Read Online Carnevale and Subterfuge by Selena Illyria - Free Book Online Page B

until she went to bed at night. Once she got up it started all over again. Here, right now, she could breathe and be herself with someone who seemed to care and who actually saw her. She just wished there weren’t so many things standing in the way. Captain Drogan would have little humor if he found out she’d willingly spent her weekend with a known criminal.
    What would it be like to be with him always? To actually form a relationship with him? She pushed those thoughts away. The fact that she trusted him didn’t mean anything. Besides, all they had was attraction. That was it. Could one build a relationship with just that? She didn’t want to think about it anymore.
    Ana finished off her coffee and waved over the waiter. After paying the bill she sat, unable to decide what to do. Dodger was still talking to that man. Part of her wanted to just go, to just leave this place and disappear into the crowd. The more time she spent with him, the harder it would be to forget him when it came time to leave. She did want to get the tour of the places the locals hung at, but not if that meant tearing up when they parted come nightfall. That’s exactly what she knew would happen.
    After a bit of wavering, she made her decision and scribbled out a quick lie on the napkin about having been called back to the ship early. She thanked him for the wonderful time. Then Anarrae flagged down the waiter and asked that the napkin be given to Dodger five minutes after she left. She stood up and slipped into the crowd hoping, praying, that he wouldn’t come after her.
    When ten minutes passed and she didn’t hear him calling after her, relief swept through her, but on the heels of that feeling an ache took residence in her chest and she wasn’t sure why. She told herself that it was only a weekend, nothing more.
    Ana spent the whole day wandering the streets, buying souvenirs to send to her family back home and a few trinkets for herself. When dusk arrived and the fireworks died away she found herself at the hotel, sitting on the same bed he had taken her from, and thinking about what she was leaving behind. Her Dodger had charmed her, made her laugh, seduced her and made her feel alive. He’d given her memories that would last a lifetime and keep her warm on lonely nights. A smiled curled her lips. She had no regrets at all. Her fantasy weekend couldn’t have turned out any better.
    She yawned as she climbed under the sheets and fell asleep with images of a masked, green-eyed man haunting her dreams.
     
    * * *
     
     
    Diego slipped into the hotel suite, a sad smile on his lips. He had seen her leave the café but hadn’t gone after her, knowing he needed to let her go and yet wishing it didn’t have to hurt so damn much. Somewhere along the line he had grown attached to Anarrae and he didn’t know what to do about it. There was no way they would work. She worked for the very people who wanted to capture him.
    Diego was tired of the con. As fun as it was, Ana had showed him a new aspect of life, one where he didn’t have to keep running and hiding; he could just be. Diego could picture nights curled up by her side while she read, moments when they just held each other, or hours when they did nothing but make love. He wanted that; he wanted it all.
    With a sigh, he removed his mask and made his way to the bedroom area. His breath caught in his throat when saw her face—soft, peaceful, relaxed. She was an angel and he was not worthy to possess her. For one last time, he wanted to steal a kiss and then disappear. When she saw him next, he would be part of the ambassador’s entourage, nothing more.
    He placed the mask on the side of the bed and leaned down. With great gentleness he brushed his lips against hers, ignoring the soft brush of heat that rose up. His body tightened and need poured through him.
    Diego pulled back and tried to stifle the desire that had taken hold of him. His cock pressed against his pants, making him