His body was taut with need. It was their wedding night, but he would have to be a monster to try to seduce her into making love in her condition. No matter how much he knew she thought she wanted the same thing.
Stifling his baser urges, he reached down and released the catch on her seatbelt.
Her scent wafted to him, triggering an atavistic response he had no control over. However, while he might not be able to stop himself getting a hardon, he had absolute control over whether he acted on it.
Ignoring his body's need, he cupped her shoulder and shook gently. "Wake up,bèdda mia. We are here."
Her eyes fluttered open, their emerald depths warming in recognition. "Carlo."
That was all she said, like his name was a sentence all on its own. It went through him like a lightning bolt, this unfiltered reaction from her.
Giving into one urge, he leant down and swept her up against his chest.
"You're going to carry me over the threshold," she said with sleepy approval.
He was doing just that, so did not think she needed verbal agreement. In fact, he carried her up the stairs to the bedroom he had designated as theirs. It was decorated in the colors she preferred with warm, traditional wood furniture.
He helped her undress and get into the king-sized bed, but Annette did not lay down. She looked ready to fall asleep sitting up.
"Why don't you lie down?" he asked her as he kicked off his shoes.
"I'm waiting."
He shrugged out of his suitcoat and hung it on the wooden rack that had been installed for that purpose. "For what?"
"You," she said like that should have been obvious.
Carlo finished stripping out of his clothes with efficient movements, adding to the pile of hers on the floor. Domestic staff would see to the clothing the next day. Though he did hang the trousers from his bespoke suit over the rail below his jacket.
He climbed into the bed and Annette immediately scooted toward the center. Pulling her into his arms, he settled them against the pillows.
"We aren't going to make love?" she asked in a voice laced with exhaustion.
The obstetrician had warned Annette might need more than her usual amount of sleep. It appeared that possibility had finally caught up with them.
"In the morning."
"Promise?" she asked, snuggling into him like she liked to do.
"Sì."
"Good." She patted his chest and relaxed fully, her breathing going even in sleep only minutes later.
With the feel of his wife's delectable body wrapped snugly against his own, it took Carlo considerably longer to find slumber.
Annette woke feeling fully refreshed and alert. She was feeling something else, too. Desire.
Carlo's arms were tight around her, his big body pressed against hers. She felt protected and cared for, whatever their reason for getting married.
He'd brought her to bed, but he hadn't pushed making love. Annette had been almost completely out of it the night before, she'd been so tired, but she had felt the hardness of his erection against her.
He'd been turned on, but he hadn't tried to seduce her into staying awake to make love.
Nevertheless, she did not think it would bother him if she wokehimfor that purpose.
Annette carefully extracted herself from Carlo's arms and went to use the bathroom. When she returned, she found her husband's steel grey eyes open.
Oh, she did like the sound of that.Her husband. She could revel as much as she liked in the privacy of her own heart and mind, too. Though she thought Carlo might be the one person who understood and would not judge her somewhat primitive urges where he was concerned.