fallen in love with. He’d been betting on whether she’d sleep with him by the end of the prom. She’d been used and the humiliation of that had given her a resilience she’d never known.
She’d been used again, but this time she knew the facts. All of them, from his sad childhood to the reason he was blackmailing her today. The two inextricably linked. She knew this and now as she watched Liev standing alone and proud on the edge of the beach, she felt her heart melt and fill with love for him, for the child he’d been and the man he’d become.
The past few days she’d wanted nothing more than for Liev to kiss her. Deep down, on a level she’d never experienced before, she also knew that if he did so again, it wouldn’t stop there. There was no doubt in her mind that he was the man she’d been waiting for. They might not share a long-lasting love as she’d always dreamt it would be, but right now on this island they would be lovers.
‘None of that matters, Liev.’ She moved towards him and saw his shoulders stiffen and ached to touch him.
‘How can you say that?’ The gruffness of his voice told her he was struggling with his emotions as much as she was.
‘Because nothing matters. Nothing at all. Your past or mine. Not even the future.’ She reached out and touched her hand to his arm, felt the rigidness become more taut beneath her palm. ‘All that matters is this moment right now.’
He turned towards her, stroked his hand against her hair. ‘How can I have ever thought you were cold and emotionless?’
‘Everyone hides something, but I can’t hide from you any more. I want you to kiss me, Liev.’ A nervous flutter skittered in her stomach as she said the words. Would he want to kiss her if he knew how inexperienced she was? She’d never even kissed a man before him, not really kissed. That tantalising taste of what could be had left her wanting more.
‘Are you sure?’ His eyes darkened as his fingers tangled in her hair, bringing her closer to him.
She’d never been so sure of anything in her life. ‘I’ve been hiding for too long and tonight I want to change that.’
His eyes, dark and swirling with desire, searched hers, and then, so slowly the anticipation was almost unbearable, he lowered his head and kissed her, gently at first, but as she wrapped her arms around his neck, it became harder and more demanding. His fingers clutched her hair, holding her just where he needed her, and the flames of passion he’d been stirring since the moment they first met exploded into life.
‘You have no idea what you do to me, Bianca.’ He broke the kiss and looked at her, his fingers stroking her cheek, the tenderness of the touch almost unbearable. She felt his breathing, deep and uneven, as his chest rose and fell against her, sparking more desire.
Did he have any idea what he was doing to her? Did he know she wanted to cast aside her ten-year vow and allow herself to love a man, in every sense of the word—even if it was just for one night? She was under no illusions it would be more, but maybe, just maybe, love could change that.
‘Neither do I,’ she said, and a soft blush crept over her cheeks, but she had to tell him this was new to her. ‘I have never done this, Liev.’
He frowned. ‘Seduce a man?’
Was she seducing him? She had no idea how to. Embarrassment flooded her and she lowered her gaze. ‘Seduction is not something I’m well practised in.’
His hands moved to hold her arms and he held her gently away from him and looked at her, his expression hard and serious. ‘Is that so?’
Her heart was thumping hard as she waited for the rejection that would surely follow such a revelation. Inside she was eighteen again. Uncertainty filled her, almost dousing the flames of desire which were leaping inside her. The only difference was that this time she didn’t want to walk away, didn’t want to deny herself the chance of loving.
Slowly she nodded, too afraid her voice would fail her if she tried to say anything. Nervously she bit her lower lip and looked up at him, his hard expression almost unreadable. If he was going to push her away, she wished he’d just do it, instead of prolonging the agony.
His hands slid down her arms. Then he took her hand in his. Without saying anything, he led her from the garden, through the homely comfort of the living room to his bedroom. With every step her heart thumped in nervous anticipation. Never had she imagined the moment she would give herself completely to a man to be like this.
‘Liev,’ she whispered as he closed the door of his bedroom. The sound of the ocean lapping the sands was all she could hear other than her pounding heart.
‘Don’t say anything, Bianca.’ His voice almost broke with huskiness as he pulled her into his arms. ‘Just feel.’
She closed her eyes as his lips claimed hers, coaxing the flames of passion to rise once more. His hands skimmed down her sides to hold her hips, pulling her against him, proving he wanted her. She sighed into his mouth, revelling in the strength of his body. She didn’t want him to stop now. She was his—and maybe she had always been.
When he let go of her and stepped back, she swayed like a newly bloomed flower in the wind. She was light-headed and the throbbing heat his kiss had evoked was almost too much pleasure. All she wanted was to close her eyes again.
‘I feel as if my whole life has been waiting for this moment.’ His words were still husky and heavily accented. ‘And it will be special for you, I promise.’
She drew in a ragged breath as he looked at her, sizzling intent in his eyes. She wanted it to be special—for both of them. A time out of reality that could never be repeated. She wanted him, because he was the right man, the man she’d been waiting for, and alarming as it would be when she left the island and returned to her real life, he was the man she loved.
She took a deep breath, one born out of anticipation, and moved against him and placed her palms on his chest, feeling the strength beneath them. Slowly she raised herself on the tips of her toes and brushed her lips against his. If she had to feel the moment, so did he. As he responded, her fingers opened his shirt, with an ease which astounded her. She dropped back down off her toes and trailed her fingers through the dark hair which covered his chest, marvelling at its silky smoothness—and her boldness.
She pressed her lips against his skin, inhaling the intoxicating scent of the man she’d fallen in love with, committing it to memory. He lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
‘Is this really what you want?’ Harshness had crept back into his words and his expression was stern, as if he was fighting for control.
‘Yes.’ She could hardly speak as her pulse seemed to be jumping in her throat. ‘But if you don’t...’
She didn’t manage to finish her sentence before he claimed her mouth in a hard and hungry kiss which took her breath completely away. She gave in to the desire which was throbbing within her, urging her on, and kissed him back as if her life depended on it. Maybe it did.
He moved against her, propelling her backwards towards the bed, each step becoming more urgent. He didn’t stop kissing her as they fell onto the bed, the soft white covers wrapping around them as their bodies entwined.
This was wild and so much more intense than she’d ever imagined. If this was how he kissed, really kissed, she didn’t think she’d survive being made love to. His lips, bruising and demanding, stoked the flames higher as his hands roamed over her body, the flimsy sundress little protection against the heat of his touch.
Her hands began exploring him, spreading over his back, relishing the strength and then moving under his open shirt and over his skin. She’d never touched a man this way, never been caressed like this, and didn’t want it to stop.
His fingers teased her hardened nipples and she gasped with the shock of pleasure which raced through her. He began to kiss her throat, moving lower and lower, and she lay there, eyes closed, enjoying the sensation of fire each kiss left behind. His fingers began to unfasten the small