Ian Blake was a specialist in many things: in taking photographs, in training wolves, and in hiding his true identity as one of the magnates of the Di Sávallo Empire. Dominant, solitary, dark... he had an inviolable rule about how long a woman stayed in his bed: two months, not a day more, not a day less! Lia Marie Grant wasn't even aware she existed. The recent loss of her baby had robbed her of every last impulse of life, transporting her to a state of absence from which nothing... or no one... was able to bring her out of... Or was she? Training Lia as if she were one of his wolves wasn't the problem. The problem was falling in love to the bone with a woman who didn't want to live.
Leer másDear reader:
This book is the translation of one of my books in Spanish. I am a Spanish-speaking author, but I am doing my best to translate this beautiful novel into English. If you find an error, please comment to correct it, but please do it with kindness and consideration.
I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you!
Day
CHAPTER 1
He looked up and was lost far, far away, where the sea fiercely devoured the rock.
—I beg you, Ian, do it for me!
He tried to escape from her voice, from her whole figure sitting in front of him in a second—rate café in the port of the island, but her insistence finally brought him back to reality. It was always difficult to escape from Katherine! The Italian gave her a two—second glance: thirty years old, brunette, with tousled hair and a body any model would have killed for.
—Enough, Katherine, you didn't beg me like that even when we were having sex!
—I'll beg you if that's what you want. —She tried to seduce him, and suddenly it became all too obvious that this was the only bond between them—. Ian, we were together three years ago, and we've been friends ever since. Help me, I beg you!
True, lovers, and now Kathy ran the art gallery, owned by the Di Sávallo Empire, where he exhibited. She had been a good lover, cheerful, uninhibited, and above all married, with two children. She was adult enough to understand what so many women had trouble with: that no one stayed at her house, that he didn't want serious relationships and above all, that he didn't take responsibility for himself when he had a beautiful woman in front of him.
—I am thirty—one years old —he replied—, a lot of work and a perfectly balanced life. The last thing I need is to get complicated with Leah.
—But she needs it!
“Damn!", he roared inwardly.
He wasn't a selfish man, God knew he wasn't, but giving in to Katherine's request would be the most absurd thing he'd done in thirty years.
The island sang with euphoria in the early afternoon, and dozens of curious tourists wandered the small harbor. Ian had visited almost a decade ago, and since then he used to spend long periods of time in the residence he had acquired at one of the farthest ends of the island.
Camera over his shoulder, he had fallen in love with the jungle and the sea. He loved the serenity, the tongues of warm salt water in front of his house, the semi—wild lifestyle he led and above all his freedom. Twenty—six degrees and a peace that was only broken by the squawk of a blue heron or the howling of his wolves.
He put two fingers to his temples. Katherine must have been desperate to ask him to use the force of his character to control Leah. They both knew for a fact that he was an extremely domineering man, and if she had met the rest of his family, she would have been even more convinced: where a Di Sávallo commanded, everyone ran to obey.
But for the time being he was just Ian Blake, a stranger whom the press didn't bother, and he had no intention of altering his way of life either for Katherine or for better lovers.
—I'd like to be the solution, my dear, but I'm not —he said, crossing his arms—. I know that the loss of a child is a fatal blow to any family, and that someone must support Leah to get her back on her feet, but don't you think that the way you want to do it might be a little... harmful to her? Leah is sad, she is weak, she needs love and patience, not discipline.
He did his best to make his voice affable and conciliatory. He was far from imagining such suffering, and insensitivity was not one of his many faults.
—I have thought about it, of course I have thought about it! —Katherine choked on every word—. If I turn to you it is because I have seen no other way out. Leah has taken a path that can only lead to self—destruction, and I'm afraid. My God, I'm so afraid! She needs to get out of that house, she needs a strong hand to guide her, to force her to live.
—And why me?
—Because I don't know anyone as authoritarian as you! —Ian smiled internally; she would never think the same if she ran into Marco, or Fabio—. The last thing she needs is someone who treats her with pity and I know you won't!
For a few seconds he debated between what he didn't want to do and what he shouldn't do, which was the same thing, and made his decision: the most selfish perhaps, but the wisest.
—I will not do it. —On this occasion he was categorical. He got up from the table and left a bill beside the half—finished cup of hot tea—. You know I have a very special regard for you, but I'm afraid I can't help you.
—Ian, please! At least for a few days...
—Enough! —and that determination reminded him of who he was, even if no one on that little island had any idea of his true identity—. Enough, Katherine! Not for days, not for hours! I'm not taking your sister to live with me!
*********
Katherine wanted to make a gesture to stop him but restrained herself. If she knew the Italian at all, she was sure he wouldn't change his mind, not for her or anyone else. Ian Blake was a man of few words, so few that she hardly knew anything about him: he was a superb artist of photography, born in Florence, with many brothers whom he visited regularly, and highly prone to pack his bags and get lost with his wolves when no one was expecting.
That was all, and Katherine didn't mind knowing so little about his life. It was enough for her to know his character, and she was convinced that he was the only one who could bring Lia out of that painful lethargy.
He was six feet tall and weighed sixty pounds, with an irreverent spirit that never faltered in the face of anything. Ian was tough in every sense of the word, maybe for that reason and only for that reason, spending a few days with a man used to being obeyed would do her sister good. But her conviction was not enough, and she knew she had only succeeded in annoying him.
He turned to leave. The fact that Katherine had been his mistress made him treat her with some consideration, but she had gone too far, whether justified or not by her grief. To ask him to take care of Lia for a few weeks was stupid!
—Kika?
In the midst of their outburst, they hadn't noticed someone approaching them, and behind them a man's firm voice startled them.
—Ah...! Hello Johan. —Katherine greeted the newcomer with a rough wave of her hand, instantly regaining her self—control.
Ian noticed the latent awkwardness spreading like an icy fog, and couldn't help but be intrigued by the familiar interaction. It was obvious that they were related, only those closest to her called the headmistress of Galagas: Kika; however, he found her tensing her muscles to force a smile, and he understood that the encounter was not particularly pleasant for her.
—Johan, this is Ian Blake, he is one of the gallery's best—selling artists. —She flattered him in the introductions—. And this is Johan Carson, my brother—in—law. —No flattery.
The Italian was of a curious nature, and suddenly reached out his hand to greet Mr. Carson. A strong, sincere handshake, loaded with that innate confidence with which men of command carried themselves. He didn't seem at all the sort of fellow who couldn't deal with his wife's conflicts.
"Go away, Ian, you're on time." He said to himself, and in the same second disobeyed.
—Coffee? —he asked, knowing Katherine would appreciate it if he stayed by her side.
Johan hesitated for a moment but ended up agreeing. He dropped reluctantly into one of the wicker chairs and ruffled his hair restlessly. His face was taciturn and troubled, like that of a man who has suffered from long insomnia.
—I can't stay more than a minute, but thank you. Kika, I need to talk to you later... you know, about Lia.
Katherine's fingers lost all vestige of self—control and twisted hidden in her lap. After her two children, her sister was the most important person in her life, her friend, her comfort zone.
Ian was surprised that Johan would bring up such a delicate matter in front of him, who was after all a complete stranger, and exasperated that it didn't stop him.
—What's going on with Lia? —The anxiety in the woman's tone was finer than the finest of daggers.
Her brother—in—law hesitated for a second and then shrugged his shoulders, as if it were of no importance to acquaint a stranger with the inner workings of his household, and the gesture of scathing indifference transformed him in an instant in the Italian's eyes.
—I don't know what to do with her anymore, Kika, she's getting worse and worse.
—You have to understand her and help her. —Katherine's accent suddenly became authoritative. There were no tears and self—pity—. She just lost her baby, you have to be patient.
—Our baby, Kika —he corrected her, but his gestures reflected a deep apathy—. She was my daughter too.
—But you didn't carry her in your womb for nine months! Lia needs to heal, and you must give her time.
Johan played with the cup of black coffee the waitress had brought him.
—It's been almost three months —he murmured, losing himself in the circles he was drawing in the dark liquid with the spoon—. I'm sorry....
—What? What are you sorry for?
And like his wolves, Ian could smell the fury of the coming gale.
—I can't go through with this.
—Johan! What can't you go on with? What do you mean? —Katherine rebuked him.
The table shook with the shrill whistle of the cell phone and Mr. Carson took the call with a stern face, his brow straight, his teeth clenched. Who would think he wasn't capable of helping his wife?
—I'll be there in five minutes —he declared and turned to Kathy with confirmation of the disaster reflected on his face—. You'd better come with me, Lia is missing.
I ask for the next dance with the bride!Apparently being the youngest of the Di Sávallo family also made Alessandro the least serious of the brothers, but the truth was that no one at that party was serious. The second season of the World Rally Championship had finally ended after three months and Angelo's numbers put him in a privileged position to challenge for the title.But the real celebration had been that unexpected and above all very intimate wedding that Ian and Lia had arranged just for the family.I'm sorry, Alessandro, but you can't have my wife! You've already made her dance with everyone but me. With brothers like you I'm not going to make it to the honeymoon!Which by the way is in...? Carlo asked carelessly.Oh, don't even think for a second that I'm going to tell you! They'd all go after me just to annoy me!The chorus of laughter spread as camera lights rained down and the family happily piled in for pictures.But the one the newlyweds liked best was the most intim
_ Tell me again! _ Ian asked her as he furrowed her bare back with gentle caresses. He couldn't remember a more perfect woman than Leah...in fact he couldn't remember any other woman _ Go on, tell me again. _ I love you. _ she made a move to lie on his body even though she barely had the strength to move _ I love you. _ and kissed his eyes, his cheeks, his lips _ I love you, I love you, I love you. He smiled softly and sought her mouth _ There was no way he could ever feel satiated with Leah! When the pilot told me you hadn't arrived on the last ferry I really thought you wouldn't come, that I would leave without you. I had to say goodbye to Grace. I had never visited her grave so I got lost, and I was too late to catch the boat. How did you get there? _ I remembered that you had had to get Carlo off the island in the early morning, and Arturo put me in touch with a captain who took me to Playa right away. She kissed him tenderly on the chin. That was her place, nestled in Ian's
Ian gave an exasperated gasp, incredulous at such words, and in the next second his indignation boiled over like an active volcano._ Lia how dare you say something like that _ do you think that's all you are to me, my mistress-in-waiting? _ he almost shouted _ Do you think I would have come all the way from Monaco to demand that your husband set you free, just so I could get you into my bed from time to time?She had hurt him. Those words had hurt him, because they meant that in all the time they had been together she had been incapable of realizing his feelings._I think what happened to Kathy has happened to you,_ the girl murmured undaunted, a single minute of flinching and her spirit would give out on him, she knew it _I think you felt a little responsible for me, and that's why you came to help me out of this...._ Of course I feel responsible for you! _ Ian paced back and forth like a caged beast _ And not a little, a lot! How could I not want to protect you, how could I not go
Ian ripped the delicate fabric of the T-shirt as he laid her down on the bed. He was too impatient to set about undoing all the buttons of that sleeping set.I swear to God I'm going to buy you another one! _ he blurted out, making her laugh.He wanted her, Ian wanted her so badly, so badly, so badly that he could barely get out of his own clothes. He lifted her hair over her shoulders and stepped back, just the distance his arm would allow, to admire her._ Hell, have I ever told you how beautiful you are?_ Mmmm... a lot. _ answered the girl as she pulled him to her to make him fall on the bed above her.He felt the weight of her body, that perfect balance between musculature and willpower, and he knew that his own was nil. She had no decision, no will, not when she wanted him like that, not when she felt so irrevocably wanted by him.Ian was right: she had always wanted him, with her head full of shadows or fully conscious, as it was now. He was the man who completed her, who seduc
Ian stepped forward and left a fleeting kiss on her lips so naturally that she couldn't react, dumbfounded. He just closed the door behind him and watched him smilingly inspect the tiny apartment he had just rented, while he let her continue their awkward phone conversation.Johan's story sounded more and more implausible, and sometimes Lia's eyes widened like saucers, sometimes she pursed her lips and sometimes she smiled in disbelief. But she kept watching the man walking around the living room petting the puppy. It was the first time I saw him as a pure Di Sávallo.And what has your lawyer told you about it? _ she asked at a moment when her husband seemed to calm down a little, and the way he then shook his head, his eyes shining, cheered Ian up as if he were a child _ No, Johan, I had no idea that Mr. Di Sávallo had a whole retinue of sharks... I mean, lawyers, at his service.Again it seemed that the businessman's voice could be heard even without the telephone despite the distan
_ On Saturday I'll bring the children. _ Katherine said goodbye, hugging her at the door._ All right, I'll try to cook something they'll like.Lia closed the door behind her sister and looked around. The apartment was small and bright, and in little more than a week she had managed to turn it from a completely impersonal place into something that looked quite like a home.The editor of the newspaper where she used to work had received the news of her return with joy. Apparently during his absence the publication had become a real mess, and together they had planned to have him join the editorial staff next week.Little by little everything was taking its course, everything but her feelings. It was true what she had told Katherine, she had fallen in love with Ian like an idiot, and yes, she was suffering unspeakably from not being able to see him.She missed his smell, she missed his arms. She missed more than anything the assurance of that voice that had never stopped speaking to her
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