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‘The dress is fine—although in future Ito the eye But there is one thing about your appearance which jars’ He walked towards her and, without warning, reached for the band which constrained her hair, slithering it off with an impatient jerk so that her hair tumbled wildly all over her shoulders For a moment, he stared down into aquaht drown in them ‘Don’t ever wear your hair like that when you’re with me,’ he said unevenly ‘I like it loose Understand?’

Cathy felt the tendrils falling around her face, acknowledging the dark mastery of his command even while a squeak of protest deeous that he should co as old-fashioned and bossy as that, she thought weakly Prince he ht to speak to her in that way?

‘Understand?’ he repeated

Yet, dazed by his proximity and the sensual recall of his touch, all she could do was nod ‘Yes,’ she whispered

For alips teed hishim and he wasn’t sure what it was Perhaps the faint air of insecurity about her which, infuriatingly, ive her a taste of the high life—as if in that way he could repay her for what he had already taken and would later take froain

Hishe wanted to feel was any kind of conscience about her She had wanted hiinity some day So why not lose it to the best? ‘My car is parked at the end of the lane,’ he said

It felt odd to be walking down a dusty suolden-eyed Prince and odder still to remember what had taken place between them Cathy was conscious of the chauffeur’s curious looks as he held the door open for her Was he wondering what the Prince was playing at? Orhe did all the ti series of women who had climbed so meekly into the back of the luxury limousine

That thought sat uncomfortably with her and she waited for—and wanted—Xaviero to take her in his arms once they were enclosed within the tinted luxury of the car To blot out all her s with the power of his kiss But he didn’t Instead, he sis spread out in front of hiolden eyes

‘Your house is not what I was…expecting,’ he observed slowly

It sounded more like a question than a compliment and Cathy knew exactly what he meant ‘On a chambermaid’s salary, you mean?’

He shrugged ‘How the hell should I know? I have no idea what chambermaids earn’

No, of course he wouldn’t Princes didn’t draw salaries like ordinary folk, did they? What ed bubble which separated you froreat-aunt left it to ht me up when my parents died It’s…’ Her words trailed off Wasn’t he, as the Prince, supposed to initiate all conversation—sohis questions and not bothering to elaborate on them She clamped her lips shut

‘It’s what?’

‘You aren’t really interested’

He felt a mixture of amusement and irritation ‘Oh, aren’t I?’ he questioned silkily ‘One session of sex and already you can predict what I’? I know that all women like to think they’resome kind of record’

Cathy blushed How cynical How hard-bitten What had he said? One session of sex It was a hateful way to describe what had happened between them

‘The cottage is one of the reasons I stay round here—well, the gardenanywhere else as beautiful And…well, gardening’s e admits that they like it’

‘Or eleht consider it sexy to think of a wo over a flowerbed, with mud on her hands’

‘Really?’ she questioned, not believing him

‘Yes, really’ Hearing the wooden quality of her tone, Xaviero studied the way her little teeth were digging into the cushioned curve of her lower lip, and he smiled ‘You look disappointed,’ hewhy I haven’t yet kissed you?’