Ruy’s rendition of the music was stunning. His strong, sensitive fingers moved from a slow rhythmic strum to picking out the mournful tune over the top; then as the music progressed, his hands became fast and furious, executing a series of intricate chord progressions and complicated strumming patterns using his thumb. Luna watched, hardly breathing, as his hand glided from the sound hole to the base of the strings, caressing the instrument like a living, breathing creature in a fluid, sensual movement that made the pit of her stomach quiver. One moment his head hung down in concentration, the next he raised his face up, eyes closed, as if the music were rising within him, transporting him to another place.
Luna knew Ruy was a talented gypsy guitarist from their first sizzling encounter, but this was an entirely different side to him. She sat, transfixed, as his playing sent a new, dizzying array of emotions through her. The music spoke to her deepest self and, because it was Ruy creating this sublime sound, something else indescribable and profound conjured a sensual yearning within her, making her heart swell almost unbearably.
No doubt there were many women in the audience lost in admiration for the handsome young guitarist – or their own private fantasies – while the music filled the cathedral, but Luna’s flights of imagination were connected to something real and remembered.
Those strong arms of Ruy’s had held her close at the masked ball; and only last night, those same dextrous hands had moved over her body with hungry desire. More than once, that sensual mouth, now twitching slightly in concentration as he played, had taken hers in mind-blowing, passionate kisses and had whispered her name, hot and urgent: ‘Tell me you want me, Luna … I’ll be waiting for you … when you’re ready for me.’
Would he still be waiting for her now?
Yet it wasn’t just a physical awareness of Ruy that was growing inside her now. Her lunchtime conversation with Charo had nudged a tender place within.
If only Angelina had been treated by someone like Ruy in her last days.
Now, listening to him play, her emotions were undergoing a strange transformation, a process gathering its own momentum. As the music was rising in a fierce crescendo, her defences were falling away, leaving her raw and completely overwhelmed like never before.
The last tremulous notes from Ruy’s guitar sounded, making her heart almost stop in her chest. Now the music was over, and Luna clamped her eyes shut. The audience errupted into thunderous applause. She realized her face was wet with tears.
Ruy stood, breathed deeply, and took a bow, gripping the neck of his guitar with both hands. Straightening up, his eyes finally caught Luna’s. Visibily taken aback, his bright blue gaze burned into hers for just a moment or two, searching her face with quiet intensity. He quickly regained his composure and smiled at the audience. Then, as the applause died down, rather than leaving the dais at the side, he walked straight down the front steps into the nave.
Luna’s mouth went dry: he was heading directly for her.
She swallowed as he slipped into the pew to sit beside her. The tension between them was palpable. Wordlessly, he produced a handkerchief from his pocket. Keeping his arm low, he offered it to her, and his hand grazed the side of her thigh as he did so. Their eyes met and her heart and stomach swapped places with a leap. He looked sombre but something else glimmered in his gaze, some emotion she couldn’t read. Was it tenderness or confusion? She took the handkerchief from him and discreetly dabbed her cheeks.
The dramatic, sweeping sound of Barber’s Agnus Dei started up from the choir stalls and Luna’s every nerve ending was aware of Ruy as they sat together listening to the exquisite voices climbing and falling. Whatever he was thinking, she was close enough to feel the warmth of him. She thought back to those torrid few minutes alone with him at the exhibition. The memory of his bruising kiss, his heated stare, overcame her once more; her body reacted instantly, making her breasts ache and a warmth flood her thighs. The awareness they had of each other was electrifying, though she sensed they shared an unease as well as a desire.
For the next half an hour, the choral music continued through a series of short, stirring pieces that resounded through the cathedral, every note mirroring the intensity between the two of them, and the heavy anticipation that hung in the air. Every now and then, Luna moved her head slightly so that she could see more of Ruy’s profile, but his expression was difficult to discern. Whenever she turned her head back to the front, she felt him, in turn, look at her, and her whole body tingled in response.
The final applause broke out and as the wall lights brightened again for the interval, the cathedral filled with the echoing noise and chatter of the audience. Before Luna had a chance to think of something to say, Charo leaned over. ‘Ruy, your performance was absolutely amazing.’ Her bright eyes moved from one to the other, watching them both closely. ‘What did you think Luna? Aren’t you impressed that our good doctor has so many hidden talents?’
Luna glanced at Ruy nervously, wondering if she would be met with mockery or reproach. His blue gaze lingered on her speculatively, but otherwise it was unreadable.
‘Yes,’ she answered, ‘I was more than impressed.’
And I seem to be learning more about him every day, she thought.
‘Well,’ Charo whispered quickly, ‘I’ve been sitting next to the loveliest woman, who it turns out knows my cousin in Seville, so I’ll leave you two alone while we queue up for a drink, if that’s okay?’
‘Of course it is, Charo,’ replied Ruy. He gave her a fondly sardonic look. ‘I’m sure Luna and I can find something to talk about without you.’
Charo beamed. ‘I’ll see you later then,’ she said brightly, and moved off to join her friend in the aisle.
Ruy half turned to Luna, resting his arm on the back of the dark, polished wood of the pew. ‘Charo didn’t tell me you were coming this evening.’
‘She didn’t?’ Luna wondered if he was annoyed.
‘No. You know how incorrigible and scheming she is, but I’m glad you came.’ He smiled suddenly – a languid, dazzling white smile that filled her with relief. Things between them hadn’t changed after all. ‘The music seemed to move you very much,’ he added softly.
‘It did. Your playing was incredible.’ She gazed around the cathedral’s interior. ‘Perhaps it’s the setting of this place and the emotion of the music, but I couldn’t help thinking about someone close to me who died.’
The words were out before Luna could think. The thrill at his proximity was heightened even more since his stirring performance, and something new had replaced her feelings of caution and resistance.
A dark expression, almost like shock, passed across Ruy’s features as his mind seemed to grapple with some unknown thought. ‘I’m sorry, Luna,’ was all he said, and a silence fell between them.
Luna wondered what that strange look had meant. Unease prickled at her, though she wasn’t able to give it form. Trying to move the conversation away lightly, she asked: ‘Is this the first time you’ve played at one of this charity’s events?’
‘No, I’ve played at quite a few. As my father is the chairman, it seems natural for me to contribute what I can.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Luna remembered Charo’s mention of his hospice work. Her opinion of him had undergone such a transformation in the past few hours that she felt an odd kind of nervousness. ‘I’ve never been to a concert in a cathedral before,’ she continued. ‘The atmosphere is so powerful.’
He nodded, still looking sombre. ‘As it’s intended to be. The acoustics are perfect for music, of course, but then worship and music go hand in hand. The reverberation is beautiful.’
His cobalt-blue eyes were so still on her that her pulse fluttered frantically.
‘A ship of souls,’ she said, slanting her gaze past him to the pillars of the domed ciborium overshadowing the altar, and then across to the pews on the other side of the patterned central walkway. Sensing he was still watching her intently, she started to babble, as w
as her wont when she felt awkward.
‘Did you know that “nave” comes from the Latin word “navis”, meaning ship? Symbolically speaking, the cathedral is the ship bearing God’s people through the stormy seas of life, buoyed up by their faith and worship, I suppose.’
Ruy stared at her before breaking into a broad smile. He was about to respond when a group of people approached to congratulate him on his performance. Among them was an attractive redhead, who kept casting looks of admiration his way. As he thanked the group graciously, Luna felt a pang of irritation at the woman’s openly flirtatious body language, although Ruy seemed oblivious to it. Then, just as the group was moving away, the woman suddenly noticed Luna and flung her a look of barely concealed envy.
After they had gone, Luna hesitated and looked at him wryly, deciding to test the waters: ‘I’m surprised to see that Vaina isn’t here tonight.’
‘I didn’t invite her.’ Ruy leaned against the back of the pew, resting one ankle on his other knee. He regarded her pensively. ‘Listen, Luna, I’m sorry for the way I behaved last night. It was ungentlemanly in every way.’ He ran a hand through his hair, groping for the right words. ‘I didn’t expect to see you there, and then you showed up … and things between Vaina and me are a little …’
‘Complicated?’ she offered.
‘Yes … well, no.’ There was no arrogance or teasing in his manner now. His eyes were unguarded and earnest. ‘It’s not complicated as far as I’m concerned. I told her as much in the restaurant. I’m afraid it was difficult for me to come over and speak to you and your aunt, for a number of reasons.’
A brooding expression crossed his face but he said no more.
Luna knew exactly what those reasons were. Leaving aside their explosive kiss just moments before her aunt had appeared, Ruy would have found it awkward to approach her in the restaurant with Aunt Isabel sitting there and Vaina in tow. In fact, had he done so, it would have been highly embarrassing for all concerned. If the Marquesa hadn’t found a way to behave in a rude and obnoxious manner, Vaina would have succeeded in making a scene instead.
Still, she felt like pushing him for more and asked carefully: ‘So you and Vaina have broken up?’
His gaze settled on hers. ‘If we had, would that make a difference to you?’
‘I’m sure it’s none of my business.’ Luna couldn’t help the prickles surface in her tone.
He smiled. ‘We were never together really. I made that clear to her at the restaurant.’
Luna’s heart relaxed and gave a small, triumphant cheer. ‘She certainly didn’t look happy. Then again neither did you when you left.’
‘Do you blame me?’
‘What do you mean?’ She tensed a little, knowing she might be drawing out something that it would be uncomfortable to talk about; an admission of the bad blood between their families. Still, she wanted to hear it.
His eyes flashed suddenly with blue fire. ‘Were you trying to make me jealous?’
‘Jealous?’ She almost laughed with relief.
‘First with Montez, then with the violinist.’
‘Are you serious? You really left that restaurant because a man at the gallery spoke to me and a violinist at the restaurant was serenading me as part of his act?’
He sighed. ‘I’m not the jealous type, but with you, Luna, I feel things that are completely new to me.’ His ardent gaze traced her features, then settled on her mouth. ‘I lose my self-control. Don’t you see that?’
She stared at him, her heart beating in her chest like the wings of a bird struggling to fly free. ‘The lights are going down. It looks like the performance is about to start.’
He held her gaze and then looked away as Charo slipped back into her seat. ‘I hope you two haven’t been bored while I was away.’
‘Far from it,’ murmured Ruy as the music started up again.
* * *
The powerful Ducati sped through the night, its beam lighting the dark highway that stretched to the mainland. Through his helmet, Ruy could hear the dull hiss and crash of the waves on both sides and leaned into the wind as it whipped up from the sea. He deftly manoeuvred the bike between a string of cars and twisted the throttle to surge ahead of them, needing the rush of speed to release the ache of tension from his mind and body.
Thoughts of Luna filled his head like a beautiful, taunting dream.
Twice in two days she had appeared unexpectedly. Charo’s matchmaking efforts were working overtime, he mused fondly. Still, her ministrations had only partially worked. As he’d anticipated, Luna made her excuses and hurried away after the concert, before his family had even made their way over to hug him and exclaim at the virtuosity of his performance. For the rest of the evening, Ruy had enjoyed being wrapped up in their warmth, as they sat with a group of friends over a late dinner, but he couldn’t help wishing with all his heart that Luna was beside him, a loved and accepted part of their group. The thought of her, and his pressing desire to be with her, distracted him to the point where he couldn’t follow the thread of the conversation at the table.
While he’d been playing, it was images of Luna that inspired him as the melodies sang through him, almost out of his control. He had never got so lost in his music before. Then afterwards, when he had looked up, there she was, as if, by some mysterious force, he had conjured her into being with the plucking of his strings.
He thought he would read indignation in her eyes. After all, he had jumped on her at the exhibition like a lust-crazed beast; no matter that she had responded to his voracity with equal force. She had wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible, that much he could tell.
Yet tonight there had been nothing cool or aloof in the the way she’d looked at him as they sat together in the cathedral. Curiosity mixed with shyness flickered in her gaze, as well as something darker. He had felt it too. Desire had enveloped them both and every time he had looked into her eyes, alive with intelligence, and let his own drop to that soft, luscious mouth, slightly parted in surprise at what was happening to them both, it was as much as he could do not to take her in his arms again.
What was this power she had to make him take leave of his senses?
The memory of that kiss still made his body react with instant, relentless arousal. He had never lost control like that.
‘All you care about is getting me into bed.’
He remembered her judgemental riposte; he deserved it for he could see what it must have seemed like to her. He was a man, and Luna’s enticing womanly allure undid him every time.
Being in her presence was becoming a waking torment. He could still taste her lips, feel the contours of her body under his hands; that scent of her skin like honey and apple blossom. This hunger for her was uncontrollable, raging in his blood like pure, sweet madness. Every time they were together he wanted to take her then and there, to know how it felt to be inside her.
And he’d known her less than a fortnight.
Ruy’s gloved hands clenched on the handlebars. He slowed the Ducati and turned it sharply off the road, heading towards the beach. His house was still a few miles off but he needed to breathe the sea air and pull himself together.
He brought the bike to a halt on a scrubby clearing edged by boulders. Below, dark waves churned and swirled into rock formations that looked like a craggy giant had lain down in the sea to sleep on its side. The clear midnight sky held pinpricks of gleaming stars and a mysterious half moon threw its pale glaze over the inky ocean.
It had been on a night like this when Juliet and Carlos had died. Ruy wrenched off his helmet and gloves, taking a deep breath and letting the salty air fill his lungs. Sea spray dotted the heated skin of his face and he sank down on to a boulder.
His mind flashed back to his university days in Boston. The years peeled away and suddenly he was back in that car, trapped and powerless to do anything, with his two friends slumped bleeding, twisted and lifeless beside him.
How could he tell Luna t
hat he’d been the driver of the car in which her sister Juliet had lost her life, the accident that had caused their mother to drink herself to death?
Even though he had been absolved of all responsibility, he had not for one moment let himself off the hook. Had he been firmer with Juliet, no one need have died. Nothing would ever change the fact that he had been driving the car. Maybe if his reactions had been one split-second quicker … Perhaps he might have had more time to break or swerve …
It still plagued him after all these years.
His love for Luna came at a cost, he understood. He knew that when he looked at her, at any moment those dreaded phantoms of the past would rise up to torment him. Yet one part of him almost willed them to come. For so long his own feelings had been frozen, too, and now the floodgates had burst and he found himself impelled to open up to the horror of past memories, as well as the feelings of ecstasy that Luna herself had unleashed in him. Somewhere deep and raw inside of him had ached for her when he saw those tears run down her beautiful face in the cathedral.
‘I couldn’t help thinking about someone close to me who died.’
Her words had then struck him like a knife in the stomach. Juliet.
Ruy tossed his helmet on to the ground and put his hands to his head, pushing his hair back from his face. He exhaled with a heavy breath.
How would Luna react if she knew his part in Juliet’s death? How could she ever forgive him?
Chapter 10
In the week that followed the concert, Luna saw nothing of Ruy. The next morning, Charo informed her that he would be away from the Institute on business all week. Luna didn’t ask where or why, as she was conscious of the bright and enquiring gaze of her friend and had no wish to reveal any hint of the sea change in her feelings for the doctor.
Something had shifted irrevocably for her in the last twenty-four hours, she knew. The barrier between her and Ruy, which she had maintained assiduously over the past two weeks, had almost – but not quite – disintegrated. Before, she had always kept him at bay with rebuffs and retorts, turning down his invitations to dinner and generally making herself unavailable to him … but all that had changed. There was a palpable closeness between them now; she could feel it in the relative lack of sparring, and a new honesty in their conversation.
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