For."
"Gideon told me your man is in Sicily now."
Arnoldo's voice was flavored with a delicious accent.
"I hope you can make the time to visit with him there."
My gaze darted to Gideon, knowing damn well I'd never given him that much information about Shawna's boyfriend.
He glanced down at me with a look of mock innocence and an almost imperceptible smirk.
I shook my head, exasperated, but I couldn't deny that this would be a night Shawna would never forget.
The next hour passed in a blur of excellent food and fine wine.
I was polishing off an extraordinary zabaione with raspberries when I caught Arnoldo watching me with a wide smile.
"Bellissima," he praised.
"Always a joy to see a woman with a healthy appetite."
I flushed, slightly embarrassed.
I couldn't help it; I loved food.
Gideon draped his arm along the back of my chair and toyed with the hair at my nape.
His other hand lifted a glass of red wine to his mouth and when he licked his lips, I knew he was thinking about tasting me instead.
His desire was charging the air between us.
I had been falling under its spell all through dinner.
Reaching beneath the tablecloth, I cupped his c*ck through his jeans and squeezed.
He went from semihard to stone instantly but gave no other outward indication of his arousal.
I couldn't help but see that as a challenge.
I began to stroke the rigid length of him with my fingers, careful to keep my movements slow and easy to prevent detection.
To my delight, Gideon continued his conversation without a hitch in his voice or change of expression.
His control excited me, made me bolder.
I reached for his button fly, turned on by the thought of releasing him and stroking him skin on skin.Gideon took another leisurely sip, then set his wineglass down.
"Only you, Arnoldo," he said dryly in response to something his friend had said.My wrist was caught just as I tugged at the top button of his jeans.
He lifted my hand to his lips, the gesture appearing to be an absentminded show of affection.
The quick nip of his teeth into the pad of my finger caught me by surprise and made me gasp.
Arnoldo smiled; it was the knowing and slightly mocking smile one bachelor gave to another who'd been caught by a woman.
He said something in Italian.
Gideon replied, his pronunciation sounding fluid and sexy, his tone wry.