He turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”
“We have a working relationship. And a very important job to do. But suddenly you’re having to play nurse. I’m sorry.”
He couldn’t help himself. Wiping his hands on a dry cloth, he went to her and gathered her hair gently, tucking it over her shoulder so it covered one breast. “Nothing is weird unless we let it be. I kissed you today, Maria. And you kissed me back. Your bump on the head is unfortunate, but I don’t regret this time together.”
Taking her hand in his, he slowly pulled her to her feet.
When he scooped her into his arms, she protested as she had earlier. “I can walk into the living room.”
His arms tightened a fraction. He was a bit drunk on the smell and feel of her. “Humor me. I happen to like having you in my arms.”
When he set her gently on the sofa, she stared up at him, wide-eyed. “Are you sure about this?”
She wasn’t referring to the movie, of course. “I’m not sure about anything here in Florida,” he joked. “Least of all this. But I plan to go with the flow.”
He felt her gaze boring into his back as he selected a disc and inserted it into the Blu-ray player and muted the volume. The movie didn’t really matter. He had other plans.
When he joined her, she wrapped her arms around her waist and tugged at the hem of her robe. “I’ve known you for a very long time, Alex...and even on your wildest days, I’d never call you a go-with-the-flow kind of guy.”
Her lips quirked, her teasing smile softening what might have been a criticism. But the gentle light in her eyes told him she understood what he was saying.
An attack of conscience struck him as he settled into the soft, plump couch cushions. “If you’d rather watch this alone, I’ll leave you. I’ve plenty of work to do in my room.”
One small hand landed on his thigh...not moving...just searing him with heat. “I want you to stay.”
He swallowed, for one brief second questioning his sanity. There was a better than even chance that Gabriel Montoro had plans for Maria. Could Alex risk offending a member of the royal family in the midst of delicate negotiations?
But when his hand closed over Maria’s, their fingers twining together, he sucked in a deep breath as he realized that for once in his life he was prepared to put his personal wishes and feelings before his obligations.
Gently, giving her every chance to protest, he scooped her into his lap. Her head settled against his collarbone as if he had been holding her like this for a lifetime. “How do you feel?” he asked.
She stroked his jaw with a single finger. “Well enough for whatever you have in mind.”
“I seriously doubt that.” If she knew what he was thinking, what he wanted, she might run for the hills. “We’ll take this slow,” he promised. “Tonight and always. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m a grown woman, Alex. You may have a lot of responsibilities, but I’m not one of them.”
The spark of temper reminded him that his Maria was a female of strength and purpose. “I can’t apologize for wanting to take care of you. You bring out the gentleman in me.”
She curled a hand behind his neck, dragging his head lower to press her lips to his. “Maybe I don’t want the gentleman,” she muttered. “Kiss me, Alex.”
Whatever measure of control he’d maintained up until that second finally snapped. Easing her down onto her back, he parted the lapels of her robe. Lust was a kick to his chest. But it was wrapped in wonder and tenderness. He touched a tight, rosy nipple. “You’re so damned beautiful.” The words stuck in his throat. He felt he could barely breathe.
“I look like a clown.”
He heard the feminine pique in her words and had to smile. “You may be a trifle the worse for wear, dear Maria, but it only makes me want you more.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Is that how you win over your conquests? With outright lies?”
He put his hand, palm flat over her heart, cupping the curves of her breast. “I work too hard to have much of a personal life,” he said, willing to be brutally honest if it meant relieving her misgivings. “And when I do spend time with a woman, I am always honest.”
“Somehow, I believe you.” Her chest rose and fell with her quickened breathing. Despite her poor face, all he could see was the arousal darkening her gaze.
The sofa was oversize and perfectly designed for the things he had in mind. Easing down beside her on one elbow, he separated the robe completely, taking in the minuscule pair of satiny black undies she wore. He traced the tiny elastic edging, feeling the soft skin of her flat stomach.
Reluctantly, he gave her the truth he had promised. “We’re not going to be reckless, Maria. I draw the line at making love to an injured woman.”
“That’s not fair. I get a vote, don’t I?”
He shook his head. “Not tonight.” Though it would cost him dearly, he decided he could play with fire. Moving carefully so as not to cause her any distress, he sucked in a sharp breath when touching her hardened his sex to the point of pain. “God, you make me crazy,” he groaned.
Kissing her was like diving into a pool of quicksand. But aligning their bodies so that warm, feminine flesh nestled against him was far worse. Shaking, he slid a hand between her legs, noting the warmth and dampness that told him she was ready for his possession.
The foreplay tormented them both. Though he would have liked to pleasure her until she came apart in his arms, he feared her poor head would suffer for the orgasm. Reluctantly, he moved his fingers to less volatile territory.
She smelled of exotic shower gel and honeysuckle shampoo. Unable to resist a taste, he caught one nipple between his teeth and tugged gently. Maria cried out, her face now flushed with wild color. “Alex, please,” she begged, panting.
Temptation beckoned. The prospect of burying himself inside her and satisfying the craving that had built for weeks was almost irresistible. He could almost feel the warm clasp of her sex on his.
But when her fingers went to the buttons of his shirt, he stopped her, shuddering and dragging in great lungfuls of air as he struggled for control. “We can’t. We can’t. Not tonight.”
Had she been a hundred percent, she would have done everything in her power to change his mind. He knew that. But she was weak and hurting, her energy at a low ebb.
Tears glistened on her eyelashes, making him feel like the world’s biggest cad. “Go away,” she cried.
That was one request he couldn’t honor. He sat up, moving so that she rested her full length on her side with her head in his lap, her cheek on his thigh. Reaching for the remote, he backed to the opening scene and raised the volume. The film was a black-and-white classic.
He touched her forehead. “Rest, sweetheart. Please.”
Though her eyes were open, he couldn’t see her expression. For a little while, her body was tense, but gradually he felt her relax. When he thought she was half-asleep, he began to stroke her hair.
The experience changed him. He recognized the seismic shift and marveled at it. Work and pleasing his father had driven his life for so long he scarcely remembered any other way. But tonight...with Maria...he found himself yearning for something he couldn’t even identify.
He had never considered himself a jealous man. The truth was, he had never cared enough before for such an emotion to be an issue.
Maria responded to him physically. There was no question of that. But she guarded her feelings and emotions. Did she want anything more from him than physical release?
The thing that bothered