Taking Lucia into his arms, he drew her in, bringing her as close to him as possible. His left hand cradled the back of her head as his right circled her lower back, pulling her tighter still.
It was everything and more. It had the magnetic pull of their first kiss, butthiskiss was closer, more intimate, loaded with a new kind of effervescent energy. There was a tantalising familiarity in his taste and smell.
Lucia liquefied in his embrace, surrendering herself totally to the moment, to the pleasure.
After a few moments, they both pulled gently apart, and Lucia took a short step back.
Her companion dropped his hood back to his shoulders, revealing a glossy mop of auburn hood-tousled waves. Then, finding the ties at the back of his head, he pulled on them, and the mask dropped into his hands.
Alex smiled back at her.
The most incredible relief flooded Lucia’s system. The adrenaline spike drew the blood from her head to her feet, causing her to drop to her knees.
Alex met her on the pavers and caught her chin with his hand. Caressing her cheek with his thumb, he whispered, ‘Are you ok?’
The light from the basilica behind her reflected in Alex’s concerned cinnamon eyes, and she couldn’t help but smile back. ‘I couldn’t be happier that it’s you.’
A tangled mess of hands, lips and legs, Lucia and Alex practically burst through the service entry door of La Commedia. They prised the clothing off each other, leaving a trail of items from the door to his upstairs apartment. Alex scooped Lucia into his arms and brought her to his bed, setting her down on the edge.
Tugging at his trousers, Alex watched as Lucia pulled off her shirt. Then, he was on top of her. Insatiable. He started by holding her face steady as his hands ran through the sleek lengths of her dark hair. It tickled his chest and shoulders, and the way she bit down on her lower lip stirred something very powerful in his resolve.
She wants this too.
Lucia answered every touch and caress with a matched breath. Equal passion.
Their months of to-ing and fro-ing, their challenges, their peace-making, it all fuelled their play. Every touch – every sensation – seemed heightened.
Her skin, all of it, right down the length of her, resonated the most intoxicating heat, so that Alex felt he couldn’t hold her close enough.
Lucia arched her spine as a ripple of electricity shot from between her legs to her middle. Hearing Lucia’s encouraging moans in response to his touch only intensified Alex’s desire for her. Hewantedher to enjoy everything he did. He wanted to be the reason she buckled and writhed in ecstasy.
Alex dropped his mouth to the lace trim of her bra and teased his lips along her warm alabaster skin. Lucia’s breath hitched, and Alex smiled. Her chest heaved with each breath, and he replied by dropping kisses along the quivering fullness of her right breast. But he wanted more. Pulling the cup down to release her nipple he teased it with a gentle caress of his moist tongue.
Lucia almost lost control, and the way her hands fumbled down his abdomen, teasing his length through his underwear, told Alex she was ready for more.
But something suddenly held him back.
He pulled away, and his flushed face drained of its passion. ‘Lucia, I need to tell you something.’
Lucia would have none of the pause. She grunted and pulled at his shoulders, attempting to bring him back to her. ‘What could possibly be so important right now?’ she panted, propping herself on her bended elbows, swatting a few strands of her long dark hair from her face.
‘It’s just . . .’
‘Does it have to do with us having sex?’ Her chest continued to heave.
His brow furrowed. ‘No, it doesn’t. But—’
‘Then tell me in the morning.’
Watching her stretch back on his bed and slide her underwear down her thighs, he conceded, leaving his own on the floor.
With Lucia’s legs now wrapped around his middle, he made the conscious decision to slow the pace. Leaning over Lucia, the tip of his nose found hers, and he stared deep into her eyes.Those lagoon-green eyes. He was taken aback by how serene she looked. As if she had surrendered herself completely to the moment. To him.
All that remained was Lucia – relieved, content, yet also vulnerable. And so beautiful.
He dipped his head to find her mouth once more.
Lucia instinctively pushed through his restraint, but he coaxed her back to his new rhythm. ‘What’s the hurry?’ he asked, pressing his forehead against hers.
