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‘Of course you can have some clothes,’ Cristiano answered ss ‘As a matter of fact, I already ordered them while you were in the shower You seem to think I am some sort of brute, Laurel, which I confess I find a bit ironic, considering the man you just fled I hope the contrast between us is more than apparent’

It was Oh, it was Laurel didn’t trust herself to answer so she turned aalking towards the s, taking in the incredible view

She heard Cristiano move and then she felt his and her heart felt suspended in her chest Every nerve was strung tight, every sense on overload And he wasn’t even touching her

Then Cristiano laid a hand on her shoulder Even through the thick terrycloth robe she felt the press of his pal she had not to respond—although she didn’t even kno she would Move closer or further away? Her body would betray her

‘I should tell you now,’ he said in a soft voice, ‘That I abhor ga of any kind Every transaction I’ve had with a wohtforward and intensely pleasurable So, if you think you can gain sothe coy ain’

He squeezed her shoulder lightly, a warning, while Laurel’sShe didn’t even kno to begin to respond A transaction? Intensely pleasurable? Coy miss? She nearly choked with affront at it all

‘What exactly are you offering?’ she finally asked in a shaky voice when she’d ear and could form at least one coherent sentence ‘Out of curiosity?’

At last, a straightforward question And he would give a straightforward response Finally they were getting somewhere

‘My protection,’ Cristiano said as he stepped away fro he needed a little space to stay cool and level-headed When he’d been standing behind her he’d inhaled her scent, soht and fresh, a hint of lemon and violets He’d felt her heat, warm and seductive, and the desire to slip the robe from her shoulders and feel the silky skin underneath had been so strong his palms had itched His body had ached

‘Your protection?’ she repeated He couldn’t quite gauge her tone, veering between tremulous and infuriated

‘From Bavasso’

She stayed where she stood, staring out at the darkness, a slight, slender figure swathed in dark blue ‘Do I really need protection?’

‘For a short time, yes’

‘And how can you protectme here?’

‘Initially, yes Bavasso is like a child with a toy when it coet you is for you to be seen to belong to so for that to sink in, then continued, ‘Bavasso enjoys the use of my hotels and casinos If he discovers that you are with me, he will not pursue you’ Bavasso was a vicious man, but only with those weaker than him Cristiano was confident Bavasso would not bother with Laurel once he realised she was off-limits And he very much intended her to be off-limits…to anyone but him

‘With you?’ Laurel’s jaw hardened, her ht ‘Is that a euphemism?’

‘It is fact’ Their affair was only a matter of time Surely she realised that? Surely she felt it in the desire that shiy force neither of them could deny?

‘And so I exchange one man’s unwanted attention for another’ She spoke flatly and Cristiano prickled with irritation He did not believe his attention was so unwanted

‘Again you are co me with Bavasso, and I will remind you of the contrast’

‘Oh, you’re certainly more attractive,’ Laurel said as she turned around, true bitterness spiking her words ‘I’ll grant you that Although, Bavasso is good-looking in that “silver fox” kind of way’ She tossed the words out, but beneath the blaze of anger he felt they’d cost her ‘And your…seduction would no doubt be far more assured and deft,’ she added ‘But it still a’