Enemies at the Altar by Melanie Milburne

men had been doing for centuries. She would separate her emotions from her physical needs. Sex would be just sex. Love would not come into it at all.
    Sienna joined Andreas in the
salone
for the intimate celebration Elena had taken such delight in setting up for them. The housekeeper was clearly in her element, a beaming smile was spread across her face as she brought in an ice bucket and a bottle of vintage champagne.
    ‘I have left everything ready for you in the dining room,’ she said. ‘You will prefer to be alone,
sì
? It will be much more romantic.’
    ‘
Grazie
, Elena,’ Andreas said. ‘I’m sure it will be delightful.’
    ‘Thank you for going to so much trouble,’ Sienna chimed in. ‘I saw the dining room on my way past. It looks fabulous with all the candles and the food smells absolutely delicious.’
    ‘Enjoy,’ Elena said and bustled out, closing the door softly as she left.
    Sienna went over to where Andreas was standing and handed him his mother’s pearl necklace and earrings. ‘I thought I’d better hand these back before I get too attached to them,’ she said. ‘I’m sure your next bride will appreciate the chance to carry on the tradition.’
    He took them from her with an unreadable expression on his face. ‘Thank you,’ he said.
    ‘So,’ she said with forced brightness. ‘Champagne, huh?’
    ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Would you like some?’
    ‘Why not?’
    Sienna watched as he unpeeled the foil cover and unwound the wire before he popped the cork. A soft flutter like wings passed over the floor of her belly as she thought of those hands on her breasts and other parts of her anatomy. He had beautiful hands. Not soft and unused to hard work, but strong and capable.
    She took the bubbling glass of champagne from him and was about to take a sip when his voice stalled her.
    ‘Shouldn’t we make a toast?’
    ‘Sure,’ she said, holding her glass up. ‘What shall we drink to?’
    He clinked his glass against hers, his eyes holding hers in a steely little lockdown that made her spine tingle. ‘To making love, not war.’
    She looked at him archly. ‘
Love
, Andreas?’ she said. ‘Don’t you mean sex?’
    His eyes glinted smoulderingly as he gave her a half-smile. ‘You want it as much as I do,’ he said. ‘There’s no point pretending otherwise.’
    Sienna gave a little indifferent shrug. ‘I admit the thought of seeing what you’re like in bed holds a certain fascination,’ she said. ‘But I don’t want you getting any ideas that
if
we conduct an intimate relationship it will mean anything to me other than the satiation of physical lust.’
    He held her gaze for a pulsing moment. ‘If?’
    She gave him a defiant look. ‘If.’
    He took a leisurely sip of his champagne. ‘I think we both know this thing between us is not going to go away,’ he said. ‘The thing is, it can only last as long as six months. By that time we will both have achieved what we want and will be free to move on with our lives.’
    Sienna toyed with the champagne flute with her fingers, determined to rattle his chain as much as she could. It was an impish urge in her she couldn’t quite control. ‘What if you want me to stay a little longer?’ she asked. ‘What if you get so used to having me around you don’t want to let me go?’
    His hazel eyes drilled into hers with burning intensity. ‘I will let you go, Sienna,’ he said. ‘Make no mistake about that. You are not the woman I want to be my wife or the future mother of my children.’
    Sienna wasn’t expecting his cutting response to hurt, but it had and deeply. Having children of her own was a subject she had put to the back of her mind. It was one of those things she didn’t want to think about. Her childhood had been so unsettled and chaotic, and her mother’s example of mothering so poor, she had always felt worried she might not be a good mother herself. But to hear Andreas say she was a totally unsuitable candidate as the