Skylar ignored the amused look on his face all the way back to Florence. No, she wouldn’t kiss him at all. She had no wish to repeat last night’s mistake. What if he behaved the same way again? She wouldn’t let him witness her vulnerability.
“Are you ignoring me?” he prodded, making her roll her eyes at him.
“No, why would I?”
“Maybe because you’re scared to kiss me.” Skylar wanted to erase the stupid grin off his face.
“No, I’m not scared. I just don’t want to kiss you.”
“Liar!” She blushed crimson but didn’t answer. She closed her eyes, feigning sleep all the way back to Florence.
Skylar headed up the elevator straight to their room on reaching the hotel in Florence. Christian stopped at the reception to inform them about their early morning check-out the next day. She had just showered and changed when Christian arrived. His smoldering look swept over her body, making her acutely aware of herself.
“Can we order dinner? I can’t go down to the restaurant tonight.”
“I know. I’ve ordered room service.” There was a knock, and a hotel staff brought in a tray laden with food. Skylar just couldn’t wait to tuck into the mouth-watering fare and then drop off to sleep. She had no plans to kiss Christian. She had already thanked him and that was all she would do.
“Mmm, this is so good! I’ve never had such a delicious cake in my life!” she gasped, closing her eyes and chewing the heavenly treat.
“It’s Schiacciata dolce Florentina, a traditional dessert of Florence, made only during the carnival! I requested them to make it, especially for us.”
Skylar opened her eyes and blinked at the yellow sponge cake. Why was he doing so much for her? Was it just to get into her pants? But he didn’t even touch her when she was ready last night.
“Oh! Thank you for everything you’re doing for me, Christian.” A warm blush crept up to her cheeks, knowing what his reply would be.
“You know how to thank me, Skylar.”
“Is that why you’re taking so much effort to please me?” She searched his amused eyes while he shook his head.
“Nope! That’s just a bonus prize!” Skylar groaned at his confusing talk. She didn’t understand the guy at all. Why was he talking to her in riddles?
“You’re weird. I don’t understand you at all.” She concentrated on her food instead. Maybe he would head for a shower after dinner. She could feign sleep in the meantime. Would he demand his kisses?
“That’s because you’re not trying. Try to feel more than argue!”
“I’m not this way with my friends. I don’t know why you bring out the worst in me.” She shrugged, finishing her dinner, deep in thought. Christian sat watching her closely. He had seen her with her friends. It was a stark contrast to how she behaved with him.
“I know! It’s because you are biased toward me, maybe. You don’t see my positive points.” He got up to shower and change for bed. Anyway, she would never accept his viewpoint that she was indeed biased towards him. Their parents had drilled it inside her head that he was a rebel, one who never cared for his family. Why else would she object to marrying him? Any other woman in her shoes would have jumped at the offer.
Skylar sat pondering over what he just told her. Was it true? Maybe she was actually biased towards him based on their parents’ judgemental talks she had overheard. Was that why she fought with Christian all the time?
She cleared their dinner and went to the bedroom to sleep. She thought about Christian and his caring ways. He wasn’t what their parents had portrayed him to be. Then why did they send him away? Did they not know their own child? Why did their parents have a false notion of Christian? If he was so caring, why did he stay away from them for so long? The questions echoed in her head as she tried to sleep.
Christian was really a mystery to her while he knew everything about her. Despite spending time with him, she hadn’t been able to figure him out. How could she know him better? Why couldn’t she read him like an open book?
“Still thinking about me?” His husky whisper near her startled her out of her mind. She turned to see Christian lying down beside her, his chest almost touching her arm. When did he come out of the en-suite? But she couldn’t admit that she had indeed been thinking about him!
“No, why would I? I was trying to sleep.” She couldn’t meet his eyes, knowing he would read her mind.
“I know you can’t sleep when you’re dying to know me better.” Her eyes flew up to his. How the hell did he know that? “There’s a way to know me better, but you need to come here to know all about it.” He patted the side next to him while Skylar blushed crimson. She knew what he would demand next. Her heart jumped at the idea. Maybe she would finally get a release tonight, but her mind warned her against it.
“What way?” she whispered, making him smile with satisfaction. He was right in his guess. He knew her so well that his heart was never wrong where Skylar was concerned. She was too immature and naive for him!
“Come here.” His eyes glittered under the soft night lamp as he gazed back at her. Skylar’s heart picked up the pace, thumping wildly in her chest. She knew what she was getting into, yet she couldn’t control her urges around him. Her body seemed to have a will of its own. She slowly scooted towards him while he waited for her patiently. This was the first time he didn’t need to use force upon her. She came to him of her own will!
“Now what?” she breathed, her eyes wide in anticipation of a kiss. Maybe they could resume where they left off last night?
“Now, kiss me.” It was an order that made her heart pound. Her cheeks blushed with color as she slowly cupped his cheek. Christian’s breath hitched as he waited patiently for her to make a move. At that moment, he wanted to throw caution to the wind, grab her and smash his lips to hers in a hot and searing kiss. But he calmed himself and waited.
Christian couldn’t move a muscle as he lay on his back, waiting for her explosive kiss. She dipped her head at last and claimed his lips in a slow, gentle, and lingering kiss that took his breath away. It was the sweetest and the most soulful one he had ever experienced. Christian drowned in it, too drunk in her sweetness to make a move. He allowed her to take over this time!
His arms wrapped around her soft body, molding it to his. She fitted him perfectly! He slowly ground his rock-hard arousal into her to make her realize what he wanted.
A gasp escaped her mouth when she realized it.
Christian smiled and flipped her over in a split second, pinning her to the bed and hovering over her. “My turn now,” he whispered hoarsely. She had awakened him to the point of no return now and he intended to take what was his. Skylar’s eyes widened, and she watched him with parted lips.
The sight of her luscious, plump lips made him lose his mind. He claimed them hungrily, devouring them like they were his dessert of the day. His tongue stroked every recess inside her sweet mouth, biting her lower lip, demanding an equally hungry response from her. She complied, kissing him back with equal passion, battling for dominance. A groan of pure pleasure escaped his mouth. This was what he always wanted to see and feel! He wanted to feel her passion!
Her fingers gripped his hair and tugged at them, all the while fighting him for dominance. Her kiss turned wild and Christian gave in, surrendering to her passion. It was better to vent it out this way than to argue with him!
A deep, guttural moan escaped his lips when her mouth released his and trailed to his neck. She bit and licked the sting, marking him, branding him as hers just like he had. There was an intensely feral quality in her moves that took his breath away. He loved the spitfire’s passion!
“I want you so much. Do you want me, Skylar?” he whispered hoarsely. Skylar stilled suddenly, releasing him with flushed cheeks.
She couldn’t believe what she had actually done. Had she given him that love bite on his neck? Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath, slowly releasing him. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. How could she behave so wantonly with him? Her glance fell to his swollen lips and she couldn’t meet his eyes.
“No, I..” She stopped to give him a flustered look.
“Yes, you do. It’s okay to admit it, Skylar,” he coaxed her, but she shook her head vehemently.
“No, I don’t want you!” Her entire body throbbed with a dull ache at their incomplete experience, yet she couldn’t admit a thing to him.
Christian watched her with desperation. Why couldn’t she admit the truth? What was stopping her?
“Yes, you do. I won’t kiss you again until you are ready to admit it.” He turned his back towards her and lay down to sleep. Flustered, she sighed and closed her eyes, a sense of restlessness spreading all over her body.