Page 86 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

Her hand nestled in his, squeezing, and as she stood her eyes met his with a secret smile that sent a shudder of longing through him.

Whatever this was, he needed more of it. More of her.

‘I thought you’d never ask.’

Hand in hand they made their way through the restaurant. ‘I’m afraid I didn’t actually ask. And I know you wanted to see more of the local area.’ He tried to sound regretful and failed totally.

Her sidelong look was pure seduction. He’d been crazy to think for a second that she’d been a virgin.

‘Scenery can wait. I’d rather see you, Gio.’ She leaned closer, her voice a warm breath in his ear. ‘Naked.’

Later, Gio could only be thankful there’d been no speed checks on the road back to the villa. As it was, they didn’t venture out again for days.

CHAPTER NINE

Stella held tightas Gio surged forward, hips bucking between her raised thighs. With each thrust he found the perfect spot, nudging her ever higher in a spiral of delight.

Every time she thought it would be different, that the wonderment would have worn off. Instead the enchantment deepened. Both the pleasure and the hunger.

She locked her ankles around his back, glorying in the slide of his flesh against hers and the potency of that most masculine part of him, joined now with her.

It was a cliché yet she couldn’t help feeling that together they created something greater, more profound than the sum of the pair of them. That what they shared went far beyond the physical.

He whispered in her ear, his rich voice thick with desire, saying wicked things that notched her excitement higher, turned every tingle of delight into sensations so intense she couldn’t bear it. When he sucked at her breast the jolt of ecstasy almost lifted her off the bed.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders, nails raking as she tried to hold him closer.

‘Let go, Stella.’ His lips brushed her ear as he surged with perfect precision against the spot that sent her wild. She was losing control. In another second she’d be lost. Slitted eyes met hers, burning with the same fire that raged within her. ‘I’ll catch you,cara mia. Trust me.’

Still she held on, hoping they could meet that peak together. But it was impossible. Tendrils of fire raced through her, drawing her body taut.

Stella gave into the convulsions of pleasure, burrowing her head against his neck, pressing her lips to his skin and drawing in the taste of him.

Gio shouted, a raw sound that came from deep inside. She felt the tendons in his neck stand proud and realised she’d scraped her teeth across his flesh. He jerked in her arms, pounding into her in a desperate drive that only fuelled her orgasm. The feel of him spilling himself in a frenetic pulse of pleasure made the whirling ecstasy perfect.

Later, when she was capable of thought, she recognised that while Gio was an expert lover, the supreme joy came from experiencing his delight too.

Each time it melted more of the emotional barricades that protected her. Barricades she’d clumsily erected after she lost her mother and her world changed.

‘Stella.’ She blinked and met his sultry gaze as Gio rolled onto his back and took her with him, so she lay sprawled across his heaving chest. ‘What you do to me.’

‘You don’t like it?’

Despite his impeccable manners and his consideration, his passion and generosity, Gio liked to be in charge when it came to sex. That worked for her. In fact it excited her. But she was still finding her way in this intense, physical relationship. He had so much more experience and she was working on intuition alone.

‘Like it? You must be kidding.Likeis for gelato or music. This is far, far more thanlike.’

His words wound their way inside, a balm and a glorious affirmation of her own feelings.

He slid his palms down the curve of her back to cup her buttocks then flirted his fingers around her upper thighs, making her breath snag. Sated as she was, Stella felt the tiniest tickle of arousal at his touch. He lifted his pelvis. Even spent, he was a big man and she loved the feel of him.

Yet her stamina was fading and she stifled a yawn that came out of nowhere. They’d been making love since dawn and the sun was high in the sky. Yesterday they’d barely made it out of bed.

He shouldn’t be able to read her thoughts yet she watched Gio’s gaze sharpen then he shifted, holding her close as he rolled her onto her side.

‘You need rest.’ His concerned expression and the tenderness in his tone wrapped around her like the softest blanket. Even so when he drew away from her she was about to protest, but his finger on her lips stopped her.

‘Why don’t you stay here while I have a shower? Then I’ll bring us up some breakfast.’