Page 30 of Queens and Monsters

“You know it won’t be my choice.”

He exhaled, as if nonverbally agreeing. My future was in Dario’s hands.

“There was another reason I risked coming to see you.” His hand cupped my cheek. “I want to kiss you again.”

Hearing those words coming from him made my core twist and clench. “I want that too, but I don’t think we should.”

The tips of his lips curled upward. “I was right about you. You’re a rule follower.”

I momentarily lifted my hands to my face. My words came out muffled. “Until tonight.”

Gently, he eased my hands away from my face. His dark orbs zeroed in on me as if he could see beyond my exterior before teasing a ringlet of my hair through his fingers. “I don’t want to go back to California. I want to ensure you’re safe.” He paused. “Your beauty is also a curse.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Em and I should have taken more time to learn more about where we were taking you. Fuck. We had no idea that the lounge was in Myshkin’s territory. Jano told me that the Russians sent word on the street that they’re looking for the beautiful redhead who was seen with two cartel members.”

“Dario told me.” A smile curled my lips. “He didn’t add thebeautifuldescriptor.”

“He should,preciosa. Like I said, you stand out among the others.”

Preciosa?

My smile faded. “Dario is sending me back to New York tomorrow after breakfast.”

“He’s probably right, but I’d rather have you in Northern California with me.” Rei bent at the waist and lowered his forehead to mine. “I fucked this up. I should have come forward sooner with my desires. Damn problems with Herrera.”

He was so close. Even in the darkened room, I could see into his dark eyes. Reinaldo wasn’t scary. He was intense, dangerous, and deadly. He was also risking his life to talk to me.

“It isn’t your fault or Em’s. I went with you willingly. I wanted to see the world without bodyguards for once.”

The timbre of his voice lowered. “Is that the only reason you went with us?”

A wave of warmth flowed from my chest upward to my neck and my cheeks. I pulled away to see more than his eyes. My breathing quickened, causing my breasts to rise and fall. The focus of my gaze dipped down to his lips—his strong, firm, yet also tender lips.

Rei lifted my chin. His timbre slowed. “When you’re mine, I can kiss you whenever I want.” He ran his warm palm over my arm. “And touch you. It won’t matter where we are, I’ll take what is mine.”

He said that as if it were already proclaimed.

“Without my permission?”

“No.” He shook his head. “You will want it all. You’ll crave me as much as I crave you.”

My breathing grew shallower.

“My cock is so hard right now, I’m not certain I can walk away. If we could find a priest tonight, I’d show you exactly what I mean. Soon, you’ll be as addicted to me as I am to you.”

I rolled my lower lip between my teeth. “I went with you tonight because I wanted to get to know you better.” That was what he’d said in the lounge.

His hand moved from my chin to my cheek.

I closed my eyes, savoring the gentleness in his touch. It was as if he were holding back the dangerous side of himself, wanting me to recognize that he could also be tender.

Lifting my chin, I brought my lips to his. Explosions like fireworks on the Fourth of July detonated within me as he moved his hand to the back of my neck, pulling me toward him. Our heads turned and noses bumped. There wasn’t anything gentle in his kiss. Rei was ravenous and I was his meal. I also wasn’t meek in this new dynamic.

He’d said I’d want his kisses and his touches. In a matter of three encounters, he’d proved himself right. I pressed back. It was as his tongue sought entrance that I pulled away.

“Rei, I can’t…we’re not married.”

---