An Italian Island Summer by Sue Moorcroft

Author:Sue Moorcroft [Moorcroft, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2023-04-03T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Gently, he closed the last fraction of space between them and touched his lips to hers. He didn’t grab her or crush her to him, but tasted her with tenderness, stroking with his tongue, brushing with his lips.

Ursula closed her eyes and felt the velvet glide of desire slide down her spine. He kissed the corners of her mouth and the softness of her cheek, and then the sensitive, tingly places in the crook of her neck. Between kisses, he murmured, ‘Should we say goodnight? Or would you like to come into my room? Or would you prefer yours?’ His hot breath shivered across her skin.

Her eyes opened to slits to meet his hungry gaze. ‘I don’t think we should say goodnight,’ she said decidedly.

His mouth brushed hers once more and she could hear a smile in his voice. ‘I agree. I think we should talk.’

In surprise, she drew back to study him. Talk? That’s where they were heading?

‘But not here,’ he added, as noisy laughter from guests heading for their rooms floated to them from the main stairwell.

‘My room, then.’ Ursula dipped in her pocket for her key and opened her door. Only the light shimmering through her open curtains illuminated the room. When Alfio closed the door and his arms slid around her, she pressed close, shuddering as his hardness pressed back.

He kissed her, but then paused. ‘I want to know you feel secure,’ he murmured. ‘We have been drinking. I do not want you to regret.’

Warmth kindled inside her as she turned within his arms. ‘You’re a good man.’

Even in the dimness, she caught his smile. ‘I hope that if we go further, it will be very good. If you want more?’

Ursula wondered if there was anything sexier than a man who refused to take anything for granted. She ran her fingers up the backs of his bare arms and then travelled on until her hands rested on his shoulders. ‘You’ll be the first since Stephan,’ she whispered, wanting him to know, in case it made him feel weird.

He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘There must be reasons that you have not been to bed with anyone in all that time. Two years?’

‘Nearer three,’ she amended. A sigh escaped her, and she kissed his jawline, feeling fine stubble rough beneath her lips. ‘It meant trusting someone.’ When she’d brought Alfio into her room, she hadn’t envisaged talking about what was going on so much as just doing it. Now he’d brought it up though, it was a good idea to pause for thought. She paused. She thought. Then she said, ‘I trust you.’

His arms tightened. But apparently, he hadn’t finished with the discussion. ‘One or both of us might leave Ortigia at the end of the summer.’

‘Yeah.’ She clasped her hands around his neck, getting comfortable as it seemed he wasn’t rushing into this with wild abandon. ‘But adults frequently make love without promises or strings.’

Did he still hesitate? ‘You can trust me with your body, Ursula,’ he said softly.

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