“It took some getting used to,” Tiana said with a smile. “But it helps to know that I'm in love with my husband and I have the two babies, plus Eduardo treats me like a daughter. Matteo and Riccardo are like my brothers, so it feels like home. When you're surrounded by people who love you, it's home.”
“I agree with you,” Donna said wistfully. “It was always my mom and I, and even though we were close, there was always something missing.”
“I know what you mean. I was an only child myself. See you at supper.”
*****
Thomas did his best not to look at her while they were at the dinner table, but he couldn't help himself. She was effervescent—that was the only way he could put it. She lit up the table with her infectious laughter and was as confident as a woman who'd been around royals before. What was more was the natural way she had around everyone—no matter their station in life. The two boys—Matteo and Riccardo—fell in love with her and she had them wrapped around her little finger by the time dinner was finished and the dessert came around. The King engaged her in conversation and even Francesco was seen smiling at her as she spoke to him. He was the only one she didn't engage in conversation and he told himself that he was happy for that. She was wearing a clingy black cashmere sweater with a black dress pants. Her hair was loose around her face and gave her a softened look. Her skin was flawless, and he noticed that she was only wearing lip gloss. He found his eyes straying to her ever so often. They finished around the table and Matteo and Riccardo persuaded her to play board games with them before they turned in.
“Monopoly... and you aren't going to use your Italian to confuse me and cheat,” she warned them. “Your sister-in-law already told me you speak perfect English.”
“And they tend to cheat,” Francesco told her with a grin.
“See? Forewarned, guys.”
“We don't know what that means,” Matteo told her with a sly smile.
“I'm not falling for that.” She looked over at her husband, who had his booted foot propped on the foot stool, a drink in his hand. They'd gathered in the living room for after-dinner drinks. “Are you going to bed soon?”
“Not quite.” His green eyes held hers for a moment before he looked into his glass.
“Okay.” She turned and smiled at the two young princes. “Be prepared to get the trouncing of your lives!”
“We aren't familiar with that word,” Riccardo told her with an innocent look on his handsome face.
“Not falling for that either.”
The rest of the occupants of the room watched as they filed out and Tiana got to her feet, coming over to stand in front of her husband. “I'm going up to check on the boys,”
Francesco wrapped his arms around her and gave her a light kiss. “I'll be up shortly.”
“I'll be taking my leave as well, gentlemen.” King Eduardo got to his feet and beckoned for Tiana to wait on him. “I have to go and say goodnight to my grandsons.”
“How about another drink?” Francesco suggested as he made his way towards the fancy liquor cabinet in the center of the room.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“We could go into the game room and shoot a few games of pool to delay you going up to your suite,” he said casually as he handed the drink to his friend.
“What makes you think I don't want to go on up?”
“My friend, I have seen you eyeing your wife the entire evening.” Francesco joined him in front of the fire. “She is quite—how can I put this? Quite a charming and lovable person. I fear that my brothers, and even my father, have fallen under her spell.”
“And you?” Thomas asked with raised brows.
“A little bit too,” Francesco said with a smile, his dark eyes on his friend’s face. “What would happen if this marriage turns into something real?”
“It's not going to happen.” Thomas tossed back the drink and grimaced as it hit his throat.
“What if it does?”
“The marriage will last for one year and that will be it.”
Francesco clapped him on the shoulder. “You sound like you're trying to convince yourself.”
*****
He couldn't sleep. And it wasn't because of the different time zone either. It had to do with that damned conversation he'd had with Francesco just before coming up and he kept seeing her white teeth against those full lips and the fact that she seemed to light up a damned room. With an impatient sigh he reached over and turned on the bedside lamp, dragging his hands through his hair. He jerked in surprise when the door was slid open and she was silhouetted in the light streaming from her room. He knew that they were separated by a door but had done his best not to think about it. She had on some kind of thin black see-through silk and her dark hair was tousled. He watched in frozen silence as she came into the room, her footsteps muffled by the thick cream carpet. She stood at the side of the high bed and stared at him, as if waiting for him to say something but he remained silent. “I couldn't sleep and by the looks of it, neither could you.” She climbed onto the bed and moved the sheets to slide in closer to him.
He found his voice then, but just barely. “What are you doing?” he rasped.
“Maybe we both need physical contact in order to fall asleep.” She eased up onto the pillows and took off the robe. His eyes were caught unwillingly on the rich lace that revealed the swell of flesh. The rest of the nightgown was a transparent silk that whispered when she moved.
“This isn't a good idea—” His voice petered off as she slipped the straps of the nightgown off and pulled them down. Easing back against the pillows, she wriggled out of the flimsy material, leaving herself completely naked. He felt himself harden immediately, his body flaming from inside. She reached over and touched his bare chest with the slight smattering of hairs, her fingers trailing down the muscles. He went rigid when she shifted the sheets, his arousal evident. He couldn't tell her that he didn't want her; It was right there for her to see. When she reached into his loose pajama bottom and wrapped her fingers around the thick length of him, he almost passed out.
“I will definitely fall asleep after this,” she whispered. “Or maybe not.” She was stroking him, the skin feeling hot to her touch. He started to remove her hand but she used that time to run the tip of her finger over the enflamed tip of him and that was when his control broke. The desire slammed through him with such force that it stunned him for a moment. But only for a moment, as he pushed her back against the pillows and buried his mouth on hers. His hands raced over her body feverishly as his mouth delved and he deepened the kiss.
Donna had expected some kind of fireworks but the hot flaming tongues of flames that raced through her body at his kiss almost melted her insides. She brought her hands up and dug her fingers into the bunched muscles of his shoulders. He shifted so that he was lying on top of her, his erection boring a hole into her thigh. He ended the kiss abruptly and stared down at her, his green eyes darkened. She shifted her hands and used them to frame his face, feeling when he stiffened and, reaching up, he removed her hands and shoved them over her head, his mouth tight. He looked as if he was fighting the passion and Donna was certain that if he had the will, he would stop. But she had no intention of allowing him to do so.