They didn’t go straight back to her hotel like she expected them to. Instead, Michael told her they were taking a little detour and had clammed up about the destination no matter how she tried to pry it out of him. He only shook his head with that little grin and told her she was going to have to wait and see.
He took her to Underground Naples, tunnels hidden beneath the city flooded with tourists. Michael had looked so proud when he saw the surprise on her face, having guessed that every time she came to Italy, she never once took any time to appreciate the sights. Which was true, though she hadn’t admitted it. Whenever Liz travelled to Italy, she was wholly focused on work. Or any other country, for that matter. The only time she’d ever considered heading to another country without work obligations involved was when she’d been given a two-weeks paid vacation to Jamaica from her boss. Work had come in the way of that as well, and Catherine and Madison ended up going instead.
Michael didn’t need her to confirm he was right. He pulled her through the tunnels, showing her everything his eyes landed on, barely giving her any chance to speak. Liz was fine with it. She didn’t have much to say, anyway.
He was making this another date. That realization didn’t hit her until he was dragging her towards a food stand, asking her what she would like to eat. Somehow, Michael had managed to weasel another date out of her without her realizing it.
And she was fine with it. That realization had her clamming up even more.
On their way back to the car, Liz stared at him, at his wide shoulders and slender hips. She wondered if he was merely toned or if there were defined muscles laying beneath his clothes.
“Did you have fun?”
Liz blinked. “Huh?”
Michael turned to her. He polished off the rest of his ice-cream cone and tossed the napkin into a nearby bin. “The tunnels,” he said, coming to her side. “Did you have fun? I hope you weren’t annoyed that I talked your ear off.”
“Yes,” she admitted to him—and to herself. “I did have fun. Thanks for bringing me.”
“It was my pleasure.” Michael beamed. The sun was already slipping past the horizon, casting shadows along the ground. Michael pulled her door out for her, that smile never leaving his face. “M’lady.”
She murmured another thank you, not wanting to look him in the face.
She watched him jog over to the other side. He slipped into the vehicle, a bit breathless.
“Where to now—”
He didn’t get to finish. Liz reached over, grabbing his face in both of her hands and pressed her lips against his. She could feel his shock right down to her core, but she didn’t pull away. She only pressed closer.
Since the moment he’d appeared at her door this morning, a sensation had been rising in her. A mounting passion that began at the base of her stomach. Now, it threatened to consume her whole body, threatened to melt her away and leave her an unsatisfied husk if she didn’t get a tiny bit of him soon.
And all day she had fought it. She had battled with that lust, pushed it aside, told herself to focus, focus, focus. Liz hated losing, but this was a fight she had no hope of winning. Because every touch, every word he uttered, every smile and joke he cracked had her torn between wanting to jump him and to double over laughing.
Now, all she could do was kiss him.
She felt the exact moment his shock wore off and the tension seeped from his shoulders. She took that as a reason to deepen the kiss, spurred on by his hand snaking around her back. Michael kissed back just as hungrily, just as passionately. Her entire body was on fire for him.
They moved as one when Michael reclined his seat, just as she crawled into his lap. She straddled him, breaking the kiss for a moment just to see him.
“Liz—”
“Shh, don’t speak,” she whispered. With the shadows dancing over his face, he was a strange combination of both radiant and rugged. The sight made her pause and stare, fingers still in his hair. Finally, she managed to say, “Don’t say anything. There’s no need.”
She didn’t want to give herself the chance to think too much about it. She kissed him again, more forcefully this time and Michael met her perfectly, tongue for tongue. He bit and pulled on her lip, rubbing his hands over her back, beneath her clothing.
Liz took his hands, moved them to the front of her body. She met his eyes, took in the naked desire there, and the sight encouraged her to keep going. She leaned over to recline the seat all the way back, using her other hand to push him downwards. Their eyes never left each other’s.
Then she was on him again, lip on his neck. Biting, sucking, licking. Nibbling at his ear, then lower when he shuddered. His hands kneaded her breasts gently, before pausing and moving to drag her hips against him. She groaned as she switched to the other side of his neck to cause havoc. She ground her body against him, against the rising lump in his jeans.
She wanted him now. She couldn’t hold it in any longer, not after she’d been trying her best all day. She wanted to have all of him inside her.
Michael wanted it just as badly. He was panting now, hands on her hips now that she had let go of him to get his zipper down. He watched her every move, and it nearly made her frantic with need.
When he sprang free, Liz almost gasped. Nothing like Hunter.
She didn’t waste any time. He helped her, though she didn’t need it, and she lowered herself on top of him. She had to go slow, letting him fill her, letting her body adjust to the size of him.
And when she was settled, Liz let herself go.
She allowed him to do whatever he wanted with his hands, and let them roam all over her body before settling on her hips again. He guided her rhythm gently, gripping her tightly as if he didn’t want to let go. The thought pleased her. She held on to the roof handle, grinding herself against him.
Up and down. Faster and faster. Never taking her eyes off him, even when his rolled back into his head. His fingers tightened on her hips, eyes closed now. She could feel him coming, almost as if they were one and the same.
When he did, she was right behind him. She screamed, throwing her head back as the orgasm ripped through her. He held her steady as her body bent backwards. And then the dregs of her released faded and the world came rushing back.
Michael’s eyes were intense. She couldn’t decipher them in the dark, and she didn’t want to. Though her legs still shook with the force of her orgasm, she pulled herself off him and back into her seat.
He didn’t say a word as he pulled the seat back up. Liz was expecting him to say something about what they’d just did, but maybe she should stop expecting things from him. Michael didn’t ever do anything the way people expected.
Just like now. He was quiet as he started the car, pulling out of his parking spot.
Liz crooked her brow at him. “Did I scare you?” she asked him. She wouldn’t be surprised if he said yes.
Michael didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Scare me? No. Surprised the hell out of me, yes, but scare? Not a chance.”
“Then why are you so silent? I shocked the speech out of you, as well?”
“We’re going to have to do that again.”
This time, both brows shot up into the air. “Excuse me?”
Finally, he looked at her. The smile was gone. The hunger in his eyes hadn’t diminished. “We’re going to do that again. Except in your hotel room this time.”
“Are you asking—”
“It wasn’t a question.”
Liz blinked at him. Michael was driving fast, so fast that when he turned a corner, it nearly had her colliding into the door. For once, she was at a loss for words.
So, she didn’t say anything and neither did he. The silence lasted for the next thirty minutes, but the tension in the air grew. Smoldered with unspoken words and untapped energy. Festering with desire. Seeing him drive… Liz’s body was still dripping wet and begging for him by the time they made it to the hotel.
But the silence dragged on, all the way to the elevator. When they stepped on, Liz felt his hand brush her side, as if he was about to pull her into the corner. She was hoping for it, but when they turned to see others coming in behind them, he moved away.
Michael didn’t look at her once during the elevator ride, and for once, Liz was battling to keep from looking at him. She didn’t like it, the silence. She didn’t like how uneasy it was making her. But she held strong. At least, until they made it to her floor.
When they stepped off the elevator and were alone in the corridor, Liz finally glanced at him. When she saw that simple yearning in his eyes, it took everything in her not to shove him against the wall, and wrap her legs around him then and there.
She made her way to her room, aware that he was only one step behind her, a shadow over her small body. Her hands shook as she fumbled for her keycard. The precious moments wasted while she slid her keycard against the lock and they both stepped inside to privacy felt like eons.
She barely got the chance to close it.
Michael was on her, kissing, groping, removing her clothes, and slamming the door shut with his foot. He picked her up off the ground as if she weighed nothing, deepening the kiss then pulling away to look into her eyes.
Liz opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off. “Don’t,” he whispered. “No speaking.”
Liz kept her mouth closed and smiled, letting him carry her to the bedroom.