Chapter 2
Exhaustion didn’t even begin to describe how she felt. Astra trudged through the kitchens one more time, surveying the space to ensure that everything was cleaned up and put away. There were a few dishes lingering in the massive, industrial sink, but those could wait for tomorrow morning.
It was well past midnight. The kitchen staff had left for home about half an hour ago. They had been working since well before dawn to prepare the delicacies for the wedding feast. Zahir and Mandy had already left for their two week honeymoon. Mandy had appeared deliriously happy while Zahir had looked…determined. Yes, that was the best way to describe the expression on the man’s face. And there was no question as to the purpose of his determination. The man wanted to be alone with his new bride.
What would it feel like to be wanted that badly?
The image of Antonio del Campo popped into her head. Did she want him in the same way? No, probably not. She remembered watching Zahir whisper something into Mandy’s ear earlier in the evening. Mandy had blushed hotly, but her body language indicated that she liked whatever he’d said.
Astra couldn’t imagine that kind of passion. She’d dated in the past, but none of the men she’d been with had ever inspired that kind of…need? Hope? Desire?
All of the above!
Nope, her boyfriends had been…meh. They’d all been nice. But none had made her feel…!
“You’re wearing two different shoes.”
The deep, accented voice interrupted her contemplation. Astra spun around, startled to see Antonio del Campo striding towards her with a determined expression in his eyes. “And you’re wearing a different dress than what you’d donned earlier.”
He didn’t stop until he was less than an inch away from her. Suddenly, Astra wasn’t tired anymore. In fact, she felt…oddly energized.
Tilting her head back, she stared up into the dark gaze of the man who had confused her since the first moment she’d met him. Antonio could infuriate her one moment, then charm her the next. He was a perplexing man.
“Excuse me?” she replied, then cleared her throat when her voice sounded too wispy.
“Your shoes,” he said again, jerking his chin towards the pretty heels that were dangling from her fingers. “They don’t match.”
Astra looked down, then gasped when she realized that he was right. The left shoe was a pretty, pink satin spike heel and the other was fuchsia. Neither shoe matched the sage green dress she’d donned after one of the waiters had spilled bechamel sauce on the sleeve several hours ago.
“Darn it!” she hissed, staring at the shoes. “I had to rush to change clothes.”
“You still look beautiful,” he assured her, turning her so that they were walking down the hallway. “What time did you get up this morning?”
Astra tilted her head, unconsciously leaning into his side as they walked. “I don’t think I woke up this morning.”
He stared at her, startled by this admission. “What do you mean?”
She sighed, then realized that she was fully leaning against him now. She started to pull away, but he tucked her more perfectly against his side. “There were so many things to set up before the wedding. So, I worked through the night.”
He growled and slipped his arm around her waist. “That’s not good, Astra.” They walked a few more steps, then he said, “However, the wedding was beautiful.” He stopped and looked down at her. “You did a spectacular job and so quickly! I’ve worked with other event planners and they’ve never been able to accomplish what you did today, even with more time.”
A glow of happiness surrounded her with his words. “That’s…so nice of you to say,” she replied, then sniffed.
“Why are you crying?” he asked, reaching out to catch a tear as it fell over her lashes.
“I’m not,” she whispered, holding her breath to keep the emotions contained. His praise meant…everything to her. Shaking her head at her silliness, she looked away. “You’re very charming when you want to be.”
“Aren’t I always charming?”
“No!” she laughed and they started walking again.
“When was I not charming?”
She lifted her mismatched shoes. “Well, for starters, you didn’t need to point out that I looked foolish today, wearing shoes that don’t match each other, or my dress.”
“I doubt anyone else noticed.”
Astra let out an inelegant snort. “One shoe is fuchsia!” she needlessly pointed out.
He shrugged and her eyes instantly drifted to his broad shoulders. Delicious shoulders, she thought. Powerful, muscular, yummy shoulders!
“But most of the wedding guests were too busy with the wedding and the food, not to mention the flowers and the singers. All perfectly arranged to ensure that everyone was well entertained.”
Astra sighed, her shoulders slumping. “A week ago, you teased me about my horseback riding skills.”
He snorted. “You don’t have any horseback riding skills, mi querida.”
She shook her head, a slight smile lurking on her lips. “See? No charm.”
He chuckled. “Yes, but it’s the truth. You’re a horrible horseback rider. You don’t ride, you bounce in the saddle.”
“Excuse me for being raised as a middle class kid.”
She glanced up at him, saw the strange flash of emotion cross over his face and didn’t know what to say.
“Yes, well…” she waited, wanting to hear what he would say next. But he stopped speaking.
“I’m this way,” she told him. “I’m guessing your suite is in the guest quarters of the palace?”
A dark eyebrow lifted in surprise. “Your quarters aren’t in this hallway?”
She laughed and stepped back, suddenly realizing that she’d been leaning against him as they walked. “No. I’m an employee. I was given a room in the employee quarters.” She looked at the magnificent mosaics lining the floor, then up at the gold leaf moldings that lined the ceiling. “The décor isn’t nearly as spectacular as–” she stopped and patted her hips. “Oh no!”
“What’s wrong?”
“The key to my room is in the pocket of my other dress!” she gasped and looked back down the hallway in which they’d just come. “And that dress was taken to the laundry area of the palace!”
“That’s not good.” He stared down at her for a moment, then made a snap decision. “You will sleep in my suite,” he announced.
Astra’s head swiveled back to him. “I can’t sleep with you!”
He chuckled. “I’ll sleep on the couch. You can have the bed.”
Her eyes narrowed on him. “You have a couch?”
Antonio put a hand to the small of her back, nudging her towards his suite. “Yes, and I will be quite comfortable. Whereas you have been awake for at least forty hours now. You will sleep in the bed.”
“I don’t think…”
“Don’t think. Just sleep,” Antonio argued. He didn’t understand this ferocious need to protect Astra. He’d been with other women in the past, but none had created this need to protect and…and what? What was it about Astra that compelled him so?
She stopped. “Antonio, this isn’t a good idea.”
He turned, looking down at her. “Why? Because you don’t think you can control yourself around me? Are you going to…what’s that quaint American phrase?” He thought about it for a moment, then said, “Jump my bones?”
“No!” she gasped and a blush warmed her cheeks. Antonio thought her blush was charming, but didn’t say so. They were two feet from the door to his suite and he needed to get her settled before he did something that they both might regret.
Correction – Astra might regret anything that happened between them. But he wouldn’t. No, he would thoroughly enjoy every moment if she were to “jump his bones,” so to speak.
“Sleep is only a few feet away,” he pointed out, his voice lower. Huskier. Antonio hoped she didn’t recognize the new tone in his voice. Or more specifically, he hoped she didn’t recognize the reason for it.
He wanted her. Badly! But he would restrain himself from doing anything other than settle her into bed.
“Come, querida,” he urged, touching her arm. “You need sleep. I’m sure that your job isn’t over tomorrow. There is still the wedding breakfast to oversee.”
“You’re right,” she whispered, and he watched as her lips pressed together. Soft lips. Kissable lips.
“Besides, I doubt you could get into your quarters at this time of the night anyway. With this many guests in the palace, the guards are on high alert. They might not appreciate the idea of one of the staff members relinquishing the key to their room.” He unlocked the door to his suite and nudged her inside. “They frown upon security breaches, especially when there are so many guests here.”
Sighing, she followed him into his suite, then stopped dead to look around. “Wow! This is…very different than my room.” She moved deeper into the suite, looking around at the red and gold décor. The furniture was heavy and solid, very masculine. The windows, framed by red, silk curtains, looked out over a darkened courtyard. There was a red velvet sofa, a dining room table with six chairs, and a bar with snacks set out waiting for them.
“This is gorgeous!” she whispered, reverently. She turned in a slow circle, still taking it all in. “I wonder who decorated this,” she pondered aloud. “Probably someone who had just finished perusing the Kama Sutra.”
He laughed, but his amusement was more because of the blush at her quip than about the sensuality of the décor. “Would you like a drink?” he asked.
“No,” she whispered, turning to face him. “I’m fine.”
Tension crackled in the air between them. “I will get you something to sleep in.”
She opened her mouth to argue with him, but instead of speaking, she simply stared up at him.
Antonio normally prided himself on his self-control. He enjoyed making his mistresses squirm as he increased their pleasure to new heights. But there was something about Astra, something about the softness of her hair, which was falling out of the pins holding it on the back of her neck, or perhaps it was the soft, green color of her dress that made her skin look extra creamy.
Whatever the reason, Antonio was unable to stop himself from leaning forward, brushing his lips against hers.
And that was all it took to spark the fire that had been simmering between them ever since their first meeting several weeks ago.
After that initial soft brush of their lips, he pulled back, staring down at her. Antonio was just about to pull her into his arms when Astra lifted her hands, grabbing his shirt and jerking him towards her. He didn’t hesitate this time. There were no more soft touches. This was an inferno that was finally released from the confines of their control.
“Querida!” he groaned as he lifted her into his arms, unaware of her feet dangling several inches from the floor as he kissed her, his arms tight around her waist. He felt her arms wrap around his neck as her mouth opened, welcoming him. His tongue dove into her mouth, caressing, tasting, increasing the passion between them.
“Antonio!” she gasped when his hands moved down to cup her bottom, pressing her more firmly against him.
“Tell me to stop!” he urged, needing her “no” in order to break this insanity.
“Don’t you dare stop!” she whispered back, her arms tightening around his neck.
And that was the end of his restraint. Carrying her through the suite, he lowered her down on to the bed and stripped her clothes off all the while, caressing her, smoothing his hands over her satiny soft skin. She was so perfect, so soft and curvaceous that he couldn’t think beyond this moment. When she removed his shirt as well, moaning with every caress, their passion ignited to an inferno. There was no talking. Just touching, exploring, and tasting.
He pulled away from Astra’s mouth, needing to explore her. She was so soft and her moans were driving him wild. He kissed her neck, discovering several pulse points that made her arch into his arms. Her breasts, so perfect and soft, pressed against his chest and his hands moved from her bottom, around to the front of her, cupping one perfect breast while his other hand tugged at her hair, pulling her head back so that he could nibble at the soft spot at the base of her throat.
That wasn’t the only thing pulsing, he knew. His thumb skimmed over her nipple and she cried out. Astra grabbed his hand and Antonio thought she was going to demand that he stop. But her fingers grabbed his thumb, moving his digit over her nipple again and again. He lifted his head, watching her hand guide his fingers and he nearly lost control.
Lowering his head, he tasted that delicious nipple, his lips brushing over the tip. Then his mouth closed over the turgid tip, lathing it with his tongue. She cried out again, arching against him while her hips shifted against his almost painful erection.
He lost control then. Shifting against her, he pressed her legs further apart and released his shaft from the confines of his boxers. He didn’t have the time to strip naked. This was Astra. Antonio couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t wanted her. And now, poised at her opening, he stared down at her. He almost asked if she was sure, but in that moment, she moaned, grabbing his hips and lifting her own, begging for him.
There was nothing he could do but thrust into her. She was tight! So damn tight! And the heat within her pink folds made him groan with pleasure. She shifted, arching against him again. He kissed her, then started moving inside of her, thrusting and testing to find out how she liked to be stroked. But Astra was frantic now. So was he, if he’d had the mental capacity to think clearly. But clear thinking was long gone. It was only sensation now. Pleasure poured through both of them. She lifted her hips, matching every thrust with her body clenching around him and it was the most amazing sensory experience he’d ever had.
When he knew he was about to lose control, he moved his hand from her breast to that nub between her legs, rubbing gently with his thumb, accentuating every thrust with a slide of the pad of his thumb. Their breathing quickened, the only sounds were his moans and her gasps of pleasure. When she pressed her hand against his thumb, showing him, he followed her silent instruction and…!
Watched with fascination as she cried out, her body clenching tightly around his shaft. It took only two more thrusts before he joined her in that oblivion of pleasure.
When it was all over, he stared down into her eyes, waiting for her to react. When she smiled, Antonio was relieved. He hadn’t hurt her with the intensity of his lovemaking.
“Beautiful!” she whispered dreamily.
Antonio smiled, relieved, then gently kissed her. “I’ll be right back.” He pulled slowly out of her, already regretting the loss of their intimate connection. But he headed to the bathroom, aware of her eyes on him.
Stripping off the remainder of his clothes, he washed, thinking about going back to Astra and doing that all over again. He wanted to taste her. All of her! There was so much he wanted to know about her. But was she sore?
Turning, he hurried back into the bedroom, naked now, and fully prepared to start all over again.
But when he found Astra in the bed, he noticed she’d curled up on her side, still naked, and was sound asleep.
Smiling, he gently lifted her into his arms and pulled the bedding away, tucking her carefully under the covers. She sighed in her sleep, whispering his name. When he slipped into the bed behind her, pulling her into his arms, she snuggled against him, throwing her leg over his and shifting until she was comfortable. Astra didn’t wake up as he turned out the lights, smiling to himself as he thought about waking her up in a few hours to start all over again.