Italian Mavericks: New Year Temptation

‘No one will ever know,’ he answered sadly. ‘It’s hard to accept that I’ve missed the first three years of my daughter’s life—it’s something I shall never forgive you for,’ he finished harshly as he tossed the last of his drink down his throat. ‘Ever!’

Megan finished her drink also and put her glass firmly down on the table. ‘I don’t want to talk about this. It’s late, I’m going to bed.’

As she stood, he too got up, and before she could stop him his arms came around her. ‘But you’re still my wife, the mother of my daughter, and I’d like a goodnight kiss.’

Megan struggled furiously but he refused to let her go. Instead his mouth came down on hers, one hand behind her head effectively cutting off her escape, the other against the small of her back. It was a long, punishing kiss and it sent resentment reeling through every inch of her body.

There was no escape. The kiss deepened, his arms tightened, and all too soon she felt herself beginning to respond. It was like a replay of when she had met him. She could remember the day very clearly. This handsome, dark-haired, Latin-looking young man had stopped to pick up a bag she’d dropped. Ironically, it had been a few weeks before Christmas and her arms had been full of purchases. When she’d looked into his eyes to thank him she’d been so taken with his good looks that she’d dropped another of her parcels.

‘I think,’ he said, with a smile that turned her legs to jelly, ‘that I’d better help you to your car, or the bus, or wherever you’re going. Home, in fact. You’ve got an extraordinary amount of packages.’

‘Christmas presents,’ she admitted shyly. ‘And I’m catching the bus.’

‘I think not,’ he said with a laugh, ‘not unless you want to lose the lot as you’re jumping on or off. I’ll run you home; my car’s just around the corner.’

‘But I don’t know you. I—’

‘I assure you you’ll be perfectly safe. My name’s Luigi Costanzo, I live in Mickleover, near Derby.’ He flashed his business card in front of her and then tucked it into one of her bags. And Megan knew instinctively that she could trust him. He had an open, honest face, and he had almost to pass her house to get to his own. It would be silly to refuse.

But still she hesitated.

‘I know how you must feel,’ he said. ‘A complete stranger and all that. The offer’s there if you want it, but I’ll still walk you to the bus stop if that’s what you’d prefer.’

Megan was eighteen and he was much older than the boys she usually hung around with. Mid twenties, she imagined, maybe even older than that. She was enchanted by him. And she found herself agreeing to let him give her a lift.

His car was smart, black and sleek. Whatever his business he was clearly doing well for himself. And he drove her straight to her door, even helping her with her parcels. Her parents’ eyes goggled when they saw her with a strange, handsome man, but they were clearly impressed.

Before he left, Luigi asked whether he could see her again. Megan couldn’t refuse. By this time she was completely bowled over. Her insides felt as though they had turned to mush—as they were doing at this moment!

His kiss was awakening all she’d ever felt, and Megan resented it, struggling even more furiously to free herself, until in the end he let her go. There was a twisted smile on his lips. ‘Something tells me that old emotions were stirred there. You’re not as immune to me as you’d have me believe.’

‘Wishful thinking,’ she retorted, her lovely grey eyes glaring icily.

‘Mmm, we’ll see.’

Megan felt a tightening in her stomach. She didn’t like the way he said that. He was going to try again, she knew, and it was the last thing she wanted. Damn! How could she respond to him after all this time? She didn’t want to be involved with him again, not ever. He wasn’t good for Charlotte. A workaholic father was good for no child. She needed two full-time parents.

‘Goodnight!’ she tossed stormily and marched out.

She felt Luigi’s eyes on her but he didn’t call her back, and she ran up the stairs as quickly as she could. It seemed to take an age to reach her room, but finally she found it, and closing the door quietly behind her, she stood a moment reflecting on her reaction to his kiss.

It had shocked her beyond measure. She’d thought herself over him. For her feelings to rise so quickly after all these years was scary to say the least.

Perhaps, she tried to convince herself, it wasn’t desire—she refused to use the word love, that had flown out of the window a long time ago—it was pure animal passion. After all, she hadn’t been with any other man since Luigi; it was natural she would feel something if he—or any man for that matter—kissed her. She was a young, passionate woman with all the feelings that went with it.

Slowly now she walked across the room to check on Charlotte. Her daughter was fast asleep, a faint smile on her lips as though she was dreaming of something nice. Christmas, probably. Or her father. Megan grimaced. Hopefully not! She didn’t want Charlotte getting too attached to him because she had no intention of staying, despite Luigi’s threats.

Threats! Was that what he was doing, threatening her? It didn’t sound nice, and basically Luigi was a nice guy. She’d found that out on the day they met. He had been polite and considerate to her parents and they had immediately taken to him, and in the ensuing days a romance had begun that ended in them getting married six months later. In fact her parents had pushed her into it, declaring she would never find anyone else as good.

She had been the envy of all her friends. Nothing had prepared her for the fact that he put work before everything else. At first she’d been proud of how well he was doing. Before he met her he had written a software program that had taken the computer world by storm, and he had become increasingly busy working on further projects. Sometimes she felt that he thought more of his work than he did her. But then he would come home and their lovemaking reached heights unimaginable. He was every woman’s dream in bed, making up a hundredfold for all the time they spent apart.

At least that was what she’d thought in the beginning, but as the months and years had rolled by and he’d never showed her any real affection, she had begun to suspect that their acts of love were merely to satisfy his own basic needs, either that or to ease his conscience because he was bedding Serena. The only time he’d ever declared that he loved her was when he asked her to marry him; even then he hadn’t sounded comfortable saying it.

She had become increasingly dissatisfied but if she complained about the way he was never at home he would say that he was doing it all for her, making her feel that she was being selfish. It wasn’t until she had found herself pregnant that Megan had known she couldn’t bring up her child in a household where there was no love or trust.

Bending over her daughter, she smoothed her soft blonde hair back from her face and kissed her. Charlotte stirred but didn’t wake. ‘Goodnight, my sweet child,’ she whispered. ‘Happy dreams always.’ And that would only happen if they kept well away from Luigi. Megan wanted Charlotte to grow up in an openly loving family. She was always telling her daughter how much she loved her; Luigi would never do that.

Admittedly, Charlotte was excited now, but it wouldn’t last. She would soon find out that her father wasn’t the sort of parent she expected and wanted. Not in a million years could Megan imagine Luigi picking up his daughter and swinging her around and telling her how much he loved her. It simply wasn’t in him.

It could be that she was doing him an injustice, because after all he’d never been shown any love as a child. But she’d shown him love, so why hadn’t he returned it? It wasn’t hard to let your feelings flood to the surface. At least she didn’t find it so. Luigi obviously did. He kept them all tied up in a knot that he didn’t know how to undo. He didn’t even try. And she had a sneaky feeling that he might try to buy himself into Charlotte’s affections.

Her fears proved true when they went downstairs on Christmas morning and she saw a huge pile of presents almost dwarfing the tree. There was every size and shape imaginable and she was furious with Luigi. He stood there waiting for them, looking extremely pleased with himself.

Naturally Charlotte didn’t even look at the stocking Megan had so carefully filled, she ran straight across to the tree. ‘Are these all for me, Daddy? Has Santa brought me all these?’ Her blue eyes were wide with wonder and excitement.

‘Your ones from Santa are over here, sweetheart,’ said Megan, taking her hand and drawing her across the room. ‘He couldn’t carry all those in his sleigh, could he?’

‘So where did they come from?’

‘From me,’ said Luigi, a broad smile on his face. ‘Some for you and some for your mother.’

Megan frowned her displeasure. What the hell was he trying to prove?

‘But I think your mother wants you to open Santa’s presents first.’

He had no idea, thought Megan. Every child in the country this morning was opening their gifts from Santa Claus. Didn’t he know that? Not because their mothers wanted it; because it was tradition.

Megan dropped down to her knees and watched as Charlotte tore at the wrappings, her tiny hands trembling. ‘Oh, look, Mummy, look,’ she kept exclaiming.

‘What have you got?’ asked Luigi, moving to stand beside her, but not getting down to his daughter’s level as Megan had done.

‘A new dolly, Daddy, and some clothes for her, and—’

But Megan gained the impression that he wasn’t really interested. He wanted Charlotte to open the gifts from him; he wanted to see her pleasure and receive her thanks. He wanted to feel good.

And it wasn’t long before Charlotte ran across to the tree. And this time Luigi squatted beside her, enjoying the pleasure on her face as she opened her presents. ‘Thank you, Daddy,’ she said time and time again, hugging him spontaneously, her shyness forgotten for the moment.

He looked uncomfortable at receiving so much affection, thought Megan, and then wondered whether she was being mean. This was Christmas, after all. A time for giving. She oughtn’t to criticise.

She was annoyed, though, at the number of presents he’d bought Charlotte. She was a well-adjusted child, aware that there were some things she wanted but couldn’t have, so how dare he undermine her values like this?

Then it was her turn. A whole heap of parcels were for her, and when she begrudgingly opened them, trying her hardest to show pleasure when in truth she felt like throwing them back in his face, she couldn’t believe how much he’d spent on her. It looked as though he’d bought up the whole ladies’ department at Gerards. Jewellery, underwear, handbags, evening dresses, day dresses, nightdresses, and amazingly all in her size. And the whole of the toy department for Charlotte!

‘I haven’t bought you anything,’ she announced, rather more tartly than she should have done.

‘That’s all right,’ he said pleasantly. ‘The fact that you’re here is good enough for me.’ He gave her a meaningful look over Charlotte’s head.

Megan was less than impressed and as soon as she could have a private word with him she went in with all guns blazing. ‘You had no right buying Charlotte all those things,’ she flared. ‘Nor me, as a matter of fact. Have you any idea what you’re doing to a young, impressionable child? Are you trying to buy her love, for heaven’s sake? You do know she’ll come to expect this all the time?’

‘So?’ he enquired, both hands spread wide, palms facing upwards, a big grin on his face.

‘It’s not good for her.’

‘I have a lot to make up.’

‘Nonsense. One gift would have done; she’d have been happy.’

‘But I can afford it.’

‘I don’t care. It’s wrong, Luigi. Very wrong! And, let me tell you this, when we leave here she’s not taking everything. You’ve gone over the top and I’m angrier than you can possibly imagine.’

‘And beautiful with it. Do you know I never saw you really angry when we were living together. I never saw your eyes flash so dramatically, or your skin colour so beautifully.’ His voice lowered conspiratorially. ‘It makes me want to take you to bed.’

‘Something that is never likely to happen,’ she spat.

‘Wouldn’t you like a little sister or brother for Charlotte?’ he asked gruffly.

‘Not by you,’ she charged.

His face flushed a dull, ugly red. ‘And not by that swine you’re living with either. Tell him to keep his hands off. You belong to me.’

‘Since you never came looking for me I don’t see how you can make that claim,’ she retorted. ‘It proves you weren’t interested. I’m even more sure now that it’s time to start divorce proceedings.’

CHAPTER FOUR

‘NOT on your life,’ rasped Luigi. She hadn’t a cat in hell’s chance of him giving her a divorce.

Megan flashed her magnificent eyes. ‘You’re nothing more than a materialistic, selfish, uncaring brute. You haven’t a loving bone in your body and I want rid of you.’

‘Well, think again, sweet wife of mine,’ he answered grimly. ‘Neither of us is going anywhere. Your place is with me.’

‘And wasn’t your place with me for the three years I spent with you?’ she tossed back scornfully.

For goodness’ sake! Why couldn’t Megan understand that he had done it solely for her benefit? And he wanted her back—now. He wanted Charlotte because she was his daughter, but he wanted his wife because he needed her in bed beside him each night.

How he had missed making love to her. No one else had managed to arouse him as deeply as Megan. Right from the day he’d met her he had desired her, in fact they had constantly devoured each other with their passion. He’d been destroyed when she walked out.

Never for one moment had he thought that it was because of the hours he spent working. He’d provided for her every need, she’d wanted for nothing, and they’d made love with amazing frequency no matter how tired he felt, so had that really been the reason? Or was she making excuses?

Had she fallen for someone else? That guy she was now living with, for instance. Only one thing pleased him about that relationship; Charlotte didn’t call him Daddy. Otherwise she wouldn’t have wished for a daddy for Christmas.

And what did her boyfriend think about Megan coming here for the holiday period? Was he angry or understanding? He had to be the reason Megan wanted to keep her visit as short as possible. Maybe he ought to talk to him. Tell him he was wasting his time, that Megan belonged to him and he was taking her back.

‘Things are different,’ he told her now, trying to keep his voice low. ‘I don’t need to work so hard. I have people who do it for me. Believe me, Megan, you can come up with all the excuses in the world but none of them hold any water.’

‘How do I know you’re not saying this simply to get me to change my mind?’ she demanded fiercely.

Lord, how beautiful she looked on this Christmas morning in her button-through red dress, which fitted her narrow waist and flared elegantly over her hips and thighs. She had gorgeous legs, long and slender, and he couldn’t help remembering the times she had wrapped them around him as they made love. He could even imagine the feel of her against him now and he made a half move towards her, his heart hammering against his ribcage.

But the glare in her lovely eyes stopped him. ‘We shouldn’t be having this conversation,’ he said. ‘I want this day to be as perfect for you and Charlotte as possible.’

‘Some hope of that,’ she hissed beneath her breath but he ignored it and turned to his daughter instead, who was skipping from one present to another, unsure of which to play with first. It filled his heart with joy and pride to watch her, and he knew in that moment that he was never going to let her go. He would fight Megan tooth and nail if necessary.

All of a sudden Megan glanced through the window. ‘Charlotte, look,’ she said urgently, ‘it’s snowing.’

They all three went to watch as big white flakes settled on the lawn and then melted again just as quickly.

‘Can we go outside?’ asked Charlotte excitedly.

‘Of course, sweetheart,’ answered Megan, thankful for the distraction. But Luigi came too and he and Charlotte tried to catch the falling flakes. He was a little awkward at first, playing with her, but after a while he began to relax and ran around the garden while she chased him.

But all too soon the snow stopped, there was not even enough to cover the ground, and they all trooped back indoors. By this time they were thoroughly late for breakfast and Cook tutted as she served their meal. ‘I bet it’s ruined,’ she complained.

‘It’s not your fault, Edwina,’ said Luigi, trying to placate her. ‘We didn’t want to miss the snow, did we, Charlotte?’

Charlotte, suddenly shy again, shook her head, staring with wide blue eyes at the plump motherly woman who was standing arms akimbo watching to see whether their bacon and eggs were edible.

Megan took a mouthful and smiled. ‘It’s perfect. Thank you very much, and I’m sorry we held you up.’

The woman suddenly beamed. ‘That’s all right, lass, it is Christmas after all.’

The whole day passed in a whirl of talking and eating and playing and Megan began to feel that it might not be so bad after all living with Luigi. He was undoubtedly making an effort. The question was, would it last?

It was not until Charlotte was in bed that Megan and Luigi were finally alone.

‘Have you enjoyed your day?’ she asked as she curled up on a chair in Luigi’s den. ‘Has Charlotte worn you out? Did you find it easy coping?’

‘If you’re asking whether I’ve changed my mind the answer’s no,’ he retorted sharply, his eyes narrowed on her face. ‘I’m even more determined now. This is the ideal place for a child. She’s had the time of her life, surely even you can see that?’

‘She enjoys herself every day,’ flashed Megan, not having expected such a sharp rejoinder. ‘A palace or a cottage, it makes no difference. What wouldn’t be good for Charlotte is you spoiling her. You’ve bought her far too many toys, and as for the computer, how old do you think she is, for goodness’ sake?’

Luigi shrugged. ‘I simply instructed my toy department to pack up whatever they thought suitable for a nearly four-year-old.’

‘You did what?’ exclaimed Megan disgustedly. ‘You didn’t even choose one thing yourself? How appalling is that? Did you issue the same instructions for my presents? Damn you, Luigi! You can take the whole lot back after the holiday. I don’t need them and I don’t want them.’

A muscle jerked in his jaw, telling her that she had hit a raw nerve, but she didn’t care; it was true. What sort of a cop out was that?

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he snorted. ‘You’re overreacting. How the hell am I supposed to know what a young child likes?’

‘You could have made it your business to find out. Or would that have been too much trouble?’ she demanded coldly. ‘It seems to me that you’ve grown too big for your boots. It’s easier to pay someone else to do your chores. I don’t think I want to hear any more of this. I’m going to my room. I should have known that Christmas would turn out to be a disaster.’

But she hadn’t even reached the door before Luigi was on his feet barring her exit. And when she tried to push her way past him he enclosed her in his strong arms. ‘I refuse to spend the evening alone,’ he told her tersely. ‘You’re not walking out on me.’ And before she could even begin to struggle, before she could even guess his intentions, his mouth possessed hers.

It was Megan’s undoing. It sent a whole storm of sensations spiralling through her and although she knew that she ought to push him away she did nothing, she actually revelled in the feelings he created. He always had been a fantastic lover and it took her no more than a few seconds to realise what she’d been missing. Lord, if this kept up she would be begging him to make love to her. What sort of a Christmas present would that be?

And, excitingly, it did keep up. She hadn’t the willpower to stop him. Every vein and artery went on to red alert, responding and leaping out of control. She kept telling herself to fight him, to put an end to this joy, but how could she? Her body was starved. She hadn’t realised it until this moment but it was now telling her that it wasn’t natural to go so long without the attention of a man.

That the man should prove to be Luigi was ironic to say the least, but better the devil you know came the immediate thought, and Megan returned his kiss, parting her lips to allow him entry, moving her body against his, feeling the source of his own passion. He groaned deep within his throat and took advantage of the fact that she wasn’t rejecting him.

Just this one kiss, decided Megan, then she would carry on up to her room. Easier said than done. That one kiss lasted for an infinite period of time. That one kiss turned into a full-scale sex alert.

‘You’re still the sexiest woman in the universe,’ Luigi said in a hoarse passion-filled voice. ‘I must have been crazy to let you go.’

Not half as crazy as she felt at this moment, decided Megan, her hands on the back of Luigi’s head, her fingertips digging in, unconsciously revealing the fact that she didn’t want this moment to stop.

Luigi’s hands slid down to her bottom and pulled her firmly against him, his deep groans revealing the desire that raged in his tautly honed body. When she didn’t object he swung her up into his arms and carried her over to the soft leather sofa.

Megan lay there and looked at him, her breathing unsteady, her grey eyes luminous and filled with a sexual hunger that she hadn’t felt in years. Ought she to put a stop to it, or let nature and their animal hunger take its course? Would she live to regret it, or would she view this occasion as a fitting end to their tragic marriage? Maybe she could even use it as a form of revenge? Let Luigi see exactly what he was missing. Allow him this one last chance to make love to her and then leave him high and dry. She smiled at the thought.

‘What’s funny?’ he asked as he sat on the edge of the sofa and stroked a gentle finger over her lips.

‘Private thoughts; nothing you’d understand.’ Or appreciate, she added silently, nibbling the end of his finger.

He drew in a swift breath. ‘How I’ve missed you,’ he murmured, his eyes darkening, his hand sliding possessively over her breast.

It hardened beneath his touch, her nipple leaping into ecstatic response, and Megan closed her eyes, her mind suddenly confused. This was a dangerous game. She ought to get out now while she still had the strength. But already it was too late. Luigi had popped the buttons on her dress and with a speed perhaps born of desperation he sucked first one and then the other nipple into his mouth right through the thin fabric of her bra.

Megan was lost. She had always loved him doing this to her. It created the most exquisite feelings, making her arch towards him, giving freely, wanting everything that he had to offer.

The sane part of her mind told her that she was making a mistake when he moved her from the sofa to the softly carpeted floor, when he stripped off his clothes with indecent haste and then began to undress her somewhat more leisurely. At least that was his intention but Megan couldn’t wait. She tore off her dress, swiftly followed by her undies, and they fell on each other with a hunger created by the years they’d spent apart.

Luigi had always been a brilliant lover, she couldn’t deny that, and nothing had changed. Although he was desperate he was still solicitous of her needs, making sure that she had no last minute regrets.

How could she when her body raged with desire so deep that it almost hurt? Their bodies moved together in a rhythm as ancient as time and he allowed her to reach her climax first, to revel in wave after wave of exquisite sensation, before he too gave up the fight and wrestled with his own delirious torture.