A Taste of the Forbidden

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘It will be all right, old friend.’ Cesar smiled at the other man reassuringly. ‘Grace is right.’ He frowned. ‘I have built myself an ivory tower in which to live. One that is secure certainly, but which also prevents me from being part of the world around me.’ He turned to look out of the window at the lights of Buenos Aires. ‘Perhaps it is time for that to change.’

  ‘I cannot express too strongly how much I disapprove —’ Raphael broke off his protest to look enquiringly at Cesar as he chuckled softly.

  ‘Do you really think that anyone would dare to approach Grace, let alone challenge her, in her present mood?’ he drawled derisively.

  The other man grimaced. ‘It would take a braver man than I, certainly.’

  ‘She has a younger sister.’ Cesar arched a mocking brow.

  ‘Dios protect me from beautiful headstrong women!’ Raphael threw the rest of his brandy to the back of his throat before moving to place the empty glass on the coffee table. ‘We will talk of this further tomorrow, Cesar?’

  ‘We will.’ He shrugged. ‘And, Raphael—’ he stopped the other man as he reached the doorway ‘—destroy the security disc from an hour ago,’ he added grimly.

  ‘Sí.’ Raphael nodded before striding away.

  Cesar turned back to look out of the window at Buenos Aires once more. His city.

  A city he fully intended to explore at Grace’s side the following day.

  Whether she wished it or not.

  And Cesar had no doubts that, after their intimacy tonight, she would not!

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ‘WHY ARE YOU eating your breakfast in here?’ Cesar stood in the doorway of the kitchen looking across at Grace through narrowed lids as she sat at the breakfast bar obviously enjoying eating her croissants and drinking coffee, the turquoise blouse she wore this morning a perfect match for the colour of her eyes.

  He had expected, waited, for Grace to join him in the dining-room for breakfast, to give him the opportunity to tell her of the arrangements he had made for today. Instead of which Maria had informed him a few minutes ago, when she brought his own pot of coffee through to the dining-room, that Grace was at this moment eating her breakfast in the kitchen.

  Grace had almost choked on the last of her croissant at the sound of Cesar’s voice, taking a quick sip of her coffee now to help the pastry down her throat as she looked across the kitchen at him.

  And instantly feeling as if she might choke again, this time from lack of oxygen. Cesar’s appearance, in a short-sleeved black tee shirt that moulded to the muscled contours of his shoulders and chest, faded denims that fitted low down on the leanness of his hips, and scuffed black boots, totally took her breath away. Add tousled overlong dark hair, brooding black eyes, and those perfect chiselled features to the mix, and Cesar Navarro was enough to rob any female, nineteen to ninety, of her next breath!

  Add to that the memory of those chiselled lips kissing and suckling her breasts the night before, and Grace found it difficult to breathe at all.

  Sure that she wouldn’t be able to sleep after leaving Cesar the night before, Grace had at first tossed and turned beneath the covers in her comfortable bed, only to eventually fall into a fitful and dream-filled sleep.

  Such weird and disjointed dreams. Of running and running, with her hair streaming behind her, the softness of her nightgown billowing and then moulding to her as she searched and searched for something that couldn’t be found, followed by a vision of a much younger Cesar playing in the park with a little blonde-haired angel, and a familiar voice whispering ‘sweet dreams’ as Grace ran past a vase of yellow roses swaying in a gentle breeze, a red-and-blue kite blowing above in that same breeze, and all of it watched by a pair of piercing and disembodied black eyes.

  Then with the suddenness of dreams it had all changed and Grace had become aware of the sensual caress of hands and lips against the bareness of her skin, arousing her, sending her higher and higher towards—

  She had woken so suddenly at that point that she had sat bolt upright in the bed, eyes wide, her breathing ragged, her body one hot and yearning ache, her breasts feeling full and her nipples engorged, and between her thighs swollen and damp.

  It didn’t need too much intelligence to understand what the latter part of her dream had been about—or to know that the reason for it was standing in the kitchen doorway at this very moment! And no doubt most of the earlier dream had some foundation in reality, the whole succeeding in keeping Grace awake for several more hours as she tried, and failed, to make sense of it. Consequently, she was feeling decidedly cranky this morning from too little sleep.

  She was certainly in no mood to deal with Cesar’s arrogance. ‘Where else would I eat my breakfast?’ She studiously rubbed the last of the pastry flakes from her fingers before standing to pick up her empty plate and mug and carry them across the kitchen to bend over to load them into the dishwasher, the loosened darkness of her hair falling forward and hiding her expression.

  ‘In the dining-room with me.’

  Grace straightened slowly, her eyes wide as she once again looked across the kitchen at Cesar. ‘Why on earth would I do that?’

  He scowled his impatience. ‘Why would you not?’

  ‘Well, let me see,’ she replied crisply as she slipped her hands into the back pockets of her close-fitting jeans; there was absolutely no reason why she should allow Cesar to see that this meeting, the first after he had touched and kissed her so intimately the night before, was enough to make her hands visibly tremble! ‘Firstly, I’m as much an employee here as Maria is, and so I wouldn’t presume to eat breakfast with my employer—’

  ‘You are in Argentina as my guest—’

  ‘I’m in Argentina because I was cooking your birthday dinner last night.’

  ‘And now it is the weekend, and so you are my guest.’

  ‘I’m not cooking dinner this evening, too?’

  He gave a shake of his head. ‘Maria will cook dinner for us both this evening.’

  Dinner for them both? Grace wasn’t at all sure she felt comfortable with that.

  ‘Secondly,’ she continued firmly, ‘I didn’t want to eat breakfast with you.’

  He drew in a sharp breath at her bluntness. ‘You are still angry because of what happened last night?’

  She gave a scornful snort. ‘Now what on earth makes you think that?’

  Cesar didn’t think it—he knew it! It was there in the glitter of those blue-green eyes, and the firm set of her full and pouting lips—the same lips he had taken such pleasure in kissing the night before.

  Unfortunately the pallor of Grace’s cheeks, and the dark shadows beneath her eyes, also told him that she had not slept any better the night before than he had himself. ‘Raphael has disposed of the relevant security footage.’

  ‘I hope by that you mean he’s incinerated it?’ she came back challengingly.

  ‘I do, yes,’ Cesar confirmed tersely.

  ‘Pity his memory of it can’t be wiped out, too,’ Grace said tartly.

  Cesar drew in a controlling breath. ‘Believe it or not, Raphael likes and respects you, and as such I have every confidence that he would never discuss or mention the events of last night, with anyone else.’

  ‘And you’re happy with that, are you?’ Grace demanded.

  ‘No, I am not happy—’ Cesar broke off his angry reply to take in another slow and controlling breath. ‘I have asked that all the cameras inside the apartment be switched off until after we have departed tomorrow.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘Why on earth would you—?’ She gave a hard laugh. ‘I seriously hope you didn’t do that with any expectation of a repeat of last night, Cesar! Because if you did—’

  ‘I may understand the reason for your displeasure, Grace, but that does not mean I am willing to allow you to continue insulting me indefinitely!’ His patience had come to an abrupt end. ‘I instructed the cameras be switched off because you stated you are uncomfortable with them, no
thing more and nothing less.’

  She raised dark brows. ‘And Raphael just accepted that?’

  He gave a hard smile. ‘It would not be gentlemanly of me to repeat to you Raphael’s response to my request.’

  Grace didn’t want to like this man—in fact, it would be so much better for her if she could dislike Cesar intensely!—but it was impossible not to feel a certain amount of gratitude for this unexpected act of sensitivity in regard to her stated dislike of those security cameras. And no doubt Raphael was even now rethinking that ‘liking and respect’ Cesar claimed the other man felt towards her.

  She swallowed. ‘I— That was...very thoughtful of you.’

  He gave a hard smile. ‘As much so as it was painful for you to acknowledge it.’

  ‘You have no idea.’

  ‘Oh, but I have,’ Cesar assured her dryly as a wry smile curved his lips. ‘Are you ready to leave now or do you need time to collect a jacket from your bedroom?’ Much as he knew Grace would not appreciate the fact, Cesar was finding the outline of her bottom in those tight-fitting jeans a complete distraction from his decision to keep things light and friendly between them today. A jacket might help to hide that tempting curve from his vision!

  ‘Ready?’ she repeated warily.

  Cesar gave an acknowledging inclination of his head. ‘I am offering my services as your guide around the beautiful city of my birth.’

  Grace was too stunned to hide that surprise. ‘Why on earth would you do that?’

  Cesar’s mouth thinned. ‘Because I wish to.’

  Of course; Grace knew him well enough by now to know that Cesar never did anything he didn’t want to do. Nevertheless... ‘It’s very nice of you, to offer, but I would really prefer to go out on my own.’

  His jaw tightened. ‘Why?’

  She sighed deeply. ‘Probably because I don’t want to be surrounded by a phalanx of security guards all day.’

  ‘There will be no security guards today, Grace.’

  ‘No security? You’ve dismissed them, too?’ She all but gaped at him now.

  ‘For today, yes,’ Cesar confirmed with an abrupt inclination of his head. ‘I will also be leaving my mobile phone here.’

  ‘But why?’ she gasped. ‘You never go anywhere without security guards and your mobile phone!’

  He gave a rueful smile. ‘I believe you were the one who said that I miss much of the enjoyment of life that way?’

  ‘Yes...’

  ‘And also suggested that I needed to take time out to “smell the roses”?’

  ‘Well. Yes, I said that, too. But—there’s a vast difference between delicately smelling the roses and throwing yourself naked into the whole rose garden!’ She looked at him exasperatedly.

  He arched dark brows. ‘I believe the latter would prove extremely painful, yes.’

  ‘But I—’ Grace gave a bewildered shake of her head, ignoring his derision. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘As I have said before, an unusual occurrence, certainly, but I am sure it will very quickly pass,’ he teased.

  ‘This isn’t funny, Cesar.’ She frowned heavily.

  ‘I agree, it is not.’ He sobered. ‘Perhaps it is that you do not wish to see Buenos Aires with me?’

  ‘I would love to see Buenos Aires with someone who loves the city as much as you obviously do. I just— What if someone recognises you and decides to—to—? Well, I don’t know what they might decide to do.’ She waved an impatient hand.

  ‘Raphael agreed with me on one thing, at least—that the fierceness of your expression would be enough to deter anyone from approaching either one of us today,’ he explained at Grace’s questioning look.

  ‘Oh, very funny!’ She gave him an exasperated glare.

  Cesar gave a grin. ‘We thought so, yes.’

  ‘Raphael must really hate me at this moment!’

  Cesar shrugged. ‘He will get over it.’

  Grace could only admire his confidence. ‘Don’t you need to spend time with your mother today?’

  He gave a shake of his head. ‘We said our goodbyes last night. She will be returning to New York on a flight later this afternoon.’

  Grace’s eyes widened. ‘She really does only stay here long enough to celebrate your birthday?’

  ‘Yes,’ Cesar confirmed abruptly.

  ‘That’s—’ Grace gave a pained frown. ‘That’s incredibly sad.’

  ‘Yes. And today is not a day for sadness,’ Cesar replied smoothly. ‘So, do you need to collect a jacket or are you ready to leave now?’

  After the embarrassment of last night Grace hadn’t even known how she was going to face Cesar again today, and now, incredibly, she could feel a bubble of excitement rising inside her just at the thought of spending the day with him. Of strolling around Buenos Aires at Cesar’s side. Just the two of them. Sans any security guards.

  Still she hesitated. ‘Are you absolutely sure about this?’

  ‘Absolutely,’ he echoed dryly.

  Then obviously there was nothing else for Grace to do but go to her bedroom, tidy her appearance, and collect her jacket!

  * * *

  ‘You are very quiet.’ Cesar looked down at Grace several hours later as the two of them strolled together through the streets of Buenos Aires.

  She looked up at him with shining aquamarine eyes. ‘It’s all just so... I’m just bedazzled by the...the shops you took me into were... I loved the museum... And that wonderful bookshop...and—’

  ‘Perhaps I was a little hasty earlier when I assumed that your speechlessness would not last,’ Cesar joked.

  She rolled her eyes at him expressively. ‘I had no idea Buenos Aires was so beautiful. That it was such a contrast of eclectic architecture and magnificent statuary, along with the most amazing shops and markets.’

  Cesar gave a shrug of his shoulders beneath the black leather jacket he now wore over his tee shirt. ‘We endeavour to keep the unique beauty of Argentina to ourselves as much as possible.’

  Grace gave an appreciative chuckle. ‘Pity, then, that when I get back to England I’m going to tell Beth and all of my friends that Buenos Aires, at least, is a place they just have to visit!’

  Cesar raised a dark brow. ‘You have many friends in England?’

  ‘Quite a few,’ she answered after several seconds’ thought. ‘From school, you know, and from working in the kitchen in hotels in France and England.’

  He nodded slowly. ‘Raphael and I were at school together.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘You were?’

  Cesar smiled at her obvious surprise. ‘Yes.’

  ‘But you went to a private school, didn’t you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then why does Raphael now work as your—?’

  ‘I do not discuss the personal lives of my friends, Grace,’ he cut in dismissively.

  ‘No. Of course not.’ Grace nodded, realising from the flatness of Cesar’s tone that it was time to change the subject. ‘Are we nearly at the market you told me about, where you think I might be able to buy something to take home for Beth?’

  ‘Feria de San Pedro Telmo.’ Cesar nodded. ‘It is not far from here.’

  ‘Oh, my goodness!’ Grace gasped as they literally turned a corner and she found herself looking at the most colourful buildings she had ever seen in her life: zinc shacks and houses painted in the bright colours of every shade of blue, green, red, yellow, and all the colours in between.

  ‘San Telmo,’ Cesar supplied with satisfaction.

  Grace had never seen anywhere quite like this before, every bench lining the street and every conceivable piece of space on every building painted in an array of colours that should have looked garish and yet didn’t. Instead those bright colours were a pleasure to the senses, a fact appreciated by the dozens of people sitting in the many crowded outside cafés and restaurants.

  ‘Would you like to sit and have a coffee here before going on to the market?’ Cesar indicated an empty table
that had appeared in one of those cafés.

  ‘Yes, please.’ Grace sat down slowly, unable to stop looking at the sights and listening to the sounds around her. ‘This is just amazing! Incredible!’

  Cesar chuckled softly as he lowered his length down in the chair opposite. ‘If memory serves me correctly, you will find that your retina will continue to be assaulted by the brightness of the colours long after we have returned to the apartment.’

  Grace gave him a smile of acknowledgement as she continued to enjoy the loud conversation and laughter of the other patrons as they drank coffee or beer with their lunch as Cesar gave the waiter their order.

  ‘With your agreement we will have lunch at Plaza Dorrego. It is where they hold the market at weekends,’ Cesar supplied at her questioning look.

  ‘And what happens there during the week?’

  He shrugged. ‘The cafés and restaurants supply tables for people to play cards or chess, and many others either watch or dance the tango.’

  She gave a slow and wondrous shake of her head. ‘How do you ever manage to drag yourself away from such a beautiful and vibrant city, even on business?’

  Cesar smiled as he relaxed back in his chair. ‘In the full knowledge that I will always come back.’

  Grace nodded slowly. ‘Of course.’

  ‘You feel the same way about London, no doubt?’

  ‘Yes and no,’ she answered after a few seconds’ consideration. ‘I really fell in love with Paris when I was living there. Beth is back in London now, of course, after going to uni in Oxford for four years, but still it doesn’t feel quite so much like home since my parents both died.’

  ‘You miss them very much.’ It was a statement rather than a question.

  Grace nodded. ‘Dad died four years ago, but it’s only been a couple of months since Mum died,’ she said wistfully. ‘She was very ill for several months, and it was really hard, just watching her fade away.’

  Cesar sat forward to place his hand over one of hers as it rested on the tabletop. ‘You should have no regrets, Grace; I am sure you did everything you could to make life more comfortable for her at the end.’

  Her eyes had misted over with tears. ‘Unfortunately that doesn’t make losing her any easier to bear.’