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tell me what I need.’

      ‘You have so little experience.’

      ‘Of sex?’ she queried. ‘I’d agree with you where that’s concerned, but I’m not inexperienced when it comes to life, and I know when someone’s hurting.’

      ‘That’s your strength,’ he agreed. ‘One of them.’

      ‘So…?’

      ‘So, don’t waste your time on me. I’m a lost cause, and there are plenty of people who could benefit from the kind of thoughtfulness and compassion you want to give.’

      ‘You make me sound like a saint and I’m far from it.’

      ‘Me too,’ he confirmed dryly.

      ‘Don’t you think it’s time to confront the demons from your past?’

      ‘While I’m having sex with you?’ he suggested in that same ironic tone.

      Stacey shrugged. ‘It’s an outlet—yes.’

      Luc’s mouth tugged in a wry sort of smile. ‘Who knows what you might release.’

      ‘You, I hope,’ she said. ‘I do know that you’ll continue to hurt until you allow yourself to feel something.’

      ‘And I can’t ask what you know about that, can I?’

      ‘I don’t pretend my situation was anything like yours,’ she assured him. ‘I can’t even begin to imagine how you feel, but isn’t that when we need our friends the most?’

      ‘Friends?’ he challenged. ‘I thought we were talking about sex. That’s certainly the impression you gave me upstairs.’

      ‘Don’t,’ she said softly. ‘I don’t want to argue with you. I just want to help.’

      ‘You always want to help.’ Getting up, he stoked the fire. ‘I don’t need help, not from anyone, and especially not from you.’

      Luc’s words were like a slap across the face, and it took a little time before she could do much more than watch the flames rise and dance in the hearth.

      ‘Okay,’ she said at last, getting to her feet. ‘I guess even I can take a hint.’

      ‘Maybe we can talk some other time,’ he suggested.

      ‘Is there any point?’

      ‘You were lucky tonight that it was me and not some other man,’ Luc called after her as she headed for the stairs.

      She stopped dead. ‘There’s no chance of there ever being another man.’

      ‘Then, you’re a fool, Stacey,’ Luc said coldly. ‘For your own sake, accept that we don’t belong together. You deserve someone far—’

      ‘Oh, please,’ she interrupted, ‘spare me the gentle let-down. If I’m hopeless in bed and turn you right off, you only have to say so.’

      ‘What the hell?’ Luc was on his feet and grabbing hold of her within a second. Cupping her chin, he made her look at him. ‘You’re not hopeless. In fact, that’s the problem.’

      ‘I’m too good,’ she suggested with a mocking huff as she braced to hear the truth.

      ‘Yes,’ Luc confirmed flatly. ‘This is my fault. I shouldn’t have let things go so far.’

      ‘It takes two to tango. And as for consequences, I’ll handle whatever comes around.’

      ‘But can you do that?’ His expression was sceptical. ‘You’re hunting for a fairy tale and what I’m looking for is sex. I devote most of my time to work and the rest of my time to polo. I travel constantly, and wherever I am—’ he shrugged ‘—is home.’

      ‘You don’t have a home. You have a number of fabulous properties across the world, but when it comes to a home you don’t know the meaning of the word.’

      ‘I can remember,’ he said quietly.

      She could have ripped out her tongue. ‘Of course you do. Luc, I’m so sorry. I don’t think sometimes.’

      ‘And you’re not thinking now,’ Luc warned.

      ‘Oh, I am,’ she assured him. ‘What makes you think I want more than you? I’m a normal woman with normal, healthy appetites. Men aren’t the only animals on the planet who want sex with no consequences or long-term complications. I’m not the clinging-vine type,’ she added while her heart screamed that she was a liar, and that she did want Luc long-term. For as long as she could remember he’d been part of her life, and life going forward without him, especially now they’d been so close, was unthinkable. But if one night was all she could have she’d take it.

      ‘Neither of us has the type of lifestyle that allows for a long-term relationship,’ she said matter-of-factly, as desperation to have Luc kiss her, embrace her, make love to her, drummed relentlessly in her brain.

      His lips pressed down attractively as he considered this. ‘If you can accept reality, then I suppose…’

      She jumped on the opening. ‘Do you mean accepting the pace of your life means you snatch up a woman like you snatch up a meal, and when you’ve both had enough you walk away?’

      Luc’s head shot back. ‘Dios, Stacey! That’s a little harsh, even for me. I could never think of you that way. I’ve watched you grow up.’

      ‘Then you should know I’m no fool and I know my own mind. Please don’t pity me, or make a joke of this, either. I know what I want, and I know what you need. What’s wrong with that?’

      He shrugged. ‘Everything?’

      Cocking her chin to one side, she demanded, ‘Doesn’t that make it irresistible…for both of us?’

      No. It did not. Dios! What was he going to do with this woman—with himself? The fire they created between them was unreal. One minute they were arguing, and the next passion of a very different kind was threatening. Any challenge, or something forbidden to him, had always proved irresistible in the past, but this was Stacey. This was wrong. With no reprieve in sight, the best he could do was put space between them. What a joke talking about consequences where Stacey was concerned. He’d taken her into his home and it was he who had to live with those consequences. According to the latest weather forecast it would be three or four days at least before the roads to the village were passable, so, like it or not, they were stuck together.

      ‘Lucas?’ she prompted. ‘Don’t you have anything to say?’

      ‘Irresistible is a dangerous word.’

      ‘Thank you for your input, Señor Da Silva. I shall bear that in mind.’

      He had plenty more to say on the subject, but thought it better now to stare out of the window, beyond which snow was falling again. The hotel across the road had become a vague, insubstantial shadow, a reminder that he’d called every hotel in the village, but they were all full with people who’d been stranded. No one had any room for Stacey except him. ‘Haven’t you gone to bed yet?’ he asked without turning to face her.

      ‘I’m waiting for you,’ she said.

      When he swung around, she gave him one of her looks, and he knew then that even if they went to their separate beds she’d still be on his mind. ‘You should rest and so should I.’

      ‘I’ll let you rest…in between making love to me.’

      ‘This isn’t funny, Stace.’

      ‘You’re telling me.’

      To his horror, there were tears in her eyes. ‘Just let it go,’ he advised. ‘I’m

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