Читать книгу The Platinum Collection: A Diamond Deal: The Flaw in His Diamond / The Purest of Diamonds? / In the Brazilian's Debt - Susan Stephens, Susan Stephens - Страница 15

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘NO TRICKS, NO JOKES at my expense, no underhand tactics of any kind,’ Eva warned as they stood facing each other on the dance floor. Her body, predictably enough, was going crazy during this speech.

‘If only you didn’t need me quite so much,’ Roman taunted softly. ‘If only you could vent your anger openly as you are used to doing, and tell me exactly where you’d like me to go. You’d feel so much better, wouldn’t you, Eva?’

Smug bastard. Why had she taken so much trouble tracking him down?

Every nerve ending in her body answered that question.

And she had always prided herself on being strong? Her body was softening, while her nipples were tight little buds of hard rebellion. And as for the rest of her—

It was better not to think about the rest of her. Her frustrated body was responding to Roman as if it had identified a solution to its problem in the shape of a man who knew everything about a woman’s needs and how to serve them. And her body was in no rush to let him go. She should have stayed in Skavanga and intensified her campaign against him.

Really? Are you sure that’s what you would have preferred to do, rather than come here to this sultry island and dance with this man?

‘Round about now,’ Roman murmured with his mouth very close to her ear, ‘I’m betting you’re thinking, why did I take so much trouble tracking him down?’

‘What?’ The word exploded out of her. Forcing a deep, calming breath into her lungs, she steadied herself before assuring him, ‘I’m here, and I’m staying until I get what I want from you.’

Roman laughed. ‘You might get more than you expect.’

‘I’ll just have to take my chances.’

‘Indeed you will,’ he agreed, testing her bravado by tightening his grip.

‘I said, no funny business,’ she reminded him as her senses tripped off into hyperspace.

‘You wish. Are you comfortable, Eva? Is there enough space between us?’

‘Just be glad I’m not wearing stilettos.’ She shot a sweet smile at him for the benefit of any onlookers. There could never be enough space between them.

‘Should we be moving?’ she suggested as the band started to play.

‘My apologies,’ Roman murmured. ‘I was thinking of something else.’

‘How flattering.’

‘I was just wondering what you’re frightened of—’

‘I’m not frightened,’ she cut in.

‘You’re very tense...’

Her cheeks were burning. Her body was in turmoil. She could not have anticipated how it would feel to be drawn up close against Roman’s hard frame. And she wasn’t about to tell him that. ‘Dancing with me must be such a chore for you,’ she said instead.

‘A workload beyond imagining.’ Shifting position, he made sure that even more of her was welded to him.

They did move well together...very well.

‘People are staring at us. What must they think?’

‘That you’re new in the village. They’re wondering who you are and why you came here with me.’

‘I hope they don’t think we’re in some sort of relationship?’

‘Almost certainly.’

‘And you don’t care?’ She gazed up and shook her head.

‘I never explain my private life and I certainly don’t excuse it.’

She would hold herself stiffly from now on. She wouldn’t look at him.

But there was something about Roman that drew her gaze. The quirk of his brow, the curve of his mouth, and that wicked glint in his eyes.

‘Do you get some sort of kick out of tormenting me?’ she demanded when he surprised her by glancing down with amusement as if he knew her fascination.

‘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 exhausted 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.