“It’s nothing personal.”
“Nothing personal?” she echoed dumbly. How can dumping someone you’ve supposedly had a relationship with not be personal? She wasn’t a dumped lover of Konstantinos, but she was offended.
“What did he tell you about me?” Sabrina demanded, trying to make sense of this strange conversation.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re to stay away from him, strega. No scenes. No drama.”
“Or what? He’ll have me thrown off the island?” she scoffed, but Sabrina knew someone as rich and powerful as Markos Konstantinos could actually have it done.
“It’s not in your best interest to pursue him.” The warning was thinly veiled. “Better set your sights somewhere else,” he paused, "somewhere a bit more closer.”
“Oh my God!” she exclaimed incredulously. "You think I’m on the rebound. That I’m an easy lay.”
His jaw clenched, and Sabrina knew she was treading dangerously. Gone was the charming, urbane man she was lunching with a few minutes ago. “I don’t need to prey on vulnerable women for sex, strega.”
She shrank back from this show of temper. She believed him. Women most likely threw themselves at him.
“That’s not how I get my kicks. I like desire to be mutual and the relationship beneficial for both parties involved.”
“Beneficial?”
He shrugged. “Of course. Why would one enter willingly into a relationship if there is nothing to be gained out of it?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she answered sarcastically. “Maybe because you actually love someone?”
“So you have no expectations at all when you enter a relationship?”
“I expect the person I’m having a relationship with to care about me.”
“And isn’t someone caring about you beneficial to your well-being?”
“Of course it is, but it’s not as selfish and cold-blooded as you make it sound,” she sputtered indignantly. “Like, like a business transaction where everyone has to make a profit.”
He regarded her with a silent, brooding stare. Sabrina tried to hold it defiantly.
“No one enters a relationship without expectations,” he pronounced, breaking the staring contest. “Let’s agree on that.”
“And what are these expectations I’m supposed to be expecting from this short-term relationship with you?”
“A good time,” he said.
She huffed dismissively.
“In bed.”
She gulped.
“And out of it,” he added. “Whatever you want, strega. I’ll take you shopping, buy you some clothes, jewelry.” His tone remained blithe, but she heard the contempt in them nonetheless.
The way he said the last word made Sabrina cringe. “You think I’m a gold digger.”
“I don’t care what you are, and I’m trying really fucking hard not to care who you’ve been with.” His voice dropped, an edge of delicious danger replacing the derision of his previous statement. “I want you, Sabrina Connelly, and I’ll have you anyway I can.”
Sabrina gripped the edge of the table. “Even if you think I’m a notorious gold digger.”
“Even then.”
Each word had rained like judgment on her head. She was damned before his eyes. She felt angry, frustrated, and strangely let down. But it was also freeing. He already found her guilty. Might as well be very bad. She let go of the table and sank back against her chair.
His eyes were blue flames, his voice a wicked rasp on her nerve endings. “I know you want me the same way I want you. No point in delaying the inevitable, strega. We both know how this is all going to play out.”
She reached for her glass of water, playing it cool while her heart started beating a bit faster. The moisture that had condensed on the glass felt real, grounding her from a conversation that was fast becoming surreal. “Unlike you, I don’t presume to know how anyone’s mind works, so no, I don’t know how you think it will play out.”
“You want me to paint you a picture? Very well. In bed. That’s where we’ll begin. You underneath me, on top of me, your legs around my waist-”
“You’ve made your point,” she cut him off while heat rushed to her cheeks. She took a hasty gulp of water, looking anywhere but at him. The other diners were focused on their meal, thankfully oblivious to their conversation.
“Forget Markos Konstantinos. I’ll make it worth your while.”
“What?”
“I’m a generous lover, strega, but I don’t share. For the duration of your stay on the island, there will be no other men but me. Stay away from Konstantinos.”