Scandals Of The Royals: Princess From the Shadows. Carol Marinelli

      “He’s completely exhausted,” Carlotta said, closing the door to the bedroom she’d installed Luca in. He had been placed, strategically, on the opposite end of the penthouse to this room, and the room Carlotta had installed herself in.

      Angelina’s room was next to Luca’s, and she was ready to take care of him during the night. He hoped that would entice Carlotta to come to his bed. And stay in it all night.

      Angelina had spent the day in Barcelona and had returned late, arms full of shopping bags, ready to stay at the penthouse with Luca, so he could take Carlotta out for the evening.

      “I’m not surprised he’s tired. I can’t even guess how much ground we covered today.”

      “We kept having to run back and see the lions,” she said, a smile curving her full lips. He hadn’t touched her all day, hadn’t thought he should with Luca there. Now he was aching with the need to pull her into his arms.

      To feel her soft, naked body against his.

      She’d made him wait two weeks after the explosive kiss in the hall to finally satisfy his desire for her. He’d never waited for a woman before. They’d been interchangeable. Carlotta was not. Carlotta felt necessary.

      And after having her once, he only needed her more.

      Rodriguez forced a laugh through his constricted throat. “Here’s hoping we don’t have a nightmare relapse as a result.”

      “I doubt it. He’ll be sleeping too soundly. I love the penthouse, by the way,” she said, indicating the glossy, wide-open space around them.

      “Thank you. I haven’t had a chance to come here in a while. But I moved to Barcelona when I was seventeen. Not here. This is new.”

      “Gorgeous,” she said, walking over to one of the large picture windows and looking out at the city below, lit up and in motion.

      “Would you like to go out?” he asked.

      “What else haven’t you done, Rodriguez?”

      He crossed from where he was standing and took her hand in his, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “I haven’t done that yet today. It’s a shame.”

      She let out a long breath. “It really is a shame. I’m glad you’ve rectified it.”

      “Me too.”

      “What else haven’t you done? No zoo. Anything else?”

      She was so sincere, so sweet. He could sense a caring behind her question that he wasn’t certain he’d ever experienced before. It made him uncomfortable. To have her caring for him. Feeling for him.

      He moved near her, touching her face, trying to shift the focus back to the physical. “What about you, Carlotta Santina? What haven’t you done?”

      Her green eyes glittered in the dim light, nothing shy or restrained in her expression. “There are quite a few things I’ve never done. I’ve never just wandered around a city. Never just done something for the pure enjoyment of it. Without a real goal beyond simply living.”