by Tina Duncan
She picked up a T-shirt and disappeared back into the bathroom to get changed.
‘Did you call the hospital?’ she asked when she emerged a second time.
Luca nodded, face grim. ‘The father is in surgery. The mother and two children are in a serious but stable condition.’
The tension that had compressed her insides into a mass of knots relaxed. Ridiculously, her eyes filled with tears. ‘Thank God for that!’
‘My sentiments exactly,’ Luca said grim-faced. ’When I saw those children…’
For the first time since the accident Morgan looked at Luca properly, and was stunned by what she found. He looked tired, with lines of tension ringing his mouth and nose.
She slapped the centre of her forehead with the palm of her hand, her tears forgotten. ‘I’m so sorry, Luca. How stupid of me! I didn’t think about how this must have affected you. Tonight must have brought back memories of the accident that killed your parents.’
Luca nodded, face tense. ‘It did. As soon as I heard the sound of metal on metal it all came flooding back.’
Her heart wrenched. She hurried over to him, taking both of his hands in hers. ‘I’m sorry, Luca. You must think I’m as insensitive as a plank of wood.’
He smiled and squeezed her hands. ‘No. I don’t think you’re insensitive at all.’ His eyes dropped the length of her as he added huskily, ‘And you don’t resemble a plank of wood in the least.’
His response melted her heart. Taking a big breath, she asked quietly, ‘Will you tell me what happened?’
She half expected him to make some kind of sarcastic comment about Joseph having told her the details, but all he said was, ‘Let’s have some tea first.’
He filled two mugs from an ornate silver teapot and then sat down on the bed, his long hair-roughened legs stretched out in front of him.
He patted the covers beside him. ‘Come and have your tea.’
Morgan hesitated for only a second before going and sitting down beside him, tugging on the hem of his T-shirt, which barely reached mid-thigh.
Luca handed her a steaming mug. Morgan took it and blew across the surface before taking a sip of the strong, sweet brew. She was about to ask him about the accident when a chocolate brown cat leapt on to the bed, padded across her legs and promptly sat down in her lap.
‘Who’s this?’ She scratched the cat behind the ears and was rewarded with a contented purr.
‘Baci.’
‘Stefania’s cat?’ Morgan said.
‘Yes. You should consider yourself privileged. This is the first time she’s come anywhere near me since I brought her home. The staff have been looking after her.’
‘She’s gorgeous,’ Morgan murmured. ‘You never did tell be what Baci means.’
‘Kisses.’
‘What a delightful name.’
‘I suppose it is.’
Morgan took another sip of her tea, stroking the cat with her spare hand. ‘Tell me about the accident.’
Luca was silent, as if he was gathering his thoughts. ’It was dark that night, too. My parents were fighting—as usual. They fought a lot, you know.’
Morgan shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t know.’
‘My father accused my mother of having another affair.’ He barked out a harsh laugh. ‘She had a lot of those. They argued. My father wasn’t concentrating. He drifted into oncoming traffic.’
Morgan pressed shaking fingers to her mouth. ‘Oh, no.’
She wasn’t sure Luca even heard her.
‘The truck that hit us was travelling at speed. My parents were killed instantly.’
Suppressing a gasp, Morgan put a hand on his forearm, not surprised to find it rigid with tense muscles.
‘The impact pushed in the rear passenger door so hard that the metal fractured inwards, straight into Stefania’s stomach,’ he said, talking in an unemotional tone that somehow made the impact of his words cut all the deeper.
This time Morgan couldn’t suppress the gasp that escaped her strangled throat. ‘I’m so sorry, Luca. So very, very sorry.’
He turned and looked at her, face grim, eyes bleak. ’Si, so am I. I should have stopped it from happening.’
‘No!’ Morgan pushed Baci off her lap and scooted around until she was facing him, her hand squeezing tight on his arm. ‘You mustn’t say that.’
He laughed, but it was a harsh sound. ‘Why not? Because it’s true. I was seventeen. I could have done something. I should have done something.’
She pressed her fingers against his lips and shook her head vehemently. ‘No. You can’t take responsibility for what happened. It was an accident. A tragic accident.’
She could see by the look on his face that he didn’t believe her.
And suddenly it all clicked into place.
The accident was the reason Luca was so over-protective of Stefania. He felt he’d failed her once and was determined not to let it happen again.
That was why he interfered in his sister’s marriage; he probably didn’t even realise he was doing it.
And that was why he’d been so willing to believe that she and Joseph were having an affair—because he couldn’t risk being wrong.
Her heart twisted tight.
‘Luca—’
She broke off, not sure what she’d planned on saying to him. Luca had been carrying a burden on his shoulders that he should never have had to carry. She wanted to say something to make him see that the accident wasn’t his fault, but other than what she’d already said there was nothing she could say.
But there was one thing she could do.
She could tell him the truth, so that he could finally put to bed his concerns about Stefania’s marriage.
But now was not the time.
They were both shocked and tired.
They needed a good night’s sleep.
They needed something else, too.
‘What?’ Luca asked when she failed to continue.
She stared him in the eye. ‘Make love to me.’
He gasped. ‘Why? Because you feel sorry for me?’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘I don’t feel sorry for you. I think you’re crazy for thinking the accident was your fault.’
‘Then why?’
She picked up his hand and brought it to her breast. ’Because I want you.’
He shook his head again. ‘You’re in shock.’
‘No, I’m not. Or at least not abnormally so. I know what I’m saying. The accident reminded me that life is short. I don’t want to waste our time together.’
His eyes searched her face, but he made no move towards her.
She smiled a wobbly smile. ‘I didn’t think that when I finally surrendered you wouldn’t want me any more.’
‘Oh, I want you. Make no mistake about that,’ Luca said in a carefully controlled voice. ‘Saying no, sitting here and not touching you, is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.’
She frowned. ‘Then why do it? Why not just say yes?’
‘Because the week isn’t up. I made you a promise. I intend to keep it.’
Screwing up her courage, Morgan grasped the hem of his T-shirt between her fingers and pulled it up over her head, flicking it away to land who knew where. The turban-like towel went with it, her hair tumbling down around her naked shoulders and breasts. ‘I want you now.’
She could barely breathe as she waited for his response. She had never done anything so blatantly provocative before. She would be mortified if he rejected her.
A smile spread slowly across his face. ‘Then who am I to resist?’ he said, taking hold of her hand and tugging her towards him so that she fell across his chest.
His arms came around her, holding her close.
It was then, with his heart beating out its power and energy against her that Morgan realised she’d fallen in love with him.
Luca rolled over, tumbling her onto her back beneath him. Then he leaned up on one elbow and just looked
at her.
She was magnificent.
Miles of clear magnolia skin gleamed in the lamplight, just begging to be stroked and kissed.
He smoothed the silken length of her hair down between her breasts, admiring the contrast of black against white.
Her breasts were full and rounded. He cupped one with his hand. Her skin was smooth and soft and warm. He brushed the pad of his thumb across her nipple and was rewarded when it immediately contracted into a tightly erect bead.
‘You have beautiful breasts,’ he whispered huskily, turning his attention to the other one. ‘So responsive.’
He put his mouth to the sensitive column of her throat.
She quivered.
He kissed his way down to her breast, where his cupped hand made an offering of it, and took the nipple into his mouth, rolling it around on his tongue.
She shuddered and clutched at his shoulders.
He kept on kissing his way down her body, tracing the bottom of her ribcage with his tongue, then sweeping an erotic circle around her navel. Her stomach muscles contracted as she gasped for breath.
Her fingers dug into his hair. At first Luca thought she was going to push him away. Instead she clung to him as his mouth left a series of tiny kisses on her belly.
His fingers found the nest of curls at the apex of her thighs, seeking the tiny bud that controlled the centre of her pleasure. She began to buck against his hand, her breath coming in gasps.
He explored further, finding the slick, wet heat of her.
She lifted her hips off the bed. ‘Luca—’
‘I know,’ he soothed, kissing his way back up her body. ‘I always knew you would be like this. You are bursting with passion in the same way a peppermint cream or a cherry liqueur chocolate is bursting with flavour. One bite and your senses explode.’
‘Am I?’
He lifted his head and nodded. ‘Touch me,’ he ordered, his body so taut and tight he thought he might explode at any moment.
She did. Tentatively at first, as though she wasn’t used to touching a man. And then she seemed to gain confidence, her hands stroking his flesh, kneading his muscles.
And then it was his turn to shudder.
He took her mouth with his. She tasted hot and sweet, and a shot of pure need fired through his body. He caressed her until she sobbed out his name. Sucked on her nipples until her head thrashed from side to side on the pillow and she was begging him to take her.
He lifted his head. ‘Look at me.’
Her thick, dark lashes fluttered open, revealing eyes glazed with passion.
Then and only then did he thrust inside her, with one smooth, bold stroke. She was tight. He withdrew slowly, then thrust in deeper.
And then he wasn’t thinking at all.
All he could do was feel.
Sensation spiralled rapidly out of control, spinning him to a place he’d never been before.
It felt as if he’d been waiting for this moment for ever. And in the sweet aftermath of passion, as he lay with his head on her breast, Luca realised that Morgan had been worth the wait.
Two weeks later Morgan let herself into Luca’s apartment with the key he’d given her and headed straight for the shower, undressing as she went.
Given that Luca had once told her he never lived with his mistresses, she was surprised she was still living there. She kept waiting for him to suggest she return to her own apartment, but he never did.
And, since she enjoyed sleeping in his arms every night, neither did she.
She’d kept quiet about something else, too.
Two somethings, actually.
Just yesterday she’d been thrilled to receive a phone message from Joseph.
He’d apologised for not being in contact with her before now. He’d explained how Luca had sprung the trip on them as a surprise, giving him no chance to call and warn her of his departure.
Morgan had almost cried when she’d heard his voice; he’d sounded just like his normal self.
He hadn’t mentioned his heart attack, but then she wouldn’t have expected him to—he’d know it would only worry her.
He’d finished the message by telling her that he loved her and would be home soon.
The other thing she hadn’t told Luca was the truth about her relationship with Joseph.
Every day she kept putting if off.
At first she’d justified the delay by telling herself she had to speak to Joseph first. But as the weeks progressed she’d realised she had to do no such thing.
Joseph shouldn’t have asked her to keep their relationship a secret. She’d grown up with a mother who had been ashamed of her existence and had treated her like a poor second all of her life. Joseph knew all that, and yet he’d done exactly the same thing.
Acted as if she was something to hide. Treated her as if she wasn’t important enough in his life to tell everyone about.
Sure, he had his reasons. She understood that.
But what about her? What about what she wanted? What about her rights?
She’d done nothing wrong. Joseph was the one who had slept with one woman while engaged to another. It was time he stood up and took ownership of what he’d done.
No doubt the stress of keeping their relationship a secret had contributed towards his heart attack. Getting everything out in the open could be just the release he needed.
And she should stand up for who she was and be proud enough to shout it from the rooftops.
If she’d done that in the first place then she wouldn’t be in this mess.
Not that it felt like a mess.
It felt anything but.
Being with Luca made her feel whole in a way she’d never felt before. He made her life complete.
Every day just got better and better.
She didn’t want to ruin that.
What if she told Luca the truth and he wanted nothing more to do with her?
What was the saying about the sins of the father being visited on his sons? Or in this case his daughter? Even though she’d done nothing wrong, her mother had blamed her existence for ruining her life.
Whether she was innocent of any wrongdoing or not, she was still a physical representation of Joseph’s betrayal. Still a symbol of his unfaithfulness. Luca was so over-protective of Stefania. Wasn’t it feasible he’d want to get her as far away from his sister as possible to save her from being hurt?
Her heart contracted on a spasm of pain. What if—?
A sound made her look up.
Luca was lounging in the open doorway, watching her.
Morgan swiped her wet hair off her face. ‘Hi. How was your day?’
‘Lonely. I missed you.’
Her mouth curved up in a smile. ‘Did you? But you only saw me this morning.’
Luca tugged off his tie and dropped it on the floor. ’I know. It was a long day.’
She laughed. ‘It’s only three o’clock. You should still be at work.’
He unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off, baring a broad expanse of smooth golden skin quilted with muscle. He raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’
Her mouth ran dry. ‘No. What are you doing?’ she asked, when his belt buckle parted and his zip slid down.
‘What does it look like I’m doing?’
‘Getting undressed.’
His trousers slid down his hips and joined the growing pile of clothing on the tiled floor. His black underpants did little to hide the growing state of his arousal.
‘That’s right. I thought I’d take a shower.’
Heat was drip-fed into her blood stream at the thought of him joining her. A pulse between her thighs throbbed. ‘Did you?’
‘Si. I trust you have no objection?’ He smiled a slow, sexy smile and raked his eyes over her in a searing look that had the same intensity as a thousand caressing fingers stroking her skin.
‘None,’ she said, barely able to speak.
His underpants dropped to the fl
oor, leaving his engorged flesh naked to her hungry gaze. Her internal organs quivered as Luca pushed open the shower door. She licked her lips and backed up against the tiles.
‘I love the way you lick your lips like that,’ he murmured huskily. ‘It turns me on so hard I can hardly wait to be inside of you.’
She pressed her hands against his chest, then raised up on tiptoes to brush a kiss across the curve of his mouth. ‘Then I’d better make sure I lick them all the time,’ she whispered, tossing her head back.
Luca laughed and angled his mouth against the exposed column of her throat. ‘You do that and we’ll never get out of bed.’
What followed blew her mind—and everything else!
Luca’s hands and mouth were everywhere. He cupped her breasts and rolled her nipples between his thumb and finger until she writhed against him. His fingers trailed down over her abdomen and into the nest of curls at the apex of her thighs.
She groaned as one of his fingers slid inside her. When it was joined by another, her knees buckled.
Luca flung his head back and laughed. It was a triumphant laugh. But Morgan didn’t care. She dug her hands into the wet hair on either side of his head and tugged his mouth back to hers.
This time it was Luca’s turn to shudder. He picked her up, pressed her back against the wall and thrust inside her. Morgan wrapped her legs around his hips. He cupped her bottom.
Luca lifted his head. ‘I love making love to you. You are so passionate you blow my mind.’
‘Better than chocolate?’ Morgan gasped.
‘Much better than chocolate,’ he husked, thrusting inside her with an increasing rhythm until the world splintered apart.
As he carried her through to the bedroom Morgan realised she couldn’t put off telling him the truth any longer.
It wasn’t fair.
To him.
Or to her.
She would tell him…just as soon as the time was right.
Luca woke to the feel of a soft and warm female body curled around him. He smiled and carefully rolled over.
Morgan was still sound asleep, her hair spread in wild disarray across the pillow, one arm thrown over his waist, the other tucked beside her head.
Unable to resist, Luca reached out and stroked a strand of hair off her face. Dio, but she was magnificent. Lured by the lush ripeness of her mouth and the smell of warm female flesh all around him, he bent his head and kissed her.