he cautioned quietly as he cupped her face and kissed her, slowly, lingeringly, as he felt his body harden with need and her own response.
With care he gathered her in, his persuasive touch wreaking havoc with her emotions as he branded her his own in a highly sensitised coupling that surpassed what they’d previously shared.
CHAPTER NINE
SHANNAY WOKE to the muted sound of the shower running, registered the large bed, the rumpled sheets … and closed her eyes in automatic reflex as memory provided a vivid image of what had transpired through the night and with whom.
If there was the slightest edge of doubt, her body bore numerous signs to disprove it. Not the least of which was the need to shower and retreat to her room to dress.
Nicki.
She reached out and checked her discarded watch, then let out her indrawn breath. Six. It was only six o’clock. Nicki rarely stirred before seven.
The shower ceased, and she hurriedly tossed back the covers and slid from the bed.
Where was her T-shirt? A hasty glance over the floor revealed nothing. Had Marcello picked it up?
Oh, hell, surely not Maria? At this early hour, the likelihood was so remote it was immediately dismissed.
So where the devil was it? She required something to cover her nudity, and she crossed to Marcello’s walk-in wardrobe, selected the first shirt her fingers touched, slid an arm into each sleeve, then re-emerged into the bedroom at the same time Marcello emerged from the en suite with a towel hitched at his hips.
Broad shoulders, expanse of naked chest, the fluid flex of muscle as he towelled his hair dry, powerful thighs.
There was no chance she could escape before he saw her, and almost as if he sensed her presence he lowered his arms.
A slow smile curved his generous mouth as he caught her drinking in the sight of him, and his lips curved as her gaze slithered to a point near the vicinity of his left shoulder.
‘Buenos dias.’ His voice was a husky, intimate drawl as he crossed to stand within touching distance, and she was powerless to prevent the descent of his head as he covered her mouth with his own in a slow, evocative kiss.
Her eyes dilated with a conflicting mix of emotions as he lifted his mouth fractionally from her own, and he had no trouble determining each and every one of them.
‘Marcello—’
He cut off the tumble of words by the simple expediency of brushing his lips over hers … and sensed rather than heard her soft moan in protest as it remained locked in her throat.
Her eyelids drifted down, only to spring open again seconds later as his hand cupped her breast and teased the tender peak before slipping down over her abdomen to the soft curls at the apex of her thighs.
His touch was incredibly gentle as he stroked the sensitive bud still acutely responsive from his attention, and he absorbed the slight hitch in her breath as he sent her spiralling to climax, then he held her until the spasms diminished.
For a moment the past didn’t exist as he brushed his lips to each closed eyelid in turn before releasing her.
‘Great fashion accessory, mi mujer.’ He ran a finger down the shirt’s open edge, his gleaming gaze locking with hers. ‘Although I prefer you without it.’
Shannay dragged the edges together in a delayed sense of modesty as she turned away from him.
He waited until she reached the door, then cautioned quietly, ‘From now on you sleep here with me.’
She didn’t answer, for she was unable to find the words in acquiescence or argument as she turned the door-handle and walked from the room.
It was a relief to discover Nicki still fast asleep, and she quickly showered, then dressed in a gypsy-style skirt in shades of brown and a fashionable top, dried her hair, caught it in a casual twist and anchored it with a wide hinged clip, added lipgloss, then heard her daughter begin to stir.
Breakfast was a convivial meal eaten out on the glass-enclosed terrace, and Shannay endeavoured to focus on Nicki’s excited conversation with Marcello on learning they were to experience the Aquopolis theme park after their morning visit with Ramon.
Something she achieved with difficulty, given the distraction provided by Marcello’s presence directly opposite.
If she looked at him, her eyes betrayed her as they settled briefly on his mouth, and recalled vividly its erotic tasting. How his hands had explored her body and gifted untold pleasure. And, ultimately, the sex.
Mind-blowing electrifying passion that liquefied her bones and made her his more thoroughly than any words he might offer.
It shouldn’t have happened.
She should have done more than utter a weak-willed protest, then given in to the provocative power of his touch and its pagan promise to banish her restraint.
Worse, allow him to lead her through intoxicating desire to join him again and again in mesmeric primitive climax.
His possession had made her acutely aware of sensitive tissues, and she could still feel the slight throb deep within resulting from his sexual presence.
It was … entrancing, consuming, and made her supremely conscious of what they’d shared. And would again.
Unless she chose to deny him.
Except denying him meant also denying herself, and she hated the disruptive annihilating need he generated in her with such ease.
‘Mummy, you’re not listening.’
Shannay summoned a smile and avoided meeting Marcello’s gaze as she gave Nicki her whole attention.
She knew what he would see, and she refused to allow him the benefit of reading her mind, for he managed to divine her innermost thoughts despite her efforts to the contrary.
‘We need to pack swimming gear for the visit to Aquopolis?’ She hazarded the guess, and heard his faint chuckle at Nicki’s audible sigh.
‘Daddy says we can take a picnic to another park. Not tomorrow, but the day after.’
‘That sounds lovely, darling.’ She noticed her daughter’s empty cereal bowl. ‘What would you like on your toast?’
A return to the prosaic might have fooled Nicki, but she doubted the man seated opposite was under any such illusion, and it was a relief to temporarily escape when the meal concluded.
Ramon appeared to have faded slightly, his air of fragility a little more pronounced, yet his smile was warm and his eyes displayed delight as Nicki greeted him with affection.
Their visit was brief, on medical advice, for he seemed to tire more easily with each passing day.
Aquopolis proved to be a wonderful attraction, with plenty of fun to keep Nicki enthralled for
