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Good, he was not alone in this. Sexual desire pulsed from her in drenching waves. Which made the reticence in her eyes all the more intriguing.

  Enough!

  In three strides, he stood in front of her. She made a high, surprised noise as he tugged her close. Without giving her a chance to protest further, he swooped down and took her lips with his.

  She tasted glorious. Like a shot of premium tequila on a sultry night. Like warm sunshine and decadent, sticky desserts. Like jumping off the highest peak of an icy mountain with nothing beneath him but air and infinite possibilities.

  Narciso’s lids slid shut against the drugging sensation of her lips.

  Madre di Dio! He was hard. Harder than he’d ever been. And he’d only been kissing her a few seconds.

  She made another sound in her throat and her lips parted. Her tongue darted out to meet his and he plunged in, desperate for more, desperate to discover her every secret.

  He deepened the kiss and groaned as her hands slid up his biceps to entwine around his shoulders. In a curiously innocent move, she tentatively caressed his nape before boldly spiking her fingers into his hair.

  The scrape of her fingers against his scalp made him shudder with escalating arousal. Raising his head, he gazed down into eyes darkened with desire. ‘Amante, you already know what pleases me.’

  Shock clouded her expression, as if what she’d achieved had stunned her.

  Without giving her a chance to speak, he took her luscious mouth again. The highly potent sound of their kisses echoed in the room as they devoured each other.

  Pulling her even closer, he finally touched the pulse that had taunted him all evening. It sang beneath his touch, racing with her excitement.

  She inhaled deeply, and her breasts smashed against his chest. He cupped one, glorying in the weight and perfect fit of it as his thumb brushed across one rigid nub.

  She jerked and her teeth sank into her bottom lip. With a rough sound, she pulled away.

  Narciso continued to play with her nipple as they stared at each other. Her mouth, wet and slightly swollen, parted as she sucked in panicked breaths.

  ‘You like the way I make you feel?’ He brought his other hand up from her waist and cupped her other breast, attending to the equally stiff and aching peak. ‘I promise I will make you feel even better. Now take your hair down and show me how gorgeous you really are.’

  * * *

  The words pulled Ruby from the drugged stupor she was drowning in. Reality didn’t rush in, it trickled in slowly.

  Blinking eyelids heavy with desire, she tried to focus on something other than his arrestingly gorgeous face—the part not covered by his mask.

  First, she noticed the stunning chandelier. Then a repeat of that bold dragon motif from downstairs on the wall behind his shoulder. Reality rushed in faster. Stunningly designed black velvet sofas, including an authentic French chaise longue perfect for reclining in...

  Then her focus drew in closer. She glanced down at the powerful hands cupping her breasts.

  The sight was so erotically intoxicating it nearly knocked her off her feet.

  Sensation shot between her thighs, stinging so painfully, she wanted to place her hand there, seek some sort of relief.

  ‘Take your hair down for me,’ he insisted again.

  She came plunging back down to earth. ‘No!’

  Telling herself she didn’t care about the jaw that tightened in displeasure, she took several steps away from his hot, tempting body.

  Focus, Ruby!

  The last time she’d mixed business with pleasure, she’d almost ended up becoming the one thing she despised above all else—a participant in infidelity. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t known Simon was married. The very thought of what could’ve happened made shame lodge in her belly.

  She was here to get Narciso Valentino to honour his deal with her, not to get pulled into the same dangerous vortex of emotions that led to nothing but pain and heartache.

  Her father’s inability to limit his sexual urges to his marital bed and her mother’s indecision whether to fight or turn a blind eye had made her childhood a living hell. It’d been the reason why she’d slept most nights with her headphones on and music blaring in her ears. Even then she’d been unable to block out the blistering rows or her mother’s heart-wrenching sobs.

  And after her experience with Simon, there was no way would she allow herself to jump on that unpredictable roller coaster.

  She took another step back, despite the magnetic pull of desire dragging her to Narciso. Despite the soul-deep notion that sex with him would be pulse-poundingly breathtaking. Despite—

  Despite nothing!

  Her treacherous genetic make-up didn’t mean she would allow herself to fall into the same trap as her mother just because an unrepentant, unscrupulous playboy like Narciso Valentino crooked his wicked finger.

  But she couldn’t risk alienating him before she got what she’d come here for. Licking tingling lips, she forced her brain to track.

  She cast her gaze around the large, luxuriously appointed suite. Seeing the extensive, well-stocked bar on the far side of the room, she made a beeline for it. ‘Here, let me get you another drink.’

  ‘You don’t need to get me drunk to have your way with me, amante.’

  She flushed and stopped, whirling to find him directly behind her. The sheer size of him, the arousal stamped so clearly in his eyes, made her breath fracture. ‘Stop calling me that.’

  A small smile played around his exquisite mouth. ‘You know what it means.’

  She nodded. ‘Yes, I’m Italian.’

  ‘And I’m Sicilian. Big difference, but we will speak your language for now.’

  ‘Whatever language we speak, I don’t want you referring to me as a...as your...’

  ‘Lover?’

  ‘Yes. I don’t like it.’

  ‘What do you want me to call you?’

  ‘Just call me Ruby.’ She didn’t mind telling him her name. In order to explain her presence here, she would have to disclose who she was.

  So no harm done.

  ‘Ruby.’

  Definitely lots and lots of harm done. The way he said her name—wrapped his mouth and tongue around it in a slow caress—made her pulse leap crazily.

  ‘Ruby. It suits you perfectly,’ he murmured.

  Against her will, his response drew her interest. ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Your name matches the shade of your mouth after I’ve thoroughly kissed it. I imagine the same would apply to other parts of your body by the time we’re done.’

  Her flush deepened. ‘Seriously?’

  He laughed but the hunger in his eyes didn’t abate. ‘Too much?’

  ‘Much too much.’

  He shrugged and nodded to the bar. ‘I’ll give you the reprieve you seek. But only for a little while.’

  She dived behind the bar and gathered the first bottles that came to hand. Almost on automatic she replicated one of her favourite creations and slid it across the shiny surface.

  He picked it up and sipped without taking his eyes off her. He rolled the drink in his mouth before his eyes slowly widened. ‘You’re very talented.’

  Pleasure rushed through her. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Prego.’ He threw back the rest of the drink and set the glass down with a decisive click. ‘But enough with the foreplay, Ruby. Come here.’

  Heart pounding, with nowhere to hide, she approached him.

  ‘Give me what I want. Now.’

  She debated for a tense few seconds. Then, figuring she had nothing to lose, she complied.

  Her hair was thick, long and often times unmanageable. She’d spent almost an hour wrestling it into place tonight and in the end had chosen to wear it u
p. Her effort to straighten it would’ve worn out by now, and she couldn’t help but fidget when his gaze raked over the golden-brown tresses once, twice and over again.

  ‘You’re exquisite,’ he breathed after an endless moment during which her stomach churned with alien emotion. ‘Your skin is flawless and I want to drown in your eyes, watch them light up with pleasure when I take you.’

  Ruby couldn’t believe mere words could create such heat inside her. Hell, everything about him made her hot and edgy.

  She needed to nip this insanity in the bud before it went any further. ‘I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that something more was going to happen between us. You won’t be...taking me.’

  ‘Will I not?’ he asked silkily, his finger drifting down her cheek to settle beneath her chin. ‘And what makes you say that?’

  ‘Because you don’t really want me.’

  His laugh was rich, deep and incredibly seductive.

  ‘Every nerve in my body disagrees with that statement. But if you need proof...’ He bent low, scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.

  His laughter increased at her outraged squeal. ‘Put me down!’

  The hallway passed in a blur as he took her deeper into the suite. Her hair entangled with his long legs as he strode with unwavering purpose.

  ‘I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doing but I demand you put me down right—’ Her breath whooshed out of her lungs as she was dumped on a bed. A very large emperor-size bed with slate-coloured sheets and over a dozen pillows.

  ‘You were saying?’

  She brushed her hair out of her eyes and saw him tugging off his shoes. When he unhooked his belt, she scrambled off the bed.

  He caught her easily and placed her back in the centre. ‘Are you going to be a good girl and wait for me?’ Silver eyes speared her.

  ‘Wait for... Hell, no!’

  He stepped forward and caught her chin in his hand. When his head started to descend, she jerked away. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

  ‘Capturing your attention for a moment. You don’t need to be frightened, dolce mia. Nothing will happen in this room without your consent.’

  Oddly, she believed him. ‘You don’t need to kiss me to capture my attention.’

  Slowly he straightened and dropped his hand. ‘Shame. Let me remind you of some ground rules before we proceed. We’re not supposed to reveal ourselves to each other. However, since you’ve done me the honour of revealing your name to me, I’ll grant you the courtesy of removing my mask. But you’ll give me your word that it will stay between us, sì?’ He started unbuttoning his shirt, revealing mouth-watering inches of golden skin.

  Heat slammed into her chest and she sucked in a gulping breath.

  Crunch time. Time to get this dangerously bizarre situation over and done with.

  ‘There’s no need. I already know who you are. You’re Narciso Valentino. You’re the reason I’m here in Macau.’

  CHAPTER FOUR

  HE FROZE AT her announcement. A second later, he drew the mask over his head, and Ruby got her first full glimpse of Narciso Valentino.

  He was breathtakingly gorgeous. With a definite edge of danger that sent her already thundering pulse straight into bungee-jump mode.

  She watched his face grow taut. Watchful...condemning.

  ‘You know who I am.’ His words were icily precise, the warmth in his tone completely gone.

  Licking dry lips, she nodded. His other hand dropped from his belt, leaving her curiously disappointed.

  ‘You’re American.’

  ‘Yes, I live in New York, same as you. That’s where I came from.’

  ‘And you followed me all the way to Macau. Why?’ The clipped demand came with eyes narrowed into cold slits.

  A mixture of anger and trepidation rushed through her, propelling her from the bed.

  He caught her easily. ‘Move again and I’ll be forced to restrain you.’

  Panic flared through her. Tugging at his hands, she fought to free herself. Before she could fathom his intentions, her wrists were bound to the bedpost with velvet rope he’d pulled from the side of the bed.

  She looked from her wrists to his face, unable to believe what was happening. He tossed his mask on the bed, whipped the unbound tie from his neck and flung it across the room, barely suppressed fury in the movement. ‘Okay, fine, you’ve made your point. But you can’t keep me prisoner for ever.’

  ‘Watch me.’

  ‘I could scream, you know.’

  Nice, Ruby. Nice.

  ‘You could. And I can turn you over to the management and let them deal with what can only be regarded as a security breach. Trust me, breaches aren’t taken lightly.’

  She tugged at her bound wrists. ‘I can’t believe you tied me up.’

  ‘You left me no choice. Now start talking before I call security.’

  Her breath caught as images tumbled through her head of being stuck in a foreign prison. Aside from her roommate, Annie, no one knew her whereabouts. And even if Annie tracked her down to Macau, she wouldn’t have the first clue where to find her.

  ‘Tell me what you want to know,’ she offered in a rush.

  ‘Is Ruby really your name?’ he asked, his gaze dropping to her lips.

  Remembering what he’d said about her mouth, she felt heat spike through her belly again.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And your earlier assurance that we hadn’t met before?’

  ‘Is true. Although we almost did...last week.’

  One sleek brow shot upward. ‘How?’

  ‘I tried to find you at a nightclub—Riga—but you were leaving when I arrived.’

  He prowled closer to the bed, and a fresh load of anxiety coursed through her system. Hands poised on lean hips, he stared down at her.

  ‘I’ve had women do...unexpected things to get my attention but I don’t think I’ve had the privilege of a full-blown crazy stalker before.’ His eyes raked her from head to toe. ‘Perhaps I should’ve made it happen sooner.’

  ‘I’m not a crazy stalker!’ She yanked at the restraints and only succeeded in tightening them.

  ‘Of course not. Because those ones readily admit to their charges.’

  ‘Look, I can explain. Just...untie me.’

  He ignored her and leaned down, placing his palms flat on the bed so his face was level with hers. ‘We could’ve had so much fun, amante. Why did you have to spoil it?’ There was genuine regret in his tone, but bitterness had crept in with the iciness.

  ‘I have a genuine reason for being here.’

  ‘For your own sake, I hope so. I don’t take lightly to being manipulated.’

  Her mind flashed to earlier in the evening. Watching him toy with his opponent had shown her just how dangerous this man was. Despite the outward charm and spellbinding magnetism, he could become lethal on the turn of a dime.

  He turned and prowled to the window. With jerky movements, he tore off his expensive shirt, sending cufflinks she was almost certain were made with black diamonds pinging across the room.

  Tossing the shirt the way his bow tie had gone, he shoved his hands into his pockets.

  The movement contracted his bronzed, strongly muscled back. Among the electrons firing crazily in her brain came the thought that this was the first time she’d come this close to a semi-naked man worth looking at.

  He turned and the sight of his naked torso was almost too much to bear. A light smattering of hair grew outward from the middle of his sculpted chest and arrowed down to disappear into his waistband.

  Heat intensified as her gaze landed on his flat brown nipples. A decadent shudder coursed through her. She grasped the sturdy, intricately carved bedpost made of highly polish
ed Chinese cedarwood, pulled herself closer to the edge of the bed and peered closer at the intricate knots that bound her.

  ‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he rasped.

  ‘I can’t stay trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey all night long.’

  ‘Answer my questions and I’ll consider freeing you.’

  ‘You’ll consider it?’

  ‘Have you forgotten already that I hold all the cards here?’ He sauntered back and stopped in front of her.

  Suddenly, Ruby wished she’d stayed put in the middle of the bed. This close the heat emanating from his satin-like skin blanketed her. The urge to move her fingers just that little bit and touch the skin covering his ribcage was immense.

  ‘Go ahead,’ he invited softly. Silkily.

  Flames leapt through her bloodstream. ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘You want to touch me. Go ahead. We can pick up this conversation in a moment once you’ve satisfied your craving.’

  ‘I... You’re wrong. I don’t want to touch you. There’s no craving. What I want is to be set free—’

  Her words froze when he placed large hands on her hips and pulled her into his body.

  ‘Well, despite you ruining my evening, I still have a craving for you.’

  He smothered her protests by capturing her mouth again. It was as potent as before but this time there was a rough demand in his kiss that spoke of his fury beneath all that outward calm.

  But rough didn’t mean less pleasurable. Her lips parted, welcoming the jagged thrust of his tongue and the domineering pressure of his kiss.

  She moaned before she could stop herself, flexing fingers that wouldn’t obey their order to stay put, and touching the velvety smoothness of his neck and collarbone.

  By the time he lifted his head, they were both panting. He slowly licked his lips, savouring her taste. The sight of his wet tongue sent liquid fire straight to that raging hunger between her thighs.

  Ruby shut her eyes in shuddering despair and opened them to find him sliding off her shoes.

  ‘God, will you please stop doing things like that?’ she snapped.

  ‘I’m into kinky when the occasion calls for it, but I don’t generally risk puncturing a lung with stiletto heels unless the payback is worth it.’ He flung her shoes away. ‘Do you need help with your dress?’