The Count's Prize by Christina Hollis Read Free Book Online Page B

all her reservations.
    ‘I can’t tear myself away from the place.’ He raised both his hands in a gesture of resignation. ‘This estate, these people—they are my duty but, beyond that, this countryside is part of me. Although I couldn’t expect a modern woman to understand this.’
    Josie stiffened.
‘Modern?
What’s that supposed to mean? Are you making fun of me?’
    Dario turned his attention to a pile of fruit that stood between them. Selecting a perfect peach, he cupped it in one hand, feeling its mass and appreciating its weight.
    ‘The meaning I had in mind was
intellectual
,’ he said idly. ‘You’re used to using your mind instead of taking simple pleasure from your surroundings. You’ve come here from a place where learning is prized above emotion, and so that has coloured your attitude.’
    ‘I sometimes wish it hadn’t,’ she said wistfully.
    He smiled. It was a slow, seductive gesture that reached right out to her.
    ‘Good … because here at the Castello Sirena, emotions run deep; deeper even than the spring that feedsour ancient pool. It is a place made for pleasure, not for relentless work. Let me show you.’ His voice was a warm caress of desire. ‘In my world, even the simple acting of eating can be transformed into a beautiful experience.’
    Taking a silver fruit knife, he cut a neat segment from the fruit in his other hand. Reaching across their picnic, he held the slice out to her.
    Josie’s mind went to pieces completely.
    Work later, play now …
    The gentle sounds of nature receded as her head filled with clouds of cotton wool. She seemed to be looking at herself from outside. Instead of taking the piece of fruit from Dario’s fingers with her own, she watched herself lean forward to take it directly into her mouth. Through a warm mist of arousal, she heard herself gasp as the peach’s rich nectar ran down her chin.
    Dario had never expected her to do something so spontaneous. His shock and surprise seamlessly turned to raw lust, ready to overwhelm him. No one could expect a man like Count Dario di Sirena to refuse such an invitation. Swiftly and silently, he took Josie’s hands and moved in to taste her.

CHAPTER FOUR
    F OR endless moments Josie was powerless to resist Dario’s sudden onslaught. The tip of his tongue traced delicately over her skin until she willed him to pull her into his arms and make mad passionate love to her.
    … Then a sudden breeze rustling through the trees startled her out of her paralysis. Shrinking away from him, she stood up, but he followed. Josie had been so completely lost in the moment, she was still holding his hand. There was no point in trying to let go now—her body wouldn’t allow it. When he took a step forward to claim her again, she succumbed to the magic of his mouth a second time.
    Josie knew she should resist, but it was as though their kisses were always meant to be. As his arms enfolded her, she melted under their firm pressure. The touch of his fingers as they glided over her back pressed her wet T-shirt against her naked skin. When she shivered he held her closer, but she wasn’t cold. The heat of desire kept rising and building within her until she twined her arms around his neck. This was it—she was ready to be released from her long and painful sentence of self-denial. All the years of loneliness would slipaway, forgotten, in this single supreme act. She pressed her body against his, feeling the scarily exciting kick of his manhood against her belly. When that happened he drew back, and for the first time in what felt like heady hours of excitement their lips parted.
    Dario’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he snatched at steadying breaths. Josie fought the urge to lean forward and kiss him again—and for one desperate moment she saw him struggle with that same primitive need. Then he closed his eyes and his head sank until his forehead rested against hers. For one heart-stopping moment she thought he was going to