by Lynne Graham
‘Let me go! she gasped.
Cristiano expelled his breath in a hiss. ‘Not until you calm down care via. I was out of line. But didn’t I finally give you what you wanted? A sincere and honest reaction?’
‘ Conglratulations’ ‘it’s been a long time since a woman made me lose my temper! ‘
Lydia stopped struggling and lost colour. She dropped her head determined not to betray her conflicting feelings. Yet at last she had the proof that her supposed preference for Mort Stevens had got to Cristiano and drawn real blood. He was human after all. And if he thought she was a slut could she blame him? Hadn’t she ended their former relationship in a very public manner calculated to cause offence and invite the attention of the newspapers? But he had deserved that rough treatment Lydia reasoned fiercely. A guy who pursued a woman purely to score and win a loathsome bet laid with his equally hateful friends had no right to have his finer feelings considered.
What finer feelings? ‘l apologise ‘ Cristiano breathed in the rushing silence.
Lydia jerked up a slender shoulder and continued to study the worn marble beneath her feet. It was not enough. It might be his first apology, but she really would have liked him on his knees and begging’, anything short of that could only be a disappointment.
‘Next time I’ll let you slap me’
Cristiano promised.
A reluctant gurgle of laughter was wrenched from Lydia and she glanced up her anger draining away. ‘l’d have liked that better,’ she admitted. ‘There are times you make me so mad I could scream. You’re the only person who does that to me. ‘ They walked through the hall which was furnished with huge gilded mirrors and marble statues.
Cristiano directed her towards the double doors lying open at the foot. ‘l never realized how fiery you were, ‘Bella mia. ‘ Why should you have’?’ Lydia worked hard at keeping the edge of bitterness out of her voice.
When she had been head over heels in love with him she had been blissfully happy and had had no reason to fight with him. True, she had wished he would understand her reluctance to sleep with him after only a handful of meetings. But all too well aware that many of her acquaintances engaged in sex on the first date she had been reluctant to blame him for his lack of comprehension.
‘Are you in the mood to choose a new wardrobe?’ Cristiano enquired huskily.
In the huge elegant reception room Cristiano settled her down on a sofa and nodded at the hovering manservant. ‘That’s what you’re about to do. I thought you would enjoy being the client for a change.’
A door to the right opened and his meaning was clarified by the entrance of a model wearing a hounds tooth check coat which she slid back to display the silk dress beneath.
‘1 like that… ‘ Cristiano confided.
‘Stuffy’ Lydia told him, wrinkling her nose.
‘Sometimes I entertain stuffy people and go to stuffy places-‘ Lydia sighed. ‘lt’s a shame you were never given a dress-up doll as a child.’
‘What sort of a response is that from a woman who has my name written across her stomach’?’ he quipped.
‘1 should’ve known you’d make a meal of that. ‘ A brilliant smile slashed his lean bronzed features and her heart lurched from the surprise and effect of it. In the interim, he shed his jacket and tie and dropped down into the seat beside her.
Sliding an arm below her spine he eased her close to the long relaxed sprawl of his lean body. She stiffened and then gave way, enjoying that physical closeness, refusing to think about the fact.
Cappuccino coffee was served with tiny sweet biscuits that melted on her tongue, and the fashion show continued throughout-
‘l’ve got to see you in that ‘cara mia’ Cristiano decreed when he saw a striking blue evening dress, and three out of the next four outfits elicited the same response from him.
His determination to buy her an extensive selection of designer garments every one of which cost thousands of pounds filled her with deep mortified unease.
‘I can’t feel comfortable at the idea of you buying me clothes’. she was finally moved to admit. ‘1 put all that stuff out of my life when l quit modelling.’
‘Why?’
‘lt seemed so vain and meaningless. l was just a clothes horse. l donated all my party clothes to charity shops.’
‘very noble and self-denying. I wonder why you felt the need to shed the trappings of your former lifestyle so completely ‘
he mused softly above her head and she coloured knowing that he had to be thinking with scorn of the money he believed she had stolen.
‘so you then donned a pair of Wellington boots and signed up for a gardening course. I’m afraid l don’t see the attraction.’
‘I like the knowledge that I’m creating something. I love working outdoors.’
Curling her even closer beneath one powerful arm Cristiano murmured in a tone of unmistakable finality, But now you’re with me.’
‘probably not for long, though ‘ she dared.
‘Don’t get your hopes up, ‘gioia mia’. The more you play it cool the more I want you. ‘ Silence fell and the procession of models continued. When the showing was over Cristiano curled her round to
face him and bent his dark head to claim her sultry mouth in a slow-burning kiss that lit a flame deep down inside her. ‘you go and try on those clothes ‘ he breathed thickly, ‘ Or we’ll end up making love here.’
Her pupils dilated she stared up at him mesmerized by the high-voltage charge of his sexuality.
Finally in an almost clumsy movement she pulled away from him and left the room. What happened to her when he touched her? All the anger and the hatred ebbed and she felt dislocated from planet earth.
Two svelte women were waiting for her to choose from the garments hung in readiness for her appraisal and then to help her to dress. Her expression now reflecting the haughty indifference of a fashion model, she strolled back into Cristiano’s presence wearing raspberry-coloured separates.
In absolute silence he watched her every move, and she was maddeningly conscious of it. As she spun round to walk back past him she was awesomely conscious of the piquant little frisson of pleasure that shivered through her when she felt the onslaught of his glittering eyes on her. It really shocked her that his desire should thrill her to such an extent. How could she enjoy that attention and yet complain about it? Yet as she modelled outfit after outfit she felt more and more like a wildly sexy lady, and it gave her confidence an incredible boost. It was as though they were engaged in a tantalizing and very private game.
When she sashayed in clad in a white organza dress Cristiano sprang upright and strode towards her. ‘The show’s over ‘cara mia’ he breathed in a driven undertone closing a lean brown hand over hers…
CIIAPTERFIVE
Cristiano walked her straight out of the room and across the hall.
Lydia was disconcerted, for she had inhabited a dream world of her own while she paraded back and forth in front of him. ‘okay… So… Cristiano led her up the superb staircase. ‘l’ve told my staff that we’ll retain the clothes until tomorrow. You can make your choices then.’
Lydia hesitated. ‘I have to get changed out of this. ‘
‘No need. You look like a perfect madonna lily in white. 1’11 buy it. ‘
As they reached the magnificent landing, Cristiano shot her a glance from heavily lidded dark golden eyes. ‘I must confess that I’ve never been so excited by a woman… and we haven’t even hit the bedroom yet. ‘
‘Oh…’ His words were a reality check a wake-up call that catapulted her out of her pensive mood.
‘But we’re about to. ‘ Scooping her up off her feet laughing at her startled intake of breath Cristiano swung her up into his arms with easy strength and strode into his bedroom with her. He could not remember when he had last experienced such intense arousal and he was on a high. lf this was a taste of how she could make him feel she was worth her weight in gold and more. Lowering her with
scrupulous care down on to his bed he decided that he was very satisfied with the deal he had made.
Having let her shoes slide off in a rather awkward manoeuvre Lydia sat up hugging her knees.
Cristiano studied her while he unbuttoned his shirt He liked the way the light from the window fell across her face. Her blue eyes were as luminous as stars against the pale purity of her skin. Even so, he frowned because she looked so young. He assumed it was the effect of the white unadorned dress, but he had discovered an unexpected gap in his knowledge of her.
‘What age are you?’
‘Fwenty-two.’
Cristiano was disconcerted for it had never once occurred to him that she could be that much younger than he.
‘1 know… ‘
Lydia was grateful to have something safe to talk about added in a rush
‘1 look at least twenty-five. I don’t know why. l’ve always looked older. When I was thirteen I could’ve passed for eighteen. ‘1 have to hope at some point that the clock starts running the other way.’
‘What age were you when you became a model?’
‘Fourteen ‘
‘Long enough to acquire a deceptively mature air of sophistication’ Cristiano reckoned wryly. But she could have been only months out of her teens when he had first met her in Paris. He almost winced for she had been more of a girl than a woman. Rare misgivings stirred.
Simultaneously his attention locked to her flawless oval face. It was very far from the first time that he had tried to pinpoint exactly what it was that made Lydia Powell so unforgettable. Her wide cheekbones? The clarity of her crystalline blue eyes? That ripe peach-soft mouth that opened with such delectable eagerness beneath his?
Just as swiftly Cristiano wasn’t thinking any more. He was reacting on a purely physical plane and moving back to the bed.
‘I held you all last night in my arms and I couldn’t touch time l moved away you sidled back like a homing pigeon.’
Chagrined colour warmed her cheeks. Evidently he had not been joking earlier when he had teased her about being amazingly affectionate the night before.
‘That must have been a pain. ‘ 1 had a cold shower in the middle of the night. I am not used to them. . except around you, ‘cara mia. ‘ he qualified with subdued mockery, tugging her round with great care so that she was facing away from him.
He ran down the zip on her dress. She felt the edges of the fabric part at her spine and she tensed for she wasn’t wearing a bra. He pressed his lips to the hollow in her slender shoulder and she shivered in response not even noticing the instant when the sleeves of her dress slid down to her wrists. But her entire body jerked in sensual shock when he raised his hands to explore the pouting curves of her small breasts and their tender peaks. She shut her eyes tight and swallowed a startled gasp of response.
‘Let me look at you… ‘
Disentangling her from the organza still clinging to her hips, Cristiano lifted her back against the pillows and began to trace the pale delicate swells crowned by lush pink nipples with caressing fingers.
‘You are so very beautiful.’
Lydia fought a selfconscious urge to cover herself. But tension was rippling through her in waves, and her hands coiled tight by her sides. She collided with shouldering golden eyes. Famed though he was for his cool reserve he could not hide his desire.
His hungry, masculine appraisal made an answering warmth pool in her belly. When he bent his arrogant dark head and captured a rosy distended bud, teasing and tasting with his tongue and his even white teeth she trembled. She had not known she would be so sensitive there and he knew exactly what he was doing. Her fingers delved into his black luxuriant hair and curled. ..a whimper of sound was impelled from her throat, and then another. Wonderful sensation seduced her until she twisted and turned desperate to sate the longing that he had awakened.
Cristiano lifted his head again sensuous golden eyes inspecting her. He curved long lean fingers to her fine jawbone and held her fast while he kissed her with passionate thoroughness ravishing the moist interior of her mouth with his tongue.
‘l’ve waited an incredibly long time for you,’ he confided in a roughened undertone.
‘lt didn’t do you any harm.’ Her response was breathless abstracted because even while she was fighting to hold back her response to him she was simultaneously angling her head to extend her long elegant neck for his attentions. When he pressed his lips with practised expertise to a pulse-point below one small ear tiny unmistakable tremors raked her slender length.
‘You want me’ he growled with unashamed satisfaction as he levered back from her to strip off his silk shirt.
‘lt’s possible… ‘ Her mouth was running dry. He looked all dominant male and impossibly sexy.
Pure muscle rippled below his smooth bronzed skin accentuating the solid wall of his chest and the hard contours of his flat abdomen. His athletic lifestyle was etched in the sleek powerful lines of his magnificent body off the bed to remove his trousers she was still watching him as though a spell had been cast over her. Sleek black boxers delineated the noticeable thrust of his rampant arousal and the heat of intense embarrassment and curiosity swept her from outside in.
Immediately Lydia averted her attention from him terrified that her expression might somehow betray her as a fake in the femmefatale stakes. If Cristiano was to guess that he was about to become the first man she had ever slept with he would surely think it was hilarious. Furthermore, he would also realise that her supposed fling with Mort Stevens had been one big, fat pretence!
‘Why should you have a problem with wanting me’?’ Cristiano asked silkily, sinking back down on the bed and reaching for her his every instinct challenged by the aura of constraint and distance that now enclosed her.
Determined that it should be that way, that she should accept what she could not change but somehow remain above it detached and safe from experiencing any real feeling.
‘Liar ‘ he whispered thickly against her full lower lip, piercing gold arrowing down into dense blue in resolute probing enquiry.
‘You fight everything I make you feel. You always did.
‘ lt’s called self-control Cristiano.’ But her voice was distinctly uneven, for she was in his arms the quivering tips of her breasts grazed by the black curling hair that dusted his pectoral muscles. Her body was already betraying her wishes as she was painfully aware of the wanton dampness between her thighs.
‘Lose it for me… ‘ He nipped at her full lower lip and let his tongue delve deep in her mouth in an erotic foray while he skimmed off her panties with sure hands.
She shivered as if she was in a snowstorm.… ‘yes, you can. And you will ‘ Cristiano intoned in husky disagreement. ‘You will enjoy what we share much more.’
Scrambling free from his loosened hold Lydia slid into bed, tugging the sheet over her. She made no answer because she was intimidated by the subject.
At her sudden retreat Cristiano elevated a sleek ebony brow.
‘Are you cold?’
pink flushing her lovely face she jerked a shoulder. A wicked grin curved his beautiful sensual mouth.
‘You were such a tease downstairs. ‘
Affronted by that assurance Lydia sat up again.
‘1 was not teasing you!’
Tossing back the sheet Cristiano drew her to him with keying her with grudging appreciation.
‘You have this touch-me-not look and it drives me crazy. I can feel the cheeky invitation behind it’
‘I don’t do cheeky-‘
‘But you do passion ‘ he claimed bending over her to lash a lush rosy nipple to straining prominence with his tongue, and lingering to punish her tender flesh with a carnal skill she could not resist.
Her spine arched and she shut her eyes tight. He explored the soft swell of her tummy, skimming through the pale curls that crowned her feminine mound to the damp swollen softness beneath. A whimper erupted from her when he found the most sensitive
spot. When a tormentingly sweet surge of pleasure engulfed her she lifted against him in bemused surprise the breath rasping in her throat-Sensation piled on sensation and she writhed her hands smoothing and clutching at the satin hard strength of his shoulders and his back. Wanton heat burned through her nerve-endings, filling her with restive energy, and her longing rose to an intolerable pitch.
Cristiano spread her out beneath him long brown fingers momentarily clinging to hers.
‘You are as hot as I am… ‘
“Don’t talk… ‘ she urged passion-glazed sapphire-blue eyes meeting his in a brief collision as she pushed her mouth almost blindly up to his.
In answer Cristiano drove her reddened lips apart in an explosive kiss his hands fiercely linked to hers above her head as he slid his lean hips between her parted thighs. She felt his hard sex brush her stomach with a sense of wonder. She wanted his weight on her. She wanted to be so close that she did not know where he began or she ended. She squirmed up to him tilting in a desperate effort to ease the dull ache at the centre of her. She wanted everything too much at once and her frustration tortured her.
‘Cristiano… ‘ she gasped strickenly.
‘You are amazing. ‘ He released her hands to press her thighs back and plunge hotly into the slick wet heat of her.
The stab of pain that accompanied that passionate onslaught provoked a cry from Lydia.
Immediately Cristiano stilled. Tom from the hold of the sensual world he had introduced her to, Lydia looked up at him in mortified dismay, for it had not once crossed her mind that any degree of discomfort would accompany her initiation.
His incisive dark golden eyes narrowed and slammed down into hers to hold her suddenly evasive gaze fiercely entrapped.
‘Accidenti? l don’t believe it’.
Severe embarrassment clawed at Lydia. He knew he had discovered her deepest secret and she could not bear it.
‘You are a virgin… ‘Dio mio, there has been no one else.’ His shock unconcealed, Cristiano stared down at her and slowly shook his proud dark head.