‘Problem, Eva?’
‘Why do you ask?’ she flashed defensively.
‘You’re frowning again?’
‘I don’t have a problem.’
Even Eva Skavanga had to remember her manners.
‘And I’m very grateful to you for allowing me to stay the night.’
There was no problem. The palazzo was as big as a hotel. Her fantasies would be the closest she’d ever get to Roman. And that was quite close enough.
* * *
They had made their way back to the dance floor again. She barely had a chance to register this before one of the girls she’d been talking to earlier pushed her playfully into Roman’s arms. Before she could disentangle herself Roman tightened his grip. She stiffened immediately.
‘You’re not going to cause a scene, I hope, Eva?’
She didn’t trust herself to speak while her body was busily registering every tiny shift and change in Roman’s muscular frame. ‘Surely, I don’t have to dance with you?’ Her throat tightened on every syllable.
‘Would that be so terrible?’
Roman’s voice was warm and sexy, and everyone was watching them to see what she would do.
‘I don’t think you have a choice.’
Didn’t she know it! She turned to smile at the other girl, who was now dancing happily with her partner. ‘One dance,’ she gritted out ungraciously.
‘One dance will be more than enough for me,’ Roman assured her with amusement.
‘NO TRICKS, NO JOKES at my expense, no underhand tactics of any kind,’ Eva warned as they stood facing each other on the dance floor. Her body, predictably enough, was going crazy during this speech.
‘If only you didn’t need me quite so much,’ Roman taunted softly. ‘If only you could vent your anger openly as you are used to doing, and tell me exactly where you’d like me to go. You’d feel so much better, wouldn’t you, Eva?’
Smug bastard. Why had she taken so much trouble tracking him down?
Every nerve ending in her body answered that question.
And she had always prided herself on being strong? Her body was softening, while her nipples were tight little buds of hard rebellion. And as for the rest of her—
It was better not to think about the rest of her. Her frustrated body was responding to Roman as if it had identified a solution to its problem in the shape of a man who knew everything about a woman’s needs and how to serve them. And her body was in no rush to let him go. She should have stayed in Skavanga and intensified her campaign against him.
Really? Are you sure that’s what you would have preferred to do, rather than come here to this sultry island and dance with this man?
‘Round about now,’ Roman murmured with his mouth very close to her ear, ‘I’m betting you’re thinking, why did I take so much trouble tracking him down?’
‘What?’ The word exploded out of her. Forcing a deep, calming breath into her lungs, she steadied herself before assuring him, ‘I’m here, and I’m staying until I get what I want from you.’
Roman laughed. ‘You might get more than you expect.’
‘I’ll just have to take my chances.’
‘Indeed you will,’ he agreed, testing her bravado by tightening his grip.
‘I said, no funny business,’ she reminded him as her senses tripped off into hyperspace.
‘You wish. Are you comfortable, Eva? Is there enough space between us?’
‘Just be glad I’m not wearing stilettos.’ She shot a sweet smile at him for the benefit of any onlookers. There could never be enough space between them.
‘Should we be moving?’ she suggested as the band started to play.
‘My apologies,’ Roman murmured. ‘I was thinking of something else.’
‘How flattering.’
‘I was just wondering what you’re frightened of—’
‘I’m not frightened,’ she cut in.
‘You’re very tense...’
Her cheeks were burning. Her body was in turmoil. She could not have anticipated how it would feel to be drawn up close against Roman’s hard frame. And she wasn’t about to tell him that. ‘Dancing with me must be such a chore for you,’ she said instead.
‘A workload beyond imagining.’ Shifting position, he made sure that even more of her was welded to him.
They did move well together...very well.
‘People are staring at us. What must they think?’
‘That you’re new in the village. They’re wondering who you are and why you came here with me.’
‘I hope they don’t think we’re in some sort of relationship?’
‘Almost certainly.’
‘And you don’t care?’ She gazed up and shook her head.
‘I never explain my private life and I certainly don’t excuse it.’
She would hold herself stiffly from now on. She wouldn’t look at him.
But there was something about Roman that drew her gaze. The quirk of his brow, the curve of his mouth, and that wicked glint in his eyes.
‘Do you get some sort of kick out of tormenting me?’ she demanded when he surprised her by glancing down with amusement as if he knew her fascination.
‘I get a kick out of you staring at me.’
His frankness was alarming.
‘And as for teasing you? Yes. I like that too. Let’s call it payback, shall we, Eva? Though you must agree there’s a type of chemistry between us that’s bound to cause comment—’
‘I do not agree,’ she flashed.
Roman smiled down at her. ‘You’re so attractive when you’re angry. And you’ll regret it if you pull away,’ he added when the music stopped. ‘This next dance is one you shouldn’t miss.’
He was smiling that dangerous smile again, and that made her suspicious. ‘What’s so special about it?’
‘Tell me afterwards, Eva.’
‘Do you mind if I get my head out of your chest first?’
‘Be my guest.’
Wrenching herself back, she noticed people watching them. What did they expect? What were they waiting for?
There was only one certainty: Roman had won another round and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
* * *
He loved the way Eva blushed. Dancing with Eva was fun and sexy. He couldn’t remember having such a good time. She had natural rhythm, and he enjoyed teasing her. Eva was easy to tease and easy to rouse to passion. Her feelings were near the surface and yet strangely bottled in. When she forgot to be tense, he felt her potential to be wild and free and deeply sensual. Who wouldn’t be excited by that? But why did such an attractive woman sell herself so short? Was she really so inexperienced? Eva’s reputation did her no favours, he suspected.
She