‘Your first dance is mine, I believe.’ He caught her around the waist as the string quartet struck up.
‘Cesare, I’m working!’
‘I’m the guest of honour. If I choose to dance with the super-talented photographer of this wedding, then this is what I shall do.’
He drew her close, a deep satisfaction welling up as she leaned into him. His body sprang to life, the unique scent of her making him ache.
Pulling her closer still, he teased his lips over her earlobe. ‘I can’t wait for this thing to be over.’
‘It won’t be for an hour or so yet. And then there’s the evening reception—’
He frowned. ‘That is unacceptable.’
She laughed. ‘I was going to say I’ve got most of the pictures I need. Once the bride changes into her evening gown, I’ll need a few more shots but, apart from that, I’m done. Agata wants to be the one to take the last picture of them leaving on their honeymoon. I didn’t see the harm, so I don’t have to stay till the end.’
He exhaled in relief. She heard it and pulled back to stare at him. His breath caught at how beautiful she looked.
‘Why the urgency?’
‘Other than the fact that you look breathtaking and I’m insanely jealous of any man who looks at you?’
One elegant brow arched. ‘Try again.’
He sighed. ‘I know we were going to wait until after the wedding to talk but...I’ve been going crazy not to be able to be with you. I’ve missed you in my bed.’
Her lips parted on a sigh and his blood rushed forcefully south. She felt his body’s reaction and stumbled. He used the excuse to bring her closer and watched her face bloom in a delicate blush.
‘I...I thought we were putting everything on hold until Tuscany, including sex.’
‘A foolish addendum. The moment we leave here I aim to resolve that.’
A look crossed her face that brought the feeling he’d experienced earlier back.
‘And would sex come with strings?’
He frowned. ‘What does that mean—strings?’
‘I mean will you make love to me completely or will you...do what you did in Rome?’
Mild shock went through his body. ‘Surely it can’t mean that much to you?’
Her face flamed with the heat of a thousand candles, but she held his gaze. ‘What if I said it did? What if I told you that when we were married—’
‘We’re still married.’ He caught her left hand and, despite his displeasure at her bare fingers, he kissed the knuckle where her wedding ring should be.
She licked her lower lip and fire shot into his groin. ‘I meant what if I told you that it’s important to me because in that moment, when you lose control in my arms, I feel closest to you? That when you took that away from me I felt as if I’ve lost you completely? Would that change your mind then?’
Cesare froze. After several seconds, she pulled away. He couldn’t find the strength to stop her.
‘I thought not.’ She left him on the dance floor, walking quickly away.
He didn’t get a chance to talk to her again, not for another hour and not until Ava had taken her last picture and it was time to leave.
With Annabelle buzzing from making new friends and chatting incessantly, Cesare was forced to wait until they were back home. The chatter lessened as they drew closer to the villa and, by the time they were home, their daughter’s head was lolling to the side.
‘She’s worn out,’ Ava said.
‘All day talking about horses and giraffes will do that to a girl. I’ll put her to bed.’
‘No, let me.’
‘Ava...’
She avoided eye contact. ‘I’ll come and find you when I’m done with her.’
Cesare stood at the bottom of the staircase watching her walk away. The sinking sensation in his stomach intensified and for a wild second he wanted to rush after them, crush them in his arms and never let go.
Stemming the need, he turned towards his study. He needed to put the decision he’d made in the small hours of this morning into effect. It was the only way to ensure his family’s safety. Once he was in possession of all the facts, he’d tell Ava. She would probably argue with him but at least they would talk it through together.
Ten minutes later, he was regretting not having left this phone call till morning.
‘I’ve given you all the pertinent facts.’
He listened and blew out an exasperated breath. ‘Yes, I’ve thought this through. Are you able to make it happen straight away or not?’