Stretching her legs out in front of her she saw Vito’s eyes following the movement almost helplessly and Flora was filled with a sudden rush of elation as she saw the expression on his face. She wanted to remember this moment, when this gorgeous, powerful man had looked at her with hunger darkening his icy eyes. She wanted to bury it deep inside her mind so that she could drag it out like a glittering treasure on dark and drizzly days and study it.
‘No, it’s not my only objection,’ she conceded, in a voice which didn’t sound like her voice at all. Just like her body didn’t feel like her body as she leaned back on her elbows, the movement automatically thrusting her breasts forward in silent invitation, as if she’d just received a crash course in provocation. ‘But I’m prepared to overlook the rest, if you are.’
He made a sound at the back of his throat, midway between a growl and a laugh. It was primitive and triumphant and seemed to set down invisible markers, which Flora knew she’d be a fool to ignore. The earthy sound drove home the fact that this was sex—and nothing more than sex. But who cared when he was moving towards her like that, his eyes flashing dark fire as he reached her and captured her face between his palms.
‘But we need to be clear on something, Flora,’ he stated huskily, as he stared down at her.
‘What?’ she whispered distractedly, wishing he would justkissher.
‘I want you. Very, very much. But what I don’t want are any regrets or recriminations. This is for one night, and one night only.’
‘Like the circus, you mean?’ she questioned flippantly.
His thumb grazed the outline of her trembling lips, which opened instantly beneath his touch. ‘Do you understand?’ he demanded urgently.
‘Yes,yes!’ she said, trying to convince herself that she should be grateful for his candour. Ofcourseit was only going to be one night—and she told herself that was a good thing. A liberating thing, meaning she could be as wild as she liked. Because suddenly she was feelingreally wild, which also wasn’t like her. She swallowed. Not like her at all. ‘Just kiss me,’ she urged.
‘My pleasure,’ he murmured, and lowered his head to hers.
She’d thought it would be a hard and masterful demonstration of power, but she was wrong. Flora moaned, because who knew a kiss could be this slow? Especially when delivered by a man known for his impatience. But it was as though Vito Monticello had decided he had all the time in the world, or maybe he was just demonstrating his steely sense of control.
He kissed her until she was soft with longing, until she tightened her arms around his neck and her breasts started pressing against the hard wall of his chest. And then the kiss got deeper. Seeking. More urgent than before.
Flora trembled as he pushed her down onto the thick sheepskin, realising he was going to do it to herhere, in front of the fire and the Christmas tree. And something about the way he was looking at her and the way he was touching her was turning her on even more. He was taking off her clothes as if he wanted to see her properly, rather than hiding her away beneath a duvet. Could it get any more fantastic? she wondered dazedly.
The answer was yes. Much more. Especially when he peeled her sweater over her head.
‘Wow,’ he murmured, his eyes narrowing with smoky appreciation when he clocked her new bra. ‘Your breasts are incredible.’
‘Are they?’
‘You know damned well they are,’ he growled.
Well, she didn’t actually—but she was willing to be convinced, especially when he was using his mouth on them like that. Flora tipped her head back as he flicked his tongue over the delicate lace, when an anxious thought was enough to halt her rapidly escalating rapture.
‘V-Vito?’
He lifted his head from her breast and she could see a muscle working at his cheek. ‘You want to change your mind?’ he gritted out.
‘God, no. It’s just…’
‘Just what?’ he prompted, the relief in his tone evident as he focused on pulling off her thick tights.
Flora swallowed as she lifted her bottom to help him. ‘You do realise these are the only clothes we’ve got?’
‘Well, I’m not about to rip these panties off if that’s what you’re worried about.’ His eyes narrowed appreciatively. ‘Especially as they are such exceptionally pretty panties.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, offering up a silent prayer of thanks to Amy for her perceptive early Christmas present. ‘But that’s not what I meant. You’ve got more clothes on the plane but I haven’t and I—’
‘You don’t have to stay in organisational mode all the time,’ he reproved, slithering the filmy briefs down over her thighs and dropping them to the floor. ‘None of your concerns will be a problem. There will be fresh clothes available when we are rescued.’
‘Because in your world everything can be solved by the snapping of your fingers?’
‘Something like that,’ he conceded, though a note of impatience had entered his voice. ‘So why don’t you stop worrying about logistics and undress me instead?’
Did he think her passive? Flora fretted, as she began to comply. Would her fumbling fingers betray her inexperience of dealing with a handmade suit of this calibre? Pushing the expensive jacket from his shoulders, she started to unbutton his shirt, letting her palm rest on the thunder of his heart as she began to explore his hard-packed torso. As she scraped her fingernails over the silken skin, she heard his shuddered response—and didn’t it thrill her that she could make this powerful man sound almosthelpless?
She pulled off his bespoke shoes and fine socks and pushed them to one side. Next, she undid the buckle of his belt and unzipped his trousers. It should have been the most bizarre occupation in the world, peeling off her boss’s silken boxers and being confronted by his huge erection—but instead it felt completely natural.
