Page 15 of His Innocent's Passionate Awakening

Artie turned slightly so she was facing the view over the estate. Luca’s penetrating gaze was too unsettling, too unnerving. How could she explain her reasons for taking care of her father? How could she explain the guilt that had chained her to his side? The guilt that still plagued her and had led her to marry Luca in order to save her family’s home? The home that was the only thing she had left of her family. ‘It was my choice to look after him. I was happy to do it.’

Luca came up behind her and placed his hands on the tops of her shoulders and turned her to face him. He expression was still etched in a frown, his hazel eyes gentle with concern. ‘You were just a child when the accident occurred. It was unfair of your father to allow you to sacrifice yourself in such a way. But what about school? Surely you would have had plenty of opportunity to mix with people your own age?’

Artie pressed her lips together for a moment. ‘I finished my education online. I was given special permission. I didn’t want to leave my father to the care of strangers. He was stricken with grief after losing my mother. We both were. It was my choice to take care of him—no one forced me to do it.’

His hands began a gentle massaging movement that made the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders melt like snow under warm sunshine. ‘I think what you did for your father was admirable and yet I can’t help feeling he exploited you. You should’ve had more time to yourself doing all the things teenagers and young adults do.’

Artie stepped out of his hold and interlaced her fingers in front of her body. She glanced to where Rosa was hovering with a bottle of champagne. ‘Shouldn’t we be mingling with Father Pasquale and our two other guests?’ She didn’t wait for him to answer and turned and walked towards the housekeeper standing with the priest and the other witness, who worked part-time on the Castello Mireille estate.

* * *

Luca watched Artie pick up a glass of champagne from the silver tray the housekeeper was holding. Her expression was now coolly composed but he sensed he had pressed on a nerve when discussing her role of caring for her father. He’d already suspected she was a virgin—her father had intimated as such—but no way had he suspected she had zero experience when it came to dating.

No one had kissed her before him.

She had never had a boyfriend, not even during her teens. How had her father allowed that to happen? Surely he must have realised his daughter was missing out on socialising with people her age?

Luca ran his tongue over his lips and tasted the sweet, fruity residue of her lip gloss. He could still feel the soft imprint of her lips on his, could still feel the throb of desire kissing her had evoked in his body, the deep pulses in his groin, the tingles in his thighs and lower spine.

He had kissed many women, too many to recall in any detail, but he knew he would never forget his first kiss with Artie. It was embedded in his memory. He could recall every contour of her soft mouth, every brush and glide of her tongue, her sweet vanilla and wild-strawberry taste.

But he would have to find some way to forget, for theirs was to be a paper marriage. A six-month time frame to achieve his goal of setting his grandfather’s mind at peace. Knowing Artie had so little experience was an even bigger reason to stick to his plan of a hands-off arrangement. It wouldn’t be fair to explore the physical chemistry between them, because it might raise her expectations on their relationship.

He didn’t do relationships. And certainly not that type of relationship.

Long-term relationships required commitment and responsibility for the health and safety of your partner. His track record on keeping those he loved safe was appalling. It was easier not to love. Easier to keep his emotions in check, to freeze them so deep inside himself they could never be thawed. To imagine oneself falling in love just because of a bit of scorching hot chemistry was a foolish and reckless thing to do. He no longer did anything reckless and foolish.

Luca glanced at Artie and something pinched in his chest. She was standing next to the ancient stone fountain, the tinkling of water and the sound of birds chirping in the shrubbery a perfect backdrop for her old-world beauty. The sunlight brought out the glossy sheen of her dark brown hair, the light breeze playing with a curl that had worked its way loose from her elegant up-do. She was looking into the distance, a small frown on her forehead, and every now and again the tip of her tongue came out and swept across her lips where his had recently pressed. She turned her head and caught him staring at her, and her cheeks pooled with a delicate shade of pink.

Had he made a mistake in choosing her to be his temporary bride? She was so innocent, so untouched and other-worldly, like she had been transported from another time in history or straight out of a classic fairy tale. And yet he’d felt a connection with her from the moment he met her. A powerful connection that no amount of logic and rationality could dismiss. His brain said Don’t go there and yet his body roared with primal hunger.

But he would have to get his self-control back in shape, and fast, because falling for his sweet and innocent bride would be the most reckless and foolish thing of all.

CHAPTER FIVE

ARTIE WAS AWARE of Luca’s gaze resting on her every time she glanced his way. Aware of the way her body responded to his lightest touch. The merest brush of his fingers set off spot fires in her flesh, sending heat travelling to every secret place in her body. Smouldering there like hot coals just waiting for a breath of oxygen to fan them into vibrant life.

His kiss...

Best not to think too much about his kiss. They were supposed to be keeping their relationship platonic, but nothing about Luca’s kiss was platonic. It was sensory overload and she wondered if she would ever recover. Or stop wanting him to kiss her again. And why stop at kisses? He had woken something in her, something hungry and needy that begged to be assuaged. The idea of asking Luca to tweak the rules of their marriage slipped into her mind like an uninvited guest. It would be an ideal opportunity for her to get some experience on board. A six-month marriage where she could indulge in the delights of the flesh. What was there to lose other than her virginity?

Your pride? her conscience piped up. He can have anyone. You’re not even his type. How do you think you could ever satisfy him for six minutes, let alone six months?

Luca took a glass of champagne off Rosa and came over to where Artie was standing near the fountain. He glanced towards the priest and then back to her. ‘Father Pasquale is having a good time indulging in Rosa’s food. How long has she been working here?’

‘Since I was a baby,’ Artie said. ‘This is her home as much as it is mine.’

‘So, what would she do if you were to sell up and move away?’

Artie raised her chin. ‘I would never sell the castello. And I don’t want to live anywhere but here.’

I can’t live anywhere but here.

Luca held her gaze for a long moment. ‘How will you maintain the estate? It needs a lot of work, and sooner rather than later.’

She drained her champagne glass and sent him a narrowed glance. ‘Is this the right time to discuss this? It’s our wedding day.’

His brows drew together in a frown. ‘Do I have to remind you of the terms of our marriage?’

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