Free Dante's Contract Marriage by Day Leclaire

aren’t I? That’s considered a deadly sin for a Romano. I think I’ll blame it on exhaustion.” She took a deep breath and surprised him with a serene smile. “I’m sure this will be fine. Why don’t I check out the kitchen and fix us some coffee?”
    “I’ll get it.”
    “In that case, I’ll unpack our suitcases.” Her smile turned teasing. “Maybe that’ll give us more room to maneuver.”
    Considering the bags for their honeymoon trip had shown up in their bridal suite at the same time as their breakfast, their luggage fully packed and ready to go, he had no idea what they contained. “Let’s hope whoever packed them for us threw in some swimsuits.” And sleepwear that covered a bit more of Ariana than the nightgown she’d worn on their wedding night. Otherwise, he wouldn’t survive the first night, let alone a full week.
    While he prepared the coffee, Ariana unzipped the first suitcase. “Tons of casual wear and—hallelujah—a bathing suit.”
    After transferring the clothes from the suitcase to the dresser, she unearthed a sketch pad and pencils. He eyed it curiously as he offered her a lightly steaming mug. “Do you draw?”
    “I do, yes.” She accepted the mug and inhaled the fragrant scent of the coffee. Then she let out a low sigh of pleasure, one that wreaked havoc with his self-control. “What little talent I have, I inherited from my grandmother,” she confessed.
    He lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “Penelope?”
    “Mmm. So what would you like to do first?” Her deliberate change of subject roused his curiosity, but he let it go for the time being. “After that flight, I wouldn’t mind taking a short hike.”
    “Before jet lag hits?”
    “Actually, my internal time clock will adjust faster than yours, since I’m now back in the same time zone as Italy.”
    “With all the traveling I’ve done for Dantes, I’ve discovered that a solid workout helps most.” And maybe it would douse the tiny sparks of arousal that grew hotter and more pervasive the longer he remained cooped up in the cabin with her. “I’m up for a hike if you are. We can get a feel for the surroundings.”
    She smiled brightly. “Give me a second to change into a pair of shorts, and I’ll be ready to go.”
    He worked them hard, following a trail that wound around the lake. At one point, he glanced over at Ariana. Realizing he was setting a blistering pace, he deliberately slowed down. It took her less than a dozen steps before she clued in. Throwing him a challenging look, she dashed ahead, her teasing laughter drifting back to him. He lagged behind, allowing her to build up a decent lead before pouring on the power. The instant she heard his footsteps pounding closer, she sped up.
    She had glorious legs, long and toned and shapely. He quickly discovered just how she kept them in shape. She ran like she’d been born to do nothing else, moving with a supple grace. The ease with which she hurdled obstacles in their path would have done a gazelle proud. And as far as he was concerned, the view was spectacular. Not only did he get to admire her legs, but a gloriously rounded backside, as well.
    He waited until they reached the final curve of the lake before overtaking her. The instant the dirt path turned to sand, he swooped in and snatched her high into his arms. Her shriek echoed across the lake, sending a brace of ducks airborne. He carried her a half dozen steps before flinging himself and his delectable armful into the shallows.
    “How about a swim?” he suggested when she surfaced, sputtering.
    For an instant, she simply stared at him. Then a laugh broke free. “You are insane.”
    Ariana flipped her hair back from her face, the dark length streaming down her back like an ebony waterfall. The bright sunlight reflected off the strands, catching in ruby highlights that Lazz had never noticed before. His gaze slipped lower, and the breath stopped dead in his lungs. She wore a thin, very wet, cotton shirt.