‘Theo, sit down. You’re making your pilot nervous.’
He barked out a short laugh and threw himself into the long sofa opposite her chair. His fingers drummed repeatedly on the armrest. ‘Don’t worry; he’s used to it.’
‘Used to what?’
‘My aversion to enclosed spaces,’ he answered tersely.
‘Your claustrophobia.’ Her heart squeezed as she watched his fingers grip the armrest and the skin around his mouth pale.
Unbuckling her seat belt, she crossed to the sofa and sat down next to him. A sheen of sweat coated his forehead and when his eyes sought hers she read the anxiety in them. Reaching around him, she secured his seat belt then took care of her own as the plane taxied onto the runway.
Taking the arm closest to hers, she pulled it over her shoulder and settled herself against him. He tugged her close immediately, his breathing harsh and uneven.
She hugged him harder, and when he tilted her face up to his she went willingly.
He kissed her with a desperation that tore through her soul. For long, anxiety-filled minutes, he took what she offered, until the need for air drove them apart.
‘You get that we cannot kiss all the way to Bermuda, don’t you?’ she said, laughing.
‘Is that a challenge? Because I bet I can,’ he threw back with a heart-stopping smile.
Inez noticed that his breathing was no longer agitated and breathed a sigh of relief.
‘No, it’s not a challenge.’ She rested her head on his shoulder and caressed his hard jaw. ‘How do you normally get through flying?’
His jaw tightened for a second before he relaxed. ‘Mild sleeping pills before take-off normally does the trick.’
‘Why not today?’
‘You’re here,’ he said simply. After a minute, he asked, ‘Why are you helping me?’
‘I cannot forget that my father did this to you. And no, I’m not offering myself as a sacrificial lamb. But I don’t want to see you suffer either. I want to help any way I can.’
The reminder that her father loomed large between them grated more than he wanted to admit. ‘For how long?’ Theo demanded more harshly than he’d intended.
She stiffened. ‘Sorry?’
‘Are you counting the days until I set you free?’ he pressed.
Her eyelids swooped down, concealing her expression. ‘I…we have an agreement—’
‘Damn the agreement. If you had a choice now, today, would you stay or would you leave?’
‘Theo—’
‘Answer the question, Inez.’
‘I’d choose to stay…’
The bubble of joy that started to grow inside him burst when he registered her flat tone. ‘But?’
‘But… this could never go anywhere.’
A sense of helplessness blanketed him. ‘Why not? Because I blackmailed you?’
She shook her head. ‘No. Because a relationship between us would be impossible.
Theo’s vision blurred at her words. He’d pushed her too far. Hung onto his vendetta for too long. His mouth soured with ashen hopelessness. ‘I guess we both know where we stand.’
When she moved away, he fought not to pull her back. She stayed close—out of pity? His mouth curled. He told himself he didn’t care but the voice in his head mocked him.
He cared, much more than he’d bargained for when he’d forced her to make that stupid choice. The idea of her walking away from him made his insides knot with a pain far greater than he’d ever known.
The plane hit a pocket of turbulence, throwing her against him. When she stayed close, he let her. Forcefully, he reminded himself of one thing.
He’d never meant to keep her for ever.
* * *
The Pantelides Bermuda resort was a breathtaking jewel set amid swaying palm trees and sugar-white sand. The sun beat down on them as Theo drove the open-top Jeep towards their villa.
Stunning buildings connected by dark wooden bridges under which the most spectacular water features had been constructed made for a visual masterpiece. All round them bold colour burst free in a heady mix of blues, greens and yellows that begged to be touched.
Their sprawling whitewashed villa featured high ceilings, cool tiled floors and a four-poster bed that dominated the master bedroom.