His Ultimate Demand

‘A fact I’m yet to verify. The quicker you get on the plane, the quicker this can be resolved.’

She had no argument against that. And the reality was she’d come too far to turn back. And there was the small problem of Simon’s loan shark lurking in the background.

Taking a deep breath, she started to mount the steps. Recalling something he’d said, she twisted and nearly collided with his lean, muscular frame. The steadying hand he threw around her waist burned through to her skin. This close, without the hindrance of his mask, she could see how his envy-inducing cheekbones and long eyelashes framed his impossibly handsome face.

‘What did you mean about being thwarted?’

‘Sex, Ruby. I meant sex. We’re going to have it together. It’s going to be spectacular and, yes, I know you’re going to protest. But it will happen. So prepare yourself for it.’

She was still reeling from the raw, brazen words hours later as she tried to doze in her fully reclined seat two rows from where he conducted a teleconference call.

She had no idea how long the flight to Belize would take. She had no idea what the temperature would be this time of year.

In fact, her mind was empty of everything but the words Narciso had uttered to her on the steps of his plane.

Punching her pillow, she silently cursed herself for dwelling on it. It was never going to happen. She’d have to be ten kinds of fool to repeat what she’d nearly gone through with Simon—

‘If you punch that pillow one more time, it’ll give up its secrets, I’m sure of it.’

She twisted around and found him standing beside her seat, one hand held out.

‘Sleep is eluding you. Let’s spend some time together.’

‘No, thanks.’

He dropped his hand and shoved it into his pocket. Ruby tried not to stare at the way his shoulders flexed under the snow-white T-shirt he’d changed into. ‘Please yourself. But if you end up serving me food that I find abhorrent because you haven’t done your homework, you’ll only have yourself to blame.’

The challenge had the desired effect. Pushing aside the cashmere throw the stewardess had provided, she went after him.

He smiled mockingly and waved her into the club chair opposite his.

Ruby smoothed her dishevelled hair down, and activated her tablet. ‘Okay, shoot. What’s your favourite food?’

‘Life offers such vast richness. Having favourites is severely restricting.’

She sighed. ‘This isn’t going to be easy, is it?’

He shrugged. ‘I take entertainment where I can get it.’

‘Okay, next question. Any food allergies?’

‘Peanuts and avocado.’

Her head snapped up. ‘Seriously?’

‘I don’t joke with my health, amante.’

She noted it on her tablet. ‘How do you feel about Sicilian food?’

‘I’m completely indifferent.’

She looked up in surprise. ‘Really? Most Sicilians are passionate about everything to do with their homeland.’

‘Probably because they have a connection to be passionate about—’ He stopped suddenly and his jaw clenched.

She watched him try to rein in his control and her chest tightened. ‘And you don’t?’

Tension gripped his frame. ‘Not for a long time.’

Her tablet dimmed, but she didn’t reactivate it. The flash of anguish in his eyes snagged her attention.

‘Because of your father?’ she pushed.

His eyes narrowed. ‘Why does this interest you so much?’

The question took her aback, made her ask herself the same thing. ‘I...I thought we were making conversation.’

‘This is one subject I prefer to steer clear of. Capisce?’

‘Because you find it upsetting.’

He cursed under his breath and raked back his hair as that stubborn lock fell over his forehead again. ‘Not at all. The subject of my father fires up my blood. I just prefer not to discuss it with near strangers.’

Despite cautioning herself to stick to business, she found herself replying, ‘Haven’t you heard of the saying make love not war?’

‘Why do I need to choose one when I can have both? I’ll make love to you and I make war with Giacomo.’

‘For how long?’

‘How long can I make love to you? Is that another challenge to my manhood?’

‘I meant your father, and you know it.’

‘I intend to keep going until one of us is in the ground.’

She gasped. ‘You don’t really mean that, do you?’

Again that flash of pain, gone before it’d even formed. ‘Sì, I do.’

‘You know, he called you poison.’

This time the anguish stayed for several seconds, shattered his expression. Her heart fractured at the pain she glimpsed before his face settled into neutral indifference. ‘He’s right. I am poison.’

His unflinching admission made her heart contract. ‘What happened between you two?’

‘I was born.’

* * *