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I shrug. “I don’t know. There are still lots of places I haven’t explored. If I’m stuck in Sicily, I might as well see more of it. I’d like to go to Noto or inland to Enna.”
“I don’t want you leaving the compound alone.”
“I wouldn’t be alone. I’d have Alonso and Oriana and God knows who else with me,” I counter.
“How about we play tourists on Saturday? That’s only two days away. I’m sure you can amuse yourself here for one day. We’ll go out on the boat. I’ve promised to take you to Mount Stromboli, and we can check out the other Aeolian Islands.”
I try hard not to smile, but this actually sounds good. I did really want to see Stromboli.
“So a don doesn’t work on weekends?” I tease.
Gualtiero picks up my hand and raises it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on top. “I work every day, but for you, I’ll always make time.”
With a shake of my head, I pull away my hand. His charm is not working on me… it really isn’t.
Our Stromboli expedition is magical.
It’s strange being back on the boat where Gualtiero and I made so many happy memories. I’m sure it’s part of his plan to remind me of our good times.
Try as I might, I can’t prevent the ice wall I put around my heart from melting a little more with every hour I spent with him.
The pull toward him is as strong as ever.
Every little touch still sets my skin on fire. Every hungry gaze makes my stomach flip, and those damned butterflies still brew up a storm whenever he’s close.
Seriously, I’m so doomed.
An explosion of Stromboli startles me, and I hide against Tiero’s body. He doesn’t hesitate to hold me close, teasing me about my irrational fear of volcanoes.
But come on, how irrational is it really? The evidence is right before my eyes.
“Do you really think I’d take you anywhere really dangerous?” he asks.
Yes, you would. You’ve taken me into your life.
His hands roam the length of my back to soothe my anxieties, but it has quite the opposite effect.
His touch is sending a shower of desire into every cell of my body. As I look up at him, I see the same desire reflected in his eyes.
My heart leaps as I watch his head lower in slow motion.
I know what he’s about to do.
I should stop him… I really should, shouldn’t I?
But I’m not sure I want to.
Chapter Sixteen
Ella
Amomentlater,Tiero’ssoft, warm lips brush against mine, and I tingle all over.
“Angel,” he whispers as he deepens the kiss.
And I fall right into it, let it consume me.
It’s so familiar. So damn good… it makes my toes curl.
