to stand with Domenico at the rail for the last time. Laura gave a deep sigh when they left the boat. ‘This time tomorrow I’ll be home in Stavely.’
‘I know,’ he said sombrely, and took her hand. ‘Ring me the minute you arrive, per favore.’
She nodded silently.
He looked down at her in question. ‘It is much too early to take you to the hotel. Would you like some tea, Laura?’
Her heart leapt. ‘Yes, please.’
‘Will you come home with me to drink it?’
‘Yes, please.’
He laughed softly. ‘Such a polite English miss. Yet last night you stabbed me to the heart!’
‘Such a dramatic Venetian signore,’ she mocked.
‘It is the truth,’ he assured her. ‘I did not sleep last night.’
‘Because I was so horrible?’
‘Yes. But also because I desired you so much my frustrated body would not let me rest.’
Laura flushed hectically, glad of the dim lighting as they left the piazza. ‘I had something of the same trouble,’ she admitted gruffly.
He stopped dead. ‘Are you saying you longed for me as much as I longed for you?’ he demanded.
She nodded. ‘That’s never happened to me before.’
‘Then you have not felt passion for the men in your life,’ he said with satisfaction as they resumed walking.
‘There haven’t been that many,’ she protested.
‘Bene.’ When they reached his apartment he took her hand to walk upstairs then unlocked his door and ushered her inside. ‘But whatever their number in the past, Laura, it is now just one, yes?’
For answer she threw her arms round him as she’d wanted to the moment she’d seen him earlier, wanting but not quite daring to tell him that now he was the only man she wanted in her life. Ever.
Domenico’s arms closed round her in possession, his cheek on her hair as they held each other in silence. After a while he released her and took her into the kitchen. ‘You want tea,’ he said unevenly.
‘Actually, I don’t. I said I did because I hoped you’d bring me back here,’ she said candidly, and caught her breath at the brilliance of his smile.
‘So what would you like, carissima?’
‘I want to hold hands with you and just enjoy being together for the time we have left,’ she said simply.
‘Bene,’ he said, stroking a hand down her cheek. ‘Because that is almost exactly what I wish to do, also.’
‘Almost?’
He shrugged. ‘I cannot lie, Laura. I am a man, therefore I want more than just to hold hands.’
‘You’re honest!’ she said as they went into the salotto.
The translucent eyes shadowed slightly. ‘I try to be.’ He took off his jacket and drew her down beside him. ‘Laura, I would have rung you today, even without receiving your gift.’
‘Really?’
‘I could not have parted with you in such a way.’
‘It would have made my flight home pretty miserable,’ she admitted.
There was silence for a moment, then Domenico turned to her. ‘It is madness to think that mere money should keep us from seeing each other.’
‘It’s a big thing to me, Domenico.’ She leaned against his shoulder. ‘I didn’t have a holiday last year, so my mother gave me money for my birthday on condition I put it towards the villa-share I was offered in Tuscany. As I told you before, I earn a good salary, but I budget very carefully so I can save a bit for Abby and buy the reasonably smart clothes I need for my job. And I’d love to have my hair cut in one of those spiffy short styles, but keeping it long is cheaper so I don’t.’
‘Do not cut your beautiful hair, ever,’ he said vehemently. ‘Laura—’
‘No, hear me out. I’m trying to explain why, much as I long to come back to Venice, I can’t before next year at the very earliest, Domenico.’
He turned to stare at her in consternation. ‘Next year!’
She nodded ruefully. ‘But if you like travelling couldn’t you come to London instead? Or don’t you get enough time off from your job?’
‘If it is the only way to see you I shall make time,’ he assured her. ‘Is there room for me in your flat?’
‘Yes.’ Laura looked at him squarely. ‘But there’s only one bed.’
Domenico drew in a deep, unsteady breath. ‘I have tried,’ he said roughly, ‘but I am only human, carissima.’ He lifted her onto his lap and kissed her with undisguised longing. ‘Amore,’ he whispered. ‘I want you so much. Do you want me?’
She touched a hand to his cheek. ‘Not just want. I couldn’t sleep last night, afraid I’d never have the chance to tell you I’m very much in love with you, too, Domenico.’
This confession was too much for him. He kissed her fiercely, then scooped her up to carry her to the bedroom, which up to now had been unknown territory. But, utterly bowled over by being carried off in Domenico’s arms, Laura had no eyes for décor as he laid her down on the bed. He stretched out beside her and held her close, his cheek against hers.
‘You are trembling,’ he whispered.
She nodded. ‘You are, too.’
He gave a husky, muffled laugh. ‘I know a cure for this.’
Laura wriggled closer. ‘Cure me, then.’
‘First,’ he whispered, ‘I must take down your hair.’
‘Will that stop the shaking?’
‘No, but it will give me very great pleasure!’ When her hair streamed down in a gleaming cascade Domenico drew in a deep, relishing breath and threaded his fingers through it as he kissed her. Laura returned his kisses for a long, breathless interval, then pushed him away and stood at the side of the bed, shaking her hair back from her flushed face.
‘I must go back to the hotel looking respectable, Domenico, so if only for practical reasons I’d better take my dress off.’ She kicked off her shoes, then sat on the bed with her back to him. ‘Would you undo my zip, please?’
‘I like these practical reasons!’ He sat up to plant kisses down her spine as he laid it bare, then stood up and drew her to her feet to smooth the dress from her shoulders. Laura stepped out of it and held it out to him, her colour high as his eyes moved over her with a possessive look as tactile as a caress. He laid the dress carefully over a chair, then snatched her up again and sat down with her on his lap to press kisses all over her face. When he raised his head she began to loosen his tie.
‘Your turn now,’ she said breathlessly.
‘Be careful, amore,’ he warned, in a tone that turned her to jelly, ‘this tie is very special to me.’
Laura slid to her feet and handed it to him. ‘You can put it away, then.’
Domenico took it to join her dress, and then in sudden impatience took his shirt over his head, kicked off his shoes and stripped down to silk boxers before picking her up again to lay her on the bed. He let himself down beside her and took her face in his hands. ‘We are still shaking,’ he pointed out.
Laura smiled into the luminous blue eyes. ‘So what do we do to stop it?’
‘First,’ he whispered, ‘I do this.’ He undid