That thought was too outlandish to believe. She shook her head, her lips curving up at the edges. “Have you really thought this through? No more Russian supermodels?”
“You persist in underestimating me,” he said softly. Reaching out, he tucked hair behind her ear. “When will you learn the truth?”
Hallie swallowed. “What’s that?”
His gaze cut through her. “I want only you.”
Her heart was pounding. A year ago, when he’d tossed her to the curb, she’d thought she’d made the worst mistake of her life. For the last year, she’d barely held on sometimes, trying to keep a roof over her baby’s head. Security had seemed like a fairy tale.
Now Cristiano was offering her everything she’d dreamed of. She could secure her son’s comfort and give him two parents and a stable home for a lifetime.
The only cost would be her heart. Their marriage would be about partnership and, yes, passion. But not love.
Could she accept that? For the rest of her life?
Or would her heart shrivel up and die?
Getting up from the barstool, Hallie crossed the great room uncertainly. She looked down at her sweet baby, cooing and playing happily. Holding her breath, she stared out the windows at the gray city and brilliant blue sky.
Silence fell in the penthouse. She felt the warm morning sun against her skin, the rise and fall of her own breath. Then she heard him cross the floor. Putting his hands on her shaking shoulders, he turned her to face him. His dark eyes burned like fire.
“One more thing,” he said in a low voice. “Before you decide.”
And pulling her roughly against his body, he lowered his mouth to kiss her.
CHAPTER FOUR
HIS LIPS WERE hot and yearning, burning through Hallie’s body and soul. This kiss was different from the hungry, demanding passion of their first night. This time he tempted rather than took. He lured rather than ravished.
His hands tangled in her dark hair, stroking slowly down her bare shoulders and back. Shivers of need cascaded through Hallie’s body. She could not resist his embrace, as wistful and tender as his whispered words, which still hung between them like mist.
When will you learn the truth?
What’s that?
I want only you.
Her mind scattered in a million different directions, the penthouse whirling around her. She felt his desire for her through his low-slung pajama pants. She gripped his naked, powerful shoulders, feeling that Cristiano was the only solid thing in a world spinning out of control. His skin felt warm, his body solid and strong. This kiss, the sweet dream of his lips on hers, was all that felt real.
He deepened the embrace, pushing her back against the white sofa, his hands running over her body—over her naked arms, the spaghetti straps of her sundress. As the kiss intensified, hunger built between them until she kissed him back desperately, her wh
ole body on fire. She gripped his shoulders, his mouth hot and demanding against hers. Feeling the sweet weight of his body over hers, the hard warmth of his muscular chest, she would have done anything—agreed to anything—to make this moment last...
“Say you’ll marry me,” he whispered against her skin. “Say it—”
“Yes,” she choked out. She didn’t realize she’d spoken until he pulled back, searching her gaze.
“You won’t take it back? You won’t change your mind?”
She shook her head. “It’s what I want most. Loyalty. Family. Home.”
“And this.” And Cristiano kissed her, consuming her, until all that was left of her was fire and ash.
* * *
Cristiano had to take her to bed. Now.
If he didn’t have her, now that he knew she was going to be his wife, he thought he might explode.