Page 86 of No Merciful Corruption

“You’re ridiculous.”

He locks the door. “And we have the house to ourselves for at least an hour.”

“Mm,” I back away a few steps. “You have a one-track mind, Mr. Narvaez.”

“I’m afraid I do, Mrs. Narvaez.” He removes his watch and drops it on the dresser. “But that’s why you married me.”

“Is it? And here I was thinking I married you for your money.”

“The sex too.”

I trip over my feet and momentarily lose my footing. Alejandro doesn’t stop his advancement. He begins to unbutton his shirt and my heart rate picks up when I realize the space between us is quickly vanishing.

“I think I had enough of that on the plane ride here. And last night in our hotel.” I count on each finger. “On the yacht off the coast of the Maldives.”

He undoes the cuffs of his shirt sleeves. “Don’t forget the jungle trek in the Philippines.”

I blush at the memory. “We promised never to talk about that.”

He slides a hand behind the nape of my neck and brings my mouth to his. I’m struck by the sheer intensity of a simple kiss and how no amount of time can diminish the excitement of being touched by him. All he does is press our lips together and my stomach is already in knots. I can feel the hunger radiating from him and am overwhelmed by the pressure he applies to my bottom lip until it yields. The soft glide of his tongue against mine sends a flurry of pleasure through me. By the time he brings a hand to my lower back and aligns his body with mine, I can hardly keep myself upright.

Every kiss is a treasure he’s desperate to have all to himself. He takes what he can, as much as he can, as if the source of this pleasure is finite and he fears the moment he’ll have to live without it. He kisses me so thoroughly that by the time I come up for air, he’s undone every last button on the back of my dress and the garment melts away from my figure with ease, gathering at my waist. Shivers dance down my spine as he lowers his lips to the pulse in my neck and licks.

“You know,” My breath catches. “I had planned on being productive today.”

He turns me around and pushes the dress past my hips. The light fabric is soundless as it lands in a heap of yellow and red cotton on the floor.

“Really?” His breath dances over the skin of my bare shoulder.

One hand comes around me from behind and presses against my lower stomach, fingers spreading and digging into my flesh, while the other unhooks my bra. He drags his hand up the length of my torso and between the valley of my breasts. Intimate and familiar. Beautiful and safe.

For once, I’m glad he takes his time. I want anticipation to build and simmer until I’m dizzy.

“Yes. I was going to unpack. Wash clothes…”

His hand travels further and my skin heats from the contact. Eventually, his fingers glide up the column of my throat before they cup my jaw and he guides my head to the side. I follow his lead and shiver when his lips touch the soft patch of skin beneath my ear. He leaves a trail of featherlight kisses down the length of my neck before working his way up again. Across my jaw and then the corner of my mouth. Right when I think he’ll kiss me, the hand on my stomach moves lower, dipping beneath the waistband of my panties. He hooks his finger and gently guides the lace down the lengths of my thighs, to my knees, and then my ankles.

Kneeling, he kisses behind my thigh and says, “Lift.”

I lift one foot after the other and kick the panties aside.

“Are you going to get undressed or am I just decoration?”

“Admiration.” He drags his open palms across my body as he rises, kissing and biting as he goes. Soft lips on my thighs, teeth nipping at my hips, adept fingers cupping my breasts. “I am admiring how lovely my wife’s wedding ring looks.”

I turn around and hold up my left hand. “The diamond is here, honey.”

More like diamonds, to be precise. When I saw it for the first time it took my breath away. A flawless marquise diamond is beset by smaller triangular diamonds on either side to resemble a burst of light. I remember thinking it reminded me a little of The North Star. The band itself is gold, abundant with beautiful filigree and antique engraving that has been meticulously restored because while the diamonds are new, the ring itself is not. Beneath it sits my wedding band, also gold with tiny diamonds and a delicate milgrain design custom made to match the antique style of the engagement ring above it. It’s lovely without being gaudy and the diamonds are dazzling without being overwhelming.

They’re perfect.

He smiles and holds the ring up to the light. “Ah, yes it is. That’s one Hell of a rock.”

“I’m one Hell of a woman.”

He chuckles as he lifts me off my feet. “Yes, you are.”

We land on the bed in a fit of a laughter and a tangle of limbs. He’s still dressed but I can’t focus on getting him naked when he starts moving down the length of my body. First to my breasts where he drags his tongue over the sensitive skin and takes it into his mouth where his teeth tug and pull. Then further and further down…