Read Online The Affair: Week 5 by Beth Kery - Free Book Online Page B

Mer?”
    “My villa near Saint-Jeannet. It’s nestled on the cliff, but you can take a long staircase down the mountain to the Mediterranean. It was my father’s family’s home. Saint-Jeannet itself is this picturesque little medieval village. I can’t wait to show it to you.”
    Emma blinked. He looked like a different man at that moment—relaxed and unguarded.
    “It agrees with you,” she said.
    “What does?” he asked, brows quirked.
    “La Mer,” she murmured, studying his face. “You look happy when you talk about it.”
    “Do I?” he said, looking vaguely surprised.
    She nodded. “Why don’t you live there full-time?”
    “Because my company is here. One of them, anyway. And because the Breakers is where I belong.”
    She hated the shadow that fell across his face. She found the Breakers to be sublimely beautiful, but she had a feeling Vanni felt trapped there, somehow. Not by physical barriers, but mental ones. Spiritual ones. She sighed, knowing she couldn’t bring up such a weighty topic with him. But maybe she could lighten his mood, even in the midst of his shadows?
    She splashed him full in the face. Emma couldn’t help but laugh, seeing the aloof prince sputtering and blinking water out of his eyes, an incredulous expression dawning. Laughing, she splashed him again. His eyes flashed dangerously when he got the water out of them. She gave a little yelp, guessing his next move, and plunged back in the water. She swam for all she was worth, unable to contain her laughter despite the water that splashed into her eyes and mouth. She’d just reached the far side of the pool, when he grabbed her ankle and yanked.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” he growled, hauling her back against him.
    She snorted with laughter, squirming in his firm hold. Things got worse when his fingers dug into her sides, tickling her.
    “Oh no,” she gasped, laughing. “
Stop
. I hate to be tickled.”
    “Well I hate having water splashed in my face,” he replied dryly.
    “You do?” she asked, her eyebrows pinching in concern despite her inability to stop laughing and writhing around in his hold. He sobered and his tickling abruptly halted. He grabbed on to the side of the pool, steadying them.
    “
No
,” he said, pulling her tighter against him so that her bare breasts crushed against the hard plane of his chest. His gaze traveled over her face hungrily. “I don’t.”
    Then he was kissing her, deep and hard, his mouth hot in comparison to the cool water. Emma clutched his shoulders and forgot everything but the sensation of him.
    “You give yourself so completely,” he said quietly against her lips a moment later.
    “What?” she asked, her lust-impaired brain having trouble decoding his words.
    “Just now. When I make love to you. You give yourself completely every time I touch you,” he said, his gaze traveling over her face with a tight focus. “I can feel it, Emma. I’m not sure it’s a healthy thing for you.”
    “No?” she whispered.
    He shook his head, a steely look overcoming his face as he stared at her lips. “No. But I’m becoming addicted to it, nevertheless.”
    Suddenly he was moving along the pool wall, pulling her with him. When he reached the shallow end of the pool, he transferred her, carrying her with one arm at her back, the other below her knees. He took the steps out of the water and walked onto the terrace, moving very quickly.
    “Where are we going?” she asked him as he stormed toward the house, his gaze fixed on the entrance.
    “To bed,” he replied grimly.
    * * *
    He carried her all the way to his bedroom suite, closing the door behind them with a slam. Emma looked around curiously when they entered the bathroom. It was a wonderland, featuring warm, mahogany paneling on the walls, streamlined but beautiful white marble sinks, and a bidet. A small lounging area with two deep taupe armchairs and a table was arranged before a huge, deep, white marble tub. He set