The Mills & Boon Ultimate Christmas Collection. Kate Hardy

that was a surprise for both of us.”

      Her stomach felt as if it dropped about an inch or so as she replayed the words that had just passed between them. What she had said to him. And how he had not returned the sentiment. He had sidestepped. But he had not said that he wanted this too. She was confident that he wanted her, that he wanted her physically, but the rest of it...? She wasn’t so certain.

      And it mattered. It mattered so very much.

      She had learned too much in her time here in Petras. So much that she could scarcely sort it all out. She had learned more about herself than she had imagined there was to learn. She felt too full with it. With this new understanding of emotion. How she could want this man unconditionally, and yet wish strongly that he would fulfill a thousand little conditions she could never begin to list until she felt the lack of them.

      One thing was certain, a life of semi-isolation was simpler.

      The elevator doors slid open and Andres walked out ahead of her. She followed, emotion still swirling in her chest, in her head. She wondered how things had changed so quickly. How she had gone from simply feeling, simply wanting, to being made of feeling and wanting. The two were different things, she was coming to see.

      She followed him out into the hall, her heart thundering heavily. She waited while he unlocked the door, extending his arm, clearly indicating he wanted her to go in first.

      She walked past him, into the penthouse. She stopped, turning a full circle in the center of the open-plan living area, trying to orient to her surroundings. She had made a lot of assumptions about Andres based on the way the bedroom in the palace was decorated. The way that it was laid out. It was clear to her now that the palace really wasn’t him.

      He had said as much. Had said that he preferred to live in these other places. But she hadn’t realized just how little of him was reflected in that bedchamber.

      The far wall of the penthouse was made up entirely of windows, a glittering view of the city lights spread out before them. The furniture was low profile, black and brushed steel. The floors were very shiny black tile, so clean she could see her reflection in them. In fact, if Andres was paying attention, he would probably be able to use them to look up her skirt. She had to wonder then if that was actually their purpose.

      She was not the first woman he had brought here, that was for certain.

      Perhaps the floor tiles were all a part of the den of iniquity this place clearly was.

      “You do not look entirely impressed,” he said, closing the door behind him and walking deeper into the room.

      “It is different. That’s all.”

      “It’s more than that. Your lip is nearly curling.” He arched an eyebrow. “You disapprove.”

      “I was just pondering the finish on the tiles.”

      “What about it?” He set the bag that contained the cake on the end table by the couch.

      “I wondered if you keep it so shiny so you can...see beneath dresses and things.”

      Much to her surprise he laughed. “No, that isn’t why. Though I very much like the way your mind works. It seems a little bit twisted. Which I can appreciate.”

      “It was nothing more than logic. You have made me aggressively aware of your reputation.”

      “An interesting way of saying I have been honest with you.”

      A shiver racked her frame and she wrapped her arms around herself. “If you say so.”

      “I would never want to deceive you.” He closed the distance between them, tracing her cheekbone with the edge of his thumb. “You have been so protected.”

      “You always say that. But you forget. I know I spent a long time separated from society. In borderline isolation. But it doesn’t erase the tragedy that I experienced. It doesn’t take away that pain. Once you understand the evil people are willing to commit, you’re never the same. I have no experience of men and relationships, but I have seen the worst of people. The very worst. Yet I’m still breathing. I’m still standing. I am not someone in need of protection. Though your valor is appreciated.”

      “I do think you’re the first person to ever accuse me of possessing valor.”

      “At least I can be a first for you in some way.” She closed the distance between them, pressing a kiss to his lips.

      “You seem jealous.”

      She frowned. “Maybe I am.”

      “A bit possessive.”

      “Probably that too. But I don’t think it’s incredibly unreasonable that I should dislike the idea of you being with other women.”

      “Of course not. But what made you think of it?”

      “Being in this place. It is so clearly designed for seduction.”

      “It is. I won’t lie to you.” Her stomach fell further still. “It is, however, new and I have not yet had the chance to seduce anyone in it.”

      She felt more boosted from that than she should. “Oh.”

      “Does that please you?”

      She curled her fingers around his tie, holding him close to her. “Yes, it really does.”

      “You surprise me.”

      “I surprise myself. But I have never wanted anything bad enough to try and lay exclusive claim to it. You are the exception.”

      “I don’t usually like it when women get possessive of me. I feel, perhaps you are the exception for me, as well.”

      “I like the idea of that.”

      “You know what I like the idea of?” He released his hold on her and took one step back. “I like the idea of you taking that dress off.”

      “I thought you were supposed to be a master of seduction. Why should I be put in the position of seducing you?”

      He loosened his tie and she was mesmerized by the movement. By the slide of the silk through the knot, by the movement of his hand. He slipped it through his collar and let it fall to the floor before flicking two buttons on his shirt open. “Forgive me, Zara, but I had imagined I had already seduced you.”

      She smiled, surprised at how easy she found it. Then she reached behind her back, grabbing hold of the zipper tab on her silk dress and sliding it down. “Is that meant to imply that you are not already seduced? You are the one who was so desperate for me we had to rush here. We had to come here instead of the palace because of your urgency.”

      She looked down, at the clear outline of his arousal pushing against the front of his trousers.

      “Oh, yes,” she said, “I think it’s quite clear that I’ve already seduced you. You have seduced a great many women. You’ve told me yourself. I feel that I deserve to be part of that seduction.”

      “I washed your hair, woman. Was that not seductive?”

      “I am, it turns out, a very jealous beast. No. Your hair washing was not sufficient. I demand more.” She shrugged her shoulders and let her dress fall down into a silken pool at her feet. She was wearing nothing more than her very flimsy bra, panties and a pair of very bright red high heels that accentuated the shape of her legs. She did not feel embarrassed, or exposed. She felt powerful. Because she could see the heat in his eyes, see the tension in his body. She knew that he wanted her. She was certain of this, certain of him. At least in this moment. It was enough. For now, it was enough.

      He slipped his black jacket off, casting it onto the couch that was near him. He unbuttoned the cuffs on his sleeves, pushing both up over his forearms. “I see. And what will it take to seduce you?”

      “Take your shirt off. Slowly.”

      He said nothing,