Page 170 of Forbidden Heroes

As reality returned, I realized I’d managed by some miracle to remain upright. Mateo licked my pussy tenderly, sending shuddering aftershocks through me. I didn’t know if I’d ever be the same after what Mateo had just given me. Nothing in any book I’d ever read had prepared me for an orgasm like that. I was ready to slide into a boneless pile on the elevator floor.

I stood there as limp as a ragdoll as Mateo slid my dress down over my hips and thighs, tugging it into place before standing up and helping me straighten my top, pressing a kiss to a spot on top of my breast before pulling it up so that all of my most secret places were once again covered.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Angel, but I have a late meeting that I can’t miss. How about we continue this tomorrow during my lunch hour? Meet me in the restaurant on the first floor at noon.”

I blinked, trying to clear my thoughts as his words slowly sank in. He bent and retrieved my clutch from the floor where I must have dropped it at some point during our interlude, and he tucked it under my arm before tenderly cupping my jaw in both hands.

He kissed me lightly on the lips, and when he pulled back, I ran the tip of my tongue over my bottom lip, tasting the traces of me he’d left there, the reminder of what he’d just done sending a shiver through me. He allowed his expression to soften, letting his guard down for a brief moment, and I knew he was pleased by my reaction.

Before I could make sense of what he’d said to me, he unlocked the elevator and the doors slid open and Mateo once again guided me with a hand on the small of my back, this time guiding me off the elevator.

I sent up a small thank you to the universe as the slightly chilly temperature in the hall cooled my overheated face and body. Mateo’s hand brushed my ass, giving one last pat, and before I’d taken more than two steps across the marble floor, the elevator closed with a discreet snick, hiding all traces of Mateo and what just happened between us.

I made it to the lady’s lounge before I had to sit down. Tremors of pleasure still rippled through my body and a confusing array of thoughts clouded my mind. But despite my whirling thoughts and still pulsating body, I knew there was one thing I needed to do before I gathered myself and went home or the evening.

I pulled my phone from my clutch and tapped out a message:

“Dear Mr. Scrooge, I was going to give you something in the elevator but you rushed off.”

Immediately my phone pinged with a reply. “And what might that be, Angel?”

“Another one of my firsts—my first blow job. Sleep tight. Your Winter Angel.”

Five

Mateo

What the fuck had I been thinking sending Angel away before I’d gotten off last night? I hadn’t lied to her. I did have a meeting to attend. At the time I scheduled it, I’d imagined I’d be sated and relaxed for the first time in weeks and ready to tackle the final touches on the Christmas festival and the final problems with the New Orleans property head-on.

Instead, I’d spent the evening miserable—hard, grouchy, and distracted by thoughts of a voluptuous angel coming all over my tongue.

Fuck. I had licked my lips so many times in an attempt to get one more taste of her that one of the executive assistants offered me some lip balm. The sounds of Angel’s moans played over and over again in my head, drowning out the voices of the executives who stayed late to report to me on the projects. We’d been sure we’d get things wrapped up at this meeting so it could move ahead as originally planned. My lack of attention was so extreme, I finally ended the meeting with little resolved. None of my staff seemed too pleased about the outcome and the fact they’d most likely be giving up more of their evenings until things were hammered out.

But as I stood outside the restaurant on the main floor of the Luna, my mind wasn’t on anything but the dark-haired angel who proved to be much more of a distraction to my life and my business than the amusing diversion Porter and West had intended for me when they signed me up for Jolly Nights.

As I thought of the dating app that had matched me with Angel, it occurred to me that I probably should have asked her more questions. I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d used the app before. Had she been on other dates, looking for the person to give her virginity to?

The vein at my temple throbbed and the curse that escaped my lips at the idea of her having intimate moments like the one we’d shared last night with other men had hotel guests in the lobby turning their heads toward me.

Shit. How had one petite little innocent tied me into knots? I was always conscious of providing an example of unflappable decorum for my staff to follow. But after only one hour with Angel, I was standing in the middle of my hotel, a hotel with a reputation for elegance and class, making a spectacle of myself.

I hadn’t been thinking when I asked her to meet me here. My employees didn’t need to see me engaging in my clandestine meetings with Angel over the next few weeks.

My heart gave a brief, painful twinge at the idea that this little fantasy Porter and West had managed to manipulate me into would all be over by Christmas. But I ignored any pangs. A few more weeks would be more than enough time to work Angel out of my system. Hell, by then, I’d probably be looking for a way to end things earlier than planned. I’d have Porter help me let her down easy, sending her flowers and a small token of fondness as I’d done with countless women in the past. The only reason Angel was playing such havoc with my senses was because I hadn’t had her yet. Once I got her under me, buried myself inside her and wrought every ounce of pleasure from her body, fucked us both into oblivion and back, I’d be ready to move on and get back to work. Angel would be nothing more than a pleasant memory and I’d be much more relaxed.

And I almost believed that scenario. Almost.

Right up until I caught sight of Angel striding across the hotel lobby. My mouth went dry and my pants got tighter as her gorgeous legs carried her toward the restaurant. My gaze drank her in like a man dying of thirst in the desert. From her feet in a pair of patent heels, up her bare legs to the flirty hem of the green dress she wore. This dress was far more sedate than the one she wore last night, but was possibly more alluring in its own way. It didn’t show off all of her in a single glance, but rather skimmed over her body, only hinting at the luscious curves it hid. The neckline was the only spot that gave a nod to the brash siren I’d met last night, dipping a little deeper than one would expect from the modesty of the rest of it and showing off a hint of her temptingly plump breasts.

As I raised my gaze to take in the hair that framed her pretty face with its pert nose and wide eyes, she caught sight of me, her gaze meshing with mine. Her stride faltered for a brief second and her lips parted slightly as hunger flashed across her face.

I couldn’t help the small grin that tipped up the corners of my mouth. I’d put that look there. The memory of what I’d done to her last night obviously lingered and had her picking up her pace in her hurry to get to me for some more.

I didn’t stop to examine the deep-seated feeling of satisfaction that took root inside me at the thought that I was the only man to give her that look, to ignite that craving within her. Nor did I question the quick flash of possessiveness that burst in my chest as I watched the heads of other men turn to follow her progress.

“Mr. Caldera.” An unwelcome voice brought my head snapping around, breaking the connection between Angel and myself. Displeasure snaked through me as I saw the maître d’ had stepped out of the restaurant to move toward me.

“Yes?” I snapped coldly.

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