High Stakes Seduction - Book 2 (12 page)

I raised my leg, wrapping it around him and in one, smooth motion, he thrust himself inside me. I cried out, my nails digging into his shoulders as my head fell back beneath the cascading water.

He gripped me tighter, his kisses growing more and more feverish as I ground myself against him.

“Deeper,” I moaned, and Antonio obeyed, his hand grasping my buttocks and pressing me hard against him.

I had both legs around him now and he carried me backwards, his strong arms easily lifting me, then smoothly turning us around to press me up against the water polished cliff wall.

He lowered his face to my neck again, this time tasting my skin with his teeth. I put my palms on his taut chest and pressed lightly. He leaned back, watching me with glistening eyes as I ran my hands over his beautiful body.

“Say it again,” I whispered.

I felt him grow even harder inside me. Impossibly hard as he smiled that dark, eager smile, leaning in close. “Cara. Cara Mia.”

“Yes!” I exclaimed, throwing my head back and pulling him against me.

He thrust into me with a primal hunger and I took him in with a ferocity to match, the sounds of our lovemaking caught up in the rush of the falls as we reached our fevered crescendo.

Chapter Thirty-One

“I might have to get left behind more often,” I joked the next morning when we were met by the chauffeur who’d come to take us to the airport. Everyone at the hotel had been so understanding, the food was fantastic, and despite being worried about the ship going on without me, I'd actually had the most relaxing sleep I’d managed on this whole trip.

I almost blushed, remembering my erotic dream from the night before. I'd always had vivid dreams. What was it about the islands—or was it simply Antonio—that made them so frequent?

Then I laughed as I imagined how much Maria was going to tease me about this little side adventure.

What I hadn’t thought about, was how freaked out Antonio would be when we finally made it to Trinidad. Or that he'd be waiting for me at the airport.

“Angela! Are you all right?” he demanded as I came off the plane at Piarco International Airport, grabbing me by the arms—and none too gently. The look in his eyes was something I'd never seen before—an intensity that frightened me.

I thought at first he was angry with me, but when he wrapped his arms around me, pressing me against his chest, I realized this was something completely different. I felt the rapid beating of his heart against my cheek, and waves of relief washed over me. We stood there in silence. I couldn't believe how good it felt to be back here, actually encircled by his strong, capable arms. This was so much better than my fantasy from last night.

Whatever it was Antonio felt for me, at this particular moment, I knew that, at the very least, he had been worried for my safety.

“I’m fine,” I managed when he finally released me from his bear-like grip, but I was trembling slightly. “No one was hurt.”

He held me at arms’ length, studying me with that same intensity.

“Antonio,” I murmured, starting to feel uncomfortable. “What’s wrong?”

“I—I was just worried, that’s all,” he dropped his eyes, turning away.

Tina and Greg walked by just then, waving to me as they stepped into the taxi that would take them back to the ship. Watching them and thinking about Antonio’s arms around me just now, something suddenly came over me. Maybe I remembered the dream from the night before, or maybe I just lost my resolve to keep everything strictly business. Whatever. I grabbed him by the shirt and pulled his face down to meet mine.

He was almost as surprised as I was by the kiss, but after only the briefest hesitation, I felt the rigid tension in his shoulders slip away. His hands moved to my hips as his soft, delicious lips melded with my own. I slid my tongue into his mouth, eagerly entwining with his as our kiss deepened.

So you do want me,
I thought, pulling away to gaze into his dark, searching eyes.
Maybe this is what he'd been waiting for this whole time?
For me to make the first move?
He’d seemed to be in charge over everything, but at this moment—after he thought he’d lost me—he seemed far more vulnerable, more tentative, and maybe even a bit defenseless. Did that mean he did have feelings for me?

I gave him a coy smile. “Yeah. Maybe I missed you too.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Antonio was strangely quiet on the taxi drive back to the ship, but he kept an arm around me, holding me close. He directed the cab into the city, to an outdoor cafe where we sat to have coffee.

“It was pretty scary,” I said, blowing lightly on my coffee. “The roads are bad enough without a rockslide sending us bouncing down the mountainside.”

Antonio gave me a half-hearted laugh. He was listening to everything I said, asking questions about the volcano and the people on the tour, but he was still restrained. And he kept watching me, as if he thought I’d disappear the moment he took his eyes off me.

We finished our coffee and left the restaurant. We walked down to a local art gallery. Our fingers brushed together as we walked down the street, and a few more times as we admired the paintings on the wall. It didn’t seem to be an accident, and when it happened once more, I caught his hand, entwining my fingers with his. He glanced down at our joined hands, then back up at my smiling face. I saw some of his tension ease, and from that moment on, we were like any other happy couple enjoying the sights together on an exotic island vacation.

***

“I’m sorry. I know I’ve been too distracted, Angela,” he said that night at dinner. We were finally back aboard the ship, sitting alone by candlelight. “I want to spend more time with you, but this business I’m handling is taking far more time than I'd planned on.”

I reached across the table, touching a finger to his. “You know, I
am
your associate,” I said. “Is there something I can help out with?”

He shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I need to deal with this myself. It should be finished soon. Then I can focus more on the enjoyable parts of this trip.”

I liked the sound of that. Heaven knows I was tired of the conflicting messages I was getting from him. And tired of the sexual tension that seemed to always end in frustration. I mean, really, how much does a girl have to take?

I sipped my wine, remembering my vow to start living my life more fully. Then I slipped off one shoe and boldly slid my foot along his leg. “Maybe I can help you in other ways.”

He looked up at me, his eyes narrowing as a slight smile crossed his lips. I think he was as surprised by my actions as I was, but I wasn’t going to let him know that. After everything I’d been through, I decided that I wasn’t going to let this night end in frustration again—I almost blushed thinking about it, but I remained resolute. I leaned forward at the table, knowing the top of my dress would fall forward a little to expose my cleavage.

I turned his hand over, drawing lazy little circles in his palm. “Why don’t we head back to the room early tonight?”

He looked at me through slitted eyes. I couldn't tell exactly what he was thinking, but suddenly he pulled me up into a standing position, almost dragging me toward the elevator.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Back in our room, we stepped out onto the veranda, watching the sparkle of the moon on the waves. I leaned back against him, my mind was calmed by the view, but my heart was racing from his nearness. He stroked my face, smiling down at me.

"Let me please you," I said. He placed a single finger to my lips, stopping me from speaking any more.

For the briefest instant I feared that maybe I’d gone too far, maybe I'd been too bold. But then he moved his mouth to my ear.

“Dance for me,” he whispered.

I looked up at him, searching his eyes as he fished his cellphone out of his pocket. A moment later, soft music drifted into the air between us and even in the darkness I could see his smile.

“Dance for me, Angela,” he said once more, sitting down. “Please me, Cara.”

That voice. Those eyes. The soft music filling the air and hanging between us like a gentle fog.

Like the perfect movie setting, it evoked a dreaminess that sent my mind reeling with desire. Some small part of me couldn’t believe I was doing this, but the rest of me wanted it very much.

My heart raced as I thought back to the burlesque show, the long legged women in their tight skimpy little outfits, their lithe bodies writhing away on the stage. I drew in a shuddering breath and turned my back on him.

This is it
.

I closed my eyes, my body trembling. Taking a deep breath, I listened to the music for a few seconds, letting it get inside me, feeling the beat of the drums and the dulcet rhythm of the saxophone. The soft caress of the warm air coming off the water below.

I willed my body to relax. To enjoy just this one moment. And then the next. To focus only on the moment. I remembered how it felt to be held in his arms, the warm whisper of his breath on my skin, the sweet touch of his lips on my neck. The rigid length of his manhood pressing up against me. Then I felt my hips begin to sway, almost of their own volition and I smiled.

I could do this.

No, I
wanted
to do this.

Very slowly, and in time to the music, I raised my arms above my head as my body swayed. I ran one hand down the length of my arm, tracing along the back of my neck and gently scooping my hair to one side.

I stretched both arms over my head again, arching my back, then drawing my hands down to trace the curves of my body. I glanced over my shoulder to see if I had his attention. Even in the dark I could see the glint in his eyes.

Emboldened by the hungry look on his face, I turned slightly to run my hands down over my aching breasts, cupping them and caressing the nipples with my thumbs. I heard the sharp intake of his breath and remembered my dream from the previous night.

This turned me on even more and I moved my hands to the thin straps of my dress. I slid a thumb underneath the one closest to him, teasing it away from my shoulder so that it fell against my arm.

I turned a little more then, my dress slipping to reveal the side of my breast in its black lace bra. I took encouragement from the smile I saw on the corner of his lips and slipped off the other strap, turning away again as a tease. I leaned back towards him and he obliged by releasing the hook at the top of my bodice.

I turned again and with a Marilyn-Monroe-sultry kind of shoulder shimmy, I released the fabric I had been holding over my breasts—slowly, seductively, revealing the scanty black lace bra that barely covered my hard nipples. When I saw the look on his face, I was grateful for Priscilla's good taste in undergarments.

Doing my best imitation of the girls in the show, I slowly wiggled and twisted, working the dress down over my hips, then let it fall to the floor. I stepped out of the puddle of clothing and stood before him, now wearing nothing but my scanty lace bra and panties.

I looked him straight in the eyes, holding his gaze as I sauntered forward, my hips swaying from side to side, my steps matching the beat of the music. My body magnetically attracted to his.

I was no longer in control of my thoughts or actions. Some primal need had taken over, pushing me forward while my conscious mind watched from a distance. It was exciting and a little scary to lose control in this way, wanting, needing, lusting after this man who held all the cards.

Antonio watched me with those predatory eyes, and for once, I knew I was in charge, in control of the situation.

I was the hunter. And I instinctively knew just what I had to do to catch my prey.

I moved around behind him, trailing a finger along his shoulders, running my fingers up through his hair. I pulled his head towards my breasts, and into my cleavage. Then I reached behind me with one hand, undoing my bra and letting it slide down my arms. I dangled it in front of his eyes before letting it fall into his lap. He leaned his head back again into my breasts. A soft moan escaped my lips as his velvety hair brushed against my aching nipples.

I leaned forward and kissed the top of his forehead, running my hands down the sides of his face.

He pulled me around in front of him and I smiled down at his upturned face. Holding the gaze of his dark, intense eyes, I placed one hand on each of his knees, pressing them apart. In time to the music, I lowered myself to kneel on the ground in front of him, then ran my hands up his legs towards the obvious bulge in his pants. But, I stopped just short of actually touching his cock. He wanted me, I could tell, but I wasn't ready to let him have his way. Yet.

I saw the flash in his eyes when I stood up suddenly, the way his tongue slid across his lips.

Disappointment? I hoped so. Turn about was fair play. I placed my hands back on his knees, leaning forward as I pressed my breasts together with my arms and the flash was there again.

I stood up, slipping fingers down to the tiny lacy fabric that covered my hot, wet slit. With one hand I rubbed myself gently, remembering the nights I'd had to take care of myself. By now I was far too into this to stop what I was doing or have any conscious control at all. I wanted this man. He wanted me. And I didn't want to wait any longer.