This morning their lovemaking had a frantic pace to it; they couldn’t get enough of each other. When finally they climaxed together, an involuntary scream came from Sophia and a loud groan of completion from him. She hid her face in his chest, but he wasn’t going to let her become ashamed of her pleasure. A timid smile played on her lips when her eyes finally met his.
“Your mother is going to be pounding on the door soon, asking what’s going on,” she said shyly.
“The only question my mother will be asking is when she can expect her first grandchild.”
Sophia stiffened in his arms. “We’d better get up. I’m starving.”
“Me too,” he said, nibbling on her ear. He began to trail love bites down her neck when she pushed him back.
“I mean it, Luca. You can’t keep me prisoner here in bed without feeding me. It’s against the Geneva Convention.” Her breathy voice contradicted the seriousness of her words.
“The Geneva Convention only applies to prisoners of war, not prisoners of lovemaking. But alright, let us get something to eat.”
She rolled off him. Cool air replaced her body warmth and he repressed a shiver. He flung back the sheets and followed his wife.
“Good God, Luca, it’s almost nine o’clock. You’re late for work.” She’d wrapped a satin dressing gown around her but he could see where her nipples pressed against the silky fabric. He forced his eyes to her face, which still held a pink glow from their recent activities. Her hair framed her face, in wild abandon. He didn’t care if he never went into work again.
“I will work from home today. With my mother here, they will understand in the office.” Still he stared.
“Oh, it’s because your mother is here that you’re staying, is it?” She undid the belt and let the robe drop to the floor with a seductive laugh.
“That is the official story. You know the real reason is because I cannot bear to leave you.”
“I guess we won’t be going on honeymoon on the weekend though. Now that your mother is visiting and … well … we’ve already done it.”
He flipped on the shower and grabbed her as she walked past, pulling her into the warm spray. “Oh, we are still going. Mama will be fine. Thierry, her husband, is coming tomorrow, and she will not even notice we are gone. Plus, I want two days with you and only you.”
She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was another half hour before they were both dressed and made their way downstairs.
• • •
“Buongiorno, Sophia. Did you sleep well?” Giada had a huge smile on her face as she asked the question. After a quick breakfast in the kitchen, Sophia had found her mother-in-law enjoying the morning sun on the terrace. Maria had brought out a carafe and set it on the table.
Sophia didn’t look up from pouring her coffee until she was sure she had her smile under control. “Very well, Mama Giada. And you?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Luca strolled out onto the terrace and wrapped his arms around her from the back. He pressed a kiss where her neck met her shoulder, sending a zap of electricity through her.
“Luca, you have not gone to work?” Giada’s smile increased.
“You should be a lawyer, Mama. You ask questions you already know the answers to,” Luca replied. He released Sophia and filled his coffee cup before sitting on the arm of her chair.
“I am just surprised. I have not known you to take a day off work in years. You even worked on my wedding day.”
“I am working today as well. Just from home. I want to make sure you do not scare away my wife with all your questions.” Luca ran his hand down her hair, and Sophia had to force herself not to trail her hand along his firm thigh. He’d given her another orgasm in the shower, although he hadn’t entered her, saying she was going to be sore enough as it was, having just lost her virginity. But it was such a delicious ache.
Her eyes closed as she remembered the pleasure. They snapped open when his mother spoke again. “My only question is when I’m going to be a nonna?”
Luca’s eyes met hers with suppressed laughter. She had never seen him so lighthearted. He looked years younger and so gorgeous, she inhaled sharply. “I think we should make Mama wait one year for every time she asks us about grandbabies. What do you say, Sophia?”
“I say you should go to work and leave your mother and me to talk.”
He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. “As you wish. But if she gets too nosey, tell her to mind her own affairs.”
She flicked her eyes to Giada, knowing she’d never have the guts to tell off her mother-in-law. The pure delight in the other woman’s eyes set Sophia at ease. Seeing her son so happy had done a lot to give their relationship a good start.
Luca left the terrace, whistling.
“He is so happy. I worried he would be too busy at work to find a wife.”
“He does work a lot, but we’re dealing with it.” Well, trying to.
Giada picked up a magazine from the glass-topped table. “I had a stop-over in London and bought some magazines. Maybe you would like to read something from home?”
Sophia picked up the other magazine from the table. Her stomach roiled as she stared at the cover. An icy chill gripped her, despite the warm sunshine. The euphoria that had her floating burst like a bubble, hurtling her back to reality.
She glanced again at the magazine. Maybe it had been a mistake, an image conjured up by the mention of her past last night. No such luck. Staring at her from the cover of the magazine was Kathy Summers, the girl who had been the final catalyst in destroying her childhood. She repressed a shudder—she was older now and stronger. Sophia flipped the magazine over and stood.
“Maybe later. I’m going to take a stroll through the garden. I love the scent of the flowers in the morning air. Would you like to come with me?”
Chapter 10
“Luca, can you help me with this?” Sophia emerged from the bathroom, struggling to pull up the zipper on the back of her soft blue silk dress. It was sleeveless with a sweetheart neckline. Fitted down to the thigh, it then fell in soft folds to her knees.
They’d arrived at Villa d’Este earlier that afternoon. As he’d said, Giada hadn’t seemed to mind that they were going away so soon after her arrival. Her husband had arrived the previous evening, and Giada had been like a giggly school girl, excited to see him, even though they’d only been apart a couple days.