Page 34 of Italian Baby Shock

Cesare didn’t look away as he let go the arms of the chair, putting his hands gently on either side of her thighs, just above her knees, and clasping her gently.

She gave a delicious little shiver but didn’t pull away. ‘I thought you weren’t going to touch me again unless I asked?’

‘I wasn’t,’ he admitted. ‘But you haven’t given me an answer yet and I thought I might offer some incentive.’

Lark’s gaze drifted to his mouth, her gaze gone smoky. ‘What incentive?’

‘This.’ He began to slowly ease up the hem of her dress, up the front of her calves and slowly over her knees, baring her pretty thighs. ‘Our marriage doesn’t have to be only about Maya. You could have something for yourself too. After all, don’t you think you deserve it?’

‘Do I?’ She made no move to stop him, only staring at him, her breathing getting faster and faster as he pushed her dress even higher.

She hadn’t asked for reassurance, and yet he found himself wanting to give it. Wanting her to understand too, that he was grateful for what she’d done for Maya. Because there were many choices she could have made when she’d found herself pregnant with a baby she had no memory of conceiving, and she’d chosen to keep her.

A difficult choice for a woman on her own, and he regretted that he hadn’t been there to support her, to be with her when Maya was born. There was so much he’d missed. But one thing he knew was that this strong, beautiful woman had kept their daughter safe, had kept her happy and healthy and, yes, for that he was grateful.

‘Yes,’ he murmured. ‘Of course you do.’ He eased the hem of her dress up to her waist so he could see the knickers she wore, white cotton with a bit of lace. Very practical. Incredibly sexy. ‘You kept her when you could have chosen differently, and that must have been very hard.’ He slid his hands up her thighs, stroking her silky skin and she took a soft breath. ‘Especially having to do this all on your own.’

Lark’s gaze became liquid, her full lower lip trembling slightly. ‘I wanted so badly to be a good mother to her,’ she whispered. ‘But sometimes...’

‘It’s okay.’ He stroked her slowly, hoping she saw his sincerity, because he’d never been so sincere in all his life. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you. But I am now, understand? You’ve done a fantastic job with her, but you’re not alone in this any more.’

Her throat moved, and she stared at him as if she was drowning and his gaze was a lifeline. He could smell her vanilla scent, tinged now with the delicate musk of her arousal, and something primitive and powerful turned over inside him.

She needed him, he could see that now, it was there in her eyes, and he liked it. He’d never been needed before, not like this, and it made him want to be there for her, protect her the way she’d protected their daughter.

He would get that yes from her. She would be his wife. She and Maya were his now and it was his responsibility to keep them both safe and happy.

And touching her now wasn’t only about weighting the dice in his favour. It was also a token of his gratitude for what she’d done for their daughter, and his appreciation for her strength and courage. Pleasure, just for her and her alone.

Cesare looked into her eyes, seeing the flickers of her passion beginning to ignite, and he bent his head, brushing his mouth over the top of one thigh and then the other.

Her breath hitched, yet she made no move to stop him. So he reached up and hooked his fingers in the waistband of her knickers and slowly drew them down. She sighed, lifting up to help him, then leaning back in the chair as he pulled them all the way off and dropped them on the floor.

Then he leaned in again and gently eased her thighs apart.

‘Cesare...’ she whispered, shivering.

‘Little bird.’ His thumbs stroked over her skin as he glanced hungrily at the soft golden curls between her thighs.Dio, she was gorgeous. Then he met her gaze once again. ‘You are so beautiful. So strong and brave. Our little girl is healthy and happy, and that is all down to you. I want to show you how much that means to me, give you the pleasure you deserve. And I won’t lie... I also want to show you what you could have as my wife, what a good husband can give you.’

Her eyes had gone dark with arousal, her face flushed. ‘Yes. Yes, please...’

His own hunger was becoming demanding and he was hard, but for once in his life Cesare wasn’t interested in his own pleasure. The only thing that mattered was hers.

He bent, nuzzling gently at her inner thighs, pressing kisses there as he went, hearing her breathing get faster and faster. He remembered how she’d tasted that night, remembered her cries of delight as he’d brought her to the edge of orgasm and held her there. That memory had lived in his head for so long and he’d never thought he’d ever get the chance to taste her again.

Yet here she was, between his hands and he couldn’t wait.

He was so damn hungry.

He gripped her thighs and leaned in, nuzzling against the soft curls and kissing her there. Then he tightened his grip and using his tongue, began to explore the soft, damp folds of her sex.

Lark cried out, moving restlessly in his hands, but he didn’t let go. He leaned in further, exploring her deeper, wanting to drive her to the edge of sanity and hold her there for as long as possible.

She was delicious. He wanted to do this all day, have her shaking and trembling and crying out as he gave her all the pleasure she deserved and then some.

His groin ached, his own need becoming demanding, but he shoved it aside. It wasn’t important, not right now, not compared to her.

He knew how to pleasure a woman, knew how to bring her to the brink and hold her there. Knew how to use his hands and his mouth to give her the greatest ecstasy, and he did so now. Kissing her, licking, feasting on her. Devouring her as if she was the most delicious treat he’d ever tasted and she was.

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