The Commanding Italian's Challenge

He slid his hands over her silky skin and cupped her delicious bottom, allowing himself the reprieve of completely pushing the subject of Pietro to the back of his mind. ‘Not the whole world, cara. Just one small dilemma.’

‘Which is...?’

She slid her arms around his neck and he bit back a hiss at the effect of her nipples grazing his chest.

‘I was debating how long I should allow you to sleep before waking you.’

‘Then it’s a good thing I only needed a ten-minute power nap.’

Maceo felt his smile widening. Even that strange lightening in his heart didn’t surprise him. He’d experienced sublime physical intimacy for the first time in his life tonight. On top of myriad shocking revelations. What was one more ground-shaking reaction?

‘Is that a challenge to my manhood?’

She reared back. ‘What?’

‘That sounded suspiciously like a complaint for not adequately wearing you out.’

She blushed and, Dio mio, he wanted to taste every shade of it.

‘If that’s the case you only have to say the word if you want more.’

Her delicate nostrils quivered, but her gaze was bold as she stared into his eyes. ‘I want more, Maceo.’

What are you doing?

He sealed her in his arms, ignored the inner harsh, demanding query and gave her more.

Until he shattered from head to toe once again.

Until her cries filled his ears and warmed parts of him he’d been convinced would remain stone-cold for ever.

Until the only thought that remained in his head as he carried her back to bed was how quickly he could seek oblivion in her arms again.

* * *

He continued to ignore that inner voice and they continued to shatter one another in the sun-filled days that followed.

Unsurprisingly, Faye had quickly gathered a clutch of admirers when they’d arrived at the first plantation. Her genuine, almost childlike enthusiasm, her capacity to learn and her unabashed interest in every facet of the production that went into a Casa di Fiorenti confectionery box endeared her to his employees instantly.

Like Pico’s slavish devotion, her fan base only grew with each subsequent encounter and now, on their sixth and last day in St Lucia, he watched from his vantage point on his private beach as she charmed the employees he’d invited to a Caribbean-style barbecue.

Despite the intoxicating reggae beats that epitomised the party mood, Maceo remained...off. He wasn’t in the mood to search for the reason behind his disgruntlement. But, deep inside, he knew the irritant had something to do with the woman who flitted from group to group—barefoot, of course—wearing another concoction of bright clothes that made her blend in perfectly with her exotic surroundings.

At this precise moment she was chasing after the exuberant child of an employee, her unfettered rainbow hair arcing behind her. She disappeared behind a palm leaf cabana, and Maceo dropped his gaze to stare broodingly into his rum punch.

Enough with this cat and mouse game. Until recently he’d been a man who didn’t shy away from challenges. A man who stuck to his vows. Yet here he was, evading emails from his R&D director.

It turned out that, while they’d been exploring St Lucia, Faye had been collating ideas for new products and sending daily reports to Alberto Triento. The man was rapturous over the quality of work Faye had produced. Enough for him to question why Maceo hadn’t offered her a permanent position at Casa di Fiorenti.

What irked Maceo was that he’d contemplated that very idea. Faye had a degree in business, after all. And her social skills were exemplary. So why was she wasting away on a farm?

Which brought him to his next problem...

The discreet investigation he’d initiated the morning after their first night together had already borne fruit. Most of which, while not conclusive, pointed in the direction he’d hoped they wouldn’t.

He tightened his jaw as his demons howled.

More secrets.