Duty At What Cost?

He stopped outside a closed door and threw it open. ‘Yes. The island is completely private. The couple who caretake for me live on a larger island about an hour away. Wait here.’

He stepped into the room, flicked on the light and checked the double glass doors leading to an outdoor area. When his gaze returned to her she became intensely aware that she was standing in the middle of a bedroom wearing nothing more than one of his shirts and a teensy pair of knickers. Every cell in her body seemed to vibrate on high alert and she wondered if he was at all affected by her. On some level she knew he had to be, but he was so good at controlling himself. It made her want to rip her shirt open and push all that stony self-control to the limit.

‘I don’t have any women’s clothing and I can’t send out for any. That shirt should do you tonight. In the morning I’ll lend you some T-shirts and shorts of mine.’

‘Merci.’

‘I’d also prefer you didn’t go outside. The whole house is alarmed and I don’t want you tripping it.’

Without waiting for her acquiescence he strode to the door. ‘You should have everything you need in the en suite bathroom, but I will be next door if you should need anything else.’

Like him?

The impulsive thought jumped into her mind and she smiled brightly. ‘I’m sure I’ll be fine.’

Or at least she wouldn’t tell him if she wasn’t.

Wolfe nodded. ‘Goodnight then.’

Feeling wired after her rest on the plane, Ava turned her interested gaze to the room. It was large and airy and continued the strong Spanish feel of the other rooms, with terracotta floors inlaid with handcrafted mosaics, brightly coloured rugs and light timber furniture.

She’d dearly love to take a shower, but that seemed impossible with her bandaged hands. Nor could she go outside. Glancing around the stylishly furnished room she found nothing to distract herself, not even a TV.

With nothing to do she freshened up in the bathroom as best she could with her cumbersome bandages and lay down on the comfortable bed, willing herself to sleep again. Her mother had always said she could do anything if she put her mind to it, but it seemed that sleep on command wasn’t one of those achievements.

Thinking of her mother made her feel sad again. Sad and alone. She had been the only person who understood her need to shine in her own right. Her need to stand on her own two feet.

Wolfe understands you.

The sneaky little thought crept sideways into her brain and transported her back to the bed on his plane. Rolling sideways, she shifted restlessly and felt bereft in the empty bed. Snuggling into his big body had been... It had been... Ava felt her pelvis clench in response. Yes, it had been heavenly. He was so warm. So solid. And this bed in comparison was cold. Empty. Exactly how she felt right now.

What would he do if she went to him...naked? Would it matter that he would never love her the way she desperately wanted to be loved?

Irritated with herself, she rolled onto her back and stared at the dark ceiling. Why, oh, why couldn’t she get that man out of her head?

And why couldn’t Lorenzo affect her half as much? Marrying him would solve every one of her problems. He was the spare to the heir in his own country, so he understood the pressures she would face as Queen. And he was kind. Considerate. The perfect gentleman.

But she didn’t love him and he didn’t love her. Although it was possible that love would grow; it often did in arranged marriages.

And it often didn’t either.

‘Oh, shut up!’ Ava told the insistent voice in her head.

She would have to sleep with him. Take him into her body. And that just felt...

Wrong.

‘Yes, yes. I get it.’

And talking to an empty room wasn’t going to change anything. Feeling horribly alone, and miserably vulnerable after the night’s events, Ava felt a desperate urge to leave a message for her father. To reconnect with him in some small way. Something her mother would no doubt be immensely happy with.

About to reach for her phone, she realised she had no idea where it was. She knew she’d had it in the limousine on the way to her gallery because she’d ignored an incoming message. Or had that been during the dinner earlier? She couldn’t remember, but no doubt if she had left it in either place one of Wolfe’s efficient men would have picked it up for her.

If they had where would they have left it? The living room? The kitchen? No way would they come to her room and disturb her.

Mulling over her options, Ava decided to take a look; she knew she wouldn’t sleep anyway, and maybe she would fix herself a glass of warm milk in the process.