Page 56 of Bought For The Marriage Bed

‘He would take Georgia off me without a moment’s hesitation,’ Nina said. ‘She would be devastated; she thinks I’m her mother now.’

‘Do you think I care what happens to that kid? This is about money, Nina. Just do what you are told and your little secret will be safe. Ciao for now.’

Nina replaced the receiver and made her way back to the dining room with a sinking heart. She knew she had no choice but to tell Marc the truth before her sister got there first, but she couldn’t imagine how she should go about it. How could she frame the words in any way that would not incite his bitter anger? He had every right to be furious at what she had done.

Marc rose from the table as she approached. ‘Is everything all right, Nina? You look as if you have heard bad news.’

‘No…nothing important.’ She forced her stiff lips into a smile that encompassed both Marc and his father. ‘I’m sorry for interrupting dinner.’

‘Not at all,’ Vito said, gesturing to the staff member nearby. ‘I am retiring early anyway. I am very tired. Buonanotte.’

Marc waited until his father had left before reaching for her hand across the table, his eyes holding hers. ‘Do you know what I think we should do, cara?’

‘N-no…what should we do?’

He gave a slow smile and rose from the table, pulling her with him. ‘I think we should do the same as my father and retire early. While you were on the phone Lucia assured me Georgia is still sleeping peacefully so we have the rest of the night to be together. It is time to commence our marriage in the proper sense of the word.’

‘Marc…I…’ She stopped mid-sentence. One night in his arms, and then she would tell him. Surely that wasn’t too much to ask? She would spend the rest of her life regretting it if she didn’t have him make love to her properly just this once.

‘I will not hurt you this time,’ he said, stroking a finger over her anxious brow.

She stepped closer, loving the feel of his arms going around her, trusting him with all her heart. ‘I know.’

He led her upstairs, his arm around her waist as they made their way to his suite, her heart picking up its pace when he closed and locked the door once they were inside.

He brushed his mouth with hers, once, twice, three times. His hands skated over her, his touch light but warm as he gently removed her clothes while she fumblingly did the same to his.

He pulled back the covers of the bed and sat down, tugging her down beside him, turning her so that she was beneath him as he pressed her backwards with a heated kiss. Her body responded hotly with each tantalizing thrust of his tongue, reminding her of the intimacy of the union she craved. He moved his mouth from hers and caressed each of her breasts in turn, the warm moistness of his mouth stirring her into a mindless frenzy of need.

She drew in a breath as his fingers splayed over her intimately, the possessive touch thrilling her even as it terrified her.

He inserted one finger, slowly but surely, waiting until her body accepted him before going further. She writhed under his caress, her limbs becoming boneless when he explored her shape and form. She felt the tingling of her flesh as his fingers played with her, the tightening of nerves that threatened to explode with feeling.

‘Relax for me, Nina,’ Marc said softly. ‘Let go.’

Nina closed her eyes and let herself fly with the feelings he had evoked, her mind going completely blank as wave after wave surged through and over her. She vaguely registered the gasping cries of someone and then, with a shock of sharp awareness, realised they had sprung from her own mouth. She floated back down, her body feeling as if it had been melted into a sun-warmed flow of golden honey.

Marc waited until she was totally relaxed before he moved over her carefully, his weight supported by his arms so as not to crush her.

Nina looked up at him wonderingly, her eyes wide and luminous as he eased himself into her with such gentleness she felt like crying.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked, stalling for a moment.

She wrapped her arms around him and drew him closer, relishing the feel of his satin strength stretching her.

‘I’m fine…you feel so…so…right.’

He fought for control as her body gripped him, her words so in tune with what he was feeling it was uncanny. He’d made love many times, perhaps not as often as his less particular brother, but enough times to know when the chemistry was right. But with Nina it was more than just right—it felt perfect.

He bit down on his tongue when she moved beneath him, her small body fitting so snugly he thought he was going to go over the edge before he could stop himself. He felt the ripples of her muscles along him, the silk of her warmth caressing him as she held him close. He plunged deeper, muttering a silent curse under his breath in case he’d hurt her, but she simply sighed with pleasure, her head going back, her eyes dreamy.

He kissed her again, relishing the feel of her soft mouth submitting to the invasion of his tongue, the shy darts of her own making him swell even further.

In spite of her inexperience Nina could feel the struggle Marc was having. She could sense it in the way he held back from her, as if he was unused to letting go completely. She wanted him to let go, she wanted him to groan her name as he filled her, she wanted to soar with him.

She kissed him fervently, her fingers burying in his thick hair, her legs moving apart even further to make him go deeper.

He groaned as his thrusts increased their pace and depth, the muscles of his back tightening when her hands moved over them. She wriggled beneath him, her body instinctively seeking the intimate abrasion of his.

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