Page 26 of Falling for Paris
“Yes,mon ange. But not because of my limbs. It is everything else that hurts.”
Hope surged. Did he feel it too? The sensation that only being together mattered. That everything about the night was wrong and only his arms around her would make things right. It was exhilarating. And terrifying, too.
Rafael rasped against her ear. “Maybe I don’t have the right to take you in my arms, especially since I foolishly walked away from the only person I want to be with tonight. But will you? Will you dance with me, Tori?”
“I—I don’t know.” The statement was a placeholder for composure. If she didn’t catch her breath, she might actually swoon.
“I want you to dance with me and only me.”
“Then why did you leave? Why do you always leave, Rafael?”
“I thought it was what you wanted.”
“For a brilliant man, you are occasionally very stupid,” she blurted out.
“Is that a yes?”
At the same time, they stepped into each other’s space. His arms wrapped around her and she let her chest graze over his torso. A moment of suspended anticipation before he bunched her dress in his grip and pulled her body against his. Hips grinding, they swayed to the edges of the floor, moving towards a darkened corner.
“What took you so long?” she asked, breathlessly.
He groaned while tightening his grip up her back, nestling a palm at her nape and tilting her lips closer to his. His thick cock pressed against her abdomen. Her breasts felt so heavy and achy and supple, the thought of his lips around her nipple made her eyes roll back. Enthralled by the muscles under her fingertips and the delicious heat of his breath, Tori mumbled, “I thought you were going to let me dance with every man in this room before you came over.”
He grunted and bit her neck. Brutal and swift. “I barely made it through one song, Tori. I wouldn’t have been able to take another man’s hands on you.”
She didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until she exhaled relief. His anguish, his jealousy, even his harshness, were a salve. God help her, she wanted all of it.
“I didn’t want to dance with anyone else, Rafael. But I did, didn’t I?” She was playing with fire and it felt amazing. “That wasn’t very nice. To be touched by another man. Will I be punished for it?”
The hand at her nape lifted to grab her hair. Massaging at first, Rafael tugged. The pain wasn’t acute but it wasthere. Making her feel desired and conquered. She closed her eyes and sighed just as he smoothed out her ruffled hair.
“If you let me, I’d fucking punish you right here and now, in front of everyone. Hike your sexy legs around me and claim your hot body. I’d pin you to the wall with my cock, Tori. And I’d make you say my name, loud and clear, so everyone knows you’re mine.”
Her heart was a gong, pumping hot, noisy blood to her head. “M-might not be very, um, very not good idea. Birthday. Your friends, and…” She was a mumbling mess of delirious hormones.
“I’m taking you with me and putting you on your knees tonight.” Rafael spoke with a strained voice. But she heard his pleasure, too. His satisfaction at turning her into a puddle of wet need. “First you’ll have to give me a minute.My cock is goddamn indecent, Tori. What are you going to do about it?”
She rubbed her stomach against his ridge and chuckled. “Maybe not this?”
He squeezed her ass hard and licked her ear. “Vixen,” he hissed. “Fuck waiting. Let’s use the back door.”
They walked into the alley, hand in hand. He expected the cooler outdoor air to tamp his arousal. It didn’t. His body remained hard and heavy. He needed her tonight; nothing else mattered. But her apartment was too far and Inez’s place was too…Inez.
Looking down the familiar streets, he wove their entwined bodies through the weekend crowd. He stopped in front ofHotel Artisteand looked at Victoria, whose eyes offered a glimmer of excitement and whose nod was all the permission he needed. He led her into the building and secured a suite, sidestepping the concierge’s friendly chatter.
Finally, they were alone. The spacious room was illuminated by streetlights and by the night sky’s reflection on glass surfaces.
“I’d like to use the bathroom.”
“Of course. Would you like some more wine? I can call room service.”
“But you don’t drink,” she said concernedly.
“True. There’s some sparkling water and soda in the bar but we can order a Beaujolais, perhaps?”
“Well, actually…”
“Victoria Espinoza, would you like me to order dinner for us? I don’t think Marcus stopped talking long enough for you to have a bite.”
