A Spanish Inheritance

Her heartbeat seemed to have taken over the whole of her body now, and as she tried to meet his eyes with confidence she felt sure he would see the vibrations thundering through her. ‘Well, I’m sorry, but—’

‘I accept your gracious apology.’ He cut over her smoothly. ‘Now before we go any further down this road, can we return to what I was saying?’

‘What—?’

‘I want you to see another lawyer.’

Her sigh of relief was almost audible. Now she knew how a fish felt when it was thrown back into the water! ‘Well, I’ve got the outfit,’ she said, feeling confident enough to risk a joke at her own expense.

‘It’s a date, then,’ Ramon said, leaning across the table to feed her a plump chocolate-tipped strawberry.

The way he sucked the chocolate off his fingers held her spellbound. Everything he did was so sexy…and so thorough. She could feel herself responding…softening…and had to force herself out of the trance when he broke eye contact to wipe his fingers on his starched white napkin. But even that was bewitching, when his long tanned fingers were so supple and strong— She started guiltily when she realised that he had put the napkin down and for the last few moments had been staring at her.

‘I really can’t eat another thing,’ she protested when he pointed to the fruit.

‘It’s a shame to waste them,’ he murmured, picking one up while his gaze remained fixed on her mouth.

As some of the juice escaped onto his finger she watched as he licked it away…and then she realised that even her breathing had fallen in time with his tongue—

‘Champagne?’ he suggested softly, meeting her gaze.

‘I’ve had a bottle of chilled Krug delivered to your suite, Signor Perez,’ Luigi anticipated, looking pleased with himself.

Ramon looked across the table at her, waiting for an answer.

‘I don’t think so,’ Annalisa protested weakly.

‘Ah, but signorina, I have also arranged for some delicious sweetmeats from my own region of Italy to accompany the champagne…and some freshly ground coffee from the Blue Mountains in Jamaica.’

‘Thank you, Luigi,’ Ramon murmured, his gaze never leaving her face for a moment.

‘You’re all as bad as each other,’ Annalisa said in an attempt to break the spell when Luigi had swaggered back to the kitchen.

‘Who’s bad?’ Ramon demanded softly.

‘Men,’ she managed, finding it hard to look away.

‘Don’t you like being spoiled?’

‘I wouldn’t know.’

‘Then may I suggest you lower your guard a little and try something new for a change?’ And, reaching across the table, he took hold of her hand. Slowly, languorously, he began stroking her fingers one at a time.

It was possessive and erotic, and made her feel as if she was the only thing in the world that mattered to him. ‘I would like that champagne now,’ she murmured. ‘If I’m not too late…’

His lips curved in understanding. He stood with the grace of a panther, grasping both her hands to bring her in front of him.

They made it to his room—just.

Kicking the door shut behind them, Ramon fell back against it, dragging her to him. Sliding her fingers up the front of his jacket, Annalisa had the buttons open and the jacket off his shoulders before his lips had a chance to close over her mouth. Even as he dragged the breath from her lungs with his first kiss she was working on his shirt buttons, fingers flying, while her own clothes added to the heap on the floor.

Swinging her into his arms, he crashed onto the bed, stripping the covers away and wrapping one of her legs around him at the same time. She felt the hard corded muscles of his belly rubbing against her and climaxed suddenly, violently, gasping out his name in shock. But he held her fast until her breathing steadied, and when he felt her gradually softening against him he dipped his head to her breast.

‘I can see I have a lot of work to do,’ he chided contentedly.

‘Meaning?’ she demanded softly, lacing her fingers through his hair to increase the pressure a little.

‘Meaning…’ He lifted his head reluctantly. ‘You are deliciously untutored in the art of love. A skill I shall take the greatest pleasure in teaching you.’

‘And you are so arrogant—’

But he wanted to kiss her again…kiss her until she thought they would melt together. And when his tongue plundered her mouth, retreating slowly in an unmistakable prelude to the moment when he would answer all her needs, she gave freely, urgently, pleading for more.

‘We’ve got all night,’ Ramon reminded her softly, holding her still. ‘I want to take my time…enjoy you slowly. No,’ he said firmly as he softened his grip and she went to slip beneath the sheet. ‘On top…here…so I can look at you.’ And then, very steadily and firmly, his hands followed the same scorching trail set by his eyes down the length of her blush-pink quivering body. ‘You are beautiful…magnifico,’ he said, slipping into his own language as he feasted his eyes on her breasts.