Page 31 of Pregnant in the Italian's Palazzo

He lay back on his side, his fingers still idly stroking her even as she withdrew his hard length and held him in her hands. She stared at him, her tongue darting out to lick her lips for a split second before she shyly leaned forward to press a kiss against him.

From their position lying side by side, top to tail...it seemed only natural for him to mirror her movements, pressing an answering kiss against her centre. She smiled, getting braver by the minute, and took him deeper, almost making him lose control completely.

‘Amore mio, if we continue this I won’t last.’ He groaned. ‘And I want to be able to feel you around me.’

‘I want that too, but right now I want you to lose control like this...from me.’

Nysio needed no further convincing and spread her wide for deeper access. They continued their erotic game of mirrors until he felt her body tighten and tasted her shuddering climax, his own body thrusting wildly as he found his release at the same moment between her lips. Her answering sigh of pleasure vibrated through him, connecting him to her. Joining them together just as they were meant to be and he knew he would never let her go.

CHAPTER TWELVE

EACHDAYTHEYspent in Sardinia seemed to challenge so many of Aria’s reasons behind not wanting to accept Nysio’s proposal. He showed her his sensitive side, showed her his love for his family and his passion for the vineyards and produce that came from Viti Di Cora. She met his extended family on his mother’s side, who all lived close by in the small town and worked in the vineyard. She watched while Nysio rolled up his sleeves and got his hands dirty during the harvest. It was like living in a different world and he seemed a completely different man now that he was away from all the duty and pressure from thepalazzo. He’d even reached out and contacted his half-brothers, at her urging, and a tentative connection was being formed.

When he asked her to stay a little longer...to try to move her bank appointment out another week or two...she accepted without question. Suddenly the thought of leaving him and returning to London felt completely wrong. So instead, they returned to Florence, as Nysio had commitments he had to honour.

Aria rationalised that Italy was a much better place for her to be while planning out the manufacturing process for her lingerie line. It was the heart of the fashion world, after all! But when she suggested that maybe she could take a trip out to some factories to learn more, Nysio seemed less than enthused. He was a busy man, she understood that. She’d quickly seen just how busy he was between the curation of the Bacchetti collections of art and jewellery that required his signature. Then there was the property arm of their company, not to mention the numerous charities, scholarships and community projects. He worked long hours too, with the stock markets opening and closing at odd times. But still, once he eventually slid into bed beside her, their lovemaking was as passionate and exciting as ever. She could hardly remember why she’d had hang-ups about things like oral pleasure because, well...it turned out that Nysio was an expert in that arena. Her happiness would be complete if he’d even hinted he felt more for her than desire.

Aria stepped in front of the mirror in thepalazzo’s master suite and took a final look at her reflection. The long red gown fitted her curves to perfection, the material like a second skin over her breasts and waist before flowing out from her hips to the floor. For all of her insistence that agreeing to stay here for the past week was not her agreeing to become the lady of the palace...she felt surprisingly regal.

The Bacchetti annual charity event was in full swing as she descended the stairs alone. Nysio had said he had a surprise for her to attend to. Nerves jittered in her stomach as she wondered what that could be. But before her foot had left the last step she found out as a familiar silhouette with long black hair came barrelling across the hallway through the crowd.

‘Priya?’ she squeaked, the only sound she managed to get out before she was embraced in a tight hug and cloud of perfume. They stood like that for far too long, their frantic voices only half intelligible as they apologised to one another for the past couple of months of silence. When they finally pulled away there were tears in both of their eyes.

‘Damn it, I’m going to ruin my make-up.’ Aria took a deep breath. ‘I wish this party wasn’t going on now, we’ve got so much to catch up on.’

‘We’ll talk properly later. Xander is here too, with his new wife Pandora. It seems we both wound up madly in love with gorgeous men, so I guess things worked out.’ Priya raised one brow. ‘So...you’re dating a guy who lives in an actual palace. Let’s at least mention that?’

Nothing got past this woman, she saw everything and far too much. As was evidenced by the way her eyes instantly narrowed when Aria smiled and refused a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. The headache that had been plaguing her all week had held off a bit today so she felt mostly fine, once she kept eating and didn’t try to stand up too quickly. But when another waiter appeared with a tray of fresh seafood hors d’oeuvres, she felt her entire body threaten to revolt.

‘Are you sure you’re not ill?’ Priya asked quietly, her brow furrowing.

‘I’m fine.’ Aria scowled, but inside her heart warmed at the obvious concern in her best friend’s face. She inhaled a calming breath; now was not the time to tell Priya about the baby. She would need more time and privacy for that conversation. ‘Look at us, standing at the sidelines of a party while you play mother hen...it almost feels like we’re back in college.’

Priya laughed and Aria felt her body relax at the sound. The whole runaway-bride incident had put pressure on their usually easy relationship. But her friend was happy, as was evidenced by the soppy grin that slowly transformed her face at the sight of the tall blond man crossing the room towards them.

‘Your husband is looking quite god-like,’ Aria murmured dutifully. ‘Now, allow me to go mingle before you two start making besotted eyes at one another again.’

‘It better be more than eyes, with all the effort I put into this outfit.’ Priya winked, pasting on a bright smile just as her husband reached her side and drew her into his arms for a kiss that bordered on scandalous.

When had her friend become so sultry? Aria forced herself to look away from the easy display of wedded bliss, feeling something shamefully akin to jealousy burn in her gut. Or was it just another bout of nausea? She honestly didn’t know which might feel worse in her present state of exhaustion.

She wandered through the crowd of well-dressed guests, taking in designer shoes and tailored trouser cuffs as she followed the mosaic path towards the bar for some water. She didn’t know what made her pause and redirect her gaze towards the opposite end of the room.

Nysio stood alone under an open archway at the entrance, his eyes sharply assessing the crowd around him until he spotted her. He was by her side in an instant, taking her by the hand and drawing her away from the mass of people that stood around, admiring the Bacchetti art collection and impressing one another with their knowledge.

‘Where are we going?’ She laughed as he continued to be mysterious, guiding her along the flagstone path, past the fountain until they were walking deep into the maze she had admired so many times from their bedroom window. The late November breeze was cool on her skin but not unpleasant as they pressed deeper, only coming to a stop when they reached the centre where a small gazebo lay surrounded by illuminated water features and statues.

‘Every good maze needs a monster at the centre,’ she mused, idly running her hand over one polished marble beast.

‘This palace has more than enough of those,’ Nysio said.

Something in his voice made her pause.

‘You’re not a monster, Nysio,’ she said, putting as much steel in her tone as she could manage.

‘You’re sure about that?’ His voice echoed around her, that same haunted darkness in his eyes.

‘You’re not a monster,’ she repeated, needing to say this to him, needing him to know how wrong he was to see himself as the product of a tyrant’s seed and his father’s desire to keep a scandal quiet. ‘The monsters are the ones who seek to hurt people. Being overprotective and making decisions out of fear doesn’t make you a bad person. But refusing to change your behaviour when you learn that it’s hurting someone is.’ She raised one brow, leaning down to press a gentle kiss against his forehead.

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