she’d ever experienced and she didn’t want it to end.
He lifted his head and a lock of hair fell across his forehead. Meeting her aroused gaze, he spoke with a gravelly husk as he asked, ‘Signora, will you let me take you?’
Her answer was an unequivocal whispered, ‘Yes...oh, yes...’
Reaching down to her panties, he eased them down over her hips and discarded them. Laying his hands against her silken thighs, he pressed them apart. In less than a heartbeat he’d eased himself deep inside her.
A sharp pain made her wince momentarily and catch her breath, but the discomfort very quickly subsided. It was as if she’d been waiting for him all her life. He was hard and hot and everything she’d wanted and yearned for but hadn’t known just how much until the very moment he claimed her.
Both the revelation and the visceral nature of the experience stunned her.
Bastian, too, was taken aback. His gaze was resting on her as though he couldn’t quite believe what was happening.
‘Sei incredibile,’ he murmured.
No more was said as their bodies started to move in the timeless motion that lovers the world over intuitively knew, and Lily instinctively wrapped her slender legs round his lean taut middle the better to accommodate him.
There was no thought of regret whatsoever.
How could she possibly regret something as amazing and sublime as this?
He had said she was incredible, but she would say the same about him—and more.
Never before had Bastian felt so turned on or so sexually hungry, as if he would go out of his mind if he didn’t have her. Recalling that he’d mocked his father when he’d asked if Lily had put him under a spell, he now knew she had done exactly that to him.
She was utterly exquisite, with her silky soft skin, her long-lashed green eyes and hot, tight centre, and he hadn’t missed the fact that she’d been a little too tight when he’d first taken possession. It had surprised him. Maybe the sexual intimacy between her and her ex hadn’t worked out?
But all that was forgotten as he sensed her come undone. The muscles in his arms bunched harder as he held himself still, pausing to give her time to enjoy the release. It appeared as though she was utterly overwhelmed by the experience—as if she’d never encountered a similar response with a man before.
Bastian couldn’t deny that the idea filled him with a surge of undeniable male pride. He was still entranced by the seductive sounds she’d made as he’d pleasured her, and this couldn’t help but heighten his desire. But any further thoughts vanished as the very palpable need in him to attain his own culmination grew undeniably urgent.
‘Look at me,’ he commanded.
Lily complied, her green eyes shimmering like crystal, her beautiful golden hair spread out on the cushions behind her. He thrust hard as his craving grew ever more demanding, and when it reached its crescendo she held him as he cried out.
Gasping to get his breath, he fell against her. He could honestly attest that he had never had such mind-blowing sex with a woman before. They seemed to have the most inexplicable connection despite having only just met.
When he raised his head again, to study her face, he was shocked to find that her eyes were swimming with tears. What did that mean?
Carefully disengaging himself, he deftly changed places wth her and pulled her firmly into his arms. In the aftermath of this extraordinary and unexpected spontaneous event his heart was racing as it had never raced before.
Concerned, he gently asked, ‘Why do you cry, mia dolce? Did I hurt you?’
‘No, you didn’t. I don’t know why I’m crying.’
Her soft whisper was as delicate as gossamer, and surprisingly she touched her hand to his cheek. Unable to resist taking it captive, he turned over the slender palm and touched his lips to her skin as though it was something infinitely precious.
What was the matter with him? He was behaving as though he had little control over his actions and that had to cause alarm. Lily’s fire had burned him more than he’d thought possible...
‘YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.’
His lover’s voice was suddenly unequivocally firm. Even as she spoke Lily was getting to her feet, tidying her disarrayed hair and straightening her dishevelled clothing. She even reached down inside her dress to pull out the bra he’d undone and despatched it into a pocket.
It was hard to deal with the knowledge of her being naked under the cheerful striped dress without wanting her all over again. Bastian knew a powerful urge to insist she came back to him and continued what they’d started to his satisfaction. But he knew he didn’t dare do any such thing. It would be like pouring fuel on a fire that already threatened to get out of control.
If nothing else he needed time to take stock, time to...
Rising to his feet, he dealt with the condom. Then he zipped up his jeans and snatched up his cambric shirt from the floor. Quickly pulling it on, he dragged his hand through his hair and turned to survey his companion.
‘We haven’t finished discussing your tenancy,’ he declared, uneasy with the subject because of what had just occurred.
‘You think I’ve forgotten that you want me out?’ she answered testily.
‘No. I didn’t mean that.’ Deliberately, he softened his tone. It was impossible to stay angry and frustrated with her when the woman had just taken him to heaven and back.
‘But you still want me to vacate earlier than I should and—and—’ Visibly squaring her shoulders, she stared back at him. ‘Like I said, I have rights, and I’ll explore just what they are with a solicitor if I have to. You’re not going to get rid of me quite so easily, signor.’
Of all the things she might have said, he’d never expected that. In truth, he had to admit that he admired her for taking such a stance.
‘Look, all I want to say is that I’m willing to come at things differently and give you a bit more leeway in the matter.’
‘What?’
Knowing he had stupidly let his guard down, after being careful about his dealings with women for so long, Bastian felt he had no one to blame for this awkward situation but himself.
Rubbing his hand round his jaw, he told her, ‘I mean you don’t have to leave straight away. I’ve been unexpectedly invited to go to Brazil on business, and I anticipate I’ll be gone for at least six weeks. In light of that, I’ve decided you can stay here until I return. When I get back we can review the situation. Is that more agreeable to you?’
‘I won’t deny having a bit more time to think about things and make some plans would be better.’
‘Good. Then the matter is settled.’
‘What about planting the new olive groves?’
‘That, too, can be postponed until I get back.’
‘I see...’
His beautiful tenant was stroking her hands up and down her arms as if they were chilled but, having just become personally acquainted with her warm embrace, he could attest to them being anything but cold when she’d wrapped them around him.
‘Did what happened between us just now cause you to change your mind, Signor Carrera?’
‘You can at least call me Bastian.’
On hearing his invitation, Lily immediately coloured. She knew that their being on first-name terms wasn’t going to make their situation any