Chapter Twelve

Heat spread up Melo’s arm as Cade’s lips moved over the sensitive skin of her lower arm. She looked down at his dark head and shivered.

“Hang up,” he mouthed.

“I can’t,” she mouthed back.

Rosa was talking.

“He told me I was selfish,” Rosa complained. “That I need to grow up. We were talking about the business, and he…” Her voice trailed off, then there was a sob, a sniff, and she continued. “He said he was going to demand to see all the financial reports when we came back from our honeymoon. He doesn’t trust Dad, Melo. I can’t believe he would think Dad would hide something from us.”

Cade stood up. He took off his jacket and threw it on the chair. Then he slowly undid his shirt buttons, his gaze never leaving hers. As each button revealed more of his gorgeous chest Melo’s heart beat faster. She struggled to concentrate.

“He’s right, Rosa.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Melo pulled in a deep breath, and gave her the second barrel. “Dad has lied. At least by omission. He gambled with the company’s money, not his own. He could be facing an embezzlement suit.”

Melo barely registered her sister’s shocked gasp. She had to continue, had to make sure her sister understood that she wasn’t going to side with her on this one.

Cade undid his cuff buttons and slipped off his shirt.

Melo closed her eyes. Maybe if she wasn’t watching him she could focus on talking to Rosa, making her see…

“Adam is a partner in the business now, and he’s completely right in feeling angry about the way Dad has conducted his affairs. He’s completely within his rights to take Dad to court,” Melo said.

“But Dad knew he could pay it back… The beach—”

“The beach is my inheritance. You know that,” Melo interjected firmly. “Dad has made a play for it, and his bid may very well prove to be successful, but there’s no difference to him claiming the money Nonna left you as his own. Or her jewelry.”

“But you’re going to sell the beach to Cade, aren’t you?” Rosa’s voice was high and needy. “Because if you don’t the company will be ruined.”

Warm fingers dusted over her shoulders like butterfly wings. She breathed in Cade’s scent, and wished her sister would evaporate. She clenched her hands into fists to resist the urge to reach out and smooth them over his firm stomach.

“That’s a decision I’ll make when I find out about the validity of his claim,” Melo said. “Not before. And don’t be under any illusions, Rosa. I’ll fight Dad for it. Every step of the way.”

For too long the family presumed she’d always put their welfare first. Abandoning the claim left to her on her grandmother’s deathbed meant her family once again would see her as a walkover, and even though realistically she couldn’t build a house on Paradise Beach while the winery faltered and failed due to lack of resources—the fact Rosa presumed she would, burned.

“Adam is an intelligent man. With a legitimate gripe. You need to grow up, Rosa,” Melo finished wearily. “You force me into the role of older sister, even though we were born mere minutes apart. I’m not prepared to wipe up your tears any more. Not when you should be supporting your husband instead of fighting with him.”

Melo heard Cade step away. She opened her eyes, wanting him desperately to come back. But still Rosa’s voice sounded insistently in her ear.

“I don’t believe what you’re saying. What does Cade think? He didn’t tell you of his intention to buy the beach, did he?”

He’d moved behind her. The bed depressed with the weight of a heavier body, and then she felt the heat of his chest against her naked back. His legs surrounded hers, the fabric of his pants against her outer thighs.

Melo breathed out a ragged breath. Talking to her sister was torture when all she wanted to do was turn in his arms and…

Cade pushed her hair aside, and kissed her neck.

Melo struggled to speak. “I’m not discussing Cade,” Melo whispered.

“Cade is dangerous. You can’t see him for what he is,” Rosa muttered. “Your feelings for him have destroyed your objectivity.”

“My relationship with Cade is private.”

Cade’s hands smoothed over her ribs. Her heart thumped hard in her chest. Damn Rosa. She wasn’t putting her own desires on the back boiler any longer.

“I have to go. I’ll call you when I’m back on the island.” Melo’s hand shook as she hung up.

“That’s better,” Cade murmured into her ear. His arms slid around her waist, pulling her back against his chest.

Irritation at Rosa melted away. Melo couldn’t hold back a smile.

“You’re very determined,” she whispered.

“I know what I want.” Cade kissed her neck. “And what I don’t. And I don’t want you worrying about your bloody sister.”

She didn’t want to worry about her sister either. Or her demanding family. They were adults, just as she was, they could take care of themselves.

“That feels good,” she murmured, leaning back against him. Her head rested against his shoulder, her neck angled to allow his warm mouth better access.

She breathed in the scent of sandalwood and man. Turned in his arms. And stared into his emerald eyes.

He stroked a hand over her hair, then feathered his long fingers along her jaw line. “Melo,” he murmured low and deep, angling his head to press his warm lips over hers.

He’d kissed her before, but this slow, sexy exploration of her mouth twisted her insides and sent a flood of arousal through every molecule of her being. With a sigh, she opened her mouth to let his tongue tangle with hers. There was no way she could resist this. The memory of her conversation with Rosa evaporated, like an inch of water in a saucepan on a gas ring set to high. Bubbling, boiling, then rising to the ceiling as steam.

Melo’s hands slid into Cade’s long hair, loving the feel of him under her fingertips. He undid her bra, slipped it off, and pulled her closer. When they’d made love before, it had been in a heated rush, without time to think of the consequences. This time was different. It was as if a silken cord tied them together as they shifted to lie on the bed. Cade had slipped off his shoes and socks before lying down next to her, and her foot skimmed over his as their bodies lay chest to chest on top of the smooth coverlet.

His hand caressed her head, cupped her nape.

And Melo’s heart melted. She felt safe in his arms, complete. As if being in his arms was where she should always be. Her mind tried to protest, to stop her from tumbling back into the heady delight of loving him.

Melo smoothed her hands over his chest, over his heart. Feeling it pound steadily beneath her palm. And ignored the voice of reason clamoring in her head to be heard.

He kissed the corner of her mouth. Then his mouth trailed over her jaw line, and down her neck, setting off a wave of tingles in its wake. One hand cupped her breast, and Melo breathed in sharply. He glanced up.

“Okay?”

“More than okay,” she whispered.

“I love the feel of you, your skin is so soft.” Cade’s mouth moved to her exposed breast and sensation arrowed through her as he enclosed her nipple in his mouth.

It was difficult to breathe as he slipped her panties off and kissed the soft curve of her stomach. His hair tickled. She arched upward, wanting him closer, wanting the weight of his body on top of hers.

“Come up here,” she demanded huskily.

Cade reached into his pants’ pocket and pulled out a small foil packet, which he placed on the pillow next to her head.

“I’ve got too many clothes on.” A lazy smile played over his lips.

“Let me help,” Melo murmured, reaching for his zipper and easing it slowly down. Her fingers feathered over his flat stomach, feeling them quiver as they slipped lower, under the waist of his briefs.

“You’re tormenting me,” he whispered as her hand closed around his silken length.

“Torment me back then.” Melo smiled.

Cade slipped his pants and briefs off, then lightning fast, pulled her close and tumbled on top of her. “Oh, I will.”

Melo’s laugh died in her throat as his mouth slanted over hers. His erection pushed against her thigh, and suddenly all thoughts of playing were over. She wanted him, needed him with a fierce urgency that couldn’t be denied a moment longer.

Cade quickly sheathed himself, then with one strong thrust entered her.

“Tormented yet?” he murmured against her lips.

Melo’s hands stroked over his back. He was still. And her body was in heaven. His eyes flickered open, a look of such tenderness in them that love swelled in her heart to overflowing. How could she live without him, when this was all over? She couldn’t pretend it was a brief liaison, not when he held her heart in his hand without even trying.

“Totally tormented,” she whispered. Her inner muscles clenched around him as he started to move.

The feel of his hipbones fused to hers; the current passing between all points where they were joined brought her higher and higher, as though inching up to the top of a roller coaster, then, when the tension was almost unbearable, they crested the summit together, and started into freefall.

Afterward, he held her closely against his chest. She breathed in his scent, rubbed her cheek against the light dusting of dark hair, and wished this night would never, ever end. His arm tightened around her.

“You’re never running out on me again.” Cade’s voice reverberated under her cheek. Melo felt her mouth curve into a smile.

Her arm tightened around him as he brought the duvet up and tucked it tenderly around her back. Last time, she’d had no option but to leave him the morning after their lovemaking. Here, far away from Isola dei Fiori, and her family, they could be together without the interference of other people. Surrender to this frantic passion between them. For better or for worse. For a week anyway.

****

Melo had a smear of raspberry jam on her top lip. Try as he might, Cade couldn’t stop looking at it, imagining licking it off, but in the crowded dining room that would definitely be a step too far so instead he handed her his napkin. “You have some jam…” he said, looking away as she took care of it.

If it had been up to him, they’d have missed breakfast. Spent all day in bed. After making love with her all night, and again this morning, he still couldn’t get enough of being with her, losing himself again and again in her warmth. But before long people would come looking for them, and so he’d reluctantly let her get dressed for breakfast.

In jeans and an emerald green shirt, she wasn’t dressed to entice, but still he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. This obsession was a disturbing development. One that shook him to his core. Last night he’d felt closer to her than he ever had with anyone, he still did.

He picked up his coffee cup and drained it.

“You’re very quiet this morning,” Melo said, with a wide, open smile that lit her up from the inside. “What are you thinking about?”

“X-rated,” he replied tersely.

Melo laughed, pure joy drawing him in, as he felt his mouth curve in an answering grin. “I love it,” she confessed, reaching across the table to clasp his hand in hers. “You sounded so grumpy about it.”

“I am grumpy about it.” Cade brought her knuckles to his mouth and dusted his lips across them. “I thought I’d be past x-rated after last night.”

Her face colored with a faint flush. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?” She pulled her hand away, and played with the napkin.

Okay, so she wanted to inject a level of normalcy—which was good, considering the fact his body was already reacting to their flirtation.

“We’re going out to watch black bears,” he said.

Across the room, Margie waved a greeting. Cade returned it, hoping she wouldn’t come over and disturb them. “We’ll have a guide with us, so that should keep me in line.”

“Pity,” Melo answered quickly, then swallowed her coffee. “Although I’d love to see the woods. And later, will you be showing me around the hotel?” Her eyelashes dipped covering her eyes.

“No, we’re moving out.”

Her gaze flashed to his with a bolt of blue. “Moving out? But we just got here!”

Cade nodded, leaned closer. “This place is too busy.” He smiled at Margie as she passed him on the way out of the restaurant. “I thought we could move in to one of the cabins in the woods. Spend time alone together.”

He didn’t want to think about work. Didn’t want to consider how things would change between them when he bought the beach, and destroyed her dream of building a house there. He was saving her family from ruin. Something he’d had to do with his own after his father’s death, but rather than thank him, she’d resent him. The feeling might even grow into hatred. And there was damn little he could do about it. She’d gambled by recommending her family invest in Mezzuti, and now she held the only means of putting things right. Sooner or later she’d see, and realize she had a responsibility to her family, even if it meant giving up something that meant a lot to her. When they got to the cabin, he’d talk her through it, be the sympathetic ear she’d been when they were teenagers. The one she could confess to. Together, they could work it out.

“I thought you liked hotels,” Melo teased.

“I did,” Cade confessed. “Until you came into the picture. Now, for the first time, I can see the advantages of being totally alone with someone.”

Melo leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms over her chest, and tilted her head to the side. She pouted. “So, does this mean I’m going to be cooking?”

Cade shook his head. “No, you’re on holiday. I thought I’d be in charge of the culinary delights for the next few days.” Last night while she slept he’d rung down to reception and organized everything, including the delivery of basic supplies. Hopefully she liked beans and barbeque.

“Wow. You cook too? I’m impressed.” Melo glanced around the restaurant. “When do we leave?”