‘What are you suggesting, Cesare?’ Her hands found her hips and her stare narrowed. ‘That you’ll keep me and protect me from my grandfather on condition I give you sex?’
His head snapped back and for the first time since they’d met Ida saw she’d rattled him. It lasted barely a moment, so brief that a second later she wondered if she’d imagined his shock.
But it made her feel better to think he abhorred the idea.
Cesare raised both hands and stepped back.
‘Calogero might have given me a master class in ruthlessness, but I don’t model myself on him. I’m not a blackmailer or rapist.’ His chest rose on a mighty breath and Ida saw she’d actually punctured his arrogant air of assurance. ‘I’ve never forced a woman and I’m not going to start now.’
He paused, staring down at her from under lowered brows as if to make sure his words sank in.
‘As for letting you stay here safely while you make your plans, that offer stands, no strings attached.’
Ida saw the truth in his face. It was a genuine offer.
‘I... Thank you.’
Once again she realised how much she owed him. He’d spirited her out of London to safety when he could simply have waited for her signature on his papers then left her to manage. Now he offered to extend that protection until she worked out her escape plan.
His generosity puzzled her. And made her feel wobbly. It was easier to deal with this man when she could simply hate him.
‘As for pursuing this attraction, we’re both adults, and neither of us is under any illusions that this is more than sexual. All I’m saying is that in the middle of this fiasco your grandfather tangled us in, we could take some pleasure for ourselves. Nothing more, nothing less.’
‘Because it’s convenient?’ She hoped her tone sounded sardonic rather than hurt.
‘You think any of this isconvenient?’
His eyes flashed and once again it seemed she’d pushed him into uncharted territory. That was exactly what he did to her. Then his expression shuttered.
‘But you’re right. The fact we’re divorcing only makes it better. No chance of confusion about this meaning more than it does. We can enjoy a short affair and get this,’ he gestured wide in a way that looked wholly Italian, ‘attraction out of our systems before moving on to separate lives.’
‘Like scratching an itch?’
He inclined his head. ‘Exactly.’
Perhaps Ida was naïve but the sensations bombarding her when she was with Cesare felt far more complicated than an itch.
What did she know? She’d never had an affair, casual or otherwise.
Maybe he was right. If they had sex maybe her fascination for him might finally fade.
And maybe that was dangerous temptation talking.
‘We’re in a unique position,’ he continued. ‘Married and on the brink of divorce but never had a wedding night.’ His eyes locked on hers and she had to fight not to shift her weight because parts of her anatomy responded far too emphatically to that stare. ‘Maybe that’s the problem. We never gave our attraction its natural outlet.’
‘A wedding night?’ She shook her head, but the movement felt stiff. ‘As I recall, you didn’t want sex. You were in a foul mood.’
‘Can you blame me?’
No. She’d understood his anger. Her grandfather had targeted a proud man and brought him almost to his knees. No wonder Cesare had been furious.
But that was no excuse for attacking her. She’d been a victim of the old man’s machinations too. Not that she could prove it, and she knew Cesare wouldn’t take her word for it, not after his experiences with her family.
‘You behaved appallingly,’ she said finally.
She saw he hadn’t expected her to call him out on that. But thenhesurprisedher. ‘I did. I’d kept everything under control for so long and suddenly it all came rushing out. I didn’t mean to drive you away. Most of my anger was directed at your grandfather.’
Most, not all. And that wasn’t a proper apology. Yet it was closer than she’d ever expected to get.