Lexie had been like a child, her face lighting up to see the beautiful city. And Cesar had ended up inadvertently doing a better job of being tour guide than the actual tour guide. A small crowd had gathered around them on the top of the bus so they could hear his take on the various sites. It had helped that he spoke multiple languages.
Lexie had been laughing when they disembarked, because some of the American tourists had insisted on tipping him—one of the wealthiest men in the world!
In that moment, when Lexie had been laughing, Cesar had felt a dizzying rush of something that was also completely alien to him...it was only now that he could recognise it with a sort of incredulity. Happiness.
For a moment he’d felt pure, unadulterated ease. Joy. The blackness that seemed to be his constant companion had dissipated. And it had lasted even as Lexie had asked if they could walk back to the apartment because it wasn’t far.
They’d stopped and had coffee and cakes on the way. Cesar had never, ever spent such an enjoyable couple of hours with anyone.
The threads of that happiness lingered now, like a seductive caress. But Cesar was aware of something very strong inside him that refused to believe it. It was urging him to be vigilant, not to trust in this ephemeral feeling.
Anything that had felt vaguely like this had been ripped away from him at such an early age that now it seemed too...easy.
He heard a sound then, and turned around, and when he saw Lexie it was like a punch to his gut—it was that physical.
He couldn’t have analysed what she was wearing in any kind of detail. All he knew was that it was black and seemed to cling to every curve she had with a precariousness that made Cesar’s body stiffen in wanton reaction. Her shoulders were bare. Her hair was pulled back, revealing her long delicate neck.
She was a goddess.
Cesar walked over to her before he could melt into a pool of unrestrained lust and lock them both in this apartment until she finally gave in to him. He was actually afraid to touch her—afraid that if he did he’d turn into some feral being.
‘My car is waiting outside.’
Lexie smiled, but Cesar could see a slight nervousness in her eyes. The thought of dinner? Was she feeling insecure? It made unwelcome protectiveness rise up, but lust was also rising, too high and fast for him to be able to focus on it or let it bother him.
He let her precede him, her scent light and fresh. Floral. Her long dress swung around her hips and legs, and Cesar all but closed his eyes and sent a prayer up to the God he hadn’t consulted in a long time for the ability to show some restraint.
* * *
Lexie was finally relaxing. Although she knew it probably had as much to do with the second glass of wine she was on as the fact that the dinner was provi
ng to be far less scary than she’d thought.
But the location was beyond intimidating in its grandeur. It was a very old palace in the centre of Madrid that had been turned into the Ambassador’s residence. If everyone hadn’t been in modern clothes it would have been hard to ascertain where the past ended and the present began under the soft, seductive lighting of hundreds of candles.
She’d imagined that people would be talking about complicated fiscal policies and the merits of a single currency, but they were actually far more interested in talking to her about the famous people she’d met and what they were really like.
She felt a large hand on her thigh and her lower body spasmed in pure need. She put her hand over his to remove it, but instead her fingers wound their way through his. Holding him there. Her body and her mind were in two different places...
She smiled brightly at the man beside her and took advantage of the lull in the conversation to turn and face Cesar on her other side.
He looked at her. ‘Okay?’
She smiled wryly. ‘I’ve been telling the esteemed Secretary to the Greek Ambassador exactly which celebrity tour he should take his kids on when they go to LA next month.’
Cesar smiled and leant forward to kiss her on the mouth. Lexie found herself wanting to cling to him, her fingers tightening on his on her thigh. She was ready. Her heart sped up at the thought even as old tendrils of fear made her trepidatious.
He drew back and his eyes were glowing dark green. ‘There’s a dance showpiece after dinner. We don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.’
Lexie shook her head, giving in to that fear like a coward, delaying the moment of inevitability. ‘No, it’s fine. I’d like to see it.’
As the dinner ended and they moved into the room where the showpiece was taking place Lexie seemed to be existing in a haze of shimmering heat. She was acutely aware of Cesar’s every move.
Their afternoon on the bus had been delicious torture. Cesar had been dressed down, in jeans and a casual top and jacket. He’d pressed so close against her that she had barely taken in a word he’d said about any of the stunning monuments and squares they’d seen, all too aware of him.
He’d been so gracious and patient when the other tourists had wanted to listen to his explanations and she’d seen another side of him completely. He wasn’t as misanthropic as first impressions would have led Lexie to believe—far from it. But she wondered if he even realised that himself.
They had front row seats for the dance performance—by a flamenco dancer. When the lights went down a hush went around the crowd and then a lone guitar started playing the most hauntingly beautiful Spanish music.