Lucy smiled. ‘That’s a loaded invitation. You never know what I’ll get up to.’
He seemed wound so tight and tense, that she wanted to loosen him up a bit. Untie those mental knots that kept him so firmly bound. She walked through to a bathroom, with bright mosaic tiles on the floor, gilt mirrors, a shower which appeared to be a newer addition. But it was the huge bath which would fit four people easily that grabbed her full attention.
She went to it, peered inside. ‘It’s hand-painted. With fish and mermaids.’ She turned to Stefano. ‘Your bath isn’t.’
‘Praise all things holy. I might become self-conscious, being watched by all those judgemental eyes. Especially the mermaids. Their standards appear...high.’
She had to admit they did look rather judgemental.
‘I don’t think you have anything to be self-conscious about.’
Stefano raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’
There was a silence again, but this silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was full of things left unsaid. He seemed looser, his gaze softer as he looked at the bath, then at her. She could imagine him lying there, his warm brown skin slick in the water. The feel of him...two bodies sliding together limbs entwined...
Lucy’s cheeks heated. ‘Youknowyou don’t.’
His dark eyes twinkled. Again, he wasn’t smiling as such, but there was no mistaking the fact that he was...amused.
‘Please tell me—I’d appreciate your insight.’
She waved her hand up and down, generally indicating his glorious body. ‘Tall, dark, handsome count with a castle. Really, Stefano. You’re the perfect cliché.’
His mouth curled and broke into a blinding smile, and then he chuckled, the deep, throaty sound rolling right through her in a wave of heat that warmed her way better than any fire. It was sweeter than the hot chocolate he’d made for her. She wanted to kiss that mouth...the crinkles at the corners of his eyes...as the whole of him stopped looking dark and brooding and simply blazed like the sun.
She was weak for him. Stefano made her as gooey inside as the marshmallows she’d fantasised about toasting. She had to get away. Because if she didn’t, she might beg him to kiss her.
She scurried from the bathroom and went through another door. Stefano followed. She could tell he was close from the way goosebumps shimmied up and down her spine at his palpable presence. The next room she walked into was the royal bedroom, with a huge bed covered in a rich blue velvet and gold-embossed pillows. Even worse than the bathroom.
‘Have you ever been in here and been tempted to break some unwritten rules?’
‘Lucy, what are you asking?’
A wry grin played on his lips. It was a good look on him. It seemed impossible that he could become any more handsome till he’d smiled. Then he became devastating.
‘I don’t know... Did you ever jump on the bed as a child?’
He put his hand to his heart, his expression earnest, but she knew he was playing along. ‘I would never have dared. But how wouldyoulike to feel like royalty?’
‘What do you mean?’
Stefano looked at the bed. Looked at her. Cocked his eyebrow. ‘I won’t tell anyone if you want to try out the bed.’
Lucy grinned. She couldn’t help herself. Her heart beat faster with the thrill of it all. ‘Okay, but I won’t jump on it. I promise. Kind of...’
She toed off her shoes and climbed onto the soft velvet cover. Flopped down on her back and made the shape of a starfish.
‘What do you think?’ he asked.
‘Why don’t you try it out for yourself?’ She patted the bed beside her.
He started forward, then hesitated.
‘You know you want to...Your Excellency.’
Stefano kicked off his shoes as well. Lucy straightened herself out and allowed some room for him as he lay down too, in a dignified, manly kind of way. No flopping to be seen.
He let out a long, slow breath. Moved about a bit as if trying out the mattress. ‘I like mine better.’