He smiled as he looked down at her. "It literally means treasure in Italian, but it's a term of endearment that is used like we would use sweetheart or honey in English."
Her breath caught in her throat when she heard the definition of the name he'd called her from their very first day together. "Why do you call me that?"
His brow furrowed. "Because that's what you are, Claire-both a treasure and the sweetest, most passionate creature I've ever met."
She couldn't hold back any longer. Those words were a stronger aphrodisiac than any food she could imagine. Lunging forward, she met his lips with her own. She wrapped her arms around his neck to tug him closer to her. Claire felt his hands glide over her rib cage and along her waist. She wanted more. She wanted him to touch her all over.
She pressed her body against his. She could feel the firm ridge of his desire pressing into her belly. Rubbing against it, she drew a low growl from Luca's throat. Feeling bold, she let her palm graze over his chest, dipping lower to stroke him through his pants.
Luca ripped his mouth from hers, reaching out quickly to grip her wrist and pull her away. "Claire," he nearly groaned. His whole body tensed as he struggled to keep control. "Don't. I can't take it. I want you too badly."
"Then take me. Please, Luca. I want you to make love to me. I want you to show me what it feels like to be with a man who truly desires me."
She watched him close his eyes for a moment and draw a deep breath in through his nose. When his eyelids rose, there was a heat in his gaze.
Her hand was trembling as she reached for his. Before she lost her nerve, she turned and walked toward her bedroom. Mia had moved Eva's playpen into her room tonight, so they had the space all to themselves.
Without turning back to face him, she reached for her dress and started fumbling with the buttons down the front. Claire could feel the heat of Luca's body at her back, but he didn't touch her. At least, not yet.
She let the top of the dress slip from her arms to pool at her waist. Luca's breath was hot on her nape as he moved in closer and pressed a searing kiss on her bare shoulder. The contrast sent a shiver down her spine that met with his fingertips as he gathered the fabric in his hands and pushed it over her hips.
The sundress pooled around her feet, leaving her in nothing but her underthings. Claire held her breath as Luca unlatched her bra and slipped the straps from her shoulders. He let it drop to the floor, immediately covering both breasts with his hands.
Claire gasped and arched her back to press her body closer to his touch. She could feel her nipples tighten and harden as his fingertips stroked over them. He continued to sprinkle kisses across her bare shoulders and neck, the combination of touches building a raging fire in her belly.
"Luca," she gasped as he rolled the peaks between his fingers. She wasn't entirely sure what she was begging him for, but she knew he could give it to her.
He responded by gliding his palm across her bare belly to the edge of her panties. She tensed as he moved over the skin that hadn't quite bounced back from having Eva, but he didn't seem to notice. Luca was focused on his destination. Without hesitating, his hand slipped beneath the satin and stroked across her sensitive center.
Claire gasped, but his firm grip on her body wouldn't allow her to squirm away from the intensity of his touch. "Sì, bella," he cooed in her ear from behind as he moved relentlessly over her slick skin.
She felt her thighs start to tremble beneath her. Claire wasn't certain how much of this she could take. She might collapse into a puddle right there at his feet. "Not yet," she whispered between ever more urgent cries.
To her relief and disappointment, he pulled his hand away before it went too far. Instead, he hooked his thumbs around her panties and pulled them down her legs. Now she was completely naked. Thankfully, she wasn't alone in that. She heard the rustle of fabric behind her and turned in time to see Luca slip out of his shirt.
She reached for his belt and unfastened his pants. Luca stepped out of his remaining clothes and took a step toward Claire until their naked bodies were just barely brushing each other. He cupped her face in his hands and dipped his head to kiss her.
His desire for her was barely restrained as his mouth met hers. This was a kiss that had built up during their time together here. His tongue sought hers, tasting and teasing her with his lips. Claire met his intensity, nipping playfully at his bottom lip. The bite elicited a growl in the back of his throat. He moved his hands to her hips and slowly guided her backward through the room until she fell onto the bed.
Claire crawled across the mattress until she could lie comfortably. Luca followed her, kissing and touching every inch of her as he moved up the length of her body. He paused to hover over her, his erection pressing insistently against her inner thigh. He lowered his head to kiss her again, then stopped.
Looking down at Claire, there was a flash of panic in his eyes. "Please tell me you have a condom with you."
A condom? Claire froze at the thought. She didn't have any. She hadn't used them since before she got married. "I don't. Don't you?"
"No, I didn't exactly plan for this to happen. Hold on," he said, climbing from the bed and dashing into her bathroom. "Bless you, Gavin," he shouted before returning to the bed with a foil packet in his hand.
Claire finally let out the breath she'd been holding. Thank goodness. She didn't want to stop now. Even the slightest hesitation might let reality rush in and ruin the moment. The odds of them conceiving were virtually nil, considering they'd met via a fertility clinic, but that wasn't the only worry. It had been a long time since she'd dated, but there had been plenty of things to catch then and now.
She dropped her head to the pillow as Luca sheathed himself and returned to his place between her thighs.
"Now, where were we?" he asked with a grin.
Claire reached between them and wrapped her fingers around his length. She pulled him just to the point of penetration and stopped. "Right about there, I think."
Luca nodded and pressed forward slowly. Claire closed her eyes, absorbing the feeling of having a man inside her after so long. Her muscles tightened around the invasion, making Luca hiss and clench his teeth as he buried himself fully inside her.
He continued moving at a slow and deliberate pace, drawing out the pleasure. Claire had been nervous about doing this after all this time, but that faded away once he touched her. She drew her legs up to cradle his hips between her thighs and let her body rock back and forth with his movements. The feelings he created radiated through her like shock waves of pleasure.
It wasn't until she opened her eyes again that she realized Luca was watching her. Not just looking at her, but taking in everything. Seeing the pleasure dance across her face seemed to turn him on and make him bolder. He slipped a hand between their bodies and stroked between her thighs. Claire gasped, writhing beneath him as his fingers pushed her closer and closer to the edge. The more near her release came, the more forcefully Luca moved into her, making the climax build inside her even faster.
Luca had some kind of power over her. He seemed to know just how to touch her, just how to coax every sensation from her body in a way that should take a man time to master. All she could do was bite her lip and brace herself for it.
Then it hit her. The dam holding back the pleasurable rush inside her burst and she was swept up in it. "Luca!" she cried out, gripping at the sheets, but they failed to keep her from practically rising up off the bed.
Luca slowed down as Claire collapsed onto the pillows with heavy breaths. She felt as if all her energy had been zapped away, and she didn't care.
He lowered himself onto his elbows, burying his face in her neck. The stubble of his beard scratched against her skin as he rocked against her and whispered into her ear. "Watching you come undone like that... Sei così bella, Claire," he said. "Ti voglio così male."
She had no idea what he said, but the curly, seductive words sounded so wonderful. "Yes," she replied. "It's your turn, now."
Luca nipped gently at her shoulder, then dragged his lips across her throat before kissing her again. His gaze narrowed its focus on her again and one hand planted firmly on the curve of her hip. His fingertips dug into her flesh as he moved harder and faster than ever before. Claire felt every muscle in his body tense and at the last moment, his eyes finally squeezed shut. He roared as he poured into her with one final, powerful thrust.