“That’s a wonderful thing to do.”

“It’s part of what we do. It’s a symbiotic relationship. Most of the world’s population give business to the Debrek bank, directly or indirectly, and we give back. The bank funnels a lot of money into charitable organizations. One of the things my father did before he retired was to cancel a great deal of debt owed to us by many third world countries.”

“That’s wonderful, Byron. You constantly surprise me,” Amelia said. She watched Byron take a drink of her dark red wine, while her eyes caressed her.

“Do you like your jewellery?” Byron asked.

Amelia touched the exquisite necklace and smiled. “They are beautiful. Where do you hire these kinds of things?”

Byron furrowed her eyebrows. “I do not borrow jewellery. I bought them for you.”

“What?” Amelia squeaked. “You bought—”

Before she got a chance to finish her question, Byron stood and walked around the table to offer her hand. “Dance with me?”

Amelia looked around, slightly confused. “Here?”

“Yes, here. Join me.”

When she rose more staff appeared and whisked the table and dinner items away in seconds, and a group of three violinists appeared already playing a beautiful tune.

Amelia was so touched by the romantic gesture that she had to stop herself from shedding a tear. “Byron…this is just—no one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

Byron pulled her into her arms and cupped her cheeks tenderly. “Then I am here to change that. Dance with me?”

Amelia smiled and slipped in close to the crook of Byron’s neck. They swayed together to the sound of the violins, and the sound of the waves, and under the moonlight. Amelia’s heart fluttered. There had never been a more perfect moment in her life, and she had to physically stop herself from saying I love you.

As they swayed together, Byron’s soft touches to her bare back became more like gentle scratches, and Byron’s breathing became heavier. It sounded as if she was so turned on, but holding back.

Amelia pulled back and looked in Byron’s eyes and saw fire and passion. “Kiss me, Byron.”

Byron’s lips met hers so softly, and her kisses were so tender, Amelia felt as if she was being worshipped.

Amelia couldn’t stop from moaning into the kiss, and that sound seemed to loosen Byron’s restraint. Her kisses became passionate, raw and hungry. Luckily the staff had left with the table, Amelia thought, or she guessed she would be on it, and she wasn’t ready to explore sex in public quite yet.

This was the conundrum about Byron. Most of the time she was so restrained in their lovemaking, but sometimes it felt like she was overcome with emotion, and their sex would be on the edge of control.

Byron’s desperate kisses moved from her lips to her neck. Amelia threaded her fingers through Byron’s short hair, while she kissed along her collarbone.

Her lips felt so good, and Amelia’s neck was such a sensitive area. She grasped Byron’s head and pushed it into the side of her neck. Amelia’s heart and her body thudded.