The Italian's Bedroom Deal Read Online Free Page B

would be leaving.
     
    The valet brought his car around and he couldn’t help as his eyes glanced over at the small cottage at the edge of the estate. She was there, sleeping in the bed covered with the chintz quilt he’d seen through the windows as he’d dropped her off. She was probably all soft and warm and most likely sexy as hell. Max cursed under his breath as his body instantly reacted to the image. It was more painful this time and he had to close his eyes and concentrate to get his body under control. He hadn’t been this impatient for a woman since he was a teenager, he realized.
     
    Maybe it was just the idea that she was off limits that was making him want her so much. Perhaps it was her sweetness that was refreshing after being amongst the bitter, mercenary and not so scrupulous business acquaintances floating around at most of the gatherings he attended. He probably just needed to get home to his village in Sicily and ground himself with his mother and sister, he thought.
     
    So why was it that he turned off the driveway leading to the street and headed toward the small carriage house instead of driving himself back into the city to his own place? He had no idea, but was startled when he caught a glimpse of his prey with the headlights. She wasn’t sleeping, he realized and ignored the jolt of sexual anticipation he felt as he turned off the powerful engine.
     
    Stepping out of his car, he could still hear the noise from the party and understood why she was out here in the cool night air instead of tucked away in her bed where she should be. Somewhere safe from his prying eyes.
     
    “What are you doing out here, piccola?” he asked as he rounded the car and walked toward her.
     
    Clarissa blinked. He was here? Max was here and walking toward her? Was it just her mind playing tricks on her once again or was this real?
     
    He certainly felt real, she thought as his large frame sat down next to her. His long, muscular arm rested against the back of the bench, part of his sleeve touching her back and she wanted desperately to lean into him and feel his warmth.
     
    “I can’t sleep during these events,” she explained, butterflies were rippling through her stomach and she felt weak, glad for the bench which hid her nervousness. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you up at the party having a good time?”
     
    He smiled and took a lock of brown hair that had been laying against her shoulder, rubbing the silky tresses between his fingers. “Because you left. It was boring after that,” he said, a charming, sexy smile forming across a mouth that usually looked hard so it shouldn’t be sexy.
     
    Her eyes widened as she stared up at his handsome face while her breath became trapped in her throat. “Oh,” was all she could say. She cleared her throat and sat up straighter, but kept her arms crossed over her chest, painfully aware that she wasn’t wearing a bra. The thin tee-shirt showed everything to his knowing eyes.
     
    “Why did you leave the party if you weren’t tired?” he asked gently.
     
    Clarissa looked down at her hands which were on her up drawn knees. “I don’t really fit into that kind of event.”
     
    “I disagree. I think you’d be perfect at any event.”
     
    Clarissa laughed softly. “You’re just being nice.”
     
    Max grimaced. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who would describe me as nice.”
     
    She was startled by that revelation, her eyes snapping back to his to gauge if he was teasing her. The look on his face told her he was completely serious. “Then they don’t know you very well.” She saw the honesty and intelligence, even in the darkness. And the man had always been excruciatingly kind to her. She bit her lip as the thought popped into her mind that she wished he wasn’t so kind. If he’d bend his rules just a little, she might be curled up against him, finally understanding what passion was about.
     
    Max could contradict her,