Secret Heirs: Royal Appointment. Carol Marinelli

be sleeping on my own tonight,’ she added as Luca strode on across the courtyard with her safely locked in his arms.

      ‘Brava,’ he said, showing no sign of slowing down.

      The crowd parted like the Red Sea, she noticed. She should put up some sort of token struggle, but it was a magical night, a magical moment, and not too many of them came along.

      Her senses rioted when Luca dipped his head to brush a kiss against her neck. She would see this adventure through, so long as it only took her from one side of the courtyard to the other. ‘I have to go,’ she insisted, when he lowered her to her feet to acknowledge some boisterous partygoers.

      ‘No. You have to stay,’ he argued when he was done, and so close to her ear that it tingled.

      ‘Are you determined to lead me astray?’

      ‘Would I?’ Sweeping her up before she had chance to protest, he strode on towards the palace gardens.

      She was dangerously aroused, but for one night, she was going to be Callie from the lemon groves, without fear or guilt, or any of the dutiful thoughts that had curbed her in the past.

      ‘Where are you taking me?’ she asked as Luca opened a gate leading to lemon groves.

      ‘Wait and see.’

      He didn’t stop until they reached the riverbank where he set her down. She had free will. She could do what she liked. She didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to. Conscious he was watching her, she smiled, but Luca wasn’t fooled. ‘What’s worrying you?’ he said.

      ‘I’m not worried.’ Apart from the longing to have more nights like this, which she knew in her heart of hearts would not be possible. Moonlight lit the scene. Sparkling water rushed by. The bed of grass beneath her feet was soft and deep, and the midnight-blue sky overhead was littered with stars. It was the perfect setting on the perfect night, and Luca was the perfect man. Reaching out, she linked their hands.

      Luca soothed and seduced her with kisses, with touches, and with the expression in his eyes. She believed they were connecting on a deeper level. He made her want to know more about him, and for this to be the start of something, rather than the grand finale. His hands worked magic on her body. His strength seduced her, his scent seduced her...everything about Luca seduced her. He was a man of the earth, a man of the people, who worked with his body, his mind, and good humour, as well as unstinting loyalty towards his Prince, which he’d proved when he had refused to point him out to her.

      This adventure might have its ups and downs, but Luca had featured large in every part of it. He made her spirit soar, and her body cry out for his touch.

      They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. There was no chance she was going anywhere any time soon. She was a woman with needs and desires, who saw no reason for self-denial. She hadn’t prepared for this, but had taken the usual precautions, more in hope than expectation of a love life some time in the far distant future. She hadn’t planned anything, because placing trust in a man was a huge deal for Callie, but Luca was different. He made her feel safe. He made her believe she could trust him.

      His mouth was warm and as persuasive as sin, and, though she was tentative at first, she soon matched his fire. He was more controlled. She was not. She was new to this, and had had no idea how the fire could take hold and consume her. Luca kept his touch tantalisingly light, far too light for her frustrated body. The urge to know every part of him intimately was clawing at her senses. ‘I want you,’ she said as she stared up into his eyes.

      He knew she was suffering. Of course he knew. He was responsible for it. She was hardly playing hard to get, and Luca was available for pleasure. Tracing his magnificent torso over his insubstantial top tipped the balance from caution to action. ‘Take it off,’ she instructed, ‘and then the rest of your clothes.’

      His eyes fired with interest and amusement. ‘You first,’ he countered. ‘Or at least, match me.’

      And so the game began. It was a game with only one conclusion. Once started, it couldn’t be stopped. Without breaking eye contact, she began unbuttoning her blouse. She did so slowly, and felt heat rise between them. It was her turn to make him wait. Pushing the soft fabric from her shoulders, she let it drop.

      He frowned. ‘You’re wearing a bra.’

      ‘I’d say you’re overdressed too,’ she murmured.

      He smiled.

      ‘You should have drawn up your rules before this started,’ she teased, ‘because now you have to take off your flip-flops too.’

      Maintaining eye contact as he kicked them off, she whispered, ‘And now your shorts.’

      ‘Are you sure about that?’

      ‘Absolutely sure.’ She would keep her eyeline level with his.

      ‘Take off your trainers,’ he suggested.

      ‘If that’s a ruse to give me chance to have second thoughts, save it. I won’t change my mind.’

      ‘I’ll take my chances.’ Luca’s stare was long and steady. ‘By the time I’ve finished, you won’t have a stitch of clothing on,’ he promised.

      She shrugged, pretending indifference, but her heart was banging in her chest. ‘If you’d rather not?’

      ‘Oh, I’d rather,’ he said with a look that made her body flame with lust.

      She toed off her trainers, wishing she’d dressed for the Arctic and had more clothes to remove. Luca was in serious danger of winning this game. How would such an experienced man judge her when he saw her naked? But it was exciting and fun, and every bit the adventure she’d dreamed about...the adventure she wouldn’t be telling the Browns about.

      She should have known he’d go commando. He’d lowered his zipper and allowed his shorts to slide down his lean frame. Currently, they were hanging on his thighs. Reaching down, he pushed them the rest of the way and, stepping out of them, he stood in front of her, unconcerned. ‘You still have some way to go,’ he commented.

      She would not look down. ‘My rules state—’ She gasped as Luca yanked her close.

      ‘Your rules count for nothing,’ he assured her in a seductive growl as he nuzzled his stubble-roughened face against her neck.

      ‘Oh—’ Breath shot from her lungs. She couldn’t help but rub her body against his in the hunt for more contact between them, but Luca held her firmly away.

      ‘Not so fast,’ he said, all control, while she was a gasping mass of arousal. ‘I can see I have some training to do.’

      ‘Please,’ she said, making his eyes flare with amusement.

      ‘Nice bra,’ he commented as he deftly removed it.

      Now that was definitely going to give him the wrong idea. She’d chosen something frivolous for Italy. It had seemed such fun at the time. And safe. When she had been shopping in a brightly lit department store with not a single good-looking man around, the flimsy bra and thong had seemed harmless. The brand was quite exclusive, meant for show rather than practicality. Designer lingerie in bright pink silk chiffon bordered with palest aquamarine lace was hardly Callie’s usual choice. She was more of a sensible white cotton type. She could only imagine what Luca was thinking.

      ‘You’re beautiful,’ he murmured, reassuring and disarming her all in one breath.

      ‘No, I’m not.’

      ‘I guess there’s only one way to convince you,’ he said, laughing softly.

      He drew her closer, inch by inch, and then he kissed her. And this was not a teasing brush of his lips, but something more that drew emotion out of her, until she was happy and sad, excited and confused, all at once. She was happy to be here with him, and sad because she knew it couldn’t last. He excited her. Her body was going crazy for more—which he knew. And she was apprehensive