Matteo discovered that he was interested in everything about her. ‘You can eat it in any way you wish. He still sleeps with his ex-wife?’ He felt genuinely horrified for her. ‘How does your mother cope with that?’
‘As long as she has the status of being his wife, that’s all she minds about.’ Izzy put her plate down, the rest of the food untouched. ‘And I hate that. That’s not love. That’s a business arrangement. I don’t ever want that. I had a narrow escape with Brian. That’s why I’m no good at relationships. Since then I’ve just avoided all that emotional stuff.’
‘Good decision.’ Relieved by that declaration, Matteo sprang to his feet. ‘And if there is one thing guaranteed to take your mind off emotional mess, it’s physical activity. I can recommend it.’
Her eyes widened. ‘What sort of physical activity did you have in mind?’
‘Swimming,’ he purred, ‘what else? Are you wearing a bikini?’
Those blue eyes dropped to his mouth. ‘Yes, but it’s miles to the swimming pool from here.’
‘Who said anything about a swimming pool?’ Deciding that if he didn’t get her in cold water soon they’d both be in serious trouble, Matteo hauled her to her feet, closed his hands round the hem of her dress and lifted it over her head. Underneath she was wearing a minuscule turquoise bikini that revealed more than it concealed and he felt raw lust slam into him.
‘When did you get that tattoo?’
Her eyes twinkled naughtily. ‘The day Chantelle said, “Whatever you do, don’t get a tattoo.” What’s a girl supposed to do? I wasn’t an easy teenager. You should probably feel sorry for her.’
‘I don’t.’ Matteo found it impossible to feel sorry for a woman who had clearly given her daughter so little support. Stripping to his swimming shorts, he scooped her into his arms.
Izzy squealed with shock. ‘Don’t you dare drop me in the water. Don’t you—agh—’ Her words gurgled as Matteo dropped her into the water beneath the fountain and when she surfaced she came up spluttering and swinging for him.
She was wet and slippery but he caught her easily and took her down again and this time he went with her into the cool water.
‘I can’t believe you’re swimming in your fountain!’ Gasping and laughing, she gave him a shove. ‘There’s hope for you yet, Your Highness.’
‘Stop calling me Your Highness.’
‘You told me that was the correct mode of address.’
‘The first time.’ He slid his hand behind her neck and drew her face to his, reminding himself that physical intimacy was completely different from emotional intimacy. ‘We’ve gone way past that.’ Devouring her mouth in a hot kiss, he backed her out of the water. Still kissing they stumbled over the edge of the fountain, paused long enough to scoop up the blanket and their clothes and then he swung her into his arms again and strode towards the maze.
This type of intimacy held no fear for him whatsoever.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE maze was a mysterious world of sunlight and dappled shade, the tall hedges giving each path its own feeling of privacy.
Quivering with anticipation, Izzy wrapped her arms around him. ‘Why here?’
‘Because it’s closer than the palazzo.’
‘Well, don’t lose me—’ she buried her face in his neck ‘—I have a hopeless sense of direction. My body won’t be discovered for at least a decade.’
‘Your body is going to be discovered a lot sooner than that.’ Matteo strode purposefully along a path, took a left then a right and flung down his shirt and the towels in the little clearing. Then he gently lowered her to the ground and brought his mouth down on hers.
Izzy’s resistance melted like ice in a heatwave. All the sensations from the night before came rushing back. It was as if they’d never stopped. As if the time in between had been nothing more than a pause.
His hands were hard on her shoulders, his mouth warm and seductive, and she slid down into the dark, erotic depths of his kiss.
‘I’ve never met a woman who makes me feel the way you do.’ He muttered the words against her lips. ‘It drives me mad.’
‘Me too.’ Izzy gave a soft whimper as his mouth trailed down her neck. ‘Don’t stop.’
‘I want you so badly I can’t even make it back to the palazzo.’
It was some consolation that he felt that way too. But even through the lethal buzz of sexual chemistry, part of her refused to completely abdicate her responsibilities.
‘Do you have—?’