The Italian's Blushing Gardener (9 page)

Stefano had no intention of disappointing her. He had only knelt up to strip off his clothes and give her the full benefit of his magnificent body.

‘I want to feel my naked skin against yours.’

His demand was husky but his movements were smooth and unhurried. Watching the relish in his beautiful eyes as he twined his lithe golden limbs around hers was the most wonderful aphrodisiac. As his body glided over and around hers, she floated in the clear blue of his admiring gaze. His hands and lips brought her to the peak of pleasure, time after time, and he left no room in her mind for any doubts. She was his, and she could not get enough of him. Only when she was almost faint from this glorious pleasure overload did he turn to his own satisfaction. With a wild cry his body convulsed in the sheer pleasure of orgasm.

The physical release was absolute, but a new kind of torment was about to begin. Kira had never known her mind and body meld in such a way, but it could not last.
As Stefano enfolded her gently in his arms, she knew things could never be the same between them.

‘That was beyond even what I had hoped for,’ he murmured.

As he drifted off to sleep, he took Kira’s sense of proportion with him. She lay in the gloom, unable to put her fears into words and unwilling to wake him. She had never been in exactly this situation before, but something about it was frighteningly familiar. Her mind reeled back the years to her only other intimate encounter. She had been swept off her feet then, too. Before, during and after sex she had been suspended in a make-believe world which almost instantly unravelled. Her illusions vanished with the cold light of an Oxford morning. The tutor she once idolised had only used her to relieve his midlife crisis. How long would it be before the younger, more virile Stefano wrecked her dreams in a similar way?

She lay awake through all the long dark hours of the night. She knew exactly how this would end. The pain and humiliation were all too familiar. Listening to Stefano’s soft, regular breathing as he slept, it was agonising to think he would start taking her for granted from the moment he woke. The infatuation she felt would not survive the death of his sweet words and sensuous touch. She couldn’t bear to think he would never look at her in the same way again. What had she done? She had ruined all her own dreams by fulfilling his desires. From the moment she succumbed to his charm, the doomsday clock began marking time on their relationship.

She turned her head. Outside, dawn was breaking. She looked back at him. In sleep, his brow was smooth
and untroubled. His finely carved features were heartbreakingly handsome. Such a man would never stay with someone like her. She could not endure the thought of never seeing him again, but what was the alternative? If she didn’t run away now, he would dump her. It was as simple as that.

As the sun crept above the distant rim of hills she agonised over what she should do. If she bolted now, she would lose everything—Stefano’s respect, any chance for another blissful coupling and all those wonderful opportunities he had promised her. Work seemed a million miles away when she was still being cradled in his arms, but she could not live without it. Her job was her reality. The rhythm and routine of it endured, although everything around her might be falling apart. Stefano’s starry list of contacts could ensure the survival of her business.

It took a long time, but Kira had plenty of experience in teasing out the good points of a bad situation. Eventually, she worked out a restless compromise. While Stefano was busy in Florence, she would make sure she was working on his Bella Terra estate. When he retreated to his country hideaway, she would turn her attention to his town house. That way, accepting his offer of a contract would give her the excuse to keep in touch while staying out of his hands.

Holding onto that thought like a lucky charm, Kira eased her way out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Stepping into the shower, she tried to blast away all her regrets. It was impossible. She couldn’t have any. Then, to compound her sin, she saw the bathroom door open. Stefano walked in.

He was naked, and joined her in the shower as though
it was the most natural thing in the world. Already shamed by her complete lack of guilt, Kira squeaked and tried to cover herself with her hands. It didn’t impress him for a second.

‘There isn’t a single centimetre of your body that I haven’t admired and kissed,
cara
,’ he said as the water coursed over him.

‘Stefano, this has got to stop,’ Kira announced, with as much force as she could against the warm, relaxing water and the tempting sight of his naked body.

‘Of course. But not for a little while.’ His voice fell as softly as the water.

Squeezing shower gel over his hands, he stroked it expertly over her shoulders and back. The warmth of him in the confined space of the shower cubicle intensified the lemony fragrance of the bubbles he caressed across her skin. Despite her determination not to weaken, Kira could not resist. She closed her eyes, and let her head fall back as he worshipped her body with hands and lips. As they stood beneath the powering torrent of hot water, she felt the urgency of his desire match hers. She moved in close to the sheltering power of his body, pressing herself eagerly against the growing ridge of his manhood. Reaching around, he cupped her bottom in his hands and lifted her off the ground. Kira instinctively twined her legs around his waist. He entered her with a guttural sigh of satisfaction that echoed her own cry of need. Water coursed over their naked bodies as they coupled with a fierce, animal urgency. Kira’s orgasm clenched him with a grip as hard as iron, and with a gasp he stopped the water and carried her out of the cubicle. Pulling all the towels from the hot rail, he made a soft nest on the marble floor and settled her down in it.

‘Now I know exactly how to please you, I can delay my own pleasure for as long as I like.’ Testosterone lowered his voice and made his smile wolf like.

Kira moaned with anticipation as his mouth dipped to nibble one nipple while the pads of his thumb and index finger rolled the other into a hard peak of anticipation. She lost count of the number of times he sent her sweeping over the edge. When she was sure her body could take no more she opened her mouth to beg him to stop, but he anticipated her cry.

‘Now it’s my turn,’ he growled.

Stefano woke her with a kiss. Kira opened her eyes and realised that at some stage they had left the bathroom and moved on, in more ways than one. Stefano was standing beside the bed. He was fully dressed and ready for work. Kira smelled hot coffee and warm pastry, and saw he was holding a tray. She struggled to sit up, the sheet slipping away from her nakedness again. His business suit was beautifully cut, but could not conceal the sudden rise of his manhood as he looked down on her appreciatively.

She looked from him to the breakfast tray. It was set for one.

‘Are you leaving, Stefano?’

He placed the tray on her lap. It was complete with fruit, cappuccino and brioche, fresh from his kitchens. Kira gazed at the beautiful display in wonder.

‘I’m afraid I must.’

‘Two weeks ago, I stopped you coming upstairs in my own home. Now I’m in your bed,’ she said faintly. Kira couldn’t believe her luck, but wasn’t sure whether it would turn out to be the bad kind of fortune, or the
good. A long shadow was lowering over the best, most exciting job prospect she had ever been offered. Any woman would be a fool to trust such a dedicated ladies’ man. She would be doubly stupid: mixing work and a man had derailed her life once already. It would take a special sort of idiot to fall into that trap a second time. Kira was determined to stay independent. And yet, to resist such an opportunity…

There wasn’t much time to decide. Stefano was already heading towards the door.

‘I must go. Multi-billion-dollar enterprises don’t run themselves, you know.’ He smiled at her. ‘Take your time to consider my contract, and let me know what you decide. If you make the sensible choice, I’ll send a car to collect you later today—I want to take you to Silver Island.’

Kira made a snap decision. ‘There’s no need. I’ve made up my mind—I’ll sign it.’

Stefano paused, one hand on the door frame. Genuine pleasure, but no real surprise, lit his eyes for a moment. ‘I am glad. We have a lot in common, Kira.’

At his reminder of what they had so spectacularly shared, nervous defiance flared in Kira again. ‘I can’t always be relied on to do exactly as anyone says, Stefano, and once I’m working for you we can’t carry on…’

He nodded, and his bright blue eyes became serious. ‘Of course. You are your own woman…apart from those moments when I make you mine. So, until later…’

He reached over and kissed her hard, driving all thoughts of rebellion from her mind and leaving her gasping. When he drew back she only just stopped herself
reaching for him again. Stefano gave her a look that made her blush. It said he knew exactly what she was feeling. A moment later, he was gone.

K
IRA
gazed after him, hardly able to believe what had happened. It was madness, she told herself over and over again. It didn’t make a shred of difference. All she could think about was the look in Stefano’s eyes as he left. His eyes had been dark and full of longing. The memory worked away at her, slowly chipping out a special place for him in her stony heart. Her ill-fated liaison with the lecturer who seduced her had never been anything like this. Hugh Taylor had lied and schemed to get her—and other women—into bed.

Stefano isn’t like that, she thought, and then told herself the only difference was his honesty. She had thought of him as Stefano the Seducer before she met him, and that may be true, but at least he was truthful about it. He was quite happy to be the man of her dreams, as long as she woke up afterwards. He never made any pretence at being in this for the long haul. He was out for what he could get, but on their first night together, so was she. Once he sated her desires, Kira delighted in what she could give him.

It had never been like that with Hugh. She had been so upset by the whole business she had abandoned her university course and turned away from academic life
altogether. Making love with Stefano made her think and feel in totally new ways. This wasn’t some hole-in-the-corner affair. It was an awakening, and one she could dream of experiencing with him again.

She had total recall of every single second she spent with Stefano. It was all so special. She couldn’t stop smiling. It had felt so perfect…

Suddenly a shiver ran over her skin. Her smile vanished. The spectre of her past reached out a cold bony finger and tapped her on the shoulder. She had known Stefano for only a few hours, yet her feelings had a castiron certainty about them. It made her look deep into her heart. She had never felt this way about Hugh. Never. The firework of that brief infatuation with her tutor had been hot and dangerous, but it had never reached this pitch of perfection. She ached for Stefano with a longing that scared her. He was bound to be as faithless as Hugh. How could she risk her heart and peace of mind again?

The answer was simple.

Because it is Stefano, she told herself, and this time I’m the one in control of the relationship. I won’t sacrifice the most exciting job I’ve ever been offered because I’m afraid of pain. I’ll throw my heart and soul into my projects for him. That will satisfy us both, she thought.

When the maid arrived, she found Kira still sitting where Stefano had left her. She was gazing over the rooftops of Florence, lost in thought. Her conscience might be clear, but her eyes were clouded.

Stefano leaned back in his chauffeur-driven Mercedes and breathed a long sigh of contentment. He was still relishing the details of his night of pleasure with Kira.
Soon he would be relaxing on Silver Island with the world’s most passionate woman. When they eventually returned to Italy, the Bella Terra villa would be ready for him to move in. Life did not get any better than this.

He felt his brow pleat at the thought of going back to the office. The contrast between these past carefree hours and the urban jungle could not have been more marked. A scowl was as necessary a part of his office uniform as a designer suit and a Rolex. All his working life Stefano had been perfecting that image. Now he had the kingdom to go with it. Everything should have been worthwhile, at last. Today, he had it all—or so everyone kept telling him.

The creases accentuated his dark, beautifully arched brows. Deep in thought, he braced himself for re-entry into the business world of concrete and cut-throats. That was his domain during the working day. Nothing was ever allowed to distract him from it.

Then a faint, feminine perfume drifted through his limousine. He looked around. He had no idea where the scent could be coming from, until inspiration struck. Turning up the lapel of his jacket, he sniffed it appreciatively. He had leaned so close to Kira when he kissed her awake, some of her delicious fragrance had attached itself to his clothes. It brought back all those soft, sweet memories of the night he had spent with his lady of the flowers.

For a split second his frown disappeared again, and he smiled.

Kira’s new project was the only thing that could stop her thinking about Stefano. Even that did not work for long. She was continually drawn back by the memory
of his whispers through their one unforgettable night together. As she walked along the corridors of his big old town house, she let her thoughts dawdle deliciously over him and his body.

But the moment she crossed any threshold, work took first place again. Daydreams were put on hold until she had noted down a room’s aspects and angles of light. It was only as she left that she took a moment to look back and appreciate it. The whole building, every nook and cranny, was filled with faded splendour. All the modern art and electronic offices could not hide its beauty. Every passage was full of interest. The rooms were absorbing. She really relished the chance to choose plants to soften and beautify the balconies and public areas. Most of all she wanted to see Stefano’s pleasure—in her work, and in her.

As she was dreaming along an upper corridor, her mobile began to dance.

‘Stefano!’ To her shame, she almost dropped the phone.

‘I never thought one single word could be charged with so much guilt,’ he lilted. ‘Don’t say I caught you with your hand in a cookie jar?’

‘No…no, I was busy thinking about something, that’s all,’ she muttered, her voice indistinct with embarrassment. She had been thinking about him, naked, and spreadeagled across her bed. ‘You disturbed me when I was working,’ she countered more sharply, as she managed to bring herself back to reality. There was much more truth in her words than he could ever imagine!

‘I’m glad to hear you’re taking things so seriously. Clearly, this will be a really good relationship—a really good
working
relationship,’ he corrected himself carefully.

In spite of her misgivings, Kira blossomed under the warmth of his voice and his small slip-up. It felt as though she grew several inches. Not for the first time, she found that smiling was compulsory whenever Stefano was involved. She couldn’t help herself, especially when she heard what he said next.

‘Go home and throw a few things into a suitcase. A car will be round to collect you in a couple of hours’ time, and take you to the airport,’ he announced in a voice that made her tingle with anticipation. ‘I’m taking you to see phase two of your commission to landscape my properties.’

The next few hours passed by in a blur. Kira was whisked to the airport and straight onto Stefano’s private plane. He met her at the top of the steps and kissed her hand in greeting. She hesitated, not knowing how he wanted to play this reunion. His lips still pressing against her fingers, he gazed at her. The look in his blue eyes was watchful rather than seductive.

‘Kira…’ He made her name sound so beautiful she blushed. ‘Welcome. In a few hours you’ll see an entirely new kind of paradise.’

He seemed to be waiting for her reaction, so he could fine-tune his own. Kira decided to play it cool, although the mere sight of him threatened to send her temperature off the scale. She looked around appreciatively. The jet was new and smelled of luxury. Inside, the spacious cabin was an extension of his elegant furnished suite in Florence. It was thickly carpeted, and softly upholstered with linens and silks.

‘Paradise? I think I’ve already arrived,’ she breathed, wide-eyed.

Their trip to Silver Island was smooth and fast. Anything Kira could possibly want was to hand. There was a selection of magazines, several shelves of contemporary and classic novels, but she took her lead from Stefano. After his watchful greeting, he turned to his work. Surrounded by papers, he was riveted to his computer screen. Kira was almost relieved. She had packed her laptop case with plenty of work, and cautiously picked a workstation on the other side of the aeroplane. It kept her within reach, while maintaining the privacy she usually guarded so fiercely.

Unfortunately, it no longer felt quite so natural to keep her distance from him. Many times during the flight she felt her eyes drawn across the cabin to where he sat. To glance at him openly was to run the risk he might start a conversation. Kira had no idea what she could to say to him, outside the subjects of bed and the plans for his properties. She wasn’t sure words would come easily on those subjects, either. With relief, she fell back on her plans for the Florence town house and its roof garden. Soon she was lost in her imagination, but it was still impossible to forget Stefano’s presence. Every few moments a strange feeling crept over her, as though she was being bathed in a warm glow. The first few times it happened, she glanced up at him. He was always hard at work. With a shrug, she would turn back to her work, puzzled. It was odd. She could practically feel his eyes on her, but each time she checked he was gazing impassively at his paperwork.

Finally, the pilot announced that Silver Island was coming into view over the starboard wing. Kira instantly looked out of the window. A scatter of green islands
rose softly from a sea that was almost as tranquil as Stefano’s eyes.

‘Oh, I’ve never seen anything so lovely!’ she gasped.

‘I have,’ Stefano said quietly.

Kira looked over her shoulder, ready to make room for him if he joined her for a view from the window. He never moved. Instead, he sat back in his seat, watching her with a steady gaze.

‘And if you think that is beautiful,’ he murmured, ‘wait until you are framed by orchids, set against a tropical moon and a sky scattered with stars.’

They flew in to a private airstrip. Unlike the sun trap of the Bella Terra estate, this land was cooled by sea breezes. The atmosphere was as clear as crystal. As she stepped down from the plane Kira stretched her arms up to the sun and revelled in the sharp salty tang in the air.

‘This is wonderful,’ she breathed, but the dream was just beginning. A car swept up to take them to a nearby quay. There, brightly painted fishing boats bobbed alongside the sun-warmed boardwalk, but Stefano led her towards a very different craft. Handing her down into a sleek black-and-gold speedboat, he took the controls and headed out towards a blue-green cloud low on the horizon.

‘This is where I thought to make my base, until I discovered the Bella Terra estate,’ he told her as the speedboat skipped across the clear blue sea like a flying fish. Kira watched indistinct shapes in the distance become a necklace of islands set in the warm, shallow sea. High, forested mountains rose up from shallow shelving
beaches of flawless white sand. As they ran into the shallows, she saw the tension ease from Stefano’s face once more. Boys playing football on the beach raced to greet them. As Stefano handed over the mooring rope, Kira was seized by a mad impulse. By the time he moved to help her from the boat she had slipped off her sandals and jumped barefoot into the water.

‘Careful, the surf runs fast here!’ Stefano called, but his warning was too late.

Dizzy with travel and excitement, Kira was pulled in two directions at once. Her feet went from under her and she promptly sat down in two feet of surging water. Stefano reached down and hauled her up. She surfaced, spluttering, to roars of laughter from the beach footballers.

‘Are you all right?’ Stefano’s concern was obvious, but Kira was laughing as hard as anyone.

‘It’s wonderful!’ She giggled, pushing her drenched hair back from her face. Her skirt was sodden, and wrapped itself in clinging folds around her slender legs.

‘Take a seat and catch your breath.’ He took her towards the treeline, where coconut palms draped cool shadows out over the sand. Kira sat down thankfully on a perfectly placed trunk. Instantly, a waiter appeared at her side. He was holding a tray with two tall glasses of passion-fruit cocktail, clinking with ice.

‘This is heaven!’ she gasped. Stefano laughed.

‘Not yet, but it will be. I’ve gathered a world-class team to create an island paradise, and you’re here to see how it can be made still more stunning.’

Kira took a long, slow sip of her drink. ‘It’ll be a challenge—’ she smiled mischievously ‘—but I’m sure I’ll think of something.’

‘There’s no hurry,’ he said softly. ‘No hurry at all. It’s been a long flight. Shall I show you where you can freshen up?’

Kira bit her lip. She had spent the night with Stefano. There could be no secrets between them now, but that was what made her afraid. He was about to lead her to his suite. She wasn’t ready for that and knew she should refuse, yet at the same it was everything she wanted. Stefano barely seemed to notice.

‘I’ve had one of the guest suites made ready for you,’ he said, taking her hand and leading her across the white, warm sand. Her sigh was a strange mixture of relief and disappointment, and he looked back with a laugh.

‘Did you think I’d forget what you told me? You said there would be no repeat of our passionate night once you had signed my contract. I don’t intend to blur the line between employer and employee.’

‘Thank goodness for that,’ Kira said determinedly, but with a heart that had suddenly plummeted.
Fool!
she berated herself.
Don’t mistake his flirtation for serious intentions. It’s good that he wants to keep this businesslike.
Tell herself what she would, however, the idea that she might never go to bed with Stefano again made her feel as though she’d lost something utterly precious. Caught up in her thoughts, she nearly missed his next words.

‘Although I like to keep my staff happy,’ he went on, and suddenly his eyes lit up with a dangerous spark. ‘So I always make a special effort for new arrivals. That’s why I’m inviting you to dinner at my apartment this evening.’

He moved closer. Kira felt it with every heartbeat. If
he was trying to test her, she was equal to it. ‘Like you, I always mean what I say, Stefano.’

His eyes twinkled in the dancing sunlight. ‘Fine. I wanted to see if you had changed your mind, that’s all.’

With a wolfish smile he lifted her chin with his hand. She had been remembering his touch all day, but her memory was nowhere near as powerful as the real thing. His skin glided over hers like a kiss of fire, drawing a gasp from her lips.