She’s leery of me. Perhaps she doesn’t remember much of last night. Not that I had the chance to tell her why I came.
I sit up and touch her arm before she can move farther back. “You scared me, Goldi.”
Her delicate eyebrows furrow. “Why? It was just a fever.”
“You passed out. It wasn’t simply just a fever. If anything had happened to you….”
“What? Why do you care?”
“God, Chiara, I’ve been a mess since you left me alone in that hotel room in Italy. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.”
“You haven’t?” Her reply is like a soft breeze.
“No, Goldilocks. I haven’t.”
I loop my arm around her tiny waist and bring her onto my lap. Her plump lips are inches from mine now. She doesn’t flinch or try to move; instead, she keeps her bright blue eyes glued to mine. I slide my fingers into her hair, curling them around a golden lock, and shorten the distance between us so I can taste her sweet mouth.
When our tongues clash, the simmering fire in the pit of my stomach becomes a blaze so intense it’s almost impossible to restrain myself. I bring her body flush against mine, deepening the kiss. She melts against my frame, waking everything male in me.
Chiara pulls back too soon and stares at me with hooded eyes and flushed cheeks. “Alistair, what does this mean? What about your job?”
“I don’t care about my job, or my ongoing divorce. I had an epiphany last night, sweetheart. I know it sounds crazy, and I have way too much baggage, but I need you in my life, Chiara. I need you.”
“As a convenient booty call?”
Frowning, I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Never. You’re not a booty call. You never were.”
Chiara drops her gaze and shudders. Pinching her chin between my thumb and forefinger, I bring her face up. Tears have formed in her eyes, turning the blue in them even brighter.
“Goldilocks, why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so in love with you, I can’t stand it. I’m afraid that if this turns out to be just a meaningless affair to you, I’ll shatter to pieces.”
Her confession sucks the air out of my lungs. “You’re in love with me?”
She covers her face with her hands. “Cazzo! I can’t believe I just blurted that out. I’m such a mess.”
I pull her into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. “I’m a mess too, Goldi.”
I want to confess that I’ve fallen for her as well, but the words get lodged in my throat. I’ve only said the L-word to two people in my entire life: my first crush when I was thirteen and Nadine. I’m afraid the word has lost its meaning to me. Or I’m just too fucking afraid to blurt it out and curse us.
I kiss her again, harder and deeper. I want to brand her, or maybe I just want to show her how much she means to me.
Without breaking our kiss, I get up with her still in my arms and then set her at the edge of the mattress. I take a step back and drink her in to make sure she’s well enough for what I have in mind.
“Where are you going?”
“I need a moment to take in the sight of you.”
She finger-combs her hair. “I must look hideous.”
“Impossible. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Chiara.”
She twists her face into a grimace. “Your ex-wife is gorgeous.”
I wish she hadn’t brought up that snake.
“Goldilocks, let me make something very clear to you. Nadine is nothing to me. You’re a thousand times smarter—” I kiss her nose., “—sexier—” I kiss her neck. “—and prettier than her. Plus, you taste fucking delicious.” I claim her mouth like a starved man.
She leans back too soon and speaks against my lips. “Really?”
I take her hand and place it over my chest. “Do you feel this, Chiara? See how my heart is beating at a hundred miles an hour for you?”
She stares at my chest for a couple of beats before looking into my eyes. Without a word, she pulls her T-shirt off, revealing her glorious breasts. My mouth goes dry as I glance at them, the nipples already hard.
“Touch me, Alistair.”
Like a puppet without control, I obey her command. My hands cover her breasts, kneading them softly. Chiara throws her head back and lets out a moan. Fuck. If she keeps making sounds like that, I’m going to come in my pants.
I kiss the hollow of her throat before trailing my tongue down her collarbone until I reach her hard nipple. I suck the nub into my mouth while playing with the other with my hand. She digs her fingers into my hair, pulling at the short strands.
Letting go of her scrumptious tit, I drop to my knees, placing my hands on each side of her hips. There’s a sharp intake of breath on her part right before she whispers my name, filled with raw need.
Looking up, I say, “I hope you’re ready for this, Goldi, because this wolf is fucking hungry.”
CHIARA
