Page 61 of Disarming Caine

“I had not until the project in Pompeii. Truly, my doctoral research was for frescoes which had endured far more environmental damage than the Casa has, given how recently it was excavated. But I’ve spoken a great deal with the other conservators, and we’re planning to test some changes when working on the garden walls.”

“Can you do both once you’re done? Work with your father and do the research?”

He put the dish back in its stack and threaded his arm around my waist. “I could, but that would leave precious little time for making love to you.”

I grinned, trying to hold back my laughter. “Well, when you put it that way…”

“I suppose…” He heaved a great sigh. “I’ll just have to suffer and choose you.”

My laughter escaped this time. “I appreciate your suffering.”

“Speaking of suffering—” He tugged me against him suddenly. His hand trailed down to cup my ass. “We still have almost an hour before we have to leave.”

I pushed against him, my weak attempt to separate a complete failure. “I have hair and makeup to do. That’s not enough time to christen the studio.”

“Not up here. I was thinking about the library.” He moistened his lips and touched them to mine, sending a shiver through me. “Your eyes lit up in there.”

I traced his lips with my thumb, feeling him harden, answered by the tightening between my thighs. “I’m betting my eyes light up a lot around you.”

“Again, I’m a lucky man.” His powerful hands gripped the sides of my waist, holding me steady as he kissed me again, deeper this time.

I pulled back far enough our lips touched as I spoke. “If you don’t mean to be late for your parents, we should—”

His hand dragged up one side, so the thumb brushed the slope of my breast and my leg instinctively wrapped around his. “Head to the library?”

With a groan, I nodded, letting my leg fall. “But a quickie only. I don’t want to be late.”

Chapter 21

Samantha

Twentyminuteslate.

“Come now, bella, it was worth it.” Antonio opened the passenger-side door of his SUV for me, taking my gloved hand in his. He may have been slightly right, but I was not about to admit that to him. “And my sister is always at least half an hour late, so we’re practically early.”

He’d parked behind the only other car in the circular driveway, the others likely in the four-car garage off to the side. My eyes lingered on the large fountain the driveway curved around, remembering the last time I’d been to Antonio’s parents’ house.

Everything had seemed perfect that day—a new relationship, being introduced to his family, the warm welcomes from all the guests at their dinner party. But today, I couldn’t walk slow enough.

In one hand, I clutched the small gift I planned to give him, and the other held tight to his.

We passed white lights strewn around the hedges, which climbed up the columns stretching to the second-floor balcony over the large double doors of the enormous house. Masses of electric candles flickered in every window.

“It’s beautiful.” I paused, taking in the massive two-part wreath. Each of the double doors held one half, four feet tall and wide in total, adorned with red and gold bows, foot-long ornaments, and twinkling lights.

“Sì, my father rarely does anything small, including his Christmas decorations.” He kissed my temple as we climbed the few steps to the expansive porch.

I stopped on the top step and looked down at it, my heartbeat speeding up. “Is this travertine?”

Antonio nudged me forward, recognizing the stalling tactic. “There’s no need to worry, bella.”

“But the last time I was here—”

“Did I ever tell you what my mother said after that?”

After she brought me to her private art gallery, and I practically had a panic attack when I saw the real Chagall there? “No.”

“She felt bad at first, like she ruined everything. But after that, she told me I got what I deserved. That lies and secrets never produce anything positive.”