Seconds have never felt like hours. . . Until I'm in Rico's presence.
Chapter 13
I've been tossing and turning for approximately fifteen minutes when the creak of a door jingles through my ears. Although I'm beyond tired, after my exchange with Rico, sleep is evading me. The entire day has been nothing but a blur of confusion. In a matter of hours, I went from being surrounded by twenty-three grubby faces to trying to ignore the affections of a man who equally intrigues and intimidates me.
Any chance of ignorance is lost when I twist my head to the side and spot Rico entering the room wearing nothing but a pair of skimpy boxer shorts. His hair is wet and flat, his naked torso is shimmering with droplets of water I'm suddenly envious of, and his plain blue cotton boxers have no chance in hell of hiding his yummy six pack abs or the defined cut of his oblique muscles.
When he spins around to face the dresser, my mouth falls open. He has a tattoo that covers a majority of his left shoulder blade and twists halfway down his back. It's an intricate design that weaves through a rippling of muscles I didn't even know existed. And his ass… oh… there should be rules against a man having an ass that fine.
Failing to notice my ogling stare, Rico undoes the latch on his gold watch, places it on a crystal tray on top of an antique dresser, then turns to face the mirror on the duchess. He runs his fingers through his hair, giving it that sexed-up tousled look usually achieved through bedroom antics. Like the first time I viewed an original Monet painting, I can't stop staring at him, both riveted and confused. His body is truly spectacular. A fine piece of art.
After tussling his unruly hair into place, Rico throws a plain shirt over his head and spins around to face me. I watch him stride across the room. Just the way he moves his body with such fluidity and ease, I know he'd be extraordinary in bed. Sheet-clenching, I’ll never forget being claimed by him, mind-hazing sex. The heat in my cheeks doubles when my mind wanders to the time I discovered a three-pack of empty condom wrappers under this very bed. That was a mere week ago. It feels more like a lifetime.
The heat pumping through my veins diverts to another region when Rico reaches the edge of the bed and pulls back the sheets. Not saying a word, he slips into the bed next to me.
Spring-boarding into a half-seated position, I stammer, “What are you doing?”
He adjusts two pillows behind his head before connecting his dark eyes with mine. “Getting ready for bed.”
“Inmybed?” I splutter, my voice high and cringeworthy.
"Kitten," Rico draws out in a long, husky moan, causing the hairs on my arm to stupidly bristle. "This is notyourbed.”
I peer around the room, confused.
My eyes stop aimlessly floating when he continues, “It'sourbed.”
I stare at him, still shocked. “Ourbed?”
He smiles a lazy grin that sets my pulse racing. “Yes.Ourbed.”
Annoyed at my body’s reaction to his playful grin, I mutter, “And how many other women have you slept with inourbed?”
I'm not going to lie; a stabbing pain hits the middle of my chest just from thinking about him with anyone but me. Is that inconceivable for me to say? I don't know him—he's practically a stranger—but I'm getting jealous about his prior relationships.Yeah, that's inconceivable.
My shock multiplies tenfold when he answers, “Not one.”
I stare at him impassively, demanding further explanation. There's no way a man with looks like his wouldn't have women falling at his feet, so I find it extremely doubtful no one has slept in his bed before me.
Noticing my skeptical gaze, Rico explains, “We purchased this bed an hour after being married. At your request, it was delivered before we arrived here.”
I release a long-winded breath. “Oh.”
He smiles at my ambiguous reaction before tilting in close to my side. “I’ve never had so much fun breaking in a bed,” he mutters into my ear, causing a gathering of goosebumps to float to the surface of my skin.
My pussy tingles when the roughness of his five o'clock shadow scratches the skin on my nape. That isn't the only response his closeness instigates; it also causes a new memory to rush to the surface of my muddled mind. . .
Not the slightest bit embarrassed, I yank down the zipper of my floral skirt, step out of it and charge towards a monstrous bed in the middle of the room. A girly giggle rumbles up my chest and explodes from my mouth when the softness of new sheets engulfs me.
“Oh my goodness, it’s huge!” I squeal before fanning my arms and legs out like I’m making a snow angel in the high thread count sheets.
My nostrils flare, relishing the scent of new bedding, but that isn't the sole cause for my quickening pulse: it's the distinct aroma of spices on sweat-slicked skin. My darling husband is close by.
My immature laughter switches to a needy purr when he presses a soft kiss on the edge of my ankle, closely followed by one on the curve of my knee. I squirm when a rough beard scrapes the skin high on my inner thigh. Fighting my body’s desire to pull my knees inward, I loosen my thigh muscles and sweep them open. I'm in the bed my husband purchased especially for us to christen on our wedding night. Now is not the time for modesty.
My breathing pans out when the softest pair of lips grazes past my longing core. I gasp, incredibly turned on when Rico places a gentle peck on the middle of my satin panties. Acting purely on instinct, my hips swivel, soundlessly pleading for more direct contact. I only just hold in my disappointed moan when Rico's sinful lips continue their journey, denying my body’s silent pleas.
Every kiss placed on my bare skin as he leisurely travels from my ankles to my torso has my excitement growing. I'm incredibly aroused while also reveling in his tenderness. I’ve never had a man treat me with so much compassion before. Every kiss Rico gives is filled with silent promises that he will always love and protect me, keep me safe, and never break my heart.
