‘Are you hungry? There’s room service, or there’s a nice little restaurant not far away.’
‘I’m not hungry now as I had such a lot to eat at lunch which wasn’t that long ago. Perhaps a snack from room service? I won’t have to put my shoes on to eat it.’
‘True. You’re full of wisdom, Cassie.’
‘No one calls me Cassie any more.’
‘Except me. Do you mind?’
Cass considered. She’d been very keen to throw off the more youthful Cassie when she was a teenager. Cass sounded edgier, more grown up. But hearing his dark, low voice saying it seemed perfectly fine. More than fine. Almost erotic. ‘No, it’s all right,’ she said, thinking she should fight the feelings he was stirring in her. They were dangerous – maybe Susie’s advice was all wrong? Maybe sleeping with him would be a horrible mistake? Maybe she would never get over the inevitable heartbreak that it was bound to cause? Seizing the day was dangerous.
His arm went round her shoulders. Feeling his hand on her bare shoulder made her stomach flip. She’d had relationships previously but whereas before her erogenous zones were clear, now every part of her seemed on high alert.
He didn’t move his arm and she realised he was waiting for her to make the next move. He wanted to be in no doubt that nothing was happening that she didn’t want. She reached up and kissed his cheek. Then his mouth came down on hers.
‘Shall we move to the bedroom?’ she breathed intohis ear. ‘This upholstery is scratchy.’ She still had her dress on but there wasn’t much of it.
He got up and took her by the hand.
‘Oh my goodness, what an enormous bed!’ she said, distracted for a moment.
He pulled off the bed cover and the several scatter cushions that decorated it. He turned to her, panting very slightly. She went into his arms and let him take off her dress. A moment later she was naked, lying on very good-quality sheets.
Then she forgot about the sheets …
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
She hadn’t been aware of sleeping until Ranulph woke her. ‘Hey? Are you OK? It’s eight o’clock and I’m ravenous. Do you fancy a look at the menu?’ He put it into her hands. ‘Unless you have to rush off?’ He sounded distressed at the thought.
‘No. I’ll call my mum and Susie – I need to tell her I won’t be coming back for another night with her – and I’ll stay here with you. If that’s all right,’ she added, suddenly shy. She pulled the sheet up over herself although she realised it was a bit late for that.
‘Please stay!’ he said. ‘I really don’t want you to leave now.’
She smiled warmly at him, her heart and mind still fuzzy with love and lust, and took the menu.
‘I think a steak sandwich …’ she began.
‘Agreed. With chips. Chocolate brownie and ice cream for afterwards. Now, is wine OK? Or would you like something else to drink? I have a couple of bottles of beer and there’s a minibar.’
‘Have you got water? I think I should drink water from now on.’
He nodded. ‘I have sparkling or still. I even have ice.’
‘Sparkling with ice, please. And could I use the shower?’
‘Of course! They have very nice toiletries here.’
Cass was very tempted to drag the sheet with her to the bathroom like people did in films but she had always thought it ridiculous when they did it, and felt it was ridiculous for her to do it now. It was too late to be having hang-ups about her body, which most of the time she was perfectly happy with.
She came back wrapped in a large towelling robe, smelling of verbena and citrus. She had washed her hair (by mistake) and felt very clean and very lacking in make-up. But it would look crazy to apply more now. Besides, Ranulph was used to her being covered in mud, so just being clean would be an improvement.
‘The food should be here any minute,’ said Ranulph. ‘It always seems to take ages, although it probably doesn’t.’ He cleared his throat. ‘That’s a very fetching robe you’re wearing.’
Cass caught his glance and looked away quickly. It was wonderful to be so desired, but it suddenly made her shy.
The food arrived and Cass tried not to feel embarrassed as the waiter brought it in and set it out on the desk. It wouldn’t matter to him who she was, after all.
They ate their steak sandwiches sitting on the balcony, enjoying the panorama of London. But then they took the brownies and ice cream to the sofa. Cass couldn’t say what made them want to do this, but she agreed with the decision.
