Page 7 of Seasons of Sin

Had she ever felt anything like it before?

Slowly, he stepped away from her body. And strangely, Saphire didn’t feel embarrassed. Her smile was magical. Her eyes were filled with awe and invitation. Her hangover had evaporated on a cloud of sensation.

He stared at her as though she was an angel brought to earth. “I look forward to this, Saphire.”

She nodded. Jordan would cope. Or he wouldn’t. She knew she needed this. To feel like a woman and to feel worthy. Betrayal was scored deep in her heart and only being made love to by someone like Mr Konstanides would unravel it.

“Me too.” She bit down on her lip. “I was just about to shower.”

He traced his finger around her breasts and then down over her stomach. “Shower fast.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I organized fruit for breakfast. Would you like something else?”

“Coffee,” she supplied instantly, without a beat’s hesitation.

He grinned. “A woman after my own heart.”

“Hey,” she called after his retreating back. “I don’t have any clothes.”

He looked over his shoulder. “I’ll bring something for you.”

“Where’s the restaurant?”

“Restaurant?”

“Yeah. I presume the hotel has a restaurant?”

His smile was sensual. “It’s straight downstairs. Can’t miss it.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Saphire intended to shower quickly, but the water was so divine against her flushed skin that she leant against the tiles and enjoyed the sensation of being needled by the jets.

When she emerged, there was a crisp white tee shirt and a pair of grey shorts on the bed. Both were far too big for her but they were modest and clean; beyond that, she didn’t really care.

She pinched her cheeks to bring some color to them and then slipped her feet into the only shoes she had – slightly painful Louboutin pumps. Saphire Arana had no idea what she was getting into but she felt strangely excited given the mess she’d left at home.

* * *

“Thad,you shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.” Rocco’s tone was heavy with concern, just as it had been at the funeral the day before.

“I’m fine,” Thaddeus reclined against the railing of the balcony.

“Your grandfather – a man who raised you as his own child – just died unexpectedly. You buried him only yesterday. I was there, remember? You arenotfine.”

Thad pressed his lips together. “He was ninety. It was hardly a surprise.”

“Are you kidding? Aristotle Konstanides was so stubborn everyone thought he’d live forever. You included.”

Thad stared out at the glistening ocean, his handsome face grim. “Yes. And yet that’s life, isn’t it?”

Far away, Rocco nodded. “Si, forse.You can’t live forever.”

“But you can make every day count.” He thought of Saphire and his chest compressed in response. They’d only just met, and yet already he knew that she made him feel … alive. She made him feel completely alive when death was all around him.

“So how long are you on the island for?”

Thad frowned. “A week? Maybe two.” How long would she stay? How long could he have the pleasure of her company and her body? She was the perfect answer to him at this time in his life. An angel sent from heaven; or a very sexy distraction sentby his grandfather, who had the sickest sense of humor he’d ever come across. It brought a smile to his lips.

“I’m in Rome. I can come to you any time.”