I didn’t know what he meant until, in one sinuous and assured movement, he tugged the zip of my dress from its top to the small of my back. The dress fell away, pooling about my waist. Cool air puckered my skin and I fought the urge to cover myself, for I wasn’t wearing a bra. I’d never been naked in front of another human being, and I felt it keenly now.
Matteo’s gaze roved over me, a small smile curving his lips. ‘You really are perfect, Daisy.’
‘Hardly perfect.’ I nodded towards his pristine tuxedo. ‘What about you?’
‘Ah, yes.’ He arched an eyebrow in wicked challenge before spreading his arms wide. ‘Shall you do the honours?’
I let out a little disbelieving laugh before I realised he was serious. Emboldened by the blatant look of desire in his eyes, I moved towards him and the dress slithered to my ankles. I stepped out of it, conscious that I was wearing nothing but a pair of high heels, scrappy silk knickers, and a necklace that cost a fortune. I would have felt absurd, except the expression on Matteo’s face made me feel beautiful. Sexy. Desired.
Fumbling a little, I undid his bow tie and tossed it aside. Matteo watched me from under half-lowered lids, colour slashed on each cheekbone. As I moved down his shirt, my fingers clumsy on the studs, I felt the thud of his heart against my palm. He was affected—as affected as I was.
The cummerbund took some doing, and I laughed a little. ‘I’m not very experienced at this.’
‘That hardly matters. You’re doing an excellent job,’ he said huskily.
Finally the thing was off, and I tossed it aside with a shuddering breath. Using both my hands, I spread his shirt wide so I could take in the magnificence of his chest—tanned and perfectly sculpted. I outlined the ridges of his pectorals with my fingertips, amazed at how beautiful he was, and Matteo let out a ragged laugh.
‘Glykia mou, what you do to me... No other woman has affected me like this.’
I glanced up at him, shocked. ‘Is that really true?’
‘It is.’ He captured my hand with his own. ‘But I do not want to talk or think of them—only of you.’
Then, in one elegant swoop, he caught me in his arms and laid me down on the bed. I kicked off my heels, watched as his eyes glinted silver and he undid his trousers, kicking them off with impatience, and then following with his shirt.
Then he lay down next to me, one arm braced over my head as he smiled down at me.
‘I’m nervous,’ I whispered.
‘There is nothing to be nervous about, I promise you.’
He sealed that promise with a lingering kiss, and then he began to move lower, kissing my jaw, the curve of my neck, and then lifting the heavy pendant to press a kiss to the hollow of my throat. Each kiss made me shiver with longing and excitement, pleasure arcing through me at every brush of his lips.
Then his mouth moved even lower, and I squirmed with pleasure and shock as he kissed my breasts in turn, lavishing each with attention they had never known before.
‘Matteo...’ I half gasped his name as his mouth went lower yet, kissing his way down to my navel. No one had ever touched me like this. No one had ever made me feel like this.
Then his hand brushed between my legs, fingers seeking the damp heat that resided there, and I moaned aloud. The sound was one I’d never heard myself make before. Everything felt new and shockingly wonderful. His fingers were deft and knowing, touching me in a way that sent waves of pleasure spiralling through me, so intense I responded without even realising I was doing so—arching my hips, grabbing his hand.
‘Easy, glykia mou.’
‘You make me feel...’ I gasped, not even sure what I was saying. But in any case I didn’t need to say it.
‘I know,’ he said, and he kissed me again as his fingers continued to work their magic, and I felt a sense of urgency building inside me, as if I were climbing a spiral set of stairs, higher and higher, desperate to reach the top...
‘Matteo!’
His name exploded from me as I convulsed under his touch, my body giving itself up to the dazzling wash of sensations that shuddered through me in a tide of pleasure. I’d never felt anything like it in my life, and I lay there, staring up at him with dazed eyes, boneless and spent.
‘And that is just the beginning,’ he said with a growl as he rolled on top of me.
‘The beginning...’ I felt as if everything in me had ended, and yet already a new, deeper need licked at me as Matteo held himself above me.
I braced myself for the invasion, tense even as I was ready—so ready.
Matteo began to slid inside, pausing as I winced just a little.