She had been putting off leaving for the past two hours and now struggled to summon the energy to get up and start making her way home.

“Stay,” Christian murmured.

“I have to go,” she replied, not looking forward to it one bit. It wasn’t only the torture of leaving Christian; it was the thought of returning home. And home for now was still with her pious, overbearing and controlling mother. Serafina Morosini would have a mood on, as she often did whenever Gina returned home after a weekend at Christian’s place.

“I’ve stayed for as long as I can.”

“I mean, stay.” His voice lowered to a seductive whisper. “Stay another night.” His lips hovered around her ear, and his breath, hot and sweet, sent goosebumps down her back. If she wasn’t careful, if she didn’t get up and leave now, he would make it impossible for her to leave at all.

“Seriously, why do you even have to think about it?” He shifted onto his side and stared at her.

“You know why.”

Her mother and Christian hadn’t taken to one another, and it would have made her life easier if they had. The idea of calling her mother and telling her that she was staying at Christian’s for another night was her best motivator for making a move.

“My mother’s expecting me back.”

“You’re old enough now. You don’t have to do what she expects.” His hand moved slowly along her waist, and hip.

“I know, but I told her I’d be back. Maybe next time…”

“Why not today? It’s about time you got your mother used to you changing your mind.” His hand settled on her breast, and his lips fell upon her neck. “Imagine what we could do now if you didn’t have to go.” He ran his fingers lazily through her hair, unaware of his magical ability to read her mind. It was peaceful, soothing and so natural being with him. If only this were home, or an apartment close by. She couldn’t remember when it had first happened, when she had started coming over to his place after work on a Friday evening, and then returning home on Sunday.

“You know I don’t want to leave, but I have to.”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

“Easy for you to say.” Giving in was easy, it was her mother’s miserable face at the other end that she had to contend with. “I could go to work from here.”

“It doesn’t take long. I can tell you’re already worried about your mother, but I promise to take real good care of you.” His hand snaked along her waist, tempting, and teasing.

It would be so easy to give in.

Things had moved fast between them once they had committed, once she had realized that she no longer had to run away from things, that what she had was worth keeping. She’d gone back on her resignation, choosing to remain at the hotel she loved to work at and she had been lucky that Nico was the kind of boss he was and that the company was still a private one so that he could do as he pleased. He had been overjoyed when she had told him of her decision not to leave, and he had been more than happy for her to step right back in and to put that whole sorry episode behind them.

Everyone had been happy, except for Demetrio. He had turned in his notice to resign and would be leaving soon.

“Come on, Gina.” His thumb moved over her lower lip. “Another night, you and me.”

Just one look from him was enough to stoke the embers of a fire that was starting low and deep down in her body. She had been prudish and restrained in showing her affections and feelings, but Christian had awakened in her a slow burning fire, fanning the flames to heights she had never before reached. He was the best lover she had ever had, a feat that wasn’t so difficult to attain, given that she could count her lovers on one hand.

Now she found herself in unfamiliar territory, falling for him, not just emotionally, but in a physical way, craving his touch, yearning for the feel of his skin, the taste of his lips, the emotions he elicited in her, for the way he made her feel.

He dropped a long, wet, inviting kiss on her lips, the kind of kiss that made her toes curl, made her belly quiver and sent a spray of sparks shooting straight to her core. She had to take a moment and remember to breathe when he pulled away.

As the tendrils of heat snaked around inside her, reminding her of what lay ahead, her closed eyes suddenly flew wide open, jarring her relaxed state of mind. Nico was away. He and his wife Ava had left a few days ago for Venice in order to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

Had it really been a year since their wedding? She had met Davide that night; her high-school boyfriend. He had appeared from nowhere at the wedding reception, and had disappeared just as easily months later.

Nico had left her in charge, and she needed to be at the Casa Adriana early tomorrow. She couldn’t stay. It was time to make a move and do it now, before Christian seduced her completely. “You can get the early train and you’ll get to work on time,” he said, with that uncanny ability to read her mind.

She sat up, twisting her body and moving away, planting her feet firmly on the floor. Blood raced around her heated body and every cell inside her screamed in outrage at the sudden halt in proceedings.

“What are you doing?”

“I didn’t bring my work clothes,” she said, thinking things through in her mind.

“I’ve always told you to leave some of your clothes here.” Her breath hitched as he placed his hand along her back and kept it there. “But then again, I’ve told you to move in with me.”

She didn’t say anything.

“The dark slacks and shirt will look fine,” he said. “Nico’s hardly going to sack you just because you turn up in casual clothes. You’re too precious to him.”

She turned around slowly, staring at his face, surprised by his words. Was that a hint of jealousy she detected in his voice? “I don’t dress for him,” she said, pointedly. “I dress for me. I like to look smart for work.”

“And for me?”

“I like to look sexy for you.” Her reply raised a smile on his face.

“I noticed.”

She turned around and was about to get up when he cupped her breasts from behind, pulling her back towards him. Damn it. That man and his overtly sexy moves.

“The 7.30am train will get you to work by 8.” His lips were soft against her neck. “I’ll make sure you’re up. We can leave together.”

It wasn’t the ‘getting up’ she was worried about, it was the ‘not getting enough sleep tonight’.

Her insides fizzed and tingled, and soon enough, if she let him continue, he would have her ready to explode, like a bottle of champagne that had just been uncorked. His touch could change the course of her evening, and her well-laid plans would fly out of the window. But then again …  She could make it to work in time. “I could stay over.”

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