The Secret to Marrying Marchesi

‘I was just looking.’ Her voice came out huskier than she’d intended.

‘It’s funny, I keep telling myself the same thing.’ He moved one fingertip up her arm, tracing her collarbone lightly. ‘But then I keep doing this whenever I get the chance.’

Nicole swallowed hard at the sensation his hands on her bare skin evoked. Her shoulders felt tingly and loose, and the feeling was moving steadily downwards. If one touch could make her feel like this, she wondered what his lips might feel like. The thought surprised her, making her angry at herself, angry at him for starting this.

She turned around.

He took a step closer, his hand dropping back to his side. ‘I’d imagine you’re used to men acting like fools around you.’ His mouth turned down at the corners.

Nicole laughed nervously at the ridiculousness of that statement, pushing a tendril of hair behind her ear. ‘Last year in Paris was a first for me. With you.’

He had no idea just how telling that statement was. It had been a first. He had been the first. Not that she would ever fully admit that to him.

Rigo smiled. ‘You’re good at telling me what I want to hear.’

She tried not to let her wounds show as he took one single step, bringing the heat of his chest almost flush against hers. What was he doing? Her hands reached up to his shoulders, intending to push him away. He was like a wall of hot steel, moulded against her. She could feel the sheer power of him through his suit jacket, barely contained. She arched her head back, knowing she was inviting more but not managing to care. His head lowered, his lips touching the delicate skin beneath her ear. Nicole shivered, arching her neck to give him better access. He kissed a trail of fire down her neck and along her bare shoulder.

‘I’ve been fantasising about this since I saw you tonight,’ he whispered against her ear, nipping the skin lightly. ‘Probably long before.’

She wished he would stop talking so that she could give in to this completely. She suddenly wanted nothing more than for him to lay her down on a bed so that she could jump into this delicious fire completely and forget about everything else.

But she wouldn’t do that. Still, she knew she wouldn’t have an excuse to touch him again after tonight. If this was to be goodbye, then she was going to make it count.

She leaned forward, closing the gap between them, and pressed her lips to his. Her kiss was soft...curious, even. His hands captured her hips, pulling her close against him. She could feel every hard plane of his body through the thin lace of her dress as he held her trapped in the circle of his arms.

She wasn’t sure when he began to take control of the kiss, but by the time she realised it he had already gained full steam. She followed his lead, their tongues moving against each other in a steady rhythm. They feasted on each other for so long she almost forgot to breathe, vaguely aware of him guiding her towards the wall behind them, pushing her back flat against it.

His hands cupped her bottom through the lace of her dress as he continued to take possession. She gave as good as she got, holding the front of his shirt in her grip and nipping his lower lip with her teeth. This was fast heading out of her control, but she didn’t have the will or the inclination to stop. It felt much too good to walk away just yet. She wanted to see if the reality of him matched up to the memories she had of their night together. It was like stepping back into a dream. She had kissed him first that night, too.

That thought stopped her.

Nicole broke away, pressing her hands against his chest. This was just as bad an idea now as it had been the first time. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. She moved away from him, stepping back to the balcony ledge as if the distance might somehow dampen the smouldering heat she could still see blazing in his eyes.

Rigo smiled at her, but it wasn’t a smile at all. There was no hint of playfulness in his gaze.

‘This isn’t a game, Nicole.’ He leaned back against the wall, watching her. ‘I won’t be used as a distraction for whatever is going on in that head of yours.’

‘I’ll take the blame for that one...’ she breathed, straightening the material of her dress and holding her arms around herself in the sudden cold breeze.

She remembered the reason they had come up here in the first place—the conversation with her mother. She felt adrift once again.

‘So you were saying you’re not going to marry me?’ he said coldly.

Nicole bit her lip at his abruptness. ‘I can’t. Not now that I know...’ She shook her head, a shiver running down her bare arms. The temperature was certainly a few degrees lower at this height, but that was only half the reason she felt so cold.