‘How is he?’
‘Unforgiving. Of himself, mostly. But there’s more. Your room...he got rid of all the furniture. Curtains. Tore up the carpet. It’s all bare. He refuses to allow us to speak of you. It’s like you were never here.’
Thea’s stomach heaved, pain knifing her deep inside. Did he really want her out of his life so badly? Maybe it had been a mistake coming here. Her hands curled into fists, the nails cutting into her palms. No. Fear wasn’t going to win. She wouldn’t run from this.
Thea flexed her fingers. ‘Take me to him.’
Anna gave a tight smile. ‘He’s shut in his office—as usual.’
They walked in silence up the stairs. Past the magnificent paintings she’d first seen all those months ago. Then, this place had pressed in on her like a prison. Now, a feeling of calm washed over her. She’d come home—if only Christo would see that too.
Anna glanced back at Thea as they stood outside his closed door. She mouthed Good luck, then turned back and knocked.
‘Come.’
That voice. Stern and uncompromising, it slid through her like fire in her blood. Her body trembled—but not from fear. From the agony of being away from this man for so long.
Anna opened the door and Thea slid past her, not giving Christo any time. He looked up at her, his eyes blank. Then confused. Then—
‘What the hell are you doing here? Anna!’
The door had already snicked shut. Anna had sensibly gone.
‘Don’t blame her. I can be very persuasive when I want.’
He unfurled from his chair. All muscle and towering height. Funny, she’d never been intimidated by that. She noticed his clothes hung slightly looser. His trousers a touch lower on his hips. He wore a business shirt, top buttons open. Lean. Hungry. Predatory.
He canted forward, palms on the desktop. ‘Answer my question.’
Oh, he’d give her nothing. She’d have to work hard for everything today.
She loosened the tie in her hair. Ruffled her hands through its long waves, flattened by her helmet. He watched, those green eyes tracing its fall over her shoulders, moving down to the split of her unzipped jacket, her heavy studded belt, to her boots and back.
When his eyes met hers again they were wild and dark. She smiled. ‘You offered me my rings. I didn’t want them then, but I do now.’
He stood back and his shoulders dropped. What was that look on his face now? Like a cloud passing over the sun? It could have been relief or disappointment. He turned towards the safe hidden in a cupboard behind his desk. She saw nothing but the broad expanse of his shoulders, narrow hips, standing stiff and severe.
‘You should have called...’ Christo’s voice scored down her spine, rough as fingernails.
‘I was told you were unlikely to speak to me.’
‘You could have left a message.’
‘It was the right time to visit.’
The safe cracked open. He withdrew a box, turned and placed it on the desk in front of him.
‘I shouldn’t be surprised. You said you liked shiny things.’
She shrugged. ‘Being a young, single millionairess, it’s all about the sparkle.’
‘You don’t need those to do that.’ He nodded to the box. ‘You’re the belle of every ball.’
A glimmer of hope lit deep inside. She raised her eyebrows. ‘Keeping an eye on me?’
‘People say things...’ Christo’s throat worked as he swallowed. He shook his head. ‘You have what you came for.’
No, she hadn’t. Not yet.
She wiggled her fingers. ‘I should put them on. Would you do the honours?’
He stared at her outstretched hand. The white line her rings had left was only recently faded.
His lips narrowed. ‘What’s this game?’
‘No game. Not afraid of a few diamonds, are you?’
Christo grabbed the box, wrenched it open and snatched out the rings. He stalked round to her. ‘They mean nothing,’ he said as he reached for her hand. ‘Not now.’
His fingers shook as he slid the rings onto hers. Once they were in place he snapped back as if he’d been burned. Oh, Christo. So strong. So hard. Denying himself what he truly wanted.
Thea held up her hand and looked at the glistening gems. They appeared to be newly cleaned.
‘That feels better. You didn’t do that before. Put the engagement ring on my finger.’
They were close now. She could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest as he breathed hard, the throbbing pulse at his throat.
‘There was nothing romantic about our arrangement.’
She smiled and his eyes dropped to her mouth. His lips parted, then closed. He still desired her, but out of some misplaced nobility he believed that what he’d done was right. It was time to prove how wrong he was.
‘I know your secret. You’re a romantic man at heart. You crave it, if only you’d admit that to yourself.’
‘You misunderstand me. I gave you everything you wanted. Go.’
His words were a plea, wounded and raw. And at his pain her bright, blinding love for him burst inside.
‘You gave me money. I want something more.’
‘There’s nothing for you here.’
‘Everything’s here. I’ve come for your heart.’
Thea dropped to her knees in front of him. Looking up, she took his hands in hers.
‘Because I love you with all of mine.’
Christo watched her kneel before him. All sorts of visions flickered through his head. Of dark nights, a warm bed and Thea. Always Thea. He’d attempted to exorcise the house of her short existence there, but even after removing everything from her room the ghost of her still haunted it. Her smell, her shadow was everywhere. Turning every day into a prison, a purgatory from which there was no escape.
‘What madness is this?’
His voiced grated out, raw and ragged. He tried to pull his hands away but she held firm, gazing up at him with her cognac eyes. That look slid inside his veins. His one true addiction was setting him alight.
‘Courage, Christo.’
He stilled. Courage? He was looking at the bravest person he knew. Him...? He was the coward who’d driven her to this. On her knees,
