Page 9 of Pregnant in the Italian's Palazzo

‘You said you never come with someone else.’

‘I usually don’t,’ she breathed, her heartbeat still loud in her ears.

‘I’ve never been so turned on; just watching you lose it for me has me ready and wanting you all over again...and again...’ His voice was a gruff groan, his words more of an accusation than a lover’s whisper. But the look in his eyes was what almost undid her completely. He looked...tortured. Over her? How on earth was this even possible?

Her thoughts jumbled over one another in an effort for first place and as a result she said nothing at all.

‘We should take a moment,’ he said. ‘Slow down.’

‘Of course.’ The polite response escaped her lips on a reflex, followed by silence as she watched him put as much space between them as humanly possible. He stood with his back against the black tile wall on the opposite side of the opulent bathroom, his chest still heaving and his eyes pinning her in place. Like a man who had just come to his senses, her inner voice, still sounding like Theo, sneered.

She exhaled a slow shuddering breath and tried to get her wobbling emotions under control. She had long ago vowed never to shed a tear over anyone who could walk away from her so easily.

No, whatever emotion this was had to be something to do with the massive release her body had just experienced. The aftershocks of which had barely even subsided and her body was throwing a tantrum, demanding more of him. What on earth was she doing?

Mortified, she began to pull up her bra and the material of her dress to cover her still bare breasts. The silk fabric had already been tight, but now that it was damp from both the rain and the kisses he had dragged over her skin it hiked her breasts up into a lurid cleavage. Her nipples were still hard from where they had been practically devoured, and she inhaled sharply as the dress caught on one jutting peak.

‘What are you doing?’

Aria looked up, to find herself pinned by a dark gaze as he watched her.

‘Getting dressed, obviously.’ She choked out the words, praying she could hold herself together just long enough to get far away from this too-small bathroom with all of its mirrored surfaces. She turned away to face the small vanity, but there he was reflected in the glass. Everywhere she looked, she saw him.

The realisation that they hadn’t even taken off yet made her stomach sink even further. They still had an entire transatlantic flight ahead of them. As far as impulsive actions went, this one was pretty spectacular. ‘I didn’t intend for this to happen.’

‘I never said you did,’ he said.

‘Well, I just needed to clarify that. Considering you’re looking at me like...like you regret everything we just did.’

He watched her for a moment, then he bridged the space between them, hooked one finger under her chin and tilted her face up until she met his gaze. ‘You could not be further from the truth. Do you regret it?’

‘We literally just met,’ she muttered. ‘It’s all a bit overwhelming.’

‘That’s not what I asked.’ His eyes darkened even further, impossible considering they were already glittering obsidian. ‘I just had the best orgasm of my life and yet I immediately want to take you again.’

She was pretty sure she felt her jaw drop, her mind stunned to silence. But what else was a girl to think when a guy made her see stars and then tried to put as much space between them as humanly possible right after they had just...you know. She shivered, hearing the way he pronounced orgasm repeating over and over in her mind. The way he looked at her, the way he made her feel... She had always thought people simply lied when they said sex could be addictive. For her, it had always been a chore, a performance. But now...now she finally understood.

‘I don’t regret it, Nysio.’ She reached out and touched her hand to his shoulder, still clad in his shirt. ‘And actually that was the best orgasm I’ve ever had too.’ She simply wanted to show him that she understood, that she could see this loss of control was affecting him just as much as it had affected her. But her words and her touch seemed to be the only spark needed to reignite the madness once more.

This time when his lips claimed hers, there was no restraint whatsoever. It was as though the man who had devoured her moments before had been a mere appetiser to this. His mouth was cruel, demanding and utterly sinful as his tongue tangled with her own. His hands gripped her waist tight, holding her in place as though he feared that she might try to leave.

Yet somehow she knew that if she did call a stop to this right now, he would. Whatever this was between them was not about either of them holding more power or manipulating one another or seeking a reward, this was pure primal lust as she had never dreamed of experiencing. It had been pretty easy not to date much when she had never really enjoyed things in the bedroom.

Strong fingers moved up her ribcage and his hips pressed harder against her, spreading her wide again, his eyes seeking hers, questioning...

‘You said you want me again...then have me,’ she said boldly, determined to wring out every last drop of pleasure from this night. Because she knew that tomorrow would come and she would be back to the cold, harsh reality of the life that awaited her in London. Was it really so bad to choose to live in a dream for a little while?

‘The plane will take off soon. But first, I think you wanted to get freshened up?’ He began taking off her dress and she let him, feeling it pool around her feet. He tried to unclasp her bra, but she had to help him.

‘The clasp is quite tricky. I still haven’t quite mastered that part of the sewing process.’

‘You made this?’ His brows rose. ‘You’re a fashion designer?’

‘Well...I want to be.’ She smiled, wondering why it felt more intimate to be having this conversation than any of the other interactions they’d had during this wild evening. But before she could stop herself, she was launching into telling this half naked stranger about her plan to pitch a boutique plus-size lingerie line at her team evaluation meeting tomorrow. How it was a long shot, but she had to try. She knew the fashion buying and marketing business like the back of her hand and now she had practical experience in the design and manufacturing processes too. She’d done all the numbers and she knew it would work, she just needed them to believe it too.

If he was surprised or bored by her enthusiasm, he didn’t show it. He studied the strawberry-print silk bra in his hands, analysing the stitching and boning she’d agonised over during her final examinations, and placed it down carefully on the vanity as though it were something precious.

‘If you are this passionate about everything you do, I expect them to jump at the chance to keep your vison and skill on their team. I know I would. Passionate people are few and far between in my world. It’s mostly about routine and consistency...and money.’

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