CHAPTER FIVE

RAEHADN'TBEEN back in Venice a full three days when Domenico informed her that they would be attending a black-tie ball at the end of the week. He had given her fair warning it was what he expected and Rae knew she had agreed to it, but still the prospect of attending a function on his arm had her heart racing and chest constricting. It wasn't just that there would be dozens of sets of eyes on them, all watching to be convinced of the continued validity of their union; it was that there would be no escape from Domenico.

In the days that she had been back in Venice, Rae had seen him only a handful of times. He was staying true to his word about living separate lives in private, and that suited her just fine. She was able to devote her alone time to her bridal design business, working on new ideas as well as her ongoing orders, and when she needed a break she would take a leisurely wander of the city that had long ago captured her heart, strolling along the narrow waterways or enjoying the bustling piazzas from outside a coffee shop. However, that lack of contact or communication in private created a greater nervousness about being with him in public, because they were going from one extreme to another. From zero interaction to pretending to be in love.

Obviously, she had realised when she'd agreed to return that the pretence would be necessary, but she'd been so preoccupied with her emotions about returning that she hadn't given much—any—thought to the practicalities of it.

But now all Rae could think about was all the ways Domenico would be touching and holding her.

How he would casually drape an arm around her shoulders or her waist, stroke his fingertip across her cheek, brush escaped tendrils of hair from her face, all with a gentleness of touch that was at odds with his brute size and that provoked a seismic reaction beneath her skin. And he would probably kiss her, holding her captive beneath that dark chocolate gaze before slowly, so her anticipation built, lowering his lips until they met hers in an eruption of quiet, screaming passion.

As she imagined it all in excruciating slow motion, something rippled across her skin—something Rae wanted to pretend she hadn't felt or recognised. Because to give a name to it would make it real and she didn't want it to be real. Couldn't let it be real. Not if she was going to emerge intact at the end of their six-month arrangement.

Despite her unease, on the allotted night she was dressed in her finery and descending the palazzo's long curved staircase to meet Domenico. Although he had given her a new credit card to cover all of her costs, Rae had selected a dress from her old wardrobe, a previously unworn classic creation of black silk from a renowned Italian designer that floated around her like air. The straps were thin and delicate and the design cut very low on her back, showing more skin than she ideally wanted to display, but it had been the only black dress amongst her existing collection. She had set her mind on wearing black, hoping it would attract less attention than a bolder hue, not that it really mattered when Domenico always attracted so much attention, never mind with the addition of all sorts of swirling rumours...

He was waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase, his back to her, and her heart stopped at the sight of his broad back, sheathed in the pristine fabric of the expertly fitted tuxedo. It showed to perfection the raw strength of his body and Rae found herself gripping the banister for support as her knees suddenly felt too weak to keep holding her up.

Naked, he was mesmerising, a mouthwatering specimen to behold, but Rae had always thought that he was as much of a sensation clothed and the thrill of him in that moment did nothing to dispel that opinion. One of her favourite things about evenings when they'd attended some fancy soirée had been knowing that at the end of the night her hands would have the privilege of sliding the fine clothes from his body to find the hot skin beneath. Not that she had that privilege any more, or that she wanted it, she reminded herself sharply, hurrying the final few steps as though she could leave those feelings behind her.

Hearing the click of her heels against the floor, Domenico spun around, his eyes crashing into hers. Rae swallowed as his glittering gaze swept over her, his jaw tightening fractionally though he offered no comment.

‘You should wear this too,' he said, turning to the table behind him and lifting a velvet box that, when he popped it open, revealed a diamond choker.

‘That was Elena's,' Rae breathed, stunned that he was presenting it to her.

‘Yes. A much-admired piece of her collection. She wore it often, and you wearing it tonight should signal that everything in our marriage is perfect. I would hardly let someone I didn't love and was estranged from wear something so precious, would I?'

Rae swallowed again, unable to read beneath the hard glint of his richly dark eyes or the silkily lethal drawl of his words. But his willingness to allow her to wear such a priceless heirloom reminded her just how important this charade was to him and, as much as she wanted to refuse, she knew it wouldn't be a wise way to start the evening and so simply turned as he lifted the jewels from the box.

With deft fingers he fastened it around her neck, his hot fingers brushing her trembling flesh. The quivers racing over her skin sank even deeper into her and for the second time in as many minutes she thought her legs were about to give way. And it didn't help that he was standing so close that Rae could feel all the strength and heat of his body and she so badly wanted to press back against it, to feel the power of him enveloping her once more.

Domenico moved her by the shoulders so she was standing before an antique mirror.

‘What do you think?' he asked, his dark eyes so steadily fixed on hers that he would see anything she felt.

Slowly, Rae met his gaze and, as she did, feeling throbbed in every inch of her. ‘It's stunning.'

Their eyes held and her breath grew shallower. Could he feel it too? That pulse of passion and longing streaming between them. There seemed to be a million thoughts and feelings locked in the darkness of his gaze—emotions he had no intention of giving voice to. But Rae couldn't speak either, strangled by the heavy emotion coursing through her, thudding hotly in her sex in a beat that refused to be ignored.

She frantically searched his face with her eyes, wanting some sign that his blood was running as hot as hers, scared by the thought that it was and equally scared that it wasn't.

‘We should go,' he said, stepping back easily and moving towards the front door.

Her skin instantly chilled, though her blood still ran hot and she cursed her stupidity. If she couldn't even stand close to him without turning into a puddle, what would it be like when he actually did touch her? The last thing she wanted was a repeat of what had almost happened in the upstairs corridor the night of Elena's funeral, when she'd gone up in sizzling flames at the barest of touches. The only way to keep that from happening, Rae realised, was to set some boundaries. Now.

‘Before we go...' Rae began, seizing the moment to assert her will in a way she never would have thought to previously. ‘I know everyone needs to believe that we are madly in love, but I was thinking we should establish some ground rules.'

Domenico arched a brow. ‘Such as?'

‘I know we need to be affectionate with one another and that's fine. But within reason. So I would prefer it if we didn't kiss on the mouth,' she specified assertively. ‘It's not unreasonable, I think. Many other couples restrain from such displays in public.'

‘I don't recall us being one of those couples,' he drawled, evidently finding the idea ridiculous, and he wasn't wrong. They'd never succeeded in keeping their hands off one another, but Rae had also never previously imposed her will on their relationship and look at her now. She was proof that things could change.

Holding herself steady beneath his unflinching regard, because she knew that he was expecting her to back down, she said in a controlled voice, ‘I have faith that we can convince people we're happy without being overt in our displays of affection.'

‘Hmm. Fine,' he agreed, his jaw locked tight. ‘We'll keep kissing off the agenda for the evening. But let's make sure everything else is convincing, sì?' he added with a look of warning. ‘Vincenzo D'Aragona is still in the city and it's likely he too will be attending tonight.'

Rae nodded, that tiny lump in her throat tripling in size. As if she hadn't felt enough pressure without knowing their judge and jury would there too!

The ballroom was full of people by the time they arrived and as they walked through the doors Domenico clasped her hand tightly in his. Rae wished it didn't feel so good, so right, to have his strong fingers wrapped around hers, to be claimed as his again. As expected, all eyes followed their arrival and beneath her beautiful dress Rae's heart thrashed against the cage of her ribs.

She tried to focus instead on the opulence of the venue. The high ceiling, the trio of glittering chandeliers, the string orchestra arranged in one corner and mammoth vases of fragrant flowers delineating the perimeter of the room.

She and Domenico exchanged polite greetings with many of the couples in attendance before collecting drinks from the bar and standing at one of the high top tables. Rae was able to breathe for all of two seconds before she spied renowned socialite Luisa D'Amato strutting in their direction, her sights very much fixed on them. Behind her smile Rae's teeth gritted together, her body tightening even more. Luisa was the very last person she wanted to deal with. Their interactions had always been unpleasant, with every single remark she'd ever made designed to make Rae feel small and insecure and incompetent, and as hard as Rae had tried to withstand their power, they'd somehow always left their mark, chipping at her confidence and her sense of security as Domenico's wife. Not that Domenico had ever noticed, and Rae had never raised it with him, not wanting to appear petty or insecure, or as if she couldn't handle herself in his world. But it had just become one more pretence, one more truth she wasn't speaking, and one more brick in that ever-growing wall between them.

‘Rae, so wonderful to have you back,' Luisa trilled as she reached them, air kissing each of her cheeks.

‘It's lovely to be back,' Rae replied with a smile.

Luisa surveyed her through heavily made-up eyes. ‘I must admit, we were starting to wonder if we would ever see you again, you were gone for so long. If only you'd heard some of the rumours going around,' she murmured, leaning in almost conspiratorially. ‘That perhaps your marriage was over. Absolutely crazy, I said. But that's why it's dangerous to leave one's husband unattended for so long. Hopes, as I'm sure you can understand, were getting rather high. But I assure you, Rae, I did my best to keep some of the more predatory women away. No doubt you can imagine who I'm talking about,' she went on, gesturing not so subtly with her eyes to a passing female. ‘But I suppose it's always nice to know you have options,' she added with a direct look of smiling suggestion at Domenico, ‘should you ever want them.'

Rae's fingers clenched dangerously around the crystal flute of champagne in her hand, unable to believe what Luisa had just said, and yet not surprised at all. But after all the catty remarks and slights Rae had had to suffer from her, that was too blatantly disrespectful, too far over the line, and she wasn't going to just quietly accept it the way she always had before.

Throwing back her shoulders, she met Luisa's gaze. ‘I'm very grateful for your help, Luisa, although I knew I had nothing to worry about. It's not as though anyone here is Domenico's type or he wouldn't have still been single when I came along, would he?' she mused, trailing a hand down his arm. ‘But your care and attention towards him is much appreciated, especially when you could have been using that time to look for husband number three. Or it is number four? I've lost track.'

From the corner of her eye Rae was sure she caught Domenico's look of surprise, but she was more interested in Luisa's faltering expression.

‘If you'll excuse me, I see Antonia and I need to speak with her. But it is wonderful to see you.'

‘You too. Say hello from me.' Rae smiled as Luisa walked away. A small sense of satisfaction rippled through her, but she hated that she'd earned it by engaging in the same unkindness that Luisa practised.

‘Are you okay?' Domenico asked in her ear, a low whisper that sent shivers rippling through her.

‘I'm fine,' she replied, taking a sip of her champagne in the hope of shedding the nasty feeling snaking through her veins.

‘Your hand is shaking, Rae.'

She looked at her hand to see Domenico was right, and then quickly up at him. ‘I've never found Luisa to be the easiest person to deal with, that's all.'

He said nothing else, but placed a warm hand on the bare skin of her back, rubbing his palm up and down her spine, and within seconds she could feel the tension start to ease and her body begin to relax. Whether Domenico had intended it as an act of comfort and reassurance or as a necessary show of affection, Rae wasn't sure, and the answer did not prove forthcoming as her awareness narrowed to that mesmerising motion of his hand over her sensitive skin, streams of hot, sparkly feeling running in a dozen different directions.

She wanted that delicious feeling in the rest of her body too. She wanted those clever fingers to slide up her spine and graze her side. Wanted them to slip beneath the silk and curl over her breast, for him to touch and tease as he'd once loved to, and as she'd loved also. How many times had he brought her to screaming orgasm just by lavishing the hot attention of his lips and tongue on her breasts?

The bliss of imagining was dashed as she felt eyes scalding her skin. Across the ballroom, Luisa and her group of friends stared their way, murmuring intently amongst themselves.

‘Ignore them.' Domenico's lips were against her ear again, his hand continuing to trace over her skin, skating a line up and down her spine.

‘She's ghastly... To stand there and say those things to my face.' Rae looked up at him. His expression was unconcerned and that rattled her even more, breath hissing from between her lips. ‘Not that I expect you to care. You're probably delighted to know you have so many options.'

His eyes gleamed, dark and rich and completely devastating. ‘A little late to be possessive, isn't it?' he remarked with a slight smile, sliding his hand to the curve of her waist and pulling her even tighter against his muscled body, and she hated that it did make her feel better. That each caress softened her mood that little bit more. That the nearer she was to his body, the more the rest of the room seemed to slide away. ‘You never seemed to be bothered by the women and their comments before.'

Was he actually that obtuse? Rae thought with a frowning glance up at him. Or had her feelings really mattered so little to him that he'd never spared a thought for how those high society social occasions, in which she had no experience, could be difficult for her? It was hardly a new realisation, but it was jarring all the same.

‘Of course I was bothered by them, Domenico,' she sighed, frustration loosening her tongue.

The look on his face was one she recognised: he was chewing over that information, trying to fit it in with all that he already knew. ‘You never said anything.'

The words contained a mild accusation and Rae moved her shoulders in a small inexpressive shrug. She was regretting having said anything about it now and making it a bigger deal, highlighting her silly female feelings when she'd only ever wanted him to think of her as strong and capable, the perfect wife. The weight of his stare was unmoving, though, and Rae knew she had to say something to defuse the heaviness of the moment and diminish her confession.

‘Most of the time there didn't seem to be much point in complaining about it,' she admitted reluctantly and uncomfortably. ‘It's not like it's something you can control, Domenico. I just saw it as a reality of being with you. Of course other women were going to be catty or jealous or mean. You're a beautiful man. You're wealthy. You're powerful. One of those is catnip. All three together is a lethal combination. Naturally, any woman who looks at you is going to find you irresistible. Because you are.'

His hand had stopped moving. He stared down at her, a new light moving through his powerful gaze and, much to her annoyance, Rae realised she had done the opposite of what she'd wanted. Instead of brushing him off, she'd only made him want to dig deeper into her feelings. ‘Irresistible?'

He repeated the word with a quirk of his lips and for the barest of seconds he looked like the Domenico she was used to—the Domenico she'd fallen head over heels for and married in a whirlwind. Charismatic and quick-minded, with that devastating slash of a smile. There was none of the cool distance, none of the well-bred politeness he'd treated her with on their few brief encounters since she'd been back.

‘It's only the truth,' Rae replied huskily, feeling colour rush to her cheeks as she cursed herself for giving away something else that she shouldn't have. For giving him a first-hand look at the feelings she was alternating between ignoring and denying.

Domenico seemed to be on the verge of saying something else, his eyes dark with thoughts, before clearly changing his mind. ‘We should dance,' he said instead, prising her flute from her hand and leading her to the centre of the room, where many couples were already taking advantage of the lilting music to move in smooth circles around the floor.

Domenico pulled her in close. His jaw brushed her cheek, the touch jolting through her like an electric shock. She caught the scent of him, strong and sharp, and it clouded her head completely and Rae had to fight the urge to brush her lips across his smooth, sweet-smelling skin, to sample his flesh with the tip of her tongue.

Get a grip, Rae.

This was only the first of many public outings that would demand their closeness. If she was going to simmer with unwanted desire each time, it was going to be a very long six months. She had to figure out a way to control herself. Had to remember that for all the reasons Domenico was right, he was also very, very wrong for her.

They imagined different futures. He wanted a wife permanently at his side and she wanted, needed, a life of her own.

Engaging in anything remotely physical, even entertaining thoughts of such caresses, would only muddy the waters and it would be far better for them both if they stayed unmuddied.

But as he moved her effortlessly across the floor, Rae's body continued to purr under their tempting closeness and the expert press of his hands against her flesh. His touch had always been her undoing and Rae could feel it starting to occur again, that unravelling of herself as her body slowly surrendered to his compelling touch of possession.

Had it not been for the eyes continuing to follow them, primarily Luisa and her friends, Rae would have drifted off entirely, but their predatory watchfulness kept her rooted in reality, their hard and hungry gazes making her stomach writhe and twist.

Because Luisa had been right. Domenico did have options, plenty of them. There was a queue of women waiting for a chance to be with him and once their charade was over, once it became public knowledge that their marriage was dead, a few of them would probably get that chance.

If they hadn't already.

That sudden burst of thought had tears pressing up against her eyes and an inexplicable emotion gushing through her and sticking at the back of her throat. She knew, however, that was how they wanted her to feel, insecure and vulnerable. It was the way she'd often felt at these events and around these ruthless, predatory women. But, as far as they were concerned, Domenico was still hers.

And her only job tonight was to show exactly how much he did belong to her, how his heart beat for her and his body hungered for her.

Only her.

Twisting her face inwards, the tip of her nose glided along his smooth, tanned jaw and Rae allowed herself to succumb to the scent of him, dark and strong. Playing along, Domenico tipped his head down, his lips within easy reach, just like that night in the hallway, but, unlike that night, Rae didn't hesitate, extending her neck so that their mouths met.

That first feather-light brush of their lips was shattering. He tasted better than she'd allowed herself to remember. Like desire and hope and passion. The gentle motion of their mouths changed as her hands slid up his powerfully muscled chest and curled around his neck. The answering press of his lips became harder, his mouth shaping to hers with more ferocity, seeking more of her passion, which she eagerly gave. Domenico held her more securely, the band of his arms around her back crushing her breasts to the solid expanse of his chest, and Rae very nearly melted, having forgotten just how amazing it felt to be held against the broad wall of beating flesh. As if nothing could hurt her ever again. As if there was no safer place for her in the whole world.

The heat crackling between them could have burned her dress right off her body and Rae didn't know if it was his heart or her own that she could feel racing. But she knew she wanted the kiss. Wanted it with every catch of her breath and every flutter of her pulse. Wanted it more than she remembered ever wanting any kiss, and she didn't want it to prove something, but wanted it for herself.

It was Domenico who drew back first, keeping tight hold and staring down at her, his eyes alight. ‘What happened to your ground rules?' he demanded huskily.

Good question, Rae thought, feeling intoxicated, her mind fuzzy.

‘It seemed necessary,' she lied, the words coming too slow. ‘We were being watched. And I was under orders to be convincing, was I not?'

His eyes flashed as if he found her answer provocative somehow, and his face adopted the set expression that preceded an interrogation that always got him the answers he wanted. But then it was gone and he was drawing back and leading her from the dancefloor.

‘I think that's enough for tonight,' he said as the music ended. ‘We'll leave now.'

She blinked with surprise. ‘But we've not been here that long.'

‘Long enough,' he countered. ‘And after that kiss, no one will find our departure strange. Everyone will assume we're in a hurry to get home and continue our reunion.'

Rae's cheeks flamed. But that was exactly what the kiss had felt like so it had most certainly looked just as passionate. Burning with mortification, she let Domenico take her hand and lead her from the ballroom, but, as soon as she could, she pulled her hand free. She said nothing on the journey back to the palazzo and, once they arrived, she ran up the stairs, tossing a hurried goodnight over her shoulder.

Domenico watched Rae fly up the stairs, his mouth still tingling with the incendiary passion of that brief kiss. The taste of her remained on his lips and the fever she had stirred in his blood with her unrestrained hunger continued to scorch his veins.

He had been doing his best to keep his attraction contained behind bolted doors, to avoid any repeat of the lapse that had happened the night of Elena's funeral, but with that unexpected kiss she had blasted the doors wide open, allowing the scorching desire to stream through him unchecked, and all he wanted to do was continue what she had started.

Wanted to tease her mouth with his, suck her lower lip between his teeth. Wanted to slide the black silk from her body and see with his own eyes what she wore beneath. Wanted to hear her whimpers, then her pleas and then her screams as he drove her towards blissful oblivion.

He wanted everything he had tasted in that kiss and, before he knew what he was doing, Domenico was following her up the stairs, taking them two at a time, his feet keeping pace with the roaring and pounding of his blood.

Reaching her door, Domenico wrapped his fingers around the handle...only to suddenly stop.

Because suddenly he was outside a house and the door was being opened and the eyes staring back at him turned to the coldest stone when he stated who he was. And then, as if the words spoken hadn't been cruel enough, the door was being shut in his face.

A cold sweat dampening the back of his neck, Domenico released the handle and backed away from the door.

She could spurn his advance, deny the fire that had powered that kiss. Reject him. And he could not bear that. Not again, and not from her.

So he would ignore it. He would drag every last drop of feeling back under his control, close those doors and seal them with an extra bolt. He would bury that desire beneath pragmatism, smother the flames with the memory of her betrayal and keep himself safe from another stinging rejection.