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She wasn’t a complete idiot!

And yet…

She reached up and her heart stilled as she stroked the side of his face. She pulled him towards her and opened her mouth to receive the kiss she had been waiting, what seemed like for ever, for.

CHAPTER EIGHT

SHE’D SHOCKED HERSELF.

Her brain had delivered so many warnings about the dangers of getting involved with this man, that she had assumed the message had been taken on board.

She hadn’t figured that at some point her body might have refused to play ball, at which point all common sense and warnings would disappear down the plughole!

She’d clung to the belief that she was in control. How wrong she’d been.

Her tongue meshed with his and she uttered a little, inarticulate, breathy moan.

Her entire body was burning up. She wanted to pull him closer. Wanted to feel the heat of him against her without the annoying barrier of their clothing. Wanted his hands and his mouth on her, touching her everywhere.

She blinked and surfaced slowly as he gently pulled back.

‘No!’ She shamelessly tried to tug him right back where he’d been. In response, he smiled and held her gaze.

‘Hope…’

‘I don’t want you talking!’

‘And I would be the first to obey that particular command, but is this what you really want or is the Christmas atmosphere getting to you?’

‘I thought you wanted this,’ she said accusingly. Embarrassment flared inside her. Oh God, had she read signals where there hadn’t been any? Had he just been flirting with her? Not seriously expecting it to lead anywhere?

‘More than anything.’

‘Then why are you trying to find excuses to stop… To stop touching me?’

She belatedly looked around her because all the background noise had faded to a distant blur while she’d been kissing him.

She glanced towards the square thronged with Christmas revellers and fragrant with the smells of cinnamon and honey. She could now hear the harmonious voices of a children’s choir. When had they started singing?

‘I’m sorry,’ she apologised shakily. ‘I have no idea what just happened. We’re here, at Christmas time, in the most beautiful town in the world and I…’

‘Don’t apologise,’ Javier growled. ‘And don’t backtrack. I just wanted to make sure you really want this.’

‘I really want this.’

‘Then let’s head back to the villa. I’m no prude when it comes to sex, but making love in the middle of a town square doesn’t work for me. And just in case you start getting cold feet…’

He gently pulled her towards him and kissed her again but this time lingeringly. His tongue flicked seductively against hers, his mouth so tenderly caressing her that the dampness between her thighs became unbearable.

This time, when they mutually drew back, her eyes were wide and her heart was thumping hard.

Javier had already messaged the driver to inform him that the car was to be left for their private use. They walked towards the car holding hands, which felt sexy, intimate and connected.

All the alarm bells that had been ringing in her head had been silenced. She’d made the decision to do what her body wanted to do and she felt like she was back in control.

By the time they arrived back at his villa, she could barely contain her desire.

The ride had been fast and silent but every so often he would reach out to squeeze her hand, making sure that connection wasn’t lost.