He dismissed the staff and brought the luggage in himself while Lauren moved through the lavish interior of the small home. Outside, the deck of the infinity pool seemed to drop into the horizon and she wedged herself into a corner of the terrace next to it, seeking the warmth of slanting sunshine as she savored the simmering sensuality inside her. Heat gathered in the stainless steel rail and each breath she took was a sexy inhale of anticipation.
“Are you hungry?”
Paolo’s graveled voice abraded her taut nerves. Suppressing a little shiver, Lauren shook her head, then quarter-turned to look at him.#p#????#e#
The sun was in her eyes and he was in shadow. All she saw was the silhouette of his razor-sharp business pants and the way his muscles strained his shirt. Glints of light in her periphery, possibly reflections off the neighbor’s pool below, gilded his figure and threw his frame into a relief map of powerful male beauty.
Flutters of feminine response started in her abdomen. She involuntarily tensed against them, gripping the rail tighter as she saw the tornado forming and knew she couldn’t escape it. As her pupils adjusted, she received an impression of blazing eyes and a face lined with lust.
“Come here,” he growled.
Lauren gave a tiny shudder as though he’d shouted when his voice was only raspy with desire. At the same time, the glint in her eyes seemed to become more deliberate.
She raised a hand to shield her vision and glanced below. “I think there’s someone down there with binoculars.”
Paolo crowded into the small space next to her, nearly frying her mind, but the flash of a lens fixed on them like a laser pointer from one of the properties below.
“It’s fine,” he said, settling his hands on her waist to lightly force her into turning to face him. As her body brushed his, need flared inside her. It was all she could do to steel herself against him as her fingers draped his biceps in subtle resistance.
“But it could be paparazzi. Mom and the Bradleys don’t even know—”
“I called them last night,” he told her. “We needed declarations that there were no impediments to our marrying. Given your reservations about talking to your mother, I took the liberty.”
“You what!” She pressed back into the rail behind her.
“I asked her if we should wait until she was available to attend the wedding or make it official immediately. I realize that’s a clichéd negotiating tactic, giving her a choice between yes and yes, but it worked. She supports the marriage,” he said dryly.
Nevertheless, Gabrielle Reid had registered her disapproval. Lauren could sense it in the way Paolo took on a look of suppressed umbrage.
“Yes, well, marrying was the right thing to do,” Lauren said into the middle of his chest, both relieved and dreading her next call home. She quickly asked, “And Elenore?”
She braced herself, too often the target of judgment from Ryan’s mother to take her reaction lightly.
“Chris made a declaration on your behalf.” A muscle pulsed in Paolo’s jaw. “He wasn’t happy, but it’s done. Everyone liable to be affected is aware that we’ve married. This photographer works for a friend.” He nodded to the camera below. “They’ll leak the news with the least amount of sensationalism. No more secrets, no more impediments.”
A rush of power and excitement surged in him as he absorbed their freedom to finally be together. The feeling had its root in sexual anticipation but carried subtle branches of pride and triumph and elation. She was his now. His hands tightened on her.
“He’ll leave us alone shortly,” he assured her. “Meantime, let’s give him what he’s being paid for.”
Lauren ducked his kiss before it landed, skittering her gaze toward the pool next to their feet, her only direction of escape.
Paolo frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to play the devoted wife for the world again,” she said, flickering a glance of hurt up at him. “This is between you and me, Paolo. It’s real and it’s private.”
He was oddly touched, realizing that Lauren wasn’t just being shy. When something meant a lot to you, you protected it. Her sensitivity to intrusion spoke volumes about how important their intimacy was to her.#p#????#e#
“You’re right. Come, Signora Donatelli. I’ve waited too long to have you to myself.” Taking her hand, he led her into the villa.
The ivory walls and linens in the bedroom reflected the rosy glow of the sinking sun. Lauren’s heels made a soft click on the marble as they moved into the cavernous room. She unconsciously tightened her hand on his to prevent a slip.