SILENT DESIRES

He’d managed to find her in Greece when she wasn’t expecting him to, but now that she wanted him to…nothing. The man was a billionaire. He had a helicopter, not to mention a jet. He hadn’t even bothered to call her on the phone.

If it were important for him to see her, as he’d implied, wouldn’t he have used one of them? This was the reason why she didn’t want to take his words seriously at first, but despite her good intentions, she couldn’t stop herself. She was angry with herself as well as him.

David had gotten over his snit by the time they arrived in Rome and apologized sweetly for his accusations. They’d agreed to resume their friendship and had toured the Vatican together.

Their relationship wasn’t as free and easy as it had been. She was careful to avoid his casual touches, afraid Dash had been right. In allowing it, perhaps she had encouraged David to think she wanted something from their friendship that she didn’t.

She yawned behind her hand as she entered the hotel dining room. If she didn’t start getting some sleep soon, she was in trouble, but her dreams were filled with a tall, handsome man and her waking thoughts were tormented by his comment about marriage.

“You are tired, Tess. This tour is perhaps not such a good thing for you.”

Her head whipped around when she heard that and there he stood.

“Dash, what are you doing here?” she asked. As greetings went, it was not original.

She excused herself with her fatigue and shock at seeing him right when she was thinking of him. But meanwhile, the guy obviously had a thing for appearing out of nowhere. First at the party when he had bumped into her, then at the Parthenon when she was with David, and now.

“Surely you are not surprised to see me.” Dash said as he watched the expression on her face.

“But I am. It’s been almost a week.” Tess replied.

His brow rose in mockery. “And you expected me to show up before this?”

“No. Well…” She began. She didn’t want to lie, but she wasn’t handing it to him in his lap either.

“I was called to home on a business emergency.” he said.

“You could have called. My father has my phone number, and I’m sure that since he had no problem telling you where I was, he probably gave that to you too.” He was the one, after all, who had said she was different.

“I did not think of that, honestly. I have been very busy lately… And I wanted to give you some space to… You know, think” He looked chagrined by the admission.

She should be pissed that he just admitted that he didn’t even remember to call her, but instead, she felt a smile spreading over her face. Dash Black behaved in such an old fashioned way, even in the way he spoke sometimes.

“That’s all right then, but why have you come today?” she asked.

“I desire to escort you around Pompeii.” he replied.

“I’d like that.” Nearly five days had been enough time for her to realize that if Dash wanted to pursue a relationship with her, she would be the world’s biggest fool to deny him.

A love… Or feelings, whatever it was, that had not abated in three years was not going to go away. If she wanted a chance at a husband and a family, she accepted it would be with him, or not at all. If nothing else, her renewed friendship with David had taught her that. She had no desire to pursue anything personal with him and had not been the least bit jealous when another woman on the tour had begun flirting with him.

They were together now, at a table for two.

Dash proved his gaze had followed hers when he said, “So, he accepted he could not have you and has transferred his interests to someone else.” he said.

“You shouldn’t have gone to his room that night,” she chided.

“You did not yet recognize you were mine, but I made certain he did. It was necessary to avoid complications.”

She sighed. It was no use arguing with him about it. What was done was done and she couldn’t say she was sorry.

“No comeback?” Dark brown eyes pinned her own gaze with probing concentration.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“You are mine?” he asked.

“Are you asking me?” That was new, she thought. Before he had just been stating it.

“I am asking if you accept it.” he replied

If she denied it, she would be lying to both of them.

He hadn’t meant to hurt her with his rejection at her father’s party and she had to trust him not to hurt her now. She had no choice. She wanted him beyond pride or reason, so she took the plunge. “Yes.” she said.

————————–

Dash dismissed the emotion he experienced at her acknowledgment as natural relief that his plan was back on course. The sooner Tess became his, the closer he would be to regaining control of Black Shipping. His plan was working fine.

“At last, we progress,” he said.

She grimaced at his choice of words, but did not demur.

Smiling, he took her arm and led her to a table. Her acquiescence now was in marked contrast to her vehement protest a week ago when he had been forced to practically kidnap her in order to secure her company for the evening. He helped her into her seat brushing a light kiss against her temple as he did so. Startled green eyes took him in as he crossed to sit on the other side of the intimate table for two.

Even after the intimacies they had shared, she still acted surprised when he touched her.

He liked the shyness.

He had already ordered breakfast for them, but he waved the waiter over to fill her coffee cup. “You do look tired, Tess,” he said.

Her eyes were bruised and her complexion pale from an obvious lack of sleep.

“Perhaps we should put the tour of Pompeii off for another day,” he suggested.

She hid a yawn behind one small hand. “I can’t. Today’s our last day here. We are supposed to tour some other place tomorrow, though I have forgotten where that is”RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

“I do not wish for you to leave yet.” Dash said.