Page 33 of His Innocent's Passionate Awakening

A short time later, Luca drove through the gates of his estate and pulled up in front of the imposing medieval villa.

Built like a fortress with four storeys, a central dome and several turrets, it was surrounded by landscaped gardens with a tinkling fountain at the front. ‘Don’t be put off by the grim façade,’ he said, turning off the engine. ‘I’ve done extensive renovations inside.’

‘I try never to judge a book or a person by their cover,’ Artie said. ‘Not that I’ve met a lot of people lately, but still. Hopefully that’s going to change.’

Luca’s eyes glinted. ‘I’m not sure I want to share you with anyone just yet. This is our honeymoon, sì?’

A shiver coursed down Artie’s spine and a pool of liquid fire simmered in her core. She sent him a shy smile. ‘So, we’ll be alone here? Just you and me?’

He leaned closer across the gear shaft and, putting a hand to the back of her head, brought her closer to his descending mouth. ‘Just you and me.’

CHAPTER TEN

ARTIE WOKE THE next morning to find her head tucked against Luca’s chest and his arms around her and her legs tangled with his. One of his hands was moving up and down her spine in a slow stroking motion that made her pelvis start to tingle. His hand went lower, to the curve of her bottom, and every nerve in her skin did a happy dance. Her inner muscles woke to his touch, instantly recalling the magic of the night before and wanting more. Would she ever tire of feeling his hands on her body? His touch was gentle and yet created a storm in her flesh. A tumult of sensations that made her ache for closer, deeper, more intimate contact.

Luca turned her onto her back and leaned on one elbow to gaze down at her. He brushed some wayward strands of her hair back from her face, his eyes darkly hooded, a lazy smile tipping up one side of his mouth. ‘Well, look who’s been sleeping in my bed.’ His voice had a sexy early-morning rasp to it that made something in her belly turn over.

Artie traced a straight line down his strong nose, a playful smile tilting her own mouth. ‘I don’t know that I did much sleeping.’ Her finger began to circle his stubble-surrounded mouth and chin. ‘Unless I was dreaming about you making love to me...how many times was it?’

His eyes darkened. ‘Three.’ He stroked her bottom lip with his thumb, a small frown settling between his brows. ‘I would have gone for four or even five but I didn’t want to make you sore. This is all so new to you and...’

Artie smoothed his frown away with her finger. ‘New, but wonderful.’ She looked deep into his eyes, holding her hand against his prickly jaw. ‘I didn’t think it would be so...so wonderful. Is it always like this?’

Luca held her gaze for a long moment, his eyes moving between each of hers before lowering to her mouth. He released a soft gust of air, his lopsided smile returning. ‘No. It’s not always as good as this.’

‘Really? Are you just saying that to make me feel good?’

He picked up one of her hands and turned it over to plant a kiss to the middle of her palm, his eyes holding hers. ‘I’m saying it because it’s true. It feels...different with you.’

‘In what way?’

He interlaced his fingers with hers, a contemplative frown interrupting his features. ‘I can’t explain it. It just feels different.’

Artie aimed her gaze at his mouth rather than meet his eyes. ‘Is it because of my lack of experience? I must seem a bit of a novelty to someone like you who’s had so many lovers.’

He tipped up her chin and his eyes met hers, and something shifted in the atmosphere. A new, electric energy, a background hum, as if each and every oxygen particle had paused to take a breath.

‘I’m not going to dismiss any of my past lovers to faceless bodies who didn’t leave a single impression on me, because it’s simply not true.’

He stroked his thumb over her lower lip again—a slow-motion stroke that set her mouth buzzing.

‘But with you...it feels like I’m discovering sex for the first time. Feeling things on a different level. A more intense level.’

Artie toyed with the hair at the back of his neck, her lower body tinglingly aware of the growing ridge of his erection. Aware of the potent energy that pulsed and throbbed between them. ‘I couldn’t have asked for a better first lover.’

His mouth came down and sealed hers in a mind-altering kiss that set her pulse racing. His fingers splayed through her hair, his tongue meeting hers in a playful dance with distinctive erotic overtones. Her lower body quaked with longing, her flesh recognising the primal call to connect in the most physically intimate way of all. Her legs tangled with his rougher ones, her breasts crushed against the firm wall of his chest, her nipples already tightening into pert buds.

One of Luca’s hands cradled one of her breasts, his touch light, and yet it sent shockwaves of need coursing through her body. Molten heat was licking along her flesh...lightning-fast zaps and tingles that made her groan in pleasure. She moved closer, pressing her mound to his erection, opening her legs for him, desperate to have him inside her.

‘Not so impatient, cara.’ He gave a light laugh and reached for protection, deftly applying it before coming back to her, his eyes gleaming with the fiery desire she could feel roaring through her own body.

Artie framed his head in her hands, her breathing erratic. ‘I want you so much it’s like pain.’

‘I want you too. Badly.’ He kissed her mouth in a kiss that spoke of his own thrumming desire, his lips firm, insistent, hungry.

He moved down her body, kissing her breasts, her belly, and to the secret heart of her womanhood. He separated her and anointed her with his lips and tongue, making her writhe and gasp with bone-melting pleasure. The wave broke over her in a rush, sending her spinning into a place of sheer physical bliss. The storm in her flesh slowly abated but then he created another one by moving up her body again, entering her with a slow, deep thrust that made every hair on her head tingle and tighten at the roots. Her back arched, her thighs trembled, her breath stalled and then came out in a rush of rapturous delight. Delicious sensations rippled through her as he continued to thrust, his breathing rate increasing along with his pace, his touch like fire where his hand was holding her hip, tilting her to him. The pressure built in her body, the primal need a drumbeat working its way up to a powerful crescendo. Blood pounded through her veins, a hot rush fuelled by the intense sensations activated by the erotic friction of his hard male body.

Artie lifted her hips to get him where she most wanted him but it was still not quite the pressure she needed. ‘I’m so close...so damn close...’

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