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“All things happen for a reason,” he said. “You did not want to come on this trip because of your friend, but perhaps you were meant to be here. Perhaps this trip is a catalyst for you to figure out what you want to do with your own life. Maybe it is on this trip you will finally learn to say no to Jessie and your mother both and go your own way?”
I couldn’t help but smile at the thought, although it was a scary one. I was frightened by the prospect of ever having to tell either of those women no to anything. Each was a force to be reckoned with in her own way. My mother would be disappointed in me. Jessie would be angry and scornful. I wasn’t sure which I dreaded worse.
I knew, though, that Matteo was right. I needed to learn to say no, or I would always live my life for others and never find the joy that I wanted in this world.
“Matteo stretched and looked at the clock on the nightstand.
“It’s late,” he sighed. “I need to start getting ready to go to the kitchen now and start prep work for noon meal.”
“I should shower and get ready for the day, too,” I said, disappointed that the beautiful night together had come to an end.
He smiled, standing up by the bed, grabbed my hand, pulled me up, and threw me over his shoulder. “Then let’s shower,” he teased. He carried me to the bathroom, started the water, and walked into the shower stall with me, setting me in front of him. The water ran down our bodies as he pulled me close to kiss me. He reached for a washcloth from the shelf next to the shower and lathered it with the rich, fragrant soap.
Gently, he ran the washcloth over my body, cleaning me carefully, planting sweet and gentle kisses on my lips as he did. He turned, guiding my body under the stream of the shower and gently wet my hair before shampooing it, massaging my scalp sensuously, then rinsing me off.
Once fully clean, I returned the favor, running a soapy washcloth over every inch of his body, washing his dark curls under the stream.
He picked me up, leaning my back against the shower wall. I curled my legs around his hips and he pushed into me for the fourth time in less than twelve hours. His hips thrust into mine. Our bodies pulsed under a steady stream of warm water.
This time, he never stopped kissing my lips. Even as moans and gentle grunts escaped our lips, we continued to kiss. Even when climax struck us both at once, causing him to nearly lose balance as he pulled out quickly, finishing me with his hand as he finished onto the shower floor.
“Sono pazzo di te,” he moaned.
I giggled. “I hope that means something good,” I smirked.
“It means I’m crazy for you,” he smiled, kissing my lips again.
I melted.
“The feeling is mutual,” I promised.
He helped me out of the shower, and we both dried off. He slipped on his clothes from the night before.
“I must go to my quarters and change,” he said, pulling me close for one last kiss. “I will see you later, yes?”
“Of course, you will,” I answered.
He turned and left my cabin, and I sank naked, back onto my bed.
Butterflies filled my stomach, and I could do nothing more but dreamily think about Matteo and the beautiful night we’d just shared with one another. Not just the affection and sexual release, but the long, thought-provoking conversations, as well.
He had given me much to think about. Had I really lived my life for others. And, if so, was it too late to take my life back? And, even if I did, what would I do with it?
I thought about passion and what mine might be. And I thought about what a passionate person Matteo was—not only about his work but also between the sheets.
I didn’t have answers for much, but one thing was clear—I was in deep with him, and it was about the only thing in my life I wasn’t afraid of.
Chapter 9
I fell asleep naked on the bed after Matteo left, then woke to the familiar sound of my phone chiming notifications. It was disorienting at first. I had gotten used to being on the yacht, far away from any signal. My phone had been nothing more than a clock since we’d embarked on our trip.
*ding*
*ding*
*ding*
I scrambled to shut the alarm off before realizing it wasn’t an alarm at all—but a steady stream of text messages rolling in from home.
