Latin Lovers: Italian Playboys: Bought for the Marriage Bed / The Italian GP's Bride / The Italian's Defiant Mistress

His head came down, the heat from his mouth storming its way into hers, lighting a fire within her that refused to be banked down. She felt it crawling up her legs to pool in between her thighs, the heavy pulse of her desire for him only fanning the flames even further.

His tongue circled hers sensuously, the thrust and stab movements inciting her responses in a way she had not thought possible. Her teeth nipped at his bottom lip, her tongue delved and her hands clung where they could to hold him to her. She heard him groan, a rough low growl of male primal need that made her feel incredibly feminine and vulnerable and yet strangely powerful at the same time.

She felt herself being carried along on a tide of need so strong she had no way of resisting even if she had wanted to. This scorching physical chemistry had been crackling between them from the very first day and it seemed that, in spite of Marc’s determination to resist her, it was becoming clear he was no longer able to do so. The evidence of his desire for her was breathtakingly unmistakable; she could feel his hard male body pressed tightly against her softer one, his mouth working its magic on hers until she was like warmed honey in his arms.

She felt his hands at her bathing suit straps where they had slipped from her shoulders, and then the rush of air as he pulled the material from her like a sloughed skin. Her legs quivered as she stepped out of the pool of wet fabric at her feet, her mouth still locked with his, her heart thudding with the hectic pace of her fevered blood as he pressed her to the nearest cushioned lounger.

He came down on top of her heavily, his legs entrapping hers, his solid weight a welcome burden. She began to claw at his shorts but he shoved her hand away as he dealt with them himself. She gave a breathless gasp of anticipation when she felt him against her, the length and satin strength of him searching for the entry of her body with a desperation she could feel echoing deep within her.

He drove forward with a deep guttural groan which drowned out the sound of her bitten-off cry as he tore through her tender untried flesh. She sucked in a breath and tried not to cry out again as he thrust deeply, but her body resented the intrusion and made it impossible for her to hold back the sound of her discomfort. She gave one short sharp cry, biting down on her lip as soon as it escaped, but it was too late.

Marc stilled his movements and, easing his weight off her, looked down at her, his frown almost closing the space between his dark-as-night eyes.

Tears sprang to her eyes and her teeth sank even further into her bottom lip.

‘Cristo,’ he groaned and rolled off her in one movement.

Nina closed her eyes, her limbs suddenly feeling cold without the warmth of his. ‘Nina … I—’

‘Please don’t say anything.’ She scrambled to her feet without looking at him and reached for her towel.

‘I am assuming from your reaction that you had rather a difficult delivery with Georgia,’ he said, his voice flat and unemotional.

She wound the towel around her body without looking his way.

‘Nina?’

‘I don’t want to talk about it.’

‘We have to talk, whether you like it or not. I need to know.’

‘What do you need to know?’ She turned on him. ‘Do you want to hear how Georgia was born after fifteen hours of labour without her father present? How her father refused to acknowledge her existence? Is that what you want to know?’

Marc stared at her, all of his carefully rehearsed accusations fading away.

‘You have no right to cast judgement,’ she continued. ‘Do you have any idea of what it’s like to be pregnant and alone?

Do you?’

He drew in a breath and let it out on a sigh. ‘No, I do not. You are right. I have no right to judge.’

‘Georgia needed a father and my … I mean I needed someone to help me bring her into the world, but your brother wasn’t interested.’

‘He had not planned on having a child with you.’

‘So what?’ she asked. ‘Whatever the motive when a child is conceived, it’s up to both of the parents to jointly see to its welfare. Besides, accidents can happen.’ She gave him a pointed look and added, ‘I didn’t happen to see you put on a condom just now.’

‘I did not … you know …’ He let his words trail off, a dull flush riding over his cheeks.

She raised her brows. ‘Surely you know better than that? Pre-ejaculatory fluid contains thousands of sperm. You might very well be in exactly the same position as your brother.’

‘If I am, I am prepared to meet my responsibilities. If we have conceived a child I will not walk away.’

‘Even though you loathe me and can barely stand to look at me?’

He met her gaze without flinching. ‘I will put my personal feelings aside if need be.’

Nina felt her heart tighten painfully at his words. He was so unlike his brother, who’d had his fun and had walked away without a backward glance. She knew Marc would stand by his word, even if it cost him dearly. How she wished she could tell him the truth!

She turned away before he could see the longing in her eyes. ‘I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. I have no plans to get pregnant.’

‘If it were to happen.’ He raked a hand through his hair as he considered the prospect. ‘You will tell me?’

She met his eyes for a brief moment. ‘I would owe you that at the very least.’

His eyes fell away from hers first. ‘I will check on Georgia. You should go to bed; you look … exhausted.’

She opened her mouth to deny it but stopped as she realised it was true. ‘Thank you,’ she said softly and moved towards the door.

‘Nina?’

His voice stopped her hand from turning the handle and she slowly turned around to face him. ‘Yes?’

His eyes didn’t quite meet hers. ‘I am sorry.’

Her hand on the doorknob fell away. ‘For what?’

He dragged his gaze up to hers with an effort. ‘I wish I had known the truth about Georgia’s birth.’

She gave him a rueful little grimace and reached for the doorknob again. ‘I wish you had, too. You can’t imagine how much.’

Marc opened his mouth to call her back but the door closed on her exit, locking him inside with his guilt.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE first thing Nina saw when she came down with Georgia the next morning was a personal cheque made out to her lying on the kitchen bench, which was exactly double the allowance he had deposited in the bank the day before.

She wasn’t sure whether to be angry or hurt. Was he paying off the bet out of guilt or to insult her even more? She scrunched it up and threw it at the nearest wall only to hear a reproving hiss behind her. She turned to see Lucia looking at her with her usual contempt, her dark eyes going to the ball of paper lying against the wall before coming back to hers.

‘Do you wish me to clean that up, signora?’

Nina unthinkingly responded in Italian. ‘No. Mi scusi. I will see to it.’

Lucia stared at her, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Nina gave her a rueful look. ‘I should have told you earlier. I speak and understand Italian.’

‘Signore Marcello did not tell me,’ Lucia said, her eyes narrowing slightly.