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Hadn’t there been a part of him which had felt the whisper of anticipation as his plane had dipped down over the English Channel thisthat he only had to snap his fingers for the little blonde to give him exactly what he wanted? He had fantasised about her lips on his aching hardness The plunge of that hardness into herhiht had been almost too sweet to contemplate

And yet all he are of was a crushing sense of disappointment because the woman who looked at him today was merely a caricature of the one he had held in his arms Gone was her scrubbed and fresh-faced appeal—for she had changed co like a sweet, native flower plucked on impulse from the meadow, she was now the manufactured and forced bloom of the hothouse

The lush breasts at which the ill-fitting blouse had htfitting and too-short overall, which only just stopped short of vulgarity Likewise, her petite charh as a skyscraper And her eyes! He had thought theed withthe effect of their clear, aquamarine hue

She looked like a tramp!

He felt the dulling edge of disillusionment and yet surely he should have been used to it by now Because this kind of thing happened all the time People were never truly thee They dressed to get theht you wanted to hear They were puppets in awe of his powerful position and sos whichever way he chose

‘Your Serene Highness,’ said Rupert ‘May I suggest—?’

‘You may not,’ snapped Xaviero as his disdainful scrutiny continued, ‘suggest anything’ He recalled the fa her as he had walked in Was she his? he wondered Xaviero felt the steady beat of his heart, re how, on more than one occasion, men had offered hiratiate themselves with him Would this man do likewise?

His mouth hardened And would he accept such an offer? Did not his ancestors enjoy the charms of the opposite sex if they were presented to theoblet of good wine, or a plate of delicious food? He flicked his eyes over the blonde—noting the small pulse which fluttered frantically at the base of her neck ‘Who is this woman?’

‘This is Cathy She’s our chas,’ said Rupert, and then he lowered his voice ‘I can get rid of her if you like, sir, if you’d like to speak to me in private’

Xaviero gave an impatient flick of his hand to silence him The presumption! As if he, Xaviero, should seek the private coe of the area?’

Cathy wanted to open herabout her as if she weren’t there

‘Yes, she has,’ said Rupert, as if she were so animal ‘In fact, she’s lived here all her life’

Xaviero turned to her then, registering the automatic dilation of her blue eyes in response to his stare, and he felt a slow beat of satisfaction Yes, she would be his And before the day was out, too Because this inconvenient hunger must be fed if he was to be rid of it ‘Good Then she will be uide while I am here’

Cathy’s lips parted and she stared at hiuide,’ she protested in a voice which suddenly sounded squeaky

‘So?’ challenged Xaviero, on a silken drawl

‘Surely…’ Cathy sed as she twisted her fingers together It mustn’t happen He can’t mean it to happen ‘Surely you should have someone who is properly specially trained in royal protection, Your Highness’

Xaviero’s suggestion had been carelesslyfor him to retract it—but her objection secured his deter a wish to make herself inaccessible, she had sealed her fate For ahis wishes ued hier any more!

‘How very thoughtful of you to be so concerned about uide, not a bodyguard And soe is always much more useful than one of my own people’