Page 38 of The Housekeeper and the Brooding Billionaire

‘Why were you angry?’ she asked him. ‘You marched out of here in a temper.’

The words emerged as a gasp, but Alessio didn’t slow. If anything he hugged her closer, spinning them faster on the next turn. Charlotte didn’t care. Never had a dance felt like this, like they were flying.

For a moment, for two, it seemed he wouldn’t answer. Then they slowed to a more decorous pace. ‘The simple answer?’

His eyes glinted, and arousal arrowed to her core. Charlotte nodded. It was more and more difficult to concentrate on words. ‘Simple will do.’

‘Frustration.’ His chest rose high in the first indication that their reckless speed affected him. But his next words proved it wasn’t that shortening his breath. ‘I wanted you inmyarms, Charlotte. Not dancing with every womaniser and layabout in Italy.’

Charlotte stumbled, and Alessio’s hold tightened. Their steps slowed until they barely moved.

‘They weren’t all womanisers and layabouts.’

He huffed out a laugh, and the sound stroked deep inside her. ‘I wanted to throw them out when I saw how they looked at you.’

Her eyes grew huge. Alessio had beenjealous? Her chest clogged. ‘And are you enjoying it now, dancing with me?’

To her surprise, he shook his head. Charlotte pulled back in his embrace, but still Alessio held her securely.

‘I was. But it’s not enough.’ He swallowed hard, and to her astonishment, this man who’d always controlled every situation looked suddenly desperate. ‘I want more, Charlotte, much more. Too much.’

That teasing smile was gone, his features harsh as he frowned down at her. Then she turned cold as he released her, sliding his arm away and stepping back so her hand on his shoulder dropped to her side.

His voice was rough when he spoke again. ‘This was a mistake. You work for me. I remind myself all the time, but tonight I keep forgetting and—’

‘Couldn’t we pretend for tonight that I don’t?’ Did he hear her longing? ‘Couldn’t we pretend I’m someone else?’

He shook his head so vehemently that obstinate lock of hair tumbled forward over his brow. All night Alessio had looked perfectly groomed, perfectly in command. Now he was more like the marauder she’d first met.

‘No pretending. It’s you I want, Charlotte. The woman who drives me to distraction with her unflappable efficiency. Who makes even navy trousers and flat shoes sexy! A woman of secrets who’s anything but a simple housekeeper.’ He watched her jump of surprise. ‘Oh, yes, I see more than you think.’

His words were a potent caress, smoothing doubts and fears, stroking her sensitised skin and stoking the need deep inside.

How could she resist a man who said such things and meant them? It was rare for Alessio to let down his guard, but now he did, enough for her to see the truth in his eyes. The raw hunger, the loneliness that matched hers.

Charlotte’s heart squeezed. ‘If you see so much, then you know how I feel.’

He wasn’t letting her off the hook. ‘Tell me.’

She held his gaze. ‘I want you, Alessio. I’ve tried to pretend there’s nothing between us, but it doesn’t work. I’ve never had a sexual relationship with an employer.’ Now wasn’t the time to admit she’d never had sex, lest he think twice about this. She lifted her chin. ‘I want to be your lover.’

For weeks it had been her guilty secret, but in admitting it, Charlotte felt stronger than ever before. No matter what the world said, they were simply a woman and a man caught in an utterly natural attraction. In her case, a very overdue attraction, because her early experiences of the opposite sex had left her wary and wounded.

Alessio’s face drew tight. His nostrils flared, and the pulse at his temple throbbed urgently.

She’ddone that. Charlotte had never realised the heady excitement of having a man want her with such intensity.

She took a step closer, but he stopped her with an abrupt gesture.

‘I can’t give promises except to treasure your body and give you all the pleasure I can.’ Described in his low, sexy voice, that sounded absolutely perfect, yet Alessio looked grimmer than ever. ‘I can offer short-term delight. But nothing else. If you’re harbouring thoughts of the future–’

‘Absolutely not!’

She might have fantasised about him, but Charlotte was a realist. She’d learned to face unpalatable facts early in life.

‘You’re the Conte Dal Lago. I’m a temporary housekeeper. Our worlds only intersect a little.’ Though once upon a time, before she and her father disowned each other, she’d moved in similar circles to his, albeit in another country. But that past was dead, and she didn’t regret it, because she loathed the ugliness that had been the price of staying in it. ‘I have a career and long-term goals, and you have...’ She floundered for a second when the only word that came to mind wassadness. A strange, hollow feeling opened up inside. ‘Responsibilities.’

For a long moment, Alessio didn’t respond, just scrutinised her as if sifting her words for truth. Then, abruptly, he inclined his head. ‘I don’t want to hold out false hope of a longer-term relationship.’

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