Convulsions tore through her, rocking her from head to toe with indescribable bliss that wrenched a scream from the depths of her soul.
Lost in the maelstrom of ecstasy, she heard him groan deeply before long shudders seized his frame.
His damp forehead touched hers, then his head found the curve of her shoulder. Hot, agitated breaths bathed her neck as his heartbeat thundered in tandem with hers.
In that moment, she experienced a closeness she’d never experienced with another human being. She told herself it was a false sensation but still she basked in it, unable to stop the giddy, happy feeling washing over her. Her arms tightened around him and she would gladly have stayed there for ever but he moved, turning sideways to lie on the bed.
‘I don’t want to crush you.’ His voice was thick, almost gruff.
‘Don’t worry, I’m stronger than I look.’
He half growled. ‘I guessed as much earlier. Where did you learn to make ties like that?’
‘Tying up chickens and turkeys for roasting.’
He grimaced. ‘I’m flattered.’
‘Don’t worry, Narciso. I’ll never mistake you for a chicken.’
His laughter caused her heart to soar, the simple pleasure of making him laugh lifting her spirits.
Resting her chin on his chest, she looked into his eyes. ‘Grazie.’
He caught a curl and twisted it around his finger. ‘Per quello che?’
‘For making my first so memorable.’
‘It was a first for me, too, after a fashion.’
A thousand questions smashed through her brain but she forced herself to push them away. ‘Hmm, I guess it was.’
They lay in replete silence for several more minutes. And then the atmosphere began to change.
She started to move but his arm tightened around her. A deep swallow moved his Adam’s apple.
‘Tomorrow, we’ll talk properly, sì?’
Heart in her throat, she nodded. ‘Sì.’
‘Good. Now I get to show you my favourite knot.’
CHAPTER NINE
‘CIAO.’
The deep voice roused her from languor and she opened her eyes to find Narciso standing over her lounger, cell phone in one hand.
The midmorning sun blazed on the private deck outside his bedroom suite and Ruby squirmed under his gaze as it raked her.
‘Ciao. I can’t believe I let you convince me to sunbathe nude.’
‘Not completely nude.’ He eyed her bikini bottoms.
Heat crawled up her neck and she hurriedly changed the subject. ‘Was your call successful?’
‘Sì, but then all my negotiations are,’ he said with a smug smile.