Page 30 of The Virgin's Dance with the Devil
There was grim contemplation in his stare. “Give me one dance, and then if you still want to go, I won’t stop you.”
Taking a deep breath to stop the tears that had built up behind her eyes from falling, she jerked a nod and whispered. “One dance.”
His expression unchanging, he held a hand out to her.
She gathered her strength and raised her chin. “I’m perfectly capable of walking to the dance floor without your help.
His mouth tightened, but he turned his body and swept his arm out to let her pass.
She sidled past him, careful not to allow their bodies to brush, then shuddered when he placed a hand proprietarily on the small of her back and led her onto the dark, crowded dance floor.
The song the band was playing ended as they faced each other.
A new song began.
Rico drew her into his arms.
Chapter Nine
Marisa didn’t lethim hold her too closely. Keeping as tight a control on herself as she could manage, she rested her hands lightly on his sides and turned her cheek so she didn’t have to look at him.
Her efforts to maintain a decent physical distance between them were scuppered within seconds when Rico’s arms tightened around her waist, and the cheek she’d turned was pressed against his solid chest, and his beautiful, warm orange scent danced into her senses.
His hand slid up the corset of her dress and splayed over her naked skin.
Balling her hands into fists, she closed her eyes and wished the sensation away. Wished herself away because she could feel herself melting.
“I’ve upset you,” he murmured as they swayed.
She didn’t answer.
“Were you jealous of Ciara?”
She stiffened involuntarily.
“I’m sorry, angel. I thought I was doing the rightthing.”
“Flirting with another woman in front of me?” she dragged out before she could stop herself.
If he tightened his hold another inch, she’d suffocate. “No, she was flirting with me.”
“You played along with it.”
He groaned and slid his hand higher to cup the nape of her neck. “I know I did, but I know how you feel about people knowing about us. We were out in the open, not anonymous like we are now, and you look so damned beautiful and I’ve hardly seen anything of you all day. If I’d started talking to you, I’d never have been able to stop, and then I would have had to leap across the table to touch you, and then everyone would have known. If I’d known it would upset you, I would never have played along with her, and now I know how much it upsets you, I will never let anything like it happen again.”
Maybe she had a latent masochistic side because she felt compelled to ask, “Have you slept with her?”
“No.” His answer was emphatic.
“Do you want to sleep with her?”
An equally emphatic, “No.”
She hesitated before whispering, “You’ve slept with a lot of women, though, haven’t you?”
His fingers gently massaged her neck. “Yes, but there’s only been one woman for me since my sister’s engagement party, and I’m dancing with her.”
The song they were swaying to came to an end.
