Page 14 of His Innocent's Passionate Awakening

Luca gently squeezed her fingers. ‘Don’t be.’ His voice was so deep and rough it sounded like it had come from the centre of the earth. He didn’t like admitting it, but he was nervous too. Not about repeating the vows and signing the register—those were formalities he could easily compartmentalise in his brain. He was worried his promise to keep their relationship on paper was going to be the real kicker. He gave her hand another light squeeze and smiled. ‘Let’s do this.’

And they turned to face the priest and the service began...

* * *

‘I, Artemisia Elisabetta, take you, Luca Benedetto, to be my husband...’ Artie repeated her vows with a slight quaver in her voice. ‘I promise to be true to you in good times and bad, in sickness and in health.’ She swallowed and continued, conscious of Luca’s dark gaze holding hers, ‘I will love and honour you all the days of my life.’

She wasn’t a particularly religious person but saying words she didn’t mean made her wonder if she was in danger of a lightning strike. The only lightning strike she had suffered so far had been the tingling zap coursing through her body when Luca first took her hand. Every cell of her body was aware of him. Dressed in a mid-blue morning suit, he looked like he had just stepped off a billboard advertisement for designer menswear. She could smell the lemon and lime of his aftershave—it teased her nostrils, sending her senses into a tailspin. How could a man smell so damn delicious?

Eek! How could a man look so damn attractive?

Double eek! How could she be marrying him?

Luca’s hand took her left one and slipped on the wedding ring as he repeated his vows. ‘I, Luca Benedetto, take you, Artemisia Elisabetta, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and bad, in sickness and in health.’ He paused for a beat and continued with a rough edge to his voice, ‘I will love and honour you all the days of my life.’

Artie blinked back moisture gathering in her eyes. He sounded so convincing. He even looked convincing with his gaze so focused on her, his mouth smiling at her as if she was the most amazing woman who had ever walked upon the face of the earth.

It’s an act. Don’t be fooled by it. None of this means anything to him and neither should it mean anything to you.

‘You may kiss the bride.’

The priest’s words startled Artie out of her reverie and she only had time to snatch in a breath before Luca’s hands settled on her hips and drew her closer, his mouth descending inexorably towards hers. The first warm, firm press of his lips sent a jolt of electricity through her body. A jolt that travelled all the way down her spine and fizzed like a sparkler deep in her core. He lifted his lips off hers for an infinitesimal moment as if time had suddenly paused. Then he brought his mouth back to hers and sensations rippled through her as his lips moved against hers with increasing pressure, his hands on her hips bringing her even closer to the hard heat of his stirring body.

One of his hands left her hip to cradle one side of her face, his touch gentle, almost reverent, and yet his mouth was pure sin. Tempting, teasing, tantalising. She opened to him and his tongue touched hers and her insides quaked and throbbed with longing. She pressed closer, her arms going around his neck, her senses reeling as his tongue invited hers in an erotic dance. Every nerve in her lips and mouth awakened to his kiss, flowering open like soft petals to strong sunshine. She became aware of her body in a way she never had before—its needs, urges, flagrantly responding to the dark primal call of his.

Luca angled his head to change position, his tongue stroking against hers, a low, deep groan sounding in his throat. It thrilled her to know he was as undone by their kiss as she was. Thrilled and excited her to realise her own sensual power. Power she hadn’t known she possessed until now.

The priest cleared his throat and Luca pulled back from her with a dazed look on his face. Artie suspected she was looking just as shell-shocked as him. Her mouth felt swollen, her feminine core agitated with a roaring hunger he alone had awakened.

Luca blinked a couple of times as if to reset his equilibrium. ‘Well, hello there, Signora Ferrantelli.’ His voice was rusty, his gaze drifting to her mouth as if he couldn’t quite believe what had happened between them moments before.

Artie licked her lips and tasted the salty sexiness of his. ‘Hello...’

Luca spoke briefly to the priest, thanking him for his services, and then led Artie to where Rosa had set up refreshments in the garden. She sensed him pulling up a drawbridge, a pulling back into himself. He stood without touching her, his expression inscrutable.

‘Right. Time to celebrate. And then tomorrow we’ll go and visit my grandfather.’

A wave of ice-cold dread washed over her. ‘But can’t we leave it a while? I mean, wouldn’t he expect us to be on our honeymoon and—?’

‘I can’t afford to leave it too long before I introduce you to him,’ Luca said, frowning. ‘He’s in a vulnerable state of health.’

Artie chewed at her lip and lowered her gaze. ‘I understand all that but I need more time to get used to being your...wife. I’m worried I’ll do or say something that will make your grandfather suspicious.’

Luca gave her a smouldering look. ‘If you kiss me like you did just then, any doubts he has will disappear.’

Artie could feel her cheeks firing up. ‘I was only following your lead. I haven’t been kissed before, so—’

‘Really?’ His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

She pulled away from him and hugged her arms around her body. ‘Go on, mock me for being a twenty-five-year-old virgin. I must seem like a pariah to someone like you who changes lovers daily.’

Her conscience rolled its eyes. I can’t believe you just told him you’re a virgin.

He scraped a hand through his hair, making it tousled. ‘Look, I kind of figured from your father that you were lacking in experience but I didn’t realise you’ve never had a boyfriend, even as a teenager. Did your father forbid you from going out or something?’

Artie averted her gaze. ‘No. I was busy looking after him after the accident that killed my mother and seriously injured him. There wasn’t time for dating.’

His deep frown brought his dark eyebrows together. ‘Why were you the one looking after him? Why didn’t he employ a nurse or carer?’

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