Page 57 of Out of Office Nights
His nostrils flared. ‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning I’m leaving. Isn’t that what you want?’
He frowned. ‘I didn’t make myself clear, it seems. We’re far from done. And you’re most definitely not leaving Cartana.’
Fire and ice fought for supremacy within her at his steel tone. ‘What does that mean? I’m not your prisoner.’
Shades of bewilderment and apprehension flashed through his eyes, gone before she could decipher the reason. ‘No, of course you’re not. But for starters, you asked me for my help. And you agreed to do whatever was needed to get that help. I don’t believe a specific location for where that work would happen was baked into that agreement.’
Her breath shivered out of her at the resurgence of the domineering prince. But more than knowing every word he said was valid, and that she yearned to grasp the golden trophy she could see shimmering just out of reach, it was the shadows in his eyes that pulled harder at her. The burning desire to give him back a fraction of what he’d given her. And selfishly…carnally, the prospect of more nights with him, more bliss-filled hours experiencing the best lovemaking she’d ever been gifted.
Something of that last longing must have slipped through her composure. His eyes darkened, his aura swelling in response. ‘Besides, we’re not done with each other yet, are we,tesoro?’
Need dripped hunger straight into her bloodstream, drying up any weak objections before they could escape. But even with the unassailable evidence that she was growing so very addicted to him, that she stood on the precipice of risking the very emotions she needed to protect, she couldn’t deny the truth. Even worse, she felt no inclination to step back.
But she could attempt to put a few guard-rails in place, couldn’t she? Maybe? ‘I’ll stay here with you on one condition.’
Displeasure and disappointment flared in his eyes. ‘Let’s hear it.’
‘I don’t want anyone to know about us. I can’t risk my reputation taking another hit if…when…this ends.’ He was herboss. Whom she’d crossed the line with numerous times. She knew to her detriment how rabidly the vultures would pick at the carcass of another unfortunate decision.
‘Your reputation?’ he echoed stonily, a little perplexed.
She lifted her chin higher. ‘Yes. And you should be pleased I want it this way. Keeping this under wraps helps both of us.’
His face turned marble hard. A minute passed while silver eyes drilled into hers. ‘Are you sure about that?’
His tone was devoid of inflection, and she couldn’t tell which she liked less: when he spoke with zero emotion or with his Playboy Prince voice. Especially now she knew how deep his waters ran.
Teo Domene wasn’t a vacuous pleasure-seeker with a penchant for delivering exquisite masterpieces on a sickeningly regular basis and gaining billions of accolades and dollars for his empire. He possessed a wealth of layers wreathed in mysteries he shared with very few people. Being exposed to his true self had turned her inside out in a little over a week. What would a month…a year…a lifetime—?
No. That foolishness was out of the question.
But even while it bruised her to push closed a door he clearly didn’t want to close yet, she knew not doing so would bring her more devastation than she’d known before.Whenthis thing between them ended.
This time around, she would keep the fallout out of public view and judgement, thank you very much. So she summoned her strength and stared into his mesmerising eyes. ‘Yes, I’m absolutely sure.’
Was it a trick of the light, or did he pale a shade? In the next moment, one corner of his mouth was tilting, his face morphing from marble into devastating charm as he sauntered towards her.
‘Careful,cariña. You might revel in an illicit secret tryst right now, but the alternative might not be open to you when you change your mind.’
The warning cut deeper than she would’ve believed possible. But she’d picked her path. She would walk it. ‘Then it’s a good thing I’m absolutely sure.’
Too late, she remembered he only called hercariñawhen he was in full Playboy Prince mode. For another eternity, he stared at her. Brushed his finger down her cheek, along her jaw to the corner of her mouth, then over her bottom lip, his gaze scarily pensive.
Then he nodded. ‘Very well. So be it.’
His whole life he’d fought to know where he stood. Regardless of whether he ultimately enjoyed that position or he was left with no choice but to create that place for himself, he’d always deemed it best to be equipped with foreknowledge.
For the first time in conscious memory, Teo wished for ignorance.
Because this panic bubbling inside him disturbed him only a fraction less than the giant crevasse of unnerving emptiness he felt.
Was it mere hours ago that he’d thought he’d made a giant breakthrough in his life? That in helping her overcome guilt over her grandmother and beginning to unblock her creativity once more,hehad overcome the yawning sensation of inadequacy that he’d plastered over with his various caricatures for so long it’d almost become second nature to him?
Well, apparently, the stains weren’t so easily washed away.
She wanted to hide him like an unworthy little secret.
