"Okay?"
"More than okay," she whispered.
"I love the feel of you, your skin is so soft." Cade's mouth moved to her exposed breast and sensation arrowed through her as he enclosed her nipple in his mouth.
It was difficult to breathe as he slipped her panties off and kissed the soft curve of her stomach. His hair tickled. She arched upward, wanting him closer, wanting the weight of his body on top of hers.
"Come up here," she demanded huskily.
Cade reached into his pants' pocket and pulled out a small foil packet, which he placed on the pillow next to her head.
"I've got too many clothes on." A lazy smile played over his lips.
"Let me help," Melo murmured, reaching for his zipper and easing it slowly down. Her fingers feathered over his flat stomach, feeling them quiver as they slipped lower, under the waist of his briefs.
"You're tormenting me," he whispered as her hand closed around his silken length.
"Torment me back then." Melo smiled.
Cade slipped his pants and briefs off, then lightning fast, pulled her close and tumbled on top of her. "Oh, I will."
Melo's laugh died in her throat as his mouth slanted over hers. His erection pushed against her thigh, and suddenly all thoughts of playing were over. She wanted him, needed him with a fierce urgency that couldn't be denied a moment longer.
Cade quickly sheathed himself, then with one strong thrust entered her.
"Tormented yet?" he murmured against her lips.
Melo's hands stroked over his back. He was still. And her body was in heaven. His eyes flickered open, a look of such tenderness in them that love swelled in her heart to overflowing. How could she live without him, when this was all over? She couldn't pretend it was a brief liaison, not when he held her heart in his hand without even trying.
"Totally tormented," she whispered. Her inner muscles clenched around him as he started to move.
The feel of his hipbones fused to hers; the current passing between all points where they were joined brought her higher and higher, as though inching up to the top of a roller coaster, then, when the tension was almost unbearable, they crested the summit together, and started into freefall.
Afterward, he held her closely against his chest. She breathed in his scent, rubbed her cheek against the light dusting of dark hair, and wished this night would never, ever end. His arm tightened around her.
"You're never running out on me again." Cade's voice reverberated under her cheek. Melo felt her mouth curve into a smile.
Her arm tightened around him as he brought the duvet up and tucked it tenderly around her back. Last time, she'd had no option but to leave him the morning after their lovemaking. Here, far away from Isola dei Fiori, and her family, they could be together without the interference of other people. Surrender to this frantic passion between them. For better or for worse. For a week anyway.
****
Melo had a smear of raspberry jam on her top lip. Try as he might, Cade couldn't stop looking at it, imagining licking it off, but in the crowded dining room that would definitely be a step too far so instead he handed her his napkin. "You have some jam … " he said, looking away as she took care of it.
If it had been up to him, they'd have missed breakfast. Spent all day in bed. After making love with her all night, and again this morning, he still couldn't get enough of being with her, losing himself again and again in her warmth. But before long people would come looking for them, and so he'd reluctantly let her get dressed for breakfast.
In jeans and an emerald green shirt, she wasn't dressed to entice, but still he couldn't keep his eyes off her. This obsession was a disturbing development. One that shook him to his core. Last night he'd felt closer to her than he ever had with anyone, he still did.
He picked up his coffee cup and drained it.
"You're very quiet this morning," Melo said, with a wide, open smile that lit her up from the inside. "What are you thinking about?"
"X-rated," he replied tersely.
Melo laughed, pure joy drawing him in, as he felt his mouth curve in an answering grin. "I love it," she confessed, reaching across the table to clasp his hand in hers. "You sounded so grumpy about it."
"I am grumpy about it." Cade brought her knuckles to his mouth and dusted his lips across them. "I thought I'd be past x-rated after last night."
Her face colored with a faint flush. "So, what's on the agenda for today?" She pulled her hand away, and played with the napkin.
Okay, so she wanted to inject a level of normalcy-which was good, considering the fact his body was already reacting to their flirtation.
"We're going out to watch black bears," he said.
Across the room, Margie waved a greeting. Cade returned it, hoping she wouldn't come over and disturb them. "We'll have a guide with us, so that should keep me in line."
"Pity," Melo answered quickly, then swallowed her coffee. "Although I'd love to see the woods. And later, will you be showing me around the hotel?" Her eyelashes dipped covering her eyes.
"No, we're moving out."
Her gaze flashed to his with a bolt of blue. "Moving out? But we just got here!"
Cade nodded, leaned closer. "This place is too busy." He smiled at Margie as she passed him on the way out of the restaurant. "I thought we could move in to one of the cabins in the woods. Spend time alone together."
He didn't want to think about work. Didn't want to consider how things would change between them when he bought the beach, and destroyed her dream of building a house there. He was saving her family from ruin. Something he'd had to do with his own after his father's death, but rather than thank him, she'd resent him. The feeling might even grow into hatred. And there was damn little he could do about it. She'd gambled by recommending her family invest in Mezzuti, and now she held the only means of putting things right. Sooner or later she'd see, and realize she had a responsibility to her family, even if it meant giving up something that meant a lot to her. When they got to the cabin, he'd talk her through it, be the sympathetic ear she'd been when they were teenagers. The one she could confess to. Together, they could work it out.
"I thought you liked hotels," Melo teased.
"I did," Cade confessed. "Until you came into the picture. Now, for the first time, I can see the advantages of being totally alone with someone."
Melo leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms over her chest, and tilted her head to the side. She pouted. "So, does this mean I'm going to be cooking?"
Cade shook his head. "No, you're on holiday. I thought I'd be in charge of the culinary delights for the next few days." Last night while she slept he'd rung down to reception and organized everything, including the delivery of basic supplies. Hopefully she liked beans and barbeque.
"Wow. You cook too? I'm impressed." Melo glanced around the restaurant. "When do we leave?"
Chapter Thirteen
Sooner or later they would have to talk about it. But let it be later. After a fantastic day trekking, they'd come across a family of bears playing in the woods. The dark shadows cast by the huge trees added to the feeling of unreality as Melo clutched Cade's hand, holding her breath at the wonderful sight.
Everything was so different here. And for the next few days they would be totally alone. The thought sent shivers of anticipation through her as the guide left them at the remote cabin. A large black jeep was parked out front, so they could return to the hotel whenever they wanted. They were alone, with no distractions, except each other. With all nature as their playground.
Melo stretched her legs out on the sofa and covered them with the knitted throw in dark jewel colors from the sofa's back. The fire Cade made flickered in the fireplace, filling the tiny room with warmth and light. The interior of the cabin was unlike anything she'd ever seen, thick logs stacked on top of one another formed the walls. The floor echoed the wooden theme with heavy honeyed planks covered in native Indian throws.
She'd thought herself in love with him once. In love with a confused, troubled boy. And maybe the girl she'd been had loved him. But she was different now. And so was he. The schoolgirl infatuation which had been part of her for so many years was gone, replaced with something much more dangerous.
The door creaked. "Are you ready for dinner?"
"Yeah." Melo stood and walked outside. He'd been battling with the barbeque for an hour while she made a selection of salads and placed them on a mosaic-topped table on the deck. Her heart clenched at the sight that met her eyes.