His eyes bored into her, as if trying to divine her thoughts.
‘Because I’m leaving in a few weeks.’
‘And if I took Alberto Triento’s advice and offered you a job? What would you do, Faye?’ he queried softly, in direct opposition to the fire burning in his eyes.
Faye was stunned by how much she wanted to say yes. To rearrange every silly dream she’d harboured for the sake of remaining by this man’s side for a little longer.
The power of it robbed her of breath, before she forced common sense in. ‘I’d say don’t let him influence you into making a hasty decision.’
Several seconds passed as he stared at her, his eyes darkening several shades. The brief flaring of his nostrils signalled his displeasure, but in the next moment he shrugged.
‘Perhaps you’re right. I shouldn’t rearrange my life for a novelty.’
The words stung, as they were meant to, reminding her of other words.
‘I made a vow...’
He’d said those words just a handful of days ago. She’d blinded herself to them, and to the contemplative looks he’d slanted her way since, when he thought she wasn’t paying attention.
Faye fiddled with her water glass, growing anguish twisting her insides.
She started when he abruptly rose from the dinner table beneath the pavilion in the villa. Tonight he wore dark trousers, paired with a midnight-blue linen shirt that did wonderful things for his olive complexion. Two strides and he was before her. Her body clenched in anticipation as she stared into his eyes, acknowledged the ferocious passion etched into his face.
When he grasped her elbows and tugged her up, she rose to join him. There was a sizzling edge to his passion that intensified his lovemaking, she’d discovered to her delight and dismay, and she was very partial to it.
‘You’ve spent the day charming my employees. Now I think it’s time for you to shower me with your attention.’
He swung her into his arms and strode away from the pavilion, through the villa—mercifully devoid of staff—and up the grand staircase into his suite. There, he took his time to slide her down his body, ensuring she felt her full effect on him.
Before her feet had fully touched the floor he was winding her long hair around his wrist, a practice he’d grown rabidly attached to. The act triggered an equally visceral reaction within her, and before the coil of hair was fully wrapped around his wrist her core had shamelessly dampened, throbbing with a needy drumbeat that made her breathless.
Maceo didn’t kiss her immediately. He simply examined her with quiet intensity. Gripped by an urge she couldn’t fathom, she hooked her fingers into the space at the top of his open-necked shirt and pulled it apart.
‘Santo cielo!’ he swore under his breath, his nose flaring with wicked arousal, right before he lowered his head and bit her bottom lip. ‘More,’ he demanded gruffly.
She kissed his throat, trailed caresses down his sculpted chest, and then, growing bolder, nipped his firm skin. His breath hissed and he shuddered.
‘More?’
‘Si...’ he growled thickly.
Faye lost all sense of time and self. She devoured him as if it was their last time. As if he was the last meal she would ever consume. Something had happened during their conversation and it had slid a layer of edgy unease between them. She couldn’t pinpoint the cause, yet she felt it. It fed her urgency, and when Maceo stumbled back against the wall she fell on him, a ravenous creature she didn’t recognise.
Thick, provocative words fell from his lips as her eager hands undressed him. When he was completely naked, a virile god arrogantly demanding worship, she fell to her knees. A glance up showed his rapt, savage expression.
Vibrating with feminine power, she took him in her hand and wrapped her lips around him. A tortured groan rumbled from his throat, fuelling the fire of her passion. With her tongue and her lips and her hands she feasted on him until his knees buckled. Until he pulled away with a tortured, ‘Basta, per favore.’
One hand urged her up. The moment she stood he reversed their positions and pinned her against the wall, a formidable, virile male in control. One thick arm wrapped around her waist, he settled himself between her thighs, his eyes fixed heatedly on hers, and thrust into her.
Her primal scream bounced off the bedroom walls. It was followed by a series of needy cries, which he answered with overwhelming vigour. Locked together, they feasted on each other until sweat slicked their skin, until their breaths were fused into one life sustaining stream, until it all culminated in a mind-melting release that shook her very soul.
Maceo followed swiftly behind, his powerful body shuddering in her arms as he let go.
She was still floating when he carried her to his bed, when he slid them both between the sheets and pulled her close. But, as much as she wished for oblivion, Faye found herself awake long after his breath had evened out in deep sleep.
Her eyes darted in the darkness as she struggled to rationalise what was happening.
Dismay deepened as the answers she’d held at bay smashed through her barriers.