Page 9 of Pervade Montego Bay

Looking around, I came to a sudden realization…

His wife had decorated this place. I could tell from the feminine touches, the delicate gold flowers on a backdrop of burgundy. I wondered if she’d imagined one of the rooms could be a nursery. I doubted James had the sentimentality to go there.

This was the key to understanding Ballad. Get to the bottom of his grief and the real man lay at the deep end of that catastrophe. He was capable of great love—I’d seen it. Great passion, too, there was no doubt there. I’d even seen glimpses of his need for closeness. The same intimacy he’d lost after his wife had died. This was the end of the string to him and if I tugged, I’d unravel the man.

He pointed. “Bathroom’s in there. Take a shower. Meet me downstairs in the dining room in twenty.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“I’m not inviting you to lunch, Em.”

“I need more time,” I whispered.

“Present yourself naked.”

“As if.”

“Bring the violin,” he added.

“I’m not playing for you.”

He was already out the door.

The shower was nice enough. All pale blue tiles and ocean themes in keeping with the location. I’d expected to be running around laughing and downing cocktails, eating fresh fish and endless chips. Having hot sex and getting sand caught in weird places. Followed by endless cuddles with my men.

Anything but this.

I brushed my hair until it was neat and straight down my back and changed into a fresh sundress. Maybe James would let me walk along the beach. The thought of feeling warm sand between my toes was enticing. It might even cheer me up a bit.

I brought my violin case downstairs with me. I’d use it to take a swing at him if necessary. Refusing to play even one note was a good way of staying in control.

James was waiting inside the dining room. He’d showered, too, and was now in ripped jeans and a shirt pulled taut over his toned body. He didn’t need a suit to show off his power; it was the way he stood tall, his confident expression and his body language emanated control.

If a man could be beautiful, Ballad was that man with his high cheekbones and regal nose, and that dark hair framing a perfect face. His heavenly chestnut eyes showed more than they realized; to me, anyway.

He rose from a dining room chair and came toward me. “Why are you dressed?”

“This is what evolved humans do now.”

“Take it off.”

“You take it off.”

He eased the violin case out of my grip and laid it on the long table. Then he closed the gap between us. He worked the catch of my dress at my nape. He took hold of the top of my dress and tugged it down and over my hips. A tap from him told me he wanted me to step out of it. Reluctantly, I complied, my skin tingling where his fingertips brushed over me.

With a clip he had my bra undone. With that off he moved to my panties and eased them down and around my ankles. This time his strong hand lifted each foot to get me out of them.

I wanted to say something but was too enraptured by being back in his presence. I’d seen the level of his ferocity back in London. For some weird reason I craved it. I’d also seen his kindness.

James had seen me naked before, of course, yet I still clutched my forearms over my chest to cover myself. With me naked and him still dressed I felt my power slipping away. Who was I kidding? The moment I’d walked into this house I’d relinquished all control to him.

He cupped my face, then leaned in and kissed me…

This was everything I knew it would be, passionate and loving, his tongue quickening, its movement savage and possessive. He couldn’t stay cruel and indifferent for long…this proved it. This kiss was too personal, too consistent with affection to prove otherwise.

When he broke away, I was breathless.

James backed me up until my butt hit the table. My stomach clenched when I saw his eyes glaze over as he retreated into his dark shell.