Page 36 of His Fantasy Bride (Things To Do Before You Die)

Give in.

“I can’t.”

Suddenly he was angry, with her, with him. The emotion rose up inside him, and for once, he allowed it free rein. He pushed himself off her, wincing as his dick touched her thigh, so sensitive it bordered on pain.

“What the hell are you doing to me? What’s with all the teasing? The licking the ice cream off my fingers? Are you trying to drive me insane?”

She sat up and fumbled with the bikini top, covering her breasts and fastening it at the back of her neck. It made no difference; she might as well have been naked. She must have realized as much and pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “I’m sorry.”

“So, why? You want me. Don’t deny it. This is torturing you just as much.”

She bit her lip, looking suddenly vulnerable, and the anger drained from him. “I do want you. But…” She glanced away, gazing out to sea, and then finally back at him. “My life’s a mess at the moment, and sex with you would complicate things even more.”

He could feel a frown tugging at his brows. “How? I won’t press you for more.”

“I can’t explain. Honest, I would if I could, but right now, Ican’t. But soon.”

“How soon?”

She screwed up her face. “I need to see someone when we get back, and after that…”

“After that you’ll sleep with me?”

“If you still want me to.”

Merda.He shook his head. Why the hell did she have to be so goddamn mysterious? What was she hiding? But at least her answer gave him some hope. The sex had been fabulous between them. Once he had her in his bed, then he would soon persuade her she wanted to be part of his life.

If that was still what he wanted.

Christo, he was screwed up. But at least if they had sex he would be able to concentrate on something other than his cock. And all the different ways he wanted to use it.

“I’m going for a swim.”

He stayed in the water a long time, swimming across the cove, back and forth until his body was under control and his mind clear. She was still sitting in the same position when he got back, and he caught the hunger in her eyes as she watched him. He held out his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go back.”

…

They dined on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.

“I’m sorry,” she said again, as she had that afternoon. And it was true. She’d messed up.

Vito had been staring out to sea. He’d been distant since they’d left the beach. Over the last couple of days, he’d been so relaxed. He clearly loved this place.

She’d never seen him so angry before, and she really couldn’t blame him. She had totally led him on and then backed out when things got too heavy. But she hadn’t done it on purpose; she’d just gotten carried away. He had that effect on her.

God, she was a mess.

No way could she sleep with him with the lies still between them. But how she wanted to. Because she was sure once he knew the truth he wouldn’t want her around. So she was never going to have him again.

That was the way things were.

Accept it.

But if their time together was limited, she didn’t want this distance between them. This was their last evening at the villa. “Did you come back here after your parents left?” she asked.

“I came back for a month or so each year. My parents weren’t too happy about it—they thoughtNonnowas a bad influence.”

“And was he?

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