The Royal Collection. Rebecca Winters

feel the same way,” she responded. “I want it to last, but I know it’s not going to.”

      He shook his head. “Shh. Don’t spoil this heavenly evening. We have two more days and nights ahead of us.”

      “You’re right.”

      “You’ve lost your gardenia. I’m going to pick another one.” He got up and walked a ways until he found one. When he returned, he hunkered down next to her and put it behind her ear. “This is how I’m always going to remember you.”

      Antonio couldn’t wait to get close to her again and cleaned up their picnic. When everything had been put away, she started to leave, but he caught her by the ankle. “Stay with me.”

      “I was just going to get out of my bathing suit.”

      “But I want to hold you first.” He pulled her down and rolled onto his side so he could look at her. “I’ve been waiting all day for tonight to come.”

      “So have I.” Her voice throbbed.

      He pulled her into him and claimed her luscious mouth that had given him a heart attack last night. “You could have no idea how much I want you. Love me, Christina. I need you.”

      * * *

      “Would it shock you if I told I wanted you to love me on our wedding night?” she admitted against his throat.

      He let out a slight groan. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

      “I was afraid you would think I was too eager. I decided you needed time.”

      Laughter broke from him. When he looked down at her, those fabulous silvery eyes were smiling. “I think that from here on out we each need to stop worrying about what the other one is thinking, and do more doing.”

      “I couldn’t agree more. You drove me crazy on the way over in the jet.”

      “Maybe that was a good thing,” he teased, kissing every feature on her face.

      “It was painful!”

      “Tesora mia,” he cried in a husky voice before starting to devour her. “I love your honesty. Come here to me.”

      Christina melted in his arms and kissed him with the kind of passion he’d never imagined to find in this marriage. His heart jumped to realize he had such a loving, demonstrative wife.

       CHAPTER SEVEN

      ANTONIO HAD CALLED her his treasure. Christina felt cherished and desirable. His hunger aroused her to the depth of her being. This was her husband bringing her to life, shocking her, thrilling her as they found new ways to worship each other with their bodies.

      His long legs trapped hers. “Why did I wait four years?”

      She couldn’t have answered him if she’d wanted to. Enthralled by the things he was doing to her, Christina was too consumed by her own hunger for him. Like the spiral constellations lighting the canopy above, he sent her spiraling into another realm of existence. Throughout the hours of the night they loved fully until they finally fell asleep, only temporarily sated.

      After their passion-filled night of ecstasy, she couldn’t believe they were still on earth. During the night he’d swept her to a different place, so intimate she’d wanted to stay on that sphere of euphoria forever.

      She lay there wondering if last night’s lovemaking had resulted in a baby. Stranger things had happened to other women. She suddenly realized that she wanted his baby so badly she could hardly stand it.

      Heat washed over her to remember what had happened between them last night. Christina wasn’t sorry that he hadn’t made love to her at first. Far from it. Last night had been magical.

      Taking great care not to wake her husband and lover, she lay there looking at him. The sun was already high in the morning sky. They’d slept in late again, but it didn’t matter.

      Oh, Antonio—I love you so much, you have no idea.

      * * *

      Antonio heard his wife sigh and glanced at her in sleep. She was the most unselfish lover he could ever have imagined. Last night she’d made him feel totally alive. Whole. When had he ever felt like this? Long after the stars had come out, they’d made love again and early this morning, again. He’d found paradise with her.

      The next time he had cognizance of his surroundings, the sun was high in the sky. His wife lay on her side facing him. For a while he lay there studying her, then got to his feet and took a dip in the pool before pulling on his bathing trunks. He opened the backpack to get out some rolls and fruit. They’d need more food to stay on this island. He drank half a bottle of water while he ate.

      She must have heard him and opened her eyes. “Oh—you’re up!”

      “Just barely. Loving you has given me a ferocious appetite.”

      She laughed. “I’m getting up, but you’ll have to turn your head.”

      “Why?” he teased.

      Christina blushed beautifully. “You know why.”

      “I’m your husband.”

      “I know, but—”

      “All right. I’ll close my eyes, but I’ll give you to the count of ten to reach the water before I open them again.”

      “Antonio—” she squealed.

      “One, two.” He could hear the blanket rustle before she got up. A second later he heard water splashing and turned to watch her treading water. “You see? You made it.”

      “If you’ll please put my bikini near the water and turn around, I’ll get dressed.”

      * * *

      Antonio’s deep laughter resounded through the forest. She could feel it reverberate inside her. “Anything to oblige.” He did her bidding. “I hate to tell you this, but the water is so transparent I can see you perfectly.”

      “You’re no gentleman to say that to me.”

      “Is that what you thought I was?” he mocked before turning his back.

      She climbed out and dressed as fast as she could. When she reached him, he crushed her in his arms and gave her a kiss to die for. Then he handed her food and drink.

      “Thank you.”

      “You’re welcome.”

      “I wish we could stay here longer. Last night—” Her voice caught.

      Their eyes met. “Last night will be burned in my memory forever, tesora.”

      “Mine too.” She finished eating and started putting everything in their packs.

      He worked with her. “Are you about ready?”

      “Yes.”

      After slipping on their tennis shoes, they started down the trail to the beach. In some parts she walked behind him, enjoying the play of muscle across his back and shoulders. Antonio had great legs for a man. In fact, there wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t perfect.

      They reached the boat and loaded it. Christina helped him push it into the water, and then he helped ease her up and in before he took his place at the front. Before they took off across the lagoon, he looked back at her. As far as he could see, they were the only people out on this part of the lagoon.

      “What do you want to do after we get back to the hut?” he called over his shoulder.

      “I’d love to go to that coral sea garden and do some more snorkeling.”

      “That makes two of us. When in our lives will we ever have a chance to see fish like this up close?”