Page 14 of Under Her Skin

So, he was honest. Did it mean he was innocent? He was the only person who would have reason to hate her, and yet he was so caring, his eyes so full of desire forher.

He drove them to a small compound where a helicopter waited. Arturo helped Hero out of the car and then led her to the aircraft, still grinning and not telling her where they were going. He got into the pilot’s seat, and Hero had to admit that she wasimpressed.

It also made her feel better that plenty of people had seen them take off together.Witnesses.

Stop it. He’s done nothing wrong. Hero pulled in a deep lungful of air and tried to relax. Arturo reached over and stroked her face. “Okay?”

She nodded and turned her head to press her lips against his palm. Arturo smiled, leaning over to kiss hermouth.

The helicopter ride was exhilarating, and when they began to see city lights beneath them, Arturo said, “Milan. I thought you should see it atnight.”

A thrill went through her. Milan…she’d never been to the city and now as he landed the craft on top of a hotel, she felt as if she were walking in adream.

The restaurant was exclusive and expensive, and they were led to a private booth in the back. “I thought we could talk without people listening in,” Arturo said, bending to kiss her cheek. He was holding her hand, his fingers entwined in hers, and Hero felt a warmth surge through her. There was no way he was that good an actor to fake this affection.Noway.

They sat side-by-side in the booth, and after the waiter took their order, Arturo put his arm around her and drew her closer. “That dress, the color is incredible next to your skin.” He drew the back of his finger down hercheek.

He picked up her necklace, trailing his fingers along the chain, then letting them drift down her torso to her belly. Hero gave a tiny moan of desire. Arturo nuzzled her neck, “Sweet Hero…I have a suite booked at the Mandarin Oriental. I would be delighted if you would stay the night with me there. No pressure. One word from you and I’ll cancel the room. Will youstay?”

Hero nodded, lost in his eyes. “Yes,” she said in a scratchy voice, husky with an almost feral desire for him—and because she knew without a doubt that it would be their last night together. She wanted to have this last night to remember being in his arms, being fucked by him, because she knew one thing for sure: she was falling for him and that meant she had to tell him thetruth.

And after that, she was certain Arturo would want nothing more to do with her. The thought of that was killingher.

Arturo openedthe door of the suite and stepped back to allow Hero in. God, she was so beautiful he could cry, but ever since dinner, where neither of them ate very much, she had been quiet. Was she nervous about staying with him? He hopednot.

Locking the door behind him, he went to where she stood staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Milan. The back of her dress was cut low revealing a heavenly expanse of honey-colored skin, and he trailed his finger down her spine. “You are perfect,” he whispered, then pressed his lips to her bare shoulder. Hero reached around and cupped his cock in her hand, stroking him through his pants. He pulled at the tied halter of her dress, and the garment slithered to the floor. She wore no bra; her full, ripe breasts were perky, the nipples small and dark red. He moved so he could take each one in his mouth in turn, teasing each until it was rock hard. Hero stroked his hair as he did, both of them moving slowly and savoring each moment. He slid his hand between her legs and caressed her through her damppanties.

“You’rewet.”

“For you,” she whispered, meeting his gaze. “Always foryou.”

He had to have her then, her words spurring the animal in him to erupt. He swept her onto the bed and stripped his own clothes off, swiftly rolling a condom down over his engorged, almost painfully hard cock and thrusting into her. Hero wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, her fingernails digging into his buttocks as she pulled him deeper and harder. Arturo kissed her with such ferocity he could taste blood, his hand moving to pin one of hers over her head. She came over and over as they fucked, and she begged him to neverstop.

He locked his elbows, gazing down into her eyes. “Don’t worry, my precious Hero, I’ll never stop…never…” He thrust hard as he came, groaning her name, taking her mouth hungrily. “You’re so beautiful, so lovely,bella, bella bella…” He knew, without a doubt, that he was in trouble, that he could easily fall in love with this woman, and if he did…God, his heart was still so fragile, so fearful that someone would take her away from him. He felt that dread so keenly tonight, but he didn’t knowwhy.

It was a perfect night: the flight, the meal, and now here he was making love with her, away from the gossips in Como, away from his responsibilities. She brought that out in him, or she had over the last few days, and he had to remind himself that they really didn’t know anything about each other. She had finally told him her name, and he knew enough to realize that was a big step forher.

He wouldn’t be the man who pressured her, especially after what she had been through in her young life. All he wanted to do was be with her, acutely aware that this was a complete one-eighty shift in his whole philosophy. The last three days had been a revelation tohim.

Later, when she fell asleep, he slipped out of bed and snagged his phone from his jacket. Closing the bedroom door, he went into the living room of the suite and called Pete. “Hey, buddy, did I wake youup?”

Peter chuckled. “No, Turo. What’sup?”

Arturo sighed. “I gottrouble.”

“What? What happened? Did you something stupid,Turo?”

“Maybe. It’s a girl, Peter. I’m inlove.”

Chapter Eight

Arturo, I’m the one. I’m the one who smashed your dream. I’m the one who outbid you, bought the Patrizzi apartment. I knew you were bidding, and I went all out to beat you. I’m theone.

Hero kept goingthrough what she would say as she dressed the next morning. She had intended to tell Arturo when they woke, but he had kissed her so sweetly, and his eyes had been so full of…love? That’s what it had looked like, and she had been silenced. They had made love tenderly at first, and then, as Arturo started to goof around, they fucked in every room in the suite, laughing and playing, Arturo chasing her around the rooms until she gaveup.

Then, when his cock was buried deep inside her, she couldn’t think of anything else but him, his body, his smile, his mouth on hers. He would switch from tender to almost rough as he took her, but she gave as good as she got, tugging on his hair, biting his nipples, digging her nails into his back and his butt hard until he moaned. As they showered together, they compared battle scars: the grazes and bruises on each other from their lovemaking. He fucked her in the shower, easily holding her up against cold tile as his cock drove in and out of her swollen and sorecunt.

Her thighs ached, her breasts tingled, and her heart felt as if it had unfurled in her chest. She couldn’t do it; she couldn’t ruin this perfect time with this beautiful man. She would keep her secret for a little whilelonger.