Page 29 of The Convenient Cosentino Wife

“If I say yes, nothing will ever be the same.”

“Such is life, full of change. But not all change is bad. Change can be good.”

She searched his eyes. “Is this good?”

“You tell me.” With another caress to her cheek and jaw, he leaned in, and covered her lips with his.

The pressure of his mouth made her pulse leap, the jolt of electricity immediate, making her mouth soften and tingle. She made a soft whimpering sound and Rocco took advantage of her parted lips to deepen the kiss even as he drew her from the chair onto his lap. She couldn’t resist, the sensations intense, her body melting into his.

It was a kiss unlike any she’d ever experienced. It was consuming and hot, so hot she trembled against him, helpless, mindless, wanting more of everything, wanting all he offered and as his hands touched her, shaping her, stirring nerve endings she’d forgotten even existed, she felt almost desperate. Nothing made sense. The world didn’t make sense. But as long as Rocco kept kissing her and making her feel so sensitive and alive, she wouldn’t complain.

It was impossible to know how much time passed. Minutes? Hours? But by the time Rocco’s head lifted and he gazed down into her eyes, his silver eyes now smoky with desire, she felt almost drunk on sensation. She’d never been kissed like that, kissed so deeply that she’d forgotten who she was, or where she was.

“So,” he said, his voice deep. “What do you think?”

“I think you know how to kiss.”

“And the rest of it?”

Her gaze dropped to his lap, to the thickness of his shaft pressing against the wool fabric. “I don’t know about the rest of it.”

He laughed lowly. “I’m talking about the future. About Adriano. About us.”

He might as well have dashed some cold water in her face as she blinked and returned to her senses.

She was on his lap. Her lips were tingling and throbbing. Her body was humming, too. She slid off his lap and returned to her chair, drawing her knees up as if to create a wall between them.

She needed a barrier, something to provide defense.

“You said you’ve given it thought,” he added calmly, looking relaxed and perfectly in control. “When you called it sounded as if you’d made a decision.”

“I had.” She swallowed. “I have. I’ve thought about everything a great deal. As you know, I was an only child and I hated it. I used to pray for a younger brother or sister, someone to keep me company, someone to play with in the nursery. I don’t want Adriano to know the loneliness I knew. I don’t want him to be an only child.” She frowned, her brows pulling. “But I need to take this slow. This is a huge change. It’s scary.”

He placed his hands on her knees and left them there. “Which part is scary?”

Her shoulders rose and fell. “All of it?”

“We have tomorrow, we have the day after, we have weeks and years ahead of us. We can take our time, get to know each other. There is no rush.”

“Do you mean that?” she asked, hope rushing through her, easing some of her tension. She was someone who needed order and safety, and the idea of marriage, which represented a loss of control, filled her with overwhelming anxiety.

“I do. Why would I want you to feel nervous or unhappy? How is that good for anyone?”

It was a good question, and her shoulders relaxed and she managed a small smile. “Maybe we could talk some more in the morning?”

“The morning sounds good. We’ll get some sleep and then discuss whatever it is you wish to discuss.”

CHAPTER SIX

INTHEMORNINGthey had breakfast with Adriano on the terrace, and then while Clare handled a few business matters, Rocco played football on the lawn with Adriano. Adriano wanted to do something together, all of them like the day they visited thecastello, but Rocco told the child that Rocco needed some time to discuss things with his mother.

Adriano reluctantly accepted this and Ava stepped in to play football with Adriano while Rocco went in search of Clare. Knowing she’d probably be in her office he went there first, and knocked on her closed door. She called for him to come in, and opening the door he stood on the threshold and watched her typing on her keyboard, fingers flying, brow furrowed in concentration.

She looked up at him after a moment and almost looked surprised to see him there. “Have you been waiting long?”

“Not that long.”

“I was trying to find a diplomatic way to answer a less than diplomatic email.”

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