* * *

As wonderful a time as Amelia was having, she was growing frustrated. She was trying her best to ignore all the strange things that went on around Byron—the disappearing, the strange actions of her staff, her unusual sexual appetites—but a week into her holiday, it was becoming harder and harder.

Soon after meeting Byron, Amelia realized Byron had a high sex drive, but it was only here in her home that she realized how high it was.

Could Byron be a sex addict? She thought back to last night, and how Byron had made love to her—passionately, yes, but generously. Byron always was an attentive lover and worshipped her body. Amelia didn’t know for sure, but it didn’t seem as if she was addicted to sex in general. Then the thought popped into her head: More like she’s addicted to me.

One thing that was becoming clear was that Byron never wanted to go out in public with her. She asked to go out for dinner, to go to the theatre, anything just so she could see the sights and sounds of Monte Carlo, and Byron used every excuse not to go.

Last night, Amelia thought she had won her battle, when Byron agreed to take her out to dinner in town, but when they arrived she discovered that Byron had hired out the restaurant for the night, and they were the only two patrons.

It was starting to feel like Byron didn’t want to be seen with her. She didn’t want to believe it, but what other reasons could she have?

This afternoon Amelia was getting ready to have lunch on the beach with Byron, while Byron took care of some business. She stood and smoothed down her dress. “Not bad.”

She was now sharing Byron’s room, after she’d asked a few days ago why they didn’t. Was she trying to keep her at a distance? Byron was slightly reticent at first, but then agreed wholeheartedly.

It was wonderful to sleep beside Byron at night, in her big oak four-poster bed, although she was still alone in the morning, more often than not. It was just probably one of the things she would have to get used to if she wanted a long-term relationship with an international banker.

The door opened and Byron walked in. “Are you ready, mia cara?”

“Yes. Did you finish with your business?”

Amelia saw Byron lick her lips, and she was sure her eyes grew darker. “Yes, all done.”

She turned to spray her perfume and without any footsteps or sound, Byron was right behind her back. Amelia clasped her chest. “God, Byron. You gave me the fright of my life.”

“Sorry.” Byron rested her hands on Amelia’s waist and leaned in to kiss her neck. “Oh God, you smell good.”

Amelia shivered. The want in Byron’s voice always made her melt and yearn for her touch. She turned around into Byron’s arms and thought she saw little shards of red glint in her eyes. She was starting to notice this all the time—after Byron had taken care of some sort of urgent business, she returned hungry, passionate, and with a red glint in her eyes.