Crash Into Me(72)

I kissed over the ridges of his stomach, loving the feel of his body against my lips. "Am I going to have to worry about you and Venetian girls on this trip, Casanova?"

"No, I promise to behave this time," he joked.

Sliding up his body, I kissed him on the lips. "I love it when you smile like that. I like to think that it's a smile you save only for me."

"You've seen pictures of me, haven't you? I don't ever smile for them."

I placed a tiny kiss on the tip of his nose. "Good. I like that."

Tristan cradled my face in his hands. "You're the only person in the world who's allowed to know that I'm nice. Everyone else thinks I'm that cold man who shows up at work and those charity things I have to attend."

"So if I told your other employees how you are with me they'd be surprised?"

"I don't usually talk to the people who work for me. I have managers and assistants for that. In fact, you're the only person who works for me that I speak to."

I wrinkled my nose at his distinctly elitist comment. "I guess little ole' me should feel blessed."

He either didn't pick up on my sarcasm or didn't care to pay attention to it. "I don't know about blessed, but you certainly can consider yourself special."

"Oh, can I?"

Sliding his hands down to cup my ass, he pulled me into him. "Yes. You are the only person I smile for and the only one I sleep with. I think those are two very good reasons to think you're special."

I wanted to say "I love you" at that moment as he smiled up at me and held me close, but I didn't. It wasn't fear of rejection now, but I didn't want to ruin things between us. He probably knew how I felt even though I hadn't said it, and in my heart, I believed he loved me. That we hadn't said it didn't mean a thing. They were just words. We told each other every day with our actions that we loved each other, and I was content with that.

"We should get some sleep. Venice waits for us tomorrow," I whispered as I rolled off him onto the bed.

In my ear, he whispered, "Good night, Nina," as he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me to him.

I brought his hand to my lips and kissed it gently. "Good night, Tristan."

I love you.



I twirled around the living room in our suite at Tristan's hotel in Venice, my eyes straining to open as wide as possible to take everything in. Nearly nine hours on the plane and even though I hadn't slept the whole time, I was keyed up and eager to see as much of Venice as I could that day.

"It's gorgeous! I can't believe I'm here in Venice and this incredible hotel is yours," I gushed. "No wonder you love this place!"

Every wall I set my gaze on was more beautiful than the last. Frescoes and reliefs adorned the walls, evidence of the expert artistic hands of Venetian craftsmen from long ago.

Tristan stopped my turning and stood behind me with his arms around my waist. "I'm glad you like it. It really is nice, isn't it?"

Turning in his hold, I looked up at him and couldn't believe how understated he was about all of the beauty around us. "Nice doesn't do it justice. It's the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I can't believe this is yours."

"Aw, shucks," he teased. "It's nothing."

"Don't get all humble on me now. This is extraordinary. I don't think I have the words to describe how extraordinary this is."

He leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Then get ready to be speechless when I show you the balcony."