Carlo stepped closer to her, leaned down and spoke in that low tone that sent shivers through her. "You just what?"
"Oh no you don't." She hurriedly stepped back, her progress blocked by the railing. She put her hand up in thestopgesture. "You stay over there."
"What is the matter, Annette?" Carlo had remained in her personal space, his body giving off pheromones that hers reacted to regardless of what her mind insisted she do.
Do not give in. Leave him alone. Steer clear of his brand of Sicilian seduction.
"You've got that look in your eye," she accused.
"What look is that?" he asked, stepping forward again so her hand pressed against his chest.
How had he gone from being disappointed in her, to wanting sex with her? What did that say about him wanting her at all? That he was only interested in her body and not the mind of the woman he didn't understand.
"You know what I'm talking about, and we aren't going there."
He tugged her hand up to his mouth and tickled her palm with the tip of his tongue, sending shivers down her arm and to places more intimate. "I think we should." He kissed her palm.
Desire burst into flame inside her so potent her knees wanted to buckle. Annette gripped the rail behind her and stood firm. This was not happening.
"I'm not one-night stand material," she told him tightly.
He gave her a devilish smile. "How about friends with benefits?"
"We aren't friends."
"Aren't we?" he asked with amusement. "You know me better than anyone, surely that makes us friends."
"Friendshipmakes friends, and we don't have that." Only, they sort of did.
Now.
"I text you more often than I do anyone else. We follow each other on social media."
Now they did. "For five years, you wouldn't take a single call or text or email."
"I was angry. My Sicilian emotions run deep."
"Are you saying you've forgiven me?"
"I am saying I want to spend the time you have here in Sicily together."
"In bed."
"And out of it."
Annette went still.Thatwas different.
"And when I go back to Portland?"
"I've never tried sexting, but I'm game."
"No," she said quickly, before her own temptation to indulge in both suggestions that sounded wildly interesting showed on her face. "I'm not wired for casual sex."
Which she knew was true, but she also knew that sex with Carlo would never be casual for her, at least.
"Isn't that old fashioned?" He brushed her nape, sending frissons of enticement traveling along her nerve endings. "What about the sexual revolution women have fought so hard for?"
That was rich coming from one of the original throwbacks. "It's about having the freedom to have sex, or not, as we see fit, Carlo. Not a mandate to have sex."