The Ultimate Playboy(19)

                ‘...knew about the club, of course, and that my hostessing gig was for two days. I didn’t know I’d be staying here for the duration.’

                ‘Ah, one small piece of advice. Always read the small print.’

                Her delicious mouth pursed. He had the sudden, clamouring urge to find out if it tasted as succulent as it looked. Her narrowed-eyed glare stopped him. Barely.

                ‘I always do. I can’t say the same for other people though. Especially people who have the small print pointed out to them and still wilfully ignore it.’

                The alarm bells grew louder. ‘That’s decidedly...pointed. Care to elaborate?’

                She opened her mouth, then shut it again. ‘I’m cold. Can we leave?’

                ‘That’s an excellent idea.’ He walked her to the door of the ice bar and helped her out of her coat.

                The sight of her hardened nipples—an effect of the sub-zero temperature—fried a few million brain cells. That clawing hunger gutted him further, making him fight to remember whether he was coming or going.

                Going. Definitely. Up to his allocated suite with this woman who sparked a reaction within him that left him reeling, and wanting more. He hadn’t wanted anything this badly for a long time. Not since his eleventh birthday...

                He shut off his thoughts and walked her to the lift, absurdly pleased when she didn’t protest. Perhaps she’d accepted the inevitable.

                They were meant to be together. Here in this place where the events of earlier this evening with Giacomo had nearly soured his experience.

                She would take away the bitterness for a while. Take away his unsettling hollowness when he’d held the old man’s financial demise in his grasp but hadn’t taken it.

                All would be better in the morning.

                For tonight, he intended to seek the most delicious oblivion.

                ‘Should I bother to ask where you’re taking me now?’

                His smile felt tight and his body on edge. ‘No. Don’t bother. What you should ask is how many ways will I make you like what’s coming next.’ He activated the electronic panel. When the chrome panel slid back to reveal the row of buttons he selected the fiftieth floor for his penthouse suite.

                ‘If you’re planning to throw a few more millions away, then I’d rather not watch.’ Again there was that censorious note in her voice that strummed his instincts.

                From experience he knew women always had hidden agendas, be it the urge to make themselves indispensable in his life the moment he so much as smiled their way or to take advantage of his power and influence—as well as his body—for as long as possible.

                But the woman in front of him was exhibiting none of those traits. And yet there was something... Narciso didn’t like the mixed signals he was receiving from her.

                ‘Have we met before?’ he demanded abruptly, although he was sure he would have remembered. She had an unforgettable body, and that mouth... He was absolutely certain he would have remembered that mouth.

                ‘Met? No, of course not. Besides, I don’t know who you are, remember?’

                ‘If you don’t know who I am then how do you know we haven’t met before?’