Page 179 of Sins of the Orchid

I murmured something unintelligible then sleep took over.

CHAPTER69

Amore

Iwoke up with a foggy brain and hazy memory. My body ached and exhaustion was heavy. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and I blinked against it. Reaching behind me, I felt a big body and scooted closer to it, pressing in further, needing the warmth. I needed a little more sleep, just a bit more rest.

A hard chest pressed tight against my back and the tattooed arm over my hip pulled me closer. The chirping of birds traveled through the air, the waves crashing against the shoreline.Italy. I’m in Italy with Santi.

I didn’t want to wake up. Italy was our happy time. Just us and the sea. But that couldn’t be. My thoughts distorted; I blinked a few times against the brightness of the room, trying to gauge where we were. The fog in my brain slowly started clearing up. The guns, tracking through the woods with Santi, driving for a long time. We must be at our destination.

Shifting my head, I glanced out the window. The view of the open seas stretched in front of me. That explained the sound of waves crashing against the shoreline. I turned around to find Santi behind me, both of us still in dirty clothes from last night’s party, his hand on my hip bloodied.

“Santi?” I whispered and his eyes immediately opened.

“You okay?” His voice was hoarse.

“Yes. But your hand,” I told him. “It’s bloody.”

“Shit.” He removed it from me. “Sorry, babe.”

On a groan, I sat up, my head pounding hard.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Like I got run over,” I mumbled, pushing my hand through my hair, then taking his hand in mine. “You?”

“Something like that,” he muttered, closing his eyes. I was so glad to be here with him despite the danger lurking.

“We have to clean you up,” I told him. “I’m worried about infection. I should have checked it last night.”

He never opened his eyes. “I pulled the glass out and disinfected the cut.”

God, this man! “All by yourself?”

“Hmmm.”

“You should have woken me up,” I reprimanded him. “What kind of wife will I be if I’m not helping you with that kind of stuff?”

“Next time, I promise,” he said. I went to rise only to be pulled back. “Sleep a bit longer,” he muttered sleepily.

“Let me get a wet cloth and at least wash your arm,” I told him. It was hard to tell if his arm was fine underneath all that blood.

“How about a shower together?” he questioned, peering at me under his eyelids.

My body instantly warmed up, totally onboard for it but worry outweighed the lust. A lazy smile spread over his lips. He read me so well. Before I even answered, he was out of the bed, lifting me up, despite his injury, and continued straight into the en-suite bathroom.

“Santi, your arm,” I protested, giggling.

“It feels great now.”

He sat me on the bathroom counter, then turned around and started the shower. He started stripping his clothes off, and I shamelessly watched him. Watching Santino Russo strip was addictive, hot, and the best view a girl could possibly wish for. I was captivated and under Santi’s spell. It was like drowning and not bothering to come up for air. He became my air.

Once he was completely naked, my hands lifted of their own will, skimming lightly over his hot body. Opening my legs with each of his hands taking the back of my knees, he situated himself between my welcoming thighs.

CHAPTER70

Santino