‘I’ve given you no reason not to trust me.’
That was true. He was only trying to do what he thought was the right thing. As was she. But she didn’t trust easily.
‘Okay,’ she said softly. ‘I’ll try.’ She curled her fingers around his. ‘You know...’ She offered a tentative, peace-making smile. ‘If this whole prince thing doesn’t work out for you, you could do really well as a wedding planner.’
He looked startled for a second, and then his laugh returned. An answering spurt of pleasure bubbled up within her.
‘Is that a compliment?’ He shook his head. ‘Undeserved, sadly. I have very good aides.’
Maybe, but he’d been the one to order it all.
‘Where does this lead, if not the crypt?’ she asked as they went further down the old narrow steps.
‘There is a safe escape. The pirates’ secret, as you’ve so often suggested.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Absolutely.’ The laughter burned in his eyes once more. So did the desire. ‘I’m dragging you to my pirate lair and I am going to have my wicked way with you.’
‘And you expect me to trust you?’ she teased, excitement fluttering low in her belly.
‘You can trust that it’ll be very wicked.’
At the bottom of the stairs there was a marble-lined tunnel. He hadn’t been joking about the passageway.
There were gas lanterns every eight feet, giving off a flickering romantic light. They turned a narrow corner and the tunnel opened into a small cavern. In the centre stood a massive bed decked with lush linen—white sheets, heaps of plump pillows, a charcoal-black mohair blanket folded into a neat square. More lanterns hung in each corner. Beyond the bed faint light flickered in one corner of the gloom—the tunnel must continue.
It was totally over the top, but so magnificent.
Having taken several moments to absorb the opulence, she turned to him. ‘You never do anything by halves, do you?’
‘I like to do things as well as I can. To do my best.’ He smiled.
He wasn’t talking decor any more. The trouble was, his ‘best’ overwhelmed her and her own response terrified her. To have given him her virginity so quickly and easily—without so much as a second thought—that day on the beach...
Eduardo lifted his hand and gently framed her face. ‘Not in a rush.’
She knew he’d felt her tremble.
‘Not this time,’ he promised.
‘GIULIA SAID THIS sapphire is called Midnight’s Passion.’ Stella drew in a jagged breath. ‘Why did you choose it?’
Something shadowed his face. The smile on his lips twisted. ‘It matches the colour of the sea and the sky on the day we met. I look at it and I see you. It suits you.’
No one had given her jewellery. Ever. She didn’t know what her father had done with her mother’s things—he never discussed her.
Eduardo watched her. ‘It brings out that blue in your eyes and you look even more beautiful. Which is impossible, but there it is.’
For a half-second she stared at him, then turned away.
He grasped her arm and turned her back to him. ‘You’re not used to receiving compliments?’
Her tongue was tied. She didn’t want to answer that honestly. She didn’t want pity.
‘When someone compliments you, you say thank you. It is very simple. But failing that—’ his boyish dimpled grin exploded ‘—you let actions speak.’ He held up a hand in defence. ‘Just a smile. I didn’t mean sex. Though of course I would not say no to that.’
She laughed. As he’d intended her to.
‘You will learn you can trust me,’ he said softly.
‘And will you trust me?’ she asked, because he didn’t trust easily either. He didn’t open up.
Shadows flickered in his eyes.
‘I’ve never given you reason not to trust me.’ She echoed his words.
He shook his head. ‘You didn’t tell me some very important things before you took what you wanted from me on that beach. Then you ran,’ he said. ‘You wouldn’t even look back when I called out your name.’
She looked down at the beautiful bed, remembering that fateful afternoon. How overwhelming. How passionate. Maybe in this at least she could be honest.
‘You were right,’ she whispered quickly. ‘I was afraid. Because what we did was...’
‘Was what?’
She glanced back up at him. ‘Too intense.’
‘Was it what we did or what happened after?’ he asked. ‘You were angry, then I was angry... We won’t fight when we’re finished today.’
‘No?’ She half laughed.
‘At least I know your name this time. Princess Stella Zambrano De Santis.’ His smile was beautiful—that dimpled, genuine, gorgeous smile.
No, there wouldn’t be that abrupt end after they’d indulged now. That wouldn’t come for months yet. This time there would only be more. Already she was melting.
‘Don’t be afraid of passion,’ he said, reaching for her. ‘It is to be enjoyed.’
Passion? Was lust all this was? ‘How do people get any work done if they feel like this?’
He laughed and his hands slid to her waist. ‘The lucky ones get to indulge in it at their leisure. We’re very lucky.’
The expression in his eyes stirred that wildness she’d felt on the beach. This was her gorgeous fun-in-the-sun Prince.
‘There’s nothing to it.’ He lifted the veil from her hair and it tumbled in a heap of white on the end of the bed. He looked at her, approval all over him. ‘Pretty shoes. Pretty dress.’
So playful. So tempting.
He kissed her, then dropped to his knees, sliding his hands under her skirts.
‘What are you doing?’
‘What do you think?’
His eyes twinkled as he looked up at her. He knew how instantly this turned her on—seeing him at her feet, so determined to please her. What was there to worry about
