He glanced at the trinket, still frowning. ‘Alessia gave it to me for my birthday.’
Silently she wondered which birthday, how long ago and what significance the elephant held. All she knew about elephants was that supposedly they never forgot anything.
Maybe that was what it was—for him to remember her. They’d been school sweethearts for years before getting engaged, hadn’t they? Bella returned the trinket to the table and looked back down the bed to Antonio.
His expression had shut down, of course. Remote, reserved Prince Antonio had returned. He might be lying at her feet, but he couldn’t be further removed and it couldn’t be more obvious that he didn’t want to discuss it with her. Of course he didn’t.
That sense of intimacy she’d felt only moments before—that closeness beyond the physical—dissolved. He’d never let her into his life the way he’d let his fiancée. He’d never love like that again. He wouldn’t let himself. And that was fair enough. She too knew how much it was possible to hurt.
She smiled, determined not to let it show that she hurt right now. She was the distraction, the secret lover, the light relief for the royal workaholic. And she’d keep this private and fun because he was her distraction too. He was the one man who’d finally made her feel good and enjoy her sensuality and she wasn’t going to let anything ruin this last stolen moment she had with him. Certainly not any stupidly weak emotion.
But how did she forbid her heart from falling for him?
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE HOURS AND days stretched ahead, empty and frustrating, loaded with meetings from European delegations and civic duties. Nothing he could get out of.
He’d certainly been unable to decline this afternoon’s invitation to tour the new addition to the cancer unit at the hospital. While there, the staff had taken him on a tour of Alessia’s Garden. Amongst the beautiful roses and serene seating in the heart of the hospital grounds, he’d given his speech and thanked the committee for all the fundraising they’d done over the years, and continued to do, in his fiancée’s name. Because of them her name lived on.
They didn’t know that because of him, she’d died.
Not even his brother knew the truth.
Desperation curled around him as he read through the next day’s timetable. He needed a break from it. For the first time since he’d been crowned he wanted a holiday and an escape from the weight he carried on his shoulders. He’d never had more than a few days away and even then he’d taken work with him. It had been the one constant in his life, the one thing he knew he could do right. It was his calling.
But now he craved another moment of escape—from duty, from his past, from the lie he lived day in and out.
He didn’t deserve it, but he hungered for a moment of selfishness—the time to laze, linger and laugh on a bed with Bella instead of stealing a too-quick liaison in the last hour of the night.
He wanted just a little more. A whole night. A whole day. Enough of a feast to cure him and help him forget.
Three days since he’d done the unthinkable and brought her home, he sat alone in the palace, watching the hands of the clock slowly tick by.
There was no escape from his unrelenting schedule. And even if there was, he couldn’t go to the island: his brother, Eduardo, was there.
Eduardo.
The brother to whom he’d never told the truth. The brother who’d repeatedly asked him how he could serve him better. The brother who’d changed so much in the last year since finding happiness with his soldier wife.
Antonio stared at his desk and finally picked up his phone. His brother answered immediately.
‘I need you to come to San Felipe,’ Antonio said quietly. ‘I need you to attend a couple of events for me.’
‘You’re not well?’ The shock in Eduardo’s voice burned.
‘I’m fine.’ He couldn’t lie about that. ‘I only need a day or so out.’
‘I will come right away,’ Eduardo answered, still obviously stunned, but he didn’t question more.
‘Thank you.’ Antonio rubbed the back of his neck. ‘It’s nothing serious. I just need a little time.’
‘It’s fine. I’m glad you asked.’ Eduardo sounded as if he was moving already. ‘If I need to make contact—’
‘I’ll be on the water.’ Antonio gazed out of the window to the inky black space where the Mediterranean ebbed and flowed. ‘You can radio me on the boat.’
Because he wasn’t completely reckless. But nor could he wait ’til dawn.
An hour later he stood in the landing just outside her office, looking over the narrow balcony railing to where she was in the middle of the dance floor. It had been a risk, but at this hour the club was mostly in darkness, the lights flashing, confusing, disguising.
Everyone present was too busy noticing her to notice him anyway. In white trousers and a slim white top she danced in the centre of the main floor. There was a space around her, like a halo, as if somehow everyone knew they were forbidden to get too close.
But they watched. They all watched. And Antonio watched as Matteo told her. She stiffened and swiftly walked off the dance floor. Antonio stepped back into her office, anticipating.
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ she said, striding in only moments later and slamming the door behind her.
‘And yet here I am.’ And he couldn’t help but be aroused and amused as he drank in her energy. This was exactly what he wanted. Bella looking strong and fierce and crackling with fire.
‘This is my club.’
‘This is my country.’ He crossed his arms, forcing himself to wait for her comeback.
‘And you want to be seen here?’
‘I thought this was the place to be seen. Am I going to inhibit your guests’ pleasure?’
‘They’ll be thrilled to be in your presence. I’m sure they’ll bust out their best moves for you. Especially our female guests. Will you be joining them on the dance floor or just watching?’ Her eyes glinted.
He breathed in carefully, cooling his blood. But he was looking forward to the next twenty-four hours too damn much. It was all he could do not to reach for her now but if he did that, they’d never leave.
‘Or is this another snap compliance inspection?’ Bella smirked.
‘Actually, this is an abduction.’ He smiled back, hugely appreciating her not so subtle bite.
Her eyes widened. ‘I’m sorry?’
‘I’m taking you with me.’
‘Pardon?’
‘You don’t need to pack. We’re leaving now.’
‘I can’t leave now.’
Satisfaction thrummed. It was only timing she was concerned with? She wanted to come with him. ‘Either you come quietly and right away, or I have the whole place shut down.’
Her gaze met his. Her face flamed at the double entendre he’d intended. He shifted on his feet, releasing the tension that was streaming through his body.
‘Nothing like abuse of power, Antonio,’ she finally responded.
‘I have your best interests at heart.’
‘Really.’
‘Seriously.’ He admired her independence but it irritated the hell out of him at the same time. ‘We can leave quietly. Everyone is interested in the other celebrities on the dance floor.’
‘Getting good at plotting, aren’t you?’
‘You look tired.’ He frowned, because she did. And she looked paler than usual.
‘Way to make me feel attractive.’
‘When did you last get to bed before midnight?’ he asked.
‘What concern is it of yours?’ She shook her head at him. ‘You’re not supposed to start caring, Antonio. That’s not what you’re about.’
It wasn’t about caring. It was about having a very little more time for just the two of them. ‘You work too hard and sleep too little.’
‘So do you.’ She shrugged. ‘But that’s not the point. It’s no business of yours and I am not here waiting for your beck and call. I don’
t live for your summons. I have my own life to get on with.’
‘Yes, you’re right.’ Every word she spoke was true. But there was something else equally true. He strolled up to her, framing her face in his hands and tilting her head so he could see right into her eyes. ‘But you want this as much as I do.’
Her expression altered, the defiance drained and disappointment brought those shadows back.
‘What I want doesn’t really matter, though,’ she admitted, a hint of sadness colouring her soft tone. ‘I can’t leave.’ She gestured to her laptop open on her desk. ‘Because I need to run the business. I need to understand it. I’m more than the face for it. I need to be the brains behind it. I need to make it work.’
Bella wasn’t about to admit it, but Antonio was right: she was so tired and in need of a break. And that he was here, that he’d come to her once more?
That stunned her. Delighted her. Distracted her.
But if she could stay focused for just a little while she could pull her life back on track, without relying on anyone else. No one was taking her career from her again. No one was taking anything. ‘I can’t go with you.’
His eyes lasered into her, branding her even as she tried to resist him. She lifted her chin. It wasn’t her problem if he didn’t like hearing the word ‘no’ for the first time in his life. But after a moment her heart starting skipping.
‘Don’t look at me like that,’ she whispered.
‘Like what?’
‘You know.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s not fair.’
His smile appeared. ‘You look at me like that.’
Her resistance wavered. ‘Antonio, please,’ she asked, determined not to let him dictate her world in this way. She needed to keep this on her own terms. She wasn’t a plaything—for all that manufactured media representation. She had concrete goals and she had to meet them. He couldn’t derail her long-term plans. ‘Don’t make me change my mind.’
But she was tempted. And he knew it.
‘Bella,’ he whispered. ‘It’s just for a little while. Little more than a day. Don’t you think you deserve that? Don’t I? Matteo will ensure the club is closed and secure. There’s only another hour to go anyway. It will be taken care of.’
He was so high-handed and arrogant and confident. And kind.
‘What do you want more?’ he asked. ‘To put me in my place or take just a moment for yourself?’
In truth her reluctance wasn’t about making him pay, it was about giving herself the time to draw strength to cope with him. He was so overpowering, she couldn’t let him tear down every last defence and get a foothold in her heart. She couldn’t be that weak over him. But she couldn’t say ‘no’ any more than she could stop breathing.
He smiled. He knew he’d won.
He took her hand. She curled her fingers around his and walked with him. He already had his phone in his other hand and was sending a message, presumably to Matteo.
‘We need to go up to the roof.’ He led her to the emergency exit door.
‘Why?’
It became clear in only a moment.
‘You landed a helicopter on the roof of my building?’
‘And picked the lock on the door.’ He chuckled. ‘It was fun. But you need to install a better security alarm’
‘It was crazy.’ She walked up the stairs with him. ‘Is it safe to fly at night?’
‘I have the best pilot on duty, don’t worry,’ Antonio answered. ‘And the sun is going to rise soon enough.’
He was right: the sky was lightening.
Suddenly shy, Bella didn’t even look at the man in position behind the controls.
‘Are we going to Secrete Reale?’ It was the smallest island of the San Felipe archipelago, the Princes’ private haven. It was the place his brother had taken countless women, if those rumours were to be believed.
‘We can’t. Eduardo’s family is there,’ Antonio answered briefly.
She watched as they flew low and fast over the water. It was only a twenty-minute trip and as the sun rose she saw the gleaming white jewel waiting on the water.
Her blood ran cold.
It wasn’t a boat. It was a gargantuan palace. From the air she could see the large pool and spa on deck, the surrounding plush furniture scattered with bright white cushions and, on one side, the helipad that they were now descending towards. It was the ultimate example of ostentatious wealth and luxury.
Cold horror slid down her spine as she realised that history was repeating itself in the most tasteless of ways.
She was his mistress and being ‘treated’ to a little more than a few stolen hours. Just as her mother had been so many times.
Her nerves jangled but she could say nothing under the noise of the engine. Antonio opened the door as soon as they’d landed and jumped out, turning to help her.
‘I can’t stay here. I can’t be seen on here.’ She wrung her hands, anxiously watching as the helicopter lifted off again within seconds of their disembarking.
‘If you prefer, you do not have to leave the cabin at all.’ He grinned wolfishly.
That humour tore the last of her control.
‘You have no idea,’ she turned to rage at him. ‘How spoilt can you be?’ She glared. Wounded and angry with herself for being so weak and willing. ‘I don’t want to be here with you.’
He visibly recoiled at the venom in her tone. ‘I apologise.’ His expression shuttered. ‘We will return to town immediately.’
She met his gaze. The stiffness in his stance didn’t hide the tiredness in his eyes. He was trying to do something nice. He’d just gone about it in princely fashion, arrogant as hell. And he didn’t know or he would never have chosen this as their destination.
She sighed and sat down in the nearest seat, literally unable to stand any more. ‘Antonio.’
His eyebrow flickered. ‘Something you want to tell me?’
She rested her aching head in her hands. ‘My mother went on a boat like this once.’ More than once. Her mother had loved this kind of lavish holiday. ‘With Salvatore Accardi.’
Antonio squatted in front of her so he could see up into her face. She couldn’t hide from him.
‘They took photos from a helicopter,’ she said.
‘There will be no helicopters other than the one we just arrived in,’ he said.
‘You don’t understand,’ she mumbled, her cheeks scarlet with shame. ‘My mother and her lover were photographed on the deck of the boat. It was the moment of my conception.’ Or so the papers had speculated at the time. That image—of her mother naked on her back with her married lover between her legs—had been one of the most scandalous images of the decade. The flaunting of an affair that had only hurt all the women involved.
Accardi had denied the dark-haired man in the picture was him.
Deny, deny, deny, was all he ever did.
‘I should have talked with you first,’ Antonio said quietly. ‘I thought you would like it.’
‘Anyone normal would,’ she admitted. She closed her eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’
Here she was on the same kind of symbol of opulence and wealth and corruption, with a man who could have anything—and anyone—he wanted.
‘I’m sorry too.’ He caressed her cheek with his thumb. ‘But you’re not her. And I’m not him.’ Standing, he reached forward and scooped her into his arms. ‘What we both are is very tired. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends. You need a rest.’
She half smiled at the stiff way he expressed the old saying. She rested her head on his chest, feeling his heart beating, suddenly unbearably tired. ‘Yes.’
‘Then let’s get you to bed.’
She wanted to touch him and feel the mindless relief that he could bring, but the waves of exhaustion rolling over her were too strong and in his arms she relaxed completely. Her eyes closed as she felt him descend the steps into the body of the boat.
She felt him place her on the soft bed, felt his lips on hers. Too
gently. Too briefly. But she couldn’t win the fight to open her eyes again.
‘Stay,’ she murmured, at least she tried to say it but it might have only been a moan.
‘I’m right here.’
And he was. Curled up beside her, drawing a soft blanket over them both.
CHAPTER EIGHT
BELLA HAD NO idea what the time was when she woke, but, given light was streaming through the beautiful window, she figured it had to be late in the afternoon.
‘I didn’t realise you were going to sleep for hours.’
She turned at the sound of Antonio’s drawl.
‘Hours.’ He threw her a mock chagrined look.
With a sleepy smile she rolled onto her back and stretched her toes. ‘Sorry.’ She glanced back at him. ‘Not sorry.’
Silently he regarded her, his reserved expression more pronounced, when suddenly his solemnity broke and the sexiest smile spread across his face. He crooked his little finger at her. ‘Maybe you’d better come here and show me how “not sorry” you are.’
Her body hummed in anticipation, but she couldn’t resist attempting another tease. ‘I can’t make it all the way over there...’ She stretched lazily again.
‘Going to make me do all the work?’
‘You seem to like to be in charge.’ She shrugged, sending him a look from under her lashes.
‘You like choosing not to do what I ask.’
‘Maybe it’s all in the way you ask...’ She let her voice trail suggestively.
‘How should I ask?’ he asked. The ominous tone made her tingle all the more.
‘With kisses, of course.’
He reached out and grabbed her foot, hauling her down the bed towards him. ‘Good thing I know how and where you like to be kissed.’
Bella could only arch up on the bed and let him.
Slowly the sky turned from blue to a burnished gold as the sun seemed to sink into the water.
‘Come up on deck,’ Antonio invited gently. ‘It’s almost dark. No one is there to see us.’
He was right, there was no one there. He must employ incredibly diligent and discreet staff—because while she and he had slept, they’d worked hard to create a sheltered lounge area on the deck that had silk walls and sofas surrounding a sensual plunge pool. Silver platters were scattered on the low table, laden with freshly prepared treats. It was private and beautiful and safe. She wrapped herself in the robe he’d handed her and curled on the plush cushions. She bit into a strawberry, relishing the burst of flavour.
The Mistress That Tamed De Santis Page 10
