For a good ten seconds, it was impossible for Connor to draw breath.

  If anyone had told him he’d be having this conversation with any woman—let alone Mia Simms—he would’ve ridiculed them. She kept wrong-footing him. He would think he pretty much had her pegged and then she’d say or do something to throw the picture he formed out the window.

  Oh hell. He didn’t know what to think of her anymore. But if she was inexperienced and he took her to bed, it could cause a mountain of problems. He didn’t want to break her heart. Hell! If Mia became emotionally attached to him, Gran would probably insist they get married!

  You wouldn’t be taking advantage of her. She’s issuing you with an invitation and at least you’d make the experience good for her.

  Bloody hell. He was going crazy here.

  Never mind protecting Mia. More and more it felt as though he was the one who was way out of his depth and in danger of drowning.

  ‘You’re on your own there, Mia,’ he told her abruptly. ‘Let’s join the queue.’

  Gritting his teeth, he made for the end of the line.

  If she kept these conversations up, it was going to be a hell of a long four days. And a guy could only be expected to take so much temptation…

  Chapter Eleven

  Tension simmered between Connor and Mia as they toured the Doge’s Palace.

  Damn Connor and the mixed messages he kept sending her.

  He’d been the one to suggest—more than once—that this trip could’ve been more interesting. He’d been the one to kiss her. Then he’d done some spectacular backpedalling when she’d thrown caution to the wind and let him know she’d be open to a short-term affair.

  Men!

  If he didn’t want an affair, why did he keep looking at her when everyone else was marvelling at the murals on the palace ceiling?

  Why had he kissed her more than once?

  She suspected Connor was more tempted than he was letting on and by the time they reached Caffè Florian, she decided to test his limits. After enjoying a delicious Insalata Florian, which was so much more exquisite than any other shrimp salad she’d ever had, she decided to order the triple chocolate crispy mousse. Making a great show of spooning the creamy dessert into her mouth and lingering over each mouthful, she made appreciative noises from the back of her throat.

  There was suspicion in his expression and he shifted in his chair. ‘You’re being deliberately provocative.’

  After swallowing another mouthful very slowly and letting her tongue dart out to lick her upper lip, she raised her eyebrows. ‘Maybe.’

  ‘Tease.’

  ‘I’m a tease? You’re the one who kissed me. Thoroughly. I was minding my own business, enjoying the gondola ride and you crossed the line.’

  ‘Which I’ve already apologised for.’

  ‘You don’t get to play with me like that then not expect to get payback, Connor.’ She dropped her spoon and it clattered on the table top. ‘If I’m a tease, what does that make you?’

  ‘Frustrated.’

  The admission rocked her against the back of her chair and she stared at him. ‘Then you don’t have to be Einstein to figure out a solution.’

  ‘This isn’t a matter of what I want I take, Mia.’ She was pleased to hear he grated the words out. He sounded as frustrated as she felt. ‘Even if you think you’re okay with the thought of us having sex, I’m not sure you know what you want. Earlier you said you were confused. Only a few days ago you proclaimed you didn’t want to go on one date with me, let alone five.’

  ‘And you were telling me you had absolutely no interest in me and never would have!’ she huffed.

  He looked disgruntled and she was satisfied she’d scored a win with her comeback.

  ‘Gran has a lot to answer for.’

  ‘So do you,’ she insisted. ‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but I get the impression that when you’re out and about and you see a woman you’re attracted to it’s very much a matter of what you want you take.’

  ‘Only if it’s mutual.’

  ‘Trust me, it’s mutual.’

  He shook his head. ‘It’s not the same. You’re a virgin.’

  ‘And, if we have sex together, I won’t be.’

  ‘Shit, Mia. I—’

  ‘We still have the best part of four days together. In my books, that counts as a short-term fling.’ The women at the table closest to them had stopped their conversation and were now looking over at them with interest. Great. Mia leaned forward and lowered her voice. ‘Why is my lack of experience such a turn off? I’d never been kissed before and you seemed to enjoy our kisses enough for repeat performances.’

  He groaned. ‘You have no idea what you’re getting into. A lot of women can’t separate the physical from the emotional. Those I take to bed can.’ He looked like he gritted his teeth together for a moment before he continued. ‘They’ve had plenty of practice and I know they’ll accept the end of the affair without getting clingy.’

  ‘You’re saying I need practice at walking away from an affair? How many lovers do I need to have had? One, two…?’

  ‘For God’s sake, Mia. Why are you suddenly in such a rush to have sex?’

  ‘Because—as you pointed out—I’m twenty-six. I have enjoyed your company and your kisses. I know your behaviour in my office was out of character, and I’ve let it go. I truly admire you as a man. But the icing on the cake is knowing you have absolutely no interest in forming any type of attachment to me.’ She dug her nails into her palms as she steeled herself to continue. ‘No messy end to the affair. No regrets. And last, but definitely not least, I think you’d make the experience enjoyable for me.’

  Connor swore under his breath. ‘You make me feel like a bloody gigolo.’

  ‘I’m sorry. That’s not my intention.’ She took another spoonful of her dessert. ‘Think about it. What I propose finishes when we arrive back in London.’ When he didn’t respond, she took a sip of her iced water and willed herself to continue. ‘We go back and it will be as though nothing happened. Miss Simms and Mr Stewart, with nobody being any the wiser.’

  ‘You really think you can do that?’

  ‘Can’t you?’

  ‘It’s too calculated, Mia. If you were experienced you’d know that even short affairs aren’t so cut and dried—particularly when those involved have to see each other in the work environment on a regular basis.’

  ‘Because I work for you, it’s even more important that this is cut and dried.’

  His inner conflict was reflected in his expression. ‘I’ve never approached an affair with an absolute end date in mind.’

  ‘Oh, come on, Connor. You know you’re not going to marry your lovers and, from what I’ve heard, they last for a couple of weeks at the most.’

  He shook his head. ‘Because the only thing we have in common is physical attraction.’

  ‘He came and he conquered.’

  ‘Mock me all you like, but when I embark on an affair I don’t go into it thinking the woman will be out of my bed in x number of days.’ He drank some iced water then put his glass on the table so firmly the liquid sloshed over the rim. ‘It’s an organic thing. It simply runs its course.’

  Oh boy. Mia’s self-respect told her she shouldn’t have to fight so hard to get Connor to take her to bed. How could she convince him her didn’t need to be so considerate of her? She took a deep breath, then launched, ‘I’m going to ask you three questions.’

  ‘Mia—’

  ‘Question number one. Am I the love of your life?’

  ‘Oh, for God’s sake!’

  She arched an eyebrow at him. ‘We both know the answer is a resounding no. Question Two. Are you going to be heartbroken at the end of four days when we return to London and go our separate ways?’

  He crossed his arms over his chest. ‘You know that’s a no.’

  ‘Exactly. No to both questions from both of us. But here’s a question I’d answer yes to. Question Three. If we don’t have sex, will you be left wondering how good it would’ve been?’ When he remained tight-lipped, she said, ‘I will be. I’ll always wonder and every time I see you at the office, I’ll wonder what it would’ve been like to have had you as my lover.’

  ‘Damn it!’ Indecision clouded his eyes. ‘This attraction between us isn’t going away.’

  Was that resignation mixed with his irritation?

  ‘It doesn’t matter how many times I tell myself all the reasons we shouldn’t take this further,’ he continued, ‘the more time I spend with you, the more I want to make love to you.’

  ‘Isn’t it better to get it out of our systems now than have it continue when we have to see each other at work?’

  His lips firmed and he sent her a searching look. ‘Are you absolutely certain this won’t follow us back to work?’

  ‘Yes.’ A fling was all she could have.

  In an ideal world—or the world of her dreams—Mia would have a romance of mutual love where she and her lover could lay firm plans for the future. In Mia’s reality, the brief affair she wanted to embark on with Connor was tailor-made.

  ‘Because I’ll have moved on, Mia,’ he warned her harshly.

  ‘You don’t pull any punches, do you?’

  ‘I don’t want you getting hurt. This isn’t a game you’re used to playing.’

  ‘I’m a big girl, Connor. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself and moving on too.’

  ‘To another lover?’

  It was doubtful, but she forced herself to say, ‘To another temporary lover if, and when, the opportunity presents itself.’

  The penetrating look he sent peeled back the very layers of her soul and Mia steeled herself not to betray any indecision.

  ‘I don’t understand you, Mia. You say the right things but it feels like you’re trying to convince yourself as hard as you’re trying to convince me … that marketing oversell you mentioned.’

  She pressed her lips together and simply shook her head.

  Every instinct told her he was caving.

  She was absolutely ready for this.

  A sexy-as-hell man whom she liked and respected was about to make love to her with no expectation from either of them that this would lead to anything more.

  For the first time, her past didn’t matter.

  It was only the present that counted.

  Connor signalled to the waiter for the bill and told Mia, ‘The Basilica can wait.’

  Chapter Twelve

  It’d never been a problem for Connor to admit when he was wrong. As he made his way across the square with Mia to catch a water taxi back to the hotel, he knew he’d been all kinds of wrong about Mia. They walked with their arms around each other’s waists and it was good to have her at his side.

  He still had questions about her, but his instinct told him she had difficulties trusting others—not that she was someone who couldn’t be trusted. If he could win her trust, he believed she’d open up. He wanted to know her, but right now he was ruled by his desire.

  He burned for Mia.

  ‘It’s such a perfect day.’ There was a sigh in her voice.

  He brushed his lips against her temple, enjoying the fragrance of her hair and the silky feel of it against his cheek. ‘I promise you it will be.’

  ‘I believe you.’

  Being her first lover added an extra edge to his anticipation and a need to make this perfect for her. Becoming lovers had a certain inevitability to it and even a sense of rightness. It blew him away how strongly connected he felt to her after the brief period of time they’d shared in each other’s company; especially given his initial suspicion and resentment.

  Mia’s untutored lips were the sweetest temptation and left him wanting far more. Their first kiss… Well, his own reactions had been captured in Peppi’s prints and he’d felt completely exposed until he’d seen Mia’s expression echoing his own.

  From that moment, Connor had wanted to forget the day of sightseeing and take her back to the hotel. The exquisite Alcova Tiepolo Suite, with its magnificent eighteenth-century frescoes on the ceiling, was his idea of perfect sightseeing if viewed from the bed with Mia. Now they were heading back there.

  ‘Mia, I’m not taking you to bed lightly.’

  A little tinkle of laughter escaped from her lips. ‘You’re telling me you’ll still respect me in the morning?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good, because your respect is important to me.’

  He promised himself he’d employ every bit of erotic expertise he possessed to deliver her a slow, sweet seduction that would saturate her senses with sheer bliss. He would awaken her untried body to its mysteries until every one of her nerve synapses was singing with pleasure, and every cell, fibre and muscle screamed for release before hurtling towards heaven. And afterwards, when she was languorous and sated, he’d hold her until she fell asleep in his arms.

  His blood surged south as he played out the scenario in his mind.

  Good lord! Was his hand trembling as he lifted it to knead the muscles of one of her shoulders?

  Mia shifted against him in the water taxi, turned back to him and planted a kiss on his stubbled jaw line. ‘Nearly there.’

  The longing in her voice made his chest tighten. It wasn’t the only part of him that was uncomfortably tight.

  ‘Your suite or mine?’ she asked breathlessly a few minutes later when they docked at the hotel jetty.

  ‘Mine.’

  When the suite door closed behind them, Mia dropped her bag on the floor and turned to him with a shy smile.

  His heart hammered and his shaft throbbed as she walked to him. Her slender arms reached up around his neck and she initiated a slow kiss. It was a feathering of her lips against his, working up to the foray of her tongue tip along his lower lip before venturing in to play with his tongue.

  Each stroke of their tongues was electric.

  The heat of her palms scalded him through his shirt and he couldn’t wait to be rid of it and come into skin to skin contact with his innocent seductress.

  ‘Too many clothes,’ she husked, as though she could read his mind.

  Connor took a half step away from her to lift her top over her head. The vision of her full breasts cupped demurely in white lace reminded him of her purity. Her flat stomach, hand-span waist and perfectly curved hips were all unexplored territory; his territory to awaken.

  ‘You’re temptation personified,’ he said on a hoarse whisper. ‘So desirable.’

  ‘Show me how desirable I am, Connor. For these few days, make me feel like I’m the most desirable woman in your world.’

  You are. He let one hand cup the nape of her neck as the other eased her hair from its ponytail so it fell like a dark silky curtain around her gorgeous face. Then he captured one of her hands in his and turned it so he could place a kiss on her palm and let his teeth scrape across the fleshy pad beneath her thumb.

  He wasn’t the one who was untried here but he was in unchartered territory. He’d never made love to a virgin.

  He kissed the inside of her wrist then allowed the tip of his tongue to flick up before he drew her index finger into his mouth and sucked on it.

  Mia’s eyes widened and her pupils dilated with pleasure. ‘You… That’s amazing.’

  ‘I’m going to introduce you to erogenous zones you never knew you possessed,’ he promised. ‘We’ll both learn what you enjoy most.’

  Placing his hands at her waist he let them move over her taut skin, exploring the outline of her body, splaying across her firm stomach before travelling along the valley of her spine. He released the hooks of her bra and eased the straps off her shoulders and down her arms. There was no suppressing his groan as he admired the beauty of her unfettered breasts as they rose and fell with each shallow breath of excitement.

  ‘Touch me,’ she urged, as the bra dropped to the floor between them.

  ‘I think I’m the one who’s being seduced,’ he said, as he cupped her breasts in his hands and rejoiced in the feel of them.

  ‘Oh!’ Her head fell back a little, exposing the creamy flesh of her neck.

  Connor seized the opportunity to taste the skin in the hollow at the base of her neck and to lick a little along her slender collarbones. Briefly, he shifted his attention to nibble at the sensitive shell of her ear before he zeroed in on the delightfully rosy areola of her breast. He drew the nipple, that pouted proudly and invitingly, deep into his mouth and revelled in her responsiveness as she rasped his name and made little sounds that drove him crazy with fervent need.

  He fell to his knees before her, kissed down her body as his fingers worked to unbutton and unzip her pants and send them dropping to the floor.

  One hand cupped her mound and found the silk and lace of her knickers damp with her arousal. ‘You’re so ready.’

  ‘Yes,’ she whispered as she placed each hand at the side of his head and urged him to stand back up. ‘But let me discover you.’

  The second he stood, her hands bunched the material of his polo shirt to reef it up over his head. Then her fingers, completely lacking any finesse, grappled with the fastening of his trousers, her knuckles brushing against his turgid erection through the material and making him clench his teeth together to keep himself from bursting at her touch.

  ‘No,’ he grated out. ‘You’ll send me crazy and this’ll all be over before it’s begun.’

  Sweeping her protest aside and her body up into his arms, he carried her further into the suite so he could set her down on his bed. She was delectable. So God-damned desirable, the need to possess her warred with the need to savour every second as the passion ramped up between them.

  ‘Let me see all of you.’ In response to his request she raised her hips and began easing her knickers down. He did a double-take. ‘You’re blond.’

  ‘Yes.’

  Amazing. He’d heard of brunettes turning themselves into blonds but never the other way around. It seemed a strange choice. Still, her dark hair and blue eyes were a potent combination.

  His mouth dried as she bent her legs, removed the lacy garment completely then let it drop over the side of the bed. It was a seductive move. He would’ve called it a practised move if it weren’t for the colour that blotched across her chest and the deep muscle tremor in her calves.

 

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