Page 105 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Joshivara back together again,’ he interjects.

‘Exactly.’ I grin at him. ‘And we hang out with the others a bit, then call it a night.’

‘Sounds like a game plan.’ He leans in for a quick kiss.

‘So, what do you want to do today?’ I ask. I’m only just realising that for most of the week, we’ve explored the region separately?him off with the groom and me off with the bride.

‘Well …’ He takes one of my hands. ‘How about, ’cause it’s just the two of us, we head down to that winery on the other side of town. They do picnic hampers and we can have lunch in the vineyard.’

‘But didn’t you go there the other day with the guys?’

‘Yeah.’ He grins at me again. ‘That’s how I know about the picnics. Besides, I was there with the guys, not my gorgeous girlfriend.’

‘That’s me.’

‘That is one hundred per cent you.’

‘It does sound nice.’

‘You’re not sick of Tuscan food and wine yet?’

‘Impossible,’ I say. ‘It’s like Greek food. I could happily encamp here for the rest of my life and live solely off olives, cheese, and cured meat.’

‘And bread.’

‘Oh, my god, the bread. And the wine!’

‘Yeah, even a wine troglodyte like me knows it’s good.’

‘You’re not a wine troglodyte anymore,’ I say. ‘Not after all those times you’ve been wine tasting with Dad.’

‘You mean, the wine tasting lessons? The ones where I have to take notes?’

I grin. ‘He can get a little didactic.’

‘Must be where you get it from,’ he teases, smiling back.

‘Hey!’

‘The teaching … you’re a teacher, that’s all I meant.’ I give him a side-eye. ‘I swear.’

‘That’s mediocre back-pedalling at best.’ He grins at me and I sip more tea. ‘Hey, don’t suppose you’d wanna go for a run before we head out? I’m feeling kinda blah and want to move my bod.’

‘Oh, I’ll move your bod,’ he says, leaning closer to kiss my neck.

‘Mmm, I like that.’ I carefully place my tea on the bedside table, only half-drunk, and reach for Josh. He kicks off his shoes, flings the covers off me, and crawls on top of me. ‘Hell-o there,’ I say, breathily. He dips his head to kiss me, his full lips soft against mine, teasing, and the touch of his other hand on my breast, his thumb rubbing the nipple, sends a wave of pleasure over me.

‘You’re wearing too much,’ he says, his lips trailing along my jawline. I pull my top off over my head as he makes short work of my knickers. His hands roam my body, his touch warm as he caresses my breasts, trails lightly down my stomach, then reaches around to firmly cup my bum.

It’s heaven but … ‘Now you are wearing too much,’ I say, impatient to have him naked, his skin against mine. I tug at the hem of his T-shirt and he reaches for it, pulling it over his head one-handed. I glance down at his taught torso. Hot. It’s also my second-favourite outfit of his?just jeans and a bare torso. My absolute favourite is him naked. ‘Jeans,’ I gasp. ‘Off. Now.’

He rolls onto his side of the bed, sliding his jeans and jocks down his legs and kicking them over the edge of the bed. He lies back, one hand supporting his head and I prop myself up again to take in the glorious sight of my gorgeous boyfriend, wearing only a lascivious expression and sporting an erection.

‘Come here,’ he says, his voice gravelly. He tugs at my hand and I slide over to him, then onto him, stretching my body the length of him, pressing against his erection. He closes his eyes, a guttural growl of pleasure blended with a sigh. I’m hungry to taste him and our mouths come together. The kiss is messy and passionate, our teeth clashing, our tongues exploring each other’s mouths, our lips bruising. I’m flooded with desire from the taste of him, the smell of his skin, the touch of his hands, the feel of his chest rubbing against my breasts, my nipples hard from the pressure. And when I can’t stand it any longer, I lift my hips so he can enter me.

‘Oh,’ we cry together, the sheer pleasure of being joined?of being alone in this apartment?evoked in one syllable. We move together, our eyes locked. ‘You’re so sexy, Sarah,’ he says. And I feel sexy, his glorious touches sending me over the edge and I’m conscious of nothing but the delicious sensation that rises through my body from my core. I cry out again, pleasure rippling through me and making me shudder. I return to the room slowly and open my eyes to see my lover smiling. He’s close, I can tell. ‘Your turn,’ I say, picking up the rhythm, and I watch him intently as he closes his eyes and his climax takes hold. God, he’s so sexy.

Eventually, we both still and he opens his eyes. We grin at each other.

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