A Spanish Inheritance

‘You’re complaining?’

‘No,’ she admitted softly, linking her hands behind his neck to bring him back to her. And this time the kiss was long and slow as the rhythm of his tongue reflected and induced her seductive responses. But as his touch became firmer and seemed about to answer all her needs he broke away. She knew now that exercising control over her responses intensified his pleasure as well as her own—a thought confirmed when she saw that the harsh masculinity in his face had grown brooding and sensual. She trembled as he began to feather kisses along her neck and shoulders. There was a tantalising lack of haste before he traced steadily down towards her breasts…and it took almost more will-power than she possessed to place her hands on his shoulders and push him away. ‘First you have to finish what you were saying when you woke me.’

‘Can you wait that long?’

Annalisa’s wide mouth curved in a smile. ‘No,’ she admitted huskily. ‘So talk fast.’

‘You can’t hurry Ben Jonson,’ Ramon argued with a sigh as he turned back to her breasts. ‘Who would think these could bring such pleasure…and in so many ways?’ he murmured, lifting his head to level a darkly amused stare at her.

‘Ramon,’ Annalisa groaned in complaint, fighting to keep in touch with reason as his teeth toyed lightly with her nipple.

He broke off long enough to look at her. ‘You want me to stop?’

‘Just long enough to finish that quotation…if you can,’ she challenged in a broken whisper, the words melting into a long shuddering sigh as his lips moved down over her belly. And when his tongue began lapping the top of her thighs she grabbed hold of him, ploughing her fingers through his ebony hair. ‘I’ve changed my mind. Don’t stop.’

But Ramon was enjoying her arousal too much. ‘You don’t care for Jacobean dramatists?’

‘I love them…I love them!’ Anything to have him back where he belonged. ‘So finish the quotation! And be quick!’ she urged. She knew he was playing with her…controlling the pace of their lovemaking… Well, two could play at that game! Somehow she managed to sit up. ‘So when did you become interested in literature?’ she said, clearing her throat to give him the idea that this could turn into a very long discussion indeed.

His sensuous mouth edged into a teasing curve. ‘Let’s just say I’ve had an extremely wide-reaching education.’

‘You can say that again, she thought. ‘So…finish the quotation.’

Ramon made a seductive sound deep in his chest. ‘How dare I refuse?’ His winged brows rose in a lazy gesture of compliance. “‘For love’s sake, kiss me once again! I long, and should not beg in vain—’”

‘You? Beg—?’

He cut her off decisively this time, his tongue plunging into the moist warmth of her mouth while his hands brought her round easily beneath him. ‘Who’s begging now, Señorita Wilson?’ he husked fiercely in her ear as he eased her thighs apart and lodged himself between them.

“‘For love’s sake”?’ Annalisa challenged ironically as she fought to control her breathing.

He paused, suspended over her. ‘Are you frightened of love, Annalisa?’

‘I’m not afraid of anything.’

Lowering himself to her side, Ramon looked her straight in the eyes. ‘You don’t need to pretend with me, querida. We’re all frightened of something.’

The intensity in his gaze threatened to bounce their relationship onto a whole new level. A rush of sensation carried fear in place of passion. She moved restlessly in his arms even as he tried to reassure her. There were so many unanswered questions…and, yes, she was frightened—of commitment, pledges…love. Love was fragile, unpredictable. She didn’t know if she had the courage to expose herself to the hurt that came with it.

‘I promise I’ll never hurt you,’ Ramon said, more gently than she’d ever heard him speak before.

‘You promise?’ Annalisa demanded softly, stroking her finger across his lips. ‘And what if you break that promise? Why should I take that risk?’

He caressed her face and kissed her eyes. Then, sifting her silky black hair through his fingers, he murmured, ‘If you never take a risk, you’ll never know.’

At that moment she believed him and, reaching up her hands to him, she drew him close. ‘For love’s sake?’

‘For love’s sake,’ he confirmed, kissing her deeply, tenderly, seductively.

Annalisa found he had ordered room service while she was in the shower.