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“Gavin.” Her sultry-sweet voice pushed him from his thoughts, and he focused on her pretty face. The dreamy smile curving her lush mouth, the hazy glow in her eyes, her flushed, shimmering skin. Christ, she was beautiful. “Are you all right?”
She was the damaged one, and she asked if he was all right? He must be doing something wrong. Instead of answering, he kissed her. Took the kiss as deep as he could, thrusting within her velvet depths just as deep. Wanting so far inside her he wanted to be consumed by her. She moved with him, both of them straining and when she whispered she was close, his movements became frenzied. Out of control.
Sending them both into complete oblivion.
He held her close, his arm slung around her shoulders, her head nestled beneath his jaw, cheek pressed to his chest. She drew her index finger across his chest lazily, their harmonious, labored breaths calming with each second that ticked past.
There were no words for what they’d just experienced together. There was sex and then there was…that. So completely far and above the normal sexual interlude, it belonged in a different stratosphere.
Yeah, he was gone for her. Which was crazy, but he was tired of fighting it. Knew it was ridiculous, because first, she was his client, and second, they hardly knew each other.
But he couldn’t deny it. They’d grown close in a short amount of time, and if he had his way, they’d grow closer. He wasn’t ready to let her go.
Squeezing her close, he kissed the top of her head, breathing in the subtle floral fragrance of her shampoo. None of his worries mattered. He cared for this woman. If they continued on this path, he’d no doubt fall in love with her. Whereas before that thought would’ve scared the shit out of him, now…
Now he embraced it. Wanted it, even.
Gavin kissed her again, too overwhelmed to speak. Afraid he might say something stupid and botch the entire evening. She snuggled into him, a contented sigh escaping her and at this one single moment, all felt right in his world.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said. About my brothers.”
Stasia’s sweet voice startled him from his thoughts. “What about them?”
“Maybe I should forget about the Worths and go back to Italy,” she murmured against his chest.
His perfect world crashed into burning pieces. “You don’t mean that, do you?” he asked warily.
She glanced up at him, her thick wavy hair in disarray, painfully beautiful in the aftermath of their explosive moment. “I’m not wanted here. Clearly. I can go back to the villa, nurse my wounds and figure out a new plan.”
“You mean give up.” He couldn’t believe she was saying this.
Stasia arched a delicate brow. “I’m not giving up. More like…taking a step back and reassessing my plan.”
He couldn’t stand the thought of her leaving. What if she never came back? “Don’t let them get the best of you. You already took the DNA test. The results will be back in two weeks, tops. You should stay here and try to approach the Worths again.”
“No thank you.” She sighed bitterly and shook her head.
“I’m not a glutton for punishment.”
“I bet Rhett would be open to seeing you again,” he suggested.
“This from the man who discouraged me from talking to Rhett at a cocktail party.” She pulled away from him and laid flat on her back, staring up at the ceiling. “I need to get away and clear my head for a bit. Alone.”
Alone. Fuck. That single word hurt more than he’d believed it could. “Your mother is still at the villa, right?”
“She’s too busy wallowing in her own misery to bother me. Besides, it might be good to spend more time with her and try to heal these wounds between us, like you suggested.” She nibbled on her lower lip, her face screwed up in concentration. “I need to get away, Gavin. I hope you understand.”
He hated that she threw his words back at him. She was right, she did need to heal the rift between them, but she couldn’t leave yet. Couldn’t just…give up.
Was he being selfish, thinking like that? Thinking only of himself?
“I don’t understand.” He climbed out of bed, rested his hands on his hips as he glared at her. He couldn’t give a shit if he was naked or not—he was pissed. “You’re running away, Stasia. I want you to reconnect with your family, but you need to take care of things here first.”
“I’m not running away.” She sat up and glared right back at him.
“Looks like you are to me.”
“Listen, you don’t know what this is like. How it feels. They hate me, Gavin. They will do everything they can to keep me from infringing on their family money. If they reject me, the media will grab hold of this and spread it everywhere. I’ll look the total fool.” She climbed out of bed, taking the sheet with her as she headed toward the bathroom.
