Page 14 of Forbidden Noble
She reached for his hand and held it as she met his gaze. “Maybe we can understand each other. Nobody else ever really saw the real me.”
His lips thinned, but he traced her arms with his hard yet soft hands that had never done manual labor. “So you’re saying one night of sex fixed your life?”
Maybe shewasdifferent after last night. She felt that on some level, but that wasn't what he was really asking. Clara always landed on her feet. “No. I’m not stupid, but I’m happy." She thought about this as she said it just to make sure. "And it’s okay to be happy in this life. I've stayed away from men and relationships for the most part because I didn’t think I deserved to be.”
He let her hands go and the sun grew brighter on their balcony, almost blinding her as he asked, “You’re cured now and capable of being happy?”
She stood as the intensity of the sun made it hard to see and walked in front of him. “Who knows, but I’m not scared I’ll ruin you so that's a good start.”
He rose and ushered her toward their room. Once inside, he closed the door and pulled her against him. “You can’t ruin me. You’re way too good for me.” He let her go.
Good wasn’t exactly the right word here, but she was less terrified of getting close to Astorre when he… he made her feel accepted. It was nice to not be seen as a burden. “Before we leave this beautiful place, can we have breakfast?”
He headed to his bag and zipped it closed. “Of course. Room service, or in the dining hall?”
Her meager belongings fit in a backpack, barring the dress she wore and her wedding gown, but she packed her stuff and ensured her wedding dress was in the plastic bag on the hanger. “This is a cruise ship… so I’m voting that we get a table overlooking the ocean.”
“As you wish.”
She brought her items to the door where Astorre had moved his bag, then looped her arm through his. Clara patted his muscular biceps. “One more thing before we go.”
He stopped before they reached the door. “What?”
They could handle anything, if he stayed open to her. She kept her voice low and said, “When we get to your estate that you hate, I’d like for us to plan something fun together.”
He angled her chin so that she looked up at him as he asked, “Fun?”
“Yes,” she said fast. She brushed his white button-down shirt. “We can do whatever you enjoy doing but I want you to show me something positive.”
His hand trailed lower to caress her backside. “I enjoyed last night.”
Her entire body flushed. She knew it, but didn’t care for once--she could be herself with Astorre. She reached for the door handle. “I wasn’t clear. I want to do something non-sex-related together.”
He stopped the door from opening, his lips near her mouth when he said, “But we can still…”
And then he kissed her. Hard. Fast. Hot.
Seriously, his kiss and touch was better than a movie that made her ache.
This was real. As he let her go, she let out a soft sigh. “Yes. Last night was wonderful. I hope that continues too.”
He opened the door for them. “Every night, if you can handle it.”
Maybe every night would make her exhausted, but she’d find out her stamina. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’ll teach me more, but for now, kiss me and let’s go.”
He kissed her and once again her toes curled.
This couldn’t be just hormones.
Awareness of him and them grew in her bones and made her forget everything else.
As he ended the kiss he motioned backwards, “Or we can stay and have room service while I kiss you senseless.”
She sucked in her bottom lip. Maybe she could indulge one more time… “Okay, you win. This is pretty perfect.”
He picked her up and they returned to the bedroom.
Heaven help her, she was happy. This feeling had to last because she never wanted to go back to her life before now.
