She moved closer to him, her eyes filled with a look that both terrified and delighted him. A look he had no right to see. She needed to know all the facts. She needed to know that she didn’t have to trust him or rely on him any longer. That she didn’t need him.
‘I need to talk to you before...’ She paused, one hand reaching out to lay against his bare chest. ‘Before we go ahead with this.’
‘I need to talk to you too.’ He inhaled deeply, glad that they were alone for this moment. That he could give her privacy, away from prying eyes and ears.
‘I lied,’ she said suddenly. ‘I don’t want things to end. The thought of not being with you again is unbearable.’
With disbelief and shock, he pulled her closer until they stood chest to chest. ‘I’ve hardly been able to stop thinking of this...of what you do to me. It’s like I have no control when it comes to you.’
‘Me too.’
Her voice was a husky whisper as she pressed herself to him, her eyes widening as she brushed against the hard ridge of his erection. The look of instant heat she gave him was enough to bring him close to the edge as his lips lowered to hers in a fury of urgent need and frustration.
The sound she made against his mouth was half surprise and half seductive whimper as she slowly melted against him. His hands cupped the delicious curve of her behind, grinding her against the unbearable hardness that ached to be inside her.
Dani felt the urgency in him like a rising tide as he walked her backwards until she was pressed against the cool tiled walls. His eyes glimmered with intent as he slowly raised the full skirt of her wedding dress up her thighs. The material was light, and easily folded around her waist. She worried for a split second about crushing the fabric, but then decided it would be fine.
He moved to touch her, to feel how slick and hot and ready she was for him. His eyes darkened to the colour of a raging storm.
Her white lace underwear refused to stay to one side, and he let out a low growl, tearing at one side and throwing the scrap of lace to the floor. She bit her lower lip, feeling a thrill go through her at such a primal display. His lips nuzzled against her neck, biting softly.
‘Dio... I need to be inside you right now.’
‘Yes...’ she breathed, feeling his hands grip the curve of one thigh and lift it so she was spread wide for him.
He dropped his towel and slid into her easily, her body singing out in sweet relief at being filled with such perfect hard heat. His thrusts were demanding, but hi
s rhythm was just what she needed—she needed to feel that warm tension building deep inside her.
Every hard stroke brought her higher, and she clamped a hand over her mouth as she fought not to moan. They were far enough away from anyone else on the yacht not to truly risk being caught, but the thrill of it only added to her arousal.
Without warning, he gripped her other thigh and lifted her against the wall for even deeper access. She stiffened and tried to stop him. He shut off her protests with his mouth, the urgency in his body telling her he was far from burdened by her size. He pulled at one strap of her dress with his teeth, freeing one dark nipple above the fabric and taking it greedily into his mouth.
With his head bent low she could clearly see the reflection of him taking her in the mirror on the opposite wall. He followed her gaze, his eyes wicked as sin as he quickened his pace, giving no mercy as he took her over and over until she cried out against her hand.
‘Just look at you,’ he growled, his eyes almost reverent. ‘Do you see how beautiful you are?’
She looked at the flush on her cheeks as she felt pleasure mounting, at the plump swollen flesh of her lips. She looked like a stranger.
She felt utterly weightless in his arms as she rode out her climax, feeling it crest and take her like a rush of electricity until her entire body shook. He was right there with her. A few hard thrusts and he came hard inside her, his head tilted back and eyes closed tight as though he were in pain.
After a moment he stepped back and grabbed a towel from the rack, wetting it and kneeling down to cleanse her. The movement was so caring she felt her throat clench. He didn’t meet her eyes, however, as he stood up and put himself to rights. Then he reached down to grab her torn underwear from the floor and stared at it with such ferocity that she inhaled a sharp breath.
‘I didn’t mean for that to happen.’
He spoke with his jaw tight, and there was a sudden tension in him that made Dani feel the need to reassure him.
‘Well... That’s not exactly what I came here for, either.’ She forced a small laugh, still slightly out of breath as she pulled her dress down.
‘What did you come here for, then?’ he asked roughly. ‘Because I was just on my way to see you.’
She tried not to read into his words, into his implication that sex was all they had. Even though he had told her that was all he was capable of giving her. They’d agreed to end things, but here they were after ten seconds alone together, panting in the aftermath of what had possibly been the most intense lovemaking she’d experienced with him. That had to mean something, didn’t it?
‘I came here to say that I’m not going to marry you today without telling you how I really feel.’ She inhaled once more, fighting the twist of anxiety in her stomach at the leap of faith she was about to take. ‘I can’t pretend to be your wife, Valerio. Because I’m in love with you, and the only way I’m marrying you today is if it’s real.’
Silence stretched between them for a moment, and she felt her heartbeat racing wildly in her chest. She forced herself to stand tall and meet his eyes, knowing she owed herself this moment of risk. She knew she would never regret giving him her heart, even if he handed it right back and walked away.
‘I don’t want to be your wife in name only. I want it all. I want everything that you said you can never give me.’