‘More than I already have?’ Sofia countered. ‘Just by being here I’ve caused comment. No one has forgotten the article.’
‘Including me,’ he assured her, ‘but I choose to rise above it, and this is a wonderful opportunity to stop the rumourmongers in their tracks.’
‘Is that the only reason you agreed to dance with me?’
‘Can you think of any other?’
Noticing how many people were covertly using their mobile phones to take pictures of them, he drew Sofia even closer. He might have expected her to pull away, but at least in that she had more sense. ‘Let’s play their game,’ she said, surprising him.
‘Why not?’ he agreed, softening a little towards her as she smiled into his eyes.
Playing the game turned out to be more arousing than even he could have imagined. Who was dancing with the devil now? Devil Woman was an apt description of the siren in his arms. Sofia managed to be both sensual and tasteful as she moved in time to the music, leaving no one in any doubt—apart from him—that they were completely reconciled. More couples joined them on the floor and were courteous enough to allow them a degree of privacy.
‘When did you learn to be such a good actress?’ he murmured, his mouth very close to her ear.
‘Am I acting?’
It wasn’t just her voice that trembled now, her body quivered against his like a doe at bay with a rutting stag in the immediate vicinity. ‘I hope you are,’ he dismissed, pressing home his advantage. ‘I know I am.’
‘And I thought you were a gentleman,’ she told him in the softest, most pleasing voice, ‘but now I know you’re just a prince.’
‘Ouch!’ He barked a laugh at the punchline. ‘Not all princes are the same, and please remember this is just for show.’
‘Hmm, I noticed,’ she commented.
Why was he surprised when she brushed her body against his? Hadn’t he touched Sofia intimately and left her hanging?
‘Is this just an act?’ she whispered, no doubt referring to his rapidly expanding erection.
‘No act,’ he assured her. ‘You are an extremely provocative woman.’
Her black eyes sparkled with challenge. ‘As you are an extremely provocative man. Shall we keep on dancing, or cause comment by standing here in the middle of the floor?’
Couples were revolving around them like spokes around the hub of a wheel. ‘Forgive me,’ he said dryly. ‘I had quite forgotten the need to dance.’
‘I distracted you?’ she asked with a sceptical lift of one brow.
‘You...surprise me,’ was the most he was prepared to admit.
‘So you’re allowed to touch, but I’m not?’
‘You must follow your instinct,’ he advised as they swirled in time to the ironically carefree strains of a Viennese waltz.
‘That might get me into trouble,’ she said, pushing her lips down as if that didn’t worry her too much.
‘Past experience suggests you can handle it,’ he countered, ‘though I’ve noticed that you can say one thing while your body responds quite differently. I’d love to know what’s really going on in your head.’
‘Like you, I’m trying to give the impression that everything is rosy between us,’ she assured him. ‘There’s nothing to be gained by the charities we support if rumour suggests we’re at each other’s throats.’
‘Friction between us might draw even more crowds,’ he observed.
‘Better to leave your guests with an air of mystery, to add intrigue to what they’ve seen tonight, don’t you think?’ she asked as phones were pointed in their direction.
The fact they fitted together perfectly was enough for him for now. Sofia’s clean wildflower scent beguiled his senses, while her hair felt like silk as it brushed against the hand he had lodged in the small of her back. Her breath was a cool, minty draught that made the urge to plunder her mouth rise like madness inside him—which would be a sensation too far for his guests. As a man gossip didn’t faze him, but as a prince he was forced to curb his natural instincts. It was enough to give the impression that all was well between him and Sofia, so as far as onlookers were concerned he had forgiven her and all was well.
‘Don’t you like the music?’ Sofia probed as they danced on.
‘Why do you say that?’
