That feeling had burst into life last night the moment she’d looked up to see him before her. But if she was honest the trembling awareness, the desire, had never really gone away. In four years, even telling herself she detested him, the kernel of longing had remained.
Suddenly he wasn’t metres away. His breath feathered her hair and down her nape and she felt the heat of his body behind her. ‘There’s another reason you should stay, Ida.’
‘There is? What is it?’ She turned, then realised her mistake when she looked up and his expression stole her breath.
Cesare’s hands skimmed her bare arms, creating incendiary trails, up to her shoulders then higher, to cup her face. It didn’t occur to her to object. His touch was gentle, barely there, yet Ida felt it like an earthquake shuddering through her.
He moved closer. ‘This.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
HISDARKEYESlooked black now, gleaming with sinful invitation.
Ida canted forward, leaning into him. By the time she realised what she’d done he’d moved closer as if about to wrap his arms around her.
No, no, no!
She couldn’t. He couldn’t. The misery of his rejection on their wedding night told her not to trust him.
Yet her body had its own ideas. Her legs had shifted apart, a lush, melting feeling throbbing at her core.
Cesare wanted her. She saw it in his eyes, as clearly as before she’d read contempt.
That was new. Cesare desiring her.
She’d grown up a lot in the last four years. Had seen something similar in the eyes of other men, especially in the last two weeks, working at the club. But never had such a look made her feel eager.
Ida drew herself tall, fighting the craving for more than that featherlight touch. For the feel of his mouth on hers, not fleetingly like when he’d brushed his lips over hers in the church, but with passion.
The depth of her need horrified her.
After four years!How could he spark such a powerful response? She’d hoped last night’s visceral awareness had been due to shock and would have vanished today.
‘You’re inviting me to stay for sex?’ Her voice choked with throbbing emotion. ‘You think because I worked in that club I’m a prostitute, available for—’
Cesare’s thumb pressed against her mouth, stopping her words.
‘No! This has nothing to do with where you worked. It’s about you and me. Nothing else.’
Ida tilted her head back, out of his hold, but for some reason couldn’t get her feet to move. Maybe because the way he looked at her made her believe him.
They stood toe to toe, gazes locked, as he lowered his hands to his sides.
‘Thereisno you and me. There never was.’
Despite the hopes she’d once harboured.
‘Yet the sexual attraction is still there, isn’t it, Ida? It hasn’t gone.’
She blinked. Had Cesare just implied he’ddesiredher four years ago?
‘You feel that thrill in the blood when our eyes lock, don’t you?’
To her horror she felt it now. An effervescence running through her whole body, making her more alive than she’d ever been.
‘And the quickened breathing like you can’t suck in enough air.’
Ida’s eyes widened. How did he know? Her chestdidfeel too tight, as if she’d run out of oxygen and her breaths turned rapid and shallow to compensate.