Untouched Until Marriage (13 page)

‘You? Scared?' Libby shook her head wonderingly, hope and a tremulous joy unfurling inside her when he lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips against her knuckles. ‘Oh, yes,
cara
. Scared stiff—because I knew that the only reason you had married me was to give Gino a father.'

Was this what sky divers felt as they were about to launch themselves out of a plane? Fear, excitement, and above all a desperate hope? Was she imagining the love blazing in Raul's eyes?

‘Gino wasn't the only reason,' she admitted huskily. ‘I love you, Raul. I can't remember a time when I didn't. Everything before I met you seems distant and colourless. I missed Mum so much…' she swallowed hard ‘…but you made me feel alive again—even when you made me angry, and especially when you made love to me.' Her voice cracked and the tears she had been trying so hard to hold back slipped down her face. ‘I never thought I could be this happy.'

‘
Tesoro
. Don't cry.
Ti amo
.'

The words were wrenched from his soul. Love—something he had never expected to feel for any woman until Libby had turned his world upside down. He drew her against him, his whole body shaking as he claimed her mouth almost tentatively; a tidal wave of emotion stormed through him when he felt her sweet response.

‘You stole my heart,
cara
.' The words were muffled against her throat as he kissed her feverishly—her hair, her brow, the tip of her nose—and tasted the salt of her tears when he pressed his lips to her eyelids. ‘Will you stay with me, my golden girl, the love of my life, my wife?'

‘Just try to send me away,' Libby said softly. ‘Oh, Raul, I love you so much.'

‘And I love
you
—madly, my crazy little firecracker. You owe me a new suit, by the way,' he said, grinning when she blushed scarlet.

‘I'm sorry,' she mumbled, thinking of his paint-spattered suit. ‘I don't know what came over me.'

‘I love your unpredictability, and your fiery temper, and your generous heart,
cara mia
. You and Gino are my world, and I could not ask for anything more than for the three of us to be a family.'

Her beautiful smile stole his breath. ‘There's a chance that three will be four before too long. I don't know definitely yet, but I'm two weeks late,' she admitted softly.

‘Cara…'
Raul's throat worked convulsively as emotion overwhelmed him. For a moment he could not speak to tell her how much she meant to him, but when he claimed her mouth in a tender kiss he discovered that there was no need for words…

T
HE
private art gallery was packed, the rooms buzzing with conversation as people crowded in front of the bold, brilliantly coloured paintings on display.

‘Elizabeth Carducci is certainly a gifted artist,' an art critic from a national newspaper commented to the tall, handsome man who was standing at the back of the room. ‘This exhibition is one of the most exciting I've ever attended. And of course the Galleria Farnese is one of the most prestigious contemporary galleries in Rome. There are several top collectors here`, and I've no doubt that Signora Carducci's work will soon be attracting international acclaim.'

‘I am sure you are right,' the tall man murmured. ‘And it is acclaim that is well deserved.'

The art critic glanced around the gallery. ‘I've never met Signora Carducci, but I've heard that she is exceptionally beautiful. Can you point her out to me?'

‘My wife is over there,' Raul replied, in a tone that caused the art critic to give him a nervous smile. ‘In the green-and-orange dress,' he added dryly. ‘As you can see, she is indeed beautiful.'

‘What did you say to Carlo Vitenze that made him shoot off like a frightened rabbit?' Libby asked her husband when he strolled over to join her. ‘He's a respected critic. I hope you haven't upset him.'

‘I merely let him know that your husband is very possessive,' Raul said lightly. ‘He seemed to get the message.' He dropped a kiss on his wife's soft mouth, his eyes gleaming when she immediately parted her lips. ‘It doesn't surprise me that every man in this room cannot take his eyes off you. I can see I am going to have to lock you away in the highest tower of the Villa Giulietta.'

Libby gave him an impish smile. ‘I already have two very special men in my life—and they are so incredibly handsome why would I be interested in anyone else? Careful, Gino,' she said gently as the energetic toddler rushed up to her. ‘Mind the pram; your sister is asleep.'

‘See Lissa,' Gino demanded.

Raul lifted him up so that he could look into the pram where three-month-old Elisabetta Rose was sleeping peacefully. ‘There she is. You can give her a kiss when she wakes up,' he told the little boy.

His eyes met Libby's and his heart turned over when he saw the love that blazed in those blue-green depths. A love for him and their children which he returned a thousandfold.

‘There are two very special ladies in my life—and they are so beautiful that they have captured my heart for all eternity,' he said softly. ‘I love you, Libby.'

Three simple words that meant everything to her, Libby thought, blinking back the tears that filled her eyes.

Raul frowned in concern. ‘Why are you crying,
cara
? The exhibition is wonderful.'

‘Everything is wonderful,' she reassured him, wrapping her arms around his waist and smiling mistily up at him. ‘I'm crying because I am the happiest woman in the world. You make me happy, Raul, you and Gino and Lissa, and I love you with all my heart.'