Chapter 11
Luna
I sip on my bottled water, dancing in my seat while Rio spins in the DJ booth. Some of the Yankees players are in the same VIP section. Their spirits are high after today’s sweeping victory.
“That color is really beautiful on you,” Leisy, one of the players’ wives, says to me. “I’m low-key obsessed with it.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “How are you faring?”
I shrug. “I’m good. It’s been six weeks of people coming for me. I’m almost getting used to it.”
“Girl.” Her hand smacks my arm like we’ve known each other forever. “It’s only going to get worse now that you took a hammer to all these girls’ hearts today.”
I flip my hand in question.
She tilts her head to the booth. “You and Rio on the kiss cam. You’ve been trending all afternoon and evening.”
My lips are still tingling from that kiss, so I only smile at her, and she chuckles.
“It’s so good to see. Enjoy it. It’s always so fun, and I think you both deserve it.
” Her smile wavers. “Going against the Belmonts in New York is no joke.” Her gaze drifts to the other side of the club.
In the VIP area, Adina is with her friend Carrie.
They’re staring right at me, pointing and giggling to each other.
My spine stiffens. But I force a breath. I’m not letting them get to me.
“I’m not going against anyone. I’m just living my life.” I turn to her. “Enjoying my relationship.”
She high-fives me. “I know that’s right. The best revenge is to never let them see you sweat.”
“Okay, I’m getting off this booth,” Rio says into the microphone.
“Noooo,” the crowd yells.
“I’ll see you at the concert. Los amo.”
When he steps off, Carrie rushes to him. She goes to say hi to him, and he stops for a second. She points to Adina at the booth, gesturing for him to come with her. He shakes his head, points my way, and walks the other way.
He stops to take photos but moves quickly, reaching me in a couple of minutes. Leisy winks at me and moves over so he can sit next to me. “Sorry about that. It took longer than I expected.”
His scent is stronger now. It’s hot in the lounge, and it feels like it’s activated the notes of his cologne.
“It’s okay. Everyone’s so happy to see you. And you seem to be having a good time.”
“I am with only one drink. Do you want me to make you something?”
I shake my head. “No, thanks. I don’t feel comfortable drinking at clubs anymore.”
He touches my cheek. “I get it. What happened to you was horrible, but you know me and my people will keep you safe, right?”
My fingers caress his hand. “I know. I don’t want to drink tonight. Besides, the music is good, and I’m feeling it.”
He studies me for a few seconds. “I think we should probably talk about the kiss.”
“Kisses,” I correct him.
He chuckles. “Yeah, kisses. The first one was the one we had agreed on. The second was because we wanted to.”
I stare into his eyes. “Really wanted to.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“I…don’t know… I think it’s setting us up for failure.”
He frowns. “How? ?Porque se va a terminar?”
“Yeah, Rio. We have an expiration date.”
He nods, his face growing serious. “Then let’s drink the water until it runs out.”
Now it’s my turn to frown. “I don’t know if I’m capable of that. I don’t think I’m built for casual.”
“It doesn’t have to be that. Think about it.”
I open my mouth, but the boom boom boom, and the beat drop.
“Rio is dedicating this song to the beautiful Luna. I better see you two perreando together.”
I laugh as his voice blares from the speakers, and the whole club sings along with him.
Dime Mami que te doy
?Te doy el mundo?
No mejor te doy
Pa bajo pa bajo
Rio stands and extends his hand. We step down onto the dance floor, close to the VIP section, pausing by a pillar.
He stands behind me as I level down — crouching with my feet planted on the ground with my hands on my knees as I grind circles on him to the tempo.
His arms go around my waist, his body bucking against mine, and I let my head drift back against him.
“I’ve never dreamt of perreandote like this.” His hips rock against mine, his dick brushing my ass.
I’m hot, fueled by the energy emanating from him; By remembering the way he kissed me at the stadium, and I grind harder.
“Do you want this?” he asks, and I know I need to stop. We are getting in too deep, with everyone probably watching our every move.
He kisses behind my earlobe, my body shivering. My eyes are about to drift closed when I spot Adina and Carrie heading our way with their entourage of lambones. They’re arguing with Tito and some of the players’ bodyguards. If Rio sees this, it’s going to be a mess.
I can always ask to leave, but he’ll notice. And it will ruin this night and how good the day has been. I decide then: I won’t let her.
Adina and her crowd have already ruined too many nights for me.
So I turn around, push Rio against a pillar, then position myself between his legs, and hook my arms around his neck. “This is how I like it.”
And I roll my hips against him, our bodies pressed tight together while the music reverberates over our skin. His face is on my neck with his breath fanning over my skin while he moves against me, brushing me in all the right places.
I can see the argument. The fight that breaks out after. But I keep on grinding against him, and when his head lifts, I don’t let him turn toward the mess. I offer up my lips for him to kiss and he indulges me with gusto. His groan vibrates through me, and his tongue slips into my mouth.
It’s not until the lights turn on, and Tito is there, next to us, that we realize the party is over. Tito ushers us out of the room and outside through the back entrance to the club.
“What happened?” Rio asks.
“People can’t hold their liquor. Shit went south.”
And it’s on me since I made things real messy for us.
* * *
Rio
“Hold on,” Maeven says on the other end of the line. “So you’re telling me that you didn’t see or hear the fight? I mean, that’s what it looks like in the video, but I don’t want to assume.”
“Yeah.” I’m feeling dumb too. The whole crew was in a scuffle, and I was in the back, oblivious, while completely wrapped up in Luna.
I’m still waiting for the regret to kick in.
Maeven chuckles. “I love Luna. She’s a fucking dream in this relationship.”
“What? You think she knew?” I ask because I don’t think she did. We were both so wrapped up in the dance.
“I can almost guarantee you she knew.”
“She did,” Tito confirms from behind me.
“Why didn’t she tell me anything?”
Maeven hums. “She was protecting you. If you knew there was a fight, you would’ve jumped in there. The talk would have been about how you can’t stay away from trouble. Instead, everyone’s talking about you almost burning down the dance floor with her. Good job.”
We wrap up the conversation.
“You sure Luna saw it?” I ask Tito.
“I know she did. I was standing by to make sure no one got close.”
I throw my hands up in the air. “Why would you not tell me?”
He shrugs. “Rio, you drool for this woman. You’re mad slick with every other girl, but this one makes you say cornball shit. Tu ta aficiao de ella. She was letting you perrearla y chulearla. I wasn’t going to cockblock that.”
I stare at him for a bit, and then I laugh. “I owe you, man.”
“Tell her to bring her prima around, the one she’s always with on Instagram.”
I nod. “You got it.”
He leaves me alone. Like I do every night before bed, I look at the butterfly on the glass pane and then head to my room.
My notepad is on the bed, and I beeline for it.
Tenemos que hablar
Yeah, we have to talk
I don’t know what you’re doing
This is not part of the plan
I don’t think you know that was my soul
That thing you touched with your fingers, with your warm gaze
Or did you?
Es Rio, Mami.
You had my soul in your hands
Y no debio pasar
Solo nos estamos conociendo,
Yeah, we’re just getting to know each other
And you got that deep
When you kissed me, it was more than mouths
I could see it in your eyes
All of me was in there
Baby, yo se que me ves
Cuando bailamos, you gave me a little taste
Del dano que tus caderas pueden hacer
De tu boca
Y ese culo como lo sabes mover
And then you go home
Dejandome con las ganas
Corazon, you’re a mindfuck
But I don’t want you to stop
I need to see how far we can go
Your body needs to see como te puedo castigar
Comer, morder, besar
I want to mindfuck you too
Until you think of only me
Baby, te quiero poner como me pones a mi
It’s only fair
It’s not that I want you to stop
I just want you to feel me too
Still waters run deep
Rio