Eyes closed, he drove into her faster, harder. He dropped still lower, forearms bracketing her head, his chest and belly pressed to hers, magnifying the heavenly pressure building throughout her body until another blinding climax whirled her away.
“Ah, bella,” Matteo groaned into the crook of her neck as his cock pulsed inside her.
Ribs heaving, he collapsed over her, a warm weight that grounded her until her senses returned.
“Oh, God,” she gasped, fingers tangled in his hair. “That was—you are—sweet Jesus.”
Still panting, he grinned. “We’re so good together, Danielle.”
She brushed a stray curl from his glistening forehead and pulled him down for a kiss. They were good together. Spectacular. Sex with Jason had never felt this amazing. And afterward, he always rolled off and took a shower, leaving her alone in their damp bed. Fastidious, he was, and impatient with post-sex cuddles.
Matteo slowly withdrew, plucked tissues from the box on the bedside table, and peeled off the condom. He wiped himself clean, then crumpled the whole mess together and dropped it onto the floor. “I’ll get that later. Don’t want to leave the bed now.” With another handful of tissues, he dabbed the wetness between her thighs. “Sorry if I got too wild. Did I hurt you?”
Grinning, she shook her head.
He settled onto the pillows, scooped her to his side, and cradled her head on his chest. “In a minute, I’m going to tell you how amazing you are. Rest here with me, okay? You wiped me out.” Within two minutes, his breath slowed and deepened into the rhythm of sleep.
She nestled in the inviting hollow below his shoulder and inhaled his scent—fresh sweat and sex musk and lingering notes of citrus shower gel. A wash of tears blurred her vision.
She snuffled and bit her lip.Just enjoy this for what it is. Don’t catch feelings for him.
But it was too late to guard her heart. Even if it wasn’t really love, even if it was only temporary, leaving him behind was going to hurt.
She rested her palm over his steady heartbeat and resolved not to think about the inevitable end. Nestled in the arms of her sweet summer lover, she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Eight
Tuesday Evening
Thebedcreakedanddipped. Danielle’s lids fluttered open in time to see Matteo pull his jeans up over his beautiful, taut ass. Standing at the window, he scrubbed his fingers through his sex-tousled hair. His broad, bare shoulders rose and fell on a windy sigh.
Her sweet, sated haze evaporated. He got what he wanted, and now he was leaving. She hugged his discarded pillow to her chest. It still held his scent, his warmth. Tears prickled her eyes. At least she’d have a beautiful memory.
He turned toward her, and a slow-blooming grin spread over his face. “Hey, sorry to wake you.” He sat beside her and stroked her bare arm. “I have to go help Zio Sal for a while. Rosa, one of our summer hires, went home sick.”
True? False? Did it matter? She released the pillow and entwined her fingers with his. “Sure. Family comes first.” Which was exactly why this rosy little romance couldn’t last—her kids needed her. She swallowed her disappointment and pasted on what she hoped passed for a smile. “Is Rosa one of your Italian cousins?”
He chuckled. “Just a kid from Sal’s church choir. Loves him like a grandpa.”
“Ah.” She curled her body around his as much as the rumpled covers allowed. “Bet she has a crush on you.”
His laughter deepened. “I’m not her favorite flavor. Our Rosa prefers the ladies.”
She bit back a totally inappropriate grin.
He wound a tendril of her hair around his forefinger. “So, here’s the bad news.”
Her stomach muscles clamped down tight as she braced herself for the inevitable kiss-off.
“My friends are getting married on Saturday, one of those hippie beach weddings, and I promised to build them an arch. I’m not even close to done.” He leaned onto his elbow and pinned her with a soft gaze. “I want to spend every minute I can with you, but I can’t let them down, you know?”
Truth or excuse? She forced herself to breathe evenly.
He smooched her forehead. “Will you be my plus one?”
Dumbfounded, she blinked rapidly. “I—uh—wow.”
His bronzed brow rumpled. “Is that too much? Too fast?” He pressed her palm over his heart, and the corner of his mouth twitched upward. “How about if I promise not to propose?”