‘YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.’
His lover’s voice was suddenly unequivocally firm. Even as she spoke Lily was getting to her feet, tidying her disarrayed hair and straightening her dishevelled clothing. She even reached down inside her dress to pull out the bra he’d undone and despatched it into a pocket.
It was hard to deal with the knowledge of her being naked under the cheerful striped dress without wanting her all over again. Bastian knew a powerful urge to insist she came back to him and continued what they’d started to his satisfaction. But he knew he didn’t dare do any such thing. It would be like pouring fuel on a fire that already threatened to get out of control.
If nothing else he needed time to take stock, time to...
Rising to his feet, he dealt with the condom. Then he zipped up his jeans and snatched up his cambric shirt from the floor. Quickly pulling it on, he dragged his hand through his hair and turned to survey his companion.
‘We haven’t finished discussing your tenancy,’ he declared, uneasy with the subject because of what had just occurred.
‘You think I’ve forgotten that you want me out?’ she answered testily.
‘No. I didn’t mean that.’ Deliberately, he softened his tone. It was impossible to stay angry and frustrated with her when the woman had just taken him to heaven and back.
‘But you still want me to vacate earlier than I should and—and—’ Visibly squaring her shoulders, she stared back at him. ‘Like I said, I have rights, and I’ll explore just what they are with a solicitor if I have to. You’re not going to get rid of me quite so easily, signor.’
Of all the things she might have said, he’d never expected that. In truth, he had to admit that he admired her for taking such a stance.
‘Look, all I want to say is that I’m willing to come at things differently and give you a bit more leeway in the matter.’
‘What?’
Knowing he had stupidly let his guard down, after being careful about his dealings with women for so long, Bastian felt he had no one to blame for this awkward situation but himself.
Rubbing his hand round his jaw, he told her, ‘I mean you don’t have to leave straight away. I’ve been unexpectedly invited to go to Brazil on business, and I anticipate I’ll be gone for at least six weeks. In light of that, I’ve decided you can stay here until I return. When I get back we can review the situation. Is that more agreeable to you?’
‘I won’t deny having a bit more time to think about things and make some plans would be better.’
‘Good. Then the matter is settled.’
‘What about planting the new olive groves?’
‘That, too, can be postponed until I get back.’
‘I see...’
His beautiful tenant was stroking her hands up and down her arms as if they were chilled but, having just become personally acquainted with her warm embrace, he could attest to them being anything but cold when she’d wrapped them around him.
‘Did what happened between us just now cause you to change your mind, Signor Carrera?’
‘You can at least call me Bastian.’
On hearing his invitation, Lily immediately coloured. She knew that their being on first-name terms wasn’t going to make their situation any simpler.
‘Because if that’s the case I don’t want you feeling like you owe me anything.’
‘Having met you, I do not in any way imagine you are the kind of woman who would be as easily placated as that.’ Sighing, he unconsciously laid his hand over his heart in the now crumpled cambric shirt. ‘In any case, I like to think I’m a reasonable man. If I didn’t give your situation proper consideration after the intimacy we’ve just shared, and heartlessly demanded you leave right away, I would be letting myself down as well as you.’
‘Well... I’m glad you feel like that.’
‘But, whatever happens, don’t think I regret what took place between us because I don’t.’
In response, as if suddenly an intruding bright light had been trained on her, Lily’s green eyes flashed. ‘That’s as may be, but it won’t be happening again, signor. I can assure you of that!’
The comment made him smile. He walked to the door, and just before his hand alighted on the handle to open it he turned back, drawling lazily, ‘We will have to wait and see about that, signora,’ as if the matter was entirely open to debate...
Although determined not to dwell over-long on the fact that she’d just had the most incredible sex with a stranger, Lily knew it would be easier said than done. The unforeseen event had been completely out of character for her, and it was hard to believe it had happened.
She’d taken a huge risk in not thinking of protecting herself. Thank goodness her lover had used a condom. He’d obviously been prepared for such a situation, while she was so inexperienced it was laughable...
Still, in the shower she mentally revisited the excitement and pleasure Bastian had given her and gently touched all the places he’d helped to make tender. Combing out her hair in front of the antique mirror in the bedroom, she carefully scrutinised her reflection. She even looked like a different person, she decided. Somehow she seemed to have acquired the rosy cheeks and wide-eyed expression of a veritable ingénue.
Still a little dazed, she returned to her drawing board under the skylight. It would hardly help her, being so distracted, and the tingling in her body and the long-buried ache the Italian had stirred into life again would inevitably tax her concentration.
But at least she didn’t have to leave the villeta straight away. Her landlord’s decision to let her stay a little while longer gave her some much-needed breathing space in which to mull over her predicament and make some decisions.
* * *
During the next few days, as well as undertaking her paid work, Lily started to set aside regular time for her own stories and drawings. Unbeknownst to him, the handsome Italian had issued her with a challenge when he’d asked why she didn’t want to write and illustrate stories herself. The more she thought about it, the more she decided she would seriously consider the idea. Even if it didn’t work out, she ought to at least give it a try.
Lily reminded herself that it was her ex who had thought she was wasting her time doing her drawing when she could have a much better paid career. Bastian didn’t think that that way. Maybe her handsome landlord had unknowingly suggested the very thing she needed to hear?
For the first few days after he had departed for Brazil, Lily often asked herself why she had behaved so wantonly...as if she had no morals at all? But, recalling how it had been between her and the Italian—the instant connection, the impossible-to-resist sexual hunger their meeting had aroused—how could she regret it? More to the point, how would she handle the temptation of him when he returned? Could she risk having sex with him again without any consequences, even though she’d insisted that she wouldn’t?
