Page 18 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8
Jario’s jaw rippled. ‘It’s not your call. And as you’ve reminded me, you’re exhausted. I’d have to be a special kind of monster to watch you choke to death one minute then put you to work the next, no?’ The haunted expression lingering on his face stemmed any trite response. ‘And you should be in bed. If you wish to help, return there now, if you please.’
His imperious demeanour said he wasn’t joking, nor was he going to be baited by the challenging eyebrow she raised at that command.
But when her insides started to warm again at this latest skirmish and his flashes of concern, she took one bewildered step back. And another.
Yes, she hadn’t felt a caring warmth for a while but, come on, she couldn’t really be reacting like this to his high and mightiness?
Also, she was feeling better, so she should go to her own bed, not linger on why sliding back into Jario Tagarro’s bed elicited sensations beyond a recovery from her attack. For the first time, it struck her that she’d slid between sheetsheslept in, and heat immediately pummelled her.
It didn’t help to recall that he’d suggested earlier that she was trying toseducehim. Her not so steady breathing juddered in her chest as they exchanged another charged look. Then, after just managing to drag her gaze free when she tried to peer past his mile-wide shoulders, he blatantly blocked her view. She pursed her lips, turned on her heel and marched away.
She was back in his room before she noticed he’d followed her. That he was poised in the doorway, watching as she slid back into his bed.
Willow pulled up the sheets to hide his effect on her body, her senses heightening when he made no effort to speak, only observing her with those ferocious eyes. As a final act of defiance—because apparently, she couldn’t help herself—in what had been a monumentally challenging day, she turned her back to him, and when she was immediately attacked by his uniquely masculine scent, gritted her teeth and took smaller breaths. Promised herself she’d rest just until she felt a little stronger. Then they would get to the bottom of why he was fixated on her father.
She’d lost track of time, but she guessed it was sometime before midnight. If she got this resolved by morning, she could make plans to leave this yacht and its overwhelming, dangerously gorgeous owner as soon as possible.
Until then, she would ignore him and close her eyes.
Just for a minute...
Willow understood the true meaning of cringing in horror when she woke up and, even with her eyes shut, sensed the streaming sunlight.
Oh, God, no.
It didn’t help that the sumptuous bed and soft-as-butter Egyptian cotton sheets were the best she’d ever slept in. Or that his scent still lingered, wrapping around her, forcing her to inhale deeply, chase after the baffling intoxication of it.
The shameful fact was that she’d fallen asleepfor hoursin his bed. Had wrapped her arms around one pillow and somehow positioned another between her legs as was her sleeping habit. Cataloguing her list of sins, Willow also clocked that her skirt had ridden up and said pillow was firmly wedged against her—
‘You’re awake. Open your eyes.’
She flinched, not because of his rasped command tinged with mocking amusement, but because she wasn’t in the mood to see her embarrassment reflected in his eyes.
But short of stumbling out of here without opening her eyes, Willow had no choice but to blink them open. To the sight of Jario Tagarro reclined next to her, his eyes—dear God, did his eyes ever look anything but intensely predatory?—fixed squarely on her face. As she looked into them, she noticed that the blue was sparked through with midnight stripes. And slowly those stripes took over, darkening the depths as his bare chest rose and fell in a steady cadence.
‘You’ve stopped breathing, Willow. Do I need to call the doctor again?’
Willow jerked away, aware she was in full retreat mode and not caring one iota. ‘I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I’ll just—ah!’ One leg tangled within the sheet, and she tumbled backwards out of bed, landing hard on her backside.
Out of sight, she heard him curse under his breath, and her face flamed. Two seconds later he’d rounded the bed, hands on lean hips as he stared down at her.
She sighed in frustration. ‘Look, I know I sound like a broken record, but I just want some answers. Then we can be shot of each other. Surely you want that?’
One corner of his mouth twitched. ‘Do I?’
He was mocking her. But despite it being at her expense, she wanted to see a fuller smile. Willow shook her head and scrambled to her feet. ‘This might be amusing to you but I’m deadly serious.’
His face clenched tight, his humour evaporating in a flash. ‘I assure you, the last thing I am is amused. And you’ve no idea whatdeadlymeans.’
She mirrored his stance, hands on hips despite the swell of anxiety at his bleak tone. ‘Then enlighten me. Tell me what my father means to you.’
‘Less than nothing,’ he returned, his voice a lethal blade, warning her to tread very carefully.
Her disbelieving snort shot out before she could stop it. ‘Obviously that’s not true since you look incandescent every time I mention his name.’
The tautness in his body said he’d do anythingbutoblige her with an answer. That seeing how tortured she was by his withholding information was perhaps the response he was looking for.
But she couldn’t remain here. Couldn’t endure another day like yesterday. And now that she’d met him, felt the raw power and purpose steaming off him, she partly understood why her father winced every time she’d mentioned his name. ‘Please.’ The reluctant plea was part frustration, part exasperation.