Ravensdale's Defiant Captive

CHAPTER NINE

HOLLY CLOSED THE door to her bedroom and leaned back against it as she let out a long, shuddering breath. Julius believed her. He actually believed she hadn’t tried to steal those wretched cufflinks. She hadn’t registered she’d put them there, or at least not consciously. It had been a knee-jerk reaction to being discovered in his room. She must have slipped them into her pocket when she’d first heard Sophia and forgotten about them.

But Julius said he believed her.

How could he? She would never have believed him if the tables had been turned. But then, she was cynical. She didn’t trust anyone. She was always on guard, always watching out for someone to take advantage, to rip her off or exploit her.

Was Julius different? Was he the sort of person to suspend judgement until reliable evidence came in?

Holly wondered if she had done herself a disservice by antagonising him so much. He might turn out to be the best ally she had ever had. But from the moment she had met him she had put him off-side. Winding him up, needling him, making him believe things about her that weren’t true.

Was it too late to turn things around? Could she even bother? She would only be here another couple of weeks and then she’d be gone. It had never worked for her to get too attached to anyone or any place. They always changed. People changed. Circumstances changed. One minute she would feel marginally secure and then the rug would be ripped out from beneath her and she would hit the hard, cold floor. This time with Julius in his flash villa was a temporary thing. There would be no point in getting too comfortable. He hadn’t even wanted her here in the first place. She was a burden he had to bear.

Why was she always a burden?

Why couldn’t someone want her in spite of all her faults? In spite of all her failings? In spite of all her stupid impulses that caused her more trouble than she wanted?

Her body was still firing with the sensations Julius had made her feel. Cataclysmic sensations she had never felt before. He had barely touched her and she had gone off like a firecracker. But he had remained in control. She had even offered to pleasure him and he’d held back. She still couldn’t understand why she had done that. Why she had felt such an urgent desire to take him in her mouth bewildered her. She loathed oral sex. The musky, stale scent of a man usually nauseated her.

But with him it was different.

He wasn’t musky and stale. He was fresh and intoxicating in his maleness. She had wanted to explore him, to pleasure him, to make him buckle at the knees in the same way he had done to her. But he hadn’t insisted on her doing it. He hadn’t pressured her.

He’d protected her by his restraint.

He’d pleasured her without wanting or insisting on anything in return. Even now she could feel the aftershock tremors moving through her body, awakening more news: new needs, needs that wanted—craved and hungered—to be assuaged. Maybe that was his power trip. Maybe that was his way of keeping a step in front of her. Maybe his self-control was superior after all. Far more superior than she’d thought.

Something had changed in their relationship...something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. No one had given her the benefit of the doubt before. No one.

No one had made her feel the things Julius made her feel. No one.

No one had seen behind the mask she wore to the person she wanted to be.

No one.

* * *

When Holly came downstairs to organise breakfast the following morning, Sophia was already up and about. ‘I’m going to spend a few days with my sister,’ Sophia said. ‘You’re doing so well managing things here I thought I’d make the most of it by having some time off. Maria’s picking me up in a few minutes.’

Holly frowned. ‘Is Julius okay with that? I mean, leaving me in charge?’

‘He’s the one who suggested it.’

Holly’s frown deepened. ‘Really?’

Sophia nodded. ‘He’s also worried I might be tempted to do too much. I think he’s right. I have been overdoing it. But this little break will help.’

‘But what will Natalia have to say?’ Holly said. ‘Aren’t you supposed to be the one mentoring me?’

Sophia’s expression turned to one of concern. ‘Would you rather I didn’t go? I can cancel if you like. I’m sure my sister won’t mind.’

‘No, don’t do that. I’m just wondering about the programme.’ And being left alone in the villa with Julius without a chaperone.