Chapter 11 #2
“Oh, yes, you did. Many times. I noticed you watching me when I was working in Indulgence. I also noticed you were standing outside my house the other night. In the dark. All by yourself. You stood there for well over a half an hour. What would you call that?”
“Ensuring you were safe.”
“Ah. I guess there’s a difference. As far as what I’m doing, well, I figured since you’ve scared off every single guy who even considered asking me to dance, there’s only one thing left.”
“Yeah? And what’s that?”
“You’re going to be my date.”
He half snorted. “You know I can’t do that.”
I reached over, placing the glass on the table and taking his hand.
“Yeah, you can. You’re not going to allow me to enjoy having any fun, especially for my birthday because you have to do your job.
So I figure it this way. If you want to stay close, then do so.
I’ll allow it, but you’ll need to make that happen my way. ”
“Which is?”
He allowed me to drag him onto the dance floor. “Which is dancing first. Then a little dinner afterwards. The Brazilian way.”
With his teeth gritted, he looked adorable, but I wasn’t going to aggravate him further by telling him that.
When we were in the middle of the floor, I pulled my hand free, immediately twisting my hips to the rhythm. He stood still, just like I knew he would.
The trouble was that I knew he could dance. He was simply being stubborn, refusing to follow any of my rules.
I did enjoy tormenting him, dancing around him in circle after circle while he wasn’t budging, but soon it became somewhat annoying.
“Dance with me. I promise you I won’t bite.” Laughing, I took both his hands into mine. The crazy shot of electricity was even more incredible than before. I’d never felt such extreme chemistry with anyone.
But it was obvious to me he wasn’t loosening up. When I closed the distance as I’d done many times, I was certain he was prepared to push me away, keeping me at arm’s length.
“Would you relax? I’m going to loosen your tie. In case you haven’t noticed, you don’t need to be buttoned up. This is a tropical paradise.” Even before I touched his tie, I felt his weapon in the pocket of his jacket. He was never without his weapon. A man who was always prepared.
Maybe I did feel a little safer around him. How could I not? He’d never allow anything to happen to me. That much I was certain of.
He stared down at me with daggers in his eyes while I loosened the tie. I even popped a couple of buttons on his shirt. When he didn’t object, I continued moving in time to the music and tugging his tie completely free.
Backing away, I slipped it around my neck, performing a couple of hot moves. Or I thought they were hot.
The way he shook his head was as if chastising me, but when his upper lip curled and I noticed a flash in his eyes, I sensed he was starting to enjoy himself. I kept going, unfastening a few additional buttons.
When I took a step back as well as a deep breath, he shoved his hands into his pockets. At least I was given a full view of his chest, a chiseled masterpiece.
I’d never thought I’d be interested in a man with ink anywhere on his body. Maybe with the exception of a small tat on his forearm. But he had a full sleeve and intricate art on his chest, which I could see some of even in the wild lighting.
I dared swipe a finger down the opening, blowing out a level of hot air that hadn’t existed a few seconds earlier. The man’s skin was hot to the touch. I wondered if that was all the way around. When I’d seen his cock, I’d almost blacked out.
Well, maybe that was a slight exaggeration, but not by much.
He was built rock solid everywhere. In fact, I’d never seen a man with a cock as long, thick, and hard as his.
I wondered if he’d noticed my mouth had been watering and I’d been close to drooling.
I hoped not. That wouldn’t be considered very ladylike.
I pulled back, dancing more aggressively than I had before.
Donatello was still a statue. “Dance. What? Are you scared of me?”
“Do I look like I’m scared of anything?”
“I don’t know. Right now, I can’t tell.”
Very slowly, he shook his head back and forth and for the first time this evening, he allowed himself to glance all the way to my sky-high heels. As soon as he was finished, his cheeks puffed up. That’s when he ripped off his mask, shoving it into his outside jacket pocket.
Since the day I’d met the man, I’d thought he was handsome. That was ages ago when I shouldn’t have been experiencing immoral thoughts. He’d been stick thin, a kid who hadn’t had a decent meal in a very long time.
And my family had taken him in, treating him like a son. He certainly hadn’t wanted to remind me of just how close he was to Jaxon.
No wonder he was worried that someone might see us together.
But he hadn’t grown up with me and had certainly taken an oath to the family.
That made the desire for him that much stronger. And if I had to guess, I’d say he was experiencing the same feelings.
Hunger that had lingered in the air for years, unrequited and determined to be very wrong.
When to me, the thought, the deep cravings, and the wish seemed very right.
His nostrils flared and I found myself several feet away from him. He’d never been playful, at least not around me. So when he took a single step closer, grasping both ends of his tie around my neck, I shimmied my hips, never taking my eyes off him.
I managed to move in time to the beat as he slowly brought me toward him. We were playing a little dance that had nothing to do with the music. Somehow, we both knew that as soon as another line was crossed, it would be impossible to uncross it.
Yet here we were, tempting fate.
Now that I was closer, he began to move his hips in time to the music. He twisted the tie, holding the leash with one hand as he placed his other on my hip.
The sultry Latino music was perfect for our moods.
And our burning desire.
The dancing continued, but he was taking full control over me, finally moving in so that we were mere inches apart.
I pressed one hand on his chest while sliding the other over his shoulder.
Since I could remember, I’d always wanted to tangle my fingers in his hair.
Now that I had the chance, I could honestly say I wasn’t disappointed.
His hair was thick and silky, so much so I longed to bury my face into it as he… Fucked me. All the filthy images I’d had about the man came roaring to life.
Being here with him and away from home felt right, as if we could still pretend to be anyone we wanted to be.
Although I honestly didn’t know what was so wrong with being entirely ourselves.
While the dancing continued, we weren’t paying much attention to anything or anyone else around us.
I was surprised to see him letting go, although I could tell he was keenly aware of everything going on around us. Always on duty.
Always protecting me.
I thought about what he’d said earlier in that he’d protect me with his life. While I had no doubt he would, the last thing I wanted was to test the scenario. We moved in time to the beat, playing off each other as the music turned darker, more sensual in nature.
The man had moves that I’d never thought existed, taking the lead and refusing to let it go. The tie remained a leash, a tether to someone who’d all but consumed me with his eyes. I was enthralled by the dark and dangerous look in his eyes, so protective.
So possessive.
For a little while, there was no one else in the club. I played my part, pretending to be a masked vixen, gyrating my hips to entice and torment. I could tell my actions were working, the thick bulge between his legs continually drawing my attention.
When the music turned even more provocative, I took the opportunity to alter my dance moves, placing both hands on his chest. I offered several naughty looks as I brushed my fingers down his carved abdomen, twisting my hips as I went.
The moment I reached his thick leather belt, I licked my bottom lip before pursing both.
Donatello took a deep breath, now barely moving. I could tell by the look in his eyes he was both amused and irritated. My guess was his annoyance was based in his inability to touch me. Why not continue to tempt him? I was a very bad girl under the professional persona.
I continued crawling my hands down his hips while crouching down ever so slowly. All the while, I never took my eyes off him and certainly didn’t stop twisting my body back and forth in time to the beat.
His upper lip curled and for a few seconds, he indulged in his hunger by brushing the back of his hand across my cheek.
I sensed another annoyance with me still wearing a mask, but I pulled my face away before he had a chance to rip it off.
While wearing the mask, I could pretend I was someone else for just a little longer.
With my hands placed on the inside of his legs, I slowly brushed them up until I was maybe two inches away from his throbbing cock.
Apparently, my teasing went too far. He slipped his arms under mine, tugging me to my feet.
Given the force used, I was yanked against him, the full weight of his body pressed to mine.
Gasping, I laughed nervously as he slipped one hand down my back, cupping my bottom. Whether the move was intentional or simply to keep me steady I wasn’t certain, but he’d managed to press his cock against my stomach.
The moment was powerful, utter silence enveloping us with only the slight echo of my rapidly beating heart. He lowered his head, taking shallow breaths until our lips were so close I could easily dart my tongue out and taste him.
And dear God, I wanted to.
How many times had I thought about doing so? Dozens. Hundreds. I had to face facts. He was and always had been my fantasy man. No other guy had ever stood up to the image I had of Donatello in my mind.
Whether merely fantasy or not, I’d never been free of the hold he had over me.
As if he was the puppet master and I was dangling on several strings.
Refusing to take no for an answer, he gently removed my mask, peering down at me with hooded eyes. With one hand, he flexed his fingers, tenderly placing them on my face. As he rolled them down to my chin and neck, I closed my eyes.
I’d never had anyone perform such a sensual move.
“You’re much too beautiful to hide your face behind a mask.”
His words were so unexpected that when I opened my eyes, it was as if tears had formed. Maybe because compliments from men were very hard to come by. I clung to him, pulling myself even closer. With my head tilted, I debated whether to snag a kiss of my own.
I licked my lips in anticipation and as soon as I did, he gently but firmly pushed me away.
“We’re leaving.” His voice boomed above the music, the kind of stern tone indicating he wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“We just got here.”
“No, that was two hours ago. We are leaving.” I was shocked when he took my hand, parting the ways through the crowd with nothing but his intimidating presence. There were people who backed away far enough we had a wide path to walk through.
But there were eyes that lingered, watching our every move and as I’d done dozens of times when in New Orleans, the self-defense training my father has insisted I take kicked in.
I wasn’t frightened but cautious, and for a few seconds, I remembered why my family had every right to be nervous.
However, if the people watching us bothered the huge man with a firm grasp on my hand in any way, I couldn’t tell. Once outside, he slipped the mask into his pocket then let go of my hand.
“Where from here?” he asked.
“How about a quiet little bistro?”
He acted as if he was going to say no.
“Remember, you’re my date for tonight and it’s my birthday.”
The way he was staring at me should be considered disconcerting. He was sizing me up. Everything about him was very intimidating and he did so on purpose.
Yet I could see right through his invisible mask to the man craving as much about life as he’d captured I needed.
After another deep sigh, he nodded. “Fine, but the rest of the evening I will make the choices.”
“And what if I don’t adhere to your game plan?”
This time as he lowered his head, the evil grin I knew and loved returned. “Then you’ll learn about harsh punishment.”
Why was it his words created a wave of tingles?