He hesitated. Lifted a hand and gently touched my cheek. I fell into his deep, dark gaze and reveled in the warm tenderness of the moment, a complete contradiction to the buzz under my skin and the way my body seemed to ache for him. “I was going to say I’m willing to take a risk if you are. We’re both discreet. I don’t even know what’s between us—but I swear I’ll back off if you just say the word. I refuse to ruin your vacation by stressing you out further or distracting you from your family. Capisce?”

I half closed my eyes, then leaned into his touch. “Capisco,” I said softly.

Blistering words fell from his lips—either a curse or a prayer—and then his head lowered and he was kissing me. I fell into every magical sensation, relishing the soft, firm movement of his mouth over mine, the gentle thrust of his tongue, the delicious, savory taste and scent of him filling up my senses. His body pressed against mine, his hard muscles cradling my soft curves, and my head spun like I’d drunk a cheap bottle of whiskey and had to cling to him for stability.

And then he was stepping back, his gaze locking with mine, and he gave me a smile.

I smiled back.

“Buona notte, Francesca.”

“Buona notte.”

I watched him until he disappeared into the elevator. Then I went inside, changed into my pajamas, and climbed into bed.

I slept deeply and dreamlessly until morning.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Allegra

“So, what did you think of the statue David?” Ian asked.

We were walking back into the hotel after dinner the second night in Florence. The day had been packed, beginning with the Galleria dell’Academia, then the Uffizi Gallery. After standing in front of the towering Michelangelo sculpture and setting my sights on The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, I was a little giddy. I honestly felt like I was drunk on art and the nonstop stream of beauty around me on a daily basis. I tried not to act too nerdy, but after spouting off various facts about paintings, I realized Ian enjoyed hearing my thoughts and analysis, even asking further questions until I was comfortable enough to say anything I wanted.

Yeah, it was heady.

We’d had a few hours free before eating at a local café with the most amazing spaghetti and meatballs I’d ever tasted. The tables were small so we’d had to split up, and Ian had been in a different group. I hadn’t really seen him one-on-one since that day in Capri. I was glad he finally sought me out.

“I’ve never been so impressed with a naked guy in my whole life,” I said honestly.

He laughed. “Funny, you took the words right out of my mouth.”

I laughed with him. “What’d you have for dinner?”

“The spaghetti and meatballs.”