Chapter 1 Prologue

The trouble didn't start till her birthday party, when Bella had emerged like a butterfly from a cocoon, blowing him away with her grace, her grown-up beauty and her devastating sex appeal.

Sergio hadn't been back to Sydney for several months, university life-and the sophistication of Rome-having more appeal than staying in a house run by a woman he disliked intensely.

He had been startled when Bella had come up to him and demanded a birthday kiss.

"You'll have to do, Sergio," she'd said without a hint of flirtation. "A girl has to be kissed on her birthday, and you're the only male here, other than Papa. And he doesn't count."

Sergio hadn't been ready for the effect on him when she'd gone up on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his. For a split second, he'd been tempted to yank her hard against him, to part her innocent lips and plunge his tongue inside. But he'd resisted the devil's urging just in time, keeping the kiss to a platonic peck, which had obviously disappointed Bella, if her pout was anything to go by.

Well, she's not an innocent now, Sergio, he reminded himself. Time you stopped having cold showers and started having what you've always wanted.

Which was Bella herself, in his bed and at his mercy.