‘Okay. Let’s give snappy a go, then. See if I can take it.’
Her eyes widened in shock, then she took a deep breath, obviously making an effort to get herself under control. Control was the last thing that Matteo wanted right now.
‘Don’t be facetious, Matteo.’
‘Why not? You’re the one who’s playing games here, pretending you’re made of stainless steel and that nothing touches you.’
Fire flashed in her eyes as she looked up at him. That was better. Rose was ready to turn and fight him, and the thought made the muscles around his heart clench.
‘You’d like me to just crumple under pressure, would you? Is that how you like your women?’
‘I like my women unafraid.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she flared back at him. In that moment he could believe that Rose wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone.
‘It means that if you want to cry, then cry. If you want to laugh...’ He gestured his frustration, spreading his arms wide. ‘But then if you don’t cry, you can’t really laugh either. All that pain just gets bottled up, and it stops you from living.’
‘Oh, so I’m bottled up now, am I?’
‘You really want to know?’
‘Yes, go on. Since you seem to know everything else about me.’
‘Fine.’ Matteo felt his exasperation rise to meet the taunt. ‘You’re very brave, and very beautiful. Only you’re not brave enough, Rose. You’re afraid of letting it all go.’
For a moment he thought she was going to either slap him or walk away from him. But she took an altogether more radical step, one that delivered a knock-out blow and silenced everything.
Her kiss was like fire, nothing like a hesitant first kiss but one that took full advantage of his gasp of surprise, invading his senses like a cyclone. There was passion, anger and hurt on her lips, and it flooded through his veins, shocking him into submission. This had to be the first time in his life that a beautiful woman had kissed him full on the lips, and he’d been unable to make a suitable response.
When she drew back, her eyes were bright. She knew just what she’d done to him, she had to have felt his body’s response, the pump of his heart and the way he was battling for breath. His head was swimming in the best way possible, caught in the excitement of having her close.
‘Bottled up?’
‘I stand corrected...’ That’s if he could stand at all. Matteo felt as if he was about to fall to his knees.
‘Is that all you have to say?’
‘No.’ This time he kissed her. And he did it properly, taking her in his arms and letting her feel the heat build, stopping just a whisper away from her lips until they opened in a tremulous gasp. Then he took everything that she offered, and made it his.
Another first. He didn’t remember ever having been quite so lost before. So aware of his own strength and yet so conquered by hers. He made it last for as long as he could, and when finally they both had to breathe again, he kept her locked in his gaze.
‘This doesn’t have to be like the last time, Rose. You don’t have to keep this away from everyone.’
‘You don’t understand...’
‘Then tell me.’ He needed to know, as much as he needed to breathe. She hesitated and he tightened his arms around her, sending the message that he was willing to stand here like this all night, if that was what it took.
Suddenly she capitulated. ‘I met Alec at the freshers’ ball, at university. I’d had boyfriends before, but he was the first...you know...’
‘Yeah. I get the picture.’ That bit was one detail that Matteo probably didn’t need to know.
‘He was an only child, like me. My mum and dad used to fill the house with friends, theirs and mine, but he was more solitary. He used to say I was all he had, but that I was all he needed, and I thought that was rather sweet. He was very charming.’
‘And you married him.’ Rather sweet didn’t sound much like a solid basis for a marriage, but Matteo let that go.
‘I know what you’re thinking. But we were young, and I loved him, and I thought we could make a go of it. I knew what he was like, I went into it with my eyes wide open.’
‘So what was he like?’