He flushed angrily. His accent was stronger. ‘That was not premeditated, Lexie. But now that you mention it...’
Eyes sparking, Cesar covered her lips with his mouth again and Lexie fought him, closing her mouth. But with expert precision and ruthless intent Cesar proceeded to show her just how pathetic her little outburst had been. Within seconds her mouth was open under his and he was bending her head back with the force of his kiss. And she was matching him, her anger heightening the tension between them.
Cesar was losing it. He knew he was losing it. But he couldn’t take his mouth off Lexie’s. He’d never tasted anything so sweet. Or so wicked. The way her lush mouth softened under his...the feel of that body under his hands. Her breast...that hard peak under his thumb... He’d wanted to taste it.
Dios.
Cesar finally pulled back, heart hammering. He did not ravish women in the back of his car. He was cool, calm, controlled.
Right now he felt anything but. He could hardly see straight. His body was on fire.
Lexie was looking at him with huge bruised eyes. She thought he’d done that on purpose. And he had—but not for the reasons she obviously suspected. He’d wanted to make sure there was no ambiguity about how he felt about her.
He cupped that delicate jaw, a little aghast that his hand shook minutely. Her mouth was pink, swollen. He couldn’t help running his thumb across that pouting lower lip, feeling its fleshy softness.
‘Make no mistake, Lexie, I want you...and not just to distract the crowds. You know the truth of what I said earlier. We will be lovers for real.’
CHAPTER FOUR
WE WILL BE lovers for real.
Lexie’s hand was held tight in Cesar’s. She hadn’t had time to respond because the driver had opened the car door. And, as much as she wanted to pull free, right now she needed the support. They’d just run the gauntlet of the press outside. Lexie had felt so raw after those kisses that she’d probably looked as green as an ingenue at her first premiere.
Cesar had seemed as cool as a cucumber. He’d even rustled up a smile. It was galling. Shouldn’t he be the one flinching and snarling?
Lexie finally managed to pull her hand free, once they were in the marble lobby of the very exclusive hotel that was hosting the event.
Cesar frowned. ‘Are you all right?’
Lexie wanted to scream. She felt wild, dishevelled. Not herself. ‘Not really,’ she ground out. ‘I need to freshen up before we go in.’
She spotted the powder room and made a beeline for it. Once inside she found it was mercifully empty and she let out a great shuddering sigh of relief. When she looked in the mirror she nearly lost the ability to breathe again.
Her hair was mussed. Cheeks bright pink, mouth swollen. Eyes huge and glittering far too brightly. Lexie pulled tissues out of the box and started to repair the damage. Damn him. She cursed him roundly. Once again she was floored by how instantaneous his effect on her was and how her body betrayed her every time, jumping gleefully into the fire without any hesitation.
When Lexie was done she surveyed herself again and caught her own eyes in the reflection. There were shadows and secrets in their depths that only she could see. Someone like Cesar could never guess at them. She might be stronger now, but once she’d been utterly broken and had never thought she’d be whole again.
But when Cesar touched her it made her feel whole. It made her forget everything. Forget what had happened to her. There was none of the reflexive instinctive fear that had come when other men had kissed her—even if that had been in the safe environment of a film set.
We will be lovers.
Lexie couldn’t seem to stem the tiny flicker of hope inside her. As inconceivable as it seemed...as unsuitable as Cesar Da Silva was...perhaps he was the one who could repair something in her that she had believed destroyed a long time ago? Just allowing that thought to enter her head made Lexie sway on her feet as a giddy mix of excitement and terror rushed up inside her.
There was a knock at the door, and then, ‘Lexie, are you okay?’
Lexie’s breath jammed in her throat. Her recent thoughts were too nebulous, too scary. She called out threadily, ‘I’m fine. I’ll be out in a second.’
When she did emerge she didn’t like the spurt of emotion at seeing him leaning nonchalantly against a pillar, nor the way his gaze raked her face. He straightened up and just like that her mind started becoming fuzzy again.
She reined herself in with an effort. More people were milling around now, but to Lexie’s relief he didn’t take her hand again. He put it to her lower back instead, to guide her into the main ballroom where the dinner was being held. His touch burned like a brand through the back of her dress.
Lexie didn’t like how aware she was of other women staring at Cesar, of the flurry of whispers that would stop as they grew close only to start up again after they’d passed. It reminded her uncomfortably of what it had been like to walk into
a crowded room after the story had broken about her and Jonathan Saunders.
Cesar guided her to a seat and once she was sitting took his own, beside her. He stretched his arm out behind her, and his thumb was rubbing back and forth across the top of her bare back. Lexie almost closed her eyes as her body responded violently: nipples peaking, belly softening, warmth pooling and spreading.
His voice came close to her ear. Too close. ‘Relax. You look as if you’re about to shatter into pieces.’