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When we both come down, he pulls out of me carefully, catching me as I start to crumble to the ground, utterly exhausted. Raoul gathers me to him, kissing my face and lips.
“You’re amazing,” he tells me, “I can’t believe how perfect you are, Skye. You were made for me, and I for you.”
And with that, all is forgiven between us.
We clean up very briefly in my small shower stall, but I’m begging him for a soak in the huge jacuzzi tub back at the villa. He assures me that housekeeping will have it waiting for us, letting me lean on him as we walk to his car, the sky having gone full dark while we reconciled with one another inside.
Back at the villa, I can feel the soreness of it all setting in, and Raoul sees me wince as he helps me out of the car. He frowns, and to my shock, looks a bit guilty.
“I may have worked you too hard,Tesorina. I forget how rough it must be on you sometimes.”
“I’m fine,” I assure him, standing on my tiptoes and kissing his full, soft lips. “I just need a long soak, good food, wine, and rest. Can we do that?”
He chuckles, “Such huge demands from you, little one. Of course we can do that. Let’s get you inside and into that bath you keep going on about.”
Inside, the house is dark except for a few lights burning in the kitchen. I follow Raoul through the comforting shadows, seeing the warm orange glow of candlelight coming from under his bedroom door.
As he turns the doorknob, Mariana walks out of the room, giving Raoul a quick curtsy. “Your bath is ready, Mr. Damiano and Ms. Whitney. Shall I have dinner sent up as well?”
“Yes,” Raoul says, “Just leave it outside the door.”
His phone vibrates then, and he answers it as he walks into the bedroom. Sensing my one chance at being alone, I hiss Mariana’s name, and she quickly turns from where she was retreating down the hallway and comes back to me. I hold a finger to my lips, indicating to be quiet, while flicking my eyes in the direction of where Raoul has disappeared.
“Mariana,” I whisper. “Raoul can’t know yet, but I need you to get me some…” I swallow, all of it hitting me right at once. This is real, and what I’m about to ask for confirms it. “I need you to get me a few pregnancy tests.”
Her eyes go wide, hands flying to her mouth, but she nods quickly. “Of course!” she breathes, visibly excited. “Oh, how wonderful!”
My smile falters, nerves starting to set in again. “I hope so. Find me in the morning when Raoul leaves to work out, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” She hesitates at first but then gives in, embracing me swiftly but warmly, before heading back down the hallway, a spring in her step.
I fold my hands over my stomach. At least someone is feeling joyful. Me, though, I’m full of anxiety. What if I’m counting wrong and I’m not pregnant or what if Raoul changes his mind about wanting kids? What if…what if he starts to doubt being with someone younger like me?
“Skye,” I hear him call from inside. “Come on, before the water chills.”
His voice fills me with comfort. I take a deep breath, give my stomach one more brief pat, and follow Raoul into the room, the scent of lavender steam drawing me to the ensuite bath like a moth to a flame.
There, reclining in the enormous tub, bronze skin shiny and wet with the oil-scented bathwater, is my Raoul. My heart fills with love for him, and I can’t stop the smile that blooms on my lips.
Without another word, I strip down, and go into the wonderfully hot water and his waiting arms.
“Raoul?”
“Hm?”
I lick my lips, close my eyes, and just say it, that confession that has been on my mind for weeks now. “I love you.”
He sucks in a breath, and if I didn’t know better, I think I hear a hitch in his voice when he squeezes me tightly and says, “I love you too,Tesorina.”
Chapter 8
Raoul
Ikept Skye in bed for as long as I could, from the second after we woke in each other’s arms after one of the most emotional days of both of our lives, to when I had left her just a few hours ago, the manicurist arriving to pamper her a little as I ran some errands.
Well, one single errand.
The small velvet box is heavy in the pocket of my suit as I stand on our terrace, helping Mariana and the rest of the staff to place the hundreds of candles leading from the bedroom to where I stand. It’s dusk, and Skye should just be finishing up with the in-room massage I had ordered for her. She’s a nosy little thing, so I had to keep her busy if I want this to truly be a surprise.
