Weakness for sex had been his father’s trademark. Maybe they were more similar than Cesare had thought. This morning was full of disquieting revelations.
‘Stay for a while. You’re not in a rush to get back, are you?’
Ida surveyed him from under lowered brows. ‘But we’ve had our night together.’
Cesare couldn’t help it. Despite the turbulent mix of guilt, regret and shock writhing inside him, he laughed. ‘It’s going to take more than one night to satisfy either of us, don’t you agree?’
He reached over and touched her hand. Instantly awareness stroked through him, lush and warm.
Her eyes met his and he read a matching enthusiasm in those soft green depths. He’d seen that expression last night and earlier this morning when Ida had lost herself to bliss in his arms.
Longing ripped through him.
He wanted her again.
Yet it wasn’t just her body he craved. There was something about the way Ida turned to him in the throes of passion. The intriguing combination of strength and vulnerability he’d discovered over the past couple of days. Her proud determination not to be an object of pity.
She deserved better from him.
‘I admire you, Ida.’
She looked shocked. ‘You do?’
Cesare inclined his head. ‘Not many people would have coped with what you’ve been through. That man dictating your life. The losses you’ve suffered. Starting over with nothing and no one.’
His skin crawled as he thought about it. He’d contributed to her woes and that shamed him. ‘You’ve faced hardship with grace and dignity.’
She goggled at him as if he’d grown two heads and he couldn’t blame her. Not long ago he’d been ready to believe the worst of her.
‘You believe me?’
‘I do.’ Gently he wrapped his fingers around her hand, waiting to see if she’d withdraw. Yet she didn’t and he was grateful. ‘I acted despicably in Rome. I was so wound up, hating how I’d been manipulated and how powerless I felt, I took out my hatred on you. I never stopped to think that I wasn’t the only one he’d forced to do his bidding.’
Cesare’s chest rose on a deep sigh as he released her. ‘I’m sorry, Ida. If I hadn’t been so proud and caught up in my own problems, I wouldn’t have treated you that way. You wouldn’t have had to run off into the night.’
Pain scraped his throat as he swallowed.
‘Thank you.’
He couldn’t read her expression. Couldn’t tell how she felt about his apology. But she’d accepted it. That was a beginning.
Cesare knew it would take a long time before he felt he’d made it up to her. If he could ever find a way.
‘No, thank you for telling me the truth. I realise they’re not happy memories.’
Ida shrugged and once more he felt that tug of admiration that she should be so strong after she’d been through so much. Perhapsbecauseshe’d been through it.
‘And I need to be clear.’ He held her gaze. ‘I’d like you to stay, partly because I want to make up for the mistakes I made before and the way I judged you. I’ll also do everything necessary to protect you from Calogero. You’ll be safe from him.’
That got a response. A quick blink of stunning green eyes that looked suddenly overbright.
‘Thank—’
‘Don’t thank me! It’s the least I can do.’ He paused. ‘I want to continue what we started last night, for as long as it suits us both. But the invitation to stay and my protection aren’t conditional on sex.’
‘You said before that you’d wait for me to come to you.’
How arrogant he’d been.