Page 61 of Incognito

“We’ll leave you alone,” Ella said, herding Natasha’s confused father out the door, and closing it behind them in record time.

“Hello, Tasha.”

That voice. Deep, with a hint of gravel that sent shivers rippling over her skin like a caress.

“What are you doing here?”

To her surprise, she managed to work her mouth and brain in sync, though now that her heart had kick-started again, the roaring of her pulse in her ears almost deafened her.

“I am here on official business.”

Dante hadn’t moved far into the room, giving her plenty of opportunity to study him. She’d never seen him like this: navy uniform, many medals pinned over his left breast pocket, hair slicked back without a curl in sight.

However, his expression threw her the most: uncertainty warred with hope, warmth battled with—dare she say it—desire?

“Official business, huh?”

He nodded, a stilted action that fit his formal attire, a regal action befitting a prince.

“Yes. I’ve come to apologise for my atrocious behaviour when we last met.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his stareboring into her, silently imploring her to listen. “And to convince the woman I love to take a chance on me again?”

His self-deprecating smile held little amusement. “A very important task I couldn’t entrust to any of my subordinates, so here I am.”

Shock made Natasha gape, as she tried to assimilate his declaration. Surely he didn’t mean it? This had to be part of some elaborate game to get her onside again. Maybe he wanted to buy the hotel? Hell, anything could be possible at this stage, his declaration of love had been that outlandish.

“Well?”

As his imperious brow rose, she snapped out of the befuddled fog pervading her from the minute he stepped into the room.

“Well, what? Do you seriously expect me to believe I’m the woman you love?” She barked out a laugh devoid of amusement. “Come on, I’m not that gullible.”

She folded her arms and propped on the hall table, wishing her pulse would slow down, wishing he didn’t look so darn appealing even trussed up like a rigid soldier.

She waved him away. “I’m sorry you’ve come all this way, but Gina’s playing some warped trick on both of us, sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, when we both know you are duty bound to marry your perfect chosen bride and live happily ever after.”

“But I love you,” he said, his steady, blue-eyed stare compelling, hypnotising, mesmerising.

In that moment, the penny dropped. Not just one, but a whole bagful of screeching metal crashing down on her conscious and making her see red.

“Let me guess, you want the dutiful wife at home and a Melbourne mistress on the side.” Her fingers curled into her palms and she could easily slug him, if it wouldn’t cause an international incident. “Do you honestly think you can feed mea few pathetic lines of love, and hope I’ll wait around for you whenever you’re in town?”

She paused, wishing the film of crimson mist blurring her eyes would clear so she could give him a proper staring down.

“Well, I’ve got news for you, your royal delusional highness.” She jabbed a finger at him. “You can’t just waltz back into my life and say you love me and think that makes everything okay. It doesn’t work that way.” She snorted in disgust. “Besides, after what you’ve just implied, I wouldn’t go near you if you were the last man on earth.”

Dante didn’t flinch, but the blazing expression in his eyes made her want to take a step back.

“Maybe I can convince you otherwise?” His soft voice held a hint of menace.

“Forget it.”

She tilted her head up and squared her shoulders, pleased with her unwavering stance when inside she quaked like jelly. But before she could react, Dante had crossed the room, hauled her into his arms, and locked his lips on hers.

“No—ooo…”

Her protest died on a moan as his lips gentled, coaxed, and finally triumphed when she opened her mouth beneath his, desperate for the first thrust of his tongue, challenging him, wanting this kiss to last forever.

Heat streaked through her body, waking her dormant libido with a jolt, a desperate hunger that clamoured for release.

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