New Year at the Boss's Bidding

She didn’t say anything else, just looked at him, and he knew what they’d shared so briefly was over. Reality had already crept in.

‘As you started the race, did you plan to crash?’ Her tone was serious and strong.

He flung up his hands in exasperation. ‘Dio mio, of course I didn’t.’

‘Then it was an accident. Tragic, yes, but an accident.’ She moved towards him with purpose, pity in her eyes. She reached up and touched his face, the caress too gentle, too caring.

‘No.’ He grabbed her wrist firmly, shock making her gasp.

He couldn’t shake off the past that easily. What if she hated him after this? What if she stayed here with him simply because she didn’t want to be alone in the dark and unfamiliar house?

‘It’s not your fault,’ she whispered. ‘Tonight it’s as if we’ve stepped into another world, away from everyone and everything. Let’s stay there, make the most of it and forget everything. Everything, Xavier.’

She lowered herself over him, kissing him, kissing his scars and smothering the guilt their conversation had evoked. At first he couldn’t move, but fear of her rejection was gradually being replaced by hot desire. As she moved up his body to his chest, he caught her face between his hands and kissed her as if his life depended on it.

As the kiss continued, he closed his eyes against the demons from the accident, desperate to recapture the magic he and Tilly had shared just a few hours ago. Slowly her fingers trailed down his chest, tantalising and teasing, and reality slipped away.

CHAPTER EIGHT

AS MORNING LIGHT filtered into the room, Tilly stretched under the warmth of the covers, her body languidly replete and her mind full of hot memories from last night. Could that woman really have been her? She’d never known such a passionate side to her existed. Neither had she ever wanted to find out—until Xavier had come into her life. He’d lit the fire of passion within her and now she didn’t want it extinguished.

At that thought the smile slipped from her lips. She’d been scared to let passion enter her relationship with Jason, scared to disturb the friendship they’d had since school. It had been that reluctance that had sealed their fate. He’d never demanded anything from her, had always been the model boyfriend, but a few months before their wedding day something had changed. He’d withdrawn from her, become less interested in planning their wedding, but she’d ploughed on, desperate to stay behind the barriers of safety.

All she’d ever needed had been the safe, comfortable companionship Jason had offered ever since they’d met. Now, after what she and Xavier had experienced last night, she could begin to understand why Jason had had an affair. She only wished he hadn’t left it to the last minute to tell her. She couldn’t forgive him for that.

She rolled over in the improvised bed, shocked to discover she was alone. Did Xavier regret last night already? Had her passion been too much? Did he think she was looking for more than one night, even though she’d told him it was on her list? She’d had her romantic fling. It had been amazing, but she wasn’t going to allow him to reject her.

She threw back the throw, the chilled air making her skin prickle and she looked around for her clothes, embarrassment flooding her as she remembered the brazen way she’d discarded them and the hungry way she’d watched Xavier do the same. Quickly she grabbed her bra and jumper and shivered as she put them on.

She remembered the way he’d flinched and watched her as she’d touched his scarred legs and waist. He’d helped her get over the past, even though he didn’t know it, and she’d wanted to help him too, by proving the scars didn’t matter. But from the way he’d made love to her afterwards, without the gentleness of the first time, she knew she’d only angered him.

Just as she’d finished pulling on her crumpled clothes, Xavier returned, looking fierce, his dark eyes holding her captive.

‘Going somewhere?’ The harshness of his tone sent a chill that was colder than the snow outside down her spine. He was still angry. The intensely sexy man from last night had gone.

‘To see if it has stopped snowing.’ She said the first thing that came to mind, unsure what she had been planning on doing next.

He glared at her. Did he regret that not only had he spent the night with his hired help, he’d bared his soul, told her his inner most thoughts? She’d seen the scarring on his legs, something she guessed he didn’t allow many women to see, and her heart had constricted. It had stirred her passion, turning it into something far more intense, and all she’d wanted to do was love him.