Proof of Their Sin(53)
Nevertheless, Gabrielle Reid had registered her disapproval. Lauren could sense it in the way Paolo took on a look of suppressed umbrage.
“Yes, well, marrying was the right thing to do,” Lauren said into the middle of his chest, both relieved and dreading her next call home. She quickly asked, “And Elenore?”
She braced herself, too often the target of judgment from Ryan’s mother to take her reaction lightly.
“Chris made a declaration on your behalf.” A muscle pulsed in Paolo’s jaw. “He wasn’t happy, but it’s done. Everyone liable to be affected is aware that we’ve married. This photographer works for a friend.” He nodded to the camera below. “They’ll leak the news with the least amount of sensationalism. No more secrets, no more impediments.”
A rush of power and excitement surged in him as he absorbed their freedom to finally be together. The feeling had its root in sexual anticipation but carried subtle branches of pride and triumph and elation. She was his now. His hands tightened on her.
“He’ll leave us alone shortly,” he assured her. “Meantime, let’s give him what he’s being paid for.”
Lauren ducked his kiss before it landed, skittering her gaze toward the pool next to their feet, her only direction of escape.
Paolo frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to play the devoted wife for the world again,” she said, flickering a glance of hurt up at him. “This is between you and me, Paolo. It’s real and it’s private.”
He was oddly touched, realizing that Lauren wasn’t just being shy. When something meant a lot to you, you protected it. Her sensitivity to intrusion spoke volumes about how important their intimacy was to her.#p#分页标题#e#
“You’re right. Come, Signora Donatelli. I’ve waited too long to have you to myself.” Taking her hand, he led her into the villa.
The ivory walls and linens in the bedroom reflected the rosy glow of the sinking sun. Lauren’s heels made a soft click on the marble as they moved into the cavernous room. She unconsciously tightened her hand on his to prevent a slip.
Paolo took it as a signal to stop and turned to face her. His hands came up to the buttons of her shirt.
Lauren drew back in surprise at his forwardness.
A smile twitched his lips. “I’m not rushing you, just dying to see how the baby is changing you...” He tugged the tails of her shirt free while Lauren bit her lip, unable to keep from grinning as he parted the edges of her blouse and looked down.
“There’s hardly anything there, but I’m ridiculously proud,” she confided, holding her shirt parted as Paolo unbuttoned her pants and lowered the zip.
His warm hands rolled back her fly to expose the pale swell of her abdomen, the subtle shape only discernible because she was naturally slender. He let his hands rest at her bare waist for a few moments, forehead tilted against hers. She could see a doting smile playing over his lips.
Fascinated, Lauren reached to trace the shape with her finger, seduced by their smooth texture.
He caught her hand and kissed her palm. “I’m glad you’re having my baby, la mia adorata.”
His quiet ferocity sent a cupid’s arrow of sweet joy through her. “Me, too,” she said in a voice thinned by deep emotion.
“I’m also intrigued by the lack of a bra.” His darkening eyes lowered to gaze on her chest as he lightly brushed the shirt back on her shoulders, exposing her bare breasts.
Stimulated by the tickling brush of fabric and his caressing touch, Lauren stood straighter and sucked in a startled breath, unconsciously lifting her breasts into prominence. The combination of cool air and hot focus from Paolo’s avid gaze made the orbs go tight, the nipples pinching sharply, contracting into thrusting points.
“All my bras got too small overnight,” she confided, losing her train of thought and shakily gasping for air as he traced the outsides of her breasts with light fingertips. The heaviness in her breasts increased. They seemed to fill and harden, nearly painful in their sensitivity to his light, light touch.
“Hurray for growing out of bras.” He came a half step closer and very, very gently enveloped her breasts in his hot hands, slowly closing them in firm cups that made her blood thicken into the soles of her feet.
She whimpered at the sensation of swirling pleasure spiraling from her middle into the hot ache between her thighs. His grip loosened. “Too much?”
She couldn’t speak, could only clutch at him as she swayed on her feet.
“You’re so beautiful, Lauren.” His hot breath caressed her neck while he slid his hands into her pants to begin easing them down her bottom.