His eyes narrowed. ‘Don’t bait a hungry lion, querida, unless you’re prepared to be devoured,’ he grated out.
‘Did you tell your last girlfriend how she should dress too?’ she challenged.
His mouth compressed. ‘My last girlfriend was under the misconception that the more frequently she walked around naked the more interested I would be in her. She lasted ten days.’
Inez’s curiosity spiked, along with an emotion she was very loath to name. ‘How long did your longest relationship last?’
‘Three weeks.’
Her breath caught. ‘So why three months with me?’ she asked.
He looked startled for a moment then he shrugged. ‘Because you’re not my girlfriend. You’re so very much more.’
Inez was struck dumb by his reply. A small foolish part of her even felt giddy, until she reminded herself that she was intended to be nothing but his mistress. Again unfathomable emotions wrapped themselves around her heart. She cleared her throat and fought to keep her voice even. ‘Why misconception?’
‘Very few women manage to catch and keep my interest for very long, anjo.’
‘Because you get bored easily?’ she dared.
His lashes swept down for a few seconds before they rose again to capture hers. ‘Because my demons always win when pitted against the rigours of normal relationships.’
‘Demons?’
‘Sim, anjo. Demons. I have a lot of them. And they’re very possessive.’ A wave of anguish rolled over his face, then it was gone the next instant. He nodded to the hovering sommelier and ordered their wine. Another pulse of surprise went through her when she noticed it was the same wine she’d served at the fund-raiser and her favourite.
‘The burning is now off the table. Hell, you can even keep the damn shorts. But, for the sake of my sanity, can we agree that you don’t wear them outside?’ he asked with one quirked eyebrow.
She pretended to consider it. ‘What is your sanity worth to me?’
‘You think you’re in a position to bargain with me, Inez?’ he asked, his voice deceptively soft.
‘I never pass up an opportunity to bargain.’
He regarded her silently for several minutes. Then he shrugged. ‘As long as I achieve my goals in the end, I see no reason why the road to success shouldn’t be littered with minor obstacles. Tell me what you desire.’
‘Is that what I am, a minor obstacle?’
‘Don’t miss your opportunity with meaningless questions.’
The need for clarity finally forced her to speak. ‘I wish to know exactly what you want of me.’
‘Sorry, I cannot answer that.’
She frowned. ‘Why not?’
‘Because my needs are…fluid.’ The peculiar smile accompanying his answer sent a tingle of alarm down her spine.
‘So I am to live in uncertainty for the next three months?’
‘The unknown can be challenging. It can also be exciting.’
‘Is that why you came to Rio? To seek challenge and excitement?’
For several seconds he stared at her. Then he slowly shook his head. ‘No, my reason for being in Rio is specific and a well-planned event.’
Inez shivered at the succinct response. ‘I can’t help but be frightened by your answer.’
Her candid admission seemed to surprise him. ‘Why is that?’
‘Because I have a feeling it has something to do with my family. Pietro has his flaws but he’s never done anything without my father’s express approval. Besides, you’re much older than him, which makes it unlikely that he’s the one you came here for. You’re here because of my father, aren’t you?’
* * *
It took an astonishing amount of control not to react to her simple but accurate summation of the single subject that had consumed him for over a decade.
Thinking back, he realised he’d given her several clues to enable her to reach this conclusion. Somehow, in the mere forty-eight hours that he’d known her, Inez had managed to slip under his guard and was threatening to uncover his true purpose for being in Rio.
He also realised that he’d given her much more leeway than he’d ever intended to when he’d formulated his plan. Inviting her to compromise? Inviting her to state her desires with the knowledge that he was seriously considering granting them?