carried her to the jade marble tub, where he ran a bath for them. Leah was in a dreamlike state, and let him guide her. Once in the warm water, leaned up against him, she began to relax.
“Are you okay, baby?” he whispered, with his lips against her temple.
She reached up and put her palm on his cheek, unable to lift her head. “I love you,” she said. Gianni stroked her arm, but didn’t reply.
Chapter 10
The vow of love unnerved Gianni, but he didn’t react visibly. Leah had confessed her feelings before, but she didn’t say it often. Somehow, the way she said it after the heated scene pierced through his defenses.
Dominating put Gianni in charge, but not necessarily in control of deep emotions. That was something a man couldn’t control. He had learned that long ago. And admonishing Leah that the emotion was to be expected when such an intense scene played out did nothing to change her mind.
He knew when Leah said she loved him that she meant it. But he had nothing in return. Except worry and concern. Gianni knew from an experience he couldn’t forget how potent the feeling of love could be. Whether real or imagined, it didn’t seem to matter.
His obsession with Leah refused to be quelled, despite the dangers. One of the greatest dangers was the deepening of her love. Gianni could feel it, yet he couldn’t turn away from pushing her to new limits. The way she responded to him was an addiction he couldn’t get enough of.
To her credit, Leah didn’t corner him. Her words had hung in the air, and Gianni hadn’t been able to think of an appropriate response. She had just snuggled closer to him in the water, satisfied that she had said it, and already knowing he wouldn’t respond in kind.
The evening flowed into something gentler. He had pushed her enough for one night. Tender and close, they had spent the late hours caressing, which lead to another orgasm. One less intense, but no less pleasurable.
The weekend was a getaway they both needed. Neither discussed love , though Gianni couldn’t push it from his mind. He was more reserved for the rest of their stay, and was sure Leah noticed. But she didn’t bring it up.
Since Leah hadn’t been to the city before, during the day Gianni took her to the major attractions: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with its remarkable collection of impressionist art. He had been before, but sharing it with her was better.
None of the restaurants they tried disappointed. And one evening they spent some time in one of the nightclubs. But Gianni most looked forward to having Leah to himself, alone in the luxurious suite. And she clearly felt the same.
By the time they drove back late Sunday, something had changed. It was subtle, but Gianni could feel it. The change wasn’t so much in Leah as in him. Although the heated sex of the weekend had affected her too.
If only he could have put a name to it, Gianni might have been able to express how he felt to Leah. But he couldn’t define it. Yet he wasn’t the same man he had been before the trip. He was closer to her, and, though he was reluctant to admit it, more attached.
Leah was quiet on the way back. She looked content, so Gianni just let her enjoy the drive and take in the scenery. Watching her, with her long brown hair flowing over her shoulders, and her voluptuous figure, he got hard.
No matter how much he had her, Gianni wanted more. He was tempted to ask her to unbutton her blouse and unclasp her bra, so he could see her bare breasts. The urge to see her naked beauty against the backdrop of the red leather seats haunted him.
But he didn’t command her to do it. Being rattled by the changes in their relationship, Gianni decided to cool it a little. He needed to think things through. He was supposed to be trying to open up to her, but he was at a loss as to exactly how to do that.
Yet she was patient. Gianni glanced over many times during the trip to drink in her