The Platinum Collection: A Diamond Deal. Susan Stephens

‘You will tell me why eventually,’ he murmured.

      ‘I will tell you what?’ she snapped defensively.

      The elderly matchmakers had picked up his interest in Eva, and he had no intention of disappointing them when the next dance began, though Eva was growing increasingly edgy, as if she suspected she was being set up.

      ‘I don’t enjoy dancing,’ she said, confirming his thinking by glancing towards the onlookers as if she would like to be one of them. ‘I avoid it when I can.’

      ‘In the same way that you avoid men?’

      She was shocked into silence for a moment. ‘How do you work that out?’

      ‘I hope you’re not going to deny it, Eva?’

      ‘I’m just not interested—though I don’t expect you to understand. I just don’t consider serial dating compulsory—’

      ‘Calm down, Eva. I’m not looking for a fight. It’s a free world. You do what you want.’

      ‘I’m relieved to hear it.’

      ‘Sarcasm doesn’t suit you. And neither does lying about your interest in men.’

      And when she looked ready to go off like a rocket, he explained, ‘You tell me one thing while your body tells me something else.’

      ‘I’ve been dancing,’ she snapped, her eyes blazing fire. ‘And that requires my body to move, in case you hadn’t noticed.’

      He laughed. ‘Not quite so enthusiastically against mine—though please forgive me if I’ve misinterpreted the signals.’

      She huffed as the music began.

      ‘Has someone hurt you, Eva?’

      ‘I haven’t come to the party to discuss my personal life with you. I’m here for one reason, and one reason only, and that’s Skavanga.’

      ‘So you were just born awkward?’

      As Roman stared at her with open amusement, Eva’s ever-dodgy control valve blew. ‘If you mean, do I know how to speak up for myself? Then, yes. I do. And if you mean, do I know how to avoid becoming another statistic for some overconfident bed jockey to brag about? Then, yes. I’m happy to tell you that I can do that too—’

      The air rushed out of her as Roman yanked her into his arms.

      ‘Eva,’ he growled. ‘You talk too much.’

      * * *

      A cheer distracted her. Turning, Eva saw that the bride and groom had just come onto the floor to join them in the traditional dance. Everyone was cheering. Even she forgot Roman’s insufferable arrogance and smiled. That was the thing about weddings. You could let yourself go without people thinking you were slightly mad. And this did seem to be what everyone had been waiting for.

      The dance had barely begun before the groom swept the bride into his arms and carried her away. That was the other thing about weddings. Sex. It was on everyone’s mind, not just the bride and groom.

      ‘What’s happening now?’ Eva was startled to see the circle reforming around them. ‘Must we do this?’ She shot an anxious glance at Roman. ‘Surely, you’ve had enough of dancing by now?’

      ‘Eva Skavanga losing her nerve?’ he taunted.

      ‘Is it that obvious?’ she scoffed.

      ‘Don’t worry, Eva. You don’t have to do anything. Just leave everything to me.’

      ‘Oh, now I’m reassured.’

      Her sarcasm was lost in his arms as the music stopped and Roman kissed her.

      It wasn’t a polite kiss. It wasn’t polite at all. He kissed her firmly and thoroughly, and with a great deal of skill.

      She was still reeling from shock when people started cheering. Lights exploded behind her eyes, but no one cared, no one noticed, and then Roman let her go, leaving her trembling in front of him. She covered her mouth as if to hide her arousal. That was her first proper kiss by a man who knew what he was doing. Roman had invaded her mouth with the same confidence he did everything else. And she liked it. She had liked it a lot. Her fantasies were nothing but empty shells compared to that. Roman’s lips had been firm and persuasive, and he smelled so good.

      The next couple had entered the centre of the ring, and something made her want to watch them. When the time came for them to embrace, the man leaned forward and pecked his partner chastely on each cheek.

      ‘That’s it?’ She flashed an accusing stare at Roman, who cocked a brow and said nothing.

      Of course he said nothing. Count Roman Quisvada was a shameless manipulator. The dance was just a harmless party game, not the prelude to an orgy.

      ‘Problem, Eva?’

      ‘Yes. You.’ She stared angrily at him. ‘How dare you?’

      ‘How dare I?’ Roman enquired lazily, easing onto one hip.

      ‘Don’t play the innocent with me,’ she flashed. ‘I know what you did.’

      ‘I should hope so. But now it’s time for us to go—’

      ‘Time for you to go,’ she said pointedly.

      Ignoring this, he made her a mock bow. ‘May I thank you for this dance?’

      ‘If you want a scene?’

      ‘Not especially.’ He steadied her as she stumbled in her rush to get away from him. ‘Ready to go, Eva?’

      With a huff, she stalked off, heading for the shadows at the side of the bar where she could lick her wounds in private. She was still reeling from the kiss. Her body would never forget the sensation. She would never forget how much she longed for more. The suggestive way Roman’s tongue had tangled with hers, the touch of his strong warm hands on her naked arms, and the incredible sensation when his body had tightened against her—

      And worst of all, her pathetically needy response.

      He’d played her like a damn violin in front of everyone.

      It wasn’t even a proper kiss. It was designed to mock her—to pay her back for her behaviour towards Roman at her sister’s wedding, and later at the mine. It was nothing more than a power play.

      Well, hooray for him. He’d won another game. But she wasn’t nearly finished yet.

      ‘Another dance?’ a husky voice behind her suggested dryly. ‘Or have I exhausted you, Eva?’

      ‘You’ve exhausted my patience,’ she said, spinning round.

      ‘And if I were the last man on earth...’ Leaning back against the bar, Roman smiled down at her, ‘You’d still want to go to bed with me. Wouldn’t you, Eva?’

      ‘You are—’

      ‘I know what I am,’ he cut across her roughly. ‘The question is, do you know who you are?’

      ‘You’re not even ashamed?’

      He shrugged. ‘Why should I be? I enjoyed it and so did you.’

      ‘You think?’ she derided.

      He enjoyed it?

      ‘I know,’ he argued, holding her angry stare.

      This could have been so much easier to deal with if Roman hadn’t been so hot.

      And had danger not proved quite so addictive.

      ‘If there are any more gaps in your education, Eva, I’d be only too pleased to fill them in.’

      ‘I bet you would.’

      Her mind dropped below his belt. A pulse throbbed insistently between her legs. Her breath caught. Her heart thundered. She should run a mile. But