Page 22 of Slow Simmer

She only vaguely felt his last few thrusts into her clenching passage before he gasped “Oh,cara,” and went still. Heat bloomed inside her and Carlo toppled forward, bracing himself on shaking arms and pressing kisses against her cheek and lips.

Suzannah reached up and looped her arms around his neck languidly, returning the slow, sensual kisses and revelling in the humming pleasure still infusing her body. Carlo felt heavy and solid above her, reassuringly anchoring her to earth when she felt as though she might float away at any moment. She sighed with displeasure when he lifted up to pull out of her, but let him go.

“Now I really need to shower,” Carlo said quietly. “Will you still be here when I come out,cara?”

She was too tired, too comfortable in a bed which smelled reassuringly like Carlo, to even consider why he might be worrying about her leaving. “Not going anywhere,” she mumbled, snuggling down against his pillow. “Hurry back.”

“I will.” He kissed her shoulder before leaving the bed, flipped a cover over her thoughtfully. Eyes closed, she smiled.

Suzannah fell asleep to the sound of the running water and Carlo singing in the shower, a smile of absolute contentment on her face.

* * *

It was still dark when she woke up spooned against Carlo’s body, one strong arm curled laxly around her waist, and almost immediately Suzannah developed a serious case of morning-after regret. It wasn’t a situation she should be finding herself in, she chastised herself silently while wondering if she’d be able to make her escape without waking him up. He slept lightly, though, and if he caught her in the middle of sneaking out, it would be so much more mortifying than just facing him and behaving like a grown-up.

“I can practically hear the gears whirring in your brain,” Carlo murmured in her ear, his stubble scratchy on the back of her neck as his jaw moved. “Stop thinking so hard, Suzannah.”

“Can’t help it,” she admitted, even as her body quivered in involuntary delight at the way his arm tightened, pulling her closer against his body and the morning wood she quickly discovered he was sporting. “We really shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Says who? I read the staff code of conduct. The only people we’re not allowed to get involved with are resort guests. This isn’t the military, where relationships within the chain of command are strictly prohibited.” His breath tickled her ear, even as his hand slid stealthily upward to cup her breast. “I’m not going to undermine you, Suzannah, quite the opposite; I’ll back you up any way you need.Youearned that Michelin star.La Sirèneisyourrestaurant. I’m just your pastry chef, and believe me, I have no designs on your job. Just your body.”

She smiled, as he’d intended her to, she guessed. “I know you wouldn’t undermine me.” The thought had never even crossed her mind. “Not intentionally. I just worry about keeping the respect of the staff, if they know I’m sleeping with you…”

Carlo snorted. “Have youmetyou? Disrespect, my ass. You’d singe their ears if they dared, and not with a brulée torch, either!”

That made her laugh, and she twisted over to face him, tossing the mass of her hair out of the way when he lifted his head off it. She didn’t really know how to put into words the questions she really wanted to ask -are you staying? Where is this going?- and Carlo seemed to read her uncertainty in her eyes.

Gently, he placed his forefinger against her lips. “Hush,” he said quietly. “There’ll be time to work out exactly what this is, whatweare, later. Right now, I need to make love to you again.”

“I should really get down to the dock,” Suzannah muttered half-heartedly. “Pick out the best fish…”

“You’re paranoid. They wouldn’t dare to give you any less than the best, for fear you’d show up tomorrow morning and flay them with that wicked tongue of yours.”

He was almost certainly right. She’d placed the order via email the day before, anyway, and the boat captain knew her well. He’d make sure everything she ordered was taken up to the kitchens, whether she was there or not.

She was totally justifying the decision to stay in bed with Carlo, she recognised that. And she didn’t care in the slightest. Laughing as he eased his body over hers again, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a heated kiss.

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