“No,” I reply honestly.
“Thought so,” he mutters.
Why would he say that?Because of how awful Geoffroy was, or because he believes I’d married him for his money and title?
“This was a mistake,” I blurt out.
He stops just in front of me and, to my surprise, says, “There is still time. We can go back to pacing, each in our own room.”
Oddly, he doesn’t budge as he speaks. Motionless, he just ogles me like a predator. Which he is. No, he’s worse than a predator.
“You’re a vulture!” I exclaim. “And a… usurper! An undeserving, uncaring, unprincipled man, and… and I swear to God, Rohinn will never be yours!”
His lip curls. “I think of you just as highly as you think of me.”
I snarl at him.
His eyes flick to my mouth and linger. “You drive me insane.”
“Really?” I school my face into a hopeful expression. “Thanks for confessing. I’ll tell Pauline first thing tomorrow. Maybe she can use your insanity as an added argument in court.”
“You shouldn’t reveal your hand to me,” he advises.
“Damn! You’re right.” I try to laugh it off, but my voice catches.
I lift my gaze to his face, which is still unreadable. A lock of hair has fallen over his brow. I want to brush it back. I want to shove him against the nearest wall and kiss him. Or slap him and kick him out. It’s hard to tell which impulse will win.
I fold my arms over my chest, hoping the pressure will ground me and keep me from doing something stupid.
“Don’t worry,” I say defiantly, “it won’t be our only line of attack. Pauline has plenty of aces up her sleeve. And I have no intention of rolling over. You want the estate? Fine. But you’d better be prepared for a fight.”
He smirks. “Trust me, I am.”
“A real one,” I stress. “This won’t be one of your math lectures, Alex. Courts don’t care about numbers. They care about optics, intent, public interest.”
“I’m aware,” he replies.
I sneer. “But are you aware that none of those are on your side? Not with a grieving teenage daughter and a heartbroken widow on the other end of this mess.”
His eyes stay fixed on my mouth. “You talk too much, Eva.”
“I know,” I admit. “But only when I’m nervous. This is a very strange, very unconventional situation. I mean, how often does one?—”
“Are you going to keep talking?”
I shake my head.
He takes another step toward me.
I grab his neck and pull him in for a kiss.
8
EVA
Immediately, Alex slides one hand behind my neck and grips my waist with the other. I taste the bitter trace of wine on his tongue. His mouth is hot, hungry. Not the slightest hint of hesitation.
He walks me backward as we kiss. My back hits the wall. His hands move with purpose, exploring the curves of my body. His lips are fierce. His tongue is aggressive in the most erotic way.
