He pressed a button and the dull glow of the emergency light went out.
She waited for him to join her on the bed, tense with an emotion between dread and anticipation.
When he did, he put his arm around her waist and the other under her head like a pillow, cuddling up to her back as if they were still lovers.
She stiffened with rejection and tried to push out of his arms.
‘Salvatorel”
He tightened his hold.
‘Be reasonable, rara, the mattress is small. It is the only comfortable position for sleeping.”
‘But-”
‘I promised I would not accost you. Can you not trust me this much?” Why the question should stir her emotions, she did not know. She started to say something again .
‘ushh… ” Soft lips kissed her temple. ‘sleep. That is aII.” Then, nothing.
He made no attempt to take advantage of their position and eventually she relaxed feeling more secure than she had in months. Incredibly, she slept.
When she woke the darkness was absolute.
Slowly, memory of where she was penetrated her mind but something was missing.
The warmth of Salvatore’s body surrounding hers. The blanket was tucked around her as if pressed carefully there by someone else. But no Salvatore.
She listened, but could hear no sound from the lavatory. Besides, in the absolute darkness, light would filter through the cracks of the hi-fold door if he was in there. She could hear his breathing, but not where it was coming from.
She sat up, groggy from sleep, the blanket falling to her waist.
‘Salvatore?”
”Si cara.”’
Her voice had been husky from slumber but his was crisp, as if he’d been awake a while.
‘Why aren’t you sleeping?” His laugh was harsh. you have reason to doubt it but I have some honor.”
‘Did I say I doubted it?”
‘lt is not necessary. I know what you think of me.”
She rubbed at her eyes, but of course that made no improvement on the impenetrable darkness.
‘your honor isn’t letting you sleep?” Nothing was making sense to her still sleep-fuddled mind.
‘I want you ”
‘I know.”
He’d made that patently clear and even half asleep, she could hear the sensual edge to his tone .
‘I cannot lie next to your delectable body for one minute longer and not take you.”
The admission cost him. She could hear it in his voice. He hated being subject to such strong physical need. His next words confirmed it.
‘I swore after Sofia that no woman would hold me in sexual thrall like that again.”