Italy's Most Scandalous Virgin - Carol Marinelli Page 0,62

one that went straight to her heart. ‘Dirty girl.’

And it freed her.

He made her laugh, even as she went down on him.

He turned her fears and shame to small hits of pleasure because he just loved the feel of her mouth so much that it didn’t matter that she had no idea what to do. She tasted him slowly at first, taking him in a little way and then, braver, she took him in deep.

He stroked her hair, fighting not to press her head down with his hands.

His phone was ringing but neither cared, for Mia was lost in the moment. And when he started to thrust, Mia felt as if her dress was on fire, so desperate was she to rip it off, and her mouth gaped open, stunned as she started to come.

And for Dante, who was trying to hold back and not hold his hand to the back of her head and thrust harder, the pause in proceedings, the gasping noises of her orgasm tipped him over the edge. ‘Mia,’ he warned, but then he swelled and she got her wish to taste Dante properly. She knelt back on her heels, heady with the rush of her own lost inhibitions.

He helped her to stand and Mia found there was something about being brave that made her even braver.

‘Dante,’ she said as he tucked himself in. She checked his tie and he was back to his usual perfect self—apart from the bruise on his cheek. ‘You need to come up with something better.’

‘What?’

‘Better than tucking me away in the hills. I’m past all that and I’ll never be your occasional mistress.’

He gave her a smile that said, We’ll see.

‘Oh,’ Mia said as he opened the door, ‘I meant what I said. I’m no longer hiding.’

‘Good,’ Dante said, and then frowned, because he wasn’t quite sure what she getting at, though there was no mistaking the warning in her tone. ‘Is it?’

‘It is for me. I’ve decided that I want to be dated, and I want romance.’

‘I bought you flowers,’ Dante said, ‘chocolates, earrings...’

‘Yes, we’ve established you’re a generous lover. I’m quite sure you’ve bought all your women similar gifts.’ Her eyes flashed. ‘You give everything you’re willing to on the very first night. Well, guess what, Dante? I want a relationship that progresses.’

‘I only found out about the baby yesterday.’

‘This has nothing to do with the baby,’ Mia said. ‘It’s been three months since we slept together, and more than two years since we met. If you can’t give me what I want, then I’ll find someone who can.’

‘While pregnant.’ He gave a slight scoffing laugh.

‘I can wait,’ Mia said. ‘But I won’t wait it out in bed with you, and neither am I hiding in the hills on tap for you. I will get the relationship I want.’

‘Good for you,’ Dante said, for he’d had women make the same demands too many times before and he wouldn’t be coerced. ‘It won’t be with me.’

‘I understand that.’

Dante refused to back down. ‘So go for it.’

‘Thanks,’ Mia said. ‘I’m glad I have your blessing.’

He turned to go then suddenly changed his mind. ‘What was that for then?’ He pointed to the door where she’d knelt just moments ago.

‘I fancied it.’ Mia shrugged, and then gave him a smile. ‘I have a to-do list now.’

Sarah suddenly called his name from outside the office. ‘Dante!’

His face was black as he turned and saw a harried-looking Sarah coming down the corridor towards him. ‘I’ve been calling you; the mood’s not exactly great in there.’

The mood wasn’t great here either, but Dante shot Mia a look and then strode off to face the hostile board.

‘How could you?’ Luigi was red in the face and so livid that Dante would not have been in the least surprised if he were to jump over the desk and attempt to strangle him with his tie. ‘How could you besmirch your father’s memory and shame the Romano name?’

Dante ran a worried hand over his forehead, but it had nothing to do with their angry, reproving faces.

What the hell had Mia been saying?

He could not go there in his head.

He knew she’d been goading him.

Yet it was more than goaded he felt, for he felt ill at the thought of a future without her, and summers and weekends and evenings with his child—minus Mia.

‘Dante!’ Luigi tried to command his attention. ‘He is barely cold in the ground. You disgust me, Dante. There is no coming back from this.