‘I’d rather show you,’ he replied mysteriously, continuing to lead her along. The pair walked along the streets beneath the olive trees, meandering off the main drag until a cliffside hotel just above Spiaggia Grande, the main beach, came into view.
Annie didn’t catch the name of it, not that she had much of a chance to, as Harry started to lead her down some steps cut into the side of the rock towards the beach.
She could hear the water lapping against the shore as they got closer to the sand.
‘Take off your shoes,’ he urged, as he began to slide his feet out of his own. He hooked them over his fingers and offered her the other hand for stability as Annie removed her heels.
Once off, she hooked the straps over her own fingers as they walked onto the sand. Thankfully, unlike Fornillo, the beach was less rocky underfoot and the damp grains immediately worked their way between her toes.
The cool water caressed their feet as they walked hand in hand along the shoreline. The usually packed beach was silent with no one around, only the faint noises from the hotels and restaurants up above.
Annie smiled headily. Now that she’d hit the air, the wine was very definitely affecting her.
He stopped then and turned to face her, pulling her into his arms. ‘Do you know how long I’ve waited to get you alone?’
Annie laughed lustfully. ‘And why’d you want to get me alone?’
He brushed an errant strand of hair from her face. ‘Why wouldn’t I want to have the most gorgeous woman in Italy all to myself?’
She had to laugh. ‘In all of Italy, huh?’
His hand slid around her waist and then up behind her neck as he pulled her closer, moulding her to his body. ‘More than just Italy, even,’ he whispered before his lips met hers.
The water cooled her feet as the rest of Annie’s body automatically started to ignite.
Annie. Control yourself.
She could hear the words in her head but they didn’t seem to be getting any further than that as she kissed him back.
She didn’t want to take control. She knew it was crazy, but she was really falling for this guy. No, she’d already fallen. Hard.
‘OK,’ she said breathlessly when their lips finally parted. She leaned her forehead against his chest. ‘This is … intense.’
‘What d’you mean?’ he asked, kissing her neck again.
‘This is just a holiday thing, yeah?’ she said, between kisses.
‘Don’t worry about that now,’ he replied and Annie groaned as he kissed her neck again. ‘Right now you’re here with me and that is the only place my mind is. I really wish you’d just be here with me.’
Her eyes drifted back up to his face. ‘I don’t want to be anywhere else,’ she said, desire overwhelming her.
‘So don’t talk about it. You’re here with me now and that’s all I want. Right this moment. Don’t you?’
Annie shivered at the intensity of his gaze and the power in his words.
‘Yes,’ she breathed before his lips silenced her. The passion in his kiss muddled her brain and sent all thoughts of caution scampering as her shoes dropped from her hand into the sand.
‘Come with me,’ he asked as they parted. He was as breathless as she was and the passion in his eyes was savage. He led them back along the beach towards the pier and Annie followed, her eyes wide, wondering if he was actually planning on an al fresco shag.
‘Hang on a second. Where are you going? We can’t … Not here.’
‘Not the pier,’ Harry answered with a grin. ‘To the hotel … My room.’
Nice one …
Her limbs trembled with desire as they climbed back up the stone steps and hurried to the hotel.
In the lift, he wrapped himself around her, kissing her with such intensity that she felt like hitting the emergency stop button and going at it there and then.
