Chapter Fourteen

Different from the first time and from the time on the plane.

She hadn't known it could be like that. So dreamy. So

close.. Just as it was supposed to be...as if two people

from the

really had become one.

she remembered his arms wrapping around her

and how unbearably excited she'd felt as he'd pulled

her close. His kisses had been barely there at first

his mouth grazing over hers as if he had all the time in

the world. As if he were exploring her in slow motion

and bringing her to life--cell by delicious cell. And

when at last he'd entered her, his penetration had been

deep. 

So deep that she had gasped and murmured his

name. But she'd murmured a lot of other stuff too, 

after he'd brought her to that seemingly endless or-

gasm which had left her feeling blindsided. Things

she hadn't been planning to say but which had sud-

denly seemed to spring from her lips. Did he under-

stand Greek? She sincerely hoped not.

 Or perhaps he did. Perhaps he'd guessed she'd been murmuring

sweet nothings and that was why he was glaring at

her in that accusatory way.

"I thought it might be easier if I introduced my-

self, rather than you having to explain it. Get the

whole Princess thing out of the way' She shrugged.

I have to say that both Molly and your brother took

it very much in their stride. And besides,' she added,

when his expression still showed no sign of soften-

ing, I didn't want to disturb you. You were sleeping

like a baby:'

"Really?" Dark brows arched upwards. You seem

obsessed by babies.

I was playing with your nephew, Massimo,' she said,

from between gritted teeth. That's what people do when they meet a baby for the first time. What am |

supposed to have done which is so wrong?

'Did you tell them why you were here?"

Yes. I explained, I was hiding from the press and

you are helping me.

' Was that the right thing to

say-or the wrong thing? Should I have run a list

of correct responses before you? Perhaps you could

have written me a few guidelines.'

But he was saved from having to answer by

return of Nick. his half-brother who was brushing

stray flakes of snow away from his face and hair.

Tall as Massimo and almost as eye-catching, Nick

Carter had the same black hair and sculpted features

as his brother. Toyin watched as the two men greeted

each other.

How are the roads?" Massimo asked.

What roads? It's like a wasteland out there, said

Nick grimly. 'And I've just heard they've closed all

the major airports.'

You're kidding?*

I wish I was. I haven't dared break the news to

Molly.

'Can't you postpone the service?

'At this time of year? With non-stop carol services

and a vicar who's run ragged?" Nick pulled a face.

Fat chance. Which means most people aren't going

to be able to get here in time. Just Dad and whoever

his current girl is.

And Sharla, of course,' said Massimo, after a barely

perceptible beat. 'She's coming by helicopter:

Something in his tone alerted Toyin's senses

again. Something which had started troubling her

last night though she couldn't for the life of her work out what it was. What wasn't he telling her? What

was it about Sharla which was making him so edgy?

Or was she simply in danger of reading too much

into a casual conversation because she wasn't used

to being inside a private home like this? Sharla was

probably as lovely as her twin sister--as Molly was

a complete delight.

So she sat and chatted as Massimo ate buttered eggs

and he and Nick drank their way through a pot of

strong black coffee. And when Nick said he was going

to speak to Molly, Massimo suggested to her that they go

back upstairs. Toyin nodded, but her emotions were

all over the place. 

He'd been very cool with her and

she needed to remember that. To remind herself that

he could be cold and curt, and it was only during

sex that he seemed to show any emotion. 

But they

weren't real emotions. She needed to remember that,

too. Even she, with her laughable lack of experience,

could work that one out.

Back in their room the bed had been made and a

fresh fire lit in the grate. Someone had put a huge

spray of seasonal holly in a jug on one of the win-

dow ledges-its spiky green leaves and scarlet ber-

ries contrasting with the dramatic whiteness of the

snow outside. It looked beautiful, almost tranquil, but

tranquil was the last thing Sophie was feeling as Rafe

closed the door. She went straight over to the dress-

ing table, sat down in front of the mirror and started

to unpin her hair.

In the reflection of the glass, she saw him frown-

as if her reaction wasn't what he'd been anticipating.

He walked across the room and put his hands on her

shoulders, starting to caress them in a way which instantly made her want to melt, but she forced herself to wriggle away.

"Don't, ' she said.