PROPOSITIONING THE RICH ITALIAN

Indulgence

Stephanie Morris

ROMANCE

www.BookStrand.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASE D: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000."

If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

legal@sirenbookstran d.com

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

IMPRINT: Romance

PROPOSITIONING THE RICH ITALIAN

Copyright (c) 2010 by Stephanie Morris

E-book ISBN: 1-60601-627-X

First E-book Publication: January 2010

Cover design by Jinger Heaston

All cover art and logo copyright (c) 2010 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

DEDICATION

To my sister, Yvonne.

You are more of an inspiration than you will ever know. I love you.

PROPOSITIONING THE RICH ITALIAN

Indulgence

STEPHANIE MORRIS

Copyright (c) 2010

Chapter 1

Tierra Davis's heart rate sped up as she laid eyes on the sexiest man she ever seen, including her now ex-fiance, the sorry bastard. However, at this particular moment, she had a strong urge to write him a postcard to thank him for dumping her for her best friend on the day of their wedding.

Her body temperature started to increase just watching the attractive stranger. Dark charcoal pants covered narrow hips and emphasized long, sturdy legs. A crisp white button-up dress shirt accented his broad shoulders.

The rolled up cuffs revealed perfectly tanned forearms sprinkled with dark hair. The arm hair matched the shade of his dark, thick, wavy hair, long enough for her to get lost in. She watched as he took a drink from the glass sitting in front of him. The simple action only emphasized his strong jaw line. His clean-shaven face shadowed by the stubble covering his jaw. A slight shift of his body gave her a perfect view of his facial features. A nice nose sat above a firm, extremely kissable mouth.

Without her three bellinis she might be embarrassed at her uncharacteristically brazen thoughts, but looking at him, she couldn't be. Something about him appealed to her on an intense level, more than his physical attractiveness. She watched him overtly for several moments. The way he carried himself with such authority almost made her squirm in her seat. Her eyes found him the moment he entered the bar area. Every woman at the bar with a pulse studied him.

The man seemed to be a walking contradiction. One glance at him in his business suit told her he screamed of wealth, but he simply walked up to the bar in his expensive suit and slipped off his jacket and tie. She studied him while he proceeded to make himself comfortable a few stools down from her, his movements' quick but sure. A strong sense of confidence, strength and sensuality radiated from him, three elements leaving her with the inability to take her eyes off of him. Luckily, she hadn't begun to drool, at least not yet.

She exhaled softly. The shock of yesterday's events still stung-- part of the reason why she sat at the bar drooling over a man who could definitely be classified as eye candy.

Even though she'd come to Rome against the wishes of her family, she'd yet to regret it. Yes, the reminder of the fact she should be on her honeymoon hit her the instant she walked into the hotel room. However, with the third bellini sitting in front of her, she came to the conclusion this could be the perfect place to act upon what she contemplated since she arrived. There wasn't any doubt in her mind that the sensible, stable, and organized person she always strived to be were some of the reasons her ex-best friend, Shannon, lay in bed with her ex-fiance, Quincy, while Tierra sat at the bar by herself.

Unfortunately, a mix up on the honeymoon arrangements occurred. Somehow, no record of the refund insurance purchase with the package could be located. She didn't have any plans to throw away the money. Besides, she'd wanted a vacation to this majestic destination for as long as she could remember. Not to mention she could really use one right now. After the way Quincy and Shannon shattered her dream, she needed to get away from all of the heartbreak, the disappointment, the pity. She needed a little time to clear her head, get herself together and have a little fun.

So today she resolved to throw caution to the wind while she stayed in Rome for two weeks. A no-strings attached affair would do her some good. It shouldn't be a problem for her, either. A few men already approached her while she sat at the bar. Most of them attractive, but all of them a little strange and not what she desired in her prime candidate. Now she knew why. None of them made her heart race like the man standing at the end of the bar. Before now, she would have never thought about picking up a man, especially at a bar, but the hot-blooded Italian in her direct line of vision definitely made her want to make an exception to her normal and reasonable logic.

She drained her glass of the remainder of her bellini as she took another glance at the sexy man sitting a mere few feet from her. The bartender appeared automatically as if she'd beckoned him. She couldn't help but noticed how he paled in comparison to the man she'd ogled for the last few minutes.

"Would you like another?" he asked her in English, with an undertone of his Italian accent, causing her to smile.

Shaking her head, she asked him for a glass of water instead in Italian. Being a sensible and organized woman, she'd begun taking lessons in Italian as soon as Quincy proposed to her. As a little girl, she dreamed of taking her honeymoon in Italy. The Italian words rolled off her lips as if she'd been speaking them all her life. In reality, she only memorized twenty phrases that would save her life in any situation, along with a few commonly used words. Otherwise, she hoped the person she conversed with spoke enough English to understand her. So far she'd done okay because the staff at Hotel Carabelli spoke English. Her decision to stay at the five star deluxe hotel turned out to be a good one so far. She made the choice based on pure indulgence, but she deserved it. The bartender reappeared with a bottle of water he poured into a glass of ice.

"Grazie," she murmured.

The bartender flashed her a smile before disappearing again. She took a sip of the water and sighed in appreciation. It wasn't as flavorful as the bellini but just as refreshing. Besides, she didn't need to get drunk. If she wanted her plan to work, she needed to be halfway sober to carry it out. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and her skin began to tingle. Feeling as though someone stared at her, she looked up. When she lifted her head, her gaze met his. Desire surged through her so strongly her thighs actually clinched involuntarily. She became even more aware of the man sitting next to her. Her breathing became shallow, and her nipples hardened, making her regret the flimsy undergarments she wore.

Since she was supposed to be on her honeymoon, she'd updated her wardrobe to entice her new husband. The plan to entice someone still simmered beneath the surface, only it would be someone else. The man sitting a few barstools down from her smiled, and her heart almost jumped out of her chest. Her mouth dried up completely, and a tingle raced down her spine to her toes and back up. His gaze indicated a mutual level of interest.

"Buona sera, bella. Do you mind if I join you?"

She gave a slight nod of her head, giving him permission to join her. Suddenly, her voice wasn't working. He smiled, picked up his suit jacket and moved closer to her. His strong, masculine scent enveloped her, and she breathed it in deeply. Automatically, she knew she was in over her head, but she didn't care. She wanted him, and right now, nothing else mattered.

* * * *

Antonio Carabelli couldn't take his eyes off of the woman who accepted his invitation to sit next to her. He hadn't been able to take his eyes off of her since he spotted her several minutes ago, the main reason why he'd come into the bar and sat down instead of going to his parents' home for dinner like he normally did when he got off work. She stood out to him immediately. One glance at her told him she wasn't like the typical woman he spent time with. She seemed to have a lot more class and intelligence. He didn't intentionally go after women of her standard because it made things less complicated. There were enough complications in his life without adding the ones that could come in a relationship with wrong person. His financial status didn't allow for it. He looked over at the woman, and for the first time in a long time, he didn't mind if things became complicated. She was a stunning woman, but the way she seemed to carry herself implied more lay hidden beneath the surface. Everything about her made him want to take a risk to find out what. She appealed to him on a level he hadn't experienced--not only physically, either.

Antonio took in her soft ebony skin and the shoulder-length dark brown hair swept up in a clip, exposing an elegant neck. He definitely wouldn't mind lavishing attention on it, and an image of him trailing kisses up and down her throat hit him so quickly he blinked. His level of attraction to her gave him pause along with her eyes, the color of honey, but they weren't what caught his attention. Yet, what he read in those soft eyes, hurt mixed with a hint of anger. Even though it wasn't directed at him, he'd seen the look often enough to know he should get up and leave, but something made him stay. She captivated him with her beauty, intrigued him on many levels better left unspoken until he figured them all out.

"Would you prefer for me to speak English or Italian?"

She smiled at his question, and he automatically made plans to do whatever it took to make sure she smiled again and often. It only added to her beauty.

"English, please."

He didn't know which he liked better, hearing her speak his native language or English. Either way, her voice contained a smoothness with a hint of huskiness.

"Do you mind if I ask you your name?"

She shook her head and extended a dainty hand to him. "My name is Tierra, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

He smiled in return. "Earth. I like it."

A look of surprise appeared on her face, and he took it to mean not many people knew the meaning of her name.

"Thank you."

"I am Antonio. It is a pleasure to meet you as well."

He brought her hand up to his lips and placed a kiss on the back of it. As soon as he did, her eyes changed from the color of honey to a darker shade of brown, glad to see the reaction of attraction to him. He also liked how she seemed to exhibit self-control by making a move to withdraw her hand after he held it longer than he should have. The irony being the one time he should have restraint he didn't, but he forced himself to release her hand.

Tierra cleared her throat. "What does it mean?"

He gave her a blank stare, not understanding her question. She licked her lips and smiled, which only distracted him more.

"Your name. What does it mean?"

His smile joined hers. "Beyond praise."

He watched at her eyes grew round, and she paused in the middle of the sip of water. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her gaze drifted around the bar before coming back to him.

"Are you staying here at the hotel?" He didn't miss the flash of weariness before she nodded.

"Yes, I am."

She shifted in her chair. "What brings you down here tonight?"

He sat back in his chair. "I just got off work and decided to have a drink before I headed home."

"What brought you down to the bar?"

He took a sip of his brandy, not revealing the entire truth about why he made the decision to stop in the bar. After spotting her sitting alone, he couldn't resist.

She shrugged. "I needed a drink, and I wanted to see if I could find a man."

He almost choked on the sip he just took, and if the expression on her face hadn't been so sincere, he would have thought he misheard her.

"You care to tell me why?"

He thought she might tell him wasn't privy to her personal business. Instead, she told him about the horrific events that occurred over the last twenty-four hours. He found it hard to comprehend how she could be sitting in front of him so calmly. Being left at the church altar and having her fiance walk away with her best friend and maid of honor would have made a lesser woman crumble. Yet the woman he stared at gave off nothing but strength. He brushed his hand against her cheek.

"I know it may not mean much, but your fiance sounds like a complete idiot. Trust me. It is definitely his loss."

His meant to console her but knew he failed. She turned her head, but not before he saw the tears in her eyes. He produced a handkerchief for her.

"I didn't mean to make you cry."

Seeing her shoulders tremble, he gathered her close. She went into him embrace, and he knew she needed to be held and comforted. He didn't mind stepping into the role. He whispered soothing words against her temple. When he pulled back a moment later, wet eyelashes were the only thing left of her tears. The look only added to her beauty. She gave him a small smile.

"Believe it or not, I needed that. This is the first time I have cried over the idiot."

He chuckled as he put a finger under her chin and tilted it upward. "Hopefully it is the last time."

Her grin widened, and he put a little distance between the two of them. He needed to. He had to. Lately, he'd been edgy, restless. Going home to an empty house after a hard day at work didn't appeal to him anymore. It wasn't due to the constant pressure from his parents to settle down and have a family, which shocked him. Being the oldest of six children put him at the forefront of pressure, even though only one of his siblings decided to marry. Unfortunately, Carlo also divorced, and no children came out of the marriage. So the pressure fell back on Antonio. Just like his five other siblings, Antonio ignored it. In the past few months, he couldn't deny the occasional twinge of loneliness. Tierra just might be the solution to the problem, even if temporary.

"So you plan on having a no-strings attached affair?" She nodded, and he smiled. "Do you mind if I ask why?"

She sighed heavily. "Because all of my life I have been sensible, stable, and organized, and look where it has gotten me."

Antonio took another drink of his brandy. He needed it for the next question he planned to ask her.

"Have you found any prospects?" He watched her pause and clear her throat before continuing.

She nodded slowly. "Only one. You."

* * * *

A predatory smile appeared on his face. A quick sense of being out of her league travelled through her but she pushed it aside. He seemed to be the perfect man for what she'd planned, and she wanted to make sure he knew it. Antonio seemed to be certain he would be the one, but she wanted to be positive. After everything she'd gone through uncertainty wasn't an option. She breathed a sigh of relief at his next words.

"How do you know I'm the man you are looking for?"

She stared at him, unwavering. "Because I trust my instincts on this."

"How do you know we are compatible?"

She shrugged. "I think compatibility is what you make it."

He gave a nod. "Very true."

She took his hand and stood up. How she missed the full extent of his height before now was beyond her. She craned her neck up at him. "How tall are you?"

"Six feet and six inches." He leaned closer to her. "How tall are you?"

"Five feet and six inches, seven or seven-and-a-half with these heels on."

She quickly forgot about his height as soon as he pulled her into his arms. Her nerves went into overdrive at his nearness.

"Are you ready to see if we are well-matched?" he whispered. "How do you plan on making that determination?"

He pulled her closer to him. They already seem to be connected in more ways than should be possible.

"A simple kiss," he whispered before lowering his head.

His lips found hers, feathery, yet probing as if to test her response. Nothing about the kiss came across as simple. Moments later, the sensation of his mouth on hers intensified.

Oh my God, she thought before her brain shut down.

The desire she experienced earlier paled in comparison to the sensations now rushing through her. Quincy never kissed her like this. If he had, she would have clawed Shannon's eyes out for imposing on their relationship. Truthfully, she hadn't given herself to Quincy, a decision she didn't regret in hindsight. Sharing this with Antonio told her why. His mouth sent heat surging through her. She literally felt like she could combust. This lip lock could go on forever, and it wouldn't be long enough for her.

Antonio shifted against her, and she came directly in contact with an impressive erection. Even with her lack of experience, she knew when a man could be classified as well endowed. Antonio fell into that category. The first moan of pleasure escaped her, and he swallowed it up. She did not want it to ever end. As soon as the thought entered her mind, someone cleared their throat. Antonio took his sweet time pulling away from her, but when he did, she sagged against him, and he kept her in his arms. He stared deeply into her eyes for a moment before looking at the person who so rudely interrupted their earth shattering moment. She quickly determined sound came from the bartender.

"Sorry to interrupt you, Mr. Carabelli, but you have a phone call."

* * * *

He felt Tierra freeze within his arms and cursed under his breath in Italian. The person on the phone just might die a slow and painful death if it wasn't an emergency. He gave her another glance, puzzled by the expression on her face. She looked as if she just suffered the shock of her life. He couldn't blame her. The kiss they just shared could only be described as extraordinary. He instantly wondered what it would be like if they went further. Based on the kiss they just shared, their compatibility registered off the charts. He definitely planned to find out just how well suited they were as soon as he took care of the person on the phone.

"I will be right back."

She nodded stiffly, and he stepped around the bar to pick up the phone. Even with his back to her, he could still feel her gaze on him. Picking up the phone, he spoke a gruff greeting to his youngest brother.

He promptly cursed him when he found out the ludicrous reason why he'd been pulled away from the most passionate kiss of his life. Of all the times for his brother to have the need to borrow his car, this qualified as the worst. After telling his brother he would be busy for the rest of the night and not to bother him, he slammed down the phone. He took a deep breath before smiling. As irrational as it sounded, he couldn't deny his anxiousness to get back to Tierra. His smile faded quickly when he turned and saw she wasn't standing there. Immediately, he knew exactly where to find her, and he would do just that.

Chapter 2

Tierra paced back and forth, imprinting a trail into the carpet of her hotel room, but she couldn't help herself. Mortification did not even begin to explain what she felt. To think she'd thrown herself at a Carabelli. She might be inexperienced, but she wasn't stupid. It didn't take a genius to figure out Antonio had to be related to the owner of the hotel in some way. How common of a name could Carabelli be? At the moment, she hoped a very prevalent one. He probably stood downstairs having a good laugh at her expense.

She pressed the palms of her hands to her eyes and wondered what she'd done in her life to deserve such embarrassment. Walking over to the bed, she sat down only to stand back up as a vivid image of her and Antonio in the bed, locked in a lovers' embrace flashed through her mind. She stifled a groan and walked out onto the balcony. She could easily imagine sitting out on the balcony enjoying a glass of wine while wrapped up in Antonio's arms.

Exhaling heavily, she tried to focus on the view of the city, which felt just as warm and intimate as the room.

Groaning, she closed her eyes before stomping back into the hotel room. She had to find a way to get Antonio off her mind. No way could she get involved with him now. It would be a major mistake. She would have to find another suitable candidate outside of the hotel to avoid more potential staff. Of all the people, why did she have to run into Antonio? He seemed to be one of kind.

She sighed heavily. Right now she needed a nice long soak in the vintage marble bathtub, one of the major reasons she chose this hotel. When the reason why she wanted the tub came to mind, she moaned in agony. The instant she spotted a photo of the tub, she began to think about all of the seductive plans she'd come up with. The way she imaged it, they might have never made it outside of the bathroom. Now it would remain a distant fantasy.

She would definitely be in the tub tonight, but it would be by herself. Fortunately, inexperience was her problem, not ignorance. She knew how to satisfy herself. Unfortunately, Quincy hadn't known how pleasure her. Hopefully, Shannon would have better luck.

Tierra stifled a sigh. She faked enough orgasms with him to last her a lifetime. She'd read enough self-help manuals to know what to expect. Because of this she'd taken the time to learn how to pleasure herself on her own, as well as why she hadn't been tempted to give herself to Quincy. Either that, or deep down she'd known he belonged to the reptilian species and was not worth giving herself to. One thing she knew for sure--he wasn't worth wasting any more of her thoughts on with a vintage marble bathtub calling her name. She made her way toward the bathroom only to be stopped when a knock sounded on the door.

The person probably had the wrong room. She definitely wasn't expecting company. A quick look out the peephole left her gasping. She leaned against the door, trying to figure out what she should do to get rid of Antonio. How in the world had he found her? She dropped her face into her hands and shook her head. Of course he could find her. With her first name and access to the hotel's computer it probably hadn't been hard for him at all. She jumped as he knocked on the door again. Her heart began to race, and this time not from arousal or excitement. What is the hell was she going to do? He knocked again even louder, and she knew she needed to think and act quickly. Otherwise, he might disturb the entire floor. Taking a deep breath, she put the safety latch on the door before opening it.

"What do you want?" she asked, not bothering to hide her irritation.

Her heart fluttered when he flashed her those straight white teeth. His smile should be labeled lethal and locked away.

"To finish our conversation from earlier, of course."

"Absolutely not. So get lost."

She started to close the door, but his next words stopped her.

"I could easily have maintenance come up and take the door off the hinges."

Her eyes widened in shock. "You wouldn't dare."

He gave her a deadpan look. "Try me."

His eyes told her he meant his threat. Now she cursed. "Dammit. As many rooms as there are in the hotel, how did you find me?"

He laughed, and she closed the door, barely resisting the impulse to slam it. Taking off the safety latch, she reopened it before stepping back. He stood on the other side of the door looking so handsome and comfortable, it irritated her beyond belief, and she closed her eyes and counted to ten. When she reopened her eyes, he leaned against the doorjamb as if he belonged there. He now had his suit jacket back on, hanging wide open with the top button of his shirt undone, revealing nicely bronzed skin. The temptation to call GQ and tell them she found their next model almost overtook her. Instead, she folded her arms across her chest and gave him her most intimidating look.

He smiled at the expression. "May I come in?"

She gave him her infamous eye roll before stepping aside. "As if I have a choice."

Tierra rubbed the back of her neck. "What do you want to talk about?"

Antonio laughed at the statement, and the sound sent a tingle down her spine. She heard the click of the door closing, and her spine stiffened. She turned to face him, fighting back the nerves of being alone with the sexiest man on the planet.

He stared at her for a moment. When the moment increased to two, she began to wonder if he'd heard her.

"Just trying to figure out why you walked away from me after we shared the most earth shattering kiss I am positive either of us has ever experienced."

His level of smugness embarrassed her. She should deny his claim, act like her reaction to him was normal for her. Instead, she told him the truth. "Because I had no idea I was swapping saliva with a Carabelli."

One corner of his mouth tilted upward into a smile, and her breath caught in her throat.

Lord, this man is handsome.

"Is that such a bad thing?"

She blinked at him, wondering if she'd spoken aloud. He gave her a puzzled look, and she realized he referred to her earlier statement. She closed her eyes and nodded. Maybe she would be able to focus if she wasn't looking at him. She spoke softly.

"Yes, it is." She couldn't keep her eyes closed. "You are more than I bargained for."

As soon as the words tumbled out of her mouth, she knew she should have chosen better ones. His gaze became even more heated, but she held up her hands before he could say anything and they ended up in more trouble than they already were.

"What I am trying to say is I want my affair to be with someone less risky."

The other corner of his mouth went up, and she had a sinking feeling she would be in for a long night. She couldn't think with this man around.

* * * *

Antonio studied the woman across from him for a moment, trying to figure out how he should handle this. She looked as if she wanted to bolt at any instant, and he couldn't blame her for being skittish. This overwhelmed to him as well, but she intrigued him, and curiosity only made him want to explore the possibilities.

"Cara, I hate to tell you this, but any affair is risky. It is what makes it exciting."

He took a step toward her, but the flash of vulnerability in her eyes made him stop. He forced himself to remember she'd just been hurt by the man she planned to marry. She wasn't one of the fast-paced women he typically dealt with. He closed his eyes briefly before reopening them.

"What is it about me being a Carabelli you find so threatening?"

Her eyes widened, and she stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. "You own a five-star hotel in Rome, Italy." She winced. "Sorry. I didn't mean to shout."

He smiled, doubting anyone heard her. The rooms were made to keep sound in. Her expression became slightly irritated, and he remembered the corners of his mouth still curved upward in amusement. He cleared his expression, not wanting her to think he was laughing at her.

"And this is a problem because?"

"I am from Boulder City, Nevada."

His eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "It is about twenty miles outside of Las Vegas, no?"

She nodded mutely.

The corners of his mouth curled upward. "I haven't been there before, but I have been to Las Vegas a few times."

He left out it tended to be a location a woman he dated in the past enjoyed.

"For the exception of my flight here, I haven't," she stated in a small voice.

His eyes widened as he grasped the meaning behind the statement. He didn't think anyone who lived so close to Las Vegas wouldn't go at least once. It only confirmed for him the woman standing in front of him couldn't be described as anything but special. Not to mention different, very different.

* * * *

Tierra tried hard to keep her head up and not collapse from embarrassment. Nothing was wrong with her or that she'd never been to Las Vegas. She wasn't drawn to the flashy lights of the city. Las Vegas appeared less attractive if one lived near it their entire life and she knew so many people who lost everything they had by being attracted to the famous strip. She blinked when Antonio spoke.

"How long have you lived in Boulder City?"

"All of my life," she stated in a stronger voice.

"And that would be?"

"Thirty-two years," she replied without hesitation.

An expression crossed his face but cleared too quickly for her to decipher it, probably pity. She wouldn't be surprised. If their roles were reversed, she would probably feel pity for him. To be honest, she felt pity for herself. She spent her entire life pleasing others. So much so it hadn't dawned on her how unhappy she felt until she stepped off the airplane upon her arrival in Rome. She made up her mind then this trip would be all about her.

"Tierra."

She looked up at Antonio as her name rolled off his lips.

"None of it matters to me." He stepped closer to her, and she saw the sincerity in his eyes.

"The only thing that matters to me is you are unhappy, and as strange as it sounds, I want to be the one who makes you happy for however long it is you are here."

Her mouth dropped open. It sounded as though he planned to take her up on her offer for an affair, but only if she would have him. The final decision belonged to her, but it became obvious he hoped she would choose him.

"You have only known me for an hour." The excuse sounded weak even to her ears, and she'd propositioned him after knowing him for less time. Thankfully, he played the role of a gentleman and didn't bring up the fact. Instead, he gave her a gentle smile.

"Long enough to know you deserve the best of everything."

Her eyes closed as the thoughts of what this could mean raced through her mind.

His sincerity silenced her for a few moments. She knew the decision she made would be one of the biggest she ever made in her life, a decision she knew she would regret for the rest of the life if she didn't take it. He offered her everything she wanted from him, and she wanted a lot. Opening her eyes, she smiled.

"Two weeks," she murmured.

He gave her a blank look, and her smile widened. She liked having the upper hand and could easily get used to it.

"I will be here in Rome for two weeks."

She could tell when he understood what she meant. He stepped closer to her but didn't touch her, and she wanted him to--a lot more than she should.

"Will you let me show you everything there is to show you in the next two weeks?"

She knew without a doubt he referred to more than sight-seeing, and she looked forward to everything he offered. In return, she would give him just as much. Anything less would be a waste of time, and she would regret it. "Yes."

She spoke one word, but it said so much, and his smile matched hers.

"Buon. Good."

After a moment of silence between them, she found herself shifting at the intensity of his gaze, something she would to have to become comfortable with because he seemed to focus it on her quite a bit.

He studied her with an inquisitive stare, as if he were trying to figure something out. She could never remember being this affected by any of Quincy's looks. Yet, something about Antonio's eyes made her more aware of herself. His gaze traveled over her slowly, as if sizing her up. Fortunately, she wasn't ashamed of her body. Her parents gave her great genes, and she took yoga four times a week to help discourage any of the bad ones that wanted to sneak a few pounds when she wasn't looking. She wasn't a small woman by any means, but neither could she be classified as unhealthy, and she loved every curve she been given. Confidence helped her to stay relaxed as his eyes roamed over her body. The look in his eyes said he liked what he saw.

She wore a dress meant for seduction, a short one she bought on an impulse. The instant she tried the dress on she knew she had to buy it, and the way Antonio looked at her, she made the right clothing choice. His intense stare fell upon her legs, toned, shapely, and the dress only emphasized that. The overwhelming image of wrapping her legs tightly around his waist as he gave her pleasure overtook her. Her strong reaction to him was alarming, frightening. She took a step back, not missing when his expression clouded with confusion.

"It is getting late, and I should let you get in bed. I am sure you are still tired from your flight."

His tone told her he was being a gentleman, and she didn't want him to be. The thought surprised her, and she hesitated. He already affected her strangely. She shook her head to clear it and tried to speak calmly.

"Actually, I was getting ready to get in the bath and..." She let her voice trail off as she realized what she almost revealed to him. Those bellinis might have affected her more than she originally thought. He didn't need to know what she planned to do when she climbed into the tub. Speaking of which, it seemed to be screaming her name again. If only she could get to the bathroom. She already embarrassed herself enough for one night. Obviously, he tried to give her space and not rush her, and it seemed like a good idea the more time she spent in his presence.

Unfortunately, it came too late. A quick glance at him told her he figured out what she'd been about to say. She closed her eyes and wondered if she could become one with the plush carpet into which she dug her feet. Knowing she couldn't achieve the physically impossible feat, she did the only thing she knew she could do. She opened her eyes to find him advancing toward her. For a quick moment, she could relate to prey being stalked by a predator. The desire she read in his eyes intimidated her--so much so she moved backward unconsciously. He stalked toward her until the wall met her back. His arms came up slowly until his palms rested against the wall, bracketing her, leaving her neatly trapped. He leaned forward, his face moving closer to hers.

"What were you going to say, Tierra?"

The way her name rolled off of his tongue made her want to melt. Instead, heat surged through her and pooled between her thighs.

Oh, Lord, she was in trouble.

* * * *

Antonio smiled as he watched Tierra nervously lick her lips. He wondered if she had any idea how beautiful she looked.

"Tell me your plan, Tierra."

"Um...I'm just...just going to take a...a bath."

He smiled as she stammered horribly. Stepping closer to her, he aligned his body with hers. His legs touched hers, and the strong image of those legs being wrapped tightly around his waist as he gave her pleasure roared through his brain. Groaning inwardly, he tried to kick his level of arousal down a notch. As much as he wanted her, he needed to make sure she knew it was more than a physical attraction.

"And what did you plan to do during your bath?"

She didn't respond immediately, averting her gaze, but not before he saw the embarrassment in her expression. What did she have to uncomfortable about? Desire surged through him when he realized just what she probably planned to do once in the bathtub. To know she wasn't afraid to pleasure herself turned him on in a way he never imagined. The idea that she probably had to do so because of her thoughts about him made him wanting to throw all caution to the wind and pull her a few feet toward the bed. Instead, he decided to give her the next best thing.

"Have you been told how beautiful you are tonight?"

She blinked before swallowing deeply, and he was pleased by how much she struggled with her desire as much as he did. Clearly, she hadn't expected the question. Shaking her head, she cleared her throat.

"Yes, you did...earlier...but you can tell me again if you like."

The corner of his mouth tilted up in amusement, and he leaned closer to her. "I would rather show you just beautiful you are."

Before she could respond, his lips found hers. Once again, his mouth found hers in a delicious yet dangerous kiss. She whimpered against his mouth, and her hips tilted toward his, letting him know what she needed. One of his hands slid from the wall and came to rest on her hip--a nice, curvy hip. Her shape appealed to him on many levels. She had a fuller figure than most of the women he dated in the past. He looked forward to seeing all of it, even though it wouldn't be tonight. His hand slid lower until it found the smooth skin of her thigh. She shuddered at his touch, and he lifted the hem of the dress until he found the elastic of her panties.

His touch told him they were made of lace and silk. As bad as he wanted to see them, he didn't risk taking his mouth away from hers. He wanted her with him all the way. The way her arms came up and encircled his neck said yes. He slipped his hands inside of her panties and found what he was looking for. He encountered her wetness and he moaned, the sound quickly swallowed up by her gasp. Damp did not begin to describe how she felt. She definitely wanted him as much as he desired her. He moved his hand back a little until his finger found her ready for the pleasure he offered. She whimpered low in her throat at his touch, but it wasn't good enough for him. Earlier, she stated she kept a tight rein on her control all of her life, and this was her opportunity to let loose. He pulled his mouth away from hers a little, his lips not leaving hers entirely.

"You don't have to hold back with me, Tierra."

She didn't respond as he lowered his lips back to hers, but he felt as if she struggled to keep herself check, and for a moment, he wondered if she heard him. Just as he started to interrupt their kiss again, she made her first real sound. Her moan of pleasure filled the room in spite of his mouth being sealed to hers, and she trembled against him. The sounds that followed nearly drove him insane with need.

He gathered her close when her felt her legs tremble, knowing she reached the point where she would need his assistance to remain standing. It made him want to lay her on the bed, but nothing would make him interrupt her pleasure. Shifting his hand again, he changed tempo, and a moment later, she ripped her mouth from his. Her cry of release reached his ears.

He watched her as she experienced the throes of passion, and he kept stroking her, pushing her higher. She shrieked, and her eyes flew open as her body came off the wall. Her mouth fell open as she began to pant, and he never stopped moving his fingers. He wanted to make sure she was completely satisfied. Suddenly, she bucked against him, and his name fell from her lips on a loud moan. He kept stroking until her body collapsed against him and he heard her sigh in his ear.

Several moments later, she composed herself enough to pull back and look at him. He was the hardest he'd ever been in his life but satisfied. She wore a sated expression, and he removed his hands from her panties. Her sweet scent assaulted him quickly, and he inhaled deeply. He couldn't wait to taste her. Settling for the next best thing, he placed another kiss on her lips before pulling back from her slightly.

"Can you stand on your own?"

She nodded, but he wasn't sure, so slowly he released her by degrees until she stood on her own. He missed her warmth, and the look in her eyes told him she missed his as well.

"I hate to leave you, cara mio, but it is late, and I have business to take care of in the morning."

He saw the look of confusion appear in her eyes but placed a finger against her lips.

"I have plans to make so we can spend the next two weeks together uninterrupted. After, every night will be spent with me in your bed or you in mine."

He gave her another light kiss before pulling away completely. She followed him to the door where he gave her a final kiss.

"To last us until tomorrow, bella."

* * * *

She watched him step out into the hallway before letting the door close behind him, trying to figure out what had just happened. He'd given her mind-blowing pleasure without asking for anything in return. She smiled to herself. Antonio seemed to be everything she could ask for and more. After putting the safety latch on, she made her way to the lonely bed, stripping her dress off as she went. The way he called her cara should have been strange, but it wasn't. The endearment should have been reserved for someone special to him. But the way he said it to her made her feel as though she were, and after what she just experienced with him, how could she not? Yet, she was getting ready to climb into the hotel bed by herself. Her only consolation, Antonio's promise to her. Now that she knew what he could offer her, she planned to make sure he kept his word.

Chapter 3

Antonio took a deep breath as he experienced a first in his life. He felt nervous, and rightfully so, he determined as he made his way into his parents' house. His mother loved to cook and served breakfast every morning. He tried to come often as he could, and after the passion he experienced with Tierra the night before, he knew he had no choice but to come to breakfast this morning. In order for the plan he'd come up with to work, he dreaded the upcoming discussion with his family. As he neared the dining room, the voices of his family reached his ears, a lot lower in volume than usual, but he knew that would change as soon as he made his announcement. Continuing into the dining room, he saw family seated around the table already, but no one began to eat yet. He greeted his parents and siblings.

Being the oldest of six tended to be the bane of his existence. Even though he and his siblings grew up in the same household raised by the same people, their personalities and attitudes different as night and day.

He made himself a plate before taking a deep breath. "I need to take two weeks off."

It took a lot longer for the outburst to occur than he expected it to. He actually took three bites of food before rapid conversation began to fly around the table. To make matters even worse, he continued to eat calmly without answering any questions. Once it was silent, he again he continued to speak.

"Last night I met a very intriguing woman. One I want to get to know a lot better."

As expected, his family erupted once again excitedly. At the end of the table, Maceo smiled. "So that is why you were so upset when I called you last night?"

The youngest of the Carabelli siblings, Maceo could be absent-minded at times, but he was a genius. In all fairness, when distracted, it typically involved fixing a problem concerning the hotel. With the exception of last night, rarely did Antonio get upset with Maceo. Last night Antonio had good motivation to be upset at the interruption. The disturbance being the reason he was getting ready to suffer at the hands of his family.

Tierra.

He nodded at his younger brother. "Yes, little brother, and I meant no offense."

Maceo smiled the characteristic Carabelli smile. "I know the reason behind it, so none taken."

Amalia arched her dark brows in his direction. "Call me ignorant, but what does meeting a woman have to do with needing the next two weeks off?"

Amalia, his only sister, had a very unique way about her. She was also just as outspoken as any of her brothers. Amalia also left a trail of broken hearts, or at least she had until she suffered her own heartbreak. Even so, Amalia could probably get a man to swallow poison if necessary. He smiled at the thought, thinking about the few times he'd been tempted to pour poison down her throat.

He steeled himself for the reaction to what he was about to reveal. "She is from the States and only here on vacation for two weeks."

Leonardo smiled. "It makes perfect sense to me."

Leonardo left behind a trail of disappointed women, but the women didn't stay mad at him for long because he had a high level of sincerity in the way he dealt with them. He never led anyone on without them knowing what the end result would be.

"It would," Carlo grumbled.

His gaze went to Carlo, the third in line when it came to birth order being born after Amalia. The accident that almost took Carlos life four years before changed his brother for the worse. Antonio had to admit his world had been knocked off balance when he'd thought he'd lost Carlo's after the car accident four years ago. Luckily, he hadn't.

Antonio shook his head as his mother stood and wondered if his she might be on the verge of cardiac arrest in all of her excitement. She rained kisses on his cheeks as if he set the date for a wedding tomorrow. He wanted to roll his eyes but refrained from doing so, knowing he could be in mortal danger if he did.

Giovanni shrugged. "You having two weeks off from work is fine with me."

Fourth in birth order, Giovanni, the perpetual bad boy of the Carabelli siblings, always one to question authority. His ears received several cuffs from their mother often over the years. Fortunately, none of it led to any sort of criminal record. Leonardo, the fifth child and just as dangerous as Giovanni, rightfully nicknamed "the charmer."

Antonio's eyes narrowed. His family seemed to be too accepting of the whole situation. He knew he had to lay down the rules, or everything could get out of hand quickly.

"Does anyone object to me having two weeks off from work?"

After a few moments of silence, all of his siblings concluded they didn't have a problem with it.

"Good. Now none of you are to go near her without my permission. If you do, there will be much hell to pay."

A few words of protest reached his ears, but he cut them off. "All of you will meet her soon enough since I plan on bringing her to dinner tomorrow night."

He smiled when a few mouths dropped open. Carlo looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.

"You are serious about this, aren't you?"

He nodded. As soon as he felt his lips touch Tierra's last night he'd known something was different about her. Halfway through his sleepless night, he figured it out. Tierra might be the woman for him. The one he recently started to look for. His mother demanded to know more about the woman who captured her son's attention, but he refused to say any more until they agreed not to approach Tierra without his permission. With her staying in the hotel and with him being with her, they were bound to find out her identity. The last thing he needed his family members to do was come across as their normal, overwhelming selves. Based on the way she reacted to him last night, Tierra wasn't used to it. He didn't need any assistance scaring her off, which would probably happen when she found out what he had planned.

Reluctantly, his family members agreed not to approach her, and he began to tell them the general information about Tierra. He intentionally left out her reason for being on a two week vacation. If Tierra wanted his family to know the reason, he would let her tell them. She suffered enough embarrassment in his opinion. Half an hour later, he said goodbye to his family. He had plans with Tierra today, and he wanted to be on time so they could enjoy the maximum amount of time they had together. Luckily, he'd come prepared for his family to say yes to his two week vacation request.

However, he hadn't expected it to be so easy. He brought a bag with a few nights' worth of clothes in it. When he told her last night he expected for her to spend the nights in his arms for the next two weeks, he meant it. He also expected her to spend a few of those nights in his home. As selfish and possessive as it sounded, he wanted her in his bed. He already planned to reimburse her for every penny she spent on the hotel. He wanted to make sure she never forgot him, even if she did decide to leave him at the end of the two weeks. He slid behind the wheel of his car and glanced down at his watch. His mouth spread into a huge smile. He was right on time.

* * * *

Tierra stirred slowly when a knock sounded at the door. It took her a moment to realize she lay in her hotel room. And a few more to remember she was indeed in the bed by herself and another to realize she could still smell Antonio's scent on her. Now she knew what it felt like to feel branded.

The knock sounded again. A smile came to her face at the thought it could be him. Stopping to grab her robe, she put it on and cinched it tightly around her waist. As wonderful an experience as she had with him, she wasn't ready for a repeat session. A glance out of the peephole surprised her. It wasn't Antonio on the other side of the door. Taking the safety latch off the door, she opened it for the hotel employee standing there with a food cart.

The woman smiled warmly at her. "Buongiorno, I have a special delivery for you from Mr. Carabelli."

Tierra smiled. She didn't have to ask to which Carabelli the employee referred. The employee rolled the cart out onto the balcony and set up everything before disappearing. A glance at the setup made her wish Antonio was there to join her. Evidently, he thought the same thing because he'd written her a personalized note and sealed it. She opened it, hoping it would inform her he would be joining her for breakfast. Unfortunately, it didn't. However, it wasn't completely disappointing.

Buongiorno cara mio,

My deepest regrets at not being able to join you for breakfast, but hopefully I can make it up to you during lunch and dinner. Enjoy your breakfast and relish the view. See you at eleven, and dress casually yet comfortably. Antonio.

His handwriting reminded her of him--charming, exciting and thorough. All three were attractive features to her. Refolding the note, she stuck it in the pocket of her robe before glancing out over the balcony. She wasn't sure which view she enjoyed better. It could only be described as breathtaking, and she looked forward to seeing more of it.

Leaning down, she inhaled the scent of the single red rose. Quincy always showered her with flowers, but they'd normally been an apology of some sort. Now she wondered just how many of their cancelled plans were because of him wanting to spend time with Shannon. Instead of dwelling on it, she took a seat at the table before uncovering each of the three plates.

She inhaled the aroma of the food appreciatively. There was a plate of toast, croissants and English muffins. The next plate held fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. The last held an assortment of fruit. Reaching for the strawberry preserves, she spread it on a croissant before taking a bite. The delicate bread melted in her mouth, letting her know she would never be able to eat another one once she went back home.

Amazingly, she devoured everything with the exception of the toast. She felt a little gluttonous for doing it, but she hadn't eaten since her trip to the bar last night, and it had only been a bite to keep from getting intoxicated. She wasn't much of a drinker. Also, being sick with an upset stomach or hangover wasn't her idea of fun. Covering the plates back up, she took her rose inside and placed it on the table inside the room. It would serve as a reminder to her for the rest of the day.

Taking one last look at the rose, she headed into the bathroom and began to prepare for the bath she intended to take last night. Not that she was complaining. Missing her bath had been well worth it. A moment later, she lay back in the tub of warm water. She relaxed for a few moments before bathing. Antonio would be there shortly, and she didn't have a lot of time to get ready. She hadn't expected to sleep so late. The only thing she could figure was a combination of jet lag, lack of sleep and stress were to blame, not to mention a heated exchange of foreplay between Antonio and her. She didn't mind the latter. Pulling the plug out of the drain, she climbed out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her body. She had no idea what to wear, but he told her to dress casually. She opened the door and looked at the outfits she paired together. For some reason, old habits died hard.

Ever since she been in high school, she paired her outfits together a week at a time. The most extreme instance being the time she paired her clothes together for a month. Giving her clothes another once over, she reached inside and pulled out her outfit.

She chose a purple tank top and a pair of khaki shorts. Laying the outfit on the bed, she chose a pair of white canvas sneakers. She didn't know what Antonio had in mind, but if it had anything to do with walking, she wanted to be as comfortable as possible. It didn't take her long to get dressed. Once she had, she went back out to balcony to wait for Antonio. What scared her was how much she looked forward to spending the next two weeks getting to know him--making her question a lot, starting with how much she'd really been in love with Quincy. Right now, it seemed like she never had.

Chapter 4

Tierra took a deep breath when a knock sounded on her door. She made her way back into the hotel room, closing the door to the balcony. After locking it, walked to the door, took a deep breath, and then opened it. She knew Antonio stood on the other side of it. Her mouth went dry the second he came into view. Beyond praise was definitely the way she would describe the man standing in front of her, the man who learned her body more intimately than anyone else, including herself.

His intense stare made her squirm. She quickly averted her gaze. Big mistake. Everything about this man screamed sexy--every delicious inch of him. A pair of masculine flip-flops covered his feet. Her eyes continued upward, and a pair of long, stonewashed denim covered legs led to a very impressive bulge between them, one she'd become familiar with in the short while she'd known him. A rich green polo shirt was tucked into the jeans sitting low on his narrow waist. The fit of the shirt gave her the ability to make out washboard abs, a perfectly sculpted chest and wide, muscled shoulders.

He was so handsome she wanted to hate him for it, but she couldn't. One corner of his mouth curled up into the lazy grin she'd seen a few times now. Fashionable shades sat on top of his wavy black hair. She didn't know if the man looked sexier dressed up or as he stood before her. She quickly decided she liked both.

"Buongiorno, bella."

"Good morning to you as well, Antonio. Would you like to come in?"

He nodded. "Of course."

She stepped aside, but instead of coming inside, he reached beside him and picked up the three bags sitting on the floor in the hallway. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"How long do you plan on staying?"

The other side of his mouth curled up. "As long as you let me."

She knew she should tell him he couldn't stay, but she didn't want to. After last night, she didn't want to spend another moment in his arms only to have him walk away. Knowing she already made her decision, she reached out and took the lightest bag out of his hands. He carried the other bags into the room, setting the duffel down and carrying the garment bag to the closet. Once he it hung up, his attention fell on her.

"Now that we have this out of the way, it is time I greet you properly."

Before she could tell him he already had, he pulled her into his embrace, and his lips captured hers. The bag she held slipped from her hands. Amazing--the only word she could find to describe the sensation of his lips against hers. His hands slid down to cup her bottom, bringing her into contact with his now growing arousal.

He thrust his hips against hers before groaning. A second later, he pulled away, and she moaned in response. The fact he could turn her on so quickly was a dangerous thing. A glance at his face showed the same frustration she felt.

"As much as I would like to keep kissing you, we have plans for the day, and I promised you I would show you everything."

She started to point out to him that his kisses showed her a lot, but she couldn't hold back her anxiousness to see Rome, and she knew they would have plenty of time to explore kisses. Nodding reluctantly, she watched as he stepped away from her and picked up his sling pack. He put it on, tightening the strap around his shoulder.

"Do you need me to carry anything for you?"

She gave him her passport and hotel key, trusting him to be able to keep up with both better than she could. He put the two items in a pocket. Yes, he lived in a beautiful country, but it didn't mean crime free. Once everything seemed secured, he looked at her.

"Are you ready?"

She nodded, and he led the way out of the room. "Where are we going?"

"We will start at the Piazza di Spagna, and if we have time, actually take a tour of the Trinita dei Monti."

Tierra nodded, happy with the plans. "It sounds like fun. I am looking forward to it."

* * * *

Antonio felt a pang of guilt at his slight deception. Eventually, he would have to tell her about the plans he made for them tomorrow. He could at least give her several hours of happiness before he gave her the shock of her life. He could only imagine how she would react when he told her about his plans for her to meet his family.

They rode the elevator down to the lobby. He let her step off the elevator in front of him and realized his mistake immediately. Her outfit just as tempting from the back view as the front.

When she opened the door, her natural beauty took him aback. She pulled her shoulder-length, dark brown hair from her face into a ponytail, making her look more like she was twenty-five instead of thirty-two, yet, the way the purple tank top stretched over her breasts made it hard not to gawk.

The tank top tucked into her shorts, emphasizing a narrow waist that flared out to nice but curvy hips, hips that now held his full attention. As if feeling his gaze on her, she stopped and looked back at him. "What are you looking at?"

It would be safer to ignore the statement but he couldn't. He walked up to her, taking her hand in his. "The most gorgeous legs in the world."

She laughed, giving him a dubious look. "For some reason, I don't think my legs are what you are looking at."

He placed a brief kiss on her lips. "Trust me. In those shorts, I can't help but notice those legs, and if you knew how I am thinking about using them you might be in for a shock, cara."

He watched her shiver, satisfied his words were enough to make her react to him. They made their way through the hotel lobby with her hand firmly in his. He liked the contact. Her hand tightened around his, and he looked down at her and smiled. The tightening of her hand seemed to be involuntary, and he liked the way her body reacted to his touch. He planned to explore every inch of her delicate skin before it was all over.

A moment later, they stepped out into the sun and one glance wasn't enough to take in the beauty of everything. He'd lived in Rome all of his life, but traveled the world to other exotic locations. Still, he didn't think any place compared to Rome. There never would be. He smiled to himself as he took in the look of amazement on Tierra's face. Evidently she thought so as well, and it just made him want to show her everything about Rome even more.

"I think we should walk to Piazza di Spagna since it isn't far."

She nodded, and he knew she would be willing to see every inch of Rome he could show her because she already mentioned she wanted to see as many sights as possible. He hoped it wouldn't be the last time she saw Rome, but if it just so happened to be the case, he already knew she would never forget it.

"What's wrong?"

He looked at her, still affected greatly every time he laid eyes on hers. "What do you mean?"

She smiled. "You seemed very far away for a moment there."

He smiled in return. "I was, but I am back now."

"Good, because you are supposed to be my tour guide."

* * * *

He led them in the direction taking them to the Spanish Steps, and she followed his lead willingly. She had to admit she was still a little shaken, the short walk through the hotel lobby the main cause behind it. They seemed to be on the receiving end of inquisitive stares. Some of them from employees of the hotel and others seemed to be guests. She could only imagine what they thought, but for the first time in her life, she didn't care. She could get used to this.

The thought tripped her up a little. She'd taken a big risk, and she knew it. She couldn't afford to get used to this and needed to keep her heart guarded or she could end up right back where she started off before this trip. Deep down, she felt Antonio wouldn't hurt her, but what scared her was he had the power to. Antonio began to speak, and she realized they'd reached the Spanish Steps, only one of the several places she wanted to visit. She trusted he would show her everything she wanted to see.

They reached the base of the steps, and he pointed out the Barcaccia to her. She loved to hear him speak Italian. The words seemed to roll of his tongue in a way she struggled to do. She studied the Barcaccia, trying to figure out why it would be called the ugly boat. In her opinion it was beautiful. She asked Antonio questions, and he seemed happy to explain to her where the name came from. Hearing the history of the Barcaccia helped her to understand why it could be given such a name and why people showed homage when the floods occurred.

He led her over to the Immaculate Conception column. She marveled at the beauty of the intricate design, tilting her head back to take in the magnificent sight before her.

The wind picked up, and she frowned before glancing at him. He gave her a puzzled look. "What is it?"

"When the wind picked up, I could swear I smelled McDonald's."

He laughed before pulling her closer. "You did."

At the dubious look she shot him, he pointed to a discreetly decorated building. "There lies your McDonald's. Would you like some?"

She wrinkled her nose in displeasure. "No offense, but I can eat all of the McDonald's I want when I get back to Boulder City."

She rubbed her stomach. "Besides, I need to wait a few more hours before I eat after the large breakfast you requested to be delivered this morning."

He smiled. "Did you enjoy it?"

She nodded. "I have never been a big fan of scrambled eggs, but everything tasted wonderful."

"How do you like your eggs?"

"Over medium."

He gave a brief nod as he led her up the hundred and thirty-eight steps. They made their way into the Trinita dei Monti where he spent more time paying attention to her. She became engrossed with everything they came across. She was genuinely interested in all of the sites they saw. The history behind every item piqued her attention even more.

They ended up spending hours in the church before Tierra was ready to go. The entire time he held her hand in his, and she liked that he hadn't pulled away from her once. Anyone glancing their way would probably think the two of them were a loving couple, something she didn't mind. She also liked how he enjoyed the contact as much as she did.

"What are we going to do now?"

He smiled. "I thought we would go back to the hotel and have a swim before having dinner."

She nodded, more than okay with the suggestion. It was very warm, and she wouldn't mind swimming a few laps. The walk back to the hotel a short one, and she could definitely say going down the Spanish Steps was a lot easier than going up them.

"Did you enjoy yourself today?"

She nodded before going up on tiptoe and placing a kiss on his cheek. "Yes, I did. Thank you for taking me."

He looked over at her as they entered the hotel. "What else you want to see within the next two weeks?"

She nodded before rattling off a list that included the Imperial forums, Mouth of Truth, Borghese Museum, and Vatican City. They headed for the elevator and took it up to her floor. Antonio had the room key in his hand by the time they made it to her room. They stepped inside, and for some reason, she felt nervous. The door closed behind him.

"Why don't you go ahead and change into your swimsuit while I unpack a few things?"

She nodded before walking over to the dresser and opening the drawer. It became obvious she'd gone swimsuit happy. She brought eight of them with five of them bring brand-new. When she planned this trip, she'd begun to save up so she could splurge. She'd known from the beginning it would be a once in a lifetime trip. So far it say it dispute the assumption. Reaching inside the drawer, she pulled out the sapphire string bikini and matching cover-up before heading into the bathroom. Something told her it might be a little too brazen to change in front of him.

However, she left the door open just in case he did want to join her. She definitely wouldn't stop him if he did. She changed into her swimsuit before smiling at herself in the mirror. It would be fun to see his reaction. He loved her body. She could see it in his eyes every time he looked at her. She stepped into the cover-up before tying the strings around her neck. When she revealed the swimsuit underneath, it would be within the safety of the pool area. Otherwise, they may not make it for the refreshing swim he suggested. She exited the bathroom to find him still unpacking.

"Do you need any help?"

He looked up at her and smiled before shaking his head. "I am almost finished."

She pointed the drawers he could use out to him before taking a seat on the edge of the bed. A few moments later, he everything unpacked, then headed into the bathroom himself.

When he returned a moment later, she almost bit her tongue. He still wore his shirt but gone were the jeans and in their place black swim trunks. Antonio had very nice legs. Strong and powerful were the only two words she could think of to describe them.

"You ready?" Antonio asked.

"I will be once I get my flip-flops and sun block lotion."

She gathered the two items quickly, and they made their way to the pool. Only a handful of other people meandered around the pool--a perfect opportunity for her to drive Antonio up the wall without a lot of witnesses. He laid out a towel on a lounge for her.

"If you want, I can put your sun block lotion on."

She smiled. Even though she was African American, she had fair skin and could burn easily or experience peeling skin.

"I would like that."

Reaching behind her neck, she untied the string to her cover-up and let it fall. Antonio's eyes automatically began to darken. She lay down on a patio chaise, smiling to herself when she heard his strangled gasp. This should definitely prove to be interesting.

* * * *

Antonio fought back the growl threatening to escape, certain he was about to have a heart attack at the sight before him. Tierra's body could only be described as luscious. The sight of her dropping the cover-up almost made him throw her over his shoulder and carry her back up to the room. Instead, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before flipping the lid on the sun block lotion. Reopening his eyes, he put a good amount of the lotion into the palms of his hands as a smile came to his face. If her intent was to tease him, he could tease her right back. Her body deserved to be played with, and the strong urge to touch her in every way possible bubbled beneath the surface.

She had a very nice body. Muscular, but only enough for her to be in shape and still remain feminine. Her narrow waist led to a nice round bottom.

A strong image of tracing her spine with his tongue came to his mind. It took him several moments to get his mind past her spine and bottom until his gaze fell onto her legs. They resembled the legs of a Las Vegas showgirl even though she didn't have the height. He rubbed his palms together before lowering his body to the chair beside her.

Beginning with the left leg, he rubbed the sun block on, making sure she was good and covered. When he reached her upper thigh just below the swell of her rounded bottom, he snuck a feel of the smooth skin there. She didn't say anything, but her body let him know she had to be well aware of what he was doing. He moved over to her other leg before moving up to her back, then made his way to her arms.

He'd been right about her body being firm yet feminine in the places it needed it to be. She turned her head to look at him.

"Are you finished?"

Her voice sounded huskier than normal, and her breathing deepened. His touch affected her as he wanted it to, and it wasn't over yet. It wouldn't ever be over if he could help it.

He shook his head. "Now it is time for me to do the front."

Chapter 5

Tierra took a deep breath as they walked into the hotel's restaurant. She truly was surprised they made it to dinner after their earlier outing at the pool. They'd literally taken an hour rubbing sun block on each other. It led to an immediate dip into the pool and then to another round of rubbing sun block lotion on each other. Thankfully, there weren't too many other patrons around.

By the time they made it back to the room, she'd cooled down once again. Fortunately, she needed to start getting ready for dinner. It proved to be enough of a deterrent to keep her from stripping naked as soon as they walked into the hotel room. But they had a dinner reservation, and she was hungry. She'd chosen to wear a scarlet, ankle-length halter dress. Even though it had been a major headache, she washed her hair before styling it into big curls, leaving them to fall around her face.

Antonio already told her several times how beautiful she looked in both English and Italian. He looked just as handsome in his custom-made suit. It fit his body as a dress suit should. She allowed him to lead her inside the nice restaurant. His status became clearer the longer she remained in his presence. She observed Antonio being treated with a great level of respect. From what she could tell, he deserved it. It seemed he'd earned it.

The voice of the waiter brought out of her musing as they made their way to their table. Antonio ordered a bottle of wine for them. She opened the menu and didn't know what she looked at let alone what she should order. This was the first time she would have authentic Italian food. Antonio must have read the confusion on her face.

"Would you like for me to order for you?"

She nodded, hoping she could trust his taste. He didn't let her down by starting them off with herb-flavored oil and focaccia. Carciofi romani followed the focaccia. The artichokes tasted great to her. They were tender and pretty much melted in her mouth. When the waiter placed the spinach gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce in front of her, her eyes widened.

"How many courses are we going to have?"

He smiled. "Not including this one, we have two to go."

He eyes widened even more. "How in the world do you stay in such good shape if you eat like this?"

He chuckled. "Simple. I don't eat like this every day. This is my treat for you, cara."

She smiled at the endearment she'd become used to. "Well, that's good to know. Otherwise, I would be alarmed at your eating habits."

He laughed. "Your candor is one of the many things I like about you."

She smiled before turning her attention back to her food. She tried her gnocchi and instantly knew she didn't like it. Still, she took another bite before pushing the plate away.

He frowned in response, and she hoped he wasn't insulted. "You don't like it, no?"

She shook her head honesty as she took a sip of wine. "I thought I would because I like bleu cheese, but evidently I don't like Gorgonzola."

"Well, cara, at least you tried it before deciding you don't actually like it. Would you like something else?"

She sighed in relief at his understanding before shaking her head. "I barely have enough room for the rest of the food, so I will wait."

"There is no need to wait, cara."

She watched him raise his hand to signal the waiter, asking him to take away their plates and bring out the main course. Their plates were whisked away and replaced quickly by other plate of food. It looked very appealing and smelled even better. She glanced at Antonio.

"What is it?"

"Porchini encrusted Whitefish."

Her eyes closed in pleasure at the first bite. The fish tasted wonderful and melted in her mouth. When her eyes opened, she found him staring at her, and she gave him a questioning look. He smiled in return.

"Gradite?"

She nodded. "I like it very much."

They ate in silence, and it didn't bother her at all. It gave her time to enjoy her food as well as watch him eat. He had nice, strong hands, and she didn't miss the flash of teeth every time he took a bite. She instinctively thought about how his mouth would feel on her body and began to choke. Picking up her wine glass, she took a sip before averting her eyes. When she did look back at Antonio, he stared at her with concern.

"Are you okay, cara?"

She nodded. "Yes, I am. The food just went down the wrong way."

"So I see. I am just curious as to what you were thinking about prior to that."

She could feel her cheeks began to heat with embarrassment, but she answered truthfully. Her mother always told her it would be the only way she would ever get what she wanted.

"I was thinking about your mouth on my body," she mumbled.

His gaze intensified, and the hand on its way to his mouth stopped in midair. He put the fork down before speaking.

"It could be easily arranged. All you have to do is ask."

Her dark brows arched in his direction. "What would I look like asking you for something like that?"

"Like a woman who knows what she wants."

She shook her head, but he continued. "When we are together, you shouldn't be ashamed to tell me what you want. I will respect you as a lady because it is what you are, but ladies deserve to be pleasured, too."

Tierra took what he said seriously. She liked how he seemed comfortable enough in his manhood to allow direction.

Quincy hadn't been he reason why she faked every orgasm she experienced with him. No, she and Quincy never had intercourse, but they explored each other during heavy make-out sessions. Any time she tried to give him any direction, he would get frustrated, and it would lead to an argument. It was scary to think she hadn't given Antonio any direction and he gave her three mind-blowing orgasms the first night they met.

The man could only be described as dangerous--in more ways than one. She picked up her fork and resumed eating. Her food disappeared quickly--too quickly. She loved the good tasting dish. No, good didn't do it any justice. She had to describe it as absolutely delicious. She put her fork down and looked up to find him staring at her.

"We can go back to the hotel whenever you are ready."

Her nerves flared up instantly, knowing what would follow. All of a sudden, her hunger flared up again, but it wasn't for food.

"What about dessert?"

One corner of his mouth tilted upward into what she now referred to as the illegal grin.

"I have arranged for it to be delivered to our room at the hotel."

Tierra had no idea what kind of dessert he made reference to, but if it tasted half as good as dinner, she couldn't wait. She removed the napkin from her lap and placed it on the table. He placed his own napkin on the table before standing up and holding his hand out to her. Tierra took it, and they made their way out of the restaurant.

She felt curious eyes watching them as they went. Tierra found his complete oblivious nature to the stares interesting. She, on the other hand, was very aware of them. He led her to the main elevator, and as soon as the doors closed, she sighed and leaned closer to him, enjoying the warmth he radiated even though she wasn't cold. His arm came up to pull her closer, and her body contoured to his as if it were made to. They reached her floor and stepped off the elevator. Each step toward the hotel room made her more nervous in a way she would have thought impossible. He opened the door to the room before holding it open for her.

"Why don't you get comfortable?"

She nodded slowly and walked over to the edge of the bed before sitting down. The first thing she removed, the killer shoes squeezing her feet into an unnatural shape.

Her feet ached severely from the short time she wore them, but it had been well worth it. They were beautiful and the only pair of designer shoes she owned, and from the way her feet felt, the only pair she would ever own. Her stockings went next. She reached up under her dress and undid the clip on her garter belt. Taking them off carefully became a task since her hands started to shake from nerves.

Feeling Antonio's eyes on her, she noticed he wore the same look when she spotted him in the bar last night. He'd unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt, revealing a hard bronzed chest sprinkled with dark hair. He even rolled up his sleeves again. What made her pause was the expression on his face. She could only describe it as blatant lust. Frankly, it shocked her.

"What is it?" she asked.

He made his way toward her, pulling her into a standing position before capturing her lips with his. Lord, did the man know how to kiss. He proved his skill to bring her to orgasm with it if he tried. His hands found her bottom, and she started to realize he had a fondness for it. He cupped her bottom and lifted her into his growing arousal. It wasn't until she needed to draw a breath that he released her mouth, only giving her a second of reprieve before recapturing her lips. Desire flooded through her womb, causing it to clench with need. Antonio finally pulled back, and she leaned heavily into him. When he spoke, his voice was raspy with desire.

"Cara, if I'd known you were wearing what you are underneath your clothes, we would have never have made it to dinner."

She smiled before leaning back into his embrace. "Then I guess I should leave my underwear on for now, huh?"

His gaze became even more heated, and he growled. "Get out onto the balcony, woman, before you end up being dessert."

He let her go, and she stepped back. She quickly removed her stockings, stopping there because anything else might be dangerous. Walking toward the balcony, she looked over her shoulder before opening the door.

"Just for the record, I wouldn't mind being dessert."

The smile that appeared on his face as he walked toward her could only be described as completely wicked. "Cara, I wouldn't mind you being dessert, either, but we need to talk."

She nodded, knowing he was right. Suddenly, she frowned, and he gave her a worried glance.

"What is it?"

She shook her head and smiled. "Nothing. I have something I need to do."

She walked back into the room and made her way to the nightstand. She pulled out a compact and put something in her hand before placing the compact back into the drawer.

When she headed back toward him, she gave him a shy smile. "Do we have anything to drink with our dessert?"

He nodded as he led her out onto the balcony. "Milk and coffee."

She requested the milk, and he handed it to her. He watched as she took a pill.

"Are you okay, cara?"

She nodded. "Why do you ask?"

He gave a slight shrug. "You are taking a pill, so I thought you might be sick."

She smiled. "No, I'm just taking my birth control pill."

Once she was seated, he pushed her chair up before taking a seat in his own. The way he looked at her in the candlelight made her feel even more beautiful than she already did.

She watched as he uncovered their dessert, smiling in appreciation at the panna cotta he uncovered.

"Mmm. This looks wonderful."

He smiled. "I assure you, it is."

Picking up the spoon, he offered her the first bite. The dessert was wonderful.

She savored the bite before taking another. When he offered her a third, she shook her head.

"Don't you want some?"

* * * *

Antonio stared at Tierra as he contemplated the loaded question she just asked. He wanted a lot from her, and most of it had nothing to do with the dessert sitting in front of them. Panna cotta was his favorite dessert. It seemed to be hers as well. The sound of pleasure she made kicked his arousal into gear. The woman exuded desire, and she didn't realize it. He gave her credit because at least she tried the food before making the determination she didn't like the taste. He wondered if she would respond the same way in a sexual sense. His gut told him she would, and even though there seemed to be an air of innocence about her, it appealed to him.

He didn't realize just how shallow the women he'd been involved with before were. Tierra seemed to simply enjoy life itself. She wasn't demanding, even when it was obvious she deserved everything she wanted. He could sit across the table from her and not flinch at the idea of coming home to her every night for that reason. She reached out and took the spoon from his hand before offering him the bite he tried to offer her. He took it willingly before sitting back. The dessert tasted as good as he expected it to be.

"Tierra, we really do need to talk."

Her eyebrows rose before she frowned. "This sounds serious. I would...wait. You aren't married are you?"

He arched a dark brown in her direction at her off-the-wall assumption. Her contrite expression told him she regretted the words as soon as she said them. Still, he could understand the line of questioning considering the events she'd been through recently.

"Cara, believe me, when I marry, it will be my one and only marriage." The corners of his mouth curved upward. "Besides, I have a mother who would cuff my ears if I even thought about being unfaithful in my marriage."

Taking a deep breath, he tried to relax and prepare himself for the reaction he would probably receive in response to the news he was about to tell her. Her gentle smile the reassurance he needed to continue.

"What do you want to talk about?"

He decided the best way to handle the situation was to be straightforward. "Last night I told you I had business to take care of so I could spend the next two weeks with you."

She nodded slowly. "Yes, I remember."

"Well, it included having an informal meeting with my family this morning."

A look of confusion appeared on her face. "Why did you need to do that?"

He grimaced, hating he was about to be partially dishonest, but he could not tell her the complete truth and scare her off.

"So I could have the next two weeks off uninterrupted."

He watched her eyes widened again. "You told your family we are going to have an affair?"

He shook his head, fighting a smile at her horrified expression before reaching across the table and taking her hand in his.

"I have told you once before that what happens between you and I stays between you and I."

She gave him another confused look. "So what is the problem?"

He took a deep breath then released it slowly. "My parents want to meet you."

* * * *

All of the food Tierra consumed began to weigh down on her stomach like lead. This was the last thing she wanted to do. Her first impulse, get up and run out of the room. She stayed put for two reasons. Reason number one, it was her hotel room. Two, she didn't have anywhere else to go. Taking a deep breath, she tried to get fresh air, and it seemed to be impossible even though she stood outside. She shook her head slowly.

"I know this is my first affair, but I thought you'd keep others, especially family members, out of the equation."

"It is an agreement I made in order to assure our privacy."

She gave him a look of disbelief. "Your family has that much power over you?"

His smile widened. "Have you ever been around an Italian family, especially one you co-managed a hotel with?"

She shook her head. Yet, she understood family pressure and gave into it a few a times herself. Still, this wasn't what she planned. She wanted a non-complicated affair. Looking over at Antonio, his expression told her there was no chance of that happening.

She frowned before looking at him. "Do you think your family will have a problem with me not being Italian?"

He chuckled. "If I don't have a problem with it, they definitely won't." He leaned closer to her. "My family is very accepting and open-minded. They will love you."

It hadn't crossed her mind until he brought this up. She was open-minded when it came to who she dated because her parents raised her to be. Besides, what could be so bad about spending a few hours in the presence of his family? If they were anything like him, everything would be okay. She took a deep breath.

"Okay. If I agree to meet your family, when is it planned for?"

Antonio gave her an apologetic smile. "Tomorrow night."

Chapter 6

The bottom of her stomach dropped, and she began to feel faint for the first time in her life. Antonio actually reached across the table to steady her when she began to sway.

"Tierra, are you okay?"

She didn't bother to hide her apprehension. "I think I am going to faint."

He smiled. "If you do, I will be here to catch you."

She gave him a look through narrowed eyes.

"I am glad you find this so amusing," she huffed indignantly, folding her arms across her chest. "I am also glad we have not consummated this relationship."

His dark brows arched. "Well, we will and soon whether you meet my family or not. If you aren't comfortable meeting them, I can put it off, but trust me, my family is insistent."

She smiled. "Is that where you get it from?"

He nodded, and she had the pleasure of seeing his cheeks heat with slight embarrassment, but he still answered her honestly. "Yes, it is."

Leaning back in the chair, he waited. She finally sighed in resignation.

"I'm not one for putting things off. If we are going to do this, we might as well get it over with."

He shot her a wicked grin. "I prefer to take my time."

She looked at him with every ounce of exasperation she felt. "You know what I mean."

He brought her hand up to his mouth. "Yes, I do. I am glad you are willing to meet my family."

She tilted her head to the side. "Is it important to you that I do?"

"Yes, it is. I am a representation of my family, as they are of me."

She closed her eyes, understanding exactly what he meant but still wondering if she were going to regret this. There wasn't anything she'd done that she regretted, at least not yet.

"Cara, have you ever made love with a man?"

Her eyes popped open at his unexpected question. The man had an uncanny way of changing the subject. It made her hesitant about giving him an answer to the question because she knew it could change her plans, but her only option was to be honest, if she wanted this to work. Shaking her head, she gave him a small smile.

"No, because of you I am starting to realize I haven't," she whispered. "But I have had sex."

He gave her his characteristics smile. "Well, cara, I am glad to be the one who is showing you that there is a difference between the two."

His expression suddenly changed to a frown. "I would hate to think what would have happened if it wasn't me you ran into in the bar."

She gave him a slight shrug of her shoulder. He had no idea how long she sat in the bar before he'd come along or how many invitations she declined, and she wasn't going to tell him.

"I may be lack experience, but I am not stupid."

His smile reappeared at her indignation. Tierra prided herself on her level of intelligence and thought about everything she did very carefully before she went through with it.

"I believe you."

She smiled at how intuitive Antonio appeared to be when it came to her and wondered if Quincy ever had been. If he had, she couldn't remember. Then again there were a lot of things she couldn't remember about Quincy while in Antonio's presence.

She felt fate made him walk into the bar last night. Call it divine intervention or call it luck, she was just glad it happened. She shuddered at the thought of having chosen another man besides Antonio to be the one to touch her. She looked up as he reached out and brushed her cheek with a caring hand.

"Do you want any more dessert?"

She shook her head slowly. The panna cotta tasted delicious, but she knew what she was about to share with Antonio would be even better.

He stood up before holding his hand out to her. She took it, and he led her inside. He placed a brief kiss on her lips before pulling back.

"I will be back in a moment."

She watched him enter the bathroom and close the door before she moved. First, she brought the votive candle sitting on the patio table inside, then closed the door and drew the curtains. She placed it on the dresser before opening the second drawer and reaching inside.

Pulling out what she needed to change into, she waited for Antonio to come out of the bathroom. She didn't have a long wait. When the bathroom door opened, she struggled to breathe normally.

Knowing he was the man she would share herself with sent a shiver of anticipation through her. She gathered up her things and slowly made her way to him, smiling.

"I needed to freshen up a little."

He nodded his understanding and moved to the side, letting her enter the bathroom. She closed the door before leaning heavily against it. Never in her life had she been so nervous. Taking a deep breath before she chickened out, she put the nightgown on the counter before reaching up to untie the straps holding her dress up. She also slipped out of her underwear before reaching for the lingerie she originally bought to tempt Quincy.

It gave her pleasure to know she had the opportunity to entice Antonio with it instead. Quincy definitely didn't deserve the honor. She pulled the fly-away nightgown over her head and smiled when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Slipping into the matching thong panties only made her smile widen. She was ready now. Hanging her dress on the back of the door, she put her discarded underwear to the side before giving herself one last look in the mirror. Shutting off the light in the bathroom, she opened the door and smiled. Antonio stood there waiting for her in the candlelit room. His expression once he laid eyes on her said it all. He liked what he saw...a lot. She took a step toward him, and the gown moved in smooth unison with her, a great amount of her skin exposed, yet a lot covered. The gown fell to her ankles, completely sheer for the exception of the area that held her breasts.

Antonio's eyes roamed over her appreciatively. "You look very beautiful in the gown, cara, but you don't need it. With your beauty, I only need you."

His words gave the reassurance she needed, and in the next moment, she was in his arms.

"Do you know how much I want you, cara?"

"As much as I want you," she replied softly.

The next breath she drew ended with his lips covering hers. Her arms instinctively went up and encircled his neck, loving the feel of his shoulders underneath her palms. She began to run her fingers through his hair. It had a satin-like feel to it. Her body molded itself perfectly to his. His hands found her bottom.

She found he seemed to have an obsession with it. One she didn't mind. This kiss was different than the others they shared--possessive, claim staking. If she hadn't known before this kiss he had no plans to share her, it became crystal clear. His kiss became intense to the point she wanted to pull away. Instead, he tightened his hold on her, and she had no choice but to succumb to his onslaught of pleasure. He pulled back only so the two of them could get a get a quick breath of air. She leaned weakly against him, and he scooped her up into his arms before carrying her over to the bed. His breathing just as heavy as hers, glad to know she wasn't the only one being affected by their heated exchange. Once he laid her down, he looked at her.

"Are you sure about this?"

She stared up at him, and instead of telling him how sure she felt, she showed him. She reached for him and pulled his head down for another kiss. He went willingly, very willingly. Her body began to ache for his touch. She groaned as he pulled back from her.

"Where are you going?"

He shook his head. "Nowhere. I just want to take a look at you."

She watched him lean back to study her through heavily lidded eyes. When his hand slid beneath her nightgown, she closed her eyes and moaned in pleasure. Her mind went back to the memory of him touching her last night.

As if he were thinking the same thing, his hand slid to the vee of her thighs before touching her intimately through her underwear. A moment later, he touched her again, and she whimpered. He seemed to know exactly how to touch her and where to drive her wild with pleasure. She whispered his name, and his mouth found hers again. His mouth felt just as skilled as his hands. Her hands came up and grabbed his strong shoulders, needing something to anchor on to. His kiss seemed to become desperate, as if he needed it to sustain his life. She met his mouth with a desperation of her own.

A moment later, he drew away from her, ending the kiss, and she tightened her grip on his shoulders. The only thing that kept her from protesting was his mouth began following a trail down her throat. He slid a strap off her shoulder, revealing one of her breasts, before lowering his head. The sensation of him pulling a pebbled nipple between his lips was just enough to make her cry out with pleasure. She gasped, trying to control the overwhelming sensations racing through her, knowing deep down she fought a losing battle. He seemed to understand he overwhelmed her and pulled away from her breast. She sighed in relief, but it was short-lived when she realized his next goal.

"Antonio, wait...what are you doing?"

He looked up at her, and the only word she could use to describe his expression, passionate. The fervor she saw there almost intimidating.

"I'm giving you pleasure, cara. If you have to ask, then I must not be doing a good job."

Her head fell back, unable to hold it up any longer.

"Trust me, you are doing a very good job of giving me pleasure," she replied out of breathlessly, amazed he could still string a sentence together.

His predatory smiled reappeared. "Good. It should only get better after I do this..."

Even though romance novels gave her an idea of what was about to happen, this was the first time she would experience it for herself. His mouth joined his hands, drawing one of her nipples into his mouth, giving the beaded tip a light flick of his tongue, before doing the same to the other. Nothing in the world could have prepared her for this. He seemed to be trying to drink in all of her essence. She moaned in pleasure, trying to arch away from the intense satisfaction. Antonio wouldn't allow it. Instead, he lifted her legs over his shoulders, leaving her seated firmly against his mouth. She moaned even louder, and he increased the sensation as if spurred on by the sound. Her head began to thrash side to side, and she began to chant his name. Several moments later, she screamed as pure bliss roared through her. The gratification she experienced so acute she actually sat up and clasped the back of his head as she rode out her satisfaction.

She finally fell back breathlessly, trying to figure out what just happened besides the best orgasm of her life. Antonio moved away from her, and she was so weak she didn't have the strength to protest. He didn't go far. When his hands went to his belt, she realized he still had all of his clothes on. She found enough strength to push herself up onto her elbows to get a better view. He undressed quickly and efficiently until the only item left were his underwear, almost completely revealing a perfect body to her. Then again she hadn't expected anything less. His body seemed to be made up of chiseled muscles and corded steel, yet his skin felt like satin. She blushed at the thought of how she gripped his shoulders a few moments ago.

Still, she wanted to touch him again, needed to touch him again, touch him without clothes, touch the parts of him she neglected so far. Pushing herself up slowly, she made her way toward the edge of the bed on her knees, stopping directly in front of him. She caught a whiff of his strong masculine scent that held a tone of spiciness. It was a scent she liked, a scent that made her want to get closer to him. Reaching out, she touched his chest, loving the smooth yet hard feel of him. Desire began to pool in her belly again. She leaned forward and placed a kiss against the spot she just touched, and he inhaled sharply. At the sound, she looked up, and the desire she read in his eyes matched hers.

She let her hand slide toward his impressive erection. His eyes closed, and he emitted a feral growl. Another harsh sound escaped him as he stilled her hands before putting some distance between them. His attempt to separate them slowed the desire racing through them, but it did not disappear completely. She smiled as he pulled her back into his arms, and at the contact of their bodies, the passion began to flare up again. Her smile widened as his control slipped again, and his movements became frantic. Antonio removed her nightgown from her quickly and back on the bed before she could blink.

He trailed kisses over her jaw line, down her cheek, sliding lower. When he reached the swell of her stomach, he gave it a light, stinging nip before soothing it with his tongue. He moved lower until he was nestled between her thighs. His mouth found her, and she shrieked in a mixture of surprise and gratification. She'd been with Quincy for three years, and he'd never taken the initiative to pleasure her orally once, yet here Antonio was satisfying her twice, and he showed no signs of stopping. Quincy truly was a selfish bastard. Nothing made her happier than to be rid of him. Antonio kept his early promise of wanting to taste her, and she must have a flavor he couldn't get enough of. A sensuous flick of his tongue made her scream with joy.

"Antonio!"

He satisfied her with an intensity, making her scream again as she convulsed against him in the throes of another orgasm. Satisfaction spiraled through her from all angles. He pulled away from her, and she could only watch as he removed his underwear before joining her on the bed.

Still, the simple action seemed to take too long. Just as she was getting ready to protest, she heard the rattle of a foil packet and knew he donned protection. She was thankful and when he came back over her, she smiled.

He placed a brief kiss on her lips before moving between her thighs. Pulling back, he looked her in the eye.

"Are you sure about this?"

Tierra nodded without hesitation. "I have never been more sure of anything else."

Antonio nodded before pressing forward. At the sensation of him entering her, she gasped. Her body instinctively remembered what to do, granting him access into her. She gasped with discomfort, and when her body clamped down around his, he held her hips and lowered his body to hers. She tried to move away, but he kept his hold on her and placed his forehead against hers.

"I'm sorry, cara. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you."

Tierra tried to find the words to tell him she knew he hadn't, but she couldn't. She tried to keep the tears gathering in her eyes at bay, but judging by the sudden tenseness in his body, he'd seen them.

"You have to relax for me, cara. It is the only way the pain will go away."

Her eyes closed, and a soft sob escaped her. She tried to compose herself, and after a few moments, the pain faded, and her eyes reopened. She gave him a small smile, and he removed one of his hands from her hip, wiping away her tears before speaking to her soothingly in Italian. She didn't understand anything he said, but it helped her to relax, and he slid in another inch. Antonio murmured a few more words until he nestled completely inside of her. Her body hugged his tightly, and he gave her a few moments to adjust.

"Are you okay, cara?"

She nodded slowly, not trusting her voice. No other words were needed. He began to move slowly. His patience paid off. The instant all of the discomfort left her, her body became more lax, and she began to move with him.

He lowered himself to her, and she held fast, not wanting an inch of space between them. She inhaled sharply as he slid deeper, but it was one of pleasure, and her hold on him tightened. She felt the pressure of an impending orgasm, but she wanted him with her when she went over the edge this time. She gasped as he switched tempos, his thrusts coming quicker.

"Stay with me, cara," he whispered brokenly in her ear.

She couldn't respond verbally, but she had no desire to do anything but follow his command. A moment later, he let out a mixture of a growl and shout of ecstasy signaling his own release. He held her securely as her body continued to contract around him in pleasure. At that moment, she knew Antonio had stolen a part of her heart and it was going to be hard to walk away from him at the end of the next two weeks.

Chapter 7

Tierra stirred sleepily as Antonio lifted her up into his arms. She was still worn out from their lovemaking. It didn't seem as though much time passed. She must have actually fallen asleep at some point. Now he carried her to the bathroom, and she realized he'd readied the vintage marble tub for them. He stepped into the tub with her, and she winced slightly as he lowered them to the water.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, and he settled back in the tub, drawing her against him. They sat there for a moment, letting the warmth of the water seep into their muscles. He ran his hand up and down her arm in a soothing fashion.

"I am sorry I hurt you, cara."

She looked up at him, melting at his tender expression. "I know it may sound strange, but it was worth it, and it didn't hurt long."

He smiled. "Not as strange as you think it may sound, cara."

She nodded, but now the sexual tension between the two of them dissipated some, and other pressing issues were taking over her thoughts. "Antonio."

"Hmm?"

"Tell me about your family."

She watched him smile before he opened his mouth to speak.

"I love my parents because they have been a solid foundation in my life, as well as my siblings. I have to admit their presence can be unwanted at times, but I still love them in spite of it."

She nodded, able to relate to how he felt. He placed a soft kiss against her temple.

"To begin with, there is my sister, Amalia. I think the two of you will get along perfectly, for you have quite a bit in common. I also think Amalia would appreciate the extra female companionship, considering five men normally surrounded her at a time. As a matter of fact, Amalia claims the reason she's still single is because she has been raised around a bunch of uncivilized men."

Tierra laughed. Having Hayden as a brother made her understand the dilemma perfectly. She heard the love in his voice for his sister.

"Although as much as Amalia may gripe, I think my sister is just waiting for the right person to come into her life so she could get married and fill some of her own baby strollers she been eyeing lately."

Tierra had a feeling Amalia just needed to find a man who could challenge her, love her.

Antonio came along and challenged her in more ways than she ever thought imaginable. She listened as he told her about Carlo, Giovanni, Leonardo and Maceo, talking about them until she was half asleep against his chest again. She stirred slightly as he reached around her to let the water out of the tub before lifting her again. Even though she could be considered a small woman, she appreciated his strength. She wasn't entirely sure her own legs would support her. He wrapped a towel around her, then wrapped one around his waist and carried her back to the bedroom.

She watched as he paused to blow out the candle, leaving them in the dark, before carrying her to the bed. He joined her, pulling her into the side of his body where she was most comfortable. Her head instantly came to rest on his, and his arms surrounded her. She didn't know when she actually fell asleep, but she knew she could stay in his arms like this forever, and the thought scared her.

* * * *

The corners of Antonio's mouth tilted upward as he studied Tierra. For the first time in his life, he held a woman through the entire night. Actually, it had been more like burrowing since that was pretty much what she'd done. If he moved one inch away, she moved two inches closer. He wrapped both arms around her, and he'd been watching her sleep ever since he awakened half an hour ago. Only one word came to mind while he watched her, beautiful. He didn't mind waking up to her like this. She didn't make much noise other than the natural breathing sound, exhaling heavily on occasion. He looked at the clock on the bedside table and smiled. More time passed than he originally thought. It was almost noon. Surprisingly, she hadn't awakened yet. She must have really been exhausted after last night. It bothered him that he hurt her. The pain had been evident on her face, but it still hadn't ruined the moment. He'd been her first lover, and the way he saw it, her last.

It had been meant for him to be captivated by her beauty and enter the bar of the restaurant, a place he used to go all the time three years ago, to drag his brother Carlo out, when he decided to wallow in self-pity. Carlo's accident had done a number on him. Antonio hadn't been in the bar since he convinced Carlo it wasn't the way to solve his problems. Still, Antonio hadn't been able to resist the temptation he felt when he spotted Tierra. Now he knew it had been the right decision. After last night, there was little doubt Tierra might be the woman he wanted in life--beyond two weeks. The only thing he had to do was convince her of the same. She stirred next to him, moving closer, before opening her eyes slowly. He smiled when she looked up at him.

"Buongiorno."

"Buongiorno," she whispered, her voice still husky with sleep. She rolled onto her back, still maintaining contact with him.

"What time is it?"

He smiled as he brushed a runaway strand of hair out of her face. The feel of her soft skin so addictive he didn't think he would ever tire of touch it.

"It is a little before noon."

Her eyes widened. "Did I sleep long?"

He nodded. "You were tired, or I would have awoken you."

She gave him a shy smile. "Thank you. I think I might be suffering from a little jet lag."

He stroked her cheek with his hand. "That's understandable."

She reached for the sheet before sitting up against the headboard. He sat up beside her. "Are you hungry?"

She nodded. Her stomach chose that moment to grumble, indicating the six-course meal she enjoyed last night was gone. Antonio smiled and placed a brief kiss on her lips.

"But I need to use the bathroom first."

He nodded. "I will order room service for us while you use the bathroom."

She disappeared into the bathroom, and he ordered their breakfast. He pushed back the covers as the door opened. As he made his way to the bathroom, he was careful not to get too close. She was pure temptation, and as much as he wanted to drag her back to bed, she needed time to recover.

* * * *

Tierra nodded, watching him as he climbed out of the bed. A glimpse of his firm backside was all she received as he stepped into his pants, but it was enough. She studied him as he made his way to the bathroom, trying to reel in the naughty thoughts that wanted to surface. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried to relax.

She needed to get her emotions back under control before Antonio rejoined her. Shortly after he closed the door, a knock sounded out. A quick look through the peephole revealed room service arrived. She opened the door, standing aside as the attendant wheeled the cart in the room. The woman moved efficiently, opening the curtain to the balcony and setting breakfast up before disappearing again. When Antonio opened the door, Tierra stood there waiting for him.

"Breakfast is here."

He smiled. "Buon"

She stepped out on the balcony with him close behind. She grinned as he made her sit while he uncovered the plates. Her smile widened at the sight of the pancakes, bacon and sausage on her plate. She moaned in appreciation when he uncovered a plate of fried eggs for her. "What would you like to drink?"

She chose the espresso because she fell in love with it yesterday morning. He poured her a cup and added a few lumps of sugar and cream. Several moments of silence passed as they begin to eat.

"Tell me about your family."

She gave him a genuine smile because she loved her family. "My parents are wonderful people. They support me even when they don't completely agree with my choice. I don't know what I would do without them. My brother, Hayden, is four years older than I am. We used to be close, but lately things have been strained between us."

Tierra paused to take a sip of espresso. "Not in a bad way. He is just going through a lot right now. Unfortunately, he lost his wife and unborn child."

Tierra couldn't keep the note of sadness out of her voice. She loved her brother. He was her best friend. The person she could talk to about anything, at least until recently. Now her brother didn't do much talking at all, and she missed it. Missed the closeness, his sense of humor.

Not wanting to cloud the day with sad thoughts, she turned her attention back to Antonio. He studied her intently, making her want to fidget, but she refrained.

He smiled at her. "You like the coffee, no?"

She looked at him and nodded. "I have never had coffee tasting as exquisite as this."

He took a sip of his own drink. "I am glad you like it."
She took the last remaining bite of her pancakes, knowing she shouldn't. At this rate, she would go back home with an extra five, possibly ten pounds on her if she didn't slow down.

Unfortunately, Antonio tempted her by placing some of the best tasting food in front of her. She would need more exercise to counter the food she consumed. Her thoughts went to last night. She flushed and took another sip of her espresso before staring deeply into the cup. No way could she look at him now, not without wanting to drag him to the floor of the balcony to have her way with him.

"What are you thinking about, cara?"

She knew by the tone of his voice she been busted again. Trying her best not to look him in the eyes, she shook her head.

"Nothing," she stammered, hating that she couldn't be dishonest to save her life. She could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke.

"For some reason, cara, I don't believe you."

He moved closer to her, and she hurriedly sat her cup down. The last thing she needed to do was burn either of them with hot liquid. He reached for her hand, and it chose this inopportune moment to start shaking.

"You seem nervous, cara."

"I am," she replied

"Perche? I would never do anything you don't want me to."

She gave him a deadpan look. "That's what scares me."

He laughed, and she couldn't help but smile herself, certain she sounded ridiculous, but it was true. He made her nervous because the things she would consider doing with him could only be defined as bad. When he placed a kiss on the back of her hand, she felt it all the way to her toes. Once again, she was getting into dangerous territory and she knew it.

"What do we have planned for the day?

He gave her a sexy look. "I'm thinking we could spend the day in bed."

* * * *

Her eyes widened, and he smiled at the deer-in-headlights expression. "After yesterday I figured we could use some rest and relaxation."

She gave him a look of disbelief. "And just how do you plan on doing that?"

He knew thoughts about last night raced through her mind, but he truly did plan on spending the day in bed undisturbed. It was a great day to take it easy. He wanted her as relaxed as she could be before she met his family tonight. There was no denying how huge of a step this was for him. She would be the first woman he ever considered bringing around his family, the only woman he ever would if he could help it. If he gave his family this one thing, he would be able to find as much incentive as he needed to keep Tierra from walking away from him when their two weeks were over.

"I thought we could lie in bed and relax. Maybe talk about our respective lives."

Her expression told him she didn't believe him. He couldn't blame her. The rude erection he sported since he came out of the bathroom and saw her standing there in his shirt waiting on him couldn't be more evident. Still, he knew she had to be sore from the gingerly way she sat and stood, and it would be insensitive for him to push himself on her.

He would give her time to recuperate before he showed her that kind of pleasure again. Frankly, it was already a struggle. After having her body wrapped so snuggly around his, it wasn't something he would forget anytime soon. Still, he had enough self-control to keep his passion under restraint.

Her expression full of indecision when she spoke. "You thought the two of us would lie in bed all day?"

He nodded. "I thought it would be a great idea. As a matter of fact, hang on a second."

She watched as he stood up and headed back into the room before pulling the sheet off the bed. He made his way back out onto the balcony. She watched with puzzlement as he laid the sheet on a chaise chair in the corner.

He pulled the large umbrella over next to it. When he finished, she saw what he'd done. He'd given them a shaded and very comfortable spot to rest in. When he held out his hand to her, she took another sip of her espresso, then walked over to join him. He lay down first, lifting the corner of the sheet so she could join him. She snuggled closer to him, surprised they were actually getting a cool breeze. The heat could be stifling. She looked up at him as a concerning thought crossed her mind.

"Can anyone else see us?"

He shook his head. "These balconies are designed to look out not in. But that is also the reason why I covered you with the sheet."

His confidence reassured her, as well as a quick glance around the balcony. She hadn't noticed it before now, but it was designed for privacy as he said. Laying her head on his chest, she smiled. "This is a very beautiful hotel. It is one of the reasons why I picked it."

"I am glad you think so, and I am glad you chose it. My mother's grandparents bought it from the prior owner when it had almost been in ruins. Over the years, they turned it around. My mother, being an only child and my parents wanting to retire in order to be able to enjoy their senior years, threw me and my siblings into the ownership role."

He paused, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. "With a lot of hard work and dedication, my siblings and I turned the three star hotel into a five star deluxe. Yes, a lot of time and money have been put into the effort, but the return and success we have received because of it is worth it."

"Do you enjoy what you do?"

He nodded without hesitation. "Yes, I do, but there are times when I realize something is still missing."

She stared at him with puzzlement, trying to figure out what a man like him could want when it seemed liked he had everything.

"What is missing?"

"Someone to share it with."

Chapter 8

Tierra took a deep breath as she dialed her parents' number. She was already nervous over going to meet Antonio's family. Her mother answered on the third ring.

"Hi, Mama."

"Hey, baby. How are you?"

She smiled at the soothing tone of her mother's voice. "I'm good, Mama. How are things there?"

"They are getting better, although Quincy had the nerve to show up here yesterday."

Tierra shook her head. The man did have some nerve to show up at her parents' house after leaving her for another woman, especially when that woman had been her best friend.

"Luckily, Hayden left just before his arrival, but I still had to talk your father out of getting his gun."

She couldn't help but to laugh. "You probably should have let him."

"Well, as tempted as I might have been, your father wouldn't survive in prison."

She chuckled, knowing her mother had a good point. "Well, I hope you told him to get lost and never come around again."

"We did, but I don't think he will listen until you tell him."

"Well, I will as soon as I come home from vacation."

Her mother remained silent for a few moments. "Are you having a good time?"

Tierra laughed at the question. She replied without hesitation. "Yes, Mama, I am. I really am."

Her mother paused, and Tierra could tell she wanted to say something, but her mother refrained.

"That is good, dear. Just promise me you are being careful."

"I am, Mama, and I will."

She knew her parents were worried about her being in another country by herself.

"I am going to let you go, but your father wants to speak with you."

"Okay, Mama. I love you."

"I love you, too."

She waited as her mother went in search of her father. When her father's voice came over the line she, felt a twinge of sadness, but quickly pushed it aside, instead choosing to talk to him about her trip in Rome and the things she done so far, leaving out the part about Antonio. Her father was the last person to whom she should mention Antonio. Unfortunately, she became distracted when Antonio walked out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his slim and toned waist.

The rest of her conversation with her father became a blur, and by the time she hung up, her mouth felt dry. Her gaze followed him across the room before she watched him get dressed. She was certain it should be sexier for a person to get undressed, but watching Antonio get dressed quickly changed her mind.

"Cara?"

Her eyes met his, which were full of humor. She realized he'd spoken to her while she'd been busy drooling over him.

"What did you say?"

His smile widened. "I asked if everything is okay with your parents."

She nodded. "They're fine."

He gave her a knowing look "Are you okay, cara?"

She managed to nod before standing up, needing to put distance between them before things got out of hand.

"I'm fine," she stammered before trying to make her way toward the bathroom. He reached out to stop her, and she felt a jolt of electricity travel up her arm, his smile utterly wicked.

"I don't believe you, cara."

Sadly, she didn't believe herself, either. If nothing else, her stammering was a dead giveaway. She looked up as he neared her.

"I think we are going to be late, cara."

Her eyes widened when she grasped the meaning behind his words. She shook her head. There was no way she would be late to his parents'. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out why. She shook her head again, before attempting to pull away from him.

"We can't be late."

His gaze became more wicked. "Sure we can, cara. My family would understand why we're late."

She winced, but luckily the statement killed all thoughts of passion she had. "That would be the problem."

Antonio's expression changed to one that could only be described as dangerous. "My family would never disrespect you, cara, and if they do, you tell me."

His expression told her she would never have to take him up on the offer. He brought her out of her musings by placing a kiss on the back of her hand.

"Go get ready, cara. What I want to do you right now can wait until after dinner. I definitely wouldn't want to rush our pleasure."

She drew in a sharp breath at his visual but managed to make her way to the bathroom on shaky legs. When she turned on the shower, she realized she was in trouble. She'd only been in Antonio's presence for two days and he already had her thinking irrationally. Closing her eyes briefly, she prayed for the ability to remain sane for the next ten days.

Opening her eyes, she knew it would be difficult but felt she could manage the task. Stripping quickly, she stepped into the shower. The warm shower helped her to clear her mind. She needed to be lucid when she met his family tonight. She wanted to make a good impression on them. The thought gave her pause. Why did she care if she made a good impression on his family? She wasn't going to see him after their two-week affair ended.

Walking by the mirror, she glanced at her reflection before sticking her tongue out. She cared because her mother raised her to. Even at the age of thirty-two, she knew her mother would still chastise her if needed.

Wrapping a fluffy towel around her body, she took a deep breath and prepared herself to walk back into the lion's den. Her predator sat out on the balcony again, his feet propped up and the newspaper open. She could tell his attire was similar to what he'd worn the other day, only this knit shirt, a red print of some sort. His jeans, a little darker than the stonewashed ones he donned yesterday, but just as worn. Either the man was hard on laundry or his body was hard on pants. The latter she didn't doubt because he did have a hard body. She almost choked on the thought.

Turning away quickly, she reached for the outfit she'd picked out, before rushing back into the bathroom and away from temptation. She dressed quickly, slipping into the floral green cap sleeve dress. Several minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom. Antonio hadn't moved. She smiled, shaking her head as she reached for her bottle of lotion. A few moments later, she was completely dressed and ready to go. She headed for the balcony, Antonio looking up as soon as he heard her. He smiled before closing the newspaper, then stood up.

"You look very beautiful, cara."

She smiled back. "Grazie."

"Are you ready to go?"

She nodded. "As ready as I'm going to get."

He smiled, tugging her into his arms. His hands cupped both of her cheeks before he leaned forward to place a brief kiss on her lips, a strong underlying passion there, but it was more than that. He drew back before she could figure out the rest.

"Let's go."

Before taking his hand, she handed him the hotel key. They made their way to the elevator and rode it down to the lobby. She stilled herself for the stares, wishing the elevator could go straight up to the room but understanding why it couldn't. The hotel catered to very famous people, and the need for security was non-negotiable. If someone managed to get by security and into the parking lot they would still have to come through the lobby. No way could anyone get through the lobby if they weren't supposed to be there. The elevator doors opened. As usual, they received stares. Sighing, she looked over at him.

"Antonio?"

He looked down at her with an expression reserved only for her. "Si, cara?"

"Have you noticed every time we come through the lobby together, people are always staring at us?"

He looked up in surprise before giving a quick glance around. "I can't say I have noticed, cara."

She smiled. "I guess you are used to it?"

He shook his head. "No, cara. When I am with you, you are where my thoughts are."

She tripped literally and figuratively. He looked at her as if he hadn't said anything out of the ordinary, and she gaped at him. Before she could say anything, he stepped closer to her.

"Well, cara, since they are already staring, we might as well give them something to look at."

Before she could ask him what he meant, his lips came down on hers and she was instantly caught up in another one of his steamy kisses. When he pulled back, she struggled to breathe normally.

"Do you think that was enough for them?"

She nodded slowly, still a little dizzy. His kisses made her forget her name. He took her hand again and led her out of the front of the hotel.

She gave him a puzzled look. "Is your parents' home within walking distance?"

He shook his head. "No, but I let Maceo borrow my car. However, I have assured that we have reliable transportation."

A black sedan waited out front for them. The driver stood there with the door open. Antonio slid in behind her. She listened to him give the driver the address before he leaned back and wrapped his arm around her. The trip to his parents' house went by in a blur. A short time later, they pulled up in front of a beautiful home.

The front door swung open as they reached the last step. A woman looking to be the same age as her parents appeared.

"Get ready," he whispered to her under his breath before stepping forward to greet his mother.

"Ciao, Mama. I have someone I would like for you to meet. This is Tierra."

Tierra faced a long moment of scrutiny before a smile appeared on Antonio's mother's face. The next thing she knew, she was being embraced warmly. When his mother pulled back, Antonio gave Tierra a wry look.

"Tierra, this crazy woman is my mother, Mona."

Tierra smiled. She hadn't been in Mrs. Carabelli's presence long, but she already like her.

"Ciao. E piacevole incontrarlo." Hello. It is a pleasure to meet you.

Mona looked at her in surprise. "Parlate italiano?"

Tierra shrugged. "Pochissimo."

Mona patted her hand reassuringly. "That's okay. We can work on it."

With that said, she led Tierra into the house with Antonio following behind them. The noise level inside made her slightly nervous, yet as they stepped inside, Mona raised her voice loud enough to be heard over everyone.

"Quiet, everyone. Antonio and Tierra have arrived. Act like you have manners."

The noise level died so suddenly it was deafening. Even worse, an additional six pairs of eyes were now on her. Suddenly, a handsome man who had to be one of Antonio's brothers broke away from the group. The smile on his face wasn't as potent as the one Antonio was capable of delivering. He reached for her hand.

"Ciao, Tierra. My only regret is that I didn't have the pleasure of meeting you first."

She lifted one eyebrow in response to his slick charm.

"And which Carabelli are you?"

"Leonardo, but please call me Leo."

"Tell me, Leo, does that line actually work?"

A few snickers sounded from around the room, and Leonardo gave her a wounded look. Before he could respond, he was pushed aside by a woman who could only be Amalia, a clear look of disgust on her face.

"Unfortunately, it does, which is why he uses it."

Holding out her hand, Amalia smiled. "I'm Amalia, the only sane Carabelli around here."

Amalia gave a brief look over Tierra's shoulder. "Besides Antonio, of course."

Tierra smiled at the statement. "That's good to know."

Amalia gave her a puzzled look. "What is?"

"The fact that I'm involved with the sane Carabelli male, of course."

Amalia laughed before leaning forward to kiss Tierra on both cheeks. "I like her, brother. You made a good choice."

Before Tierra could respond, Amalia moved toward Antonio. Slowly, the rest of the Carabelli family introduced themselves to her. With the exception of one who stood in the corner in a brooding manner, one that reminded her so much of Hayden's, she did a double take. She realized the remaining Carabelli male had to be Carlo. She walked toward him slowly. Carlo's frown seemed to deepen. She stopped directly in front of him with a smile.

"I have met everyone else, so that means you must be Carlo."

There wasn't any response from him, so she tilted her head to the side. "Who is she?"

She had the satisfaction of seeing his glower replaced by a look of shock but only for a moment. A muscle ticked in his jaw, a dead giveaway that her statement hit close to the real issue. Her smile widened. She recognized look. She'd seen it plenty of times with Hayden. It also meant he wouldn't talk about it until he was ready to.

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you."

With that said, she turned to walk away but paused. She spun back to face him.

"Whoever she is, I hope the two of you work it out."

He didn't respond, so she went to walk away again only to pause when she heard him speak.

"So do I."

She shifted to look back at him. His stance told her he hadn't moved, yet she knew he made the statement. Shaking her head, she made her way toward Antonio, who sat next to his father, Bruno. They seemed to be deeply involved in their conversation, but she joined them, excusing herself as she did. Antonio smiled at her before pulling her into his lap.

A few moments later, Mona announced dinner was ready, and everyone began moving toward the dining room. As soon as she entered, an overwhelmingly wonderful aroma assailed her nose. What really caught her attention was the amount of food lining the table. She looked over at Antonio.

"Are we having a celebration?"

He winked at her. "Anytime we have dinner, it's a celebration. I hope you're hungry."

She was, and the plethora of food on the table made her salivate even more. She was stuffed when she finally pushed her plate away. The Carabelli's made her feel like she was at home in Boulder City. The Carabelli's talked non-stop. Sometimes the conversations grew to a fevered pitch because so many people were speaking at the same time. Other times the conversation settled to a normal volume because everyone was involved in it. She laughed as Antonio leaned back and patted his stomach. How he had room for anything else, she didn't know. Personally, she might not be able to move.

"Did you make anything for dessert, Mom?"

Mona nodded at Antonio before pushing away from the table. "As a matter of fact, son, I did, and it is your favorite."

He began to laugh as his mother left the room. Tierra looked over at him with puzzlement.

"What are you laughing at?"

He looked at her, his expression full of humor. "You will see."

Mona returned a short time later, and Tierra figured out why Antonio had been so amused.

"Panna cotta," she whispered.

As she did, her mind went back to the scorching events of last night. Her gaze met his, and she saw budding desire there. He leaned toward her, touching his lips to hers in what she thought would be a brief kiss. However, that wasn't the case. When Antonio finally pulled back, she struggled to take her next breath. Heat singed her cheeks when she realized they had become the center of attention. Smiles tugged at the mouths of everyone around the table. Amalia was the first to speak up, a teasing grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Well, it is good to see my brother has found a woman who likes the same kind of dessert that he does and doesn't mind his insatiable appetite."

Tierra ducked her head in embarrassment. When she was finally able to meet Antonio's eyes again, tempted to tell Amalia that she was wrong. She and Antonio might like the same dessert, but Tierra wasn't certain she could keep with Antonio at all.

Chapter 9

Antonio looked over at the beautiful woman curled into his side, fast asleep. They were on their way back to the hotel. He was glad he let Maceo borrow his car today, otherwise he would be missing out on this. She must have been worn out from dinner with his family, but she told him she enjoyed herself. He liked how well she got along with his family as well as the way she held her own with them. His family could be a handful at times, and he wanted her to know what she was getting herself into by choosing to get involved with him.

His family also thought highly of her, and as he expected, Tierra and Amalia got along very well. There were times throughout dinner when the conversation switched over to rapid Italian. He translated for Tierra whenever she asked him to and a few times when she hadn't just to make sure she followed along. But overall she kept up, impressing him.

What impressed him more than how she managed to get Carlo to speak more than his normal monosyllable word or two. Looking down into her beautiful sleeping face again, he knew he'd been right about her. The more time he spent with her, the more he felt two weeks wouldn't be enough. When he looked up, he saw they were near the hotel. As much as he hated to, he had to wake her. She stirred slowly before opening her eyes. A soft smile appeared on her face.

"Did I fall asleep?"

He nodded and her expression turned sheepish.

"Sorry. I think between the jet lag and lack of sleep, I'm more tired than I thought."

He smiled. "Don't forget to add my family to the equation. Tonight they were a little more animated than usual."

She looked at him with surprise. "Are they normally more tame?"

He chuckled. "Tame is a word that can never be used to describe my family. They aren't normally as excited, but the noise level is always the same regardless."

Before she could respond, they pulled up in front of the hotel. He thanked the driver. He slid from the backseat before turning to assist her out. They made their way into the hotel and toward the elevator. When the doors closed, he stared down at her.

"Were they staring this time?"

When she stared blankly at him, he smiled. "The people in the lobby."

The look on her face became one of confusion. He knew he distracted her to a degree that she hadn't even thought about the people in the lobby.

"Buon," he murmured before the elevator doors opened on her floor.

He led the way to the room, stepping aside to let her enter first. He flipped the light switch on the wall, turning on the lamp beside the bed. He smiled as he watched her walk over to the bed and collapse on top of it.

"Still tired?"

She gave a slight nod, and he walked toward the bed, then reached for her feet, sliding her sandals off. The only thing he regretted was she didn't have on a garter belt and stockings. He would find a reason for her to wear them again before she left. Seeing her in them inspired some fantasies. She moaned as he began to massage her foot, and when he let her roll over onto her back, all traces of sleepiness in her eyes replaced by desire. He was glad his touch had an effect on her because just being in her presence had that effect on him.

"Did you really have a good time with my family?"

She nodded, a genuine smile appearing on her face "Yes, I did. Thank you for inviting me."

"The pleasure was all mine," he stated before leaning down to press a quick kiss on her lips. When she opened her mouth to him, the kiss lasted a lot longer than he intended. When he drew back, she was breathless, and his breath was just as raspy. She smiled as he groaned. Standing up, he held his hand out to her.

"I know you are tired and probably still a little sore from last night. Let's get ready for bed."

She took his hand, allowing him to tug her upward until she stood beside him. Her expression spoke of everything but sleepiness.

"Sleep isn't what I have in mind."

He looked at her, unable to hide his surprise. Knowing she wanted him and wasn't afraid to say so turned him on more than he ever thought possible.

"What did you have in mind?"

She stepped closer to him, her expression becoming slightly shy. "You and me naked to begin with."

She reached for the buckle on his belt, and his hands come up to join hers. He had both of them stripped down to their underwear quickly. When he saw the underwear she wore, he paused. His desire for her rose another notch. He fingered the lace of the bra.

"I love the underwear you have on, and I love the way you keep surprising me with it even more."

She smiled as he slid the lacy straps of her bra off her shoulders, revealing her breasts to his gaze. When his lips touched her, she grasped, leaning into him. She didn't relax into his touch long. When she pulled back from him, her expression was feral.

"Naked. I need you naked. Now," she panted, and he was more than happy to oblige, removing the remainder of their clothes quickly. When they were completely nude, he laid her on the bed. His attention and mouth instantly went back to her breasts, one first, then the other. She moaned with pleasure. He moved slightly, and they both exhaled softly as his erection aligned perfectly against her entrance. She reached for him, tried to bring him into her, and he growled in response.

"Careful, cara," he whispered. "My control is thin and I need protection. Besides, I don't want to hurt you again."

She nodded, and her grip loosened, allowing him to find a condom and cover himself with it. The instant he had, she encircled him within her hands again, bringing him to her entrance. He entered her, but not as deeply as she wanted judging by her whimper of frustration. He slid in another glorious inch before stopping. Reaching up, she pulled him closer to her, but he didn't move.

"Antonio, I need all of you inside of me now."

The urgency in her voice combined with her lowered inhibitions made him give in. She was willing to demand what she wanted from him, what she needed from him. How could he say no? When she wrapped her legs around his waist, he couldn't help his moan of pleasure as he finally entered her completely. She felt so snug around him, it took every ounce of control he had not to let go and thrust into her wildly. He began to move slowly, taking pleasure in her gasps. Judging by the expression on her face, he knew it wasn't going to be long before she went over the edge. A second later, a pre-orgasmic smile appeared on her face before it became one of pure pleasure. Her body tightened around his as his name fell from her lips.

"Antonio!"

She drew him into his own release, and he held her tightly, their hips moving in unison. When she convulsed against him again, crying out, he could only watch her in amazement as she experienced another orgasm right on the heels of her first one.

She clutched at him, riding the wave of pleasure. It solidified his resolve to keep going, to make sure she was thoroughly satisfied. When she seized against him a third time, his mouth dropped open in astonishment for a second before her body pulled his into another orgasmic release with her. He clung to her just as tightly as she held him, reveling at the incoherent sounds she made. His release so intense, he closed his eyes before emitting a shout of his own pleasure. It was a long time before either of them moved. When he did he glanced at her, her expression filled with astonishment. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She swallowed a few times, then moistened her lips before trying again.

"That was..." He studied her as she paused, seeming unable to find the words she wanted to say. Then again, there was no need. He knew exactly what she meant. It had never been like this for him, either. He was just as taken aback.

"I know."

He rolled to the side, taking her with him. "Have you always been multi-orgasmic?"

Her expression turned shy again, and she shrugged her shoulders. "No. Before you I was lucky to have an orgasm."

It was impossible for him to hide his shock, for he recalled their conversation from the first night that they met. "Even when you..."

A dull flush of embarrassment appeared on her face at his mention of her pleasuring herself.

"I meant with my ex-fiance. Even though we never had sex, we experimented a little, but I always ended up having to fake it."

He arched a dark brow in her direction. "How did your fiance not know you were faking it? Your body gives it away when you are getting ready to climax, and if not, the look that appears on your face right before you do should have."

Her expression became more embarrassed. She glanced away from him "Because I started out faking it, so he never knew the difference."

Antonio shook his head in distaste. "Cara, every day I am more glad you didn't marry this man."

Her gaze skipped back to his. When she spoke, he could hear the sincerity in her voice. "So am I."

* * * *

Tierra brushed her hair before securing it in a ponytail, feeling a little dejected because she would have to spend most of the day away from Antonio. Even after their passionate encounter last night, they woke early, and he tenderly made love to her again. His touch so was gentle, she fought back tears the entire time. He ordered breakfast, and they enjoyed it on the balcony again until Leo called Antonio away to handle an electricity problem with the hotel. Reluctantly, he left her with a brief kiss and the promise to rejoin her as soon as possible. They had a tour planned for the day. Thirty minutes later he called to tell her that the problem was bigger than he originally thought, and it would take them a little longer to fix it.

He told her their tour was still on and to be ready. Another thirty minutes later, he called again stating he was going to have to cancel the tour, but he would leave her in the hands of four of the best tour guides he knew. She'd been tempted to tell him she would just wait on him, but she didn't feel like being cooped up in the room again all day, especially by herself. So she made the decision to go ahead and get dressed.

She quickly walked toward the door when someone knocked. She smiled when she looked through the peephole and saw Amalia standing there with three other women.

She was certain she recognized one of them as a member of the hotel staff from when she checked in. Opening the door, she greeted the women who stood in front of her before embracing Amalia. She really did like Antonio's sister. They had a lot in common when it came to trouble in finding the right man.

"Hi, Tierra. These are my friends Sophia, Talia and Daniella. Sophia is the head of hotel hospitality. Talia's the public relations and marketing manager, and Daniella's the head tour guide for the tours booked here at the hotel."

Tierra smiled at all three of the women. It was obvious all four of the women were good friends. It didn't take her long to realize she liked Amalia's friends as well. After Shannon, she thought she would never be able to befriend a woman again. The more time Tierra had to reflect, the more she realized Shannon was a selfish, jealous bitch and always had been.

"Where are we going?" she asked when the elevator doors closed.

"We are taking you to lunch first, then to see La Bocca della Verita." Daniella replied.

She looked at them in confusion. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what the means."

Amalia smiled. "The Mouth of Truth."

Daniella gave her an apologetic look. "I apologize. Amalia told us you speak Italian, so I just assumed you would understand."

The elevator doors opened, and the four women breezed through the lobby toward the elevator that would take them to the parking lot. Tierra looked at the four women, filled with amusement.

"Trust me when I say I speak enough to say a few basic phrases, but that is as far as it goes."

Amalia shook her head before locking arms with her. "I would say you could do more than that. You seemed to be keeping up with our conversation pretty well last night at dinner."

They stepped out of the elevator in the parking lot, and Tierra smiled. "Because Antonio translated for me."

Amalia waved her hand dismissively. "You were still able to keep up very well on your own."

Tierra shook her head, knowing there wasn't any point in arguing with Amalia. She would never win. Dinner with the Carabelli's last night taught her that.

"Where are we going for lunch?"

"Ferroni's. It is a casual Italian food restaurant and the food is absolutely delicious."

Talia nodded. "Not to mention it is close by."

They made their way to the restaurant. It was close, only two blocks away from the hotel. The wonderful aroma of the food assailed her nose the instant they entered. They were seated quickly, and she decided on the eggplant parmigiana, something that seemed as if it would be filling and scrumptious. The food came out swiftly, and she realized the women ate at the restaurant regularly.

She enjoyed her food as well as the company of the four women. It was nice to sit down and have lunch with nice women again. She liked having companions who she could relate to.

"So you are from the States?"

She looked up at Sophia and nodded. Sophia was the quietest of the quad, but she made her presence known when needed.

"Yes, I am. Boulder City, Nevada."

Talia smiled. "How long have you lived there?"

"All of my life."

Daniella took a bite of her food before smiling. "So what brings you all the way to Rome by yourself?"

She wasn't sure what Antonio told any of them, but she felt as if she could be honest with the four women.

"Actually, I was supposed to be here on my honeymoon."

The expressions of astonishment that appeared on their faces told her they didn't know a lot, if anything, about her situation. So she launched into the story of the horrific events that played out and led to her being in Rome by herself. When she finished, their expressions were a mixture of surprise, anger and sympathy.

Amalia reached over and patted her hand reassuringly. "Well, we had no idea, but you made the right decision."

Daniella nodded in agreement. "He sounds like a loser."

She gave the four women a nod. Quincy was definitely a loser. "He is, and I'm glad to be rid of him."

Sophia gave her a sympathetic look. "Still, I'm sure it sucks to lose a best friend."

Amalia rolled her eyes and scoffed at the statement. "She couldn't have been much of a good friend. Otherwise, she would have kept her hands off your man."

Daniella and Talia nodded. Tierra smiled at her lunch companions.

"The thing is, I was upset at first, but the more I think about it, the more I realize neither of them are worth it."

Sophia gave her a sly look. "Although I am sure spending time with Antonio helps the situation."

Tierra smiled, but she began to blush.

Daniella only made the situation worse. "Yes, I have heard the two of you are setting the hotel ablaze."

Tierra shrugged, not really minding the women teasing her. She was really enjoying their companionship.

"So how serious are things between you and Antonio?"

She had to pause at Talia's question because things were definitely becoming more than casual between Antonio and her. Finally, she answered the question truthfully. "I don't know. I can at least say we are friends. I also like him. Can it go beyond that?" She shrugged. "I don't know. I live in Nevada and Antonio lives here. It would be very difficult to have a relationship with so much distance between us."

Amalia asked the next difficult question. "But do you think you could make it work if it came down to it?"

It was a tough question for her to answer because she really didn't know. Tierra shook her head. "I don't know."

She watched a momentary flash of pain appear on Daniella's face.

"Well, I can tell you from personal experience that if the two of you want to be together, go for it. My biggest regret in life is walking away from the man I loved."

Amalia snorted in a very unladylike manner. "Yeah, well, it's because you were in love with a brick wall that didn't give you more of a choice."

Tierra had the inclination that even though Daniella spoke of love in the past tense, the love she felt wasn't. Before she could express her opinion, Amalia asked her another question.

"The real issue is if it comes down to it, do you think my brother is a man worth fighting for?"

Tierra couldn't answer the query aloud. She averted her gaze, hoping her expression didn't give her away. A quick glance upward told her she hadn't fooled them. All of the women gave her knowing expressions before returning their attention to their food while Tierra was left to ponder how she could walk away from Antonio. The connection she felt to him in the short amount of time she'd known him frightened her. One thing she knew for sure was it would be hard to do, and it scared the hell out of her.

Chapter 10

Tierra was in trouble and she knew it. Six days into her trip, Antonio showed her so many things her head reeled at trying to take it all in. More importantly, she also knew she was falling for him. A risky thing for her to do. Unfortunately, she already suffered one broken heart--enough to last her a lifetime. Now she sat out on the balcony, waiting for Antonio to get out of the shower so she could get in and try to clear her head. Above anything else, she needed to get rid of all the thoughts currently racing through it before her brain exploded.

She thought about the sights she seen over the last three days as well as the people she met. The tour to the Mouth of Truth had been interesting and morbid at the same time. The history behind it all intrigued her. To know that there'd been a person inside of the mouth with a knife or a scorpion and that they were the judge of what was truth and what wasn't intrigued and mortified her.

In spite of that, sticking her hand inside the mouth seemed like the tourist type of thing to do, until Sophia asked her if she were falling for Antonio right before she had. Knowing the answer to question could be disastrous, Tierra quickly removed her hand before telling the women she would try out the Mouth of Truth some other time. They simply laughed at her and made their way back to the hotel. By the time they arrived, dinnertime was upon them, and Antonio had been waiting anxiously for them, or rather her. He looked extremely tired but swept her up into his arms planting a kiss on her that made her forget her name. Before she could say goodbye to her companions for the day, Antonio swept her through the lobby, up to the room, and in the shower before she could blink. After some steamy foreplay, he took her to bed, where they stayed until the next morning.

They awoke late the next morning, enjoyed breakfast, then he took her to the Galleria Borghese, a beautiful museum. Federico Barocci's painting of Aeneas fleeing the burning city of Troy held her attention for a long time. He finally managed to pull her away and lead her to the main floor devoted to sculptures and Roman antiquities.

Before they left the hotel, Antonio informed her a trip through the museum took most people two hours. It took them four. Antonio showed extreme patience with her and even took the time to discuss some of Bernini's sculptures with her. He even gave her some background on the three she'd been most intrigued by.

Yesterday they spent the entire day in bed making love between naps. When they awoke this morning, he informed her he wanted her to spend a few days at his place. She knew she should have said no. She agreed, and he began trying to convince her to take a shower with him. She knew if she gave in to him they wouldn't leave the hotel.

After a few firm no's, he retreated to the bathroom by himself. She took the time to pack enough clothes for the next four days before heading out onto the balcony. She still stood there now, waiting for Antonio to get out of the shower and trying to calm her nerves. Unfortunately, the calming effect the view should have on her wasn't working, and she knew why. She pulled back from Antonio some or she was going to be in trouble.

"What's wrong, cara?"

She jumped in surprise at the sound of Antonio's voice. Yes, the man moved quietly on his feet, but she should have heard him coming in her direction. The fact that she hadn't let her know she was definitely in trouble. Shaking her head at the handsome man standing before her, she tried to smile and did a decent job, but his look of concern didn't go away.

"It's nothing, Antonio."

He held his hand out to her, his expression telling her he didn't believe her. She took it, and he pulled her back into the room with him. She didn't realize until then he was only clad in a towel. She lowered her eyes to the distraction, but he resisted her by putting a finger under her chin and tilting it upward so she looked into his eyes. It wasn't a better alternative.

"Tell me what has you so sad, cara."

She sighed heavily at his question. One thing she learned about him was he could be persistent.

"Just thinking about how hard it is going to be to say goodbye to you."

She saw a glimpse of pain flash through his eyes before it disappeared. "Let's not think about it right now, cara. Let's enjoy the time we have together right now."

She nodded. She would try her best not to think about what it would be like without him around. Yet, how could she not think about the inevitable? Antonio gave her a little assistance as he lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers. The man's kisses were lethal and should probably be outlawed, but only after she had her fill. She leaned into him, and he deepened the kiss before drawing back, desire heavy in his eyes and the smile on his lips sensuous.

"As much as I would love to continue this, cara, I would hate it if the shower I just took was in vain."

She laughed before stepping away from him and headed toward the bathroom. There was no doubt in her mind how serious he was. If she wanted to stick to today's plans, she needed to put some distance between them, or there was no telling the trouble either of them could get into.

* * * *

He looked at her with amusement, watching her walk away before going over to where his clothes lay. To be truthful, he wouldn't mind getting sweaty with her, but she seemed to have a lot on her mind, and he knew it wasn't the right time. The last thing he wanted was to put Tierra in more of a confused state. The bathroom door closed, bringing him out of his own thoughts. He needed to get dressed quickly. If he were still undressed by the time she came out of the bathroom, they would be in trouble.

As much as he respected that she needed her space, the sight of her body always tempted him, especially with her only clad in her underwear. Her panties of choice always varied between a thong or boy cut briefs, both of which put a lot of emphasis on her perfectly rounded bottom. The woman had a dynamite body, one made for loving and caressing. He'd been surprised to know he was the first, the only man, to bring her to orgasm. He liked watching her find the ultimate pleasure and knowing he was the reason behind it. He started to get aroused just thinking about it. Reaching for his underwear, he began to get dressed. He needed to think about non-stimulating thoughts.

Unfortunately, one came to mind--how hard it would be to allow Tierra to leave when her two week vacation ended. As selfish as it sounded, he hoped she would stay with him, but he knew he was asking her for a lot. She would have to give up everything to stay with him. The most shocking thing was his willingness to give up his life in Rome for her. Yes, he would miss his family, and, yes, he would miss the hotel, but having Tierra with him every day would make up for it. Plus, he could travel back to Rome as much as he wanted or needed to. It would probably be easier for him to do the relocating, but deep down he wanted to stay in Rome. He wouldn't know what to do with himself not being at the hotel every day.

He had to work on finding more ways to convince her to continue their relationship beyond two weeks. In the beginning, he felt his family might prove to be a deterrent to Tierra, but now it might not be the case. She fit in with his family like she'd always been a part of it. They were even going to dinner at his parents' home again tonight, but right now he was anxious to get her to his place. He wanted to see what she thought of it, especially since it might be where they lived if his plan went the way he wanted it to. He pulled his shirt over his head just as the bathroom door opened. The sweet, flowery scent of her body wash assailed his nose, and he smiled. A moment later, she appeared, looking refreshed.

"Did you have a good shower?"

She nodded as she walked over to the bed where her clothes lay. He knew he only had a few moments before she dropped the towel and began getting dressed.

The homage he paid to her body was starting to pay off a little too much now. Where she'd been shy about revealing her body to him, now she would undress in front of him without hesitation. Just as he expected, she dropped the towel. He had two options. Stand there and drool over her or gather up the rest of his stuff. As good as the first idea sounded, he needed to get a move on. He busied himself with gathering up the rest of his clothes. When he turned around, he almost swallowed his tongue. She was bent over with the khaki shorts stretched tightly across her firm, round bottom. The pink racerback tank top she had on rose upward, revealing the smooth skin at the small of her back. When she straightened, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Fortunately, she distracted him by speaking.

"What do we have planned for the day?"

He placed the last article of clothing in his bag, then zipped it up, his thoughts still on the sight of her body. Fighting the temptation to kiss her was difficult.

"Nothing, really. By the time we get to my place and get unpacked, it will leave us with just enough time for me to give you a tour and you to call your parents before we have to leave for dinner."

He watched her slide her feet into her shoes. "Well, I'm ready if you are."

He picked up her bags as well as his own, then opened the door to the room. "After you, cara."

They made their way to the parking lot. A short time later, he maneuvered the vehicle out onto the streets of Rome. Several moments later, they pulled up in front of his home.

She smiled as she looked around. "Your home is very lovely."

He placed a brief kiss on her lips. "I am glad you think so. Now let me show you the inside."

He led the way up the walkway to his home, and when he opened the door, her mouth fell open.

"Antonio, this is beautiful."

"Thank you, cara. Give me a moment to put these in the bedroom, then I can give you a tour before we unpack."

She nodded, and he closed the front door before he headed up the stairs. A few moments later, he returned.

"Are you ready for your tour?"

She nodded, and he took her hand and lead her though his home. He loved his home. He watched as she ran her hands along the furniture in his family room.

"I like the way you have decorated."

He shook his head. "I didn't do this myself."

She turned to look at him with knowing eyes. "Probably not with your own hands, but you definitely let the designer know exactly what you wanted. Your home speaks of your taste."

He just stared at her silently, wondering how she read him so well. From the beginning, he knew Tierra was a very intuitive person, but he was starting to find out just how much. Instead of responding, he continued on with the tour, showing her every aspect of his home. He ended the tour in his bedroom. He stared at her, unable to hide his surprise when Tierra let go of his hand and made a mad dash for his bed. The jump she made to get onto it could have made some high jumpers jealous. He couldn't help but smile as she began to roll around on his satin sheets. Folding his arms across his chest, he arched an amused brow in her direction.

"Are you okay, cara?"

Somehow she managed to nod and keep rolling at the same time. A moment later, she stopped moving looking over at him, an expression of pure happiness of her face.

"Sorry. I have always wanted to know what it felt like to lay on satin sheets."

His smile widened. "And do you know how they feel now?"

He watched as her expression changed, becoming filled with desire. "Now I want to know what it feels like to make love on them."

Antonio's body began to harden as her words registered. He moved toward the bed slowly, holding his hands out to her. She took them, and he tugged her toward him, allowing her to glide over the sheets. His lips came down on hers briefly, and she melted into him. When he drew back, she moaned with disappointment.

"We will save this for later, because if I join you in bed, your family won't hear from you, and my family won't see us for dinner tonight."

She shivered, but he wasn't surprised. He knew his voice was full of promise.

When he released her from his embrace, it was with great reluctance, but he knew they wouldn't make it out of his home if he kept touching her.

"Now, Tierra. If you want, you can go to my study and use the phone there."

She nodded, and he assisted her off the bed then led her to his study. He showed her how to use the phone, then gave her a quick kiss before leaving the room.

* * * *

Tierra watched as Antonio left the room, giving her complete privacy. She dialed parents' number. Her mother answered on the third ring.

"Hi, Mama."

"Hi, baby. How are you?"

She smiled at the joy in her mother's voice. "I'm fine, Mama. How are you and Daddy?"

Her mother laughed. "We're good."

"And Hayden?"

Her mother paused, causing her stomach to dip. "He's fine. A little grumpier than usual, but he is okay."

Tierra closed her eyes in relief. The last thing she wanted to hear was her brother might not be okay.

"That's good, Mama."

She felt Antonio's hand on her shoulder. He must have returned and heard the concern in her voice. His look of worry touched her. She smiled to let him know everything was okay before motioning for him to join her. He pulled up a chair and eased his long frame into it. She smiled when he reached for her feet and slipped her shoes off. He had a thing about rubbing her feet, not that she minded because it relaxed her. She turned her attention back to the phone as she realized her mother asked her a question and she hadn't heard it.

"I'm sorry, Mama, can you repeat that? I didn't hear you."

"I asked if you are having a good time," her mother stated.

Tierra nodded as if her mother were in the room with her instead of thousands of miles away. She rolled her eyes in amusement.

"Yes, I am, Mama." Her eyes fell onto Antonio. "I'm having a wonderful time."

Antonio's smile became wicked before he pressed his thumb into the instep of her foot. She had to bite her lip to keep from moaning out loud, but it didn't keep her from slumping into the chair.

"Well, I hate to put a damper on your day, but your brother brought up a good point the other day."

"Hayden had a good idea?"

Tierra's mother picked up on her sarcasm quickly.

"That isn't nice, young lady."

"Sorry, Mama. I couldn't resist."

"Well, you should be thanking your brother and your father since they went over and got your stuff."

The statement got her attention. She sat up, pulling her feet out of Antonio's hands. "What stuff?"

"The stuff you had at Quincy's. He put everything on the curb."

She stood up, unable to hide her disbelief. "All of it?"

"All of it," her mother replied softly.

"That asshole," she blurted out before she could stop herself.

"Tierra Marie Davis!"

She closed her eyes when she realized she just used profanity with her mother. Now she was glad there were several thousand miles between them.

"I'm sorry, Mama," she mumbled.

"Even though it is true, I don't want to hear sort of language coming out of your mouth, young lady."

Tierra couldn't think about her mother scolding her, her complete focus now on the outrageous news her mother just relayed her. To be honest, she hadn't given any thought to the items she moved into Quincy's home. The last six months before her wedding she spent combining her life with his. She couldn't believe the bastard had the audacity to put her stuff out like trash. If anything needed to be sat out on the curb it was him.

"Don't worry about it right now. If you need to stay with your father and I for a while it's okay."

Tierra closed her eyes, knowing she would. It shouldn't take her long to find an apartment because she'd been smart enough to keep her finances separate from Quincy's. Right now it seemed to be the only thing smart she'd done in her relationship with him. Still, it hurt.

Since she'd been a little girl, she knew what she wanted in a husband--a man like her father who doted on her mother daily. She would also describe her dad as strong, charismatic and a great provider.

She could remember waiting for her father to come home from work. When he walked through the door, it became family time. Everyone would sit around the table until homework was complete and dinner eaten. Afterward, they would watch television as a family. Until she'd gotten older, she hadn't understood why her mother pressed so hard for the family values she instilled in her brother and her. She aspired to be at least half of the woman her mother turned out to be, strong enough to keep the family together through the good times and the bad. Right now she was definitely going through a bad time, but she refused to let it get her down. Exhaling softly, she turned her attention back to the conversation.

"Yes, Mama. I will stay with you and Dad until I can find my own place."

It wouldn't be all too different from what she'd done the two weeks prior to her marriage. Her lease had been up on her apartment. Instead of moving in with Quincy like he insisted, she moved a few of her thing to his place and put the rest in storage but stayed with her parents. Now she was glad she had. Subconsciously, she always felt uncomfortable with moving in with him before they married. Now she knew why.

"You can stay as long and you need to, Tierra."

"Thank you, Mama."

Tierra sighed heavily before sitting back down. "Can I talk to Dad for a moment?"

"He is still asleep. Moving your things made him realize he isn't twenty anymore."

Tierra smiled. "Tell Dad I said thank you. Hayden as well."

"I will."

"Okay, Mama, I need to get going, but I will try to give you a call the same time tomorrow. I might be cutting it close since I will be sightseeing at the Imperial Forums."

"Okay, dear. Call us when you can."

She smiled. "I will, Mama. I love you."

"Love you, too, baby. Have fun and be safe."

"I will. Bye."

She waited until her mother said goodbye before hanging up. While her blood had been boiling a few minutes ago, she only felt extreme sadness now. To think she'd rearranged her life for a man who obviously never cared anything about her was upsetting.

"Cara, are you okay?"

She looked over at Antonio and answered truthfully. "No, I'm not. My mother just informed me that my ex-fiance put my stuff out on the street like trash. My brother and father had to go over and collect it for me."

A frown appeared on his face. "How long did you live with your ex-fiance?"

She shook her head before explaining to him the stupid move she made. "I never officially moved in with him. I just moved some of my furniture and clothes in."

She looked up at Antonio, so upset and confused she didn't know where to begin. How she could be in this situation?

"How can a man tell me he loves me, put a ring on my finger, and spend thousands of dollars on a wedding, only to do this to me?"

Antonio looked at her as if the answer was obvious, but she just couldn't wrap her mind around it.

"It is simple, Tierra. He didn't love you."

He reached out and pulled her into his lap. "The actions you speak of that have been committed against you don't speak of love. They speak of selfishness."

He tilted her chin up with his finger. "So, cara, the best way to get back at him is to be just as selfish as he is if not more."

She gave him a puzzled look. "How?"

One of his eyebrows rose as he smiled. "You started the moment you propositioned me in the bar."

The corners of her mouth curled upward when she realized he had a point. She leaned closer to him.

"You are right, and since we have seven more days left to spend together, I guess I better take full advantage of the situation."

Chapter 11

"I hate being single."

Tierra looked at Amalia with surprise for three reasons, one being she and Amalia had been recalling their outing from the other day. The second, Amalia was beautiful and intelligent among a host of several other things, and the third, she'd seen countless men flirting with Amalia.

"What makes you say that?"

Amalia gave her one of the infamous Carabelli looks, a look she saw when Antonio was frustrated or tired. "Because I am single. I am thirty-four years old, and I am single."

Amalia took a sip of the fruit concoction Mona made.

"I want to know why I can't find a good man who isn't intimidated by me or out to use me for my last name."

She reached out and laid a comforting hand over Amalia's. "Because it isn't time."

Amalia rolled her eyes in an exasperated fashion. "I don't want to be forty and pregnant."

Tierra tried not to laugh at the gross exaggeration but failed. "You won't be forty and pregnant. Even if you are, there is nothing wrong with that."

Tierra made a wide sweeping gesture with her free hand. "It is happening out there more and more every day. Take it from me when I say not to rush into something like this. I did and I am still suffering from it."

At Amalia's questioning glance, she told her about the events that occurred with Quincy putting her stuff out on the curb and her father and brother having to go over to collect it. Amalia's expression changed to shock and she shook her head.

"Men are pigs," she stated vehemently.

Tierra agreed with her, but after her earlier conversation with Antonio, she realized she hadn't loved Quincy. He'd been a security blanket for her, or at least what he represented had been.

They both jumped in surprise when Carlo spoke. "Well, then, I guess this would be the wrong time to ask to speak to Tierra."

She and Amalia exchanged a look of surprise before Amalia stood up.

"If it gets you to come out of foul mood that you are always in, you can have anything you want."

Amalia quickly disappeared inside the house, missing Carlo's next statement. "Yes, except for what I really want I'm not sure I can have."

Tierra remained quiet as she made a motion for him to join her. His comment spoken so quietly she almost missed it. The statement intrigued her, and she wanted to know what it meant.

"So, tell me what it is you really want."

He responded without hesitation. "Daniella."

She was more surprised he came right out and said it than to hear the name. From her recent conversations with Antonio, more of the Carabelli family history had been revealed, including that Carlo and Daniella were married up until four years ago. After Carlo almost lost his life in a car wreck, he divorced Daniella.

It now seemed Carlo had remorse over the decision. Unfortunately, Daniella was dating another man, for at least a year if she wasn't mistaken. Still, Tierra had to find out where his thoughts were, better yet his heart.

"Why do you want her back?"

He gave her a blank stare that she didn't believe for one moment. It seemed to be a question he didn't want to answer yet. She shook her head and looked away.

"Well, regardless of why, you should remember you have already pushed her out of your life once. So, it gives her one very good reason as to why she shouldn't dream of giving you another chance."

Carlo's gaze darkened. "And here I was thinking I would get an unbiased opinion."

She smiled, giving his leg a reassuring pat. "You are, but you are also dealing with a woman who has had her heart broken by a man she cared for."

She stood up, looking Carlo deep in the eyes.

"There is a major difference between Daniella and myself."

He gave her a measured look. "And what would that difference be?"

"The fact she has stayed around for four years since you divorced her indicates she still cares about you."

His left brow rose in surprise. "How are you so certain of that?"

She gave him a knowing look. "Because if you had treated me like you treated Daniella, you would walk with more than a slight limp."

She watched as his other brow rose at her statement. A moment later, a smile appeared on his face. The grin widened, and he began to laugh. She looked at him in shock, then at the Carabelli's who were exiting the house quickly. The looks on their faces completely priceless, certain theirs matched her own. Carlo looked like a totally different person when he laughed, more relaxed. Even though there was a smile on Mona's face, Tierra could swear there were unshed tears in her eyes. Tierra watched as Carlo stood slowly before he reached out to embrace her.

"If that is true, I must say I'm glad the two of you are different. I will also consider what you have said."

She gave him a slight nod, then watched him walk back into the house, the sounds of his chuckle trailing behind. Turning, she looked at the shocked family members Carlo left behind. They all stared at her in amazement.

"What did you do to make him laugh?" Amalia questioned, being the first to break the silence.

Tierra shook her head. She wasn't going to share a private conversation between Carlo and her with his family. If Carlo wanted them to know, he would be the one to tell.

"I told him the truth."

She smiled at Amalia's expression of disbelief. "We have been doing that for the last four years, and my brother hasn't laughed, let alone smiled, yet you managed to get him to do both at the same time. You have to tell us what you said."

Tierra shrugged her shoulders. "Let's just say I caught him by surprise."

She was grateful when Antonio stepped forward and pulled her into his embrace, saving her from further interrogation.

He pressed his lips to her forehead. "Whatever you did, I'm happy and grateful for it. It is good to see my brother laugh again, even if it is just for a few moments."

Antonio placed a kiss on her lips before pulling back. Even with the brief touch of his mouth, desire flooded through her, and she instantly thought about the satin sheets waiting for them back at his home. His thought pattern seemed to be on the same wavelength.

"It is getting late. Are you ready to go?"

She nodded, stretching upward to get closer to his ear. "I'm ready to take you up on your earlier promise to show me how those sheet feel."

She felt his body stiffen and watched his eyes darken with passion. A second later, she was the one smiling as he rushed her through the quickest goodbyes of her life. She let him hurry her to his car. Her eyes followed him as he moved around quickly to the driver side before getting in. The drive to his house took place in complete silence, the sexual tension between them simmering. It was obvious that he struggled to keep his hands off of her, but that didn't mean she had to do the same. Reaching out, she touched his hard thigh, and he tensed immediately.

"Cara, if you don't want me to pull this car over and drag you into the backseat, I suggest you keep your hands to yourself for a little while longer."

She looked into the back, contemplating if they would fit, then removing her hand. They probably could squeeze back there, but it wouldn't be comfortable.

It was enough motivation to make her behave during the rest of the ride. He pulled into his driveway a short time later. When he appeared by her door, she was out and in his arms before she could blink. He rushed her into his home, his lips finding hers as soon as the door closed. She felt him fumble for the lock before his long stride carried them across the room to the couch she'd been admiring earlier. When he drew back, he reached for her shirt and tugged it over her head. Her breasts were barely covered by the ivory colored lace bra. A harsh groan escaped him.

"Cara, we aren't going to make it to those satin sheets right away."

She smiled. "Well, we always have later."

He studied her briefly, then lowered his head, taking her nipple into his mouth through the lace. She moaned in pleasure, arching up into his mouth. A shudder darted down her spine as he switched over to her other nipple. Her back arched, pushing her further into his mouth. The move brought her lower body in perfect alignment with his. Both of them stilled before he released the nipple he'd been lavishing attention on. She drew a deep breath as he sat up. Their clothes began to disappear. She wasn't sure where they landed, nor did she care. He slowed when he saw her matching lace panties.

"Tierra, if I haven't told you before now, I love your taste in underwear."

She smiled to herself, honestly not able to recall if he said the words verbally. Her mind was too scattered by his touch, but his eyes always told her. Before she could tell him so, he removed her panties. He didn't return to cover her. Instead, he slid lower on the couch. She knew what was coming but still didn't have time to brace herself. His mouth touched her, and she cried out in pleasure, arching into him. The man had a skilled mouth, almost driving her to the edge of insanity. When his finger joined his mouth, she screamed. His touch made her fall apart as he began to stroke her in all of the places she needed him to. His other hand came up to hold her hip, as if he knew she would try to move away from his touch when it became too intense. He held her steady as she threw her head back and screamed again when the first orgasm slammed into her. When he kept going she tried to sit up.

"Okay, Antonio," she whimpered. "One is enough."

Before he could negate her statement, she cried out as another orgasm rushed through her. After he coaxed her into one more, he moved upward, covering her trembling body with his. It was a struggle to keep her eyes open, but as he entered her slowly, she focused on him. Her body contracted around him in aftershocks from her last orgasm. At his second thrust, her body jerked with surprise.

"Antonio, you have to stop," she gasped.

He continued to move, unfazed by her halfhearted protest. She always thought it strange when she heard the phrase "dying from pleasure," but now she had an idea of what it referred to. Her legs came up around his waist, holding him to her. A second later, she fell apart in his arms. Her body took over, sending her spiraling over the edge. She pulled him over with her into a powerful climax. He called her name on a cry of pleasure as she clung to him breathlessly, giving herself over to the satisfaction she was drowning in.

As she recovered, she stared up at him, meeting his gaze. He stared at her with an expression she couldn't decipher. A heartbeat later, he stood up before sweeping her up into his arms. She stared at him in surprise.

"What are you doing?"

He glanced down at her before starting up the stairs. "We still have to try out those satin sheets."

She looked at him with wide eyes. "Now?"

He nodded as he made it to the top of the stairs, then headed for his bedroom. She continued to hold onto him as he laid her on his bed. He followed her down, keeping her in his arms. It always scared her to death when the feelings she had for him came to the surface. She struggled to keep them at bay, even though it was difficult to do, especially when his arms surrounded her. She felt so safe in his embrace. How it could all feel so right to her? How could she feel more of a connection to a man she'd barely known one week over one she been involved with for over three years?

This was supposed to be a two-week affair. Why couldn't she get her brain to wrap around idea? This could lead to serious trouble if she didn't watch herself. She didn't want to get hurt again. It would devastate her.

"What's wrong, cara?"

She shook her head, embarrassed when tears sprang to her eyes. He pulled her closer to him, causing her tears to flow freely.

"This isn't supposed to happen," she whispered.

"What isn't supposed to happen?" he asked with a mixture of concern and puzzlement.

"I'm not supposed to develop feelings for you."

He smiled. "You make it sound like a bad thing."

She looked at him with sadness and confusion. "It is. This is only supposed to be an affair."

"Would it make you feel better if I told you I am starting to develop feelings for you as well?"

His expression was so sincere, she cried harder even as she shook her head.

"What makes caring about me so bad?"

The question made her sob harder. How could she explain the conflict she felt? Anything other than an affair between the two of them was impossible. Not with the distance between the two of them. Not after what she'd been through with Quincy. She'd given up quite a bit for a man who obviously hadn't wanted her. She wasn't ready to do it again. In this situation, she couldn't afford to do that again. She stood to lose a lot more this time. It scared her when she realized how out of control things could get with Antonio. He slid a finger under her chin, making her look up at him.

"I thought we weren't going to think anymore sad thoughts today?"

"How can I not?"

She sighed as he gave her a gentle smile. "Easy, cara, you focus on the good things we have together. Even in the end, you focus on the good things."

* * * *

He didn't tell her he didn't plan on letting her go. There was no way he could, but how could he convince her they could make it work, especially in the amount of time he had left? He knew he could prove to her that they had what it took if both of them were willing to put the effort into it. He just had to show her. Looking down at her, he realized her tears had stopped running down her cheeks, but her eyelids were still wet.

"Tierra, I care about you. I have since I laid eyes on you. This isn't easy for me, either, but I want to focus on what we have at least for the remainder of the time we are here. After that point, we will see what happens."

He placed a soft kiss on her lips before pulling back. "Promise me we can do that."

He watched as she stared at him for a long time before nodding. If nothing else, he could continue to try to make sure she enjoyed the rest of her time in Rome. He wanted to be good to her because she deserved it, especially after the jerk she'd put up with. He felt immense relief when she nodded her head slowly and offered him a wobbly smile.

"I can try."

"Buon. Cara, molto buon."

He continued to stare at her, taking in her beauty, and her expression became wary.

"What are you doing Antonio?"

He smiled. "I am focusing on a few of the good things we have together."

His began to move his hands up and down her body unhurriedly, stroking every inch of soft, delicate skin he could reach. She relaxed in his embrace, letting him explore her body. He began to lavish attention on one breast, then the other until she arched into him. When he began to slide lower, her eyes closed. He was intent on providing the mind-blowing bliss they'd both grown used to. She jerked when he touched her with his fingers first. A moment later, his mouth followed, and for the thousandth time he made her whimper with pleasure.

He caressed her, alternating between his fingers and lips, pushing her toward release. It wasn't long before her back left the bed as she cried out his name. He loved the way she responded to his touch. Even when she said it was enough, he knew there could be more. He came up over her, and when her eyes met his, there was a sated look in them with a mixture of underlying desire. Passion that he felt as well. He needed to be inside her, where he felt closest to her. He shifted his lower body until he rested at the apex of her thighs. He watched her shake her head as he began to enter her.

"You are killing me, Antonio."

He smiled as he continued to move. "I don't want to kill you, cara. I want to please you."

"You are, Antonio," she moaned.

He continued to move, and her legs came up around his waist, urging him deeper within her. She gasped, and he watched her, knowing she was going to climax again, and he wanted her to. He felt it as well when her body began to tighten around him. He drew away from her slightly. The look on her face told him what he needed to know. He loved giving her pleasure, knowing she hadn't experienced it with anyone but him. His own body grasped for a taste of pleasure. He lowered his chest to hers, and a heartbeat later she moaned his name as her body tightened around his, pushing him over the edge with her. Her name fell from his lips in return. It took his remaining strength not to crush her and roll to the side instead. He reached out, touching her cheek and causing her to look at him.

She sighed softly. "Why is it like this with us?"

He could only smile. "Because it is supposed to be."

He stared at her for a long time before smiling to himself. Every time he touched her, it always felt right, but it never seemed to be enough. He liked how she never demanded anything from him. It made him want to give her everything. It also scared him because he knew they weren't at a point where Tierra would give him more. The idea of something more than a brief affair between the two of them made her skittish. She pulled him from his thoughts when she spoke.

"Thank you, Antonio."

He didn't have to ask her what she was thanking him for. He knew, for she'd given him just as much as he'd given her. Leaning over he placed a brief kiss on her lips.

"And thank you, cara."

Chapter 12

Tierra came awake slowly to the wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee and the feel of strong arms around her. The latter made her reluctant to move, but the coffee called out to her. As wonderful as last night had been, she'd lain awake half the night with her mind racing. Somewhere along the way she'd begun to develop deeper feelings for Antonio. For the first time in her life, she had no idea what she should do. But she had to figure it out soon. She sighed softly, but Antonio must have heard her, for he stirred against her.

"Good morning, Tierra."

"Good morning, Antonio."

He nuzzled her neck, making her laugh. "Did you sleep well?"

She rolled over to face him, taking in his tousled hair and handsome face. To wake up to him every morning like this would be a treat.

Where had that thought come from?

She gave herself a mental shake to clear her thoughts.

"Yes, I did. Did you?"

"With you in my arms, how could I not?"

Her heart turned over at his words. He always seemed to know what to say, but more so because he meant what he said.

"Would you like breakfast?"

She nodded slowly, giving a slight stretch. "Yes, I would, but I would settle for some of that wonderful smelling coffee."

He smiled as he sat up and climbed out of bed. She couldn't help but stare as he slid out of bed nude and walked around to the foot of his bed. His body should be in someone's magazine ad, but then again, she would have to fight off the other women who would flock toward him. He picked up his robe and put it on before handing hers to her. Once she put on her robe, she slid out of bed, then followed him down stairs.

By the time she reached the kitchen, he'd poured her a cup of coffee, fixing it the way she liked it, before handing it to her. She accepted the cup gratefully and took a sip. Lord help her, the man knew how to make a cup of coffee. Was there anything about him that didn't seem perfect? She watched him as he began to move around the kitchen and noticed how comfortable he was there.

In spite of his money, he still did things for himself. It only made him more attractive. She studied him for another moment, taking another sip of her coffee, then figured she should do something other than stand back and gawk at him.

"What do you want me to do?"

He smiled. "Go back up to my room and enjoy your cup of coffee on the balcony. I will take care of the rest."

She went up on tiptoe and placed a kiss on his lips, then followed his directions. Who was she to argue? After all, it was his home, and she should respect his house rules. When she stepped out onto the balcony, the corners of her mouth tilted upward. She'd have to be careful on this one. It offered a little privacy, but not as much as the one at the hotel. She made sure her robe wasn't revealing anything before she sat down.

To be truthful, she was surprised to be up so early, considering her late night. Most of Rome already seemed to be awake. Several minutes later, Antonio appeared with a tray in his hands. She looked at the food he prepared and sighed with appreciation.

"Everything looks good."

"I am glad you think so, cara."

He surprised her even further when she didn't have to lift a hand to eat. With Quincy, he would have been the one sitting with her doing all of the work. Antonio fed her until she couldn't eat any more. After heavy persuasion, he let her wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen, even though he helped. Thirty minutes later, they were walking out the front door.

"So how many forums are we going to see?"

He smiled as he held the car door open for her. "As many as possible. I know you said you only want to see Caesar and Nerva, but I'll show you some of the rest if time permits."

He drove through the streets of Rome, and when they neared Caesar's Imperial Forum he tried to find a parking spot as close as he could.

"We will walk the rest of the way."

She nodded, following him from the car. He took her hand as he led her toward the forum. The day passed by quickly, but he managed to take her to Augustus and Trajan's forum as well, leaving Vespasian for another day. She was tired as they made their way back to his car.

"What would you like for dinner?"

"A nice, soft bed," she replied with a smile.

He chuckled. "I don't think it will be too palatable."

She shrugged, and he grinned. "I think I should treat you to an American favorite, only Italian style."

She shot him a teasing look. "Haven't you done it enough already?"

He laughed and shook his head. "With you, it could never be enough, but I was actually referring to pizza."

Her stomach grumbled in anticipation. He chuckled as he drove to the pizzeria. She ordered a cheese pizza while he ordered one with sausage. The rest of the ride to his home was blessedly short. While her focus was on the delicious smelling food, he made her get comfortable before they ate. She watched him as he uncorked a bottle of wine. Sitting across from him on the balcony, she enjoyed her pizza with sips of wine in between.

When she couldn't eat anymore, she slipped off to the shower when he volunteered to eat her half of the pizza she left behind. She loved with his bathroom. The spa tub rivaled the marble tub at the hotel, but his shower held her attention right now--spacious with three showerheads coming out of the wall. She set the temperature of the water before stripping down and getting in. It was a luxurious shower, but she didn't stay in long. After she dressed, she stuck her head out on the balcony to let him know she was going to call her parents. He nodded as he handed her a glass of wine. Her father answered the phone on the second ring, and she settled in to talk to her parents.

Fortunately, they didn't have any news to report on Quincy or Hayden, so the conversation was a short one. She curled up into Antonio's chair, loving the comfortable feel of it, inhaling the remnants of his scent he left behind. She knew he planned for them to spend another two days at his home and the last three back at the hotel. Even though she was only spending the second night here, she'd fallen in love with his home. Just like she was falling for Antonio. The more she ran from the truth, the harder it hit her. Maybe if she kept telling herself it wasn't a good thing to do, she might prevent herself from falling any further. However, she knew it was hopeful wishing when it stared her in the face.

Oh, boy.

She'd gotten herself into a mess, she thought sleepily.

* * * *

When Antonio came to find Tierra, she was curled up in his chair. He smiled when he realized she was asleep. He stood there and stared at her, his heart turning over at the sight of her. She seemed to look more and more beautiful every time he laid eyes on her. Taking a chance going to the bar had paid off more than he ever thought it would. Even though it had been somewhat of a calculated risk, he still hadn't known it could end up with them being here. He studied her a little longer, then scooped her up into his arms and carried her upstairs to his room. She stirred slightly as he laid her on the bed before stilling once more. He watched her for another moment, then he began cleaning up the remnants of their leftovers. When he finally joined her in the bed, her body instinctively sought his out, curling into him. He tightened his arms around her. If this was the one sure thing he could have from her right now, he would take it.

* * * *

"Are you sure you don't mind?" she asked Antonio for the third time that morning.

He stood in the doorway of the bathroom, watching her get ready for her day of shopping with the girls. She couldn't believe she'd been in Rome for nine days and she hadn't done any shopping. To be truthful, purchasing souvenirs was the last thing on her mind until Amalia called and suggested it. Since she and Antonio didn't have anything planned for the day, he insisted she go.

"No, I don't mind. I will keep busy by going to the hotel to check on a few things."

She gave him a knowing look before smiling. He'd been checking on things at the hotel daily via phone, and she knew it.

"Try not to have too much fun."

He walked toward her and placed a kiss on her neck before stepping back. "As long as you try to do same."

She shot him a look of mock disbelief. "How could you make such a request? Did you forget I am a woman?"

He chuckled before bumping his hips against hers, showing her he sported a semi-erection. "Cara, there is no way I could forget that."

He stepped away from her, but she was already distracted. One touch from him could do that. She closed her eyes briefly, then resumed the task of getting ready. As much as she wanted Antonio, she didn't want to be late. Besides, she could just imagine the enjoyment Amalia would get out of finding her disheveled because of Antonio. Several moments later, Tierra was ready.

"How much longer will it be before Amalia arrives?"

Antonio looked down at his watch. "She should be arriving any minute now."

Antonio handed her a spare key to his home in case he wasn't there when they came back from shopping. They made their way downstairs, and he opened the door just as Amalia pulled into the driveway.

She turned to look at Antonio. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she was breathless. When he released her, she stared up at him in a dazed fashion. He gave her a little nudge in the right direction.

"Have fun, Tierra."

She nodded, continuing toward the car and sliding into the only empty seat. When she turned to look in the backseat, three smiling faces greeted her. She spoke to everyone as she put on her seatbelt. Amalia backed out of the driveway and began to travel on the roads that still left Tierra dizzy no matter how many times she traveled them. How anyone could learn how to maneuver the streets was beyond her.

"Are you having a good morning so far?" Talia asked.

She nodded. Every morning in Rome had been a good one, and in a way she had Talia to thank for it all. The advertisement Talia wrote on the hotel was the reason why she chose to stay at Hotel Carabelli. Tierra turned her attention back to the road before the four private investigators picked up on her thoughts.

"Where are we going shopping?

Amalia looked over at her and smiled. "We are going to park near the tourist shopping area and visit as many shops as you like."

Tierra nodded her agreement. It sounded like a good idea to her. It didn't take them long to reach the shopping plaza. She picked up coffee mugs and few other knickknacks for her parents and Hayden. After she paid for everything, they made their way through the rest of the various shops.

She stopped outside of a boutique that would let her make perfume and cologne. The idea intrigued her. It didn't take long for her to pick out fragrances for her parents, brother, and herself. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to make one for Antonio. Yes, he could afford one more expensive and probably more exotic smelling, but she wanted him to have something from her. A gift that every time he looked at it, or removed the lid and put the fragrance on, he would think about her.

She finally picked out a few scents that produced a woodsy, masculine aroma. It definitely suited Antonio. With the purchases made, she announced she was finished shopping for the day. Amalia smiled at her, telling her they wanted to browse some more stores. She groaned inwardly, knowing she would find something else she liked if she stayed any longer, but gave in. After all, she was outnumbered. She continued to wander from boutique to boutique, stopping when she arrived in front of a jewelry store.

Turning to look at her companions, she told them she wanted to go in and look around. When they agreed, she quickly stepped inside. It only took her a second to find the item that drew her into the store. A yellow gold chain necklace sat in a display case before her. It was very tasteful, which surprised her because she didn't normally like yellow gold. She also knew it would be the perfect gift for Antonio.

A glance at the price tag made her wince. The cost of it would put a dent in her savings, but it would be worth it. Then again, there was the engagement ring she'd given to her mother for safekeeping before she came to Rome. She'd planned on giving it back to Quincy, but his actions over the past few days made her change her mind. It would go for a nice asking price, providing it wasn't a fake.

She asked the attendant if she could see the necklace. When she placed it in Tierra's hands, Amalia, Daniella, Talia and Sophia crowded around her.

"This is beautiful, Tierra."

She smiled as she looked at Daniella. "I know. Do you think Antonio will like it?"

Amalia shook her head. "No, he will love it."

Daniella, Talia and Sophia all nodded, giving Tierra the encouragement she needed to buy the necklace. The attendant put it in a nice case, and Tierra handed over her credit card without hesitation. With the purchase complete, she really was done shopping. She spent way more than she should have, but so far everything she spent on this trip was worth it.

* * * *

Antonio waited until his sister's car disappeared out of sight before closing the door. He was glad his sister invited Tierra out to go shopping. It gave him an opportunity to shop for her in return. He wanted to give her a gift she would remember him by, whether she was with him or not. He dressed quickly, and a short while later he pulled up in front of an exclusive jewelry store his family frequented. The manager greeted him as he entered.

"Ciao, Antonio. It is good to see you. How are your parents?"

"Ciao, Ugo. It is good to see you as well. My parents are fine. Healthy and happy."

Ugo nodded. "Buon. Buon. What brings you by today?"

He smiled as he glanced around the jewelry store. "I am looking for a gift. A special gift."

The older Italian man smiled. "How special is she?"

He chuckled at the older man's knowing look. Ugo was used to him making small purchases here and there to appease the women Antonio dated, but none of the purchases were as important as this one.

"If all goes well, I hope to change her mind about not staying involved with me after her vacation in Rome is over."

Ugo's smile widened. "What sort of gift do you have in mind?"

Antonio knew exactly what he wanted for Tierra. "I want a necklace and earrings, something that is especially nice."

Ugo nodded. "Excellent. Let me show you what we have."

He followed Ugo over to the display and glanced inside. Several nice items of jewelry lay within the display, but nothing that interested him, so he moved on to the next one.

He ended up going through a few more, feeling disappointed he wasn't finding anything he thought would be right for Tierra, special enough for her.

"Do you see anything you like?"

Antonio shook his head as he straightened. "No, not yet."

Ugo only smiled. "I have one more display for you to look at."

He walked over to the last display Ugo referred to, and the corners of his mouth curved upward. It looked as if he found what he was looking for. In the display case sat a pair of white gold princess cut diamond earrings. His smile widened when he realized it went well with the matching pendant necklace.

He looked at Ugo and smiled. "I will take these earrings and the necklace, as well."

Ugo pulled the jewelry out of the case and wrapped the items up while Antonio prepared to pay for them.

"You have made a good choice, Antonio. Your woman is indeed very special."

Antonio nodded as he paid. Tierra was special, very special, and in more ways than she knew. He planned to show her just how much so before she left to go back to the States.

"Grazie, Ugo. Now I needed to speak with you about having something custom made."

Ugo nodded handing him the bag containing the jewelry. "Come with me to my office and we can discuss it."

Antonio followed Ugo to the back office, knowing the step he took would change his life in a way there might be no going back from. He looked down at the package in his hand and knew he made the right decision.

An hour later, he finally walked into the hotel. The interesting thing was he hadn't missed it as much as he thought he would. Yes, he'd checked his voicemails regularly to make sure nothing important was pending, but other than that, the hotel had been the last thing on his mind. Antonio understood what his father meant when he said one day he would realize there were more important things in life than the hotel. Spending time with Tierra helped provide clarity on the statement. He would definitely prefer to spend time with Tierra than give all of his undivided attention to the hotel. He went straight to his office, running into Leonardo along the way.

"What are you doing here?" his younger brother asked, his expression and voice full of surprise.

Antonio smiled, knowing he wasn't expected to be at the hotel, at least not working. "I am keeping busy while Tierra is out shopping with the women."

Leonardo chuckled. "They are still in Rome, aren't they? Better yet, did you give them a time frame when they should return and limit how much they can spend?"

He just stared at Leonardo and shook his head. They both knew the instructions wouldn't have been followed regardless. Amalia could shop just as frantically as she worked.

Honestly, Tierra seemed to be excited by the invite, and he wasn't going to be responsible for ruining her happiness. It seemed her ex-fiance provided her with enough of that to last a lifetime. No, his intention was to spoil Tierra for as long as she let him. He turned his attention back to Leonardo.

"I have a favor to ask of you."

Leonardo smiled. "Anything."

He pulled out the purchase he made for Tierra. Leonardo peaked into the bag and whistled at the contents of the jewelry box.

"Remind me to come to you if I ever buy jewelry for a woman."

Antonio smiled at him. "Grazie. I'm glad to know you think I have good taste for a change."

Leonardo nodded, taking another glance at the matching set, then closed the lid on the box.

"What do you need me to do?"

"The first thing I need is for you to find out if Tierra will have any trouble getting this back into the States. I already have Ugo drawing up the necessary paperwork stating I made the purchase as a gift. If she would have to pay any additional fees, let me know, and I will take care of them."

Leonardo nodded as he listened to Antonio's instructions. "I will do that. Is there anything else?"

Antonio paused before nodding. "Check into reimbursing Tierra her cost expenditures for her stay here. I will pay for them instead."

Leonard nodded again. "I will have Maceo reverse the charges back to her card. Anything else?"

Antonio smiled. "No. Grazie il piccolo fratello."

Leonardo returned his smile. "Anytime. I just hope I am this lucky if I ever meet a woman I grow to care this much about."

Antonio stared at his brother for a long time before chuckling. He couldn't deny he was falling for Tierra. He laid a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"I hope so, too, little brother. I hope so."

Chapter 13

Tierra smiled as she woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee, a smell she'd definitely grown accustomed to. She knew when she returned to Boulder City she would always associate the smell of coffee with what she experienced with Antonio. He stirred beside her, as if he could hear her thoughts, sense she was awake.

"Buongiorno, cara," he murmed huskily.

"Buongiorno, Antonio."

It seemed no matter how late they stayed up the night before, her eyes would open as soon as she smelled the coffee.

"Are you ready for coffee?"

She rolled over to look at him. "As if you really have to ask."

He smiled before placing a brief kiss on her lips, then climbed out of bed. They made their way downstairs and suddenly she realized this would be the last full day she would spend in his home. She already talked him into staying one extra day. He'd been happy to oblige, but it dawned on her that she only had two days left with this man. Still, time felt like it was passing too quickly. She was glad she'd given in to his request to spend one more night with him, a request she couldn't resist, because as comfortable as the hotel bed felt, his bed was spectacular.

Antonio pressed a cup of coffee into her hands. She smiled at him as she took a sip.

"So we are going back to Vatican City today?"

He nodded. "Si."

Yesterday, he took her to Vatican City. She'd been so enamored he decided to make it a two-day trip so she could see everything she wanted to. After today, the plan was to get up in the morning and go back to the hotel. The two of them would spend the day together before going over to his family's house for dinner one last time. Then Antonio would drive her to the airport to see her off. It saddened her to think about it.

She tried to clear her mind so she could focus on the sexy man who stood in front of her and the little time she had left with him. Fortunately, he was inclined to help her.

"What do you want for breakfast?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Eggs, toast, and bacon, or ham is fine."

He nodded, pulling out the items she requested. She took another sip of her coffee, then she began helping him. They carried everything upstairs to enjoy it on the balcony like they normally did. When Antonio opened the door to the balcony, she realized this was another thing she would miss. They ate breakfast in silence. She stared at Antonio the entire time.

"I hate this," she finally whispered.

Antonio leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee, staring at her over the rim of his cup.

"You hate what?"

She sighed heavily, shaking her head. The words were there, she just didn't know how to express them without sounding like a complete idiot. Antonio just looked at her for a long moment.

"Everything will work itself out, cara."

She looked at him, trying to hold on to that thought as they cleaned and cleared away the dishes from breakfast. A short time later, he drove them toward Vatican City. She marveled at Saint Peter's Cathedral until her stomach demanded she eat. He drove them back home, and they prepared a late lunch together. She studied him as they ate, realizing she could no longer believe things were going to work themselves out. It had been the problem in her relationship with Quincy. She'd let him get away with so many small things, thinking they would work themselves out.

In the end, they hadn't. Instead, things had only gotten worse. She didn't want that to happen with her and Antonio. He was a good man--a much better man than Quincy could ever think of being. Yet, she knew something had to be done about the way she and Antonio both felt but seemed afraid to discuss. Taking a deep breath, she set down her fork, her appetite waning and not because she was full. She'd only eaten a few bites of food, but she didn't want any more.

"Antonio."

He looked up at her. "Yes, cara?"

"What would you say if I told you I think I may be falling in love with you?"

The expression making its way across his face made her heart swell.

"Probably what you would think if I tell you I feel the same."

Her breath caught in her throat. She suspected as much, but to hear him say the words aloud made her pulse soar.

"Do you feel that way?" she asked breathlessly.

One corner of his mouth curved upward. "I have felt something for you since we first kissed."

She smiled. For her it started the first time they'd been intimate in her hotel room, maybe a little before then. Knowing that he came looking for her after their kiss meant something to her. It always would. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily.

"Well, this is a heck of predicament we have gotten ourselves into."

Antonio nodded slowly.

She opened her eyes, looking over at him. "What do you suppose we do?"

He answered the question smartly. "What would like to do, Tierra?"

Indecisiveness swept through her, and she immediately tried to quell it before it showed, but his expression told her he saw it. She also knew her next words were going to be met with strong opposition.

"I would like for you to give me time...and space."

Before he could open his mouth to protest, she cut him off. "Somewhere along the last three years, I lost myself. I was so caught up in a life of pleasing a man that I forgot about taking care of myself." She gave him a wary look. "We both know he cared nothing for me, and now I'm in a situation where I am hardly left with anything."

One corner of her mouth curled upward. "Thanks to you, I have started to find myself again." Her smile slipped a little. "The thing is...I need some time. A little time and space to figure out a few things." She reached across the table and touched his hand. "I hope you can understand."

He stared at her a long time before he spoke. "I can, but just know, cara, I won't cut off contact with you. I want to be able to speak with you and see you when time permits."

He wasn't asking for much, so she didn't see a reason why she shouldn't agree to his request. She was addicted to him. No one could quit an addiction cold turkey. Or at least she couldn't.

"I would like that."

He turned his hand over, enclosing hers within his own. "I know you feel you need to do this so you can find yourself, as you put it, but I think you already have."

She smiled. "Or I would say I have gotten off to a good start."

Antonio sat back, his expression unreadable. "Just so you know, I'm not thrilled with this at all, but I respect your choice. I also know you have a good reason for making it."

Tierra dropped her gaze for a moment. How had she gotten lucky enough to run into this man that night in the bar? It felt as if they were meant to be together, but she needed to be sure. Up until her wedding day, she'd been sure of everything she had with Quincy, and look how that turned out. She felt very unsure of what direction she and Antonio could head in. She tried to taper down her fear, fear that she was going to end up hurting him, or worse yet, he would end up hurting her.

"Are you finished eating?"

She looked down at her plate before shrugging. "I guess so. My appetite disappeared suddenly."

He wiggled his eyebrows. "Even for dessert?"

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head at his playfulness. "I was thinking more along the lines of a movie." She smiled as she standing up. "I am going to give my parents a call as well."

He nodded. "Take your time."

She made the call to her parents. They spoke briefly about her flight back to Boulder City. Their conversation was brief because her parents were on their way out. She felt slightly guilty about not telling them about Antonio, but they would know soon enough. When she returned home, she would tell them. It was going to be a long, interesting conversation, but her parents were good listeners. They also always had good advice. She had a feeling they would have plenty of it for her when they found out about Antonio.

After a moment, she stood up and went to find Antonio. He had a phone to his ear while he spoke in rapid Italian. She loved to hear him speak his native language. She stood there for a moment and listened just to his voice and his accent. He was speaking entirely too quickly for her to understand. A moment later, she cleared her throat, and he glanced at her and smiled.

"It is for you."

He put the phone to her ear before she could ask who it was. She relaxed when Mona's voice traveled over the line.

"Ciao, Tierra."

"Ciao, Mona."

"I asked Antonio what he thought you might like for dinner tomorrow night, but he wasn't certain."

Tierra could only think of one thing she wanted and hadn't had so far. "I hope this isn't a difficult request, but I would love to have lasagna."

She could hear Mona's smile when she spoke. "That isn't a hard request at all, Tierra. It would be my pleasure to make it for you. Would you like anything else?"

She started to tell her no when she stared at Antonio, who studied her with amusement. One corner of her mouth tilted upward slowly as she formulated a plan. Antonio's eyebrow rose at the expression. The look she gave him was one reserved only for him.

"Yes there is, Mona. If it isn't too much trouble, could you make a panna cotta?"

Just as she imagined they would, Antonio's eyes darkened. Their memories of the dessert were--and always would be--fond ones.

She would probably never have the dessert again once she was back at home. Even if she didn't, she would always have the memories of it. She was only half cognizant of Mona's response.

"We look forward to seeing you tomorrow night, Tierra."

She smiled, knowing she would miss Mona. "I look forward to tomorrow night as well."

She handed the phone back to Antonio, who took it without taking his eyes off of her. The intensity of his gaze made her shiver. She stared at him for another moment before turning to go into the living room. If she stayed in his presence too much longer, there was no telling what trouble they could get into. Walking toward his movie collection, she sighed heavily. Why had she suggested a movie? Antonio had a fascination with scary movies, and unfortunately they were the kind that would keep her awake at night. Some of the movies made her hide behind him as much as she could in fear. Closing her eyes, she reached out for a movie blindly, not wanting to see her choice until she had to. Her hand touched a DVD case, and she pulled it out. Opening her eyes, she grimaced when she saw what she selected.

The sound of Antonio's laughter reached her ears, and she turned to give him a look of irritation. He stood in the doorway, watching her with amusement.

"What did you choose?"

She sighed with resignation. "The Boogeyman."

He came toward her. "It is bad."

She rolled her eyes. "It is always bad when they take anything you fear in real life and put it into movie form."

He chuckled. "Well, cara, I could be incorrect, but last time I checked, that is the point of a scary movie."

She stuck her tongue out at him before handing him the case with great reluctance. He took it while she went over to the couch and covered herself with the blanket she'd grown attached to.

When he joined her on the couch, she snuggled into his side. The movie hadn't been on for fifteen minutes before she was screaming and burying her face into Antonio's chest. She could feel his chest rumble with his low laughter as his arms came up and surrounded her. It was a long time before she could brave another look at the television with an unobstructed view. When the movie ended, she shuddered. A person had to be demented to make a movie like this. Antonio glanced over at her, his expression still full of amusement.

"Are you ready for bed?"

She gave him an incredulous look. "After watching that movie? I don't think so."

He smiled. "Would you like to watch another?"

She shuddered again at the thought. "Very funny, but somehow I don't think that will solve the issue."

He grinned. "Then what will?"

"Something non-Boogeyman related," she replied.

He stared at her briefly then leaned closer. "I can think of a few things we can do that are non-Boogeyman related."

She stared up at him. His expression spoke of panna cotta memories.

"Like what?"

He gave a light shrug. "We could play cards, board games or--"

Her elbow connected with his side, cutting him off. "Ouch. What was that for?"

The expression she gave him said everything he needed to know. "I can't believe you would tease me. Play cards?"

"Don't forget board games," he added as he moved away from her. She still reached for him and came close, but he was quicker. He laughed, pinning her arms to her side and pulling her closer to him.

"Well, tell me what you have in mind if playing cards and board games doesn't hold any appeal to you."

Instead of responding verbally, she stretched upward, found the spot behind his ear close to his hairline, and nibbled softly. His body hardened instantly in response. She found this erogenous zone by accident, but ever since she had, she used it to her advantage. When she had his full attention, she drew back and sighed in dejection. She stood up and stretched, offering him a revealing view of her body before turning to look at him.

"Well, I can't think of anything, so we might as well go to sleep."

The look appeared on his face was one of total shock. The next second, his eyes narrowed. She turned and headed for the stairs, trying to hide her smile.

"Tierra?"

She considered ignoring him. It served him right. She extracted a little payback, but the tone of his voice indicated ignoring him might not be a good idea. She stopped with one foot on the stairs.

"Yes?"

"You might want to run."

She turned around to stare at him with puzzlement at the statement. "Why should I run?"

"Because in a second, the boogeyman will be coming to get you," he replied with a tight smile.

It only took her a moment to realize what he meant when he stood up. A split second later, she turned and ran up the stairs as fast as she could, but it wasn't fast enough because he caught her as she reached the doorway to his room. A shriek bubbled up from her throat followed by laughter as he swept her up into his arms. His mouth found hers briefly before she found herself being tossed onto the bed. She landed softly with a slight bounce and immediately reveled in the feel of the satin sheets beneath her. As soon as she returned home, she would invest in a set for her own bed.

All thoughts of the satin sheets left her mind as he began removing their clothes. She loved the way he worshipped her body. A loud gasp of pleasure escaped her when his mouth found the sensitive nub between her thighs and began to lavish attention upon her. What always seemed to amaze her was how quickly he could bring her to the threshold of ultimate satisfaction. His fingers joined his mouth, causing her to climax hard and fast. He pulled away slowly, and she moaned in protest. After she realized she had, she paused. When had she become so greedy for his touch? She looked up at him in surprise as he drew away, then rolled her over onto her stomach. He drew her upward until she rested on her knees.

"What are you doing?"

His smiled wickedly as he responded. "Trying something new."

Her breath caught in her throat as he slid inside of her slowly. She cried out in elation, urging him to move. There wasn't any hesitance in his response to her demand. He moved slowly, his thrusts deep and measured, creating blissful sensations within her she could hardly keep up with.

He increased the momentum, pushing her closer to the release she craved despite even when she just experienced the wonderful sensation a short time ago. She couldn't get enough of his touch. It was highly addictive and left her wanting more. Her release came upon her so suddenly she became a captive to it. She threw back her head and cried out his name as she raced over the edge, her uninhibited sounds and body pulling him along with her.

"Oh, my God," she moaned as they collapsed on the bed together.

He exhaled heavily. "I know."

It seemed as if every time they touched each other they couldn't get enough of each other. She rolled onto her side, and he drew her into his arms. There was something about being in his arms that made her feel special--made her feel as if she were the only woman in the world worthy of him.

When it involved Antonio, there wasn't doubt of what she meant to him, how he felt toward her. It showed in his eyes every time he looked at her. She didn't know how she would hold it together when she returned home. There was so much she would miss, and she hadn't stepped on the plane yet. He'd shown her so much about herself. She knew she had a lot to look forward to in life. A life she would have never been free to discover if she married Quincy. A life she found herself wanting to discover with Antonio, and it scared her.

Chapter 14

"I'm going to miss you...miss all of this."

Antonio looked over at Tierra. They were on their way back to the hotel. When he awoke beside her this morning, it had been bittersweet. Mainly because as much as he loved having her in his arms, he knew it might be the last time he awoke with her in his bed. Deep down he hoped it wouldn't be, but he would have to fight for it. Tierra was worth fighting for, so he didn't mind.

"I am going to miss you as well, cara."

Her gaze met his, and for a moment he felt as if she was going to say something before changing her mind and looking away. He remained silent as he pulled into the parking garage. She waited for him to come around to her side to open the door.

When they entered the lobby, he watched as she waved to some of the staff members she'd come to know. They greeted her just as warmly in return. His staff members liked Tierra. They'd welcomed her. Now if he could only get her to realize how much she'd become a part of his life as well as those who surrounded him.

The ride up to the room was a quiet one, as if they were both doing a countdown to the inevitable. When they reached her floor, they stepped off the elevator and made their way to the hotel room. She sighed as they stepped into the room. He wondered if she was thinking the same thing. Entering the room served as a reminder of another last before she went home. Setting their bags down, he helped her pack, stopping when a knock sounded on the door. He opened it to find the room service attendant standing there with the cart. Antonio took the cart.

When he turned around, Tierra stood staring at him with surprise. He smiled and wheeled the cart to the balcony.

"You ordered room service?"

He nodded. "Since we slept late and missed breakfast, I figured we could at least have lunch because dinner is a little ways off."

She nodded slowly, watching him take the cart out onto the balcony and set everything up. He had to admit the food looked very appealing. Tierra stepped closer to peek around him

"What are we having?"

"Mediterranean crostini, pasta e fagiole and baccala with polenta."

She smiled. "That sounds good."

He motioned for her to have a seat. They shared a little of each of the dishes with her seeming to enjoy every single flavor. She told him she wasn't a big fan of cod, but as she normally did she tried it, informing him that it tasted great.

Still, time passed quickly, and he knew she needed to finish packing her bags. From the expression on her face, she seriously dreaded it. So did he. When he looked over at her again, she sat staring out at the scenery, appearing lost in her thoughts, thoughts he was interested in knowing more about.

"What are you thinking about?"

She turned her attention back to him and smiled. "If I had a dollar for every time you asked me that--"

He chuckled. "You would be rich?"

She shook her head. "No, but I would be off to a good start."

He laughed. "Maybe so."

She stared at him for a moment before sighing. "To begin with, I'm thinking about me having to pack."

He leaned back in his chair and studied her. He tried to find the words she needed to hear, even if it wasn't what he wanted to say.

"Don't forget, I am here to help."

She sighed again. "Yes, but packing is only one part of it."

Antonio wiped his mouth before putting the napkin on the table. "Well, why don't we go ahead and get it over with so we don't have to worry about it?"

He wanted to think of reasons as to why she should postpone the packing but couldn't find one--at least not one that wouldn't cause her to run from the room in a panic. Before he could come up with anything else, she scooted her chair back.

"You're right. Let's get this over with."

He stood and followed her back into the room. Several moments later, they had her bags packed with the exception of a swimsuit and the two outfits she planned to wear tonight and tomorrow. He picked up the bags before setting them by the door. His gaze traveled over to her.

"Are you ready to go swimming?"

She nodded as she headed into the bathroom. He chuckled at the irony. As many times as she'd been intimate with him, there was still something that made her nervous about getting completely naked in from of him in broad daylight. She returned as quickly as she left, clad in a tangerine colored two-piece swimsuit. It wasn't as revealing as the first one she wore, but she looked just as good in it. When she stepped outside the bathroom, she hesitated, telling him his expression was as heated as he felt. She definitely made a good choice in what she picked out. He watched her walk over to the bed and pick up the sarong she laid out, tempted to tell her she didn't need it. Antonio stifled a groan when she wrapped the sarong around her waist, covering up the area of her body he seemed to be obsessed with. He had never been a butt or hip man, but thanks to Tierra, he was now a fan of both.

A few moments later, she drooled over him. He smiled as she gave his body a once over, lingering over his stomach area. He chuckled when she licked her lips and her head jerked upward, her expression full of guilt. He smiled as he held his hand out to her.

"Are you ready to go?"

She nodded, and they made their way to the pool. As usual, the area was almost empty. Most guests at the hotel preferred to go to the beach. He sat down in a lounge chair as Tierra dropped the sarong and walked toward the edge. She smiled as she stepped into the water. He watched her sink farther into the water before turning to look at him.

"The water feels really good," she stated as she drifted backward.

"Does it?"

She nodded, and he made his way toward her. He slipped into the water, wading deeper until he stood next to her, enjoying the feel of the cool water. The Mediterranean sun could be stifling, but Tierra hadn't complained.

"What do we have planned for the rest of the day?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. We are just going to relax and enjoy the rest of our afternoon together."

She nodded, and he moved farther into the pool. They didn't have long. Dinner with his family was scheduled in a few hours. It gave them a little time to relax before they needed to get dressed. He knew she had to make her daily call to her parents as well. She still needed to provide them with her return flight information. The statement still felt strange to him. To know he would have to let her walk away from him tomorrow was the toughest thing he would ever have to do. It made him aware of just how close her departure was. He planned to make the best use of the rest of the time they had together. Looking over at her, he smiled as she continued to tread water.

"Are you actually going to swim today, cara?"

She shook her head. "If I do, we will be late for dinner."

He chuckled. "Do you want to go for a swim?"

She nodded. "Of course I do. I love the water, but my hair will be hell to deal with if I do."

The corners of his mouth curved upward. He held his hand out to her.

"Don't worry about your hair. I will help you wash it, and I promise you we won't be late."

* * * *

Tierra stared at the hand Antonio held out to her, and she started to decline the offer but couldn't think of a good reason why she should. If she learned anything from this trip, throwing caution to the wind on occasion with him could be very rewarding. Besides, it was her last day in Rome, it was a beautiful day, and she really wanted to swim. She smiled as she reached out to take his hand. Antonio slid farther back, pulling her with him. A second later, he dipped underneath the surface of the water, and she followed. He released her hand after giving it a slight squeeze. She swam a few laps before resurfacing. A quick glance around told her Antonio still traveled through the water with graceful strokes. She laid back and began to float. Antonio appeared by her side, his expression amused, but she didn't miss the quick glance he spared her breasts.

"Good to see you relaxed."

"I'm glad you talked me into swimming."

His expression became serious. "I'm glad you talked me into having an affair."

She smiled. "But it has been so much more, hasn't it?"

He nodded. As complicated as it might make things, she knew what they had could never be just described as an affair. They milled around the pool a little longer until they both knew they had to get out. Her skin started to become prune like, and it was time for them to start getting ready. She stepped out of the water and reached for a towel. She turned around just in time to be treated to the sight of Antonio exiting himself. The way the water ran down his body should be a crime. It was more his body than the way the water ran down it. She wrapped the towel around her body, then turned to pick up her sarong, needing the distraction. As difficult as it might be, she needed to control her hormones until later on tonight. It would be their last night together, and she wanted it to be something both of them would remember for a long time to come.

She breathed a sigh of relief as he toweled off, happy to be heading back to the room--until they entered the shower and his hands touched her scalp. Antonio was true to his word. He helped her wash her hair, although it might have been a mistake. The feel of his strong hands massaging her scalp was almost more than she could bear.

Together, they managed to get her hair clean, as well as their bodies, without her having an orgasm, but there were a few close calls. Close calls he seemed to be well aware of, and she suspected he attempted to arouse her intentionally. She had to put an end to this before they got into trouble. She stepped out of the shower with him following close behind. She dressed quickly, donning a turquoise knee-length halter dress.

"Cara?"

She looked at Antonio. He held a jewelry case in his hand, and for a moment she thought he found his gift. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a different jewelry case. She looked at him with confusion, and he smiled.

"I bought a gift for you. Something I want you to have to always remember me by."

He stepped closer to her, opening the case. A gasp escaped her when she saw the exquisite necklace and matching earrings.

"Turn around, Tierra."

She did as he asked, watching as he set the case down before lifting the necklace out. He placed it around her neck, clasping it in place.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror briefly before turning to face him. "Grazie, Antonio. This is beautiful."

"I am glad you like it."

She shook her head. "I love it, Antonio."

Tierra placed a kiss on his lips, and when he pulled back one corner of his mouth was curled upward. "Don't forget the earrings, cara."

She surprised herself when she put them on with hands a lot sturdier than she thought they would be. Glancing up at the mirror, her reflection stunned her. She felt like a princess. Then it dawned on her she should give him his gift as well. Tierra turned to look at him.

"Hang on a second. I have something for you as well."

Making her way to her carry-on bag and dug out the two gifts she'd hidden. Her original plan had been to give them to him tomorrow morning before they left for the airport. She handed him the cologne first.

"I had this made for you."

Antonio uncapped the bottle, and the woodsy masculine scent filled the room. He grinned before putting some on.

"I like this, cara. How did you choose it?"

Tierra shrugged. "I picked out scents I thought you would like and those I would like on you as well."

He recapped the bottle. "Well, you did a good job."

She waited for him to set the bottle down before handing him the jewelry case. He opened it, and his smile said it all.

"I like it, cara."

She smiled. "Do you really?"

He nodded, and his expression spoke of sincerity. "Yes, I do."

"Sit down so I can put it on for you."

He sat down on the bed. As soon as it was in place, she knew she made the right decision. The necklace looked like it had been made to nestle against his bronze skin. He stood up and pulled her into his embrace and walked over to the mirror.

"How do we look, cara?"

She turned her gaze so she could see their reflections in the mirror. They looked good together.

"Perfect," she whispered.

Antonio tilted her head back for a kiss. A moment later, he pulled back. "You call your parents while I finished getting dressed."

She nodded and walked toward the phone, trying to keep her mind focused. Dialing her parents' number, she sat on the bed. Her father answered.

"Hi, Daddy."

"Hey, baby. Are you all packed?"

She smiled. "Yes, I am. I'm getting ready to have dinner shortly."

"You ready to come home?"

She looked over at Antonio, who was busy pulling his shirt over his head. "Believe it or not, Daddy, no, I'm not."

Her father remained silent for a moment. She continued before her father could ask any questions that would have her spilling all of her secrets.

"I checked earlier, and so far nothing with my flight has changed. I'll be on flight 5151 when I land, but if anything changes I will let you and Mom know."

"Okay. I have it written down. We will be there to get you as soon as you arrive."

"Good. I will call you once my flight touches down since I probably won't be able to call you before I leave here."

"We will be waiting for your call then."

She spoke with her father a few more minutes before he put her mother on the phone. After a brief conversation with her mother, she disconnected the call.

"Are you ready?"

She glanced up at Antonio and smiled. "Yes, I am."

They left for his parent's home. As usual they were the last to arrive. She could only shake her head as each of the Carabelli's embraced her. She was thrilled to see Daniella, Sophia and Talia showed up as well. What amused her the most was how Daniella and Carlo avoided each other as if their lives depended on it, yet each of them snuck glances at the other when they thought no one else was looking. The entire interaction was amusing. The two of them didn't realize how much they still cared for each other because they were too busy avoiding each other. She looked up as Leonardo walked up to her. He held a piece of a paper in his hand, which he handed to her.

"Antonio wanted me to give this to you."

She scanned the paper quickly, fighting back tears as she did. Just when she thought Antonio couldn't get more generous than he already had, he went and proved her wrong. She stared at Leo, speechless. He seemed to understand. "Show this to customs and you shouldn't have any problem claiming your jewelry."

"Thank you."

Leo hugged her. "You are welcome, and in case no one else has told you, you look beautiful tonight."

The corners of her mouth tilted upward. "Well, you are the first to tell me, but Antonio was the first to show me."

* * * *

Tierra settled back into the passenger seat, holding onto the panna cotta Mona wrapped up for them to take. They stayed later than planned, but it was worth it. She'd been introduced to another Italian delicacy. Mona made lasagna magro. Antonio told her it was a type of lasagna commonly found in Southern Italy. The lasagna had been delicious. Still, she saved room for dessert. She had a special night planned for her and Antonio. He'd been quiet once dinner started, staring at her intensely throughout. She was certain he had a lot on his mind, just as much as she had on hers. They arrived at the hotel quickly and went straight to hotel room. He took the dessert from her.

"Why don't you get comfortable while I set up the dessert on the balcony?"

She headed into the bathroom to change. Knowing how the evening was going to end, she kept it simple by just putting on a robe. The less she wore the sooner she could feel his touch. She joined Antonio on the balcony. He stood there only wearing his jeans and the gold necklace she gave him. Looking at it made her hand go to the diamond pendant necklace he gave her. She loved the matching set and would cherish it forever. She moved toward him. He glanced up when he heard her footsteps. Her eyes skimmed the space, and she smiled when she saw his set up.

"Are you ready for dessert?"

She nodded, and he held out the chair for her. He took his own seat before picking up the solitary spoon. She opened her mouth for the first bite he offered her.

"Mmm. I think I like your mother's recipe a lot more."

He took a bite before nodding in agreement. "Yes, that is the reason why it's my favorite."

They ate in silence, and a short while later the dessert was gone. She started to speak now that they had nothing else to distract them, but the sounds of a violin reached her ears. The music sounded beautiful.

"I wonder who is playing."

He shook his head. "Probably my neighbor. I believe he is a part of a local group."

She closed her eyes, letting the music surround her. A moment later, her eyes opened when Antonio stood, his chair scraping the floor. He extended his hand to her.

"Let's dance."

She instantly took him up on his offer, taking his hand and allowing him to pull her into his embrace. They began to sway to the music, moving together as one. She laid her head on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his arms surrounding her. If this were the last night she ever spent with Antonio, it would be one she remembered fondly. She pulled back to look at him, and he smiled.

"You look so beautiful, cara."

"You make me feel beautiful," she replied. "You make me feel special."

His hand came up to brush her cheek.

"You are special, very special, and I hope you will allow me to show you how much so one last time."

She knew what he asked of her and nodded. He lowered his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss as they continued to sway to the music.

The song ended, and another started. Antonio lifted his head, ending their sweet kiss. "How about we go inside now?"

She nodded before stepping out of his embrace, leading the way inside. Antonio followed her, closing the door to the patio as well as the blinds, enclosing them in privacy. He drew her over to the bed, undoing the slash of her robe. It fell apart, exposing her body to him, a body he'd come to know very well. As he went to slide the robe off her shoulders, she stopped him.

"Wait. There is something I want to do first."

He opened his mouth, but when her hands found the snap on his jeans, slightly brushing his semi-hard erection, his breath escaped him in a loud whoosh. She made quick work of his jeans and underwear, leaving him naked. He looked at her with surprise.

"Don't worry, I'm going to take good care of you."

Before he could say anything, she pushed him back on the bed and joined him. He looked down at her, but she didn't let his gaze distract her. Her mind was on his beautiful, rock hard erection. His breath hissed out from between his teeth when she reached for him, taking him between her palms before taking his erection into her mouth. He moaned loudly and shuddered. His hips arched upward when she sucked him deeper into her mouth. He cried out, and his control snapped. In a move that spoke of desperation, he hauled her up and under him before she could draw her next breath.

She watched as he fumbled for protection, covering himself quickly. He entered her quickly, sliding as deeply as he could. His movements were out of control, but she didn't complain. They could do slow and controlled later. He pushed them over the edge. They cried out in unison, clinging to each other as they climaxed together. It was several heartbeats before either of them recovered. He pulled back and looked at her with so much emotion in his eyes it was blinding.

"Now, cara, we make love."

Chapter 15

"Just for the record, we aren't happy you are leaving."

Tierra looked at Carlo, one corner of her mouth curling upward. There was a hint of a smile on his face, a rarity that seemed to be reserved for her at the moment. She hugged him tightly before stepping back.

"I will be back for another vacation before you know it."

Carlo gave her a look that spoke of pure disbelief, and she couldn't blame him. Right now she wasn't certain when or if she would return herself.

"But if you need to talk to me, your brother has my contact information. You can call or email me anytime."

Carlo nodded before placing a brief kiss on her cheek. "Take care of yourself."

Her eyebrows rose at the statement, and she looked over at Daniella, who already said goodbye to her. She now stood back with Amalia, Talia, and Sophia.

"Only if you promise to do the same," Tierra replied when her eyes came back to rest on Carlo.

He remained silent, but she knew he understood her. They began announcing the boarding for her flight, and Carlo murmured another goodbye then stepped aside. When Antonio appeared in front of her, the tears she'd been holding back sprang forward. She stepped into his embrace, burying her face into his shirt. When she pulled back, she tried to smile.

"Thank you for everything, Antonio."

He brushed his hand against her cheek. "No, cara, thank you."

The flight attendant at the desk announced they were boarding her section. Antonio's hold on her tightened slightly.

"You don't have to go, Tierra."

She nodded. "Yes, I do. I have to do this."

How could she make him understand she didn't want to wake up in the middle of the night six months from now and resent him? It was important for her to go home, to figure everything out in a place where she could have a clear head to think. She looked up at him as he sighed dejectedly.

"Okay, cara. Make sure you call me to let me know you have made it safely, no matter what time it is."

She nodded again. "I will."

He stared at her for a moment before smiling. "I can't let you leave without telling you how I really feel, cara. I know this was only supposed to be an affair, but we both know it has become so much more. I love you, Tierra."

Hearing the words seemed to make time stop, and her heart soared. She responded the only way she knew how. Honestly. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she went up on tiptoe and kissed him with every ounce of emotion she had in her. When she pulled back, she smiled.

"Te amo, Antonio."

Shock appeared on his face as she said the words. She placed a finger to his lips to keep him from responding, otherwise she might be tempted to miss her plane. A flight she had to make. Saying what she felt aloud gave her even more to think about on her trip back to the States.

"I will call you when I get home."

She told everyone one last goodbye before walking to the entrance of the gate. She boarded the plane quickly, not looking back once. The last thing she needed to do was chicken out or suffer from a lapse of sanity and run back into Antonio's arms. It wasn't until the plane began to taxi that she could breathe.

By the time the flight attendant came around to take her drink order, tears flowed down her cheeks. She had no idea how she would make it through this flight. She hadn't been away from him a few minutes, and she already missed him. The last thing she needed to do was bring more attention to herself. Her tears already concerned many on the flight. Right now, the best thing she could do was sleep. Closing her eyes, she drifted off with her thoughts on Antonio.

She fell into a restless sleep, and by the time she landed in the States, she felt more tired. She called her parents, letting them know her flight was on schedule. They would be waiting for her when she touched down in Las Vegas.

A few hours later, she touched down in Las Vegas with a sigh of relief. All she wanted to do was get home and go to bed. When she saw her parents waiting for her, she rushed over to them. They embraced her warmly. Her father placed a kissed on her forehead, then took her luggage and carry-on bag.

"You look refreshed. The trip to Italy did you some good."

She nodded as she as they made their way to the car. "Yes, it did, Daddy."

Soon they were headed for her parents' home. She closed her eyes letting the motion of the car relax her.

"Are you hungry?"

She shook her head. "No, Mama. I had a few meals and snacks on the flights here."

"Okay, but I will start on dinner when we arrive home."

"That sounds good, Mama. I will help you if you need me to."

She opened her eyes and found her mother smiling at her. "No baby, you sound tired."

She nodded. "I am. The jet lag and change of times zones is getting to me already."

Her mother gave her a look of understanding before turning around to face the front. The rest of the trip home was in silence, until they neared her parents' home.

"Well, this cocky son of a--"

"Earl Davis!"

She opened her eyes to see what caused her father to come so close to using profanity. Her eyes fell upon Quincy's Lexus parked at her parents' curb. He stood outside the car, waiting. When she looked at him now, she had to wonder why she'd ever been attracted to him in the first place.

"Tierra, you go on in the house with your mother. I will take care of this idiot."

She smiled as visions of her dad taking care of Quincy raced through her head, but she knew this was something she would have to take care of herself. Reaching forward, she touched her father's shoulder.

"It's okay, Daddy. I will take care of Quincy so he gets the message clearly."

Both of her parents turned to look at her. Her mother spoke first.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded and sighed, then opened the door and stepped out of the car. This was the last thing she wanted to have to deal with upon returning home. Couldn't she at least take a nap prior to dealing with this crap? Taking a deep breath, she headed in the direction of the man who now repulsed her. He even had the nerve to smile, which made her skin crawl.

"What do you want?" she asked, as soon as she neared him. When he made a move to touch her, she quickly stepped away. He frowned at her.

"Is that any way to treat your fiance?"

Her eyes widened in shock. "Don't you mean ex-fiance?" A second later she laughed. "Oh, don't tell me Shannon has dumped you already."

His facial expression confirmed her suspicion. "Oh, that is just rich, Quincy. You break up with me on our wedding day for my best friend that you just so happen to be cheating on me with almost the entire time. Now you have the audacity to come crawling back after she has used you up."

She shook her head in disgust, appalled he even showed up to try to beg for her to take him back. Did he really think she was weak? Desperate?

"Get real, Quincy. I'm done with you."

He gave her a disheartened look. "Oh, come on now, baby. You don't mean that."

She frowned at him. "Actually, I do, Quincy. I was a fool to stay involved with you as long as I did. Even a bigger fool for believing you actually loved me."

She crossed her arms across her chest. "I'm finished with you, Quincy. So, it would be best if you don't show your face around this house anymore. My brother and father aren't too fond of you right now, and, frankly, neither am I."

Her words had the effect she hoped they would because his expression fell. Suddenly, he gave her his self-assured smile--one that now nauseated her.

"You don't mean that, Tierra. You will change your mind."

He might have been right two weeks ago, but after her trip to Rome and after the time she spent with Antonio, there was no chance of that happening. She looked at Quincy and shook her head.

"No, Quincy, I mean what I said. I want nothing else to do with you. The moment you told me you wanted my best friend over me, I stopped."

He gave her an apologetic look. "I made a mistake."

She nodded her agreement. "You are right, Quincy. You did. It is also one you will have to live with because I'm done."

When he started to reply, she cut him off.

"I'm done, Quincy. Now, you show your face around here again and I can't promise I will be able to hold my brother and father back."

His mouth fell open in surprise. She could understand why. Normally, she'd gone along with whatever he wanted, but it had been a mistake, a huge mistake. One she wasn't going to make again. She smiled at Quincy, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Have a good life, Quincy."

She turned to walk off, but stopped. "Oh, and if you are ever lucky enough again to find a good woman, try not to screw her over like you did me."

She didn't bother to wait for a response. None was needed. Tierra made her way up the walkway to her parents' house. Her father stood in the living room waiting.

"Is everything okay?"

She nodded. "Everything is fine, Daddy. I don't think we will be seeing Quincy again."

As if to prove her statement, the sound of Quincy's car peeling off was a good indication he was gone for good.

Her father smiled as he opened his arms to her.

"I'm proud of you. I know it has been tough for you recently, but you haven't given up, and you haven't complained."

Her fathers' words meant a lot to her.

"Thank you, Daddy."

She took a deep breath, figuring she better tell her parents everything about her trip to Rome. It would only be a matter of time until she had to make some more tough choices.

"Daddy, I have an important call to make, but afterward I would like to talk to you and Mom."

Her father pulled back and looked at her. "This sounds serious."

"It is."

Her father gave her a small squeeze. "Well, go take care of your phone call then we can talk."

She gave him a small smile before making her way upstairs to her old room. Doing a mental calculation along the way, she realized it would be around midnight in Rome, but Antonio told her to call no matter the time. She pulled the calling card he provided her with out of her purse and dialed Antonio's number. He answered the phone after the first ring, instantly bringing a smile to her face.

"Ciao, Antonio."

"Ciao, cara. Did you make it safely?"

"Yes, I did. I just made it home a short time ago."

A moment of silence passed between them.

"Are you okay?"

She sighed. "No. I already miss you a lot."

He released his own heavy sigh. "I miss you, too, Tierra."

She smiled. "Are you in bed?"

"Yes, I am, but I'm not tired. I was also waiting for you to call."

The longing in his voice matched the longing in her heart. Maybe after her conversation with her parents she would have some answers. They were sure to have some advice for her.

"I won't keep you, because tired or not, you need your rest. Not to mention my parents are waiting on me."

"Okay, Tierra. Te amo."

Her heart jumped at the words as it had the first time she heard them.

"I love you, too, Antonio."

"Enjoy the rest of your evening."

She closed her eyes hoping she would. "Try to get some rest. I will talk to you later."

"Okay, cara, buona notte ."

"Goodnight, Antonio."

She disconnected the call, smiling when she told him goodnight when it was still early in the evening for her. The time zone difference would take some getting used to, but it didn't matter as long as she could talk to him. That was all she cared about. Now she had to prepare herself for the conversation about to take place with her parents. She could only imagine what their reaction would be, but she knew they would support her. They usually did, but that didn't make her any less nervous. Taking one last deep breath, she made her way downstairs. Her parents were sitting there waiting on her. She joined at the table, not wasting anytime telling them why she wanted to talk to them.

"Mama, Daddy, I have something to tell you. While I vacationed in Rome, I met a man, and I fell in love with him."

* * * *

Tierra took a deep and frustrated breath before letting it out. A month passed since she came back from Rome, and she missed Antonio more with each passing day. She missed all of the Carabelli's. Maybe one day she could convince her parents to go to Rome and it could happen. Her parents would get along so well with the Carabelli's. She could imagine her mom sharing recipes with Mona and her dad sneaking a drink with Bruno.

In the meantime, she focused on not being frustrated. Antonio had the patience of a saint. She talked to him every day, but he never made any mention of her coming back to Rome. On one hand it frustrated her. On the other, she appreciated that he didn't put any pressure on her. Antonio had been everything she could have asked for and more. He'd also been one surprise after another, the biggest shocker being the note she found in the bottom of her suitcase when she unpacked from the trip. The letter explaining that he was reimbursing for her trip to Rome made her cry. She promptly picked up the phone to call him, only to cry harder at the sound of his voice. His concern for her distress came across clearly on the phone.

One of the most attractive things about him was he that cared deeply about her. The second, he kept his word. Quincy hadn't kept his word to her in the least. Although she was positive he would now. Quincy understood she meant what she said about turning her father and brother loose on him to inflict bodily harm as they pleased. The few times she seen him in town, he looked at her with longing, but he kept his distance, and she ignored him.

It hadn't been long before she realized Quincy had become the one who'd come out on the losing end of the deal. It hadn't taken long for the word to get around about Shannon leaving Quincy for the next new thing. Yet, it still hadn't done anything to repair her friendship with Shannon. Tierra realized a true friend wouldn't have crossed that line. She hadn't spoken to Shannon since her wedding, and if she never spoke to her again, it would be too soon.

She wished her co-workers a good evening as she walked outside to her car. A few moments later, she headed toward her parents' home. She put away enough money to move out on her own, especially since Antonio reimbursed her money for the honeymoon, but she couldn't bring herself to move. She wanted to buy a house instead of getting another apartment. She already started looking into it. With a few more paychecks, she would have enough saved up for a nice down payment without wiping out her savings. Now all she had to do was work on the financing part.

Then there was the idea that she wasn't ready to be alone again yet. Her parents enjoyed having her there, especially since she carried her weight around the house. She pulled into her parents' driveway with a smile on her face. There was a little while to go before she needed to worry about moving out. She stepped out of her car, pausing when she realized another car was in the driveway--a nice one.

Neither of her parents mentioned they were expecting company. It didn't matter. She had a phone call to Antonio to make, and she knew he would be waiting up for her. Her parents having a guest over just gave her more time to talk to Antonio. She would try not to be too selfish because it would be past midnight. He was already making the sacrifice by staying up late. Sometimes he answered the phone and she could immediately tell he'd fallen asleep. Other times he answered the phone sounding wide awake. He also designated himself to be her personal wakeup call every morning. She loved to receive his call when she first woke up because the smooth timbre of his voice captivated her. It always started her day off right.

There were times when she felt like he was right next to her, only to wake up disappointed when she realized he wasn't. She made her way up the walkway. When she opened the door, silence greeted her. She frowned.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home."

"We're in the kitchen," her mother responded.

She smiled, starting to wonder when her mother wasn't in the kitchen. Her mother always seemed to be cooking or baking something for someone, but it made her mom happy. Tierra wouldn't have it any other way.

"Okay. I will join you as soon as I get off the phone with Antonio."

She could hear her mother laugh. "Okay, Tierra."

Tierra made a mad dash up the stairs straight to her room. She reached for the calling card and the phone at the same time. She dialed Antonio's number, disappointed when she got his voicemail. Once she left a message, she hung up. Maybe she should call him at the hotel. There had been a handful of times when she had because he told her ahead of time he would be working late. She decided not to. She already left him a voicemail. If he were still up, he would return her call.

Instead, she made her way downstairs, not wanting to be rude to her parents' guest. She walked into the kitchen

"Hi, Mom. Dad. I wasn't--"

Her voice trailed off as she laid eyes on the man who plagued her thoughts for the last month. The man who she'd been in such a rush to call, but left disappointed when she had to leave him a voicemail. But most importantly, the man she loved. This had to be a dream. She whispered his name, and he smiled.

"Ciao, cara."

She blinked slowly, realizing she wasn't dreaming. A second later, she said his name louder as she rushed toward him. He caught her in his arms, and she kissed him, kissed him with everything she had until her mother cleared her throat. Tierra pulled away from him, slowly, unable to keep her eyes off of him.

It had already seemed like an eternity since she last time she saw him. He released her, letting her slide downward, until she stood on her own. She touched his cheek.

"How long have you been here?"

"I arrived early this morning, checked into my hotel, slept a few hours, then headed here about two hours ago."

She turned to look at her parents, the grins on their faces were priceless. She hadn't seen them this happy since the day of her wedding, or rather the morning of.

"And neither of you thought to call me?"

Her parents nodded in unison.

"Actually, we did, but Antonio asked us not to. He wanted to talk to us first."

She turned back to look at Antonio with surprise. "About what?"

"What my intentions are," he replied without hesitation.

"Which is a lot more than what Quincy did," her father interjected.

"Earl," her mother warned. Tierra chuckled, shaking her head.

It would be a long time before her father got over what Quincy had done. She, on the other hand, had already done so. Turning her attention back to Antonio, she smiled.

"What are your intentions?"

"To make you the happiest woman alive."

Her grin widened. "I already am."

He gave her and intense look, trying to read her. "Are you?"

She nodded. "Yes, I am."

"Then why did you leave me?"

Her smiled slipped. She gave him an apologetic look. "Because I needed to find myself."

He shook his head. "I don't think so, cara. You knew who you were before you came to Rome. It is what gave you strength to leave Quincy and fly halfway around the world for a vacation that should have been your honeymoon."

Surprisingly, the statement didn't bother her as much as it used to. She was okay with being labeled as a jilted bride.

"Yes, but don't forget Quincy left me at the altar."

He nodded slowly. "This is where I think the problem comes in."

She looked at him with puzzlement. "I know. I told you that."

Antonio shook his head. "No, cara. The issue is different from what you think or different from what you are willing to admit."

Her expression went from puzzled to shocked. "What do you mean?"

He stared at her for a moment, and she felt her nerves go into overdrive. "Can we agree I am more of man than Quincy is? A better man?"

She nodded without hesitation. "By far."

"So, could it be you left me out of fear? Fear that if you weren't able to keep a man like Quincy, how would it be possible for you to keep a man like me?"

A pained gasp escaped her as he touched on the subject that had nagged her, but she tried to push it to the back of her brain. Yet, here he was bringing the painful subject up and without hesitance. She tried to pull away from Antonio, needing space. Needing to breathe, to think, to do something besides stand there. His hold tightened on her. She looked at him, unable to hide her panic.

"I already made the mistake of letting you go once, cara. It won't happen again.

She retaliated before she could stop herself. "Are you certain?"

She groaned inwardly when she realized she'd just given him the confirmation to the fear she tried to hide. Antonio cupped her face between his hands. The emotion she read in his eyes spoke of a love she'd never seen in Quincy's.

"I'm positive. As long as you are yourself, Tierra, you will be the woman I fell in love with. The woman I want to make my wife."

Tears sprang to her eyes. She'd heard those words once before, but it had been a promise broken. It hurt when Quincy cast her aside, but it would be devastating if it happened with Antonio.

"Are you sure?" she whispered.

He nodded. "I love you, cara. How could I not?" He smiled. "We both know Quincy is a complete idiot. One who didn't know what he had right in front of him. I do. I have from day one."

He tightened his hold on her as tears began to make their way down her cheeks at his heartfelt words.

"Close your eyes."

She did as he asked.

"Now compare the first week of your relationship with Quincy to ours...now the second."

She didn't have to have a good imagination to spot the differences right away.

"Now open your eyes."

She did, and the love in his eyes was still there, seeming to shine even brighter than it had before she closed her eyes. Somehow she knew it would never fade. She never wanted it to.

"This next question will require some imagination on your part, but I believe you can do it."

She nodded. "I'm ready."

"Buon. Now compare the life you think you would have had with Quincy to the one you can have with me."

It didn't take her long to imagine the outlook of what he asked. A slow smile appeared on her face.

"How does a lifetime of love with me look?"

She replied without hesitation. "Perfect."

He started to pull away from her. This time she tightened her grip. He chuckled in response.

"Hold on a second, cara. I have another question to ask you."

She let him go with obvious reluctance. Now that she had Antonio back by her side, she didn't want him to leave her. She gasped when he went down on one knee, producing a diamond ring that left her speechless.

"Tierra, I can't imagine my life without you in it. I want you by my side now, forever. Will you marry me?"

"Yes," she replied, without hesitation.

He slid the ring on her finger, then stood back up. She was back in his embrace, before either of them could take their next breath.

"I love you, Antonio."

"I love you, too, cara."

She turned to see what her parents thought about the news. Interestingly, they had left the kitchen, and she didn't know when because her focus on Antonio hadn't wavered.

"I guess we should go and tell my parents the good news."

He nodded. "It sounds like a good idea to me, cara, although they already knew I planned to propose. I asked your father for your hand before you arrived."

She chuckled. "Is what he meant by you letting them know what your intentions were toward me?"

He nodded, and she laughed. "I'm so glad you're old fashioned. My dad loves a gentleman."

His gaze darkened slightly, and she instantly thought of satin sheets.

"Only when I need to be," he murmured.

She couldn't wait until later, because she was definitely going back to his hotel with him. Somehow she didn't think he would complain at all. The corners of her mouth tilted upward as she took his hand in hers and led him toward the living room. She stopped when a random thought entered her mind. He shot her a curios look when she turned back to him.

"Antonio, do you want children?"

He chuckled. "Cara, I am the oldest of six, Catholic, and Italian. Yes, I want children."

She laughed when he pointed out what should have been obvious, but she'd learned it was never safe to assume. "Then I guess we better get married right away, because as patient as you are about some things, I know you aren't patient about everything."

He smiled. "Sounds like a perfect idea to me, cara."

THE END

http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie Morris resides in Fort Worth, Texas. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, dancing, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family. In Stephanie's opinion, there is nothing like curling up with a good book that you can't put down, and she is addicted to writing them.

www.BookStrand.com

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15