‘What plans?’ he gritted out.
‘Are you sure you want to know? You may not approve.’
His hand tightened on her arm, his eyes darkening into storm clouds that threatened thunder and lightning. ‘Then think carefully before you speak.’
She sighed. ‘Fine. You’ve busted me. I was going to beg your chef to make me that T-bone steak and salad he made for us yesterday, followed by chocolate caramel delight for dessert—I’ll think about the calories later. Afterwards I intend to have a sweltering foursome with Joel, LuAnn and Logan.’
The hand that had started to relax suddenly tightened, harder than before.
‘Excuse me?’ Marco bit out, his voice a thin blade of ice slicing across her skin.
Reaching into the handbag slung over her shoulder, she pulled out the boxed set of her favourite TV vampire show.
He released her and reached for it. After scrutinising it, he threw it down onto the sofa along with the pictures.
‘Take a piece of advice for free, pequeña. It’s a mistake to keep goading me. The consequences will be greater than you ever bargained for.’ His voice was soft. Deadly soft.
Sasha felt a shiver go through her. Most people mistakenly assumed partaking in one of the most dangerous sports in the world meant X1 Premier Racing drivers were fearless. Sasha wasn’t fearless. She had a healthy amount of fear and respect for her profession. She knew when to accelerate, when to pull back the throttle, when to pull over and abandon her car.
Right now the look on Marco’s face warned her she was skidding close to danger. She heeded the warning. Lashing out because of the maelstrom of emotions roiling inside her would most likely result in far worse consequences than she’d endured with Derek.
‘Understood. Let me go.’
Surprise at her easy capitulation lit his eyes. Abruptly he released her.
‘I need a shower. I guess you’ll be gone when I come out. Enjoy your evening.’
Shamelessly, she fled.
Marco watched her go, frustration and bewilderment fighting a messy battle inside him.
He prided himself on knowing and understanding women. After Angelique, his determination never to be caught out again had decreed it. Women liked to think they were complicated creatures, but when it came down to it their needs were basic, no matter how much they tried to hide it. Hell, some—like Angelique—even spelled it out.
‘I want fame, Marco. I want excitement! I can’t be with a man who’s a has-been.’
The memory slid in, reminding him why he now ensured the women he associated with knew there was no rosy future in store for them and had no surprises waiting to trap him.
A reality devoid of surprises suited him just fine.
His eyes followed Sasha’s tall, slim figure down the hallway.
She surprised him, he admitted reluctantly. She also infuriated him. She made his blood boil in a way that was so basic, so … sexual—even without the benefit of those pictures …
Dios! With a growl, he whirled towards the window. When he’d gone to her room to set things straight this morning the last thing he’d expected was for her to reassure him that it had been no big deal.
Despite being totally into the kiss—as much as he’d been—she’d walked away from him last night. A situation he’d never encountered before.
Was it because she didn’t really want him? Or was she merely waiting for his brother to wake up so she could resume where they’d left off?
Acid burned through his stomach at the thought. But even the corrosive effect couldn’t wash away the underlying sexual need that seared him.
He’d rushed through his meeting with every intention of calling one of the many willing female acquaintances on his BlackBerry. But once he’d returned, his need to go out again had waned. He withdrew from examining why too closely.
He turned back from the window and his eyes fell on the pictures on the sofa. To the one of her draped all over his car …
Blindly he stumbled towards his jacket and dug around for his phone. Two minutes later reservations were made. By the time his Rolls collected him from the foyer, Sasha Fleming had been consigned to the furthest corner of his mind.
Marco stood outside the door ninety minutes later, caught himself listening for sounds from inside, and grimaced in disbelief. He’d spent the last hour or so wining and dining a woman whose name he couldn’t now remember.