"Well, whatever it is, the cushion was hand stitched by her grandmother, don't you know. Granted she must have been blind, but…"
"It was my nonna's, and it will stay in this family even if we all have to wear sunglasses!" They finished in unison, mimicking Mamma G's often heard comment.
Marco's amused drawl changed to a full belly laugh, and Elise had to join in. Every time they looked at each other they set each other off again. Elise laughed so much tears streamed down her face. She only sobered when Marco used his thumb to swipe the tears off her cheek. He looked lost in thought.
"I guess chair breaking is off the menu then, pasticcino, more’s the pity. I could do with breaking something."
"You made a good attempt of breaking your shoulder with your chauvinistic stunt."
Elise couldn't help the slight catch in her voice, brought on by his nearness and the way he studied her. She was rewarded with a wicked smile.
"I wasn't being chauvinistic. I was being manly. You're supposed to be impressed and swooning at my feet."
"Oh, excuse me, I must have missed the bit where you're Tarzan and I'm Jane."
Another amused chuckle which turned Elise's insides into complete mush. Oh hell, he was irresistible in this mood, and judging by that smile he knew it.
Elise scrambled away from him with a muttered, "There must be some ice in the en suite. Let me get it for your shoulder." She breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't follow her.
A look into the bathroom mirror showed her relief to be short-lived as Marco advanced towards her. Her heart gave a small pang at the tense way he held himself. He'd hurt himself, the silly fool.
"What are you doing?"
"Absolutely nothing, pasticcino. Just thought I'd come and see what Mamma G has put in here for us."
He glanced around the assortment of pastries, cheeses, soft drinks, and fruit, and Elise's poor heart forgot to beat completely at the devilish glint in his eyes when he looked at her.
"Shame, no pineapples, nor half the Ann Summer's shop I was expecting. Guess we'll have to improvise."
Elise cursed the heat creeping into her cheeks at his suggestive drawl and wished the bag of ice she was holding to her chest so tightly her fingers cramped, would help to put out the liquid heat in her veins. Oh shit. What are you complaining about, girl? At least he's paying you some attention now. Stop analyzing everything, and just go with it!
"You're hurt; let me look at that shoulder."
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Marco shrugged to make his point but couldn't hide the slight wince.
"Marco, I'm not taking no for an answer. Let me see."
"If you insist."
"I most certainly do."
Elise regretted that answer the minute Marco started taking his shirt off and she caught sight of his well-defined muscles. Covered by a smattering of dark hair which arrowed down to his waistband, they would give any model a run for his money. She swallowed and licked her dry lips. Oh heck, how could she have forgotten that chest? Her breathing sped up against her will, and heat exploded in her core. His soft drawl didn't help at all. "Your wish is my command, cara mia."
"Don't call me that. You don't mean it."
Her voice sounded far too husky, even to her own ears. She stepped around him to look at his shoulder. An ugly bruise was forming, and she snatched one of the hand towels of the rail in front of her, wrapped the ice in it, and slapped it on his shoulder.
"Easy, that hurts."
"I thought you weren't hurt at all, Mr. Macho Tarzan."
"I wasn't until you slapped me with that ice, Jane. And I don't know whether you noticed, but that ice may be better served somewhere else."
He chuckled low in his throat when Elise's glance went to the all too visible tent in his trousers.
"Unless you have other ideas to help that particular hurt?"
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Marco. I'm simply dealing with your shoulder, though why I ought to be concerned with something that is completely self-inflicted is, quite frankly, beyond me."
Marco's knowing gaze met hers in the bathroom mirror, and the heat she saw in his eyes started a slow answering fire deep within her. Awareness sparked between them.
The towel slowly slipped from her fingers. The ice hit the tiled floor with a thud and broke the spell. She almost ran into the other room and frantically tried the other door.
"I have it on good authority that they are fire doors, my lovely, so I'd give up now. I like your shoulders just the way they are, cara mia."
Marco leant against the door frame propped up by his good shoulder, his arms crossed over his chest, a slow smile on his lips. He checked the lock on the bathroom door.
"And I'm pleased to note there isn't a lock on here, lest you decide to go hiding in another bathroom. I seem to recall you were rather fond of that on our honeymoon."
Elise winced, followed by a vivid blush as she remembered their wedding night.
Marco simply smiled. He slowly advanced towards her, and Elise backed away until she bumped into the wall. He reminded her of a predator stalking his prey.
"Marco, we need to talk."
One last long stride brought him so close his thighs touched hers, and he put one hand either side of her head. His big body crowded her against the wall, and his sinful mouth hovered over hers.
"So talk, cara mia. I'm all yours."
His hot breath fanned across her face, and Elise closed her eyes. She bit back a moan when he kissed her nose and rained butterfly kisses along her jaw line. He suckled gently on just the right spot on her neck to make her knees turn to jelly.
"Marco…please…stop…"
Somehow she found the strength to put her shaking hands on his chest, only to meet hot, hard, male flesh. This time she couldn't stop the very feminine moan escaping. Was that needy sound really her?
Apparently so, judging by Marco's low groan in her ear. He moved his hand to cup her breast, the nipple thrusting shamelessly into his caress.
"You don't sound as though you want me to stop, cara mia. In fact, I would hazard a guess that you're wet enough for me to fuck you right here."
The crude words should have shocked Elise, but instead she whimpered in response to his words. He ground his hips suggestively into hers until the full force of his erection rested against her pussy. Heat flooded between her thighs, and she pulled his head down for kiss.
"You're talking too much, Tarzan."
She caught a quick glimpse of triumph in his glittering eyes before his mouth claimed hers. His tongue tangled with hers, and they both groaned. One of his hands fisted in her hair, and the other lifted her skirt. He cupped her mound and murmured his approval.
"You're so fucking wet for me."
He bunched the sodden material of her underwear in his hand and pulled. The move brought delicious pressure to her clit, and Elise panted in excitement. Cool air hit her slick folds when the material gave way with an audible rip. His large hand replaced the fabric, and her pussy clamped down on the fingers he thrust into her channel. His teeth nipped her neck, nudging her arousal up another notch, andhe kicked her feet apart to spread her wider. She clung to his shoulders, rubbing her breasts against his chest, and he swore. He thrust two more fingers into her hungry cunt, and she lifted her leg to give him better access. He withdrew his fingers, and Elise tensed when he inserted one slick digit into her anus.
"Relax, pasticcino."
His eyes sought hers, and he smiled. He kissed her, and Elise relaxed into the strange sensation. When he inserted another finger into her tight hole, she gasped into his mouth. He thrust slowly in and out of her, and Elise pulled him closer to her still, as her hips moved of their own accord. Unused nerve endings sprang to life, and darts of pleasure skittered to her clitoris. Her breath came in short gaps, as her arousal built.
"That's my girl. I knew you'd like this." Marco's strained voice in her ear was the sexiest sound she'd ever heard. She pushe
d down on his fingers, seeking more, and moaned her disappointment when he withdrew them slowly. He grabbed her buttocks and ground her aching clit into his still covered cock. He thrust into her, and the friction on her throbbing bud proved too much for Elise.
"Please, Marco."
"What, cara mia?"
Marco pulled away, and she groaned.
"What do you want, my wife?"
The heat in his ever darkening gaze stoked her arousal to fever pitch, and she impatiently tugged at his trousers.
"I want you in me, now, Marco."
His eyes darkened further at her whispered plea, and she breathed a sigh of relief when his hands helped her free his cock. It sprung out of its confines up to his taut stomach, and Elise licked her lips in anticipation. She cupped his balls, and it was Marco's turn to groan.
"Jesus, woman, you're killing me."
He pushed her hands away, and Elise arched into his palms, when he pulled down her tank top and exposed her breasts. He kneaded each aching globe, before he pushed them together and laved the nipples in turn. Every suckle sent shards of pure pleasure down towards Elise's clit where delicious anticipation built in waves. She moaned her protest when Marco released the glistening buds and kissed his way back up to her collarbone. She could feel his strained smile before she saw it.
"Wrap your legs around me. I need to get inside you right now."
Elise marveled briefly at the raw need she saw in his eyes, need that she knew must be reflected in her face. His thumb found her clitoris, and all conscious thought left her when he rubbed across her swollen pearl in slow, measured circles designed to drive her crazy. Her knees buckled, and she clung onto his shoulders for support. When his other hand circled her anus, her excitement hit fever pitch. He pushed two fingers past that tight ring of muscle, all the while keeping up his relentless assault on her clit, and she writhed against his fingers. Sweat broke out all over her body; sensations overwhelmed her. Her oversensitive nipples rubbed against his chest hair, and the deep timbre of his voice rumbled through her. On and on he pushed her, higher and higher, his fingers continuing their erotic dance in and out of both her holes. Trapped between his body and the cool wall, he held her captive. He played her body, relentlessly finger-fucking her until the pressure burst and she screamed her release. The full force of her climax gripped, sensations spiraled from her sopping pussy and hypersensitive ass all over her body, until his fingers had wrenched every last spasm from her. Only when she was completely spent did he drive into her pussy with one long thrust. She was so wet he slipped in all the way, stretching her to the point of pain, and he swore.
"I can't do this slow; forgive me. You're so tight and hot, baby."
Elise wrapped her legs around him. His body held her up, as he set a ruthless rhythm taking her against the wall fast and hard, his breathing heavy in her ear. His balls hit her pussy lips with every hard thrust; her breasts jigged against him, and the tension built again. Marco pulled out of her unexpectedly. Her feet had barely touched the floor, before he spun her round and kicked her legs apart again.
"Put your hands against the wall and lean forward. I have to fuck your ass."
Excitement overtook any nerves, and she locked her knees and stuck her ass out. The quick slap he delivered to one cheek caused more of her juices to run down her inner thigh. He murmured his approval and rubbed his thick cock along her slit, until it was slick with her juices. She held her breath when he spread her ass cheeks wide and aligned the thick head of his cock with her puckered hole. He reached around and flicked her clit at the same time as he pushed into her ass slowly. There was pressure, delicious pressure mixed in with pain, until he broke through the tight ring and slid into her ass.
"Fuck, yeah." He growled the words, and his hands dug into her hips. He began to move slowly at first, every thrust into her ass, a long, careful glide, designed to pitch her arousal higher.
"Touch yourself for me, cara mia."
Elise followed his panted demand immediately. She rubbed her slick nub in time to his thrusts, faster, harder, until she pushed against him, and he lost control. She met him thrust by frantic thrust, her own climax once again building to unbearable levels until her body exploded in the most forceful orgasm yet with his whispered, "Come for me, baby."
She was dimly aware of Marco tensing up and following her right across that sweet cliff as he breathed words in Italian in her ear.
He pulled out of her and kissed her shoulder blades. Her legs buckled, and he swooped her up in his arms and carried her across to the bed. He put her down with a gentleness that took her breath away. His eyes never left her face when he slowly peeled her out of her remaining clothes. By the time she was completely naked his cock stood proud again. He kissed her, and his hands started a slow exploration of her curves.
"Spread your legs, and let me see that gorgeous pussy."
His hungry gaze zeroed in on her cunt, and renewed moisture trickled out of her and onto the bed.
"You're so beautiful."
His large hands spread her wider, and he bent his head. That first lick against her sensitive flesh had her hips bucking off the bed. His tongue flicked across her clit, alternating fast flutters with slow strokes. He pushed two fingers into her vagina and curled them upwards. Elise writhed under the combined onslaught of his tongue and fingers. He withdrew every time she came too close, until Elise wanted to scream at him. He took his sweet time, licking, suckling and pushing her body up each rung of exquisite torture that left her breathless and quivering with need.
"Marco, please."
She breathed her thanks, when he withdrew his fingers and raised his head. He levered one of her knees up and drove his cock into her pussy. Elise screamed at the thick invasion. The angle of his penetration drove him deeper with every thrust, their movements growing frantic once again. She clenched around his cock, her pussy walls trying to pull him back in when he withdrew, before he slammed into her again and again until they finally came together in a mind-shattering orgasm that made Elise literally see stars and hear things.
She could have sworn he mutteredinto her ear, “I missed you so much, amore mio."
Chapter Twenty-Three
Marco jerked awake with a muffled curse. Merda, his shoulder was on fire. Elise would have a fit if she knew. He smiled looking down on the woman curled into his side so trustingly in her sleep, for once not fighting the tender feelings. Right now he wasn't sure why he had been fighting them in the first place. She could never know, but that didn't mean he had to torture himself staying away from her. She stirred slightly rolling away from him, and he sighed, his body instantly bemoaning the loss of her soft curves.
He forced himself get up and winced at the pain in his shoulder. Mental note, next time believe Mamma G, you stupid idiot!
Damn it all to hell, what was he going to do? He'd tried to see the Milligans for over a week, ever since that fateful call from Robert, and he had finally worn them down yesterday.
Yeah, Happy Birthday to me.
He should have known Elise and Mimi were planning something. And, fool that he was, he had nearly spoiled it all after what he had learned that afternoon. They had to talk about that. She was not going to like it, but until he heard it from her lips, what was a man supposed to believe. He was so unbelievably tired of fighting everyone, most of all his own feelings. After Jennifer he'd put his feelings into an ice box only letting them out for Mimi. Women weren't worth the trouble, and he still believed that, didn't he? So why did the thought of losing Elise hurt so much?
"Marco?" Elise's sleepy voice made him turn around.
"Hey, cara mia."
"What are you doing all the way over there, Marco? Come back to bed." Her low, seductive voice wrapped itself around his senses. She looked so incredibly sexy, with her shy smile, her hair mussed from sleep, her lips still swollen from his earlier kisses, and his cock hardened.
He shook his head at his body's predictable response and smiled at
the blush creeping into her cheeks when she noticed his predicament.
"You're too far away for me to do something about that, Tarzan."
"So I am, pasticcino, but we need to talk."
He sensed her confusion when he turned around and pulled on his boxers.
"Now he wants to talk." Her whispered frustration wrenched a smile from him.
Come on, Giovanni, you can do this. You have to. Too much is riding on this.
He schooled his features into the controlled mask he used to wear so well. He winced inside at the way Elise's face dropped, and she clutched the sheet to herself.
His voice, however, was rough with emotion he was unable to control.
"Tell me about Rosie, cara mia."
Elise's sharp intake of breath and the way she pulled the sheet up to her chin spoke volumes. All the colour drained out of her face, making her beautiful eyes look huge. She stared up at him.
"Ro…Rosie? Why would you ask me about Rosie?"
He hated being the cause of that panicky note in her voice. She flinched away from him when he moved towards her.
"She is the reason for your nightmares, is she not?"
Elise drew her knees up to her chest. Silent tears fell down her cheeks, and he had to step away to stop himself from reaching out to her. His gut clenched. He so hated to see her cry.
Instead he put some distance between them.
"Tell me, I need to hear it from you."
He didn't think she was going to talk at first. Then her whispered words caused the fine hair on his arms stand up. There was so much pain, so much guilt, and she carried this all by her herself.
"If you're asking me about Rosie, then you must already know. It was all my fault. Please don't make me relive it all, Marco, please. I can't. I leave tomorrow. I know I have no right to be here, no right to look after children. They should have locked me up and thrown away the key. I stopped nannying, and I was never coming back to it… and then, Jem happened, and I met Mimi. I'm so sorry, Marco. I would never hurt her."
Her voice broke on a sob, and before he could stop her she scrambled off the bed. She stumbled over the sheet she still clutched to her body like a silken shield. She fell to the floor with a sickening thud and curled into a tight ball. Her sobs echoed round the still room.
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