He tugged her gently from the stool. ‘Let me give you the tour.’
Carrying their glasses, Alexio brought her through the living area and showed her the sleek kitchen, which again had a lived-in look about it.
‘Do you cook?’ she asked curiously.
He shrugged minutely. ‘I can cook enough for me. I wouldn’t put it to the test of a dinner party, though.’
Sidonie teased him to hide her nervousness. ‘So what have you lined up for tonight? Beans on toast?’
He looked back at her. ‘A chef from one of London’s best restaurants. He’ll be arriving to serve us in about an hour.’
‘Oh...’ That shut Sidonie up. For a second she’d almost forgotten who she was with...
Alexio was leading her up some wooden stairs now, with brass railing banisters. There was glass everywhere, all the spaces blending into one another seamlessly as only the best architecture could.
This upper level was like a mezzanine. Alexio was leading her to a room on the left, and Sidonie could see her bag on a huge white-covered bed. A window looked out over the Thames, and the en suite bathroom was rustic and yet delightfully modern, with two sinks and an enormous wet-room-style shower. A huge antique bath stood alone.
‘It’s gorgeous,’ she breathed, her hand tightening unconsciously around Alexio’s fingers.
He exerted pressure back and she looked at him.
‘This is your room, Sidonie. Like I said, I don’t expect you to sleep with me...but I won’t deny that I want you.’
Just that. Stark. No games. No false seduction. He wanted her. It was devastating in its simplicity.
Feeling shaky, Sidonie just replied, ‘Okay...thank you...’
Before they left he showed her how to pull the huge white curtains across the windows that were both walls and door for privacy.
Then he was leading her out along the corridor to another room. This one had to be his. Much larger. Bare but for some choice furniture. An enormous bed, a chair, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. And again that amazing view.
His en suite bathroom was black-tiled, undeniably masculine.
They came back out and Alexio showed her two other guest rooms and an office that looked to be equipped with enough technology to make a space rocket take off.
‘London is my next main base after Athens,’ he explained. ‘I spend most of my time between here and there.’
He led her back down to the bar and Sidonie perched on the stool again. Alexio refilled her glass and then produced a bowl of fresh strawberries from somewhere. Sidonie almost groaned when he dipped one in champagne and handed it to her. The taste of the sweetly tart fruit exploded in her mouth. She wasn’t unaware of his intent look at her mouth and she melted inside. She knew that at some point she would have to make things very clear to herself about how far she was prepared to go, because Alexio was waiting for the barest sign of encouragement. And yet she believed him when he said he’d leave it up to her. He wouldn’t put pressure on her. He wouldn’t have to!
Speaking of inconsequential things as the light outside Alexio’s apartment faded into dusk, Sidonie felt herself being more and more seduced. That line she didn’t want to cross was blurring and becoming something she wanted to leap over. The sparkling wine did little to help her keep her inhibitions raised.