And now? She wouldn’t be his wife much longer, which was a relief. Yet he was learning she wasn’t as he’d imagined her. Not totally at any rate.
He’d jumped to at least one wrong conclusion about Ida. Was it possible there were others?
The idea disturbed him.
Carefully he withdrew from her, settling her on her side and getting to his feet.
For a full minute he stood, watching her. Her eyes were closed and her mouth slightly open as she slept.
She looked delicate, arousing another burst of protectiveness. She also looked exhausted. Not surprising since it seemed she’d never done this before.
Cesare spied a red mark on her breast and another at her throat and lifted his hand to his jaw, finding it ready for a shave. He felt a spiralling drop in his belly. Guilt that he’d grazed her sensitive skin.
He didnotexperience a secret burst of delight and possessiveness at the idea he was her first lover. Or that she carried the mark of his body on hers.
That would be beneath him. It would be uncivilised.
But hadn’t Ida always tapped into a vein of something in him that wasn’t sophisticated or enlightened? Right from the beginning he’d responded to her with unvarnished emotions that threatened to cloud his judgement.
The fact she’d takenhimas her first lover stunned, perplexed and delighted him.
Cesare spun away and headed for the bathroom.
When Ida had appeared on the balcony all he’d been able to think about was how much he wanted her.
He’d been wrong to think one brief taste would be enough to satisfy a craving that had built for so long. Especially now.
Even satiated he wanted her.
He had more questions than ever. And he was determined to get answers.
CHAPTER TEN
‘IKNOWYOU’REAWAKE,IDA.’
Ida sighed and burrowed into the pillow. Couldn’t he leave her be? He’d got up then stood watching her, and she’d felt vulnerable, trying to make sense of the maelstrom of emotions churning through her.
She didn’t feel any more ready to face him now.
Instead of lying here she should have got up immediately and gone to her room. She needed to process every incredible moment they’d shared.
She’d love to think she’d chosen not to leave because she wasn’t a coward.
In fact, she hadn’t been sure her legs would support her. Her bones felt like jelly and whole swathes of her body seemed to have turned to mush.
Or maybe that was her brain. Because she’d been thinking ridiculous things about Cesare, as if that shocking combination of tenderness and firmly leashed male power as they made love meant something important and personal.
Annoyance at herself and at him for being so contrary and confounding made her frown. She opened her eyes to see him standing, hands on hips, surveying her across the bed.
Hair tousled, jaw darkening, body...well, frankly superb. He was devastating.
So much for assuming sex would cure her attraction.
A warm weight stirred inside. A sensation she should not be feeling after—could it really be three orgasms?
Heat scored her cheeks and she scrambled up to find the top sheet and drag it over her.
At least her arms worked. She still wasn’t sure about her legs.