Lise’s mouth went dry with a lust so pure and powerful it cut like a hot knife of need.
“Vene.” He leaned down and before she could grasp his intention, warm hands had grabbed hers and lifted her off the chair and onto her feet as if she weighed no more than an ounce.
Which she knew was far from the truth.
The thought made her grumpy. “What are you doing?”
He ignored her bad temper. He’d taken his sunny disposition from Paris and added a layer of saintly patience. It turned him into a man so passive and pleasant she’d occasionally thought his personality must have been transplanted while he waited for her in the hospital.
“You are looking hot, mia dolce.” His tone was mild and calm in contrast to her biting one. He swept her straw hat and sunglasses off, plopping them on the chair behind her.
I am hot! For you! Why don’t you feel the same anymore?
Lise glared at him, with frustration. “I don’t want to get wet.”
He paid no heed to her objection. His grin held firm, along with his voice. “It’s time for you to get in the pool.”
Holding her hand as if she were a child, he tugged. His lips were sensuous, his teeth gleamed. His eyes twinkled. He was not to be denied.
“Oh, all right.”
Vico chuckled at her reluctant agreement as he led her into the shallow side of the pool.
She slipped down under the water, letting the cool cover her face and hair. Underwater, his body was even more impressive, the shadows of the sunlight riding the waves surrounding him, making his skin and muscles gleam and glow.
Popping her head out of the water for a breath, she found him staring down at her, hands on his narrow hips, water lapping at his waist.
“See?” He gave her gentle smile. “Isn’t that better?”
He was humoring her, damn him. Exactly as he’d humored her throughout the past three weeks.
Standing, the water lapping at her waist—her fat waist—Lise looked at him with impatience. She didn’t want to be treated like a child anymore. She wanted to be treated like a woman.
But if he insisted on treating her like a child, then that’s what he'd get.
Her arm arched out and scooped the water into a splash that was satisfyingly large. The water slapped his face, flung his hair back, covered his shoulders and arms.
“Ho!” His mouth dropped open in astonishment. Still, his reaction wasn’t quite enough.
The push was even better than the splash. He hadn’t seen it coming; he was even now trying to clear the water out of his eyes. His big body fell back, and she watched with satisfaction as he slid beneath the waves, hands flailing.
A whoop sounded from his brother. Then another from his aunt. The children crowed and jumped by the side of the pool and in it.
“Way to go!”
“Do it again! Do it again!”
“He deserved it!”
Yes, she thought, he did. Grinning, she looked around and gave a slight bow of acknowledgment. The crowd’s laughter and noise escalated.
Vico surged to his feet, the water splashing her sides and alerting her to the danger. Glancing at his face, she squeaked and turned, moving towards the side of the pool.
But she was too clumsy and slow and he was too determined and strong.
Muscled arms encircled her waist, lifting her off her feet from behind. His family laughed at her dilemma just as they’d laughed at his defeat.
Traitors.
His warm breath tickled the side of her cheek as he held her in his grasp. “I have you now, wife,” he growled in mock outrage.
All her crabby thoughts and irritable emotions were swept away by this golden moment. The sun was hot on her hair, the water was cool on her legs. His family, her family, laughed and joked around them. Her husband’s hands and arms held her gently in front of him. The heat of his body behind her comforted, while stoking her need at the same time. Right at this moment, she was suddenly gloriously happy. A giggle escaped her.
“What is this?” His voice came low and threatening, yet a hint of tease laced through the words. “You are daring to giggle at me?”
Lise threw her head back and laughed. A big belly laugh that filled her body and heart with a joy so intense, she knew she’d always remember this moment. The moment she was truly herself. The moment she felt fully accepted. The moment she was made for.
She glanced sideways to meet her husband’s gaze. His eyes were dark with…
Lust. With lust. Golden highlights sparked, green streaks blazed. His hips bumped the back of her and she felt him, felt the confirmation of his need.
Joy exploded into elation. She’d been wrong.
He still wanted her.
Her laughter faded as she clung to his gaze.
What was it in his eyes? Something more than lust surely? Or was she dreaming?