I can’t, Alistair Connor, don’t push me. “I’m not the right woman for you.” Well, I am. But I need a few days.
“I think I should be the judge of that.” His thumb began to stroke the column of her neck and his gaze went to her mouth.
His heart stopped as he waited for her answer.
I do. She couldn’t confess. She was too frightened of what would happen if she did. “I’m sorry, Alistair Connor. My answer is still no,” she informed him firmly, finding strength from deep within. “I don’t believe in great changes. You are who you are. I am who I am.” Her head dropped and her hair curtained her face.
All right, Sophia.You have earned a few hours. He contained his impatience. “Sophia, you are an intelligent woman. I’ll email you some links for you to read about healthy kinky sex. And I expect you to do your homework.”
“Please, give me some space. Please,” she whispered, barely holding herself together. All she wanted to do was throw herself into his arms and confess that she loved him.
“I will not go away, Sophia. I will not let you out of my sight. You are mine, do you understand? Mine.” Irritation ran under his smooth tones. He was angry with himself for not being able to convince her. And with her, for not giving in to the feelings that were begging to be freed. “Woman, you would try the patience of a saint.”
“You, as you have told me time and again,” she declared with a sneer, “are no saint, my lord.”
“A point you would do well to bear in mind. I’m not so easily discouraged, Sophia. Do you think you are going to dispatch me this easily? You are entirely wrong. I’m staying in the suite at the end of the corridor.”
“I am not dispatch-” Oh, Alistair Connor.
You love me. I can see that. Why are you keep me at bay? “I will see you at lunch. And you’d better eat. I don’t like a skinny woman.” Alistair had run out of patience. He needed to leave her before he threw her over his shoulder, locked her in his room and made love to her until she said yes. He walked away from her, fisting his hands to control his desire to hold her in his arms. Pausing in the middle of the room, he looked over his shoulder, “At least, Gabriela missed me.”
When he reached the door, Sophia whispered, “You’re a heartless, ruthless manipulator.”
He looked back over his shoulder and smiled triumphantly at her, “I always knew that was one of my finest qualities.”
She had planned to feign coldness and send him away before he could see how much she had missed him.
But Sophia knew she could not; would not.
She could not pretend to be impervious to the love she saw shining in his eyes. She would not.
For reasons only God knows she had changed something inside him.
And he had changed something inside her too.
Chapter 25
At the indoor pool of the hotel spa.
5.03 p.m.
A huge pane of glass, which separated the indoor from the outdoor section of the pool, let in the afternoon light as Alistair struggled for a rhythm, lap after lap. The automatic movements that always helped him empty his mind, that had always freed him from the memories that tormented him, were useless against the good memories flooding his mind. Even the water around him felt like Sophia’s smooth hands when she caressed his body under the shower.
The pool was too small to allow him the necessary tiredness. But that wasn’t all. He couldn’t get Sophia out of his head. He had noticed something strange in her. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. A resignation that didn’t bode well. At least, not for his plans.
He dived under the separation to emerge on the outside and appreciate the outstanding view of the Patagonian landscape.
On the terrace surrounding the outdoor pool.
5.13 p.m.
Edward feigned horror and put his hand over his mouth. “So, now you know what I meant before, dominatrix.”
Sophia tenderly pushed a blond lock back from Edward’s forehead, running her fingers in his hair, feeling the silky touch of it on her fingers and tugged the ends, frowning teasingly at him, “I’m going to whip your hide everyday from now on, Edward.”
“Ah, mistress, you already do,” he mocked.
“Maybe I have to do it harder then,” she tugged his hair harder and then let it go, her nails grazing his nape. She sighed. “How can I be a dominatrix if he is a... dominant? A manipulator? A tyrant?”
“As if you weren’t as well, Sophia.” Edward smiled at her, “Well, I’ll partially agree with you. He is a consummate manipulator.”
Sophia’s lips twitched. “I was wondering whether you’d noticed.”
Sophia and Edward stopped their conversation, as Felipe approached, saying, “That jacuzzi looks good. Are you coming?” As Sophia shook her head, he took a seat beside her, looking at the steamy Jacuzzi with longing. “Have you decided to accept his proposal?”
Sophia sighed. “My answer is still no.”
“Let me tell you, Felipe,” Edward’s smile was impossibly naughty, “there’s precious little point in her trying to resist. Even if she weren’t already snared, he will do everything and anything he can to have her.”
“I’ve noticed that too.” Felipe chuckled as Sophia’s eyes rolled heavenward.
“Neither you, Sophia, nor Gabriela are able to resist his charms. You called him a tyrant. I don’t doubt he is,” Edward said, “but that’s probably just as well. You need someone to put you in your place. Now, if he wants to don his leather outfit and wield his whip to do it, that’s even better.” He put a hand over his heart and wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Get the picture?”
Sophia gasped indignant.
Edward laughed as did Felipe, not knowing that Edward’s teasing spoke of truth.
“You are impossible, Edward. This is serious.”
“We are serious, Sis. No one, not even powerful Gabriel Leibowitz was able to completely dominate you. It wouldn’t be so bad if Alistair put you in your place, sometimes.”
Slowly, Sophia faced him, her eyes thin slits. “Let me tell you something, Brother. No one is going to put me in my place. I can be wooed and charmed. Dominated, never. Never.”
Felipe’s lips curled up, ”It’s almost the same thing.”
“It’s completely different!”
Edward sighed inwards. He understood what Felipe meant. He also knew Sophia was right. So he stood to put an end to what could be an unending discussion. “I’m going in the Jacuzzi. Are you coming?”
A movement in her peripheral vision made Sophia swallow her negative answer and forget about her surroundings.
Alistair’s sculpted torso appeared from the pool. He rose from the water, throwing his head back in a beautiful movement that made drops of water fly in the air and small rainbows appear as the sun shone through them.
Her mouth went dry. She had never seen a more sensuous and beautiful sight. She wanted to plunge her hands in his long wet hair, glide them down over his strong neck, broad shoulders, large chest and flat washboard stomach.
No. He doesn’t tempt me. Not at all.
She lowered her head and closed her eyes to the magnificent sight. You’re a liar, Sophia. You want this man with all your might! No, I-
“Join me.” The request came out like a command from his hoarse throat. Sophia did this to him. Just looking at her set him on fire.
Sophia opened her eyes and saw his bare feet almost touching hers in her H. Stern Havaianas. Her gaze wondered over his long, sinewy legs, hovering over his already semi hard arousal barely concealed by his Vilebrequin Moorea cut shorts.