Page 134 of His Two Hidden Masks

“I love your ideas.”

“I think I will ask Roberto and Lissa to head up operations here in Venice.”

“So where will you be, my clever Bella, if you task this team with managing production from your Venetian location?”

I laughed. “You are the one suggesting I think big,” I said, the idea making me giddy.

“I am not suggesting anything,” he said. “I am asking the CEO for her thoughts on strategy.”

“My thoughts on strategy,” I repeated. liking his question.

“I am happy to walk and think with you. A good CEO gives themselves times to process.”

A good CEO. The words gave me a thrill. Walking beside Dylan, the idea of leaving Venice grew wings. If I admitted I was leaving Venice, where did that leave me? Where did that leave Dylan? Where did that leave our marriage of convenience and oh-so-many benefits?

Our love was a flame that I wanted to fan and grow. The sparks we created that first night in Venice had grown into a bed of red-hot embers where we tumbled together, lost in the heat of us.

“What are you thinking about now, my clever Bella?” Dylan said, leaning down.

I noticed how he was leading us on our winding walk this time. “I was just thinking about how you are no longer the lost angry tourist from the first night me met.”

“Make no mistake, I would be lost in this city without you, but I do know how to get to a few places. I have memorized a couple of paths.”

He held my hand and pulled me close. We stood on a small arched bridge down from the Rialto. The lights of the canal glittered. Our breath came out in frozen bursts.

The heat of this man was intoxicating. I wanted to slide my hands under his coat and touch his chest. I wanted to run my fingers across his bare skin. I couldn’t get enough of him.

“Do you want to know what I’ve memorized in fair Venice?” Dylan said.

“Why, yes I do.”

“I have memorized the path from my hotel room to your bed. The path from my favorite coffee shop to your bed. The path from Doge's Palace to your bed. The path from, should I continue?”

“You are ridiculous.”

“I have memorized the curve of your hips when you lie naked on your side beside me.” He reached out and brushed a lock of hair behind my ear.

“Is that so?” I said, feeling desire rise in my body.

Gloves off, he ran his thumb across my lower lip. “I also can’t stop daydreaming about your mouth, your kiss, your smile, the way your left cheek dimples when you laugh.”

“You are quite the daydreamer,” I said, my breath growing shallow.

“I love all your expressions. Most of all, I love the look on your face when I come inside you.” He leaned down and kissed me, his tongue darting across my teeth.

I broke out in goosebumps. He kissed me again, a firm warm kiss that made me weak with desire.

“I have memorized you, clever Bella,” he said, taking a breath. “You are Venice. You are London. You are New York. You are San Francisco. You are my world, and I will follow you anywhere.” He stopped and stepped back, holding me by my elbows. “Am I scaring you?”

“I married you last night.” I laughed. “I think I’m well past the point of being scared.”

“And will you keep me?” he said. “I don’t want to lose you. I know we don’t know exactly what this is, and we have done everything backward.”

“That’s true.”

“Shall we give this a go?” he whispered, his head lowered, dark hair in front of his beautiful, deep brown eyes. “Is that what you want?”

His question floated in the air between us. With his body, his touch, and his belief in me, this man helped me find the courage to change my life.

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