The Last Di Sione Claims His Prize (The Billionaire's Legacy 8)

“No. Not like this. It would be different.”

“How?” she asked, her voice a hushed whisper, her dark eyes full of fear, curiosity and excitement.

“It would be different because we would be alone. Because if there was nothing around us but all of these beautiful walls and I were to take you into my arms you would know that there were no limits to what might happen next. Everything would be different. It would be quiet, there would be no music. Only our breathing. The air around us would be different.”

She swallowed visibly. “That’s what…that’s what everyone will think is going to happen?”

“Yes. By the end of this dance no one will be in any doubt that the moment I have you alone we will not be discussing art, let

alone looking at paintings.”

He drew her closer as the music changed, not releasing her between songs, but rather continuing to sway gently with her. “But we are,” she said, “looking at paintings.”

“Of course,” he said, never taking his eyes from her. “Touch my face, Gabriella.”

“Wh-what?”

“I want you to lift your hand from my shoulder, and rest your palm against my face. I want you to take your fingertips and trace my jaw, down to my chin, then bring your hand to rest on my chest.”

“Why?” she asked, her expression almost frantic.

“It’s for the painting.” He ignored the dull beating of his heart—it was for a lot more than that. That reminded him there were other ways to do this.

She obeyed his command, even while her expression remained frightened. Soft skin made contact with his face, the light drift of her fingertips along his cheek, down his jaw and then, just as he had told her to, she brought it to rest against his chest. He was certain that she could feel his heart, beating hard beneath her palm.

He never took his eyes off hers as he slipped his arm slowly from around her waist and reached for her wrist, curling his fingers around it and drawing her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the center of her palm.

“That wasn’t… You didn’t…”

He released his hold on her, raising his hand to capture her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I suppose I didn’t. How many ‘Hail Marys’ do you suppose I have to say to atone for that?”

“I don’t know,” she said, her voice raspy, scraped raw.

“It has been longer than I care to remember since my last confession. But for you, I would gladly get on my knees.”

Gabriella straightened, as though bolts of lightning had just shot straight down her spine, as though she had been hit with a thought so real, so strong, it had manifested itself physically. “You’re very good at empty flirtation, Alex.” She moved her arm around his neck, placing her fingers on his skin. “I wonder what might happen if you had to make good on any of your promises.”

“Why don’t you try to hold me to them, Gabriella?”

“Say something real,” she said, moving closer to him, slowly, as though it were taking great effort for her to move nearer to him, as though it took everything she had in her to keep herself from running away. “You’ve been playing a game with me from the moment we met. So now, if you want this to go on, I want you to tell me something and I want you to say it without that mocking gleam in your eye, or that wicked curve to your mouth. I want you to be real for one moment. Just one.”

“And what do I get in return?”

“Whatever you want.”

He could tell that the words had left her lips before she had given them her full permission. He could also tell that she wished she could call them back.

“A very dangerous gift to offer to a man like me.”

“I have no doubt.” But, to her credit, she didn’t rescind the offer.

“A real kiss for a real confession,” he said, “it’s only fair.”

“All right,” she said, her words breathless.

“You are beautiful,” he said, keeping his gaze locked with hers. He kept his grip on her chin tight, didn’t allow her to look away. “Quite apart from this quest, this game, apart from…me. The fact that no one has ever told you before, or at least has never made you feel it before, is a crime unspeakable in its cruelty.”

She blinked, relaxing in his hold. “I… I don’t know what to say. No one has ever… No one has ever said anything like that to me.”