Phantom Marriage

He took it and lifted it to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers over the rim. The air in the room suddenly felt thick with a tension which she knew could only be eased one way. But she stayed exactly where she was, lifting her own glass and taking a deep swallow. Not that she needed any alcohol to make her body zing. Every nerve-ending she owned was already electrified.

He drank the whole glass with agonising slowness, all the while just looking at her. Not at her body, but deep, deep into her eyes, searching for a sign perhaps that he could proceed. Either that, or he was just cruelly making her wait.

Finally, just when the anticipation became almost unbearable, Leonardo put his glass down on the nearby counter and closed the gap between them. A slow smile curved his mouth as he took her glass out of her hands and placed it next to his. When he turned back she thought he was going to kiss her. But he didn’t. Instead, he reached up and pulled her hair down from the loose knot into which she’d wound it before her shower. It tumbled down around her naked shoulders, thick, soft and wavy. Her crowning glory, her mother always said.

‘I’ve been wanting to do this all day,’ he murmured as he ran his fingers through her hair.

Veronica blinked. ‘But my hair was down all day.’

‘I meant I wanted to touch it.’

‘Oh…’

‘And to touch you.’ His hands left her hair and trailed down the sides of her throat then moved under her hair to her shoulders. He cupped them gently, then pulled her close, his mouth descending to hers as though in slow motion. Her own arms hung limply at her sides whilst her head grew light with the most dizzying waves of desire. Despite her seeming attitude of submission, her lips were already parted by the time his made contact, his low groan showing her that he was as turned on as she was. But still he didn’t hurry, his tongue sliding sinuously into her mouth until she was beside herself with longing and need.

Her moan betrayed the extent of that need. Leonardo’s head immediately lifted.

‘Si,’ he rasped. ‘It is torture, is it not?’

She didn’t answer him. She couldn’t.

‘You deserve to be tortured,’ he ground out as he suddenly bent to scoop her up into his arms. ‘You are the sort of woman who drives men mad, with your big violet eyes and your flirtatious ways.’

Veronica found her tongue as he carried her back to the master bedroom. ‘I think you’ve got that the wrong way round, Leonardo. You are the sort of man who drives women mad. And you know it.’

He looked shocked for a second, and then he shrugged. ‘I do have a good record with the

ladies.’

Veronica couldn’t help it. She started to giggle, and then she really started to laugh.

He threw her onto the bed as he had the night before, his hands finding his hips as he glared down at her.

‘I don’t see what you find so funny,’ he growled.

‘Don’t you?’ She stopped laughing but the corners of her mouth kept itching to smile. He, however, remained standing there with his legs apart, his hands clamped to his hips and his eyes all narrowed and angry. Talk about a typical Italian male! They really didn’t have a great sense of humour. But she liked them all the same with their proud, passionate ways.

‘I thought we were going to have sex, Leonardo,’ she said. ‘Not argue.’

His sensually carved lips pouted in the most deliciously sexy way.

‘I do not want to have sex with you, Veronica,’ he said in clipped tones.

Her eyes widened, her dismay acute. ‘You don’t?’

‘No. I don’t. We did that last night. Today, I want to make love to you.’

Her heart flipped right over. Okay, so they were only words, but they were lovely words. Loving words. It had been so long since she’d heard loving words said to her. Too long, perhaps. Leonardo’s words touched the very depths of her soul.

Be careful here, Veronica, came the protective warning. Be very careful.

‘I’d like that,’ she said, trying not to sound too needy.

‘Good.’ His face softened as he reached down and plucked the towel away from her. But his eyes stayed hot. Hot and hungry.

‘Bellissima,’ he murmured, then tossed his own towel away.

He was the one who was bellissimo, Veronica thought, looking away from his stunning erection as she wriggled herself around on the bed so that the back of her head rested on the pillows. Leonardo climbed onto the bed, stretching out next to her. He propped himself up on his left elbow whilst he caressed her with his right hand, first one breast and then the other, his gaze intent on the reactions of her nipples, which tightened under his touch.