CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Sapphire awoke to hear rain thrumming on the roof of the glass skylight and shifted onto her side, a vague feeling of incongruity washing over her. The shushing sound of pebbles retreating back into the sea, bought her quickly to her senses as she remembered where she was. Her eyes flew open when she registered the deadweight against her shoulder, an arm thrown casually around her waist.
Marco.
The sleepy contentment she’d felt morphed to a low-level panic. Shit. She twisted around quickly, almost hoping that she was dreaming, but Marco, large as life, watched her with guarded eyes. ‘No, Cara Mia, you did not dream it and I am still here with you.’
She did a quick analysis of her body. Yup, definitely stark staring naked and in Marco’s bed. But she didn’t need proof – the memory of last night flooded back. She closed her eyes, tensing, wondering what the hell would happen next.
Marco didn’t appear to have the same misgivings as he nuzzled into her hair. ‘Mm, you smell deliciously of sleepiness and sex.’ He kissed her neck, flipping her to face him in one easy movement as if she was feather light. He breathed in. ‘Too wonderful to resist, but the fortification of coffee is calling to me.’
‘I can do coffee.’ Sapphire threw back the bed covers, grateful for the chance to escape so she could think through what she’d done – what they’d done, together.
But Marco, his arm still wrapped around her waist, hooked her back into the warmth of his body. ‘But first, I need you.’ He threw her back on the bed and covered her with his body. ‘Stay still; you don’t need to do anything. I just want to make sure you know you are mine now.’
‘I don’t think I doubted it.’ Sapphire’s breath hitched in her throat as he worked his way down her body, kissing every erogenous zone she had, until he focused on the soft place between her legs. She clutched at the bedclothes as the exquisite sensations rippling through her body mounted until she could bear it no longer. Her soft moans grew louder until she bit her lip to remain quiet as an intense orgasm slammed through her body, leaving her quivering and gasping.
Marco returned to her side and cradled her in his arms, stroking her hair as her breathing steadied. She was totally limp now, a shy grin spreading as Marco watched her with glittering eyes.
‘You really imagine you can tame me, Mr Cavarelli?’
His brows rose. ‘Yes.’ He grinned. ‘How am I doing so far?’
‘Not too bad.’ She snuggled up to him. ‘Maybe you can try again, later.’ She stretched out languorously, feeling secure in Marco’s arms and enjoying her nakedness and the intimacy she shared with him. ‘I think you might just have turned me into the wanton hussy you thought I was. We have turned full circle; if I could only wear the silk dress that I so foolishly wore the day I, err, visited your hotel.
‘Why can’t you?’
‘I cut it up.’
‘And fed it to the hyenas?’ He stroked her arm, his tone teasing.
‘You know more about me than anyone else in the world. I don’t know how you managed it, but even Fin doesn’t know about the hyena.’
‘Even Fin, eh?’ His smile faded.
She hoisted herself up on her elbow. ‘I don’t understand how you can be jealous of him. The mighty Marco who has the world at his feet, resents my best friend, who drives a first-generation Volkswagen Beetle and shares an apartment with a giant mouse that steals his food and leaves insolent mouse droppings behind.’
Marco laughed mirthlessly. ‘I’m not sure if jealous is the right word. I just don’t like the way you two are so tight.’
‘That’s called jealousy.’
‘You may be right. I’d like to sack him; he is so infuriating.’
‘He’s lovely and he’s the best friend I’ve ever had. He makes me laugh.’
Marco coughed grumpily. ‘Yes, because cutting off passengers’ ties is hilarious. He should have been sacked for that.’
‘You would have a mutiny on your hands if you tried it. That and the small but very significant fact that he is Robert Clarke’s nephew.’
Marco looked unimpressed, but changed the subject, moving on to other members of staff. ‘And what is the story with Michelle? She seems to be absent more than she is here.’
‘Yes, I really need to have a word with her. Her boyfriend lives in Spain and she cuts it too fine to catch flights home. She’s forever missing her connection.’ Sapphire settled into his chest and Marco trailed his fingers in a circular motion on her back.
‘And before I forget,’ Marco said, into her hair, ‘we need to put a lock on the catering store cupboard; someone is going in there and helping themselves.’
Sapphire tutted. ‘That’ll be Jack. He loves our biscuits – says you can’t buy them in any shop he knows. It is a small and friendly airline, Marco. We just all treat it as our own, I guess.’
‘Sounds more like Robert Clarke is running a charity than a business, if you ask me.’ Marco shook his head in disbelief as Sapphire continued to recount tales of the staff, putting an interesting spin on each person to make the stories funny. She loved all of her colleagues and hoped that Marco would begin to see them in the same vein as she did – even when, occasionally, their actions were less than admirable. She lifted her head off his chest and sighed happily. ‘You’re good at making me talk. It’s not something that comes easily to me.’
‘I have other skills too, you know.’ He arched an eyebrow and ran his hand down the length of her body.
She giggled in delight. ‘I did notice earlier.’
‘I can make a mean pancake too. Want me to show you?’
‘If it comes with tea, I’m all yours.’
‘That’s what I want to hear – though I still need coffee.’ He threw his legs over the side of the bed and slung on a shirt.
Sapphire drank in the smooth skin, the toned muscles, knowing how horrified the nuns would be by her behaviour. But King Canute hadn’t let her down last night so maybe she would put her faith in a higher being after all. She offered up a silent prayer, hoping that God might be more understanding than Sister Mary Bennett. Then she made a decision to enjoy the present, rather than trying to second-guess what the future might hold.