“I rarely get cold. I will start the fire, and we can sit in front of it.” He stood up in one smooth motion and tugged at her hand.
“I don’t have any clothes on. I can’t just walk around naked.” The thought of him staring at her body alarmed her. For once she wished she really knew what she looked like.
“Of course you can. You do not need clothes,” he said softly. “I prefer to look at your body. It is beautiful. A woman is such a miracle of soft curves. And it gives me the opportunity to touch you when I have the need.” His palm skimmed over the swell of her breasts, over the small mound of her belly, and nestled for a fiery moment in her dark curls. His finger slid into her, teased and caressed until, wet and hot, she pushed back with her hips, riding his hand with a gasp of shocked surprise. “I love this about you, you heat up for me so fast.”
She gasped as an orgasm rippled through her. “I’ve always enjoyed sex, but I had no idea it could be like this. I really didn’t. It’s frightening how good it feels. Frightening and addicting.”
“Good,” he said with evident satisfaction.
“I can’t just stand here naked while you stare at me. It’s cold in here.” Her body was tingling, throbbing with life and pleasure.
Byron brought his fingers to his mouth. “You taste good. Did you know that? I’ll start the fire. The chairs are comfortable, and we can stretch out while we talk. I would like to hear how Don Giovanni took the news that Paul not only shot me, but you, too.” He waved his hand toward the large fireplace, and it leapt to life, flames crackling around the logs. “Surely your grandfather was informed. You were injured. They must have brought in the doctor to treat you properly.”
“I didn’t need to be treated. The bullet was already out of my shoulder, and it was nearly completely closed. You did that, didn’t you?”
He touched her shoulder, the lightest of touches. “I would never leave you in pain. I knew it would take time to return, but I thought your family would insist on a human doctor to make certain.”
Antonietta was certain he hadn’t moved, hadn’t stooped over to start the fire, yet almost as the words left his mouth, she felt the warmth of the flames. She could smell a wonderful, aromatic fragrance. “What is that?”
“Candles. My people believe in the benefits of aromatherapy. Both of us could use healing and more energy.” His fingers skimmed her bare shoulder a second time, traced the wound there lightly, lingered with a soothing touch. “Your cousin is very lucky to be alive.” He wanted to rip Paul’s throat out for even coming close to endangering Antonietta.
“My cousin is an idiot. I have no idea what I’m going to do with him.”
“Is it possible to read the mind of your family in the same way you eavesdrop in the boardroom? Perhaps next time, we should probe to see what he is going to do next.”
“I don’t eavesdrop,” she denied. “I listen, there’s a difference. Read the minds of my family? My cousins? Why would I want to do that? I know what they think about, and its scary just contemplating it, let alone actually hearing it.” The smile faded from her face. “I believe in privacy, Byron. I wouldn’t want to spy on my family’s private thoughts.”
“Let me get this straight, Antonietta.” Byron sat in the deep-cushioned chair and leaned comfortably against the high back. “It’s perfectly okay to eavesdrop on business conversations using your acute hearing, a gift most humans do not have, by the way, but it is not okay to eavesdrop on family.” There was something frightening in his voice, so much so that a shiver went down her spine. She knew she would never be in danger from him, but at times, he seemed more a wild animal, untamed and prowling and capable of great violence.
Antonietta took the chair facing his. The warmth of the fire reached her and took away the chill of the aftermath of fear. “When you put it like that, I’ll admit it doesn’t sound right, but business is what keeps our family and our lands.
Nonno
is having a much more difficult time remembering details. I’ve had to stop him several times from signing something that would have cost us an enormous amount of money. Fortunately, we have great lawyers, and Justine reads everything to me so we have a net, but without me listening in, we could have problems.” Her sigh was loud in the quiet of the room. The rain outside fell softly on the French doors, matching her melancholy mood. “I had hoped that Paul would take an interest in the company.”
There was something very sexy about sitting naked in front of the fireplace. She could feel his gaze, hot and intent and entirely focused on her.
“I would worry that perhaps he has taken an interest in the company. The gun was aimed at you.”
“It was an accident. I know it was. Paul has admitted he made terrible mistakes. He owes money to people who he says will get rough if he can’t pay them back. He bought a gun but didn’t really know how to use it. I spoke with Justine—”
Byron nodded. “Ah, yes, the loyal and trustworthy Justine.”
Antonietta frowned at him. “These people are my family, Byron. I know you’ve been wonderful about not going to the authorities and reporting Paul. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. He would go to prison, and we both know he wouldn’t stand a chance there.” Without conscious thought, she leaned her head back, the action jutting her generous breasts toward him. “You should have seen him when we were young. I wish you could have known him. He has a brilliant mind, and he was so wonderful as a boy. His father stripped him of all self-confidence and the will to even try. Adults certainly have a way of ruining children.”
For the first time Byron laughed. “That is the truth. My sister took in a boy a few years ago. He is proving quite a handful. Eleanor, of course, thinks he is an angel and indulges his every whim.” He couldn’t resist the silent invitation, his hand cupping the weight of one breast in his hand, his thumb caressing the tempting peak.
“You have a sister?” She was surprised. He never talked of his past or his future. And he never talked of his family. “That man the other night, Jacques, said you had family in the area.” Her entire body was hypersensitive. She never wanted him to stop. She needed his touch, the way he always seemed to have to touch her. It was addicting.
“Did you think my parents found me under a rock? I have in-laws as well.” Reluctantly, Byron let her go, leaned back, stretched his legs toward the fire, and watched the way the flickering light played over her face and body. “You have beautiful skin.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. Personal observations made Antonietta uncomfortable.
She was startled by the honesty in his voice. It was impossible to keep pleasure from rising. “
Grazie
. It’s nice to know that.”
He reached out and took her hand. “Eleanor lost several children, and it was very hard on her. She had one son and managed to raise him into a reasonably decent man. You would like him. Vlad, Eleanor’s lifemate, took him firmly in hand when Eleanor would get too carried away with spoiling him.”
“Why don’t you use the term husband? You always say lifemate.”
“In my language, in my people’s world, we refer to our other half as lifemate. Unlike the Jaguar, we mate for life and beyond. Not for momentary pleasure. We consider the art of making love and keeping our mate happy to be a lifelong commitment.”
There was something very wicked in his voice, almost a challenge. She had the feeling he was smiling. Antonietta decided discretion was the better part of valor. “So you have a nephew, too.” She was all too aware of his fingers stroking her skin. His thumb slid over her inner wrist. She had no idea how sensitive a wrist could be. Her insides instantly melted.
“Yes, Eleanor managed to carry a son. Benjamin. Benj was—is—a miracle to all of us. He is shaping up quite nicely, and we are all very proud of him. My family is of the crafts. Benj prefers to work with gemstones just as I always have. I would love to take you to the caves where you could pick a gem from the walls of the cavern.” There was a note of longing in his voice.