“It’s not that.”
“Yes, it is. I’m going too fast.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ve been enjoying this time with you a great deal more than I thought I would. That’s something I hadn’t anticipated. But I guess I still need a little more time.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
“It isn’t that I don’t want to make love, Stefano, but this is all happening so fast.”
“That’s true, but things have changed, or so I thought.”
“You know they have.” She folded her arms. “Perhaps because you’re a man, you can follow through with your natural inclinations when it appeals to you. Obviously, I’ve had no problem in that regard, either. But we’re not in a hurry, are we?”
“Of course not.”
She’d just hung him with his own words by reminding him of that terrible message he’d sent to her about no wedding night. But within a very short amount of time, that man had disappeared. He wanted to take it all back and start over. A lance piercing his body couldn’t have done more damage and it was his own fault.
On a groan, Stefano
got up from the couch. “We have a lifetime to work everything out. There’s one thing I know about you already. I’ll always be able to count on your honesty.”
Though it was going to take time, Stefano was determined to win her heart. She was a prize beyond all others. Time was all he had now that he was her husband. Hopefully, their marriage would last for the rest of their lives.
“I depend on yours, too,” she murmured. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed.” She picked up the radio to take with her.
“I’m sure you’re tired and bed sounds good to you.”
“It does.” She started for the hallway.
“We have another exciting day of skiing tomorrow,” he reminded her.
“I can’t wait,” she called over her shoulder.
He believed she meant that. So far they’d enjoyed doing everything together whether cooking, tending Fausto, playing cards or talking. Among other things his wife was a natural at sports, and a moment ago she’d been on fire for him, displaying a hunger for him that was thrilling.
There was no way she could turn off those feelings at will any more than he could. But she didn’t have that much experience dealing with desire. He had to ease her into making love with him.
Tomorrow they’d eat dinner at the lodge in disguise once they’d had their fill of skiing. He couldn’t wait. Afterward, he’d take her into the bar for dancing where he would have a legitimate reason to put his arms around her and feel the mold of her beautiful body close to him.
He put the game away and turned down the fire before heading for his bedroom. Once he’d looked at his emails, he’d take a quick shower and crawl into bed. Alone. But he didn’t intend for this state of affairs to last much longer.
* * *
Lanza threw herself across the bed and broke down sobbing into her pillow.
Lying in Stefano’s arms tonight, relishing the taste and feel of him, had brought her ecstasy. But she was afraid he didn’t love her. The thought that his heart might not be involved had sent a chill through her body and she’d been the one to break it off.
The thought of his making love to her if he wasn’t in love the same way she was hurt her so much she couldn’t lie there any longer. It would be better to keep her distance from him and not succumb to her own longings. He’d never take her with him to one of his mines, and she’d spend part of her life in pain every time he went away.
Things would get easier once they’d returned to the palace. The difficulty lay in getting through the rest of this week while they were alone. Yet, there was nothing she wanted more in this world than to stay here with him indefinitely.
Lanza decided she had to be out of her mind. Donetta would tell her she was crazy not to live it up the way a man would do, especially with a husband who looked like Stefano. She could hear her sister now. Forget being in love. There is no such thing. Enjoy!
Fausta would have a different take on it. She would tell her there was no reason why she couldn’t have her own secret lover. It wasn’t natural to be forced to stay in a marriage with no joy. Her sister was right, but Lanza couldn’t see herself being unfaithful, or even getting interested in another man. What would be the use? Stefano was in a class of his own.
At four in the morning Lanza awakened, shocked to realize she’d never gotten ready for bed. The wind had picked up during the night and moaned around the bedroom windows.
She hurried into the bathroom to change into her nightgown and brush her teeth. When she got into bed, she turned on the radio to a music station to blot out the howling of the wind. There hadn’t been a sign of it during the day, but the weather changed fast up here in the mountains.