‘I get a kick out of you staring at me.’
His frankness was alarming.
‘And as for teasing you? Yes. I like that too. Let’s call it payback, shall we, Eva? Though you must agree there’s a type of chemistry between us that’s bound to cause comment—’
‘I do not agree,’ she flashed.
Roman smiled down at her. ‘You’re so attractive when you’re angry. And you’ll regret it if you pull away,’ he added when the music stopped. ‘This next dance is one you shouldn’t miss.’
He was smiling that dangerous smile again, and that made her suspicious. ‘What’s so special about it?’
‘Tell me afterwards, Eva.’
‘Do you mind if I get my head out of your chest first?’
‘Be my guest.’
Wrenching herself back, she noticed people watching them. What did they expect? What were they waiting for?
There was only one certainty: Roman had won another round and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
* * *
He loved the way Eva blushed. Dancing with Eva was fun and sexy. He couldn’t remember having such a good time. She had natural rhythm, and he enjoyed teasing her. Eva was easy to tease and easy to rouse to passion. Her feelings were near the surface and yet strangely bottled in. When she forgot to be tense, he felt her potential to be wild and free and deeply sensual. Who wouldn’t be excited by that? But why did such an attractive woman sell herself so short? Was she really so inexperienced? Eva’s reputation did her no favours, he suspected.
She scowled at him as they waited for the next dance to begin. He’d always found dancing the perfect prelude to sex, though he was comfortable with the thought that sex wasn’t a compulsory activity. It just surprised him that a woman with Eva’s passion was so fiercely attached to chastity. ‘You will tell me why eventually,’ he murmured.
‘I will tell you what?’ she snapped defensively.
The elderly matchmakers had picked up his interest in Eva, and he had no intention of disappointing them when the next dance began, though Eva was growing increasingly edgy, as if she suspected she was being set up.
‘I don’t enjoy dancing,’ she said, confirming his thinking by glancing towards the onlookers as if she would like to be one of them. ‘I avoid it when I can.’
‘In the same way that you avoid men?’
She was shocked into silence for a moment. ‘How do you work that out?’
‘I hope you’re not going to deny it, Eva?’
‘I’m just not interested—though I don’t expect you to understand. I just don’t consider serial dating compulsory—’
‘Calm down, Eva. I’m not looking for a fight. It’s a free world. You do what you want.’
‘I’m relieved to hear it.’
‘Sarcasm doesn’t suit you. And neither does lying about your interest in men.’
And when she looked ready to go off like a rocket, he explained, ‘You tell me one thing while your body tells me something else.’
‘I’ve been dancing,’ she snapped, her eyes blazing fire. ‘And that requires my body to move, in case you hadn’t noticed.’
He laughed. ‘Not quite so enthusiastically against mine—though please forgive me if I’ve misinterpreted the signals.’
She huffed as the music began.
‘Has someone hurt you, Eva?’
‘I haven’t come to the party to discuss my personal life with you. I’m here for one reason, and one reason only, and that’s Skavanga.’
‘So you were just born awkward?’
As Roman stared at her with open amusement, Eva’s ever-dodgy control valve blew. ‘If you mean, do I know how to speak up for myself? Then, yes. I do. And if you mean, do I know how to avoid becoming another statistic for some overconfident bed jockey to brag about? Then, yes. I’m happy to tell you that I can do that too—’
The air rushed out of her as Roman yanked her into his arms.
‘Eva,’ he growled. ‘You talk too much.’
* * *
A cheer distracted her. Turning, Eva saw that the bride and groom had just come onto the floor to join them in the traditional dance. Everyone was cheering. Even she forgot Roman’s insufferable arrogance and smiled. That was the thing about weddings. You could let yourself go without people thinking you were slightly mad. And this did seem to be what everyone had been waiting for.
The dance had barely begun before the groom swept the bride into his arms and carried her away. That was the other thing about weddings. Sex. It was on everyone’s mind, not just the bride and groom.
‘What’s happening now?’ Eva was startled to see the circle reforming around them. ‘Must we do this?’ She shot an anxious glance at Roman. ‘Surely, you’ve had enough of dancing by now?’
‘Eva Skavanga losing her nerve?’ he taunted.
‘Is it that obvious?’ she scoffed.
‘Don’t worry, Eva. You don’t have to do anything. Just leave everything to me.’
‘Oh, now I’m reassured.’
Her sarcasm was lost in his arms as the music stopped and Roman kissed her.
It wasn’t a polite kiss. It wasn’t polite at all. He kissed her firmly and thoroughly, and with a great deal of skill.
She was still reeling from shock when people started cheering. Lights exploded behind her eyes, but no one cared, no one noticed, and then Roman let her go, leaving her trembling in front of him. She covered her mouth as if to hide her arousal. That was her first proper kiss by a man who knew what he was doing. Roman had invaded her mouth with the same confidence he did everything else. And she liked it. She had liked it a lot. Her fantasies were nothing but empty shells compared to that. Roman’s lips had been firm and persuasive, and he smelled so good.
The next couple had entered the centre of the ring, and something made her want to watch them. When the time came for them to embrace, the man leaned forward and pecked his partner chastely on each cheek.
‘That’s it?’ She flashed an accusing stare at Roman, who cocked a brow and said nothing.
Of course he said nothing. Count Roman Quisvada was a shameless manipulator. The dance was just a harmless party game, not the prelude to an orgy.
‘Problem, Eva?’
‘Yes. You.’ She stared angrily at him. ‘How dare you?’
‘How dare I?’ Roman enquired lazily, easing onto one hip.
‘Don’t play the innocent with me,’ she flashed. ‘I know what you did.’
‘I should hope so. But now it’s time for us to go—’
‘Time for you to go,’ she said pointedly.
Ignoring this, he made her a mock bow. ‘May I thank you for this dance?’
‘If you want a scene?’
‘Not especially.’ He steadied her as she stumbled in her rush to get away from him. ‘Ready to go, Eva?’
With a huff, she stalked off, heading for the shadows at the side of the bar where she could lick her wounds in private. She was still reeling from the kiss. Her body would never forget the sensation. She would never forget how much she longed for more. The suggestive way Roman’s tongue had tangled with hers, the touch of his strong warm hands on her naked arms, and the incredible sensation when his body had tightened against her—
And worst of all, her pathetically needy response.
He’d played her like a damn violin in front of everyone.
It wasn’t even a proper kiss. It was designed to mock her—to pay her back for her behaviour towards Roman at her sister’s wedding, and later at the mine. It was nothing more than a power play.
Well, hooray for him. He’d won another game. But she wasn’t nearly finished yet.
‘Another dance?’ a husky voice behind her suggested dryly. ‘Or have I exhaus
ted you, Eva?’
‘You’ve exhausted my patience,’ she said, spinning round.
‘And if I were the last man on earth...’ Leaning back against the bar, Roman smiled down at her, ‘You’d still want to go to bed with me. Wouldn’t you, Eva?’
‘You are—’
‘I know what I am,’ he cut across her roughly. ‘The question is, do you know who you are?’
‘You’re not even ashamed?’
He shrugged. ‘Why should I be? I enjoyed it and so did you.’
‘You think?’ she derided.
He enjoyed it?
‘I know,’ he argued, holding her angry stare.
This could have been so much easier to deal with if Roman hadn’t been so hot.
And had danger not proved quite so addictive.
‘If there are any more gaps in your education, Eva, I’d be only too pleased to fill them in.’
‘I bet you would.’
Her mind dropped below his belt. A pulse throbbed insistently between her legs. Her breath caught. Her heart thundered. She should run a mile. But did she want to? Roman’s eyes were delivering a challenge straight into hers, and there was a look in his eyes she’d never seen before. Incredible though it seemed, Roman Quisvada wanted to go to bed with her.
He wanted to have sex with her. And he wanted it now.
CHAPTER EIGHT
MAYBE SHE COULD have handled this encounter with Roman better if her experience hadn’t been confined to terrorising the local youths in Skavanga.
Maybe not, Eva amended as Roman led her away from the party. Couples were wandering past them arm in arm, their feet in the surf, their gazes fixed on each other, unaware of the silent drama being played out only yards away. A little farther on, Roman nudged her and put his finger over his lips as he drew her past shadowy forms resting on a grassy bank, forms that undulated like waves and sighed like the surf, so Eva couldn’t be sure if the sounds she could hear were those of heated passion, or just the sea sliding rhythmically over rock and sand.
The couple didn’t even notice them pass. She envied them their ability to lose themselves in each other. Would she ever know what that felt like? That seemed unlikely, since what came naturally to them was an insurmountable obstacle for her.
Roman sensed immediately that something was troubling her. ‘Problem, Eva?’
‘No,’ she lied, glad it was too dark for him to see how embarrassed she was. Eva Skavanga, embarrassed by a couple making love?
And terrified at the thought of penetrative sex with a man.
How humiliating would that be if Roman knew? And how would those fears play out when they reached the palazzo?
‘Watch the loose rocks here,’ Roman said, putting a firm hand under her arm. His grip was firm and strong, and, in spite of her turbulent thoughts, she trusted him. She glanced up, wishing she could confide in him, but she could never do that, not where such personal matters were concerned. In Skavanga she took control. She forged the path, but here she was glad of Roman’s guiding hand on her arm.
‘It’s flat now,’ he said, letting her go. ‘There’s nothing you can trip over.’
Except her heart.
‘Thanks...’
They walked side by side, but there was too much space between them. She felt the lack of him. She felt the lack of his touch.
‘Stay close, Eva.’
She smiled in the darkness. ‘I will,’ she promised. ‘I will dog your footsteps until we have that talk.’
He laughed. ‘Is that a promise?’
‘You can count on it.’
Roman’s laugh was warm, and she tucked it away in her heart. It belonged to tonight, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t keep it close.
They carried on up the snaking path that led to the palazzo. The grand edifice glittered above them beneath a moonbeam spotlight like an icing-sugar mirage. Eva hoped her own goals were more substantial. She hadn’t forgotten why she was on the island, and was as determined as she ever had been to make Roman listen to her concerns.
He’d slowed down for her as the climb was growing steeper and took the chance to ask her if she’d enjoyed the party when she stopped to catch her breath.
‘How could I not? Other than when you sold me down the river with that kiss. But I’ll get you back.’
‘I’m counting on it.’
She sucked in a fast breath, and he guessed she hoped he hadn’t heard her. He’d enjoyed the party too. ‘Maybe you should get out of Skavanga and test yourself some more.’
‘Maybe I should,’ she agreed. ‘The music was great,’ she admitted, leaning back against the rock face. ‘It made me happy and sad within the space of a tune. Does that sound crazy?’
His lips pressed down as he shrugged. No more crazy than lingering with this complex girl on the way to taking her to bed. And how could he not be pleased that she shared one of his favourite passions? ‘Music touches me too,’ he admitted, coming to stand beside her.
Dio! Where was he going with this?
Deeper than he usually went with a woman, that was for sure.
‘You make me so angry,’ she admitted wryly as she stared into the night.
‘I do? You don’t seem very angry.’
‘Not now.’ She smiled as the night breeze lifted her hair. ‘But earlier...’
‘Ah.’ She was referring to that kiss.
She smiled as she stared out across the sea. ‘You make me laugh at myself, Roman, and I guess that’s long overdue.’
‘You don’t expect me to comment, do you?’
‘You’d better not,’ she warned. And then she turned to him. ‘Why do you always tease me?’
‘Authority, influence and opportunity.’
She shook her head. ‘You are incredible.’
‘I like to think so.’
He brushed the hair off her face. They stared at each other for a moment. ‘Come on,’ he said.
She took his hand. He liked that.
* * *
She felt safe with him and that was crazy. He made her wish she could be different—bold in every area of her life. He made her wish she could lighten up and have fun—fun that didn’t involve scoring the bullseye at darts or playing the winning shot at pool.
Glancing up, she thought the faint tug of his lips was all the reminder needed that a woman as inexperienced as she was really shouldn’t be flirting with a man like Roman Quisvada. She let go of his hand. She’d forge her own passage. Eva Skavanga was all about front and fantasy, while Roman was more reality than most women could handle. If he knew the truth about her—the whole truth—he’d probably laugh at her. She’d probably join him. What would he think about her being ‘one of the boys’ because she’d never had the courage to be ‘one of the girls’—to be tested, to be lined up against all the pretty, smart, sassy girls, and fall so far short she wasn’t even in the game.
‘Am I going too fast for you, Eva?’
Probably. ‘No.’ She laughed as she forced herself to keep up. This was all going crazy fast.
Roman waited for her at a turn on the path and smiled at her when she drew close. In her fantasies he always took centre stage. How could he not when Roman Quisvada was a natural-born hero? And after that kiss at the wedding...
But in real life? Sexually speaking, he was way too much for her. Better to start with a quiet man, a timid man—
A man you could direct? her cynical inner voice demanded. Where would that get you?
Catching hold of her as she went to walk past him, Roman brought her in front of him. ‘Are you really so woefully lacking in self-belief, Eva?’
‘What? No. What brought that on?’
‘I can read you, Eva. I can read you like a book.’
Sh
e turned her face away, acutely conscious of Roman’s light grip on her naked arms. Lack of self-belief was the least of her problems. The night had closed around them and there was no one in sight... No sounds except for the soft susurration of the surf. Would he kiss her? Would he kiss her again because he wanted to and not to mock her?
Roman answered the question by dipping his head to stare into her eyes. He made her wait. He made her wait until she swayed towards him. She held her breath as he teased her mouth, inviting her to kiss him back. She was longing to enter his dark and very sensual world, where there was no compulsion to join him, but there was an open invitation. Was it possible to be intoxicated by the senses? She thought it might be as Roman kissed her in a way that left no room for reasoned thought. He was rampantly male and unapologetically sexual. He towered over her, and yet there was no suggestion he would use his hugely superior strength to overwhelm her.
Perversely, this made her fantasies run riot, along the lines of being pinned down and subjected to every type of pleasure known to man—and a few she didn’t know about that she felt sure he would. Holding her around the waist, Roman used one hand to cup her face, so gently her will ebbed like the tide. Leave it much longer and she would be lost. He made her want more...so much more.
Until his hand slipped down to cup her buttocks. What was natural and instinctive for him was frightening for her. It was too intimate. It was everything she craved, yet feared, and, having lost her confidence, she pulled back.
‘Eva?’ Roman’s lips brushed her mouth, fogging her brain.
A woman of her age afraid of sex?
‘Why are you frightened of me?’
‘I’m not—okay, maybe I’ve heard things—’ Desperate lie, and she hated herself for it.
‘Do you believe everything you hear, Eva?’
He looked at her slender shoulders, pale and vulnerable in the moonlight. He felt strangely protective towards a woman who had done nothing but fight him. He wanted her, but only if Eva came to him because she wanted to, and without the doubts that seemed to dog her. Eva wasn’t just another notch on his bedpost. She already connected with some deep part of him that no one else had ever reached. He wanted to bring her pleasure. He wanted to hold her in his arms and—
The Flaw in His Diamond Page 7
