Page 28 of His Innocent's Passionate Awakening

I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die.

The words raced through her mind as if they were being chased by the formless fear that consumed her.

Luca gathered her close to his chest and stroked her stiff back and shoulders with slow, soothing strokes. ‘Breathe, cara. Take a deep breath and let it out on the count of three. One. Two. Three. And again. One. Two. Three. Keep going, mia piccola. One. Two. Three.’

His gently chanted words and the stroke of his hands began to quieten the storm inside her body. The fog in Artie’s brain slowly lifted, the fear gradually subsiding as the oxygen returned to her bloodstream.

She was aware of every point of contact with his body—her breasts pressed against his chest, the weight of his arm around her back, his other hand moving up and down between her shoulder blades in those wonderfully soothing strokes, his pelvis warm and unmistakably male against hers, his chin resting on the top of her head. She was aware of the steady thud, thud, thud of his heart against her chest, the intoxicating smell of his skin, the need awakening anew in her body. Pulses, contractions, flickers and tingles deep in her core.

Luca lifted his chin off her head and held her slightly aloft, his gaze tender. ‘You did well—it’s only our second try. Don’t feel bad you didn’t make it all the way. We’ll try again tomorrow.’

Artie chewed her lip, ashamed she hadn’t gone further. ‘What if I’m never able to do it? What if I—?’

His finger pressed softly down on her lips to silence her self-destruction beliefs. ‘Don’t talk yourself into failure, cara. I know you can do it. You want to get better and that’s half the battle, is it not?’

Artie gave a tremulous smile, heartened by his belief in her. Comforted by his commitment to helping her. Touched by his concern and patience and support. ‘I do want to get better. I’m tired of living like this. I want to experience life outside the walls of the castello.’

He cupped one side of her face in his hand. ‘And I can’t wait to show you life outside these walls. There are so many things we can do together—dinner, dancing, sightseeing, skiing, trekking. I will enjoy showing you all my favourite places.’

Artie gave a self-deprecating smile. ‘I have a lot of catching up to do. And only six months in which to do it.’

Luca’s hand fell away from her face, his expression tightening as if her mentioning the time limit on their relationship was jarring to him. ‘Of course, the most important thing we need to do is introduce you to my grandfather. I can’t use the excuse of being on honeymoon for weeks or months on end.’

‘Maybe he’ll be well enough to come here soon.’ It was a lame hope but she articulated it anyway.

His hand scraped back his hair in a distracted manner. ‘There’s no guarantee that’s going to happen. Besides, I have work to see to. I can’t stay here indefinitely.’

‘I’m not stopping you from doing your work,’ Artie said. ‘You can leave any time you like.’

His gaze met hers. Strong. Determined. Intractable. ‘I want you with me.’

A frisson scooted down her spine at the dark glint in his eyes. The glint that spoke of the desire still smouldering inside him—the same desire smouldering inside her. She could feel the crackle of their chemistry in the air. Invisible currents of electricity that zapped and fizzed each time their eyes met and each time they touched. He stepped closer and slid his hand beneath the curtain of her hair, making her skin tingle and her blood race. His gaze lowered to her mouth, the sound of his breath hitching sending another shiver cascading down her spine.

‘I didn’t think it was possible that I could want someone so much.’ His tone was rough around the edges.

Artie moved closer, her hands resting on the hard wall of his chest, her hips clamped to his, heat pooling in her core. ‘I want you too.’

He rested his forehead on hers, their breath mingling in the space between their mouths. ‘It’s too soon for you. You’ll be sore.’ His voice was low, his hands resting on her hips.

Artie brought her mouth closer to his, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. ‘I’m not sore at all. You were so gentle with me.’

He groaned and drew her closer, his mouth coming down on hers in a kiss that spoke of banked-down longing. She opened to the commanding thrust of his tongue, her senses whirling as he called her tongue into sensual play. Need fired through her body, hot streaks of need that left no part of her unaffected. Tingles shot down her spine and through her pelvis, heating her to boiling point. Her intimate muscles responded with flickers and fizzes of delight, her bones all but melting. One of his hands moved from her hip to cup her breast through her clothes, sending another fiery tingle through her body.

He deepened the kiss even further, his hand going beneath her top and bra to cup her skin on skin. The warmth of his palm and the possessive weight of his fingers sent her pulse soaring. He stroked her nipple into a tight bud of exquisite sensations, powerful sensations for such a small area of her body. He lifted his mouth off hers and lowered his lips to her breast, his tongue swirling over her engorged nipple, his teeth gently tugging and releasing in a passionate onslaught that made her gasp with delight.

The sound of Luca’s phone ringing from inside his trouser pocket evoked a curt swear word from him as he lifted his mouth off her breast. ‘I’d better get this. It’s the ringtone I set up for Nonno’s carer.’ He pulled out his phone and took the call, a frown pulling at his forehead.

Artie rearranged her clothes and tried not to eavesdrop but it was impossible not to get the gist of the conversation. His grandfather had suffered a fall and was being taken to hospital with a suspected broken hip. Luca ended the call after reassuring his grandfather’s carer he would leave for the hospital straight away.

He slipped the phone back in his pocket and gave Artie a grave look. ‘You heard most of that?’

Artie placed her hand on his forearm. ‘I’m so sorry. Is he going to be okay?’

He shrugged one shoulder, the almost casual action at odds with the dark shadows in his eyes. ‘Who knows? Nonno is eighty-three. A broken hip is a big deal for someone of that age.’ He released a breath and continued. ‘I’m going to the hospital now. I want to speak to the orthopaedic surgeon. I want to make sure Nonno gets the very best of care.’ He held her gaze for a moment. ‘This might be your only chance to meet him.’ His voice was husky with carefully contained emotion but she could sense the effort it took. His jaw was locked tight, his nostrils flaring as he fought to control his breathing.

Artie’s throat tightened. ‘I wish I could go with you, Luca. I really do.’

He gave a movement of his lips that wasn’t quite a smile. He reached for her hand and gave it a gentle press. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

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