Chapter 13 #2
I untie the robe, staring into his gaze. His eyes round when he sees my intent. And then they dip to my bra and lower, burning a trail. His mouth slackens, and when I lean forward, his bottom lip catches between his teeth, and he swallows. It sends currents of excitement through me.
Back off, Luna.
And then his head presses against them, and he brushes his lips over my skin from one mound to the other, brushing his way back with his tongue. He sets off my desire trigger, and I press forward against his mouth, offering him my breasts, begging him to flick my nipple.
And he does, brushing it over the lace, sending currents through my pussy, making me so impossibly wet.
“We can’t do this.” My breath is choppy, but I lean forward, sending my hair around us like a curtain.
“Is this your spot Luna?” he asks, closing his hands to grab them and putting one nipple in his mouth. A moan forms in the back of my throat.
I take one of his hands and place it between my legs.
“Cono, estas mojadita.”
I lower my bra for him, and he latches on while pressing his fingers on my clit. I’m going insane with need and wind my hips, grinding against his fingers with my eyes closed until stars burst behind my eyelids. I sag forward. His mouth captures mine, our tongues brushing each other.
Then the sound of voices filters through. That’s when what we just did hits me.
“They’re talking to their lawyers on the phone,” Tito says loudly. “Give them a minute.”
“Oh shit. Oh God. They’re coming back.” I run into the bathroom of the dressing room.
I’m freaking out. What the fuck are you doing, Luna? You just almost fucked this man in the dressing room. God. Haven’t you been cancelled enough?
I take off my panties and rinse them, then dry them with the blow dryer and try to get a hold of myself. I fan myself and use the blow dryer to fan my bra. When I feel more put together, I walk out. Rio is gone, and the hair and makeup artists are back.
“They’re ready for you,” one of the assistants calls out from the door.
But the knowing smiles are there. How long until I see the comments on social media?
It’s not like I can do anything about that. I put on my robe again, and we head into the set. I get to shoot a scene by myself. He’s standing across the room, watching me. I follow Niko’s instructions and roll on the bed with my hair brushing over my face while staring at Rio.
My body is on fire, and I’m wetter under his gaze than before.
After, I go back to the dressing room and change for my scene with Rio. This time, I get to wear jean shorts over my panties and a barely there crop top with knee-high boots. Thank God. I don’t trust myself around him without layers of clothing.
Rio is already in the middle of the floor. It’s a club scene, and thank God for the leather jacket I get to put on top because my nipples are hard as rocks.
When our gazes cross, the heat from his eyes makes my heart pound in my ears.
Niko places me on a stool, and when Rio stands between my legs as he sings to the camera, goosebumps break all over my skin and warmth pools in my belly.
The heat of his body and his scent create a heady combination that makes me almost lightheaded.
It feels like it’s all for me. When his hand touches mine, I tremble.
There’s a part where he buries his face in my neck and whispers, “No puedo dejar de oir the little noises you make cuando te vienes. Me tienen loco. I want to make you come with my mouth. I want to worship you como la diosa que eres.”
My pussy throbs, my hips grinding against the seat.
“Rio,” I say breathless.
My brain is muddled and fuzzy. I can’t think because my whole body is aching for him, and to have him so close between my legs without being able to rub this ganas off, is killing me.
“Cut,” Niko yells. “That was good. That was a good call saying his name, Luna. We can use that with his voice for the ending of the song.”
When we’re walking back, Rio turns to me and says, “Let’s get something to eat, and we can go hang at my place tonight.”
“Hang?” I ask, my eyes on his.
“We don’t have to do anything else if you don’t want to.”
I blow out a breath because it’s time to stop running from it. “Who says I don’t?”
And I go inside the dressing room and close the door.
* * *
Rio
Maldita sea.
Nothing is going like I planned. We had a good afternoon, visiting some shops and getting a bite to eat at Sabor de la Calle, an indoor food truck venue.
People recognized us but mostly stayed out of our way. We laughed at those trying to angle their cameras discreetly to take shots. Everything came to a halt when I got the text message in my group chat with Niko and Zao.
Niko
Bring your ass home. Zao’s in town.
Zao
The party is starting without you.
Fuck.
“Zao is in town. Him and Niko are at the crib. They want to party. I’m sorry.”
She hesitates but smiles. “It’s all good. I wanna see how you behave with your boys. I’ll call Sel to come by.”
Tito smiles and gives me a thumbs-up behind Luna.
In twenty minutes, we are on the Upper West Side, walking into a house full of people. Niko is already spinning in the DJ booth. Zao, with his bigger-than-life smile and personality, hugs me and then jumps on Tito. I introduce him to Luna, who’s smiling next to her cousin.
“Mas linda en persona,” he says to her.
Yeah, she’s definitely more beautiful in person.
Her smile mirrors his. “Thank you. Me encantan tus dembows.”
He looks at me and back at her, pursing his lips. “Which one?”
“‘La Ducati.’” And she and Sel break out into the viral dance and singing Zao’s first hit.
He claps and waves his hands, egging them on.
“We’re keeping her,” Zao declares after the dance.
I keep my eyes on her. “I’m trying.”
“Good to see you smile, Manito,” he says, and I nod because he was there for me the last two years. He kept trying to pull me from the hole.
“It feels good to have reasons.”
He looks at Luna and Sel. “That’s a lot of reason. Got el manganzon de Tito smiling con la muela de atrás, too.”
I laugh. “He’s trying too.”
“I got a song I want you and Niko to jump on. A los Domi anthem. Dembow y Reggaeton.”
I nod, because I don’t need to hear it. What Zao says, it goes. “Vamos.”
Niko is in a mood tonight because he’s playing old reggaeton. I get to watch Luna and Sel sing Ivy Queen and yell that just because they like to dance sexy, doesn’t mean they’re trying to sleep with anyone.
I’m happy to just watch her, but when Niko spins Tego’s ode to Dominican women, I grab her and grind on her.
“I swear he wrote this song for you,” I whisper in her ear, wrapping my hand around her belly.
She tilts her head up, and I peck her lips.
Damn, I wish all these people weren’t here.
We get pulled apart after the song, and while she chats it up, I go around the room making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. She’s in deep conversation with Tito, her cousin, Niko, and Zao.
I sit on the couch, watching her with my people. It’s as if she’s known them forever, and they love her. All these days of wanting her here, and now she’s here. After how hot she was in the video today, it’s annoying having to share her.
I don’t want to be the one to break the party, because she’s enjoying herself, but man, I’m tired of all these people.
* * *
Luna
I spot Rio on the side and on his phone. Everyone is partying around him and doesn’t seem to see him there alone, so withdrawn.
His words from the stadium play in my head. I can be in a room full of people and be alone.
I cross the room and go sit by him. “What’s wrong?”
He looks up and smiles, shaking his head. “Just tired.”
“You need to go to bed.”
“I don’t want to be the agua fiestas. If you weren’t here, I would just go to my room.”
I stand up and go to the DJ. “Wrap it up.”
“But the party is not over,” she protests.
I pin her with a look. “It’s over now.”
She tells the people twice that they need to go home, but no one answers. I extend my hand, asking for the mic. “Hi, everyone. Niko’s gone. Zao went to bed. Rio has rehearsals tomorrow. You need to find another place to party. Tito, hit the lights.”
He walks to the far end of the room and works the digital light panel. The room is flooded with harsh white light.
People turn to Rio. He chuckles and shrugs. “You heard la jefa. Party’s over.”
I don’t miss the angry glances from some of the women—and even some of the guys—toward me.
“You see how easy that was? I don’t mind being the bad guy for you.”
He laughs.
“I should go too. You need to rest.” I kiss his cheek and turn, but he latches onto my hand.
“Don’t go. I’m not sleepy, just tired of all those people. I didn’t plan on all that. I was planning on bringing you here and chilling with you.”
Warmth spreads through my chest as I sit next to him. “I don’t think any of the things you had planned can go down today.”
He purses his lips. “So we can’t pick up where we left off this morning?”
“Not with your boy in the guest room and my cousin and yours in the rec room.”
“Tito’s probably in heaven.”
My gaze sharpens.
He raises his hands. “Not like that. He just asked that she come around more often.” He shakes his head. “I’m not implying anything about Sel.”
“Good.”
“Damn, that look was something. You looked ready to black out.”
I nod. “Sel is more than my cousin or a best friend. She’s my sister.”
“Same with Tito,” he says. “I trust no one like I trust him. He’s not a sucio.”
“Right…”
“I mean, he’s a good guy. Anyway, you want to watch a movie?” He turns on the TV, but it’s set to YouTube. His home feed catches my eye, and I stop his fingers from clicking the home button.
Mukbang compilations. Ocean geography previews. 4K Fly-over videos.
Nothing I would’ve expected to see.
I point at the screen. “This is your feed?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I don’t believe you. Where are the music videos with all the culonas?”
A grin stretches across his face. “Somewhere in there. I’ve been watching more of these.”