In this moment, Stefano couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving him. Not now. Not yet. For the first time in his life, he wanted more of a woman after bedding her, and she was pushing him away!
He shook his head angrily, not wanting to accept her decision. “Stay an extra week after the gala,” he argued. “Surely a week won’t hurt.” He tried to smile. “That won’t make you love me. I’m not that adorable.”
She snorted, then shook her head. “I can’t,” she said. “I’ll need a week in London to edit and develop the photographs of Santo Castillo for Equestrian, then I immediately leave for Argentina on assignment for Geography World magazine. No.” She took a deep breath. “Our love affair—whatever you want to call it—must end when I leave on Saturday. It’ll be a clean break. For both of us.”
He swallowed. “I don’t want you to go.”
“It’s for the best.” Her eyes were luminous in the fading light. “Let’s enjoy the four days left. Then we’ll say goodbye before it gets serious. Before anyone gets hurt. All right?”
He sucked in his breath.
“All right,” he said heavily. “Four days.”
He didn’t like this. Didn’t like it at all. But he couldn’t argue with anything she’d said. He didn’t want to hurt her, but knew he probably would.
Four days would have to be enough. He’d somehow make it be
enough. Then he would forget her, like all the rest. Wouldn’t he?
Standing beside her, Stefano entwined his fingers with hers. “Only four days,” he said softly. “Let’s make every minute count. We still have the rest of the evening. We still have all of the night.”
Her gray eyes flashed up at him, looking breathless and mysterious. “After all our hard work today—”
Taking her hand, he pulled her back toward the bed. “I couldn’t exactly call it work.”
She giggled, allowing him to draw her two steps toward the bed before she stopped. “But I’m starving.”
“Me, too,” he growled, pulling her into his arms. Holding her against the length of his naked body, he kissed her.
With a sigh from the back of her throat, Annabelle melted. Her wadded-up clothes fell from her hands as she wrapped her arms around him. Stefano smiled to himself, knowing he’d get his way. He relished the feel of her soft body against his, the feeling of paradise.
Then they heard a loud shout downstairs, as the young stablehands headed noisily into the dining hall.
Annabelle pulled away from his embrace.
“We should go downstairs,” she said, blushing. “Everyone might wonder what we’re doing if we don’t show up for dinner.”
“Let them wonder.” Smiling down at her, he stroked her cheek. “We’ll ask Mrs. Gutierrez to bring up dinner. We have no reason to even get dressed.”
She looked scandalized. “We couldn’t!”
“Why not?”
“Well—” she bit her lip “—it would set a bad example for the boys. I wouldn’t want them to think it’s acceptable behavior to sleep with their girlfriends before they’re married….”
“Ah, querida,” Stefano said tenderly, laughing. “You’re an old-fashioned girl.”
She stiffened in his arms. “I suppose I am.”
He stopped her with a kiss, then looked in her eyes. “I meant it as a compliment.”
Naked, they faced each other. But for once, Stefano wasn’t looking at her body. He took her hands in his own, staring in wonder at her beautiful face. Her gray eyes were endless pools of light.
He felt her warmth, heard the hush of her breath in the shadowy room. He realized he couldn’t see the scar on her face anymore. All he saw was her beauty—inside and out.
He’d never felt like this before.
He … cared for her.