The Mistress That Tamed De Santis

That he felt as intensely as she did soothed her some.

‘No one will ever know,’ he added.

‘Except you sent your man to fetch me at three in the morning in a club full of people,’ she pointed out.

‘I trust him with my life,’ Antonio said.

‘Because he’s done this for you so many times before?’ Maybe that shouldn’t bother her, but it did.

‘Never for me,’ Antonio answered solemnly. ‘But I cannot answer for my brother.’

Relief seeped into her stiffness. Prince Eduardo had been ‘the Playboy Prince’. Of course.

‘You do not need a man. A husband. A hero,’ Antonio said quietly continuing his persuasion. ‘You are determined to be independent. I respect that. But you want...’ He paused. ‘I have duty and obligations. I will never marry because I can never give a woman all she deserves. But I, too, want...’

‘Do you?’ She was somehow hurt, despite knowing everything that he said was true. ‘But you don’t have lovers. Or is that just the publicity line?’

‘It’s not just a line,’ he said quietly.

She rested her palm on his chest, daring to intrude where she really had no right. Just to see if he could be honest with her. If he could share when only a few days ago he couldn’t share anything. ‘How long?’

‘A long, long time. I’ve been busy. After a while it wasn’t something that was important to me.’ A glimmer of laughter suddenly lit his face. ‘But don’t worry, it won’t be over too quickly.’

His ability to pleasure her was the last thing she was worried about. He’d already given her the best orgasm of her life, and proven his personal restraint at the same time. ‘Why now, why me?’

That serious, brooding look returned. ‘Because I can’t think of anything but you. Because I’m tired of trying to fight it already. I know it’s the same for you. I come near and your body reacts. You can’t help the way you respond to me.’ Unflinching, he demanded equal honesty from her. ‘Do you have a lover currently?’

‘Do you think I would be here if I did?’

‘Of course not. I apologise.’ His expression softened. ‘There is more talk about you than actual action.’

‘Does it matter?’

‘No. But do you think I don’t know how much of the Bella Sanchez “story” is made up?’

‘You don’t want to know the truth?’ She straightened, determined to defend her scarlet honour even when really she’d never been that ‘scarlet’.

‘I know it already. You give yourself away every time I touch you. Every time I come near you. You react differently to me.’ He put his hands on her waist and drew her closer. ‘You cannot hide how you react to me.’

‘That’s not fair,’ she said huskily. ‘As if you’re all that experienced.’

He laughed appreciatively. ‘I might be rusty, but I’m not ignorant. And you’re not the sophisticated vamp you try to portray.’

If this was him ‘rusty’ then heaven help her when he hit his stride.

He ran his hand up and down her spine, partly soothing, mostly arousing. Every touch seemed designed to torment her.

‘The other morning...’ He paused and looked at her with concern. ‘I saw you. I felt you. What happened, how I made you feel...was more than you expected.’

She flushed, embarrassed that he’d known her orgasm had come as a surprise.

‘I want to make you feel that good again.’ Intent darkened his eyes.

‘It’s not wise.’ But her body yearned for it.

‘Because I made you emotional?’

‘You were too.’

He froze for a moment; his hands stopped those teasing touches. ‘I like being able to make you feel good. And you do want me to kiss you again.’ Deliberately, lightly he rubbed his finger across her lip. ‘And I want to. Everywhere.’ He suddenly pulled her hips against his. Hard. Letting her know exactly where else he intended to use his mouth.

‘You always get what you want?’ she asked breathlessly, the feel of his body against hers was so good. The promise in his eyes exquisite torment.