He nipped at her earlobe with his teeth before laving the bite with his tongue. “I’m going to prove you wrong at least a couple of times.” The elevator began to move. “Hold on.”
She shook her head. “I may never let you go.”
Chapter Ten
The next morning found Allegra up before the sun, making her way around the kitchen, starting a pot of coffee. She knew there was a fancy espresso machine that everyone favored, but she loved her Wally-world Twelve Dollar special. She could make it herself and it was the first thing she’d gone to the store to buy after she’d learned to use her cane to maneuver around the neighborhood. A cup of coffee from her little plastic machine made her a happy girl normally.
But this morning, it just added to the glow.
As she heard the first steam percolating in the machine she took in a deep breath and smiled. Moments later she heard the trickling stream of coffee filling the pot.
Two arms wrapped around her and pulled her back against a muscled wall.
“Hey, careful,” she giggled when his beard brushed against her neck. When his kiss touched the mark on her shoulder she shuddered against him, white-hot need flooded through her body.
Turning in his embrace she raised her hands and he guided them to his face. When she took hold of him, she drew him down for a kiss.
“Well, looks like it was a good night for you two.”
Caught red handed, Allegra turned around and found herself in Valerio’s secure embrace again. Natale walked passed them and over to the counter.
“I’m glad you didn’t wait, Val.” She took out two mugs and set them down on the counter, Allegra could hear the soft clatter as the cups went down. Moments later she heard Natale’s soft tone closer to her ears. “Hold out your hand, sweetie.”
Allegra took the cup and smiled into it, feeling the steam on her face. “Thanks, Natale.”
“You made it, I just poured it out.” Natale chuckled and took a sniff. “Hot, just the way I like it. Coffee and men.”
A growl rolled through the room. “Man. How you like your man.” Salvatore’s growl at his mate fooled no one. He was completely wrapped around everything of hers. “I hope you’re not drinking that coffee, Principessa.”
“Here, take it. I just wanted to take a sniff. Here, grumpy bear. It’s all yours.”
Allegra listened as Salvatore set his cup down and made Natale sigh. She turned slightly toward Valerio. “Should we give them some privacy.”
“If they wanted privacy, they have a room.”
“You both have rooms.”
Allegra laughed at Uberto’s comment and heard him pick up the cup from the table.
“Thanks for the coffee.” Uberto took a loud gulp from the cup, the heat didn’t bother him at all. “So, what’s with all the hugging and kissing in the kitchen this morning?”
No one answered and Uberto was left to pick up the pieces. “You did it!”
Natale laughed. “I was waiting for the men to notice, but I’m also waiting for Val to notice her hands.”
Allegra barely managed not to moan as her mate’s hands moved over hers. He was thorough, but she was still reeling from the memories of what those hands had done to her the night before. Not just the first time when he marked her, but later in his bedroom and again in the pre-dawn hours when she’d woken from a dream to find his mouth tending to his mark. She’d fallen asleep later, sated and exhausted on top of her mate.
“We should go to the doctor as soon as he’ll see us this morning.” She heard Valerio’s amazement in his voice, but she also knew how she felt. Her wrists and fingers which had been tender and aching the night before after their adventure, felt amazing in the morning. She felt like she could pick up her bow and cello and play all day if she wanted to.
“He’ll see you as soon as you get there.” Salvatore’s tone said he would make it happen.
She felt a little flush on her cheeks. “He’ll see me. You don’t need to worry. He’s been my doctor since…” She let the words die away and hoped that the memories it brought up would fade as fast, but they lingered.
Valerio brushed a kiss on her cheek and murmured in her ear. “I’m here for you.”
Allegra nodded. “I know.”
Natale appeared at her side again. “We need to go and look at a different dress for tonight.”