“Strega.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Her skin felt warm, like she had too much sun. Shit. I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready to say goodbye if all he ever really wanted was just a holiday fling. She dragged air into her oxygen-deprived lungs to fortify herself for their encounter.
Then she faced him and it was like stimuli overload. His crisp cologne assaulted her, conjuring images of rumpled linens, entangled limbs, and pleasured moans.
The air, which had already been electric, short circuited. Sabrina didn’t know who moved first, but they were in each other’s arms before she realized it. They couldn’t tolerate any amount of distance. Their mouths fused, tongues tangling, their arms plastered around each other.
The muted sound of clapping broke them apart.
Luca’s hand wrapped around her wrist. He was breathing heavily. He pulled her through a door which led to a narrow corridor behind the ballroom.
There were food trolleys lined taking up one side of the walls. It was a service corridor.
He pushed her against a wall beside one of the tall metal trolleys so they were shielded from instant discovery if anyone came in. He pulled down her panties to mid thigh. She unzipped his pants. She was soaking wet. He was rock hard. They moaned into each other’s mouth as they touched each other frantically, almost crudely. Sabrina wrapped a leg around Luca’s waist, allowing his hand more freedom. Keeping a firm grip, she stroked him in rhythm to his fingers. They came fast and hard, the threat of discovery adding a dangerous, delicious rush.
Sabrina sagged against the wall while Luca pulled a handkerchief from his pants and wiped himself. He zipped himself up, balled the fabric, threw it in a bin at the end of the corridor, and slumped beside her against the wall.
“Hello,” he said.
“Ciao,” she replied.
He extended his hand. She took it.
They made their way out of the hotel to a back exit without saying anything to each other. The security staff recognized him and spoke into his hand-held radio. Within minutes, Luca’s car pulled up.
“The marina,” Luca said to the driver.
“William Fraser was never my lover,” Sabrina blurted out once the privacy divider was up. “I was there that night to check up on him as a favor to a friend. We were afraid he was going to hurt himself. Nothing more.” The need to tell him all was imperative. “Chase Latimer was and remains my best friend. It didn’t work out back in college, but we have remained close to each other. It’s just friendship between us. Nothing more.”
She blabbered on. “And Hector Theodorou, he really wasn’t my date tonight. I’m not a gold digger, but I’m afraid I’m a gatecrasher,” she finished in a small voice. “I used him to get inside the launch.”
Luca chuckled softly. “I’m sure the old stronzo didn’t mind in the least,” he murmured, his tone wry. His eyes turned grave in the dimmed interior of the car. “You didn’t have to tell me any of this, strega. It doesn’t make a difference.”
“It doesn’t?”
“We’ve always known how it was going to play out.”
“We did?” she squeaked, because suddenly the air in the car had become thick and rife and Luca’s eyes were boring right into her, shining with some emotion that made her chest seize.
He took her hand and ran a thumb over her palm, tracing the lines carefully as if he was a fortune teller. “The first time I saw you, I knew.”
Sabrina drew a shuddering breath. Who would’ve guessed her palm could be such an erogenous zone? Her girly parts were tingling. Again. “Knew what?”
He narrowed the space between their bodies by an inch. “That you were going to be mine.”
“You did?”
“Just as I knew,” he whispered, his eyes glinting fierce and tender, “I was going to be yours.” He leaned in, then his lips touched hers.
And with his kiss, Sabrina knew it was just as he had said.
Chapter 23
The yacht was bustling with activity when they arrived. Luca explained that extra crew had been hired for tomorrow’s fundraising party. Antonia greeted her warmly.
Sabrina fired off an SMS to Chase, telling him she was with Luca and not to worry. She also added that he had been invited to tomorrow’s event. Chase responded quickly. He wouldn’t miss it for the world.
“Won’t they be looking for you at the launch?” Sabrina watched as Luca started divesting himself of his formal attire. They were back in the skylight room. She had kicked off her sandals and was sitting, lotus position, on the bed.
“Raphael’s there. He’ll handle the socializing. He knew I was going to go straight here after my talk to oversee the details for tomorrow’s party.”