A Mistress, a Scandal, a Ring

* * *

Jordan dressed for lunch in a simple sleeveless pale lemon sundress she’d bought on impulse from a boutique sale in Madrid, and paired it with open-toed shoes. She carefully applied a bit of make-up, attached plain gold hoops to her ears, and was attempting to scrape her hair into some kind of sophisticated up-do when Xavier came up behind her, gently pulled her wrists down and removed the few pins she’d already inserted.

‘I prefer it down,’ he said, holding her gaze in the mirror until heat began to surge and eddy around them.

He was clean from the shower and wore nothing but a white towel loosely around his hips, and the mere sight of all that hard, masculine flesh sent tingles racing over her skin.

‘Xavier...’ she whispered, her tone a mix of plea and admonishment. ‘We don’t have time.’

H

e grinned, which made her pulse skip, then kissed her shoulder and moved away, leaving her to deal with suppressed desire on top of a belly full of nerves.

Nerves that had doubled in intensity ever since he’d mentioned that she would meet not only his parents at lunch, but his brother, Ramon, and his wife and their four-month-old baby daughter, who were visiting from London.

They drove to his parents’ villa in the Aston Martin. It made a nice change from sitting in the back of chauffeured vehicles, and she sensed that Xavier enjoyed being behind the wheel.

His mood was lighter this morning, making her wonder if yesterday’s quieter, more pensive mood had resulted from work issues rather than his mother’s unexpected visit.

Whatever had set him brooding, it hadn’t affected his sex drive, though. Last night’s lovemaking had been intense and mind-blowing, his demands on her body exquisitely relentless. When she’d clung to him weakly and whimpered that she couldn’t possibly climax again he had seemed to take it as a personal challenge, and had set about driving her to yet another shattering peak with ruthless, breathtaking mastery.

They’d even made love in the pool, where the cool, satiny feel of the water against hot, naked skin had intensified every sensation.

Jordan felt deeply grateful and relieved that Rosa and Alfonso were in Berlin, for they surely would have heard her wild screams of release from the staff cottage.

She took a deep breath now, as Xavier braked to a stop in front of Elena and Vittorio de la Vega’s beautiful traditional white villa.

Perhaps sensing she was nervous, he lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. ‘You look beautiful,’ he murmured, and her heart swelled with an emotion she tried very hard to suppress.

And then, before they’d even emerged from the car, Elena was there, the warmth of her smile and her effusive greeting like an instant balm to Jordan’s nerves. She watched Xavier put an arm around his mother and kiss her cheek and it touched her deeply—maybe even made her feel a little bit hopeful—to see the obvious love and respect between mother and son.

Whatever beliefs Xavier held about himself, he was capable of love.

They walked with Elena through the villa, and just before they stepped out onto the shaded terrace where the others were gathered Xavier linked his hand with hers, entwining their fingers, tugging her to his side.

The gesture felt both intimate and proprietorial and, knowing it would send a message to his family about their relationship, she sent him a quizzical look. But his expression was enigmatic, giving her no steer on exactly what message he wanted to send, so she simply went with it, telling herself to enjoy it without overanalysing.

And enjoy herself she did. So much so that after three pleasurable hours it felt strangely wrenching to say goodbye to these people she’d only just met and barely knew.

Ramon’s wife, Emily, hugged her and slipped her a business card with her personal mobile number jotted on the back. ‘Call me if you make it to London. I’d love to catch up. And if you’re in the market for babysitting, definitely call me.’ She grinned. ‘I’ve never seen Katie sit so happily in a stranger’s lap before. She adores you!’

On the drive home she felt an oddly melancholy mood slip over her, and she sat quietly in the front passenger seat, content to watch the scenery until Xavier’s voice gently penetrated her thoughts.

‘Querida?’

She turned her head to look at him. ‘Sorry? What was that?’

‘Is everything all right?’

She offered up a smile. ‘Yes, of course.’

There was a pause. ‘You didn’t enjoy yourself this afternoon?’

‘I had a wonderful time,’ she quickly assured him.

‘But something has upset you?’

She shook her head. ‘Nothing’s upset me.’ She really had had a lovely time. ‘I just...’