The King's Bride By Arrangement - Annie West Page 0,33

he hadn’t merely taken a lover last night. He’d deflowered a virgin. While Eva had seemed fine earlier this morning—more than fine, in fact—he couldn’t kick the concern weighing on him. She’d been as enthusiastic as him for morning sex but was she now regretting it?

Where was she?

The woman he’d once thought he knew had changed. There was no saying what she’d do or where she was. Maybe she’d gone, leaving him behind as she’d done last night, heading off alone and unprotected for that nightclub.

The thought made his hackles rise and every protective instinct kick in.

A second later he was taking the stairs two at a time.

He found her in the kitchen, barefoot and wearing the short, satiny dress that clung to her curves.

Paul swallowed and stopped in the doorway.

She stood at the coffee machine. It was a large commercial-grade one but she looked as at home as she did gracing a royal ball.

Her hair was up, but not in its usual, almost severe style. It was bunched up loose and low, looking as if one quick tug would make it tumble free.

Paul had instant recall of the texture of those long tresses against his skin. He’d never made love to a woman with hair like Eva’s. Hadn’t realised how incredibly alluring those long swathes of silk could be.

He drew a sharp breath, pungent with the aroma of fresh coffee and the lingering scent of Eva.

Hell! They needed to have a serious discussion, and here he was, imagining her naked in bed with him. Or not even naked. Memory hammered into him of Eva on that huge, scrubbed wooden table, her thighs warm around him, her head flung back and breasts thrusting forward as she rode out the orgasm he’d given her. So beautiful. So...

‘Paul!’

She swung round, a cup in her hand, and was staring at him as if she’d never seen him.

If he’d hoped for a smile or any sort of welcome he was doomed to disappointment. His lover—his lover. Satisfaction stirred at the thought—was frowning as if wondering why he was here.

Pushing back his shoulders, Paul sauntered into the kitchen, the old flagstones smooth beneath his feet.

‘That smells amazing. Can you make me some too?’

For a moment she didn’t speak, just stared at him with wide eyes the colour of the wintry sky outside.

And hello to you too.

It had been a long time since Paul had done a morning-after but he recalled them being a whole lot more affectionate than this. Eva looked at him as if he were something conjured from a nightmare.

Except... Her gaze skittered from his, down, a long way down, then up again, slowly. The tip of her tongue caught at the corner of her mouth and her nostrils flared as she breathed deep.

When she met his eyes again, she looked a little dazed. Or was that masculine ego talking? He almost forgave her for that initial horrified look.

He covered the rest of the space between them to stand a breath away from her. She smelt like coffee and that distinctive green floral scent of hers. And the memory of rapture.

A frisson of arousal shuddered through him and he contemplated deferring chitchat for something more satisfying.

‘Of course.’ Her voice was crisp, at odds with the expression on her face. ‘I’ll make it while you get dressed.’ Her gaze dropped as far as his shoulders then quickly rose.

‘That’s okay. I’ll wait for it. Besides, we have things to discuss.’

Because those furtive glances gave the lie to her tone. She might want to pretend nothing had happened between them but Paul refused to let her retreat again, acting as if they were no more than polite strangers. He’d stop her from re-erecting those barriers if he had to stand here, naked, for the next hour.

She swallowed, and abruptly she didn’t look distant but vulnerable.

‘I’d prefer it if you were dressed.’ Her breath was a barely audible sigh. ‘You’re too distracting like that.’

‘Good.’ He leaned down and brushed her lips with his, then lingered as he tasted her. His hand lifted to her cheek, his knuckles sliding down soft flesh.

‘Careful!’ She jerked back. ‘I don’t want to spill coffee on you. Really, you should get dressed.’

Her gaze left his face and focused on his groin where, even after their earlier, vigorous activity, his burgeoning interest was evident.

Paul’s mouth curved. That was better. Eva looked anything but distant now. Her eyes were round and her lips parted. She looked adorable.

‘On one condition.’ Her head jerked up and