Page 36 of Pregnant in the Italian's Palazzo

‘I know you don’t need a ring, but I’ll still be giving it to you. Consider it an echo of my archaic caveman. I want everyone to know that you are mine, just as I am yours.’

‘You know...I really do like the sound of that,’ she said huskily, ‘but if you get to show everyone that I’m yours, perhaps I should brand you in return?’

‘What exactly did you have in mind?’

‘A tattoo perhaps.’ Her voice was a soft murmur as she trailed a finger up his sternum, his throat and then up past his lips and nose to point at his head. ‘Right in the centre of your forehead.’

He laughed, a sound she’d once thought she might never hear again and now it came from him so easily. She silently vowed to make him laugh like this every day for the rest of their lives.

‘Will you brand me with your name?’ he asked, stroking a hand down her ribcage. ‘Property of Aria. Do Not Touch?’

‘Property is a word just so devoid of passion. I was thinking more along the lines ofTaken by Aria...Possessed by Aria...Beloved by Aria.’

‘I really like the sound of that last one.’ The hint of humour had left his voice, and he suddenly sounded hoarse with desire. In one rapid movement he was gathering her deeper into the circle of his arms so that every inch of their bodies touched from chin to knee and suddenly Aria’s mind was only focused on getting as much of his delicious body under her palms as she could manage. Their kisses were slow and sensuous, filled with the whispered promises of their future and even a few tears on her part.

‘So if you’ve given this place away to your charity now, to open up to the public...does that mean that you’re essentially homeless?’

He raised a wicked eyebrow. ‘I’m still in possession of a rather sizeable fortune, an entire stockbroking company, not to mention a billion-euro wine label.’

‘Oh, you poor man. Just the one wine label?’ She tutted. ‘Sounds like you’re in need of rescue.’

‘Miss Dane... Are you wondering about the fastest way to get your fiancé into bed?’

Her fiancé. She had once thought that word would hold nothing but bad memories for her for ever, but now, looking at this man, she felt only excitement for the future, and the absolute certainty that it would be wonderful.

‘My fiancé should know by now that I am utterly insatiable when it comes to celebrating moments. And this definitely feels like something we should be celebrating. In an aeroplane bed, on a bathroom sink, in a gazebo... I don’t particularly have a preference for the location. But I’m pretty sure that if we don’t get all of our clothes off in the next five minutes, I won’t be held accountable for my actions.’

‘I suppose I should take you seriously...’

‘Always.’

EPILOGUE

ARIASIGHEDANDtilted her head up to let the Greek sun warm her face for a moment. The small beach was a quiet respite from the noisy house party up above while Nysio chased around after their twin boys, Emilio and Mauro. They had been guests on Eros and Priya’s private island paradise for the past two days and it had been just what they’d all needed. Her decision, backed by Nysio, to go ahead and take the leap and start up her own line of lingerie while pregnant had seemed utterly ridiculous at the time, and even more so when the orders had begun flooding in and they’d had to increase their warehouse size three times. But they still prioritised family time above all else.

‘There you are.’ A familiar voice spoke from the wooden stairway above, and she looked up to see Priya making her way down, her four-month-old baby daughter, Amara, in her arms.

‘I swear, if one more person asks me where my husband is, I’ll scream.’

Aria smiled as her best friend came to sit beside her on the loveseat, her tiny daughter kicking and cooing in her arms. Aria instantly put her arms out to take her goddaughter, grinning when the baby gave her a gummy smile in response.

‘Amara, tell your mama it’s time for her to come and live in Italy,’ she said.

‘Amara, tell your godmother that if she wants to hold a baby more often, she has a very handsome husband who is more than willing to oblige her,’ Priya teased.

‘I’m so going to tell Nysio you called him handsome.’

‘You seem to forget that time you asked my husband if he would be interested in modelling for one of your ad campaigns.’

‘She asked Xander too.’ A quiet voice came from behind them and they both turned to see the familiar smile of Xander’s wife, Pandora, as she came into view.

‘Okay, this is beginning to feel like a pile-on,’ Aria grumbled good-naturedly, shifting over to make room. ‘And yes, when it comes to business, I admit I’m a little bit shameless.’

‘A little bit?’Both women laughed aloud, making the baby jump with surprise in her arms. Aria shushed them, rocking the small bundle in her arms with ease.

Aria stared down into her goddaughter’s big brown eyes and almost felt a momentary pang of longing strike her.

‘I know that look.’ Priya smirked. ‘Changed your mind on having more babies?’

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