‘Have you ever tried to change them?’ she asked. ‘Ever tried to do what everyone says you can’t? Thought, To hell with it... I’ll show you?’
He placed both hands on the arms of her chair and leaned down to gaze into her eyes. A funny smile quirked his lips. ‘Perhaps I am not as brave as you.’
‘Perhaps you’ve not found anything you’re that passionate about yet.’ If he’d really wanted to do it, wouldn’t he have fought harder?
‘You see?’ He released her chair and straightened, reverted back to Prince Charming mode. ‘We’re getting to know each other already.’
Not enough. She’d always known he felt some constraint in his role—now she wanted to understand more.
‘Why did we have Matteo and Giulia as our witnesses?’ she asked.
‘Because they’re the two people I trust most in the world.’ He glanced back at her. ‘And I don’t think the newspapers are going to ask us that question.’
‘Why not your brother?’ She ignored his attempt at deflection. She wanted to know more about their relationship, because while Eduardo had hinted at disharmony he was unquestionably loyal.
For a moment he said nothing. ‘Not for this, no.’ He turned and shot her a distracting smile, held his hand up as if he were holding a microphone. ‘What was it that first drew you to Prince Eduardo?’
Yes, he was very loyal. The fact that he wouldn’t discuss Antonio with her drew respect. So she let herself be distracted and smiled back archly. ‘You’re just fishing for compliments.’
‘You’re going to be asked that question a lot.’
‘No.’ She laughed ruefully. ‘I’m not. It’ll be you being asked what you saw in me.’
‘Your ego is as hungry as mine!’ He held his hand out to her and winked. ‘Come sit with me and I’ll tell you everything.’
But when she stood he stood too, then picked her up and carried her to his bedroom.
* * *
At five the next morning Stella didn’t want to drag herself out of bed, but if she didn’t she’d lose more than her inhibitions in Eduardo’s arms. She’d never felt so wanted, so desired. But aside from sex there was nothing between them. Even the desire couldn’t be as strong for him, because if she hadn’t got pregnant she’d never have seen him again.
This wasn’t real and it wasn’t going to last. Just because he was showing her one kind of affection it didn’t mean it would become more.
Carefully she slipped out from under his heavy arm and dashed to her bag.
She wasn’t afraid of many things—not of travelling to foreign places nor suffering intense physical strain. But what Eduardo made her feel... Sure, it might be easy—but it was still too good. She didn’t want to want it too much, because it wasn’t lasting.
‘What are you doing?’ His voice was arctic.
‘What does it look like?’ She fastened her bra and reached for her trainers.
‘You have a problem—you know that?’ He groaned and rolled onto his side.
‘I like a routine. You’ll get used to it.’
She averted her eyes from his tousled gorgeousness. The urge to slide back into bed was almost irresistible. But she could resist it—that was the point of this run. To prove to herself that she could control her own desire. She could have him. Or she could choose not to.
To her slight surprise—and disappointment—he didn’t try to stop her. Instead he reached for his phone.
She headed for the track.
Yes, soon enough Eduardo would be busy being Prince Eduardo, and when he was sick of the sex she’d have to settle in to her new life as his ex-wife and mother of his child.
She ran the circuit of the small island three times.
He was waiting for her on the step when she returned. He ordered her into the shower. Followed her there. His playfulness made her forget the future and unleashed her own friskiness again. She leaned into his touch.
She’d proved herself, right? She could turn her back and take time out from him whenever she wanted. She could say no to him.
She just didn’t want to right now.
CHAPTER TEN
EDUARDO WALKED TOWARDS where Stella was reading on the sofa in the library. The level of scrutiny she would soon face would be unprecedented. He wished he could keep her here, but already there had been calls and questions from San Felipe palace officials. Eduardo couldn’t hold them off much longer.