And that was what happened. With a gasp of pleasure she felt him plunge into her, her muscles clenching round him, intense pleasure shooting though her. Gripping on to her hips, his strong hands held her steady for a second, but she was desperate to feel him even more deeply and, leaning back, she ground her hips into his and started to move.
Matching her bucking thrusts with his own, he increased the pace all the time, along with the total ecstasy, until she was totally lost in it, only dimly aware of Rafael’s hoarsely whispered words.
‘Not yet, cara, keep it going...you can do this...a bit more, a bit more, a bit...’
Finally the words stopped as she fell down on top of him and felt the violent orgasm rack through his body, taking her with it in an amazing, overwhelming crescendo.
CHAPTER TEN
WHEN LOTTIE WOKE the next morning she was in Rafael’s bed with Rafael beside her, propped on one elbow, looking down at her with those beautiful brown eyes.
‘Buongiorno.’
‘Good morning.’ She snuggled towards him, tipping her profile up, the little violet earring digging into the skin behind her ear.
Sweeping a twisted strand of fair hair away from her eyes, Rafael bent to place a light, almost polite kiss on her lips. ‘Did you sleep well’?
‘Mmm...very well, thank you.’
Raising her arms, she pulled him back down under the covers, curling her naked body against his. Spending the night in the same bed as him had felt so right. Especially after what they had done together last night.
‘How are you feeling this morning?’ Despite the innocent question she could feel the temptation in him.
‘Pregnant.’ The word was muffled against the warm skin of his neck. She felt him nudge against her, trying to move her position so that he could see her face, but she resisted, smiling to herself in her dark, sensuous, happy place.
‘Really?’ He adjusted his position so that his chin was now resting on the top of her head. ‘Do you actually feel any different?’
Different? The word was too bland to describe the total change of Lottie’s state of mind. After the tension of being imprisoned in the villa with Rafael, the hurt and anger of the past few days, the terrible gripping anxiety of the pregnancy test, she now felt free, relaxed, euphoric—as if suddenly everything was going to be all right. The massive weight she had been carrying around, even if she had largely refused to acknowledge it, had been lifted, and now she could float with happiness. And judging by the feel of Rafael beside her now, the completely different mood they shared this morning, it was exactly the same for him
‘No, not different in that way.’ She tipped her head up to answer his question. ‘I meant pregnant as in that was my first thought when I woke up.’ She smiled at him. ‘The realisation that it really is true.’
Rafael stared down at her, his deep brown eyes glowing softly. ‘I know. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Sorprendente. But we do have nine months to get used to the idea.’
‘Yes.’ Lottie returned his gaze, her own eyes dancing indigo blue. ‘Aren’t we lucky?’
‘Yes. We are.’ His hand slid under the covers and found her flat tummy, running over it in a gentle smoothing motion. She knew he was thinking about the baby, but her thoughts were turning in a very different direction.
‘I guess we should get up.’
‘You’re right.’
His hand slid lower, and lower still, until it found the place she’d so much hoped it would. Maybe he wasn’t thinking about the baby after all.
‘Do we really have to go back to the palazzo?’ She arched her back, brushing her breasts against him. ‘Can’t we just stay here for ever?’
‘Nice try.’ He reciprocated by moving his finger lightly against her. ‘But I have a stack of business to attend to. Not to mention a charity dinner to oversee.’ His voice was becoming increasingly guttural.
‘Hmm, we’d better get going, then.’ Taking her own hand down under the cover now, she watched as his eyes widened.
‘I couldn’t agree more, Contessa Revaldi.’
Holding her shoulders, Rafael slid underneath her, transferring his hands to her hips so that he positioned her perfectly on top of him.
‘But first there is a little business here that I need to attend to.’
‘I see what you mean.’ Lottie squirmed on top of him. ‘And not all that little...’
* * *
The helicopter ride back to Palazzo Monterrato seemed to take no time at all—which was just as well, given that their morning in bed had somehow turned to afternoon and dusk was already falling when Rafael expertly landed the noisy machine on the helipad.