Page 35 of Vicious Vows

Lorenzo’s wordsweighed heavily on my mind throughout the evening. What was it about these men that meant they found it so difficult to take help from a woman who could offer so much?

The dinner portion of Lorenzo’s event had wrapped up, and now the guests had moved on to heavy drinking and dancing. It was a little after eleven, but most of these people looked like they were going to go all night.

Lucas had retired for the evening, and Milo had found himself a beautiful local woman to occupy his time.

“Milo’s having fun.” I nodded at him as he showed off his salsa skills. “Where did he learn to dance like that?”

“Our mother,” Marchello said.

“Oh, then that must mean she taught you how to dance too?”

“She did.” He set his beer bottle on the table next to us. “That was a long time ago.”

“When you used to have fun?”

“Are you insinuating that I can’t have fun?”

“I would never.” I rocked in place to the music as I gazed out at the ocean. While I couldn’t see it in the dark, I could hear the waves and smell the salt air. “But is kidnapping your only form of entertainment?”

“Ouch.” He took my hand and brought me closer to him, smacking my chest against his hard frame. “How can I change your mind?”

“Dance with me.” I placed my hand on his shoulder.

He curled his around my back, raised our joined hands, and began moving his hips in time with the music.

“You’re very smooth,” I said.

“Milo’s not the only dancer in the family.” Marchello twirled me before bringing me back and stepping in a classic salsa motion.

I followed his lead.

“Where did you learn to salsa?” he asked.

“I went through a ballroom phase and took a few lessons when I was fifteen.”

“You constantly surprise me, princess.”

“Don’t you mean queen?” I stepped closer to him just as the song ended. “I like that better.”

The band switched to a sensual, slow-paced Latino instrumental piece. Marchello didn’t miss a step as he held me close and swayed me to the beat.

I leaned my head on his chest and breathed in his woodsy, masculine scent. I had become accustomed to his smell, especially at night. It relaxed me and gave me a sense of security when he held me in his arms as I drifted to sleep. I didn’t want to believe anything bad could ever happen when I was with him.

That had to be true, right?

When he stroked my hair, I cuddled deeper into him. Everything else faded into the background as if we were the only two on the terrace. I had lost my sense of time and space.. There was only us.

“I don’t think I told you how beautiful you look tonight.”

“You did.” I looked up at him. The conflict I usually saw in his eyes wasn’t there tonight.

“Did I?” He took my chin between his fingers.

“Right before your phone call.”

“Oh, well you have me so mesmerized that I need to say it again.”

“I’m listening.”

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