struck out with one huge breath held in, exhilaration kicking in as her year-long training for her recent Antarctic trek gave her a burst of speed that surprised her. She made it to one end on a single breath, then back to where Alessio waited on another.
She barely glanced at him as she reversed direction, but she knew the exact moment he joined the race, his powerful strokes creating mini tsunamis as he passed her on his first lap.
Unsurprisingly, he easily passed her on the last lap, strong arms cleaving through the water, and by the time she finished he was waiting for her, one eyebrow arched and his hand slicking back his hair.
Her helpless gaze followed the sleek play of muscle, her mouth watering at the drops of water that lovingly clung to his face and torso. ‘Is this where you tell me I made a bad deal?’
‘This is where I tell you I’m impressed. I knew I would win but perhaps not by such a small margin.’
