Page 48 of The Virgin's Dance with the Devil
“I don’t think I can walk,” she said, only half joking. She felt deliciously boneless.
He gently bit her earlobe. “That’s your fault for being so sexy.”
Just a week ago, Marisa would have shied away from being called sexy, but now she stretched and smiled seductively. “You make me feel sexy.”
“I’m very glad to hear it because I intend to spend the rest of my life getting sexy with you.” He kissed her, swift and hard and possessive, before jumping off the bed. “Want to spend the night here?”
She looked around his glorious suite and sighed happily. “I’d love to.” At least four times the size of her room, it was set in one of the private blocks rather than in the main hotel itself. It also came with the added benefit of not being adjoined to her parents’ room, and so she didn’t have to restrain her vocal cords when in the throes of passion. “Just let me know when you’re back and I’ll come and join you.”
“I promise I’ll escape as soon as I can.”
That night, the Martinellis and Espositos were dining privately, a traditional dinner for the families of the bride and groom before all reuniting the next day for the wedding. As she wasn’t either a Martinelli or an Esposito – at least, not yet – Marisa wasn’t invited. Instead, she was going out with her parents for dinner. Luisa had made noises about joining them, but as Luisa was still hardly talking to her, Marisa hoped she would decide to dine elsewhere with Gennaro.
Every time she thought of her sister and her attitude to Rico, it made her want to cry. She knew she’d come round, that all she needed was time, but it still hurt. Rico was no angel – Marisa knew that better than anyone – but he was no devil either. He loved her, would always love, protect and cherish her just as she would always love, protect and cherish him. Part of her wanted to confront Luisa with the promise he’dmade earlier to not allow either of the Thomas sisters be hurt, but, never minding that their talk had been made under confessional conditions, she figured it would probably backfire and be used as proof that the Espositos were evil. What Luisa wouldn’t see was that Rico had made the promise for Marisa’s sake, that he was willing to temper the more unsavoury parts of himself forher, because he loved her.
Oh well, she thought, trying to be philosophical and push away the maudlin thoughts, it would all work itself out.
Stretching her sated body again, she suddenly spotted the book on Rico’s bedside table. “You’re still reading it!” Reaching over, she lifted his phone off it and put it by her thigh so she could hold the book. To her surprise, the receipt he was using as a bookmark showed he’d read barely a fifth of it. With the speed he read, she’d have thought he’d be close to finishing it, but then, thinking again, he really hadn’t had much reading time that week. “What do you think? Are you still enjoying it?”
He turned back to her from the bathroom doorway. “Yes, I am.”
“You still sound surprised at that.”
He pulled a face. “I can’t say I ever pictured myself reading a romance book.” He blew her a kiss. “I need to get in the shower before I’m late.”
Puzzled by his comment – Rico’s letters were littered with quotes and references from literature’s great romances – she nodded and automatically blew him a kiss back.
It made her smile that he left the bathroom door open in an unspoken invitation.
A moment later, she heard the shower running, and was debating whether to join him after all or snuggle back under the covers for a bit longer when his phone buzzed. As it was right by her thigh, she picked it up, intending to put it back onthe bedside table; would have done so if the received message hadn’t flashed on the screen.
Put the unicorn down and get your arse to the bar. Mattia’s got the tequila lined up.
The message disappeared but remained vivid in her mind’s eye.Put the unicorn down?What did that mean? Maybe she would never have thought of it again if the phone hadn’t buzzed in her hand and another message filled the screen.
By the way, don’t think holding hands with her in public is proof that you’ve fucked her. We want the goods or you lose!
By the time the message disappeared, it felt like the temperature in the suite had dropped to freezing.
The shower turned off. She could hear humming. Could smell fresh oranges warming under a hot sun… But learning where the source of Rico’s glorious scent came from – his shower gel – barely registered. There was a knife tipped at the edge of her heart, and only by frantically thinking of a different meaning to those two crude messages than what logic was trying to convince her of stopped it stabbing straight through.
Over the roar in her ears, she could hear teeth being brushed. He’d be back in the room soon.
Please, God, she prayed as she fumbled her trembling body into her shorts and vest top.Please don’t let this mean what I think it means. Please. I beg you.
The tap stopped running. Footsteps came closer.
Chapter Thirteen
Rico saunteredout of the bathroom with a towel slung around his waist. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so damned good, so damnedalive. First thing Monday, he would travel to Valenza and search for the perfect engagement ring. It was incredible to believe he’d spent his whole life grateful he could avoid marriage until his older brothers had taken the plunge. It had never occurred to him that he’d fall in love andwantto marry, and he couldn’twaitto see his brothers’ faces when they realised the pressure would be turned up to maximum on them both. Their mother, already itching for a grandchild, would be like a dog with the bit between its teeth. She would be insufferable. It would be brilliant!
When he crossed the threshold, Marisa was sitting on the bed, her feet on the floor. As he was already running late, he should be thankful she’d put some clothes on and so removed the temptation of her gorgeous naked body, but seeing as he wanted to screw her whatever she was or wasn’t wearing, that was moot.
“When do you have to go back to work?” he asked. If it were Monday, he’d have to rethink going to Valenza then. Hewanted her to come with him, and she was far too conscientious not to return to work when she said she would. She’d see it as letting her boss and colleagues down. Rico had not been the slightest bit surprised when she’d told him she’d never taken a day off sick. Not ever.
Instead of answering, she lifted her face.
Straightaway, he could see something was wrong. Where his father’s colour earlier had been ashen, Marisa had no colour at all. It was like looking at the face of someone who’d had all the blood drained from them.
