Page 42 of Whispers of My Skin

“Beau Brummell? Fermin will love that,” I chuckle. My friend has long since decided to embrace his quirkiness and loves dressing to stand out from the crowd.

“How do I look?” I ask. Joel turns to look at me as I walk across the room, parading like a catwalk model in one of the glamorous dresses Fermin got for me.

Joel stares for a minute, then takes a large drag of air like a fish out of water.

“You’re not seriously going out dressed like that?” he growls.

“Oh, do I look that bad?” I’m crestfallen, I thought I looked at least passable.

“Tara, you look fucking amazing,” Joel grounds out, the hungry look in his eyes confirming his words.

“So, you do like it?”

His eyes slowly scan me from top to toe.

“Yes, I like it. Very much. So much, I can barely keep my hands off you. That’s okay because you’re my woman, and I’m your husband, so it’s okay for me to see every single detail of your sexy little body in that skimpy dress,” he says, maintaining eye contact while slowly buttoning up his black shirt and tucking it in his jeans. “Problem is, every other red-blooded male will feel exactly the same way the second they clap eyes on you. Which is why I don’t want any other guy within six feet of my woman tonight. Understood? We clear on that?”

“No need to go all possessive caveman on me, Joel. It’s just a dress, and all we’re planning on doing is having a relaxing night out,” I sigh, shaking my head.

“In that case, guess I’d better bring my gun along to ward off unwanted admirers,” Joel jokes. At least I assume he’s joking…

I turn to look at myself in the mirror again. Trust Fermin to have picked a style of dress that really suits me, plus I love the gorgeous gold color. I still look pale, but the makeup has done its job.

“There’s still time to change your mind. I can think of a much better way for us to unwind which doesn’t involve going out,” Joel says, grabbing me by the waist, pressing my back to his chest. “I’m sure Fermin wouldn’t miss us if we stayed home. If you really want to dance there’s a bed right here where I can show you all my moves.”

“Joel, no,” I say seriously. “We still have so much to talk about. Things aren’t resolved between us yet, and jumping into bed won’t provide any real solutions.”

He pulls my hair to one side and gently nuzzles the soft skin behind my ear. He plants soft little kisses all along my neck, sending goosebumps over my skin. Just these small touches feel so persuasive that I’m very, very tempted to say to hell with reason. But I have to keep my lustful hormones under control.

“I disagree,” Joel murmurs. “We can resolve every single issue you care to name right there in that bed. Start off with some sweet love making, follow that up with some serious talking, tucked up together, just the two of us. No interruptions, no one else around, just the two of us telling each other how we see this marriage working. Sound good?”

More than he knows, but I can’t risk opening up to him about everything, not yet, so I force myself to push him away.

“Sure it does, but I promised Fermin we’d go clubbing, and he’s not going to take no for an answer. Please, let’s just go out with him for a while tonight, and in return I promise no cold water therapy in the morning.”

Joel sighs.

“Well, babe, if that’s truly the best you can offer, guess we’re going out.”

It’s around eleven at night and we’re entering the busiest club in the city. Naturally Fermin knows someone and gets us in straight away, despite the long line outside.

Miraculously, we find a table in a corner and settle in. Almost immediately Fermin disappears, leaving Joel and I alone.

“You want to dance?” Joel leans down to whisper in my ear, his breath sending tingles down my spine. I nod breathlessly.

He smiles, standing as he extends his hand and leads me to the center of the small, crowded dance floor. It’s heaving, so Joel pulls my body flush to his, threads his fingers through mine and starts moving us to the music.

No words are spoken. Our eyes lock, our lips meet, and suddenly we are the only ones in the universe.

“We need to get out of here,” he murmurs, breaking off our kiss.

“But we only just got here,” I prevaricate, knowing exactly why he wants to leave.

“So? Your friend didn’t hang around, he’s already off enjoying himself,” he argues, letting his hands slowly slide down my body to squeeze my butt and pull me hard up against the rock-solid erection straining against his jeans.

“We need to leave. I need to get you naked. So. Let’s. Go. Home. Now,” he urges.

I give up. I can’t resist, not when I want him just as badly as he wants me. What we feel, this magnetic pull between us, always kicks off the second we touch.

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