Chapter Ten
ASTRID SAT ON a recliner on the villa’s main veranda and stared out at the moon’s reflection over the inky waves in the bay. After almost two weeks on the island, to sit out here and reflect upon another glorious day spent in paradise had become her evening ritual.
Watching Apollo give his son his first karting lesson today had been slightly terrifying for her risk-averse self, to say the least. But seeing Luca’s reaction had been…
priceless. Almost as monumental as seeing the look of adoration in Apollo’s eyes when their son had mastered the first few steps with ease and showed nothing but excitement for the entire afternoon.
Not only that, but Apollo had approached her to try out the sport for herself and see what the fuss was about.
She’d refused at first, her entire being balking at the risk of getting into the fast-moving contraptions.
But then she’d spied the challenge in Apollo’s face and listened to him jokingly call to the other drivers on track that he’d told them so.
His open challenge, calling her bluff, had been almost reminiscent of their old flirtation, so she’d found herself wanting to wipe that smile off his face.
She’d grabbed a helmet, squeezed herself into a suit and almost whooped with laughter and satisfaction at the stunned look on his face when she’d walked back out onto the track. She’d been a terrible driver, of course, considering she’d never got a licence, but she’d done it.
After she’d completed her laps at a painful pace, Apollo had come to her, a dark intensity in his eyes which he quickly smoothed away and had begun trying to coach her. She’d laughed, informing him that it was a one-time affair and she would never set foot in one of those death traps again.
He’d informed her that it couldn’t be called a death trap when it was only moving at the speed of a crawling toddler.
If she’d already begun to suspect that Luca would rail against going home to rainy London before, it certainly would be a battle now.
In the end, they’d had to bribe him just to leave the track with the promise of returning soon.
Having been around Apollo’s mother and their laid-back extended family over this short break, it was easy to forget that he had been raised in an entirely different world.
A world that he had recently returned to, and might be pulled back into even further…
depending on what decision he made. She’d watched him slide into one of the larger karts and glide effortlessly around the track—much to the glee of his young audience—but her mind had been elsewhere as questions and worries had flooded in.
And tonight her son had asked his father to put him to bed.
Apollo’s eyes had met hers with mild panic, in the corridor between their bedrooms, as Luca’s small hand had grasped his and pulled him along.
If she’d only had a camera to record the sight of one of the world’s champion Elite One drivers and biggest sports-fashion icons being completely ruled by a seven-year-old…
What if her son expected this fun and exciting trip with his father to be their new normal?
Of course it couldn’t be. She had to return to their life in London and Apollo had a whole racing team to run waiting for him.
She closed her eyes, feeling the pressure build behind them every time she remembered how many uncertainties still lay ahead for them all outside of this
‘You’re still awake.’
A warm voice pulled her from her thoughts and she looked up to see Apollo filling up the doorframe.
He’d showered; she could tell by the scent of lemon verbena that clouded her nostrils and the few droplets of moisture that glistened in his hair.
She realised her jaw had dropped a little and she hastily straightened in her recliner, feeling more like a starstruck fan girl than a colleague and co-parent.
But, honestly, the man always looked like a walking advertisement for a designer fragrance!
And she was fast feeling the effect of being subjected to the sight of his perfectly sculpted body as he swam in the pool every day or ran on the beach.
Perhaps it was simply because she had neglected her own body’s needs for so long, and then given it a taste of pleasure, only to cut herself off again.
Had it already been two weeks since she’d been straddling him on that sofa in Venice, riding her way towards release?
‘Is everything okay?’ Apollo asked, sliding his big body smoothly into the seat opposite. ‘You look flushed.’
‘Just the wine,’ she said lamely, gesturing to her glass and inwardly cursing her own lack of finesse.
He nodded, but seemed strangely on edge as he surveyed her with a sideways glance. ‘I’m glad you hadn’t gone to sleep yet. I wanted to thank you for today. I know you worry about safety…it can’t have been easy.’
‘I thought it would be more nerve-wracking, but you’re a great teacher. He really loved it out there. I should have known he would; he’s your son, after all.’
A boyish smile, so reminiscent of Luca’s, transformed Apollo’s face. ‘He’s amazing.’
A comfortable moment of silence fell between them and Astrid felt the strange urge to reach out and touch his hand, needing some point of contact.
Which of course was ridiculous, because she had been the one to lay down the rules between them.
Why on earth had keeping things platonic seemed like a good idea again?
‘You said that taking Luca karting was a gift for me, something to give the man who has everything. I expect you to allow me to reciprocate.’
‘That’s not necessary.’
‘I disagree.’ His eyes met hers earnestly. ‘When’s the last time you did something selfish? Something that was just for you?’
She thought upon his words and how every instance she could think of involved him.
Apollo hidden behind a mask, making her giggle and forget her job.
Apollo kissing her in the darkness, tempting her with everything she knew she shouldn’t take.
Then, a lifetime later, straddling him on his sofa and surrendering herself to pleasure…
‘I travel first-class by myself for work sometimes,’ she said breathlessly, pushing away those memories. ‘I buy designer shoes, get my nails done. I don’t know what else you expect.’
He tutted, shaking his head. ‘I’m not talking about stealing little moments here and there in between your duties to our son or to Falco Roux. I’m talking about switching off completely sometimes and allowing yourself to just…be.’
‘I’m not really very good at that.’
‘I noticed.’ He smiled, a sinful curve of his full lips that made her stomach swirl. ‘You deserve to be unashamedly spoiled, Astrid Lewis. I’m asking you to let me.’
His fingertip traced a slow circle upon her skin and she felt her throat turn dry with the immediate effect that tiny touch had on her body.
His eyes burned with intensity upon hers as he waited and she felt poised on the edge of a precipice.
What on earth was wrong with her? The most beautiful man on the planet was asking permission to spoil her… and she was hesitating!
‘I…okay,’ she agreed, a strangled sound escaping her throat as his fingertip moved higher up the delicate skin of her wrist. ‘What did you have in mind?’
X-rated images immediately filled her imagination, her body heating at the look of pure hunger in his gaze. But to her frustration he removed his hand from hers and placed it back on his knee.
‘If I told you, that would ruin the fun.’
‘I don’t find surprises fun.’ She laughed nervously. ‘I like a loose plan.’
‘You like control,’ he corrected. ‘I plan to show you that giving that up for a little while can be very enjoyable. Do you trust me to care for you, Astrid?’
The urge to lean into him, to let him take over, was so strong.
Still, that scared part of her resisted—the part that craved schedules, routine and safety checks to ensure that the rug was never pulled out from beneath her again.
Such as the time when she’d gone to her parents with her pregnancy, needing help and reassurance.
Instead she’d been turned away and discarded for breaking their rules.
So she’d created a brand-new life and rulebook all of her own that no-one could take away.
Apollo wasn’t asking her to do that, though, was he? He was offering her a gift, he’d said. Perhaps the greatest gift she could give herself was one last night with him before they returned to reality.
‘Yes… I trust you.’ She closed her eyes, swaying towards him, only for his lips to tilt and make soft contact with her jaw. He laid a few kisses along it, his breath coming just as hard as hers.
‘This actually wasn’t part of the plan,’ he murmured. ‘And I don’t think—’
‘Shut up and kiss me, Apollo,’ she breathed, turning and searching, offering herself to him in a way that would have made her sober self cringe with mortification.
She was vaguely aware of his hands smoothing down over her hips, pulling her closer against the very obvious ridge of his erection.
She pressed herself against him, glorying in his swift intake of breath.
She’d craved his touch for the last two weeks, resisting the urge to break her own vow and go to him.
She was so tired of ignoring this pull between them, so tired of worrying about the future.
She was just tipsy enough not to care and the realisation made her bold.
Then, the infuriating man pulled away. ‘Wait…where are you going?’
‘You’ve had a drink…otherwise, believe me, neither of us would be sleeping tonight.’ He trailed a finger along her cheek. ‘All will be revealed tomorrow. Sweet dreams,’ he murmured softly, walking inside and letting the veranda door snick closed behind him.