“Still think of me as a stranger?” he said, a very masculine expression of satisfaction on his face.
A minute ago she’d felt very feminine, but now his words brought her back to reality and she didn’t feel in the least like being coquettish. “There’s more than knowing a person physically, Nick.”
His face closed up. “It’ll do for now,” he said and turned away. “Stay here. I’ll get us some robes.”
Sasha watched him heave himself out of the water and stride over to the cabana, all male muscle and sinew. She swallowed hard. What on earth had made her say something so deep like that? Maybe she really was a prude and saying that had been her only defense?
He came out wearing a thick white robe and carrying one for her. “I’ll cover you as you get out.”
Thankful he was still being conscious of her sensitivity, she began climbing up the ladder. It was probably silly to be overreacting but she’d never been one to flaunt her body outrageously and merely because she was no longer a virgin didn’t change her way of thinking.
Just as she reached the top of the ladder she looked up in time to see Nick’s eyes flicking over her naked breasts. Unable to stop herself, she flushed.
“Put your arms in here,” he said huskily, and she did as she was told, feeling more secure once she had the robe cinched in at the waist.
Nick cleared his throat and stepped away from her. “It’s still balmy. Would you like to have dinner out here?”
She’d half-expected him to make some excuse to retire to the study. After all, he’d frozen up when she’d started talking about feelings. Fool that she was! The last thing she needed to bring out in the open was any sort of feelings.
To hide her surprise, she pushed back her wet hair. “That would be lovely.”
“Good. I’ll tell Iris.”
“And I’ll go dress.”
“Let’s not bother.”
“Er … okay.”
He started toward the house, detoured slightly and stopped to pick up something, then came back and handed her the pink bikini top.
Their eyes met and she blushed. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He turned and walked back toward the house.
She watched him for a moment with her heart thudding, unable to stop herself from admiring those firm legs beneath the bathrobe. She liked the dark hair that was just-so-manly and just-so-touchable and if she dared, when he came back she would love to run her palms up his legs, caressing them, caressing him.
All at once she realized she was squeezing her bikini top. Giving it one last squeeze she dropped it in the pocket of her robe, then went to sit down at the table, her own legs kind of shaky.
And he’d called her a prude?
Not any longer.
A few minutes later Nick came back. “Iris will bring out dinner shortly. In the meantime …” He held out two glasses of wine and passed one to her, then went to sit in the chair opposite.
Made selfconscious by her thoughts, she looked away, pretending to concentrate on the guest cottage and glasshouse that could easily been seen from here. Mercifully, the gazebo where they’d shared their kiss was on the other side of the house.
The sound of clinking glass from behind told Sasha that Iris had come out on the patio area. She turned around and smiled as the other woman came toward them pushing a trolley. Before too long she’d left and Sasha and Nick were tucking into their steak and salad.
“How are the designs going?”
She glanced up and saw he’d noticed the paperwork on one of the small tables. She’d been working on them before deciding to take a swim.
“Really well.” She hesitated. “Would you like to look over them after dinner?”
“Sure.”
After that she turned the conversation to some of the problems she was having with one of the contractors, then they began to talk of the family and other general things.
Nick stood up as soon as they’d both finished eating, and walked over to her designs. Sasha followed him, her heart thumping, wondering if he’d like them. She’d gone to great lengths making sure everything suited the house just right.
“I’m very impressed with these. You’ve kept the charm of the place without taking too much away from it all.”
A swell of relief filled her. “My intention was never to make major changes. I love this place as it is, too, Nick.”
His eyes riveted on her face. “Yes, I can see that.”
She flushed with pleasure, feeling her cheeks turn almost the same pink as the bikini she wore.
Or didn’t wear, she mused, pulling the robe tighter over her breasts, seeing his gaze drop to where she pretended she wasn’t naked underneath.
“You surprise me,” he murmured, lazy seduction seeping into those blue eyes. “I’d have thought you’d put your bikini top back on.”
All at once she felt a touch defiant. “Maybe I’m not quite the prude you think I am.”
Taking her by surprise, he placed the tip of his finger at her chin. “Hmm, maybe not,” he murmured, sending her heartbeat thudding into a mad gallop. Then his finger slithered down her throat to rest on her wildly beating pulse. “You look so damn sexy in that robe.”
She moistened her lips. “Nick—”
“I could strip it off you here and now and you wouldn’t stop me … would you?”
She was very much afraid he was right.
“And I could slide those tiny bikini bottoms off you and you wouldn’t say a word … true?”
Heavens, yes! He could take her this very moment and she’d let him. He made her want to do things she normally didn’t do.
How she wished she could lie. “Nick, you know you’re right but—”
He dropped his hand away from her throat. “But?”
“Afterwards I would feel totally embarrassed if I thought Iris or Leo had seen us.”
His eyes filled with satisfaction. “So you are a prude?”
She started to frown. “Are you pleased because I’ve admitted it? Or because you’re right?”
“Both. I like to win.”
And he would never give in until he did, she was sure.
Suddenly he said, “I can’t help who I am, Sasha.”
She looked at him and saw no apology, just a simple statement that made her succumb to her need for him. No, he couldn’t help being who he was.
“Nick, please. Take me to bed.”
Five
Every evening after that was like a mini-honeymoon for the rest of the week. The weather remained quite warm and Nick would come home and they’d swim in the pool, eat a lazy dinner until dark, then retire to the bedroom.
There Sasha learned she wasn’t really a prude at all. She’d just needed to let go of her inhibitions, and with Nick’s instructions she did.
And her heart was still intact.
Then one morning she ended up walking past Nick’s old bedroom and for some reason she stopped and went in. The room had a large bed and furnishings befitting a teenager of wealth, done out in shades of light and dark brown. On the dresser there were school trophies for cricket, soccer and swimming.
She wasn’t sure what she expected to find, but there was something more here, something that made her believe Nick was much deeper than she had previously believed.
She just didn’t know what that was.
And perhaps it was best she didn’t find out.
Let him be who he was, and leave it at that. She didn’t want any more complications in her life.
And speaking of complications, Sasha got a sinking feeling in her stomach when her mother arrived a few hours later right at lunchtime, supposedly to see how things were going. There was nothing for it but to invite her mother to lunch. Not that she minded. It was just that today she seemed to have an agenda.
And Sasha had the feeling it was to do with her father.
“So, you’ve recovered from the wedding?” Sally asked as they sat down to a light lunch.
“Yes, I have.” Until this moment Sasha hadn’t let herself be upset that her mother hadn’t called since the wedding. Nick’s mother had managed to call several times.
“I’m sorry I didn’t phone you, darling,” Sally said, as if reading her daughter’s mind. “I just thought it best I leave you to … adapt.”
Sasha gave a remote smile. “Thanks.”
“Darling, it’s always good to leave a newly married couple to their own devices.”
“Is that what the wedding manuals say?” she muttered, then felt bad when she saw the crushed looked on her mother’s face. “Mum, I’m sorry. All this has been a bit of a strain. I never expected to get married. Not for a long time anyway.”
Sally nodded. “It’s okay. I understand. But please remember that you’ve made your father and me so happy. I love that he’s smiling again.”
Ignoring the thought that her father probably had a new girlfriend, Sasha squeezed her mother’s hand. “Then I’m glad.”
Sally’s grateful smile turned to a frown. “Darling, there is one thing …” she began, making Sasha tense. “There seems to be some sort of delay in closing the deal with Cesare. Your father can’t wait much longer, I’m afraid.”
“They’re pretty busy with the launch in the U.K. and all, I’d imagine.”