Page 60 of Betrayed

She did. And she loved him, too. She was convinced of it now.

Not from the sex, or the kink, or the sensual pain, but his undivided attention this weekend had shown the side of him she wanted more of, a lifetime’s worth, if she were lucky to have him want to spend it with her as well.

Biting her lip, she took the scintillating torment, knowing the reward when it came would be even sweeter. A half dozen, a dozen, two dozen more... She wasn’t sure how many, but finally when her body was a perpetual, writhing, quivering mass, she heard athunkon the thickly carpeted floor.

The next moment, Arturo stood between her spread legs, his fingers slipping beneath the rope, tightening it against her the entire length of her slit, from clit to ass, but it didn’t last long as he pulled it aside. Then he was inside her, plunging between her hot, swollen lips, entering deep and fast into her juice-sopped pussy.

She screamed immediately as she came, clamping down on his hard length as he rode her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, “I tried.”

“You waited, like a good girl, but I want more. Now hush, enjoy the ride while I make you come for me again.”

She nodded, smiling up at him while she arched her back like a contented kitten.

“Not so fast,” he warned, as he continued to drive inside. “You better have another in there for me.”

Bringing his thumb to her clit, he circled and rubbed over the hard little nub, sending her quickly to the brink once again. He leaned over her swollen breasts, taking one hard tip between his teeth and, as he pumped into her with more power, he sucked hard.

“Oh my god,” she screamed as her pussy quivered then convulsed all around him. He slammed into her gripping heat once then again, and on the third downward stroke, he, too, shouted his release as he succumbed to the pleasure.

* * *

SUNDAY NIGHT AFTERdinner, they strolled on the beach one last time.

“I could stay here forever,” Mari said as she turned her face into the wind.

The sun had already dipped below the horizon, leaving streaks of gold, red, and orange suffusing the sky through the breaks in the clouds that were quickly rolling toward shore. Storms were expected, the coolness in the breeze telling him rain fell somewhere already. It was past time for them to head back in and get ready for their return to Houston.

Suddenly tired, he could hear the strain of what lay ahead for them in his voice. “Reentering the real world is the worst part of a holiday.”

He stopped just out of reach of waves and swung her into the circle of his arms. With her back to his front, they looked out over the gulf in silence. He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, but it was enough for the incoming tide to tickle their bare toes and wash over their ankles.

“Must we go back tonight? I’d like to listen to the rain while lying in bed in your arms.”

“Nothing sounds better, but I have an early morning meeting I can’t miss.”

She exhaled; her disappointment palpable. “I should probably go in early, too, and give Adri a break. She’s opened every morning since she’s been back.”

He didn’t comment, staring pensively at the rapidly darkening sky. The thought of her spending any time with that woman rubbed against the grain of his deep-seated protectiveness, but it was too early to tip their hand.

Mari twisted to peer up at him over her shoulder. “Are you okay, honey?”

His arms flexed, giving her a little squeeze. “Yes. It’s likely the letdown after three perfect days.”

“That they were.”

She twisted to face him, her palms hot against his chest as she tipped her head back and met his gaze. “I know it’s soon, so I don’t expect you to say it back, but I wanted you to know. I’ve fallen in love with you, Arturo.”

An array of emotions slammed into him; a mix of wonder, guilt, pain, regret, and love was there, too. He’d been falling for some time now. Damn the circumstances that put their future at risk.

“Je t’aime, Mari,” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear, adding in a deep, husky rasp, “I will forever love you if you’ll let me.”

Confusion flickered briefly over her lovely face; she didn’t understand the last part. How could she? It disappeared when she focused only on what she wanted to hear. Burying her face into his neck, she breathed a kiss there.

“I never thought after losing so much I’d ever be happy again. Thank you for giving me this unexpected gift.”

His arms tightened like steel bands around her, as though he would never let her go. Yet, come morning, after seeing what was on the flash drive, it might all come crashing down around them. Instead of keeping her at a distance, he had chosen the selfish, cowardly path by spending time with her and igniting the flame of their shared passion and allowing the affection between them to grow.

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