‘You’re back,’ he murmured.
Leaning her head towards him, she sought contact, sought warmth, and thrilled all over when his hands gripped her upper arms. She didn’t resist him when he lifted them above her head and pinned her against the wall with his weight. Her whole body responded—aching, melting, needing. Arching her back, she thrust her buttocks towards him, responding to those feelings instinctively.
‘Keep that thought,’ he murmured, dropping a kiss on the back of her neck.
It took a moment of complete stillness before she was capable of turning to watch him stride across the hall in the direction of the front door. Pausing only to grab his helmet and mallet, he headed out for the match.
* * *
By the time Dante arrived Team Thunderbolt had assembled. Each man was silent with his own thoughts. This wasn’t the time to ask Luc where his sister would be sitting in the crowd. He couldn’t believe he’d forgotten to ask Karina where she would be when he had seen her—but he’d had other things on his mind. He had to clear his thoughts now. His colleagues had one thing in mind, and that was obliterating the opposition.
Would he spot Karina in the crowd?
Mounting up, he exchanged a few terse words with his friends. His confidence had never been in doubt where the outcome of this match was concerned, unlike the chance of spotting Karina.
As they rode out to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd, he knew he would entrust his life to the team. They were solid. Their ponies were in top-class condition. They had never been better prepared for a match. He scanned the faceless mass of people. Where was she? He knew she’d be busy with last-minute checks and ground his teeth with frustration as he turned his concentration back to the team.
It was always going to be a close match when the opposing team was captained by the formidable Argentinian Nero Caracas. It all came down to the last chukka. Team Thunderbolt needed one more goal to secure the match...
Nero tried to ride him off, and he was almost unseated, but his pony waited that necessary split second until he was ready, and then she set off again.
He was at full gallop with the goal in his sight when he spotted Karina in the crowd. She wasn’t in the stand where he had expected she might sit, but practically on the field, with her body pressed up hard against the barrier. Her face was ashen as she watched Nero chase him down. He could hear the thunder of hooves behind him, but he’d seen Karina, so anything was possible.
And he hadn’t just seen her—he’d seen the gold earrings she was wearing—the same gold hoops he’d given to her on her eighteenth birthday.
Raising his mallet, he drove the ball home.
* * *
By popular choice, Karina was elected to award the prize. She was waiting at the rostrum for him. ‘Congratulations, Dante, and to your team. I always had every confidence in you.’
‘As I did in you,’ he murmured, as they exchanged chaste kisses of congratulation on each cheek.
‘You can let go of my hand now,’ she prompted.
As she smiled into his eyes he realised that his teammates were backed up behind him, with the opposing team members also waiting to receive their medals. He smiled and stepped back.
When all the presentations had been made, he lifted the trophy in the air to rapturous cheers from the crowd, but for once in his life all he could think about was being somewhere else—preferably in a nice firm bed with Karina.
* * *
Karina was very relieved that Thunderbolt had won, but she was even more relieved that Dante was safe. She felt alert and alive, excited and light-headed as Dante looked at her over the heads of his teammates. They were separated by convention and not much more. They had to see the presentation ceremony through to the end, but the tension between them was like a high wire stretched taut.
She told herself to be patient. It would be some time before they could be alone.
At last the podium cleared and Dante left with the other players to check on the horses. She found him in the stables, where he was rewarding each animal in turn with affection and treats. The ponies’ ears were pricked, and they seemed as proud as Dante was of their victory. Somewhere in the distance she could hear a band starting up. They were alone. Everyone else had left to go to the party, which would be an all-nighter.
‘Hey...congratulations,’ she said, leaning over the half-door of the stall.
‘To you too,’ Dante said, without looking up as he checked this pony’s legs. ‘You made one hell of an event here today, Karina.’
‘I didn’t do it on my own.’