His lips firmed. Then he gave her a tight smile. ‘Perhaps this isn’t the right time to play the get-to-know-one-another game, after all.’
Disappointment spiked her. ‘It was your idea. It’s fine if you’ve changed your mind.’
Silver eyes narrowed faintly. ‘Are you attempting to reverse psyche me, Sage?’
She shook her head slowly. ‘No. Delving into the past isn’t always easy. Especially...’ She stopped, certain the wine was having way too much effect on her runaway tongue.
But he wasn’t ready to let it go. ‘Especially?’
This time her shrug was easier. ‘I read the history of your hotels in the suite. It hinted at your...darker past. I understand if you don’t want to talk about it.’
Again he didn’t immediately respond. He drained his glass and set it down. Shook his head at the waiter when he approached. And when he spoke it was almost reluctant. ‘In my case changing reality didn’t stem from a wish to be different. It stemmed from necessity.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It means I was confronted with two paths in a difficult road. The easier path was to perform an act of betrayal that would’ve earned me the role of second lieutenant in a street gang—and it would also have ensured a very limited life expectancy.’
Her heart dropped at the calm way he spoke of such a volatile past. But, looking into his face, she glimpsed a savage expression that told her Xandro didn’t view the subject as lightly as his tone suggested. ‘And the other path?’ she asked, although she suspected she knew.
‘Clawing my way out of a dark hole with no flashlight while the same gang who wanted me now had a price on my head.’
Dear God. ‘The journey may have been difficult but surely the destination made it worth it? Most people can only dream of the success you’ve achieved.’
His mouth twisted with very little humour. ‘And some who grow tired of dreaming attempt to take advantage of it instead.’
And, just like that, the atmosphere shifted. Sage didn’t know whether he was deliberately stopping her from probing further into his past or whether he wanted to remind her why she was here.
She dropped her napkin on the table. ‘You don’t need to remind me why I’m here.’
He looked a touch puzzled for an instant before his face stiffened. ‘I’m glad to hear it.’ He followed suit and placed his napkin beside hers. Then he rose. ‘Since we seem to have used up our quota of exchanging life histories, we’ll take our nightcap on the terrace.’
He reached for the back of her chair, his tall imposing body bending towards hers. ‘I was thinking of going to bed,’ she hurriedly replied.
Only to receive a firm shake of his head. ‘Not yet. This restaurant isn’t renowned just for its great food. The management will be offended if we don’t take advantage of its other asset.’
She lifted a sceptical eyebrow. ‘The management? You mean you?’
‘Precisely. Come.’
A firm hand at her elbow accompanied the imperious command. Sage told herself she complied because it was the fastest route to getting what she wanted, which was away from him at the earliest possible opportunity. The evening hadn’t turned out at all how she’d expected, starting with that kiss and ending with Xandro Christofides revealing a fragment of a past she was sure no newspaper or magazine knew about. Because if they did it would already be widespread news.
Another reason for allowing him to take her arm and lead her towards a set of French windows was that she’d grown thoroughly tired of being the cynosure of all eyes.
She was thankful that she managed to remain composed as she walked beside Xandro. Onto the most beautiful terrace she’d ever seen, with potted palms and a view so spectacular her jaw dropped.
She’d thought the Acropolis by day was a sight to behold. But by night, thrown into beautiful relief by giant coloured spotlights, it was simply breathtaking. From this height, it looked close enough to touch. She leaned forward on the balcony, unable to take her eyes off the sight. ‘Oh. Wow. Xandro, that’s incredible.’
Then she gasped when she realised her mistake. She had no right to such familiarity. Nor could she let down her guard. She was here because he was blackmailing her. Sage started to turn around, away from the seductive view and from the broad-shouldered, powerfully built man behind her.
Her attempt to retreat was immediately thwarted when his arms braced either side of her, trapping her against the balcony. A moment later, he leaned close and whispered in her ear, ‘I like the way you say my name.’
Sage cursed the weakness that invaded her body, and pulled back abruptly. God, what was wrong with her? ‘What are you doing? You’ve made your point. Two dozen cameras have already recorded our...moment.’
‘A moment I would very much like to relive,’ he stated blatantly.
When her mouth dropped open in shock, his gaze latched onto her lips. Grey eyes grew turbulent and left her a little more breathless.
Get a grip!