Until he pulled back.
‘What did I do?’ She stared up, uncomprehending. ‘If this is a joke—’
‘No joke,’ he said. ‘Just not here and not yet.’
He was content to bring her to the point of surrender, only to draw back? Now, she was mad. ‘You’re a tease,’ she said, pushing him away. ‘I thought we were starting to trust each other, but it seems that I’m guilty of being naive again.’
‘Not naive,’ he argued. ‘Inexperienced.’
‘Stupid,’ she countered, springing up.
‘We should return to camp,’ he said, unconcerned. ‘Are you coming, or are you staying there?’ he asked as he began to tack up their horses.
‘Neither,’ Sadie gritted out as she went to mount her horse.
* * *
Alejandro was confident he had made the right decision, though all the ease between them had disappeared. They rode straight back to camp without a single word of conversation. Sadie must regret kissing him and letting her guard down, and now she wasn’t sure how to come back from it. Don’t even try, he thought. As the supreme master of checks and control, even he knew that sometimes a change of mind was for the best.
Self-restraint was a self-imposed discipline, and one he’d put in place ten years ago on the day his parents were killed, when both Annalisa and the Dukedom of Alegon became his responsibility. Before that date, he had enjoyed all the trappings of wealth and success, but with that one shattering revelation, everything changed for ever. Surprising himself, he hadn’t missed his hedonistic lifestyle for a single moment, until now, when the urge to bed Sadie was like a madness raging inside him. Anyone who said delay was the servant of pleasure had no idea what it was like to be tortured like this, but if he was going to seduce her, it wouldn’t be on a frozen riverbank, but in comfort where he could take his time.
When they reached camp, it was packed with people. Fiesta was in the air, and Marissa was waiting for Sadie. ‘Dance with me!’ she begged, practically jumping up and down.
‘I will,’ Sadie promised with that soft, genuine smile she kept for her friends, ‘but I have to rub my horse down first.’ Dismounting, she added, ‘And I need to freshen up and change.’
‘Have you been swimming?’ Marissa asked. ‘Alejandro, you haven’t!’ His sister turned to face him. ‘I thought swimming in that freezing river was a torture you kept for yourself. You surely haven’t inflicted it on Sadie? You have,’ she scolded as he sprang to the ground. ‘Anyway, everyone’s going to be dancing tonight, and you’re going to be with us,’ she told Sadie. ‘And, don’t worry, I’ll protect you from my crazy brother. You certainly don’t need him to guide your steps.’
‘Too right,’ Sadie agreed with a sharp look at him. ‘Horse comfort comes first, and then I’ll freshen up and see you back here in half an hour.’
‘Don’t be any longer, or you’ll miss the fun,’ Marissa insisted, sharing a brilliant smile with Sadie, and a scowl for him.
As soon as Sadie was out of earshot, Marissa turned to him. ‘Alejandro?’ Her tone was accusing. ‘What on earth have you been up to now?’
‘What’s your problem?’ he grunted, not in the best of moods.
‘You,’ Marissa said bluntly. ‘You’re my problem. I really like Sadie, and if you hurt her, I’ll kill you.’
‘That’s a bit dramatic, isn’t it?’ he commented, raising a brow. ‘And you’d have to catch me first,’ he added, teasing his sister as he always had, but this time Marissa refused to be amused.
‘This isn’t a joke, Alejandro,’ she assured him. ‘I know how you can switch the charm on and off, and, as your sister, I’m not going to hold back.’
‘You never have before,’ he commented dryly.
‘She likes you,’ Marissa said, narrowing her eyes as she stared across the camp at Sadie, who was just entering the shower block. ‘Goodness knows why, but there we are.’
Thumbing his jaw, he made no comment.
Huffing with impatience, Marissa glared into his eyes. ‘She could be good for you, Alejandro—if you’d let her be. She could be the best thing that ever happened to you. She might even manage to save you from yourself.’
‘On what evidence?’ he queried.
‘On the evidence of my own eyes, and the reaction of our people, or does their judgement count for nothing with you these days? She’s kind, and she’s funny—’
‘Funny?’ he interrupted. ‘You must see a different side to Sadie.’
‘Do you give her chance?’ Marissa countered. ‘Beneath those chef’s whites is a warm, tender, honest woman, and you could do with some light-heartedness in your life.’
‘Keep out of it,’ he warned quietly. ‘This has nothing to do with you.’
‘Apart from the fact that I refuse to stand back and let you mess this up, do you mean?’ his sister demanded with a fierce stare.
‘I’m not going to argue with you,’ he said.
‘Because you know I’m right,’ she insisted. ‘We both know that women like Sadie Montgomery don’t grow on trees. Fate has thrown her in your path, but fate won’t keep her there. It’s up to you to do that.’
His expression said, blah-de-blah-de-blah, but as he walked away he had a feeling Marissa could be right.
* * *
Sadie had fantasised about Alejandro kissing her, but the reality had so far exceeded her wildest dreams. She was still buzzing with excitement, and fury with herself that she’d let things go so far, only for Alejandro to pull back.
Give yourself a break, Sadie reasoned as she strode across camp towards Marissa’s caravan. Fantasies featuring Alejandro were excusable. He was hot as hell and had a particular brand of blistering sensuality that no one could ignore, and one kiss wasn’t the end of the world.
One kiss?
Okay, so several kisses.
But not enough kisses?
Thankfully, the door to Marissa’s caravan was open to welcome Sadie back, so she could put all thoughts of kisses out of her mind. Well, that was the theory, anyway. But she did smile again, and broadly, to see her dancing clothes laid out on the bed. It was good to be made to feel so welcome, and as the two women hugged Sadie knew that she had made another valued friend in Marissa. Chef Sorollo was right in saying she should get out and about more. There were a lot of nice people in the world, if she only took the trouble to find them.
‘Stand still,’ Marissa insisted as she made the final tweaks to Sadie’s appearance. ‘You’re like a cat on a hot tin roof. The effect of my brother, I suppose.’
‘No,’ Sadie protested, though her aroused body called her a liar. ‘I just can’t wait to get up on that stage and learn to dance.’
‘And if he’s watching you?’
Sadie’s pulse raced at the thought. ‘I can’t imagine your brother would be interested in watching me, when there are bound to be so many experts on the stage.’
As Marissa hummed, Sadie promised herself she wouldn’t get carried away emotionally where the Gypsy King was concerned. She was still glad she’d come to the mountains, because it had shown her a new way of life, but when they left here Sadie and Alejandro would resume their normal lives.
‘The dancing is about to begin,’ Marissa warned. ‘We should leave now...’
The moment she mounted the stage, the first person Sadie looked for was Alejandro. I’m a lost cause, she concluded as she stumbled through the steps of the first dance.
‘Concentrate,’ Marissa insisted when Sadie almost lost her balance. ‘Forget him and listen to the music. Allow the rhythm and the melody to dictate your moves...and don’t be afraid to toss your hair and use your body, as well as your eyes. Flamenco is all about passion. The dance isn’t just a series of moves. It expresses life and emotion in all its richness.’
‘If I could get everything to work in sync, I might be able to f
ollow your advice,’ Sadie admitted, laughing.
But eventually something did happen. There were so many people on the stage she didn’t feel as exposed as she had expected, and whatever Alejandro might think of her amateurish attempt to copy the other dancers, he couldn’t knock her for lack of enthusiasm. Like everything else she did, she tried her hardest, and it wasn’t an impossible task when the click of castanets drove her feet to follow the rhythm, and the rise and fall of the melody tugged at her heartstrings. Finally, she concluded that, whether Alejandro approved of her efforts or not, she was here, and she was going to nail this.
When the musicians took a break, Marissa had a chance to question Sadie about her day with Alejandro. It only occurred to Sadie then that he maddened her, thrilled her and excited her like no one else. And that maybe...just maybe, she was falling in love with him. But her feelings were like a tender shoot that could so easily be trampled. And anyway, Alejandro’s feelings for her were as clear as mud.
‘It was very nice,’ she said carefully. ‘I sourced some really good recipes.’
‘Very nice?’ Marissa echoed. ‘You spend the day with Alejandro and expect me to believe you did nothing more than collect recipes?’
‘Some really good ones,’ Sadie insisted, widening her eyes.
‘I can see I’m not going to get anything from you,’ Marissa complained as she pulled a comic face.
‘That’s right, you’re not,’ Sadie agreed with a grin, ‘but only because there’s nothing to find out.’
‘So, why are you staring at my brother?’ Marissa demanded as the band started up again.
‘I’m not staring.’ She was evaluating, Sadie reasoned, watching as Alejandro chatted to the people around him. He was such a different man in the mountains, approachable and affable. By contrast, in Madrid he seemed restless and remote. Always another deal to close, she supposed.
‘Concentrate,’ Marissa scolded.
Her friend was trying hard to hide a grin, Sadie noticed. ‘There’s nothing between me and your brother.’
‘So, it should be easy to forget he’s watching you.’
‘He’s watching me?’ Sadie sounded alarmed, which made Marissa laugh.
‘You have to forget everything except the dance,’ she said. ‘Even my brother.’
Which was easier said than done when Sadie’s frowning gaze landed on Alejandro’s swarthy face.
‘Dance,’ Marissa commanded.
Breaking eye contact with Alejandro with relief, Sadie threw all her pent-up feelings into the dance.
‘Olé!’
The deep, cynical voice that sounded behind her could only belong to one man. ‘Olé, yourself,’ she said, turning to face him. ‘Are you determined to throw me off balance?’
‘I’m determined to dance with you,’ he said, and, swinging her into his arms, he did just that.
‘It’s polite to ask first,’ she informed him, fighting off the sense that her body was most definitely winning this clash, and that her sensible mind wasn’t required on the battlefield.
‘Polite?’ Alejandro queried in amusement. Locking his arm around her waist, he brought her so close they shared the same breath, the same air.
‘If this is your idea of teasing me again...’ Sadie protested.
‘Would you like me to tease you again?’ he suggested.
Firming her jaw, she refused to answer, and turned her face away to avoid the heat in his eyes. She’d seen enough of that firm, smiling, ridiculously sexy mouth, and if dance was a prelude to sex, she’d have none of it.
Oh, for goodness’ sake! her inner voice protested. Do you feel safe and protected?
Yes.
Will you miss Alejandro when you both return to Madrid and normal life is resumed?
Yes again.
So, why not enjoy the moment? If you play it safe all your life you’ll never have any memories to enjoy.
‘You’re a good dancer as well as a good rider and swimmer,’ he commented. ‘Do you have any other skills I should know about?’
‘I can cook.’
He laughed. ‘You certainly can, but you also have a great sense of rhythm.’
‘It must be kneading all that dough,’ she snapped.
Hearing how angry she sounded, she laughed at the absurdity of being at daggers drawn with Alejandro because he’d kissed her and she’d enjoyed it.
He laughed too, which was the signal for them both to relax. How could she not enjoy this, when she was dancing with the most incredible man, who, with his strong, proud face and incredible body—a body that she might have taken a small peek at on the riverbank, ‘small peek’ being the only small thing about that encounter, cold water having absolutely no effect on him—would have Michelangelo lunging for his chisel? After all, they were only dancing.
Only dancing?
Yes. Where was the harm in that?
Dancing so close that her body was already pulsing with pleasure was dangerous, but when one tune segued seamlessly into the next and she didn’t make the smallest attempt to pull away, the music cast its spell, urging her to forget caution and consider the possibility of one night in Alejandro’s arms. It could do no harm and might even help to get rid of her insecurities. During their many conversations, Marissa had told her that Alejandro’s parents had instilled in him a deep respect for women, so she’d be safe, and what better teacher could she have?
Would she be safe? It wasn’t Alejandro she had to worry about, but her all too vulnerable heart.
‘Spend the night with me.’
She glanced up, wondering if she’d misheard him.
‘Spend the night with me,’ he repeated.
The musicians had started to play a slow, wistful tune that suggested absence and longing, and a sudden rush of emotion made all the things she knew she should say stall on her lips.
Taking her silence as agreement, Alejandro led the way off the stage, and they walked across the camp together, but not towards Marissa’s caravan. He stopped outside another heavily decorated dwelling, which was hidden deep in a leafy glade.
‘Welcome to my mountain retreat,’ he said, and, reaching past her, he opened the door on the shadowy interior. ‘This is the place I consider to be my true mountain home,’ he explained as she walked up the steps.
‘This is where you were born,’ she guessed, and where he returned to reboot and to recover from the pressure of the city, Sadie suspected as Alejandro shut the door behind them, enclosing them in the comforting warmth.
Lit only by moonlight, it was a deeply romantic space. Comfortably furnished, the traditional caravan was heavily shaded, with a comfortable settle and a large double bed. It was a magical hideaway in the forest, Sadie thought as her heart started racing at the sight of Alejandro leaning back against the door. How could he look so sexy? Even the shadows loved him, throwing his cheekbones into sharp relief and making his eyes gleam in the darkness.
Sexual tension soared between them, until, as if all the barriers had suddenly come tumbling down, he reached out and she sprang into his arms.
CHAPTER TEN
THERE WAS NO caution and no acknowledgement from Sadie that she was a virgin with no experience of men. She only knew what she wanted and needed, and that was Alejandro. Like two tigers mating they ripped at each other’s clothes. Two equals meeting, and demanding everything from each other, meant skin scorched against skin, as if a tornado had torn through the confined space. Cushions and throws hit the floor. Personal belongings went flying, until, finally, breathlessly, she was naked and so was he.
When Alejandro brought her into his arms this time, she responded by reaching up to weave her fingers through his thick, wavy hair to keep him close. There was no blushing, no shame, no surprise at feeling his very masculine contours thrusting against her softer, yielding body. There was only eagerness to c
laim her mate, and to be claimed. No thought of consequences crossed her mind.
Alejandro’s kisses were seductive and addictive, and as he pressed her down on the bed the helpful night threw a thick black blanket of privacy around them, making it seem to Sadie that they were the only two people in the world. Her senses were heightened to an incredible degree, so that each touch and kiss threatened to tip her over the edge into a pleasure she couldn’t even imagine. Their breathing, her heartbeat and his, and the fact that Alejandro’s brutally masculine body was poised above hers with such restraint, only made her want him more. He smelled so good, so warm and masculine, musky and clean, and he tasted minty and fresh. But it was his cherishing touch that moved her almost to tears. There was something different about him that she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Then she realised it was tenderness, which was the last thing she had expected from him, and it made emotion surge inside her.
‘You’re a virgin.’
His words shocked her. They hung in the air between them like an accusation, shattering the spell and bringing harsh reality into the world of passion. ‘How can you tell?’ she asked defensively. ‘Did I do something wrong?’
‘You should have told me,’ he said, drawing back.
‘So, now you know.’
‘I suspected,’ he said, ‘but now I’m certain.’
‘And...?’
‘And now you have to be doubly sure that this is what you want,’ he said.
‘I am sure. I’ve never wanted anything more,’ Sadie admitted. ‘But if you don’t want—’
Alejandro answered this, as well as her self-doubt, with a kiss so lingering and gentle he moved her to tears. She had never felt a touch like his, or received such devoted attention before. She’d never believed in fate bringing people together. Sheer hard work, and the ability to be flexible, had seen her through. There had never been any room in her life for romance, but it seemed that tonight fate had the last laugh.
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