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The door clicked only a moment or two later, and Sabato, enormous, larger than life, handsome, and sexy, strode inside. He walked purposefully towards her, his eyes glittering like dark diamonds in his face. His air of victory was unmistakable.

“I thought, until I walked in, that you might have changed your mind.”

Emily swallowed. “No.”

“You are nervous.”

Her soft smile was a mask of admission. “Of course. I think we’ve already established that this is hardly the kind of thing I do every day.”

Sabato’s eyes flared wide. “And I’m very glad to hear it.” He put an arm around her waist, smiling when she trembled in response. He propelled her to the balcony, and led her out into the cool morning air. He shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, surrounding her with his fragrance.

“You’re still in a tuxedo,” she observed belatedly.

“Indeed.”

‘’You haven’t been to bed.”

He pressed a finger beneath her chin, angling her face to his. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Oh.” She blinked, and then looked away. It was too much. She felt as though her heart was about to burst from her chest.

“You’re still nervous.”

Emily shook her head. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?” She stared out at the city beneath them, sprawling and twinkling, like a blanket at a fairy picnic.

Sabato linked his fingers with hers and lifted her hand to his lips. He kissed her gently. “Try not to be. I don’t bite. Often.”

Her blood rushed through her body. “I’m … out of my depth.”

Sabato felt a small prick of compunction but he ignored it. With any other woman, he’d already be undressing her. He was employing patience and self-control. He had nothing to feel guilty about.

He thought again of the boar he’d hunted, and released her hand. “Here is your other favourite time of the day.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why?” She turned to face him, and then cursed inwardly. How had she let herself forget how beautiful he was? How handsome and overwhelmingly masculine? She pretended fascination with a building over his shoulder. “It’s magical.”

“Is it? Some would say, myself included, that it is merely a function of physics.”

“Oh, dear.” She shook her head with mock disapproval. “How can you speak so ludicrously?”

“Day follows night. And where they meet, there is a blending of opposites. Dawn and dusk.”

“But that’s magical!” She challenged with barely concealed impatience. “Look!” She momentarily forgot to be nervous, as she pressed her body to his. She stood on tiptoes, bringing her face closer to his, so that their line of vision was the same. “Look at the stars. Not showing off against the black sky, but rather twinkling bravely against the dusk. Those stars are ancient; what have they seen in their time? What have they witnessed and bemoaned? Look at the colours in the sky – how can the sky be orange and pink? It is for the smallest moment that it has these colours, and all the more magic for how fleeting it is. Taking such beauty for granted is the beginning of the death of one’s soul.” She pressed closer, hoping that she could convince him. “And look at the city below. A city like London that is perpetually busy, never sleeping, is awed by the dawn’s rays. It’s quiet. It’s hopeful. It’s reverent. It’s perfect.”

“And yet I find it hard to look at anything but you,” he said seriously.

“Sabato,” she said his name for the first time, liking the way it felt in her mouth.

“Cara,” he groaned, wrapping his arms around her. “This is madness. You are too sweet to be here with me, and yet I can’t help myself. I knew the moment I saw you that I wanted you. You are a virgin.” He lifted a finger to her lips, to hush her when she was obviously about to interject. “And I want, very much, to introduce you into the world you’ve been missing.”

Emily was silent. A thousand and one thoughts sledged through her mind but she couldn’t grab a single one. She was terrified of herself. Of how badly she wanted to rip her clothes off and beg Sabato to make love to her. She swallowed anxiously. “I truly don’t know what to say.”


Tags: Clare Connelly Billionaire Romance