An image of his dark head moving between my legs flashes through my mind and my breath catches in the back of my throat.
Before I can turn away, he raises his hand in greeting, excuses himself to the women and gets up from the table, making his way very deliberately towards me.
I’m rooted to the spot.
It would be too rude to just walk away now, but I’m suddenly feeling a bit shaky about talking to him again. Especially after what went down between us last night.
Still. Too late now.
He reaches me a moment later, his smile wide and relaxed.
My heart is racing now and I twist my fingers into my skirt to centre myself.
‘Hey,’ he says. ‘You been out?’
‘Yeah. I went into Kyoto.’
‘See anything of interest?’
‘Lots.’
He nods, seeming pleased to hear I’ve had a good time.
If only he knew the truth.
But I’m not about to let him know how restless, lost and distracted I’ve been feeling today.
‘How about you?’ I ask him.
‘I went into the city too. And to the Kinkaku-ji temple. It was really beautiful.’
‘Yeah?’
‘Yeah.’
But there’s something in his body language that’s giving me pause. Is he pretending he had more fun than he did too?
‘Hey, do you fancy joining us for a drink?’ he asks, gesturing back towards the bar and the gaggle of women who are trying to look as if they’re not watching us, even though they clearly are.
‘Nah. I don’t want to intrude,’ I say, wrinkling my nose.
‘You wouldn’t be intruding. Come and meet my new friends. They’re a lot of fun.’
‘You’re okay, thanks,’ I say, taking a deliberate step backwards. I can smell his distinctive, spicy aftershave and once again the memory of how much pleasure he’d been giving me with his mouth last night comes slamming back into my head.
I’m uncomfortably aware of heat rising from my chest and up my neck.
Any second now he’s going to know just how affected I am by his presence.
And I really don’t want him to know that.
It’s a matter of self-preservation.
So I have to get out of here.
‘Have a good evening. I’m off for a nap,’ I mutter, not meeting his gaze now. Before he has chance to say anything else, I turn away from him and head quickly across the reception.
‘Dasher!’ I hear him call behind me, just as I’m about to reach the corridor leading to my room.
