Princes Waitress(41)

‘No!’ Horrified by that prospect, Holly pushed her hair out of her eyes. ‘What am I going to do the rest of the time? You obviously don’t want to see me during the hours of daylight, you’re—you’re like a vampire or something! You just turn up at night.’

Thick dark lashes concealed his expression. ‘You have unlimited funds and virtually unlimited opportunities for entertainment.’ His soft drawl connected straight with her nerve endings, and Holly felt everything weaken.

‘Well there’s no point in doing stuff if you don’t have anyone to share it with. I’m lonely. And that’s the other thing you don’t seem to understand about me. I’m a people person. So don’t tell me I have to stop doing my own engagements.’

‘Holly, you’re exhausted.’

‘I’m pregnant,’ she said flatly, pulling her legs under her and trying hard to hide another yawn. ‘All the books say that in another couple of weeks I’ll be bounding with energy.’

‘And what are you going to do then?’ His tone was dry. ‘Work nights?’

Her eyes collided with his and Holly sucked in some air, horrified to discover that the mere mention of the word ‘night’ was sufficient to trigger a reaction in her body. Her nipples tightened, her pelvis ached and she suddenly felt as though she’d downed an entire bottle of champagne in one gulp.

Clearly tracking the direction of her thoughts, he gave a slow, confident smile and suddenly she wanted to thump him because he was unreasonably, unfairly gorgeous, and he knew it.

As his gaze welded to her mouth, Holly acknowledged the overwhelming surge of excitement with something close to despair. ‘Don’t look at me like that. You’re doing it again—all you think about is sex.’

‘And what are you thinking about right now, tesoro? The share price?’ His tone was mocking as he pulled her gently but firmly to her feet. ‘A new handbag?’

A moan of disbelief escaped her parted lips as he brought his mouth down on hers and backed her purposefully towards the bed.

This was Casper at his most dominant and she really, really wanted to be able tell him that she was too tired, or just not interested.

‘I can’t believe you make me feel this way.’ Her body exploded under the hard, virile pressure of his and she tumbled back onto the mattress, forced to admit that she was a lost cause when it came to resisting him.

She wanted him so much.

And if this was all their relationship was…

He came over her with the fluid assurance of a male who has never known rejection, arousal glittering in his beautiful eyes. ‘Exactly how tired are you?’

Trying to look nonchalant, she shrugged. ‘Why do you ask?’

He lowered his arrogant, dark head, his mouth curving into a sardonic smile as it hovered close to hers. ‘Because I’m about to do my virile, macho-stud thing,’ he mocked gently, and Holly felt her stomach flip with desperate excitement.

Weak with desire, hating herself for being so feeble where he was concerned, she gasped as his hand slid under the silk of her nightdress. ‘Casper.’

His hand stilled and there was a wicked gleam in his eyes. ‘Unless you’re too tired?’

Driven by the desperate urgency of her body, Holly swallowed her pride. ‘I’m not that tired…’



‘You have time to shower while I make some calls.’ Freshly shaved, his hair still damp, Casper straightened his silk tie and reached for his jacket. ‘I’ll join you for breakfast.’

Elated that he’d spent the entire night with her for the first time, and reluctant to risk disturbing the fragile shoots of their relationship, Holly decided not to confess that mornings weren’t her best time and that she couldn’t touch breakfast.

Waiting until he’d left the room, she slid cautiously out of bed, felt her stomach heave alarmingly and just made it to the bathroom in time.

‘Dio, what is the matter?’ Casper’s voice came from right behind her. ‘Are you ill? Is it something you ate?’

‘Don’t you knock? I thought I locked the door.’ Mortified that he should witness her at her lowest, Holly leaned her head against the cool tiles, willing her stomach to settle. ‘Please, Casper, show a little sensitivity and go away.’

‘First you accuse me of not spending time with you, then you want me to go away.’ Casper lifted his hands in a gesture of frustrated incredulity. ‘Make up your mind!’

‘Well, obviously I don’t want you around while I’m being sick!’

‘You’re incredibly pale.’ Looking enviably fit and impossibly handsome, he frowned down at her. ‘I’m calling a doctor.’