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The silky feel of her skin under his fingers—-
The arousing sound of her moan—-
When Anneke finally reached the end of the line and she was standing right in front of him, it was all Marcus could do not to haul her into his arms and kiss her.
Nine damn years.
How the hell had he survived that long apart from his temptress?
“I offer my deepest condolences,” Anneke had mumbled then, her gaze focused on his silver tie.
It made him want to laugh and groan at the same time. Could she really not have changed all these years? Could she still be as sweet and innocent?
He waited until their eyes met, and when they did, he thought he had his answer. In her wonderful blue eyes, he saw forgiveness and genuine empathy—-
Sweet as ever, Marcus thought numbly, and he had to silently ask his grandmother for forgiveness.
Mi dispiace, nonna, ma sono un uomo.
I am sorry, grandmother, but I am a man.
Because right this moment, all he could think of was how much he wanted to fuck her.
“Ciao, bambina,” he had managed to say.
There was one moment of still silence, and then a fragile smile broke over her lips as she stammered, “C-Ciao, Marcus.”
Ah.It had been so long since he had last heard her say his name, and he wasn’t able to help himself after that. Before he could think about what he was doing – of the goddamn consequences it would entail – he was already doing it, drawing his summer temptress close, his lips touching each side of her face—-
And it was like tasting heaven again.
When she jerked away, Marcus noticed her pale expression and knew he had frightened her. He immediately retreated, giving her just enough space as he said politely, “Thank you for coming,bambina.”
Her response was proper and everything to be expected, but it was the manner of which that had stunned him. Her Italian was exquisitely fluent, and Marcus asked abruptly,“Da quando?”
Since when she had started learning Italian, and more importantly, why?
He needed to know because in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help thinking that the reason behind it was a “who” rather than a “what.”
And her stammered answer practically confirmed it.
She had met another man. Another goddamn Italian, and that was why she couldn’t answer him straight.
So that was it, Marcus had thought tautly.
He knew the best thing to do was to let her go. He knew that. But somehow he couldn’t, and he found himself taking advantage of Anneke’s unfailing good manners by forcing her to join him for a walk.
In the back of his mind, Marcus knew he was being unreasonably jealous and possessive. He knew that, too, but he didn’t give a damn.
His plan was to grill her about this other man in his life – this faceless Italian whom he already despised – but instead Marcus found himself both enchanted and embittered. This Anneke by his side was so different from the innocent temptress he had known this summer. She was more assertive now, and so much more open with her passion—-
“Do I have you?” Marcus heard himself ask when they were alone in the cottage, and as soon as the words slipped past his lips, he knew it was both a test – and a point of no return.
Everything could change after this.
And all she had to say was...yes.
But instead she had said something else—-
