Innocent in the Ivory Tower

She had reached the end of the terrace and he watched her hesitate, circle, looking for a way out. But this terrace led nowhere, and the glass doors were locked. For a moment he watched as she pushed at them, and then he saw her shoulders drop, saw her shake her head and lose heart.

That was enough.

He strode towards her, watched her face come up—her pale, lovely face—strained and tense. And he had put that tension there.

He hadn’t meant to push her this far. He’d been trying for disengagement when all he was feeling was passionate connection. He hadn’t meant to hurt her.

‘Maisy, we need to talk. I’ll hand Kostya over to Maria and then you’re coming with me.’ He reached for her hand, but she pulled away, eyes flashing.

‘You’re too late, Alexei,’ she slung at him fiercely. ‘I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.’

Kostya released a huge cry and scrambled for Maisy. She took him into her arms, flashing daggers over his curly head. ‘Now look what you’ve done,’ she breathed.

Alexei made a very male European gesture with one hand and pinned her with his incredible eyes. ‘If you want to do it in front of the boy—fine. Here’s the deal, Maisy.’

He spoke in a low, firm voice—the one she imagined he used in another life that didn’t involve crying children and emotional women who refused to vanish after sex.

‘This morning was incredible. I want to repeat it. Often. I want you in my life. Is that clear enough for you? Does that sort out the problem?’

Incredible. Repeat it. He wanted her in his life.

Maisy was sure he was wondering why she wasn’t cheering. Instead his coolly delivered words struck a flint of anger inside her. ‘I’m sure that works with all those other female guests of yours, but I require a little bit more finesse, Alexei, so I’m turning you down.’

‘Fair enough.’ He shrugged, and Maisy’s face fell so fast it should have amused him. It didn’t. ‘I should have dragged you back to bed and manacled you to the bedpost,’ he declared. ‘But I don’t bring women here. The handcuffs and paraphernalia are in my Rome apartment.’

Maisy huffed, trying to cover Kostya’s ears. ‘You’re disgusting!’

‘You weren’t saying that around dawn, dushka. How in the hell are you still blushing?’

‘I’m not used to stripping naked and bouncing around on a bed in broad daylight,’ she snapped.

‘Something that does incredible things for my ego,’ he replied complacently.

Maisy huffed again.

He gave her an arrested look. ‘You are adorable, Maisy.’

She suddenly couldn’t wrest her eyes away from his. What was it he’d said about not bringing women here?

‘We can’t have this conversation in front of Kostya. Where’s Maria?’

‘Now she sees sense,’ Alexei murmured, stroking the back of Kostya’s head, managing to caress the back of Maisy’s hand. She didn’t pull away.

Kostya distracted with strawberry yoghurt in the kitchen, Maisy walked with Alexei down into the garden. As they lingered before a stone fountain amidst the greenery Alexei said, in a dark, suggestive voice, ‘We could go back upstairs.’

‘I won’t answer that.’ She turned her face away, but a little smile was tugging at her lips.

‘We could do it here.’

Maisy gasped. ‘I’m not making love to you in a garden. Anyone could see.’

He smiled slowly at her. ‘You’re right. I’m very possessive, Maisy, as you’ll learn. I don’t want any other man seeing you when you climax.’

‘You’re so confident I would?’ she whispered, unsure they wouldn’t be overheard. She suddenly imagined dozens of men hiding in the bushes.

‘Would what? Wrap those lovely legs around my waist or climax?’

‘Both,’ she snapped.

‘I can’t force you, Maisy, but I can guarantee the climax.’

He was outrageous. Maisy loved it. She bit her lip. She didn’t want to forgive him so soon, but her heart was racing and her skin was prickling and suddenly all she wanted was to wrap herself around him and not let go.

But she couldn’t do it. He was going to break her heart.

He was playful with her now, attentive. But how long was that going to last? Until the next time she said no or didn’t fit in with his schedule, or demanded what she knew he couldn’t give her: a loving relationship.

She had to grow up and set some boundaries of her own.

‘I want to be with you too, Alexei. But I think it’s important to be pragmatic.’

‘Pragmatic?’ He didn’t like the sound of that, although half an hour ago it had been exactly what he was after.