He looked back at her. ‘A chef from one of London’s best restaurants. He’ll be arriving to serve us in about an hour.’
‘Oh...’ That shut Sidonie up. For a second she’d almost forgotten who she was with...
Alexio was leading her up some wooden stairs now, with brass railing banisters. There was glass everywhere, all the spaces blending into one another seamlessly as only the best architecture could.
This upper level was like a mezzanine. Alexio was leading her to a room on the left, and Sidonie could see her bag on a huge white-covered bed. A window looked out over the Thames, and theen suitebathroom was rustic and yet delightfully modern, with two sinks and an enormous wet-room-style shower. A huge antique bath stood alone.
‘It’s gorgeous,’ she breathed, her hand tightening unconsciously around Alexio’s fingers.
He exerted pressure back and she looked at him.
‘This is your room, Sidonie. Like I said, I don’t expect you to sleep with me...but I won’t deny that I want you.’
Just that. Stark. No games. No false seduction. He wanted her. It was devastating in its simplicity.
Feeling shaky, Sidonie just replied, ‘Okay...thank you...’
Before they left he showed her how to pull the huge white curtains across the windows that were both walls and door for privacy.
Then he was leading her out along the corridor to another room. This one had to be his. Much larger. Bare but for some choice furniture. An enormous bed, a chair, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. And again that amazing view.
Hisen suitebathroom was black-tiled, undeniably masculine.
They came back out and Alexio showed her two other guest rooms and an office that looked to be equipped with enough technology to make a space rocket take off.
‘London is my next main base after Athens,’ he explained. ‘I spend most of my time between here and there.’
He led her back down to the bar and Sidonie perched on the stool again. Alexio refilled her glass and then produced a bowl of fresh strawberries from somewhere. Sidonie almost groaned when he dipped one in champagne and handed it to her. The taste of the sweetly tart fruit exploded in her mouth. She wasn’t unaware of his intent look at her mouth and she melted inside. She knew that at some point she would have to make things very clear to herself about how far she was prepared to go, because Alexio was waiting for the barest sign of encouragement. And yet she believed him when he said he’d leave it up to her. He wouldn’t put pressure on her. He wouldn’t have to!
Speaking of inconsequential things as the light outside Alexio’s apartment faded into dusk, Sidonie felt herself being more and more seduced. That line she didn’t want to cross was blurring and becoming something she wanted to leap over. The sparkling wine did little to help her keep her inhibitions raised.
After a while Alexio glanced at his watch and made a face. ‘I don’t know about you but I’d like to freshen up—and the chef will be here soon.’
Immediately he said that Sidonie felt sticky after the long day. She nodded. ‘I’d love to have a shower...if that’s okay.’
Alexio looked at her, and she was shocked and thrilled at the explicitness of it.
‘Meet you back down here in twenty minutes?’
‘Okay.’ Sidonie slid off the stool.
She relished the opportunity to get some space, even for a few minutes. Alexio was so all-encompassing. She still couldn’t really believe she was here, with him.
When she let herself into her bedroom she pulled the drapes over the door and windows, marvelling again at the genius design. She went to the main windows overlooking the view and opened one, breathing in the late spring London air.
London Bridge was teeming with traffic, but Sidonie felt deliciously cut off from everything. The real world was fading, being held at bay. With Tante Josephine safe, and away from her own worries, Sidonie could fool herself into thinking she had no responsibilities. She could just...indulge.
Realising that she was standing mooning at the view, she galvanised herself into action, unpacked some things and took her shower.
Afterwards, wrapped in a towel, she bit her lip as she looked at her pathetic clothes options. Jeans and more jeans. T-shirts. She had one smart outfit that she’d brought over for the meeting with the solicitor, but that was a black skirt she’d worn for work as a waitress and a black shirt. She’d look as if she was going to a funeral.
Clothes had become a luxury a long time ago, when she’d sold most of her more expensive items to help pay for college while her father had been struggling.
She felt absurdly gauche right then, knowing that Alexio must be used to women who dressed like...women. Not impoverished students. Which was what she was. But what she wouldn’t give right now for some sleek little black number...
Sighing deeply, Sidonie reached for a pair of dark denims that might be construed as smart and selected a grey T-shirt with a glittery sequin design on the shoulders. She slipped on the slingback heels she’d worn for the meeting and, after inspecting herself in the mirror and balking at her freshly scrubbed pink face, applied some make-up to try and make up for her woefully inappropriate outfit.
She was tempted to put her hair up again, but recalled Alexio taking it down earlier. The thought of those hands and long fingers touching her made her leave it alone. She didn’t want to tempt him in any way unless she was completely prepared for his response. But then, she didn’t think she’d ever be prepared for the response of a man like Alexio.
