Ever-hungry, her gaze feasted upon his physique, her mouth drying as it always did when she allowed herself to drool.
‘Olivia? Eyes up here.’
Guilt flushed her cheeks. ‘Of course not. It’s one of the main reasons we married.’ She answered his question with a hint of embarrassment at having been caught out. But he laughed and prowled towards her, whipping the towel from her body.
‘My turn.’ He stepped back, and his own inspection of her was so much slower, his gaze travelling from the tip of her head to her toes and back again, lingering on her curves, her most intimate body parts, until her breath was coming in pants.
‘Luca.’ The word burst from her.
‘I know.’ His eyes flashed with an emotion she didn’t understand and then he drew her into his arms, kissing her soundly. A kiss was never enough, though. It was the flicking of a switch, the lighting of a torch that had to be burned down completely before it could be released. She kissed him back with full comprehension of that, her body cleaved to his, naked, hungry, yearning, as his hands reached behind her back and pressed her to him. She ground her hips to him, and heard the sharp expulsion of air, and then he was pulling apart, fire in his eyes as he glared down at her, heat in his cheeks.
He dropped to his knees and she groaned, because at first she thought he was ending what they shared, but then he separated her legs and brought his mouth to her sex, kissing her and whipping her into a frenzy, so she had to brace her palms on the marble counter, head tilted backwards, vaguely aware of what a wanton sight she must make—and not giving even half a damn. How could she care about anything but pleasure when there was pleasure such as this?
‘Signora Giovanardi, thank you for coming.’
‘My husband’s message said it was important?’
The assistant nodded. ‘Signor Giovanardi is just concluding a meeting and has asked you to wait in his office. This way, please.’ The deference with which Olivia’s assistants treated her brought a smile to Olivia’s lips, but she was aware, all the time, of how temporary this was. When she wanted to savour every moment of their marriage, instead it was rushing towards its conclusion, seconds passing in a blur, days flicking by, so that she knew there was barely any time left.
She fell into step beside the receptionist, and, at the door to Luca’s office, dredged up something like a smile. ‘Thank you.’
‘Would you like anything to drink? Tea? Coffee? Wine?’
Olivia suppressed a smile at the Italian indulgence for a lunchtime aperitivo. ‘A mineral water would be lovely, thank you. It’s warm out there today.’
‘Indeed. Summers in Rome are unbearably humid.’
Olivia thought of the dark, dank hall at Hughenwood House, contrasting it to the sun-filled streets she’d traversed on the walk to Luca’s office. ‘I think it’s lovely,’ she murmured as the assistant left the room.
When she was alone, curiosity got the better of her, and she wandered towards his desk first, admiring the spotless work environment. No clutter, no personal effects, no photographs, just a laptop, and a Manilla folder with the word ‘Singapore’ on the side. She ran a finger over the top then eyed the boardroom table. Several more folders sat here. She moved to them out of idle curiosity and pulled up short when she saw her name on the side of one.
THORNTON-ROSE
Another folder, beside it.
HUGHENWOOD HOUSE
And another.
PORTFOLIO
Heart thumping, she was torn. It was abundantly obvious that these folders pertained to her, and her business, and yet she felt like a snoop to open them and look inside. Torn, she prevaricated and a moment later the door opened. She looked up, expecting to see his assistant, only to be met by the appearance of Luca, striding in with sheer, obvious impatience, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, his hair tousled as though he’d been driving his fingers through it all morning.
He stopped short when their eyes met, a grim line on his lips before he changed direction and closed the distance. The door opened once more, and the receptionist followed with a tray—two coffees, a bottle of mineral water, and a plate of biscotti.
‘Thank you,’ Luca dismissed, without looking in his assistant’s direction.
Once they were alone again, he lifted a coffee cup and extended it to Olivia. Their fingers brushed and sparks shot through her, sparks she might have imagined would have faded by now, but which had, instead, intensified, overtaking her completely. She took the coffee on autopilot, staring at the golden liquid a moment. She hadn’t wanted a coffee, but now that it was in her hands, she took a sip, relishing the strong, bitter flavour.
‘You left a message for me to meet you here,’ Olivia reminded him, wondering at the strange sense of hesitation—an emotion she hadn’t felt a moment ago. But seeing the folders had unsettled her—it was as if her old life was slipping into the room with them, reminding her forcibly of why they’d married. It was a reminder she resented.
‘Yes.’ He looked awkward. Her heart went into overdrive. Was she here to discuss their marriage? They still had a little over a week left. Surely they didn’t have to talk about the end just yet? She knew she was living in a fantasy land but Olivia wasn’t ready to face the practicalities of leaving him—yet. When the time came, she would. She’d be strong, just as she had been at every other time in her life where strength was required, but for the moment she wanted to blot out the path ahead. Unless...what if he wanted to change the terms of their agreement? What if he wanted to extend things? Hope was an unstoppable force, exploding in her chest. She dug her fingernails into her palms, waiting, wishing, wondering...
‘I’d like to discuss your finances,’ he said with quiet control. ‘Or rather, their ongoing management.’
Olivia could have been knocked over with a feather. ‘Oh.’ Was that all?
‘I’m sorry to say, yet not surprised, I admit, that the lawyers handling your father’s estate are as misogynistic as he evidently was. I was contacted earlier in the week and advised that I could collect this information on your behalf, now that we are legally married.’