The Vows He Must Keep

There was no way he would withstand this kind of pleasure for very long without bringing things to a very abrupt ending.

He thought about it as he watched her take him, and he imagined letting her bring him to release right here. The image sent an electric pulse up his spine, but he sat up, cupping her cheek with one hand and drawing her up along his body until she lay flush against him.

‘I wasn’t finished.’ She smiled that slightly awkward smile he had come to recognise as a sign of nerves.

‘I promise to have you in that exact position again before tonight is over, but right now it’s taking all my control not to end this before we’ve even begun.’

Her eyes widened with understanding, a smug smile spreading across her lips as she lowered herself down to kiss him. Valerio took advantage of her position, pulling her close before rolling them over on the soft pillows so that she lay in the cage of his arms.

‘My turn.’

He moved down the sun-darkened valley of her breasts, following the path of her ribcage until he reached the gentle curve of her stomach. She writhed with every touch against her skin, her honest reaction to his kisses sending him back to the brink of release once again.

‘Tell me what you’re thinking about,’ he growled against the silky skin of her upper thigh. And then with both hands he spread her legs wide, settling his shoulders between them.

‘I’ve...fantasised about you doing this...’

Her words came quietly from above him, spurring him on as he dropped featherlight kisses against the neatly trimmed downy curls that covered her. God, but she was perfect here too. She writhed, moving her hips against his mouth, begging him to stop his sensual torture.

He barely touched her for a few moments more, then surprised her by spreading her wide and moving his tongue directly against her in one slow stroke. She went wild, a sharp curse escaping her lips.

‘Are you going to come for me again?’ he murmured huskily against her skin.

‘I can’t...’ she breathed, her head moving against the pillow with each stroke. ‘Oh, God, stop—it’s too much.’

He paused, only to have her hands grip his hair, as if begging him to keep going. Valerio smiled against her as he continued to stroke, again and again, keeping a smooth, firm rhythm. But the power he felt in bringing her to this point of madness was too much—he needed to have her soon.

She gasped in shock, beginning to approach another climax under his tongue, and he wasted no time in moving over her, spreading her legs wide and looking into her eyes as he entered her in one hard, urgent thrust.

He needed to be inside her as she came apart more than he needed to breathe. The time for taking it slow had passed, and he had burned out every last scrap of his control. He felt her inner muscles continue to tighten around

him, heard her breaths coming in short gasps as she met the strength of his thrusts. She pulled his face down to her own, crushing her mouth against his so sweetly as her climax hit. And Valerio felt his own pleasure reach an unbearable peak, felt fire spreading up his spine and consuming him. He closed his eyes, pressing his forehead to hers as he came apart, joining her in mindless oblivion.

Dani stared out at the hazy darkness of the moonlit night spilling in through the open terrace doors. Valerio’s gentle snores sounded in the bed behind her. He had fallen asleep after another round of intense, earth-shattering sex. But she lay awake, wondering what would happen once he woke up and properly talked about what they’d just done.

She was afraid to move, as his arm was draped over her, pulling her tight to his chest. And something within her ached at the wonderful feeling of being in the cradle of his strong arms, even knowing it was only temporary.

She sighed. If she could just stay in this bed for ever she might imagine that things had deepened between them. If they never had to leave this magical island they wouldn’t have to confront the reality that they shared a company together. That this was an arrangement, not a love match. That, while he was apparently attracted to her on a physical level, he would probably never feel even a fraction of what she felt for him.

She paused. What exactly was it that she felt for him?

Frowning, Dani slipped gently free of his embrace. Sitting on the side of the bed, she looked down at the strong profile of the man who was soon to be her husband. The engagement ring on her finger felt heavier than ever, its cool metal shining in the light of the moon.

She had agreed to live with him, share her life with him and trust him to keep her safe from the unseen danger that was closing in. But what were they to one another without this arrangement? Would he ever have fallen into bed with her if he hadn’t been facing possible years of celibacy as her convenient husband?

Cradling her face in her hands, she breathed deep and tried to calm the anxiety within her. She was about to marry him—she couldn’t have this many complicated feelings warring within her. She was falling into dangerous waters and it was clear she would be the only one hurt when it eventually came to an end.

She needed to keep her feet firmly on land—starting right now. Sleeping together in one bed seemed a step beyond sharing the occasional romp in the sheets, so surely leaving now would be a firm message to show she wasn’t getting the wrong idea from what they’d done?

She stood up, pulling the comforter from the edge of the bed, and walked to the door, turning back just once more to look down at Valerio’s sleeping form. She could do this—she could have what she wanted of him and still keep herself above water.

She went into her room and stepped straight into a hot shower, feeling the spray hit muscles that she hadn’t used in years. She lathered soap across her skin, feeling her body tighten at the sensation, imagining it was Valerio’s hands touching her, caressing her...

God, she’d had him three times and already she was fantasising about the next time.

Resting her forehead against the cool tiles, she breathed in deeply, calming her racing heartbeat. She sent up a silent prayer that she wasn’t in completely over her head. They could mix a little pleasure into their arrangement and not risk ruining everything, couldn’t they?

Before she could finish that thought, the shower door slid open and Valerio’s broad naked form appeared through the steam as if in slow motion. The man was built like a prize fighter, and the shadow on his jawline made him look rough and dangerous. He didn’t speak—just pulled her into his arms and kissed her as though he were a drowning man and she was his first gasp of air.