Too Cold To Love

by Doris O'Connor

  "You heard my wife, Jennifer. Get out of our lives. You're not wanted here, ever."

  "This is not the end of it, you just wait, Giovanni." The woman had paled under her heavy makeupand clip-clopped out of the room, her companion apologising for the interruption as he followed her.

  Mamma G had smiled approvingly at Elise. Marco had spent the rest of the wedding festivities that followed watching her with an unsettling intensity that saw her fleeing to the bathroom of the opulent suite the minute they had finally been left alone in the honeymoon suite of the exclusive country hotel.

  ****

  Marco paced the living area of the suite like a panther on the prowl. His new wife had taken off like a skittish foal the minute the doors shut behind them. The bathroom door banged shut behind her, the click of the lock the equivalent to a slap in the face.

  That had been half an hour ago. What could possibly be taking her so long? If she thought she could hide away in there forever, she had another think coming. He downed another brandy slamming the glass down a bit too forcefully.

  Yeah, and what exactly are you going to do about it, if she doesn't come out soon? He had never forced a woman in his life, and he was not going to start on his wedding night, that's for sure.

  Christ, he really had married his daughter's nanny. It had seemed such a good idea at the time, and now... He smiled grimly. Now he was all too aware that he had blackmailed her into this. He had no idea how she really felt about him. Not too good, if that locked door was anything to go by. For the umpteenth time he ran one hand through his hair. Sometimes he really was a fool. He had been so focused on protecting Mimi and getting that bitch of his ex-wife out of their lives, he'd given little thought to how Elise must be feeling about all of this.

  His dad would have him strung up for the way he had acted around her. Certainly not the way he was raised, but she had gotten under his skin with an amazing speed from the day she had spilled the contents of that hideous bag all over his door step. It was as though he had seen her for the first time. He shook his head remembering his instant reaction with a rueful smile as he walked up to the locked door putting one ear against it. Not a sound to be heard.

  Hell, he would do himself an injury trying to break it down, and besides he didn't want her scared of him. He wanted her to come willingly. She wasn't immune to him; he knew that. He just had to get her out of that blasted room.

  ****

  Elise froze at the soft knock on the door. Marco's low voice wrapped itself around her senses and shivers went down her spine. She had expected him to be angry, but instead his voice held a very low seductive timbre.

  "Open up, pasticcino. A husband could die out here waiting for his wife."

  Oh bloody hell. She would have to do this sooner or later. He might be amenable now, but Elise had no doubt he would break the door down if he had to. He was a man used to getting what he wanted, and for some inexplicable reason he wanted her. She took one last look at herself in the bathroom mirror and opened the door.

  Marco was casually leaning against the doorframe, a flute of champagne in one hand, his gaze intense as he slowly looked her up and down. He'd disposed of his jacket and tie, his shirt buttons undone enough for her to see his chest hair, and Elise hastily looked away.

  "Here, pasticcino, you look as though you could do with this."

  Elise grabbed the flute off him, downing the whole thing in one go. Maybe if she had enough of these, this would be easier. One large hand went under her chin whilst the other took the champagne flute of her, casually throwing it in the direction of the settee.

  "Why so nervous, pasticcino?"

  Elise looked at him, her heart hammering in her chest so fast, she felt faint.

  "I'm not nervous."

  "Liar," was the whispered response as his gaze rested on the rapid pulse at her throat. He moved his hand from her chin slowly down her neck skimming her collar bone. With the lightest of touches he stroked downwards, barely touching her nipples, which were suddenly aching for his touch. He moved his hand towards her bare back and pulled her in closer. She was so close to him now the fierce heat of his body infused hers. His own unique scent surrounded her and called her home.

  He murmured something in Italian as his mouth retraced the path his hand had blazed on her skin moments before. When he slowly turned her around, his erection jutting into her ass brought an answering need deep inside Elise's core. He trailed kisses up her spine towards the base of her neck and suckled at the sensitive skin there. Elise couldn't help the needful whimper. She felt Marco's smile through his kisses as he paid homage to her neck whilst slowly nudging her towards the bedroom.

  The size of that huge four poster bed gave Elise renewed palpitations, and she tried in vain to lock her knees to stop him from moving her forward. Marco spun her back round. His blue eyes scanned her face, his smile wicked, as he simply picked her up and covered the last few remaining steps with ease whilst capturing her shriek with his mouth. Elise clung to his shoulders, dimly aware of being lowered on the softest bed she had ever sat on before his tongue found hers, and every stroke send sparks along her nerve endings, until she couldn't help but kiss him back. The very male groan spurred her on, and her tentative hands explored inside his open shirt, surprised to find his nipples as erect as hers. When her hand slipped lower along his incredibly tight abs his own hand stopped her with a growled Italian curse. He shoved her none too gently down onto the bed with a wicked grin. He captured both of her wrists in one hand above her head, his long body holding her captive, his gaze scorching her, as he shook his head. "No hands!"

  Before she could blink he produced a pair of purple, fluffy handcuffs out of nowhere and moved her further up the bed. He cuffed her to the four poster bed before she even grasped his intention.

  Fear slammed into her as she desperately tried to free her hands, but his own stilled her. He raised his head and smiled at her.

  "Shhh, trust me pasticcino. I won't hurt you."

  Heaven help her, just listening to those low tones had moisture pooling between her legs, and when Marco pulled out a blindfold and gently slipped it over her eyes she thought her heart would jump out of her chest.

  "Wh... what are you doing?"

  "Shhhh, just feel, wife," was the murmured response. The bed shift under her and the cool air told her he'd moved away. Judging by the rustle of clothes he was undressing.

  Gentle fingers removed her shoes one by one. He pressed kisses along the soles of her feet, slowly blazing a trail of heat along one leg and then the next before raising one of her legs to give him access to her intimately. Elise's hips bucked involuntarily as he kissed her mound through the lacy barrier of her knickers. He chuckled and blew hot air across her wet folds. He murmured his approval at the renewed gush of moisture, soaking her thong, and Elise held her breath, when he slid his fingers underneath the elastic.

  "Lift up for me, pasticcino." She hastened to comply, earning herself an open mouthed kiss to the sensitive skin of her inner thigh that pitched her arousal even higher. God, she was so close to the most overwhelming orgasm ever. His hands replaced his mouth. They spread her legs wider, exposing her pussy to him, and she tried in vain to shut her legs. Embarrassment drove heat into her cheeks, as she recalled the Brazilian the beautician had assured her was all the range these days. Why wasn't he saying something? Maybe he didn't like it? She was so goddamn clueless when it came to sex.

  ****

  Marco was momentarily stunned into silence at the sight of Elise's waxed pussy lips glistening in welcome. He parted her labia, smiling to himself at her sharp intake of breath when he blew on the tight nub of her clitoris. One swipe of his tongue was all it took to coax her pearl further out of hiding. He took the swollen bud between his teeth, and Elise moaned.

  "Please, Marco…I, please."

  "Shhh, I've got you. You're so beautiful, so wet for me."

  "I'm not…" Whatever protest she was going to make turned into another
moan, as he licked her slit to clit repeatedly. His hands dug into her thighs to keep her still as she writhed underneath him. She tasted just as sweet as he had imagined she would. Just a little more and he would have her just where he wanted her. He had hoped she would be responsive, but this, this was something else entirely. There was something incredibly erotic to making love to her like this. He raised his head, taking in her flushed face, her hair coming loose on the pillow, still dressed in that amazing wedding dress, and he replaced his mouth with his hands, sliding two fingers into her wet, tight channel.

  "Easy, my sweet, easy." He growled the words, but Elise erupted around him with a feral moan that had him almost lose control himself as her internal muscles clenched around his fingers. Her climax made her shake uncontrollably as tears escaped from under that mask.

  He kissed them away, tasting the salt on his tongue whilst he worked at undoing her dress and slowly slid it off her. His mouth tasted every new exposed bit of skin he found until she was once again quivering underneath him, all of her exposed to his hungry gaze. God she was damn beautiful, her skin flawless, apart from some enticing freckles that were just begging to be explored. He proceeded to nip, suckle, and tease every last bit of her, and when he finally paid attention to those erect nipples, rolling them around his tongue, her erratic breathing told him how close she was once again.

  He heard himself grind out through clenched teeth. “Come for me again, pasticcino," as he whipped her mask off only to drown in the deep chocolate pool of her eyes as he finger-fucked her mercilessly and sent her tumbling over the edge again. His mouth caught her throaty moans of pleasure, as he aligned himself against her quivering entrance. He thrust forward and froze at her sudden gasp of pain.

  She couldn't be, she just couldn't, but she was so incredibly tight around his cock. His biceps strained as he held himself perfectly still over her, searching her face. He tried to pull out, but she surprised him by wrapping her legs around him. She shook her head, her voice a needful whimper.

  "Don't you dare stop, please.I need... it’s ok now. Oh, yes, yes."

  And he began to move slowly, mesmerised by the expression on her face. When she lifted her hips up moving with him instinctively, matching him move by move, until finally she contracted all round him, her muscles drawing him deeper, he, too, was lost. With a groan he felt his own release grip him with an intensity he had never experienced before.

  She took every last shudder of his, until he collapsed on top of her, his face buried in the fragrant mass of her hair. Damn it, he'd hurt her, but he couldn't stop the sharp stab of possessiveness, knowing that she was truly his and only his.

  Hot fucking damn!

  Chapter Ten

  Marco shifted slightly, mindful not to disturb the sleeping woman cradled into his side. Elise's head rested on his chest, and he carefully pulled a strand of hair off her face better to see her in the dim light of the room. She looked very young and vulnerable in her sleep, her full, slightly bruised lips partially open. The rash on her neck and breasts caused by his evening stubble was slowly fading, as were the hand prints their last passionate encounter in the shower had left on her sensitive skin.

  He sighed softly, remembering the earlier events.

  After he had gently extricated her out of those handcuffs, his own hands shaking from the mere force of what he had just discovered, Elise had been delightfully embarrassed and refused to look at him. Thankfully he had remembered the strawberries that came with the champagne were Elise's favourite fruit. He took great delight in showing her what else they could be used for, amongst much teasing and shared laughter, until humor had turned into something else entirely. He'd tried to lick every inch of the strawberry juice off her, but it really had required a shower.

  Just thinking about that shower had him growing hard again. He let her get into the shower first; not wanting to crowd her, but watching her silhouette soaping herself through the frosted glass had been his complete undoing. She shrieked when he slid the door back, her eyes, deep pools of dark chocolate, darting down his naked body before her cheeks flamed, and she hastily brought them back up to his face.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Joining you, my pasticcino," had been his grumbled response as he turned her around. Grabbing the soap off her, he proceeded to run it slowly over her shoulders, down her back, over her buttocks and back around across her quivering tummy up towards her breasts. The soft moan as he cupped her breasts had brought him to such a state of arousal he had had to grit his teeth to stop himself from taking her right there, hard and fast. He grabbed her hips, to stop them from moving.

  "For God's sake, hold still, woman, or this will all be over," had been his panted order, and Elise had frozen.

  "I'm sorry. I know I'm not very good at this." She had trembled against him, her head downcast, her shoulders slumped, and he had wanted to punch something at his own lack of finesse.

  He had swung her round, crowding her against the tiled wall, and she had flushed a delightful pink all over when he took her hand and guided it to his painfully aroused cock.

  "Does that feel as though you're doing something wrong, baby?" He had ground the words out through his teeth as her warm hand cupped him. The concentration on her face had created a crease between her eyebrows. She had slowly moved her hand up and down his long length, her moves growing bolder as he had grown to impossible dimensions in her hands. She had watched his reactions through eyes almost black with answering need when he had moved one hand between her legs and stroked her in turn. Faster and faster their movements had grown, until she had cried out, her hand a vise-like grip on his cock as her own climax took her. She would have buckled had his body not been holding her up. He had spun her around and lifting her hips had driven his cock into the tight haven of her pussy, seeking his own release. One hand had gone round her waist; the other had supported them both against the wall. Her hands had joined his against the slippery tiles as she had matched his movements with increasing intensity. The wet sounds of their bodies slapping together had joined in with the spray of the water, cascading over them both. Sensations had assaulted him as he had thrust deeper. Her hungry pussy had sucked him deeper, and when she had clenched around him, it had sent him over the edge with a string of Italian curses.

  He had been too fast, damn it. Still joined together he had used his fingers to rub and tease her clit until she had quivered around his deeply buried cock, calling his name in a breathy whisper.

  They had stayed in the shower until the water ran cold, soaping every inch of each other's skin. Marco had picked her up, wrapped her into one of the fluffy bath towels, and had deposited her back on the bed. By the time he had dried himself and returned to the bedroom she had been fast asleep, curled up on her side. The towel had slipped slightly to expose one creamy breast, her hair a damp tangle on the pillow. He had slid in next to her, itching to wake her up, but she had clearly needed her rest.

  Looking at her now, he still couldn't believe that he had been her first. Dannazioni, if only he'd known he would have been gentler with her, that first time at least. Not that she seemed to have minded, quite the contrary. He smiled remembering her untutored and passionate responses to him. Nothing faked or artificial in her reaction, unlike... Elise whimpered in her sleep. Marco made himself relax the vise-like grip of his fingers that remembering the bitch of his ex-wife had provoked.

  One hand went through his hair, and he shook his head in disgust. It was his wedding night, damn it, and still that bitch haunted him. He resolutely pushed all thoughts of Jennifer out of his mind. He would deal with her soon enough when his pasticcino and he came back from their honeymoon. A honeymoon she knew nothing of yet. He couldn't wait to tell her when she woke up, or perhaps he would wake her like she never had been before. One of his large hands settled on her breast, and his smile turned wicked at the immediate response even in her sleep. Si, he was really going to enjoy telling her, but not right now.

  Unexpec
ted tenderness welled up inside him, and he dropped a kiss on her head before closing his eyes and letting Elise's steady breathing lull him off to sleep, the smile still on his lips, imagining all the sensual delights he would introduce her to over the next two weeks.

  ****

  Elise was caught in the terrors of a familiar nightmare. Blue eyes, an impish smile, a toddler's voice calling her.No. No, stop. No. The sickening tumble and the silence. Noooo. Rosie, Oh my God. Rosie,no.

  Sickening dread sat on Elise. She couldn't breathe – pain and misery and so much guilt. She couldn't stand it. She tried to run, oh my God how she tried to run. She had to stop her, but she never got there. Her feet moved like they were in syrup, precious little Rosie's giggle cut off as she fell, fell, fell...

  "Elise, baby, wake up, you're dreaming. Elise!"

  Elise's eyes flew open. Her heart hammered in her chest as her eyes slowly focused on Marco's worried face. His large hands gripped her shoulders, and he shook her none too gently.

  "Finally, you were having some sort of a nightmare. Hey, don't cry. Shhh, it’s ok.You're safe, shhhh."

  He lifted her and pulled her on his lap. He gently rocked her as she cried into his shoulder, aware of his deep voice rumbling in Italian. When she finally managed to get her desperate sobs under control one of his hands gently lifted her face. He kissed her tears away and murmured, “Want to talk about it, pasticcino?"

  "N...nnoo,” she hiccupped. “Please just help me to forget. I don't want to talk. I can't. Please don't make me."

  "Shush, I would never make you do anything you didn't want to do, not here, not when it's just the two of us... not when it matters."

  Elise looked at him, and the tenderness in his eyes took her breath away. His mouth sought hers, and all conscious thought fled. The sensations of his tongue twirling with hers, his hands running lightly down her back before they settled on her backside and gently squeezed, nudging her closer to his suddenly all too obvious erection, had her wet in seconds. Oh hell, he couldn't be ready to go again, surely.