Page 17 of Chasing Caine
“I should warn you, Samantha. My intention is rarely to hurry anything along.” He looked at the small array of items I’d brought with me. “Is this all you have?”
Shrugging, I said, “I only planned for one night in New York.”
He pursed his perfect lips and placed his hands on his hips. “No makeup? You didn’t even bring shampoo?”
“Hotels have their own shampoos.”
He leaned closer, inhaling deeply from my neck. “That scent is just you? I assumed it was perfume.”
I placed a shaky hand on his chest. “I’m sorry about yesterday.”
His lips pressed right below my ear. “About what? Flying all the way here and giving me the best surprise of my life?”
“Falling asleep.”
“For the record…” He eased back, slowly, sweeping his nose along my jaw as he moved. “That was the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.”
“But it wasn’t… you know.”
He leaned down to meet my downcast eyes, the raised eyebrow and sure smile confirming he genuinely wasn’t upset. “We still have nine days left.”
My gaze rose to follow his as he straightened. “How long will you be here?”
He smirked and ran his hands along the sides of my head, combing them through my hair. “Until you’re clean enough to pass my inspection.”
“I meant Naples. Because of the equipment problem.”
His arms fell around me, and he pulled my body to his. “Assuming we can start within the next two weeks, it should be just after New Year’s.”
“More than four months.” My thumb stroked the lower edge of his chest, up and down over the ridge at the bottom of his pectoral.
“Be here for now, Samantha. Worry about that later.” His mouth gravitated toward mine.
Later. How many laters would there end up being? “I do want to see Pompeii, you know.”
He leaned back. “You want me toonlywash your back?”
No. I wanted him rubbing my thigh again. Kissing his way up my leg. Wanted to wrap myself in his strong arms and never move. But we had to leave if we were going to pick up clothes and make it to Pompeii with enough time. Not that we’d be able to see the whole Park; the excavated portions covered over a hundred acres and I was going with two employees. We’d have access to just about everything, even areas not open to the public.
Antonio inclined his head so he could give me a semi-grave look. “You think too much. Have I ever told you that?”
Try to enjoy the moment, Sam.My hand traveled to the back of his neck. “You told me I was too serious.”
“I’m very serious as well.”
“Hardly.” Hand around his neck, I urged his mouth toward mine.
We didn’t kiss, but his tongue flicked out to touch my lips. “I’m serious about wanting to get naked in the shower with you.”
I slid my other hand to his ass, pulling myself against him. “If we do that, we won’t leave at all today, will we?”
“Probably not.” His hardness pressed against my hip, and my resolve faded. Fortunately, he had some resolve left. “Be quick and I’ll shower after you. But you are not escaping me tonight.”
Chapter 8
Antonio
Ourfirsttwenty-fourhourshadn’t gone according to plan. Samantha fell asleep while I spoke with the police. Mario told her about the missing equipment—although he didn’t mention the pigment pots, so she kept her focus on me instead of leaping into investigator mode.