Page 47 of No Darker Temptation

Alejandro catches me on my third glass and slides into place beside me, admiring the crowd as the room fills slowly. The space is large but dimly lit, the scent of burning candles and flickering lamps attributing to the illusion of intimacy.

“You’re beautiful.”

“I know.”

A soft rumble of laughter leaves him as he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against him. “I didn’t know you were the jealous type.”

“I’m not!” I snap defensively.

He sounds practically giddy when he says, “Yes, you are.”

I roll my eyes and return my attention to the champagne flute in my hands.

“This is amazing. I think this is the best night of my life.”

“Shut up,” I chastise. “You’re such an idiot.”

“Just how jealous are you?” he grins, leaning against me as his voice drops to a volume only I can hear. “Jealous enough to meet me upstairs? I’m dying to see what you have on under that dress…”

I shift away from him and quickly change the conversation. “So how do you two know each other?”

His eyes don’t lose their hint of mischief as he replies, “Her grandmother was one my granduncle’s numerous ex-wives. We aren’t blood related but I’ve known her all my life. When I moved to London we both went to the same university.”

“Hm,” The same university he and Regina went to. “She looks like she wants to devour you whole.”

He drops his mouth to my ear and says, “Really? I hadn’t noticed. I was too busy trying to figure out where the zipper on this dress is.”

I nudge him with my elbow but his fingers dig into my flesh, gripping my hip so tightly I’m sure I’ll bruise. His fingers travel along the edge of the slit there before dipping under. “Are you wearing anything under this?”

My breath catches and I almost drop the glass in my hand. “Cut it out.”

I feel him smile against my neck where he presses a kiss and I turn away from the crowd, putting down the empty champagne flute, and try to hide from prying eyes. He hooks a finger under the lace band of my stockings and releases it with a snap, making the top of my thigh burn. “Did you wear these just for me? I can’t wait to take them off of you.”

A gasp gets caught in my throat and I spin around, covering his mouth with my hand as my eyes dart across the room. Luckily enough for us, we’re at the end of the bar and everyone else is so absorbed in their own mindless conversations, they hardly notice us tucked into a corner.

“You’re worse than a horny teenager.”

I feel his laughter against my palm and the vibrations skitter down my spine before exploding between my legs. I yank my hand away. “You’re supposed to be hosting.”

His eyes rake over my figure, lingering, burning, doing very little to shield his thoughts. Finally, his gaze catches on the absurd diamond necklace around my throat. I swear it weighs five pounds but Alejandro insisted I wear it tonight. A chain of alternating emerald and princess cut diamonds descend like a teardrop to hug a massive blue diamond the size of my thumb. It sits atop my breasts with ease, the only hint of color against my all-black ensemble. Even my evening gloves are black, made of soft Chantilly lace.

“I’m being a very attentive host. Making sure the needs of my most important guest are met.” This time when he leans down to kiss me it’s chaste and fleeting. Just as I think he’s going to pull away, he cups me through the thin silk layer of my panties and presses two fingers against my entrance. “You’re fucking soaked, you know that? And if the mayor hadn’t just walked in I’d have laid you out on the bar to take care of it.”

A strange sound gets stuck in my throat and he pulls away, waving a hand at the man who just entered the room.

Before I can make a clean escape, he loops an arm around me, digging his fingers into my flesh as he holds me in place. “Señor Alcalde,” he extends his freehand and the mayor takes it. “Que gusto verte.”

Oh my God…he’s going to introduce me to the fucking mayor.

“Don Alejandro, un placer, como siempre.” Mayor Saenz smiles before turning his attention to me. “Y quién es esta encantadora.”

Shit, I don’t know what that word means in this context.

Also, I thought his name was Saenz, not Alcalde?

I do my best to smile, unsure of what to say, and thankfully Alejandro steps in.

“Le presento a mi mujer, Dahlia Rosario Melendez⁠—”