Chapter 19
I went back to the bookstore Amaris and I went to yesterday after I left Dario and bought all the books I noticed she got excited over, but put back on the shelf. Little did she know that I was typing down the titles of each one.
I have no idea what is happening to me. I should not be feeling this way or doing any of these things. She’s the enemy and always has been…Right?
Yet still, I find myself unable to resist her. She is slowly seeping into my veins like poison, spreading and taking over me wholly.
Ace follows me to her house to deliver her books, but I stop moving when I catch a glimpse of her through her window. Though the music is barely audible, it’s obvious she’s blasting a good song in the kitchen right now.
Amaris enthralls me with her singing and dancing, I couldn’t look away if I wanted to. When her eyes lock on mine through the glass, she stops singing, but doesn’t stop her dancing. She beckons me with her finger as she shimmies to the door, opening it as wide as the smile on her face.
The first words tumbling out of my mouth are, “You are enchanting, foxy.” And she is, in her silky blue nightgown with her hair down in messy curls.
She blushes and thanks me while petting Ace. Noticing the bags in my hands, she asks, “What’s that?”
“Just a little something I picked up for you.”
When she takes a look and sees the first book she freezes and jerks her head back to look at me. “Wha-? Are those all books?” She looks at me incredulously.
“I don’t know, look through them and find out.”
With an eye roll and a small smile, she takes a bag from me and I follow her to the kitchen where the music is blasting. After seeing the first three covers she looks at me in shock. “How did you even know I would like these?”
I shrug my shoulders in response and walk over to her trash can to spit my gum out. There’s a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls on the counter, but she was also in the process of making something else. When she comes back out from her bedroom I ask, “What are we making today, chef?”
That earns me another eye roll, but an even bigger smile. “I’m making strawberry cheesecake Danishes,” she says, turning the music up a notch—it’s a reggaeton song I’ve heard at the club before. Patting her thighs, Ace stands on his hind legs and dances with Amaris. This is the same dog that has ripped grown men apart. I shake my head at the thought.
“Not that I’m complaining, but what has you so perky today?”
She sets Ace’s front paws on the floor, dancing by herself while she answers. “Well, I don’t want to let my thoughts drive me crazy and I feel happy when I’m active. This music always gets me moving and grooving, that makes my day,” she shakes her hips to the beat, “start off great.” Crouching down to the dog's level, she rubs his head saying, “We’re gonna make today a good day. Right, boy?”
Spinning back to her workstation, she continues on her Danishes, talking over her shoulder. I listen while washing the dirty dishes in the sink.
“Did you know your hips store emotions and tension? So, when you move and stretch your hips, it releases some of that.”
“I can think of a few other ways we can stretch your hips,” I murmur low, but she hears me anyway and throws a kitchen towel at my head.
“Get your head out of the gutter, and why did you do the dishes! I was going to get to them.”
Using the towel she threw at me, I dry my hands off. “Too late for any of that, they’re done.”
She groans and just as she places the tray in the oven, there’s a knock at the door. My hand instinctively goes over my gun and I’m on high alert. Placing a hand on my arm she says, “Relax, macho man. I’m pretty sure it’s just Marco.” That doesn’t ease my nerves at all, especially not when she’s walking around in that nightgown, even though it isn’t revealing.
When Marco walks in he pauses upon seeing me, eyes bouncing between me, Ace, and Amaris. “Hey, boss,” is all he says, but when he looks at Amaris, there’s a knowing grin and a look on his face that says I told you so . Nodding my head in acknowledgment, I sit back and observe, watching them interact.
Marco’s whole demeanor changes and I’m worried that I’ll snap right there, until he opens his mouth. “No fucking way. You can’t make cheesecake and not tell me about it!”
Amaris snorts, glancing at the oven. “They aren’t ready yet, it’s not my fault you came so early.”
“Okay, well the guys wanted some rolls.” He rolls his eyes placing a hand on his hip as dramatically as Amaris usually does. They really do act like long-lost friends or siblings bickering. She packs up the container of rolls and hands it to him, looking unimpressed. “Save me some for tomorrow and I’ll let you shoot the big gun,” he sighs.
“Really? I was going to save some, anyway, but I’ll take it.” She shoves him away before he can protest. “Can’t take it back now.” She sticks her tongue out at him and he just narrows his eyes before walking out.
It occurred to me while she walked back to me, that this whole time while she has been dealing with everything going on, she may not have been entirely alone. I’m oddly grateful for that thought, and I guess a small smile grew on my face because she questions me.
“What?”
“You are beautiful.”
At least I don’t think I have to worry about Marco. She doesn’t have to know what I did, but I find solace in knowing Duke won’t be bothering her or anyone else ever again. Last night was the first time I enjoyed watching the light fade out of someone’s eyes. And as long as I’m around, no one else will ever hurt her.
“I’m a mess,” she says.
“And you are perfect this way,” I retort, placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
“Mm, minty,” she comments.
“It’s helping me quit.”
She rears her head back, raising a brow. “When did you quit smoking?”
“After your birthday.”
We spend most of the day in our own little bubble eating, talking, and watching a movie. If she wants to shut me up, she just shoves a snack or treat in my mouth. I compliment her baking multiple times, even when we have a real meal. Not only because I mean it, her treats are great, but every time I compliment her food she glows under the praise. I want to keep her like that forever.
The bookstore sent her an email asking her to go in on Monday for an interview and she lit up like a Christmas tree. If her reaction was anything to go off, I’d say she has more than what it takes to get hired and she’ll be damn good at anything she does. She deserves it all and more.
I don’t remember the last time I genuinely smiled, let alone smile this much. The muscles are so unused, it feels weird on my face. Amaris looks at me seriously, causing my smile to falter. I’m sitting on the couch and she’s laying in my lap.
Reaching up to caress my cheek, she whispers with a look of wonder, “You should smile more often.”
Rain starts to lightly tap on the main window until it’s pouring outside, darkening the skies outside. A few minutes in, Amaris springs up excitedly.
“Let’s go outside.”
Looking out the window, then back to her, I say, “You do know it’s raining and probably cold out there, right?”
“I do. If you want to stay inside you can, but me? I’m going to run outside,” she replies confidently.
That’s the moment I realized I would follow her anywhere.
Ace doesn’t even move, instead getting comfier on the little bed we set up for him. Amaris grabs my hand and leads us outside, barefoot with just her silky dress. She takes off in a sprint toward the woods, we are soaked through before we even make it to the trees. I grab her by the waist, spinning her around when I catch her.
On her feet again, she looks at me as if debating something. “Do you know how to dance?” she asks, chest heaving still.
“Not really,” I say casually. A sliver of disappointment passes over her features, but she covers it quickly. I’m no Prince Charming, but for her, I might try to be anything. “Ask me anyway,” I say, taking a step closer to her.
Huffing a laugh, she says, “ Mi amor , will you dance with me?”
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
We dance in the rain, with no music, like two lovesick cornballs. I spin her out then back into me and we laugh together, then simultaneously stop, amber eyes boring into mine.
I have no idea when it happened. It crept up on me and consumed me whole, this feeling. Somewhere along the way, I started to fall for her. Only a fool could think one time would be enough. One kiss, one day together, one night in the sheets. No amount of time with her will be enough.
I just hope our time doesn’t run out.
“Your eyes are like sapphires,” she whispers.
Kissing Amaris feels like taking my first breath of fresh air after having my head held underwater for so long. I’m no longer suffocating—it’s just her and I floating in the ether. I don’t ever want to come down from this all-natural high.
She yelps when I break the kiss and pick her up. Taking her to my place instead of hers, I take her all the way into my shower, careful not to slip. When I step in after her, she washes my body for me and I’m not sure how to feel. This is foreign to me; no one has ever been tender with me like she is. Being gentle has never been a strong suit for me, but I’ll try my best. When she melts against my fingertips on her scalp, a small piece of my sanity is restored.
Stepping out the shower first, I grab a towel and dry her off, then dry myself off with the other one. She dons nothing but a black shirt from my closet and it’s the sexiest outfit I’ve seen her in.
“Lay down on your stomach,” she says, pointing to the bed.
“I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be my line.”
“Have you ever gotten a massage?” She holds her hand up when I open my mouth. “Don’t make a dirty joke.”
I stifle a chuckle. “No, I haven’t.”
“Exactly, so lie down.”
“Why?”
She crosses her arms. “You don’t have to be covered in blood to have a warm bath.”
Not having anything to respond with, I relent and lie down. She climbs on top of me and straddles my thighs, rubbing lotion into my back and kneading my muscles.
This doesn’t feel sexual—it feels like a fucking slice of Heaven.
She was just supposed to be another mission. Somehow we began to coalesce, but I don’t regret it. What if I take her away from here and we never have to come back to this life? Maybe Renato has been wrong all these years. Tomorrow I need to figure out what he’s planning during the party before it’s too late.
When she’s finished she hops off me, laying in the spot next to me on the bed. “How do you feel now?”
“Like I need to worship you.” Rolling off the bed and onto my feet, I hold a finger up. “Wait here.”
When I come back into the room I have a cup with ice cubes in my hand. She sits up curiously and crawls to where I sit on the middle edge of the bed. Her eyes are fixed on the old bullet wound scar on my shoulder. It’s not the first time I’ve caught her staring at it. With a feather-light touch, she runs her hand over it.
“Take off your shirt.” My voice comes out hoarse.
Immediately, she sits back and takes off the only item of clothing she has on. Grabbing an ice cube and placing the cup on the nightstand, I hover over her and rub the ice cube over her lips, then our lips meet in a fiery kiss. I swallow her gasp when I rub the ice cube down her neck to her breast.
Moving the kiss to follow the trail of water from the ice, I make my way down to her brown areolas, teasing one with the ice cube until she’s mewling, then switching to warm up the cold bite with my tongue. Trailing the ice cube down and around her stomach heading to her thighs, I continue the same hot and cold assault. Her noises get louder when I rub the cube around her clit in slow circles, then run it through her folds and back.
Before the cube can melt, I suck it into my mouth and dive right into her pussy, feasting on her bundle of nerves like my life depends on it until she’s chanting my name like a prayer, soaking my face. When I reach for a condom, she puts her hand on mine stopping me, speaking low.
“I’m on birth control,” she blurts out. “And I’m clean…”
“I’m clean, too,” comes out before I can stop myself.
I’ve never fucked a woman without a condom, didn’t even consider it. Amaris didn’t have to tell me twice, birth control or not. In the next blink, I’m flipping her over on all fours, losing my shorts and positioning myself behind her.
Thwack .
One slap on her ass, then I rub and kiss the warm spot.
“You love driving me crazy, don’t you?”
My hands roam over her voluptuous body, momentarily captivated by her back tattoo. This is the first time I’ve been able to really see the whole thing. It’s an intricate, blue dragon making its way up her spine with a set of long wings, flying towards the moon. Running my finger down her spine, I palm her ass cheek.
“Impatient, are we?” I tsk when she tries to wiggle her hips onto me.
“Shut up and fuck me, Kylo.”
Pushing two fingers in, her breath hitches and when she whimpers I lean next to her ear. “Ask nicely.”
“Please fuck me, Kylo. Por favor .”
Every time she says anything in Spanish, I’m lost to her. I’ll never tell her that, though. Using the fingers that were just inside her, I rub them over my engorged cock and line it up with her entrance.
“Was that so hard?” I taunt.
I slam into her until my hips are flush with her under thighs, drinking in her shriek. Taking a moment for both of us to adjust, I lean forward to press a kiss to her back. The action pushes me deeper and she moans on contact.
“Fuck, that’s a good girl,” I grunt out.
Placing my thumbs where they belong—on her back dimples—I use my hold on her hips to thrust into her at a punishing pace. The noises she’s spewing only make me speed up.
My dirty girl can take it.
Abruptly pulling out of her and flipping her around, we lock eyes and I slide right back home. At the new angle, I’m reaching a deeper spot, making her eyes roll back. Her eyes snap to mine when I grip her chin firmly. We fit together perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle.
“Sing for me.”
Then I press down on her lower stomach and watch her detonate, lips parted and eyes half-lidded. Her cries are music to my ears as she milks my cock. The prettiest piece of art comes to life before my very eyes.