In the face of her desire for Matthias, sex for sex’s sake was a palatable option, even when she’d always believed otherwise. Her need to control this seemed futile and absurd given that they would marry. Wasn’t she only fighting to delay the inevitable? Why not just succumb? Why not enjoy what he was offering?
She duck-dived beneath the water’s surface and swam a lap, holding her breath until her lungs were stinging, then pushing up off the tiled bottom and resting her elbows on the sun-warmed terracotta tiles.
Frustration gnawed at her—she pushed it aside with effort, focusing on the vista before her. She couldn’t imagine a better view from anywhere in the world.
A moment later, she did another lap, then another, then switched to freestyle on the water’s surface. She’d been a strong swimmer through school, and she’d always enjoyed it. But nothing was as nice as this. The water in the pool was salty, the twilight sun had the perfect degree of warmth and after the trials of staying calm in the face of Leo’s belligerence it was a delight to expend some energy in this way.
Three more laps, and she emerged to find that she was no longer alone. Matthias had slipped into the pool unannounced and, though he stood on the opposite side, he was watching her, and he might as well have reached out and touched her, for how her body reacted to his presence.
‘Matt...’ she cleared her throat ‘... I didn’t know you were here.’
‘I just arrived.’
How did he have the ability to unsettle her with a single look? Her nerves struggled to find harmony in her body.
‘I spoke to your father.’
Frankie’s eyes flew wide. ‘Already?’
He nodded. ‘I saw no point in delay.’
‘No, of course not. I mean, we’re getting married so soon. I just hadn’t expected...’ She was babbling. She clamped her lips together and made an effort to focus. ‘What did he say?’
‘He was pleased for us. I wondered if you might wish to ask them to remain for some time after the wedding, at least to help with Leo while we take our honeymoon.’
‘Honeymoon!’ The word slid over her back like warmed caramel. She almost groaned at the image it conjured of the two of them, tangled in sheets, warm, passionate, limbs entwined...
‘You know, that thing that usually follows a wedding?’
Her cheeks flushed pink. ‘But this marriage isn’t... I mean... It’s not like we need that. Surely you have too much work. Wouldn’t it just be an inconvenience?’
‘Do you not wish to see more of this country you are to be Queen of?’
She bit down on her lip. ‘I just don’t think a honeymoon is called for.’
‘Why do you make the distinction?’
‘Honestly? A honeymoon makes me think of beds strewn with rose petals and baths filled with champagne. That’s not us.’
‘No,’ he agreed, moving through the water easily, his long legs carrying him into the deepest part without more than half his chest being submerged. ‘But it does not mean we can’t have fun.’
Her mouth was dry and every breath of air seemed to make her nerves quiver. ‘I think we have different ideas of fun.’
He laughed. ‘Do we?’
She flushed and nodded, but her heart was racing, her pulse throbbing. ‘I’ve told you, I’m not interested in casual sex.’
‘There’s nothing casual about marriage,’ he said logically. ‘And I think you’re very interested in sex with me.’
Her chest squeezed. He closed the distance between them completely and, beneath the water, his long fingers found the edge of her bikini bottoms. With his eyes holding hers, he pulled her close to him. And, damn it, she went, with no resistance whatsoever. As though she were an iron filing and he her magnetic pole.
‘Matt,’ she murmured as his other hand curved into the bikini bottoms. He was taunting her, his eyes daring her to say something. To tell him to stop. And, though she knew she should, the word wouldn’t come out. In fact, nothing came out except a small husky sound of surrender.
‘Listen to me,’ he said softly, swimming through the water and pulling her with him. He eased her onto one of the steps at the corner of the pool and stood between her legs. ‘I want you, and I believe you want me. This—’ he gestured from her chest to his ‘—is like a live wire.’
Her eyes flared at the description; it was exactly how she felt.
Beneath the water, his fingers toyed with the elastic sides of her bikini bottoms, sliding down and curving around her buttocks so she held her breath at the unfamiliar but undeniably welcome contact. She was a fool, she knew—she had to stop this—but oh, it felt so good. Just another minute, she promised herself.