Page 5 of Queens and Monsters

His lips curled, yet his black stare wasn’t smiling.

I sucked in a breath and flinched as his hand came upward, twisting and running a ringlet of my hair through his fingers. “They toldme you were beautiful.” He tilted his head to the side. “Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe you.”

Words failed me. There was something about this man that stirred emotions within me in a way I’d never experienced. While at the same time, part of my brain told me to scream and yell, to get away from him.

“You’re stunning.” He nodded. “You’ve grown up since the capo’s wedding.” His gaze was on my hair. “I’ve never seen such red hair.” His gaze returned to mine as his hand fell to his side. “Or blue eyes.”

Bravely, I lifted my hand to his chest. “Stop.” Despite his calm exterior, beneath my touch, this man’s heart too was racing, thumping wildly. Energy pulsated from him to me as if our touch was a conduit for electricity. I met his gaze. “Tell me who you are and how you’re here in my home.”

“You do not recognize me?” He took a step back and bowed at the waist before standing erect. “Lo lament.Mí nombre esReinaldo. Some call me Rei.”

My mind searched for the mention of him. He was present at Dario’s wedding.

“Perhaps you’ve heard ofmí padre, Jorge Roríguez.”

Oh. The connection was made. I’d attended Dario’s wedding as this man’s brother’s plus-one. “You’reel Patr?n’sson and Aléjandro’s brother?”

Rei nodded before cupping my chin and running his thumb over my cheek. “Your skin is like glass.” His touch against my flesh was like the striking of a match, his thumb rough and callused, lighting a flame within me. My panties dampened and my nipplesbeaded.

“Please,” I said, less strong than I would have preferred. “You shouldn’t be touching me.”

He glanced down at my breasts, and his smile returned.

Why hadn’t I secured my robe?

I backed up as he took one more step toward me, and my shoulders collided with the cool windowpane. His massive body was millimeters away. If I so much as inhaled deeply, my breasts would meet his broad chest.

His dark eyes hooded, and his nostrils flared. “Tell me, Jasmine. Has a man ever touched you before, brought you pleasure?”

“I really think you should back up.” I inhaled. “If one of my bodyguards sees you…”

“I could gut him before he drew his weapon.” Rei again reached for my chin and ran that same thumb over my lips. “You would like it…if I touched you.”

Words failed me. I was too busy fighting whatever spell he’d cast. My body and mind battled. My body wanted to inhale, to feel his hard body against mine and to experience what he described. My mind was busy telling me to run from his threat.

Rei’s timbre dropped an octave. “Even now” —his thumb moved slowly— “your breathing has become shallower, and here” —he moved his touch to my neck— “your vein is pulsating. Your nipples have grown harder beneath that top. I might scare you, but you’ve lived with the capo dei capi. Danger also excites you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not scared,” I lied.

His lips twitched as if a smile was close to morphinghis granite features as he lowered his touch down the side of my neck and collarbone. “You’re brave. I admire a woman who doesn’t cower.”

I wanted to tell him again not to touch me, but that same touch caused my circulation to quicken, my insides to twist, and my brain to forget how to form words.

“Soon, you will know what I mean.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”

Rei took a step back. He reached for my hand and again bowed, this time leaving a kiss on my knuckles. “It was a pleasure to formally meet you, Jasmine.” He turned and walked toward the staircase.

The son of the drug lord of the Roríguez cartel was staying in my house.

I waited until he disappeared before I let out the breath I’d been holding. Fear was an interesting emotion. All my life I’d been told to avoid danger, to stay safe. There was nothing safe about Reinaldo Roríguez, yet I couldn’t decide to keep my distance.

Chapter

Two

Jasmine

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