Six Greek Heroes. Cathy Williams

wanted me to relax. Because you cared.”

      And it occurred to her that sophisticated, or not, she’d tapped into a real well of pleasure as far as her tycoon companion was concerned. He really did appreciate the personal touch. She beamed at him.

      “And the night, it is not over. This wonderful dinner is only the beginning.”

      She swallowed hastily at the look in his eyes. She didn’t think he was referring to the movie. If he meant what she suspected he meant, she would not deny him. She couldn’t.

      She loved him and if she were ever going to make love with a man, it would be Sebastian Kouros.

      She licked suddenly dry lips and forced herself to say what needed to be said. “Tonight can be as special as you want it to be.”

      Recognition and desire flared in his eyes before a pained expression came over his features. “I want you, but I am not promising marriage here.”

      If he had one more ounce of tactlessness and one less of romantic idealism, he would be so basic, he wouldn’t even have a rung on the evolutionary ladder. He was telling her he appreciated what she’d done tonight, would probably like even better the use of her body, but none of it altered the truth between them.

      They had no future.

      “I never thought you were. How could you? I’m Andrea’s daughter and the last thing your family needs is a constant reminder of the pain she brought you all.”

      He opened his mouth to speak again, but she jumped up from the table. She’d had enough of this conversation. “Let me get dessert.”

      One more minute in his company right now and she would end up telling him to call one of his sophisticated women friends as commitment phobic as he was to make his night special.

      “Rachel.”

      She didn’t turn around. “I’ll be right back.”

      “I didn’t say it to hurt you, but it wouldn’t be fair to take you to my bed without spelling out the terms.”

      “Of course.” But it hurt just the same and she could no more help that than he could help not loving her.

      Sebastian watched Rachel disappear through the door to the kitchen, frustration knotting his insides.

      Could he have handled that any worse?

      He had made her coming to his bed sound like a meaningless encounter between two people intent on scratching a sexual itch. It was nothing like that. He did not love her, could not marry her, but he desired her with a multilayered intensity he’d never known with another woman.

      That’s what he should have said, not the tactless spiel about not expecting a marriage proposal afterward.

      When she came back in with the dessert, she gave him no opportunity to rectify his error, keeping up an animated flow of conversation about the movie they were going to watch, how kind his housekeeper had been to give up her kitchen and how much Rachel loved the decor in his apartment.

      She’d given him an odd look when he’d told her the man’s name who had designed it, but had not asked about him. She was too busy changing the subject to something equally impersonal, but when she moved as if to sit in a chair instead of next to him on the sofa to watch the movie, he’d had enough.

      His hand snaked out and grabbed her. “You’re supposed to cuddle next to me, remember?”

      Her mouth, which had been mobile for the past twenty minutes, clamped shut.

      “It is part of the special night you planned for me.”

      Instead of arguing like he expected, would even have welcomed, because it would have given him a chance to clear the air, she nodded jerkily.

      He pulled her onto the sofa with him, before pushing the volume button on the remote control. Old movie music filled the room as he tugged her into a reclining position beside him. He couldn’t help himself, but he wondered why she didn’t fight it. She wasn’t happy with him.

      Despite her false front of bright chatter, he had no problem discerning that truth.

      She gasped as they made body contact and he settled one arm around her waist. He looked down to find her eyes wide and her bow lips parted in surprise.

      “This is called cuddling.” He curled her against him as close as they could get with their clothes on.

      At the feel of her warm soft body, he forgot his intention to force a confrontation and simply took what was on offer.

      Maybe she didn’t mind the fact that he wasn’t planning on a happily ever after with her. Maybe he’d mistaken her anger.

      He squeezed her waist. “Lay your head on my shoulder and relax.”

      Letting her head rest against him, her hand settled like a shy butterfly on his chest.

      “Comfortable?” he asked, wondering how long he would last without touching her.