He drew in a deeply controlling breath as he opted for a less controversial subject. ‘What did you ask Wallace to prepare for our dinner this evening?’#p#分页标题#e#
Luccy accepted the subject change and gave a rueful grimace. ‘I didn’t. Wallace seemed to welcome the opportunity of my being here to prepare the full English roast beef and vegetables,’ she explained with a shake of her head. ‘I didn’t like to disappoint him.’
‘It’s a pity you don’t feel the same consideration where I’m concerned,’ Sin drawled derisively.
‘Sin—’
‘Okay, okay, I’m sorry.’ He held up his hands in apology. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
‘No, you shouldn’t,’ Luccy agreed. She closed her eyes briefly, then took a deep breath. ‘Sin, I’m really not sure I can do this.’
‘It’s only dinner, Luccy.’
‘I wasn’t talking about dinner, and you know it!’ She glared her exasperation with his deliberate misunderstanding. ‘Our being here together like this, I—Can’t you see how destructive it is? We can’t have a single conversation without it either resulting in an argument or one of us insulting the other.’
‘Maybe if we chose an innocuous subject like the weather…’ he teased.
Luccy sighed. ‘We would probably even disagree about that.’
Sin eyed her searchingly, knowing by the pallor of Luccy’s cheeks that she really was finding all of this a strain. ‘Why do you suppose that is?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said.
‘Don’t you?’
She eyed him warily, her throat moving convulsively as she swallowed. ‘Do you?’
Sin smiled. ‘Oh, yes, I know.’
Her expression became even more wary. ‘And…?’
Sin’s answer was to reach out and touch one of her creamy cheeks, his mouth tightening slightly as she flinched before relaxing against that caress. ‘We want each other, Luccy. It’s as simple—or as complicated—as that,’ he murmured huskily, knowing it was the truth.
He wanted Luccy. Wanted to make love with her. And no matter how much she tried to deny it, he knew that she wanted him too.
It was there between them, deep and heavy, almost touchable, every time they were anywhere near each other.
Luccy moistened suddenly dry lips, unable to look away from the compelling glitter of Sin’s eyes. ‘Then it’s complicated.’
‘Why is it?’
‘Because—’ She drew in a ragged breath. ‘Because it is. Can’t you see?’
‘Luccy, the only thing I can see or feel at the moment is you.’ Sin stepped closer to her, his breath a warm caress against her temple. ‘Let’s uncomplicate it, Luccy,’ he murmured.
Her gaze, along with everything else, was captivated. ‘How?’
‘By at least enjoying what we have, of course.’
‘Sex!’ Luccy exclaimed.
Sin’s face had darkened. ‘If that’s what you choose to call it, yes.’
‘What else could it be called?’ she asked wearily as she stepped away from him. ‘Wallace will be waiting for us to go in to dinner—’
‘I’m sure Wallace knows when not to interrupt,’ Sin grated, a nerve pulsing in one tightly clenched cheek. ‘Luccy, the tension between us—the sexual tension, if that’s what you insist on calling it,’ he amended harshly at her disparaging look. ‘It’s creating an impossible situation between us.’
‘So your answer is for us to go to bed together, is that it?’ Her head was back challengingly as she met his glittering silver gaze full on.
‘Look on the bright side—at least we know you can’t get pregnant!’
Luccy gave a pained gasp as she moved jerkily away from him. ‘That was truly unforgivable!’ She shook her head. ‘I—Could you please make my apologies to Wallace? I really don’t think I could eat any dinner.’
‘Maybe you would prefer it if I made my excuses instead?’
‘I still wouldn’t be able to eat anything,’ she choked. ‘I—excuse me!’ She turned and almost ran back inside the house.
Sin stared after her in concern. Damn it, he didn’t want to argue with her. Or make her cry…
Several hours later Sin stood outside on the darkened terrace, staring sightlessly across the acres of meadow and woodland now bathed in moonlight, regretting for the first time in many years that he had given up smoking even the occasional cigar—he could have certainly done with one right now!