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He reached behind her to unfasten her bra. And then, totally naked, they both stepped into the shower. She sighed as Vito started to smooth exotically scented shower cream over her body. Being with him was incredible.
Later that evening Vito took Lily to his house in the Dolomite mountain-range. As soon as she stepped out of the helicopter she could feel her body relaxing in the cooler atmosphere. Although sometimes it had felt like it, she knew she hadn’t really been hot all the time in Venice—the palazzo was air-conditioned—but there was something wonderfully refreshing about being in clear mountain air.
‘It’s incredible,’ Lily breathed, gazing at the awe-inspiring view.
‘The chalet makes a useful retreat,’ Vito agreed. ‘And it will be a good place for you to rest.’
‘I don’t exactly do much in Venice,’ Lily protested, turning to look at what she presumed must be Vito’s chalet. It didn’t look like her idea of a chalet—but then she was thinking of the small, individual holiday-homes she and Ellen had sometimes stayed in while she was growing up. Not an impressive timber building that looked more like an exclusive alpine ski-lodge. ‘I’m pregnant—not an invalid.’
‘The doctor thought it would be good for you to get out of the city,’ Vito said, taking her hand and leading her up the wooden steps to an impressive first-floor balcony that appeared to run right round the building. ‘And I agree with him.’
He led her into the first-floor living space, which was laid out to take maximum benefit from the ravishing view that seemed to roll on and on for ever.
‘Sit down and rest, while I speak to the housekeeper about dinner.’
Obediently, Lily sunk into a huge comfy armchair. It did feel good to be off her feet, even though she’d only just stepped out of the helicopter. And before that she’d spent most of the afternoon sleeping, until Vito had woken her up to tell her that the doctor had arrived.
He had confirmed that everything was fine, and had said there would be no harm in Lily leaving the city for a while. After he had left, Lily had started to say that there was no need for Vito to disrupt his work routine for her. But then she’d discovered Vito had already packed for her while she’d been asleep.
She knew that once Vito had made up his mind there was no way to change it. And also she was secretly touched that he’d taken the trouble to pack her things himself. Never in her life had anyone packed her suitcase for her. On short breaks away with Ellen, she’d always had to be the responsible one who made sure nothing essential was forgotten.
‘I’ve brought you a drink.’ Vito paused in the doorway, holding a glass of iced water in his hand, and watched at her gazing out at the view.
She looked beautiful. There was a gentle glow to her cheeks, and in profile he could see the slightly upturned tip of her delicate nose. Her hair was tied back at the nape of her neck, but long blonde curls had escaped and were coiling prettily around the side of her face.
‘Thank you.’ She turned to him and smiled, the expression lighting up her already radiant face. Suddenly he was pleased he’d brought her away from the city. He could have her all to himself without any distractions. Soon the child would be born and, although it was the whole point of this marriage, he knew everything would change. Lily would have a new focus in her life, and the pleasant routine they had established would be replaced.
‘It seemed a good bet that you’d like a drink—you’re always thirsty these days.’ He passed her the glass and sat in an armchair, facing her.
‘I didn’t know about this place,’ Lily said, ice-cubes clinking as she took a long drink of water. ‘Do you use it often?’
‘For skiing in the winter,’ Vito said, grimly remembering how he had spent nearly two weeks after Lily had left at Easter hurling himself recklessly down black runs. ‘And it makes a quiet place to get away from it all in the summer. It’s not too far—even by road—from Venice.’
‘You never brought me here,’ Lily said. There was a slight crease between her brows as she gazed out at the view.
‘It didn’t snow until late this year, and then you had your stomach bug,’ Vito said. ‘What we thought was a stomach bug,’ he amended.
‘Oh.’ Lily put her hand up to smooth her blonde hair. She hesitated self-consciously, as if she’d just realised it was still a riot of curls after their love-making in the shower. He’d left her sleeping in bed, and then there hadn’t been time for her to style it in her usual careful way before they’d left the city.
‘I do remember saying I liked your hair smooth,’ Vito found himself saying. ‘It has a beautiful sheen when you straighten it, almost like polished-gold foil embedded in Murano glass.’
Lily was staring at him, her eyes wide with surprise at his confession.
‘Then why did you say you didn’t like it straightened?’ she asked.
‘I didn’t mean that,’ Vito replied, suddenly wishing he hadn’t brought the subject up. ‘It’s just that I prefer it curly.’
‘Well, that’s good.’ Lily put her glass down on the coffee table and stood up to walk across to him. He tilted his head back, looking at her as she perched on the arm of his chair and lifted her hand to run her fingers lightly through his short black hair. ‘Because that’s how it goes naturally.’
His body responded instantly. It always did. Just looking at her was enough to make him hard with desire. Hell, just thinking about her when he was at work was enough. She was gorgeous. Even with her body changing shape, and slowing her down slightly, he still couldn’t get enough of her.
‘I brought you here to rest.’ Looking into her face, he reached up and traced her delicately defined cheek-bones with his fingertips. Her eyes glowed with a sultry sexual invitation, and hot desire pulsed through him.
‘Then you’d better show me the bedroom,’ she said, pulling him to his feet.
Over the next couple of days Lily honestly thought she’d never been so happy in her entire life. She’d made a conscious decision not to let her worries about the future intrude, and she focussed completely on the present, knowing it might be her last opportunity to be truly alone with Vito.
She’d never spent such wonderful, uninterrupted time with him before, and she was revelling in it. As far as she was aware he’d totally ignored his mobile phone and laptop to concentrate entirely on their time together. It was like heaven.
