Harlequin Romance March 2021 Box Set Cara Colter (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

of his trousers, then reached out and ran one finger down his chest slowly, a light caress. Matteo stood still, only the faintest quiver showing how much her touch affected him as his eyes darkened with passion. They stayed there for another long moment until she reached one hand out towards him.

‘Come here.’

Matteo needed no further invitation. In an instant he was beside her, around her, enveloping her, kissing her, touching her in all those sweet, secret places that belonged to him. Charlie returned the kisses and caresses, biting softly into the skin on his shoulder, running a hand up his arm, glorying in the muscles of his stomach, reaching down to cup him until he moaned, stilling her hand.

‘Damn, Charlie. Not yet.’ And then it was her turn to moan as his mouth moved down her throat, dropping light teasing kisses on the tops of her breasts as his hand slid down her body to find the very core of her. She moved under him with little half cries as he stroked her expertly until she pulled him to her, sighing in sweet relief as he completed her. He was hers, and she was his. And nothing could change that. For tonight at least.

* * *

Charlie had no idea what time it was, but as she stirred and opened her eyes she noticed how the moon streamed in through the windows. Matteo slumbered next to her, his arm slung possessively around her, and for a moment all she wanted to do was to nuzzle in against him, breathe in his sharp, spicy scent, luxuriate in his hard, toned length and go back to sleep. But her brain had cranked into gear with the opening of her eyes and so, after a moment, she slid carefully out of the covers and padded over to the window. Leaning against the sill, she stared out at the now sleeping city, only a few lights dotted here and there showing she wasn’t the only person awake. Despite the clear sky, the stars were faint, thanks to the streetlights, but the full moon hung low and bright.

The night was warm, so warm she didn’t need her nightgown or robe, safe in the knowledge that as no windows faced her nobody could see her as she stood at the window wearing nothing but the light of the moon. Charlie had never minded nudity, always happy for a quick skinny-dip or to sunbathe in some secluded spot. It was one of the many things about her that she knew Matteo found simultaneously amusing, arousing and frustrating. He was far more of an always keep a bag with a swimsuit and a towel in the car just in case instead of a shed your clothes and take a chance kind of guy. And that had been part of the charm, coaxing him into taking a chance, letting caution fly. She’d loved the fact that opposites really did attract.

She couldn’t help but smile, slow and secretively, as she relived the previous couple of hours. They were living proof that opposites attracted, were still attracted. But was that attraction enough? With that thought any last trace of sleepiness fled. Instead her mind was filled with all the thoughts she’d been trying to suppress ever since she’d made the decision to bring Matteo to Italy. After all, she could have deposited him safely in Kensington with a paid nurse and an excuse for her absence, sent him to a secluded luxury hotel. But she’d wanted to come here, wanted to look after him, to snatch a last few days with him.

Had wanted to make love with him again.

What was she doing? When would she learn to think before she acted? Surely, surely she’d learned her lesson over the last few days. Her chest constricted until she yearned for air, space. Creeping to the bathroom, she extracted her silk robe from the back of the door and wrapped it firmly around her then, with a last glance at the still peacefully sleeping Matteo, she slipped out of the bedroom and into the living room.

Charlie hadn’t had a chance to explore the well-stocked bar before, but luckily there was enough light for her to find and open a bottle of mineral water and put some ice into a glass. She poured herself a large drink, collected her book from the table and a soft throw from the sofa and slid open the door to the terrace, breathing in the cooler night air. Was it still night-time or was it very early morning? At what point did it tip from up too late to up too early?

Wrapping the throw around her, Charlie lay down on one of the loungers and stared up at the night sky, her book unopened in her hand.

‘Can’t sleep?’ She started, looking up to see Matteo leaning against the door, clad in just a pair of boxers slung low on his hips. Desire trembled through her, despite all their exertions to quench it earlier that night.

‘It seemed a shame to waste this gorgeous terrace when the moon is so beautiful,’ she said, smiling at him. But he didn’t smile back, his brows drawn together in query.

‘Having regrets?’

‘No, no, not at all. I was just…’ she hesitated ‘… I was just wondering what happens next.’ She laughed a little shakily. ‘I know—most unlike me. That’s your job, isn’t it?’

‘Then you tell me not to worry about the future, that it usually takes care of itself. Let’s just live in the moment.’

Charlie shivered as she heard her words parroted back to her, echoing the thoughts preoccupying her mind. ‘Maybe that’s not always the best philosophy after all. I guess I’ve been thinking a lot over the last few weeks. Thinking about where we went wrong, about the part I played.’

Matteo pushed himself off the door frame and, hooking a chair, placed it next to her, sitting down and taking her hand. ‘Your part? I don’t want to be some kind of