Chapter Nine #4
‘Would you like something to drink?’ he said. ‘There’s chamomile tea to help you sleep, but I understand herbal teas may not be safe during pregnancy. I could offer hot chocolate although my skills in making it aren’t on par with Carmella’s.’
She shook her head. The way he knew what she should be doing for her pregnancy—what was safe, what wasn’t, showed extraordinary thought and care.
Especially since he hadn’t asked her to tell him.
He’d researched and done the work himself.
That alone warmed her insides better than any cup of hot chocolate he could make.
‘I think I might just go to bed now.’
‘Then I’ll see you upstairs to your room.’
‘There’s really no need.’
‘I know. But I’ll never forget you collapsing in front of me. Right now, you look a little tired.’
In response, she yawned, proving his point.
He smiled down at her, his eyes dark and glittering in the soft lights of the house.
Once again, the offer seemed genuine. Why couldn’t she just accept it with the grace in which it seemed to have been made?
She didn’t want to spend her whole life looking for people’s ulterior motives.
The truth was, she’d told him that in the first trimester of this pregnancy she’d been exhausted.
Was she punishing him for the crime of listening?
‘Thank you. That’s …kind.’
They made their way through the house to the stairs.
He offered her the side next to the railing, so she took it, and he placed his hand on the small of her back.
She enjoyed his touch too much, the gentle pressure, guiding her safely to her room.
But passion wasn’t the problem between them.
She had a life back in the UK. He was suggesting that she give everything up for a chance here.
The thought made her heart race. Of course, it could also be her increased blood supply and the effects of her pregnancy. It was hard to tell.
They reached the top floor where the bedrooms were situated. Hers was close to his, with only a room between them. Right now, that seemed far too close. They stopped outside her door, and she turned to look up at him. Her back pressing into the cool, solid wood.
‘I want you to consider my proposal. There are many benefits to becoming my wife.’
‘It’s not about the money, Rocco.’
‘I know. Trust me when I say I’ll never see you go without. But this is bigger than you or me. Even more than that—’ he waved a hand between them ‘—there’s something between us. I know you feel it.’
Rocco stepped into her, placing his hand on the door above her head.
A shot of heat swirled in her belly, like she’d taken a drink of spirits.
She tried to catch her breath, but she couldn’t seem to get enough air.
There was nowhere for her to go. At the same time, there was nowhere she’d rather be than close to him.
‘Let me to briefly show you,’ he said, his voice low and rough, ‘the benefits of our being together. Allow me to do that.’
Rocco cupped her cheek, his hand warm against her skin.
She tilted her head up to him. Craving his touch.
His lips on hers. She should say no, but right in this moment, it didn’t matter.
She trusted Rocco. Strangely sure in the knowledge that if she told him to stop, he would.
He’d walk away. The situation hers to control.
‘Yes.’
‘It is always a pleasure,’ he murmured.
Rocco stroked his thumb gently back and forth across her skin.
Her nipples beaded in her bra, a tight and needy burn.
Slowly, all too slowly, he dropped his head.
His lips brushing hers in a tease. His breath, a hot gust. Then he captured her lips with his own.
The kiss slow and lush and deep. She opened for him, their tongues touching, twining together.
He pressed himself closer to her as she softened into him.
She relished the sensation of his solid, uncompromising body hard against hers.
The hand at her jaw now sliding into her hair.
His free hand stroking up the satiny fabric of her dress, circling over her nipple.
Any fantasy that Lily could control this had now fled.
She was captive to his mouth and hands. She slid her arms round his neck, drawing him closer.
Rocco released her hair and cupped her backside, slipping his thigh between her own where she needed him most, pressing into her to ease the exquisite ache between her thighs.
She rubbed against him in a way that was completely wanton as he flexed into her.
Hard and aroused. His mouth made love to hers, their lips, his hands and their bodies moving together in perfect synchronicity.
Their breaths nothing but urgent pants in the dark silence of the house.
How little it had taken. She was seconds away from breaking apart and flying and they were completely clothed.
All of her so sensitive and attuned to him it took virtually nothing to get there.
She burned for him, scorching and hot from his touch. Any moment now. Any moment …
His kisses eased, and stopped. The touching ceased.
‘No,’ she whispered.
Rocco rested his forehead on hers.
‘You see what it’s like. This is what we could have together. It’s something rare, Lily. I crave. I don’t want to stop. You consume me. But I also need to be fair,’ he pushed away from her, stood back. ‘Because I wouldn’t want to influence your decision.’
With those parting words, Rocco turned and strode to his room.
It took everything Lily had, not to follow and beg him for more.