Craving Her Enemy's Touch

Alessandro turned the key in the door and then looked at her, a seductive gentleness in his eyes. ‘I want to kiss you again.’ His voice was hardly above a whisper and his eyes searched her face.

He was so strikingly handsome, his tie hanging loosely and his white shirt open at the top button—exactly the romantic image that turned a girl’s head. She smiled up at him, suddenly so sure that this was what she wanted. He wasn’t the kind of man to want commitment and, for once in her life, neither did she. She wasn’t looking or thinking beyond this moment.

‘I shouldn’t, but I do.’ He moved closer, his height almost as overpowering as the tension that fizzed between them.

‘Why shouldn’t you?’ Her voice was husky and she looked up at him, unsure what he meant.

‘I promised Seb to look after you, not seduce you.’ The resolute growl in his voice made her heart race faster than any car she’d driven.

‘Seb wouldn’t be cross.’ She couldn’t keep the light teasing note from her voice. He was fighting this attraction as much as she was, which made her want him even more. She wanted his kisses, his touch and to be totally his—tonight, at least

She wanted him more than she had wanted any other man and it scared her, but at least with Alessandro there wasn’t any danger of anything more than a brief affair. The idea of getting involved in another relationship didn’t appeal. She’d been hurt once before and that was enough. ‘I want you to kiss me again, Sandro.’

‘But if I do—’ he lowered his voice and his eyes softened as he looked down at her ‘—I’m not going to be able to stop. Not this time.’

She walked away from him and into the apartment, feeling empowered by his desire for her. Slowly she turned as he shut the apartment door, its click ominous, warning her she’d passed the point of no return. But she didn’t care. She didn’t want to stop. Not now. This passion, which had ebbed and flowed between them since the moment they’d met, needed to reach its conclusion. There wasn’t any other option now.

He might be the man she still saw as responsible for Seb’s accident, even though her father didn’t, but he was also the man who’d ignited a fire of hot need within her. From the second she’d seen him standing in her garden she’d fallen for him. This attraction was something she couldn’t turn her back on. Not yet. It was a totally new experience for her.

‘I don’t want you to stop, Sandro.’ The husky whisper that came from her sounded so unreal and she watched as he stepped towards her, his tie hanging loose, his shirt unbuttoned and the hint of golden skin of his chest creating an evocative image. One which seared into her mind and would, she knew, remain there for ever.

He took her hand once more and, with a seductive look which whispered a thousand words, he drew her towards him, pulling her close. ‘Mia cara, I have wanted you since the moment I first saw you.’

A tremor of panic slipped over her, his words too serious. Did he want more than just this moment, this night which held the promise of so much pleasure? It wasn’t what she wanted. She couldn’t give him more. She pushed her hands against his chest, the firmness of it making her breath catch, but she refused to let it sway her from what she had to say, what she had to make clear.

‘I don’t do for ever, Sandro.’ She’d been sure all along he just wanted a fling, a brief affair. The image of her and Alessandro, together and happy in the future, didn’t fill her mind. It was more than just risking her heart. It was about letting go of pain and grief and she wasn’t ready to do that yet. But one night meant only putting it aside and not engaging her heart. ‘It’s all I can give you.’

‘So serious, cara,’ he said and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. ‘Isn’t my divorce proof that I’m not able to commit to a relationship? Tonight belongs to us, cara.’

Before he could say anything else she looked up, bringing his lips tantalisingly close to hers, the shock of discovering he was divorced dulled by the passion which sizzled inside her. It proved he didn’t do forever either and all she wanted now was to lose herself in the moment, forget the world existed. ‘Kiss me, Sandro.’

In answer he kissed her so gently she thought she might actually cry. His previous kisses had been hard and demanding, but this was so tender, so loving. He held her as if she were a delicate flower he was afraid he might crush. She swayed towards him, desire making her light-headed as he continued the kiss.