“Are you surprised?”
She caught the soft curve of her lower lip between her teeth momentarily. I kissed the pinched flesh.
“You are an exceptional kisser.” Her breathy voice was music to my ears.
“I must have removed that stick up my ass.”
She reared back. “Oh. I’m sorry I said that.”
“Forgiven. Come back. I want to kiss you again.”
“You do?” That curious spot between her brows tightened.
“Very much.”
The hesitation and the movement as she swallowed warned me she didn’t trust me enough.
“I won’t bite.”
“Now I know you’re lying.”
“I thought you didn’t understand.”
Her expression turned mischievous. “Cats bite. Dogs bite. A lot of animals bite. And when I learned Latin I learned that word. Unless it means something else?”
I smiled, trying to keep my secrets from her. “Do you understand this?” I kissed her deeply.
She gasped, and I pulled her close. In the breaths between kisses, I traced her skin, then her body. The soft fabric of her clothing didn’t hide the lovely curves and shape of my bride.
In turn, she unbuttoned my shirt, revealing my skin and giving her access to scrape her fingers across my chest. The light scratch of her nails urged me to tear her clothing off and make love to her with a fury that boiled in my soul.
Yet, I kept to my promise not to strain myself. Slowly, I unbuttoned her shirt until she matched me, save for the exquisite lingerie she wore underneath. I traced the embroidery on the fabric that cupped her breasts. “My compliments to the stylist.”
Allie’s skin flushed pink. “This isn’t… I mean, my sister packed these. I don’t normally wear anything this fancy.”
Fancy or not, I should remove it. Perhaps toss it somewhere it would get “lost.” Then I would be forced to spoil her rotten and buy my wife custom lingerie. I slipped my hand under her open shirt to find the closure.
A knock on the door interrupted us. Loppa peeked in. His face was a ruddy color as he tried not to look at Allie scrambling to right her clothes.
“Forgive me, Don Valentini, Signora Valentini.” Loppa’s head dipped. “Don Manca has arrived.”
10
Allie
Matrimonio all’improvviso, o inferno o paradiso. — A sudden marriage [is] either heaven or hell.
At first glance, Mario’s grandfather appeared harmless enough. Of course, my own grandfather was the same way. Slightly stooped, deep wrinkles around the corners of his eyes and fainter worry lines grooving his forehead. Don Manca’s face spoke of a long life. Although, his was much more weathered and less urbane than Mario’s father’s.
This was the man who’d taught Mario about his rural life, and I wanted to sit under a shaded tree with him and talk of nothing but bread and lambs for days.
But I didn’t miss the way he froze when Mario and I emerged downstairs. His sharp gaze took in our closeness, the subtle way I curved my arm under his to provide support, and the silence where there were loud voices only moments before.
Don Valentini was less guarded about his open disgust. Of course, it was tinted with a bit of… smugness? He reveled in the awkwardness.
“Nipotino.” The warmth in Don Manca’s address was evident. I glanced at Mario to see his reaction. A genuine smile spread across his face and he shook off my arm to hug his grandfather.
“Buonasera, Nonno. Che piacere vederti!”
