in them, and right now, I see panic. But I promise you, Bianca, apart from playing your role at the photoshoot, nothing will happen here between us—unless you want it to.’
‘So why hide away here for several days?’
‘Bianca, do you really need to ask? The magazine will feel as if they have been invited into our own private love affair, able to glimpse the love we have for one another. It will also give us time to perfect that loving couple moment they will be expecting.’
Deep down she knew he was right. It would be exactly what the magazine readers would most want to see. But two days here, alone with a man who was unlocking a Bianca she never knew existed, was not a prospect she relished. But he had said nothing would happen that she didn’t want.
‘You’re right,’ she said, and she pulled her hand free of his and took back the sunglasses he held out to her. ‘We’ll do it your way.’
‘The villa is this way.’ Before she could say anything, he’d taken her hand and was walking along the wooden jetty which spanned across crystal blue waters towards the white sands, fringed by palm trees and lush green plants which shielded the villa from view.
Again that sizzle of anticipation raced through her. Two days alone with Liev. But would that be enough to get to know the real man? He led her along a pathway through the palm trees and she caught the first glimpse of the villa. It wasn’t as big as she’d first imagined; in fact, it was small to the point of being cosy and nestled in the palm trees. Beyond it she could see the ocean. It was so romantic, exactly the kind of place she could imagine the lovers from the letter she’d found when she was younger coming to.
The coolness of the interior was welcoming as they entered. It was furnished more traditionally than she’d ever have imagined a man like Liev wanting, but to her it was simply perfect.
‘It’s such a beautiful home.’ He let her hand go and she wandered to the windows and looked out over the ocean, its sparkling waters looking so inviting. She hadn’t swum in the sea for so long.
‘I’ll show you to your room and then we can take a walk on the beach, maybe even a swim.’ He stood in the doorway, his casual clothes suiting him as much as the tuxedo he’d worn for the party. She didn’t miss the mention of her room and relaxed. He obviously intended to keep his word. Nothing would happen if she didn’t want it to. The problem was, she wanted it to.
‘A walk would be nice, but I haven’t come prepared for swimming.’ She regretted that he hadn’t given her more information when he’d told her they would be away for the weekend. The thought of a swim in the ocean was very enticing.
He walked from the living area and she followed him into a lovely and bright bedroom with doors which opened out onto a small shady garden and the beach beyond, basking in the afternoon sun. He picked up a package from the bed and turned to her.
‘This might help.’ His voice had deepened and his accent had become more pronounced, but his expression had softened, as if being in the sunshine was stripping away the hardness she’d become accustomed to.
Her eyes met his and she scanned them for any hint of what it might help with, but as she took the neatly gift-wrapped box from him, she guessed what was inside the package. ‘Thank you.’
She was stunned by this thoughtful gesture. It was one she hadn’t believed a man as ruthless as Liev would be capable of. It would, though, make a swim more intimate, when she was wearing his choice of swimwear.
‘I’ll meet you outside when you are ready.’ Before she could say any more, he left, closing the door to her room behind him. Never had a man bought her a present, and unable to contain her curiosity, she pulled the red bow undone and opened the flat box. Inside was a red bikini and the most delicately beautiful cover-up she’d ever seen.
She blushed until her cheeks matched the bikini at the thought of wearing it in front of him, but she would look incredibly prudish and ungrateful if she stayed in the summer dress she was wearing. Besides, a swim in the sea was becoming ever more inviting.
* * *
Liev watched as Bianca moved out onto the terrace, pleased to see she’d accepted his gift. The sheer red chiffon cover-up wasn’t really doing its job and he could see her soft curves as the warm wind pressed the fabric against her skin. She looked uncomfortable and vulnerable with her face almost free of make-up and her hair pulled up into a haphazard chignon which left some dangling sexily around her face.
‘Red suits you,’ he said as she walked towards him and was rewarded with a slight flush to her cheeks. In fact, red suited her too much.
‘Swimwear is another look you wear well,’ she said with that impish smile he’d seen briefly before. So she wasn’t immune to him and neither was she embarrassed by him standing waiting for her in his swimming trunks and white shirt open. Was he finally beginning to melt the ice princess?
‘If we walk a little first, there is a nice sheltered cove, perfect for swimming.’
As she fell into step beside him, he remained silent, waiting for her to decide the topic of conversation, hoping that eventually it would come round to what he wanted to know about her brother and ICE. By playing it cool, he hoped to lure her into lowering all those barriers she had up against the world and him in particular.
‘How long have you had this place?’ She looked out at the ocean as they strolled along and he couldn’t resist taking in her long legs as she walked in the edge of the surf. The pull of attraction was becoming much stronger and harder to resist, just as it had each time he’d seen her, especially after the revelations of a much softer and caring Bianca at the shelter. On the way to the island there had been moments when he thought she felt the same way and his original plan of nothing ever happening between them was paling into insignificance.
He wanted her, more than he’d wanted any woman. At the same time he resented her more than any other woman. She was the spoilt little rich girl, pandered to and pampered with every luxury. But that opinion had changed. Or was it his increasing desire for her that changed it?
‘I bought it last year but haven’t yet put my mark on it.’ An island paradise had been something his parents had talked of wanting. A place to escape the harshness of Russian winters. He’d achieved that for them, but had much more to do yet.
‘I like it just the way it is.’ She looked at him, her sunglasses shielding her eyes, hiding her thoughts, but it couldn’t hide the relaxed smile or the genuine interest in her voice.
‘This is the best place to swim,’ he said, wanting to change the subject and give his mind and body something other than Bianca to focus on. He pulled off his shirt, dropped it to the warm sand and waded into the water. When he was waist-high in the ocean, he turned to look at her.
She was removing the cover-up and placing it on the sand next to his shirt along with her sunglasses. The thought of their clothes lying together on the beach only increased the throb of desire which coursed through him.
He smiled when she backed away a little as the waves came towards her. She was truly beautiful. Everything about her was perfect and he wanted to hold her against his body, feel her skin against his skin as he claimed her as his, even if it was to be only for a few days. He was under no illusions they could have anything else, not after the way they met.
‘Don’t be shy. Come on in. The water is great,’ he called above the gentle rush of the waves and laughed
