The Italian's Ruthless Seduction

‘What a clever girl you are!’ Claudia said. ‘Ah, here’s Gina. Just put the tray down there, dear. I’ll pour. Now, after we’ve had our coffee, I insist you sing that lovely song you wrote, Bella darling. This room has perfect acoustics. You will sound like an angel. An Angel from New York,’ she added with her most persuasive smile.

Bella wasn’t just clever but exceptionally talented, Sergio was reminded as he listened to her play the piano and sing at the same time. Her voice was as unique as she was. Clear as a bell, with perfect diction, it could soften then soar with effortless ease. But it was the emotion she put into her performances that lifted her talent to a level that had made her the darling of Broadway. She might be burnt out at the moment, but you would never know it listening to her tonight. Singing and performing were her life-blood. Sergio could see that. She could never give it up. Any man who expected her to would be a fool.

Sergio didn’t consider himself a fool. If and when...no, when he married Bella, he would have to be prepared to put his own working life on hold occasionally whilst he supported her career. He would have to learn to delegate so that he could be with her in New York, or London, or wherever her career took her.

It wasn’t what he was used to doing. He’d been a very hands-on boss in their franchise business. He’d also been looking forward to the challenge of making the family business a success again. His falling in love with Bella, however, was forcing him to change his priorities. Winning her heart was now number one in his life. The family business would have to take a back seat till that happened. Though who knew? Maybe a miracle would happen and he’d find a way to turn things around during the next month. Of course, the only way to do that was to get started. Pronto. Come tomorrow, he would definitely be driving into Milan to see the lie of the land, up close and personally.

But that was tomorrow, his focus right now was on other things, namely getting Bella back home where he could show her his love by making love to her with some more of the passion he’d bottled up for years. He would have to be careful, however, not to tell her that he loved her in the heat of the moment.

Patience, Sergio, he exhorted himself.

Not one of his favourite virtues.

Finally, he was able to get her away from Claudia without appearing to be in a hurry.

It was Bella herself who almost proved to be his undoing, turning to him as soon as they were out of sight.

‘I think I’m going to die, Sergio, if you don’t kiss me right here and now,’ she said, her voice vibrating with an urgency that echoed his own.

‘I think we should wait till I get you home,’ he said, trying to keep it together.

‘No,’ she argued, her face flushing as she wound her arms around his neck and pressed up against him. ‘No more waiting. I’m done with waiting. Tonight has been nothing but sheer torture.’

Still, he hesitated. But then he slowly lifted his hands to undo the button at the back of her neck. He peeled the top downwards, till she was naked to the waist, pushing her away from him so that he could look at her, taking in her erect nipples and her rapid breathing.

‘If I kiss you now,’ he said, his voice low and husky with desire, ‘I won’t stop at kissing. Your lovely clothes will be ruined and the sex won’t be as good as it should be.’

‘I don’t care,’ she cried, her voice and her body trembling uncontrollably.

‘But I do,’ he told her, and bent to scoop her up into his arms. She gasped, then wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

‘You obviously need more than a quickie in the garden. You need me to make love to you till you can’t move a single muscle. I will tie you naked to the bedposts and make you come and come till you beg me to leave you alone. That is what you need, isn’t it, Bella?’ he ground out as he started carrying her along the path at considerable speed.

She didn’t say a word. Just groaned, then buried her face into his chest.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

WHEN BELLA WOKE the next morning, she was astonished to find herself back in her own bed. She had definitely been in the master bedroom when she’d finally fallen asleep last night. Sergio must have carried her back to her room at some stage but she had no memory of it. The clothes she’d worn the night before were draped over a chair in the corner, her sandals placed neatly underneath.

Clearly, Sergio didn’t want Maria knowing they were sleeping together. No doubt if she knew, Maria would have them married off even quicker than the Countess. Though how he imagined they could keep their relationship a secret for a whole month she had no idea. Maria was a very intuitive woman.