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him. Some things a son can’t help but learn from his father.
And some of the blame was hers. Losing her and finding she had
effectively escaped him with another man made him both selfish, and
distrusting.
    There was something else.
    The baby growing inside of her struck a
protective streak in him he couldn’t dismiss. Her health and the
safety of her and his bambina sleeping in the other room was
his number one priority. What should she expect from him? After
all, she was the one to convince him that he could have the life he
didn’t deserve. And now he wanted all the sweet things she
whispered in his ear, about their life and future as husband and
wife. He’d do anything to keep her to that
promise.
    At some point, she’d understand the danger and
sacrifice made when choosing to love a man like him. There would be
no turning back, shifting priorities, or others competing with him
for her affection. Never.
    Tonight, a little reassurance is all he
needed. He waited for her to speak, to submit, and her answering
silence made the muscles in his heart constrict.
    Mira lifted her hand and eased it up his chest
over his shoulder and around his neck. She drew his mouth to hers.
One kiss and the soul tie that forever bound her to him
strengthened. Her darting tongue was as seductive as her touch.
Unintentionally, he stepped forward into the shower of steamy
water, and she didn’t shy away as she sometimes did to avoid
getting her hair wet. She wrapped both arms around his neck and
deeply swept her tongue into his mouth. Every glorious curve made
her an undisputed goddess in his life, pressed up against his body,
rushing the blood in his veins to his erection. Giovanni chuckled
in her kiss. This response would do.
    He drew her back under the water and she
fought him a bit. “I can’t!” she said jerking and gasping when too
much water covered her face. She’d complained before about her hair
becoming wet, which was ridiculous to him, but the panic in her
eyes and voice was different this time. He released her.
    “ What is it?”
    She gagged and coughed. “I can’t.”
    “ What? Get your face
wet?”
    She looked up at him on the verge of
tears.
    “ Bella? Talk to me? Che si
dice ?”
    “ I can’t swim.”
    “ Swim?” he nearly laughed. If she
weren’t trembling in his arms he would have. “You’re not swimming.
We’re taking a shower. The water just covered your face. Why is
that scary?”
    “ It is okay! Dammit, just forget
it.” She made to leave but he swiftly pinned her to the shower
wall. She had to look him in the eye and finish the tale. “I nearly
drowned at four. I’ve always been terrified of being submerged
under water. It just triggered an old fear. That’s all.”
    “ How is it I don’t know this about
you?” he asked, looking deeply into her eyes. “I would never do
anything to harm you.”
    “ I know. You didn’t know. It’s
stupid and I’m asha—”
    He kissed away her apology. Then dropped his
forehead to hers. “There is still so much to learn, for us both to
learn.”
    “ And we will,” she said softly,
drawing his face up. “I’m okay. It’s a stupid phobia. I’m
fine.”
    It took several moments for his heart to stop
racing. Giovanni pressed the side of his face to hers. He waited a
breath before he relaxed and inhaled another calming deep one. His
eyes closed. The idea of her in pain panicked him beyond reason. He
shouldn’t hold on too tight. It would never serve him well to act
on his insecurities and overwhelm her with his need for
reassurance. He forced a smile, and pretended to understand. Hell,
he barely knew her history beyond what she shared of Fabiana and
her grandparents. There was definitely more to learn.
    “ Let me down sweetie,” she said
softly against his ear.
    Giovanni hadn’t realized he had her pinned so
high up on the wall. He eased up to let her down and managed a
tight-lipped smile. “You tired? You look tired,” he
said.
    “ No. I’m not