Chapter Fiftheen

Don't,' she said.

'Really?"

She supposed it was an indication of his arrogance

that the note of surprise in his voice sounded genu-

ine. Yes, really' Meeting his gaze in the mirror, she

picked up the brush and began to attack her hair.

'You're bored with sex already?"

She gave a short laugh. 'Don't be disingenuous,

Massimo. I'm sure there isn't a woman alive who wouldn't

find you physically attractive but my emotions aren't

something you can turn on and off, like a tap.

"Why bring emotion into it? he questioned care-

lessly.

"Well, what about simple manners, then?" She put

the brush down and turned on him.

 You were cold

and accusatory towards me downstairs, yet the min-

ute we get back to the bedroom I'm supposed to fall

straight into your arms?"

He seemed taken aback by her frankness. "You

seemed to be getting very cosy with my family."

'So? Would you have preferred it if I'd been aloof?

Don't you realise that's what people expect me to be?

It was actually lovely to meet people who treated me

normally. People I didn't have to put at ease, the way

I usually do. Who didn't seem to care that I was a

princess. What's your problem with that?"

"I just don't want them getting any false ideas

about our relationship", he growled.

'Oh, I wouldn't worry your head about that.' She

gave a short laugh. I'm sure your attitude towards

me will be enough to convince them that we have 

sting future. It's just a pity you're managing

no lasting future.

to ruin the present in the process.

' Great way to live

your life.'

For a moment he stilled, as if he was going to ob-

ject to her making such a personal comment, but he

didn't. Instead his eyes narrowed. 'Is that what I'm

doing?"

'Yes.' She could hear the powerful pounding of her

heart as it slammed against her ribcage and knew she

couldn't keep avoiding the question she was burning

to ask.

' Tell me, do you and Sharla have some kind

of history?"

There was a fraction of a pause.

"What makes you say that?"

'It was a simple question, Massimo. A yes or a no will do', 

Massimo heard the persistence in her voice as he

looked into her luminous black eyes. 

At those rosy

lips, which were plump and parted. He could lie to

her-of course he could. She'd told a few lies her-

self, hadn't she- so what would a few more mat-

ter? Except that their conversation on the plane had

made him understand why she'd been so reluctant to

reveal her identity. Even why her virginity had be-

come a millstone around her neck something which

had been saved for a man who had ultimately chosen

someone else. Maybe there had been some justifica-

tion for those lies she had woven, but the same could

not reasonably be said of him if he chose not to an-

swer her question directly.

And surely he could give her the bare facts. He

didn't have to give her chapter and verse.

'We were an item a long time ago.' He drew in a deep breath. Over a decade ago, in fact, and it lasted

less than a year.

'And did you-?'

'No, Sophie,' he said, because he was discover-

ing that some things could still hurt, no matter how

deeply you buried them. That when you pulled them

to the surface they could still seep like a dark stain

over your skin. Still make you want to smash a frus-

trated fist against the nearest wall. That was a lot

more than the yes or no you initially demanded and

it's all you're going to get."

He saw confusion on her face along with a softness

which affected him even though he didn't want it to.

And although he knew he should resist touching her

when she was trying to unpick him like this, some-

thing made him override his instincts. 

Was it comfort

he sought, or oblivion? Reaching out, he pulled her

to her feet and brought her up close against his body,

his hands cupping her buttocks so that she could feel

the hardness of his erection. And she did. He could

tell from the sudden dilation of her eves and he half

expected her to object as he bent his head to kiss

her. 

To pull away and demand to know more about

Sharla, because curiosity was part of human nature

and women were far more curious than men.

But she didn't. Was she intuitive enough to guess

that right then he needed her kiss, in the way a starv-

ing man needed food? Was that why her lips parted,

as if silently begging him to crush them with his

own? And why, when he did, she kissed him back

with a hunger which matched his, as if realising that

in this, at least, they were properly equal? His tongue

laced with hers and he could feel the urgent rush of blood to his groin as he skated his palm down over

her hips. 'Toyin'

Shh,' she said urgently, pushing her breasts hard

into his chest, her breath hot against his. Just do it.

The unexpected earthiness of her response only

fueled his spiralling hunger and Massimo tugged the car-

digan over her head, not bothering with the tiny but-

tons. Granted access to the silky camisole beneath,

he rubbed his palm over her hardening nipple and felt

her shiver as she began tugging urgently at his belt.

His mouth dried. She might be a novice, but she cer-

tainly wasn't shy. He liked the murmuring sound of

approval she gave as she tugged down the zip of his

jeans and wrapped her hand around his rock-hard

shaft. But when she started to slide her fingers up and

down, he gave a swift shake of his head to stop her.

Picking her up, he carried her over to the bed, his

hands unsteady as he laid her down and pulled off

the rest of her clothes. Curve after silken curve was

revealed and he resisted the urge to let his fingers

linger and caress her until they were both naked and

warm beneath the duvet. He wanted to put his head in

between her legs but he wanted to be inside her even

more. Somehow he found a condom and although

she seemed eager to take responsibility for the task,

he shook his head.

'No', he said. 'Let me do it. I don't trust myself

if you put your hands anywhere near me when I'm

in this state."

Moments later and she was giving an exultant

gasp as he thrust deep into her moist heat and that

wild little sound set off something deep inside him.

It kick-started a level of lust which grew and grew, threatening to blow him away. He did it to her hard

and then he did it to her slow. He licked her skin and

sucked on her flesh. He was on the very edge of con-

trol as he cupped her buttocks and drove into her.

deeper and deeper and deeper. He never wanted it to

end and yet for once he found he couldn't hold back

any longer. His body stilled for one exquisite split-

second before finally he began to jerk inside her.

Eventually he turned his head and looked at her

lying back against the pillows, her eyes closed. His

voice sounded as if he was speaking from a long

way away.

"Did you come?"

Yes. Her eyelids fluttered open and she smiled.

"Didn't you notice?"

Massimo stared up at the ceiling. Not really. It had

been... He shook his head. He thought a burglar

could have walked in and ransacked the room and

he doubted he would have noticed. 

What was it about Toyin, this woman who'd had sex just a

handful of times who could bewitch him like this?

Lifting his forearm, he forced himself to glance at his

Wristwatch and to ignore the renewed lust which was

hardening his groin again. He yawned. 

'I ought to go

and help my brother clear the snow from the paths

Can I help?"

He turned to look at her, propped up on one elbow,

her glossy hair spiling down all over her bare shoul-

ders and flushed face.

'You? he said.

Is that such an extraordinary proposition?"

'Are you serious?'

'Totally serious. What's the matter. 

Massimo-do you think the Princess isn't capable of hard, physical

work?" Her black eyes gleamed. I travelled halfway

across the globe to get to Poonbarra. 

Even you were

surprised that I'd sailed across the Pacific. Shifting

a little snow will be child's play.'