17. Marisol
Marisol
S he didn’t have enough to drink to mentally prepare herself for being pressed up this close to Cisco. She had been under the delusion that they would ease into such an intimate dance, but clearly the instructors didn’t subscribe to the same school of thought.
“We are going to start with the basics. It’ll look like this,” María said.
Savi took her hand and placed his other high on her hip.
They counted the eight beats out loud as they moved in sync with each other, ending with Savi pulling María to his body, dipping her.
His hand traveled to her thigh, and the two were locked in such an intense stare that Marisol felt like she was intruding on something.
An excited murmur went through the onlookers as they faced off with their partners. If Cisco could hear just how fast her heart was beating, she would be mortified. She didn’t hide her nervousness well, though, because Cisco started to sway his hips, overly dramatizing the movements.
“You can’t tell me this doesn’t turn you on.” He did a weird little thrust that had her laughing out loud .
“I will do anything for you to stop doing that.” She grinned.
His eyes darkened, a goofy grin forming on his lips. “I think a kiss would stop me.”
A kiss might stop him, but it would definitely heat her body and leave her wanting more. “Play your cards right, and you might just get one.”
He grasped at his chest, panting. “Ah, Princesa, you wound me.”
She highly doubted that but didn’t get a chance to say as much because they were approached by Savi. The man was pretty, dressed similarly in all black. Judging by the perfection of his unblemished skin, he had an even more extensive skincare routine than Marisol. She had half the mind to ask.
“And how are you two doing?” he asked in a slightly accented voice. Cuban, maybe. “Do you need me to demonstrate the dance again? I’d be happy to for Marisol.”
Cisco’s hold on her tightened as he pulled her closer, nearly flush against his hard chest. “We are doing fine.” There was an unmistakable hardness in his voice that wasn’t there before.
Her body tingled at the possessiveness of it.
Normally, she would be pissed if anyone felt entitled to her, but clearly her body felt differently when it came to Cisco.
Marisol leaned into him, just to see what he’d do. A shaky breath left his lips, revealing just how much she was affecting him too. Good. She didn’t want to be the only one unhinged when it came to the other.
Savi didn’t appear offended. If anything, his smile only widened.
“Ah, my apologies. I see there is no need for my assistance here. Your chemistry is”—he brought his fingers up to his lips and kissed—“so good.” He winked at them before moving toward the older couple next to them who argued over hand placement.
Once they were alone again, Marisol looked up at Cisco through her lashes. “We’re doing fine, are we?” She couldn’t help but tease.
Cisco, who looked ready to pounce on poor Savi, relaxed his body. No signs of his annoyance lingered when he smiled at her. “We are. You’re in capable hands. I’m a pro.”
“A pro?” she mused.
“Mhm, yup. You're looking at a two-time junior runner-up in dance. Runner-up because the kid who always won was the child of the owners.” He chuckled.
“Good. Now prove it.”
Cisco took that as a challenge. The room filled with the sound of a Spanish love ballad and the counts from both María and Savi as they guided people through the dance.
Turns out, Cisco wasn’t lying about being a runner-up.
He was good. Damn good. Marisol didn’t have time to feel self-conscious or silly at the quick footwork or the way her hips moved awkwardly during the parts she was least familiar with.
None of that mattered with Cisco because he didn’t make her feel like she had to be perfect.
She could stumble through a move, and he wouldn’t get mad or berate her for her incompetence.
He laughed with her, guided her through the steps she couldn’t master with patience, and never once made her feel small.
This was how it was supposed to be. Not something she had to hide back her tears or stress over because she desperately wanted to impress her mother. No, she felt light on her feet. She was having fun. Her laugh was genuine, and her mouth hurt from smiling too much.
One hand stayed in his the entire time, while her other touched different parts of him.
His arm, shoulder, chest, and back. Each new place, she discovered something new about his body.
How his muscles would flex each time she dragged her nails down his arm.
The way his eyes never strayed from her, no matter what they were doing.
This close, she could make out the tattoos creeping up along his neck.
Then he pulled her close again, her back pressed against his chest. She felt the heat of his breath against her neck.
She had to remind herself to breathe. It just became increasingly more difficult when his hand ran down the flat expanse of her stomach to her navel.
Her head tilted back to meet Cisco’s sultry eyes.
This man was breathtaking. His tattoos didn’t just add to his appeal; they deepened the sense of mystery surrounding him.
Intricate black and gray designs covered his forearms, a mix of bold geometric patterns and delicate, swirling script that hinted at stories only he knew.
A serpent coiled around his wrist, its sharp eyes watching, while a compass rested on his biceps, as if guiding him toward something greater.
Who was this tattooed entrepreneur with a kind soul?
He was everything she had never allowed herself to want.
Everything her mother despised. From a young age, Marisol had been pushed toward a specific kind of crowd: the sons of wealthy businessmen, heirs to old-money dynasties, men with influence in their communities.
Politicians. Lawyers. She had met them all.
Which was why her mother had loved Archie so much.
He checked so many of the boxes she wanted in a son-in-law.
But none of these men had ever made her heart race the way Cisco did.
She was raised to believe that her mother’s wants and needs were her own, and she didn’t try to fight it. Not when she broke her sister’s heart. Not when her own heart was breaking. She was just a doll to be used.
But this doll wasn’t made of porcelain any longer.
She was learning how to fight back and make her own path in life, even if she still felt like she had so much further to go.
Cisco was a man she picked for herself, despite her fears and the voices in her head telling her this wasn’t what her mother wanted and would cause a fight.
Cisco was worth the fallout of a relationship she wasn’t entirely certain she still wanted.
A man she hadn’t known for long already knew the true her better than anyone else.
The thought was both scary and strangely exciting.
He continued to look at her like she was the only woman worth seeing.
That did something to Marisol, stirred a feeling inside her she thought went dormant a long time ago.
Her body was no longer her own. She felt like the world was moving in slow motion as she leaned up and closed the distance between them.
Her lips molded to his, a current of electricity running through her body the moment they touched.
She was hungry for more, and she didn’t want to deny herself.
Her lips parted, a low, needy sound leaving them. Cisco’s tongue found hers, mingling in a moment of heat. She wanted more. Needed more. She nearly deepened the kiss when she heard Savi somewhere behind her shouting directions at a couple. Reality hit her hard, and she pulled back as if shocked.
“Uh, sorry. I don’t know what came over?—”
“Get your ass back here, Princesa.” Cisco didn’t let her get far.
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back, his lips slamming against hers.
There was no hesitation on his behalf. He kissed her like this was the last time he would ever kiss her.
His tongue brushed hers, and she moaned, though he swallowed it up.
The room faded until there was nothing but her and Cisco.
Cisco, the man who was slowly breaking down her walls.
Heat pooled between her legs. Who knew she could get so turned on by a kiss? Granted, this wasn’t just any kiss. It left her panting and breathless, desperately wishing they were alone and not in the middle of a speakeasy with other couples.
Reluctantly, they broke away from each other. Marisol was seconds from stripping them both, consequences be damned, but the loss of his lips on hers was like a bucket of cold water. Effective, yet annoying.
A sly grin spread across his lips. “Why did I bring us here? Fucking stupid. Let’s go back to your house.”
“Cisco!” She laughed, swatting at him when he attempted to pull her away from the others dancing…or what they considered dancing. The jerky movements and questionable footwork made her wonder what tempo they were chasing. She felt much better about the small imperfections in her own footwork.
“And that’s our time, dancers!” María said cheerfully, her voice breaking through the music. Savi cut the sound and moved to stay at her side. “Everyone did amazing, but it’s most important that you had fun. Did everyone have fun today?”
Applause and cheers met her question. Cisco wrapped an arm around Marisol and pulled her close. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Now, can we leave?”
“Now we can leave,” she agreed, taking his hand and allowing him to lead her out of the speakeasy.
Her body was still thrumming with pent-up energy.
She couldn’t remember the last time she felt like this after a date.
Hell, she couldn’t even remember the last date she went on before Cisco.
Now she actually felt a pang of sadness it was coming to an end .
“Can we do this again?” she blurted when they got to his car.
Cisco opened her door, raising a brow. “Go on a date?”
“No. Well, yes, but I meant dancing. You’re really good at it. And it was…fun.”
“You don’t have to say ‘fun’ like you regret the word.” He laughed. “But I’ll take you whenever you want to go. You looked beautiful, and you were the best partner I’ve ever had.”
Marisol hid her blush by quickly getting into the car. The Sinner’s Web was playing softly on the radio. It helped ease the sudden nerves that took root inside her. They were going home. Cisco was dropping her off. Did he expect to come up with her? And if she agreed…what did he expect to do?
Her stomach churned. It wasn’t as if she had thought about… that . After all, she was seconds away from stripping him in the middle of a public place and having her way with him. But that was in the heat of the moment, and now she was back in reality.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to. She did…maybe more than she cared to admit, but the thought still scared her. Happiness was in her reach, but was it truly attainable or just a moment in time that would end?
“Hey, Princesa, you okay?” Cisco’s hand reached for hers, and she jumped.
Marisol hadn’t even heard him get in. The concerned look on his face told her this wasn’t the first time he tried to get her attention. “I’m fine,” she lied. “Just tired.”
“You are a bad liar, Marisol,” Cisco said, but he didn’t sound upset. He sounded…almost understanding, which didn’t make sense since he didn’t know what she was thinking.
Before she could spiral any further, he quickly added, “Let me get you home so you can rest. ”
Cisco pulled out of the parking lot and took off in the direction of her house. Unlike her, who had to GPS the Walgreens down the street, he had her home memorized. Their drive was quiet, though not awkward, as they listened to their favorite band.
Ten minutes later, he pulled up to the front of the building and reached over to unhook her belt. “Did you have fun tonight?” He searched her face for any signs of doubt.
She gave him none. “Tonight was fun. Like, really fun. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His voice was gruff, holding back emotion she couldn’t quite place. Did he not want this date to end any more than she did?
“Can I see you tomorrow?”
Cisco offered her an apologetic smile. She braced herself for rejection. “I can’t.”
Her body sank with disappointment. She felt like an idiot, especially when her eyes began to sting. “Right. Of course.”
“Marisol, look at me.”
She really didn’t want to, but he placed his hand under her chin and tilted it up.
“I can’t,” he repeated. She opened her mouth to snap at him and let him know she heard him the first time, but then he added, “Because I’ll be meeting with my realtor tomorrow about the property we toured.
The one by your father’s shop? I don’t know how long it’ll be, but I don’t want to keep you waiting.
Let me see you this weekend. All weekend, preferably. ”
There was no fighting back the smile and the relief in her features. “This weekend you’re mine, then.”
“Ah, Princesa, I fear I’m already yours.
” He smirked and leaned in to kiss her. It was soft and quick.
It still left her breathless when he pulled back.
“Now, walk that pretty ass up to the door so I can make sure you get home safe. Tiny said your car is in the parking lot, and your keys are at the front desk.”
He truly did think of everything. “Thank you,” she said again. With great reluctance, she got out of the car. She turned back once to wave one last time before heading up to her front entry. The nighttime doorman smiled at her, opening the door.
By the time she retrieved her keys and checked the lobby window, Cisco was gone.