routes. Because how else could she explain away her mistake without letting him know just how much she had felt for him all those years ago, how deeply she had fallen in love with him?
And, in turn, would that lead him to start thinking that she might just go and do the same again, after he had issued his warnings and told her that this was just sex and nothing more—no romance, no courtship and certainly no repeat performance of what they had once had?
‘I’ve never done this before.’ She couldn’t face the embarrassment of him pulling away, appalled that he had mistaken her for someone else, someone who might prove to be fun in bed instead of a novice waiting to be taught, guided only by instinct.
It took a few seconds for Javier to register what she had just said and he paid attention to her words only because of the tone in which they had been spoken.
He was still confused, though, as he pulled back to stare down at her.
‘You mean you’ve never had a one-night stand with an ex-flame?’
‘No.’ Face flaming with embarrassment, she wriggled into a sitting position and drew the duvet cover protectively over her, suddenly shy in the face of his probing dark eyes.
‘What, then?’ He had never talked so much in bed with any woman. Frustrated, he raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. ‘Do I need to get dressed to sit this one out?’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘What I’m asking is...is this going to be a long conversation involving more confidence sharing? Should I make myself a pot of tea and settle down for the long haul?’
‘Why do you have to be so sarcastic?’ Sophie asked, stung.
‘Because,’ Javier pointed out coolly, ‘this should be a simple situation, Sophie. Once upon a time, there was something between us. Now there isn’t—aside, that is, from the small technicality that we never actually made it past the bedroom door. Indeed, we never made it even near the bedroom door. So here we are, rectifying that oversight before going our separate ways. I’m not sure that there’s anything much to talk about because it’s not one of those getting to know you exercises.’
‘I know! You’ve already told me that. Not that you needed to! I don’t have any illusions as to why we’re here...and I know it’s not because we’re getting to know one another!’ Which didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt to have it laid out so flatly. ‘I don’t want to get to know you, Javier!’
Javier frowned. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘It means that you’re not the sort of guy I could ever be interested in now.’
Did that bother him? No. Why should it? ‘Explain!’ And if he wanted an explanation, it was simply to indulge his curiosity. Perfectly understandable.
‘You’re arrogant.’ She ticked off on one finger. ‘You’re condescending. You think that, because you have stacks of money, you can say whatever you want and do whatever you please. You can’t even be bothered to make a show of being polite because you don’t think you ever have to be...’
Javier was outraged. ‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this!’ He leapt out of the bed to pace the floor, glaring at the shabby wallpaper and the crumbling cornices.
Sophie watched him, shocked at what she had just said but in no way having the slightest intention of taking any of it back. She had to keep her eyes glued to his face because that glorious body of his was still doing things to her, even in the middle of the sudden squall that had blown up between them.
‘That’s because I bet no one has the courage to ever criticise you.’
‘That’s ridiculous! I invite openness from my staff! In fact, I welcome positive criticism from everyone!’
‘Maybe you forgot to tell them.’ Sophie glared. ‘Because you behave just like someone who has the rack on standby for anyone who dares speak their mind!’
‘Maybe...’ He strolled towards the bed and then leant over, caging her in, hands on either side of her. ‘You’re the only one who thinks there’s room for improvement in me...’
‘Arrogant! Do you honestly think you’re that perfect?’
‘I haven’t had complaints,’ he purred, suddenly turned on and invigorated by the heat between them. ‘Especially from the opposite sex. Stop arguing, Soph. And stop talking...’
There was no way he was going to allow her to dance around this any longer.
And she didn’t want to.
She met his eyes steadily and took a deep breath. ‘You’re not going to believe this...’
‘I loathe when people open a sentence with that statement.’
‘I’ve never slept with anyone before, Javier. I’m...I’m still a virgin...’
‘DON’T BE RIDICULOUS.’ He shot her a look of amused disbelief. ‘You can’t be.’
Sophie continued to stare at him until he frowned as he continued to grapple with her bolt-from-the-blue remark.
‘And there’s no need to try to pique my interest by pretending,’ he crooned softly. ‘My interest is already piqued. In fact, my interest was piqued the second your brother walked through the door with his begging bowl and sob story...’
‘What are you saying? Are you telling me that...that...?’
‘I suddenly realised what had been missing for the past seven years—completion.’
‘You wanted us to end up in bed?’
‘I knew we would.’
‘Is that why you offered to help us?’ Sophie edged away from him, shaking with anger. ‘Because you wanted...completion?’
‘Why are you finding that so hard to believe?’ Javier couldn’t believe that the tide had turned so swiftly. One minute, he had been touching her, and now here she was, spinning him some tall story about being a virgin and staring at him as though he had suddenly transformed into the world’s most wanted.
‘I’m surprised...’ she said bitterly, grabbing clothes from the floor and hopping into them, beyond caring that he was watching her dress and wishing that he would follow suit and do the same ‘...that you didn’t try to blackmail me into bed by offering me a deal in return!’ Silence greeted this remark and she paused and stared up at him through narrowed eyes that were spitting fire.
‘You thought about it, though, didn’t you...?’ she said slowly.
‘This is a ridiculous conversation.’ Javier slipped on his boxers and moved to stand by the window, arms folded, his expression thunderous.
‘Did you pick all that stuff for the flat? I wondered about that, wondered how come everything seemed to have a personal touch when
