‘You think that was apology sex?’
‘I’d rather think that than the alternative.’
‘Which is?’
‘Pity sex. That’s far worse than apology sex.’
‘You think I made love to you because I felt sorry for you? I’m not sure the male anatomy would allow “pity sex”, whatever that is.’ His apparent lack of emotion somehow made everything worse.
‘I’m sure yours would—you don’t exactly have a problem with your sex drive, do you? Although I did notice that even you had to do it in the dark.’
“‘Do it’?” He repeated her words with careful emphasis, the subtle lift of one eyebrow reminding her of just how unsophisticated she was compared to him.
Millie rubbed her damp palms on her loose trousers, wishing she hadn’t started this conversation. ‘It wasn’t making love. Making your point would be closer to the mark. Why did you do it? Was it a challenge to your reputation as the ultimate lover? Or was it supposed to be a going-away present? You don’t want me to feel bad about myself so you decided to give me a good night before you sent me packing, is that right?’ Her emotions were in such a heightened state of turbulence that his calm, watchful gaze was even more infuriating. ‘Aren’t you going to say something?’
Leandro stirred and drew in a breath. ‘I only realised yesterday how insecure you are, and clearly I’ve underestimated the depths of that insecurity.’ Putting his napkin carefully down on the table, he stood up.
Something in the set of his powerful shoulders and the glint in his eye made her step backwards but he was too quick for her. His hand closed around her wrist and when she twisted it in an attempt to free herself he simply drew her closer.
Memories of the way he’d held her hands in the moonlight deepened the flush on her cheeks. Hope warred with her feelings of inadequacy.
‘Let me go. You’re always grabbing me! What do you think you’re doing?’
‘You think last night was all about pity sex—you think I’m only capable of only “doing it” in the dark.’ He swung her into his arms, strode a few paces across the terrace. ‘Well, it’s not dark now, agape mou, so let’s test that theory, shall we?’
‘Put me down, Leandro!’
He lowered her onto the nearest sun lounger. ‘I’ve put you down.’ His voice was a soft dangerous purr and he undid the clasp of her trousers with a practised flick of his fingers.
With a gasp of shock she clutched at her trousers but she was too late. They were already discarded on the floor and his hands were stripping off her T-shirt with the same decisive force. ‘Stop it. Leandro, what are you thinking?’
‘That you’re incredibly sexy,’ he growled, releasing the catch on her bra and stripping off her panties without pause or hesitation. It was easy for him, with his vastly superior strength, to keep her where he wanted her. ‘And I’m thinking that being thoughtful wasn’t the right approach. Apparently what a man sees as sensitive, a woman can see as insensitive.’
Horribly conscious of the sun blazing a spotlight onto her naked body, Millie tried to slither away from him but Leandro held her firmly, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. ‘No more hiding, agape mou. No more robes, long trousers or dark rooms. We will do this in daylight and then you will know the truth, hmm? You will see how sorry I feel for you—how this injury of yours has affected me. You want to know if I’m aroused? If you still turn me on? Let’s see, shall we?’
‘Don’t do this.’ Millie drew her knees up, trying to cover herself but he pushed her legs down with one ha
nd and deftly dealt with the zip of his trousers with the other.
‘Do I look as though I’m having a problem becoming aroused, agape mou? Do I look like a man doing you a favour?’ His eyes glittered as he dispensed with his trousers, boldly unself-conscious as he stripped himself naked, exposing his lean, bronzed body. Lean, bronzed, aroused body.
With the flat of his hand Leandro pushed her gently back against the sun lounger and came over her in a fluid movement that was all dominant male.
His muscles were pumped up and hard and she felt the brush of his chest hair against the sensitised tips of her breasts.
When the blunt tip of his erection brushed against her exposed thigh she gave a gasp of shock that turned to a moan as he buried his face in her neck.
‘Does that feel like pity?’ He moved against her boldly and Millie groaned and turned her head away because the sudden explosion of excitement that consumed her was just too humiliating.
‘Don’t do this, Leandro…’
‘Why? Because you’re afraid I’m doing it because I feel sorry for you? I never do things for other people, agape mou, you should know that by now. I’m selfish. I do things for myself. Because it’s what I want.’ His tone rough, he took her hand and drew it down to that part of himself, and her mouth dried because he was velvety hard and she could barely circle him with her shaking fingers. ‘I know you had no experience before I met you,’ he purred, ‘so let me spell out the facts, pethi mou. This isn’t called pity. It’s called chemistry. Hot, sexual chemistry. It isn’t me “making my point”, as you so eloquently put it, it’s me making love.’ He caught her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. ‘Making love,’ he said against her lips. ‘Have you got that?’
‘Leandro—’
‘I want you. I’ve always wanted you and that isn’t going to change. Are you listening?’ He slid his hand behind her neck and forced her to hold his gaze. ‘Are you listening to me?’
Her hand was still holding him and she stared into the fierce heat of his eyes and forgot everything except the burning need in her pelvis.