Page 42 of Ignacio

When they pulled up to the house, Ignacio helped her out of the car.

“Thank you,” she said.

His fingers tightened around hers as he tugged her toward the front door. He released his grip on her hand to punch in the door code, and she stepped in ahead of him.

The second the door closed, she felt his hand on her wrist. He spun her around and pressed her back against the cool foyer wall, his body flush against hers, his breath warm and irregular.

Delta gasped in shock. Her clutch slipped from her fingers and hit the floor. “What are you doing?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

The air crackled with anticipation, making her heart hammer in her throat. Framing her face in his hands, Ignacio tilted her chin higher.

“Losing my fucking mind,” he grated.

He kissed her. Not gently. Not carefully. He claimed her with an urgency that left no room for doubt about his intentions.

Slanting his mouth over hers, he coaxed her lips apart, and she welcomed him, surrendering to the passionate heat coiling low in her abdomen. His hands slipped down her sides, gripping her hips to hold her in place while her fingers tangled in his thick curls and pulled him closer.

His tongue entered her mouth to stroke, tease, and deepen the intimate contact. The kiss became hotter and wetter as they devoured each other.

Then a quiet sound caught Delta’s attention. She almost didn’t hear it, but Ignacio must have heard it, too, because hetore his mouth from hers, and they both looked to the side in the same direction.

Maria was in her bathrobe holding a plate of food, frozen mid-stride like a cartoon character. She was obviously trying to tiptoe across the floor to the door leading to her apartment in the basement.

She looked at them. They looked at her.

“I am so sorry, Ignacio, Delta. Pretend you do not see me.” Her cheeks were scarlet, and her face filled with apology. Then she hurried through the door and shut it behind her.

Ignacio stepped back, a muscle in his jaw tightening.

Delta didn’t know what to say. She tried to catch her breath. She hadn’t been kissed with such passion in a long time. She put a hand to her throbbing mouth. “I guess?—”

“This isn’t going to work,” he said in a guttural tone. He shoved unsteady fingers through his hair and swore softly.

Delta died a little inside. “What isn’t?”

“Living together and acting as if we don’t feel anything. Lying in the same bed together. All I can think about is getting you naked and fucking you until we’re both sweaty and exhausted. I know that wasn’t part of the deal, but it’s incredibly hard to keep my hands off you.” The words came out in a mixture of disgust and anger.

“Sex will complicate this whole charade.” She wasn’t sure she meant the words, but they sounded right.

“It’s already complicated.”

The way he looked at her—as if he wanted to sweep her into his arms and carry her up the stairs—sent shivers racing down her spine.

Delta broke eye contact and moved to pick up her clutch and the few items that had fallen out of it. As she picked up her lipstick and phone, Ignacio reached down and closed his fingers around the smooth bluish-gray stone on the floor.

She straightened, holding her breath, cursing herself for not grabbing it before he saw. Ignacio stared at the stone in his palm, an unreadable expression on his face.

“You still have this?” His voice was low and disbelieving.

“It’s stupid, I know.” Fully embarrassed, Delta thrust out her hand to take it.

He didn’t hand it over. “Why do you still have this?”

She swallowed, emotion burning a hole in her throat. “You gave it to me.”

“It’s just a stone.”

“It’s more than a stone. It’s my good luck charm.”

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