AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Yet Zorro’s fragrance lingered, as if the artist had painted me with it. A part of me couldn’t wait to take a long, hot shower. The other was basking in the muskiness. I remained lightheaded but determined to ensure he never bothered me again. When I finally spotted him sitting in a commanding seat, the table overlooking the crowd, I refused to back down. He noticed me immediately, turning his head slowly until he was able to capture every moment of my advance.
The savage-looking man who’d accompanied him remained in the shadows, but there was no doubt he was watching everything I did. Who was Zorro really and why did he need protection? I pushed my way through the crowd, leaning over his table to ensure he heard every word I said. “I wanted to make myself clear, Zorro. You’re not my type.”
“Clearly. I am curious. What type is that? Boring? Safe? A man who works his eight to five job, often bringing work home then never having time for you? However, his income and status are enough that you forgive his lack of attention, preferring to use his money in order to purchase pretty little trinkets for your art gallery?”
He’d turned from annoying to cruel and I reacted instantly, slapping him hard across the face. The sound was loud enough that several people stopped what they were doing, gawking at us. Perhaps they were egging me on, hoping for a more violent event.
He snagged my hand easily, pulling me further across the table.
“That wasn’t very nice of you, Aphrodite.”
“I never said I was a very nice girl.”
He took several deep breaths, his fingers digging into my wrist. Then he moved to a standing position. “You will dance with me. Then you can make your determination as to whether I’m your type or not.”
I sensed he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He moved through the crowd, the people nearest parting the ways as if he was a man of importance. As he headed to the dance floor, I realized I wasn’t trying to pull away.
I was surprised he didn’t want to be the center of attention, moving to the outskirt of the massive dance floor where the shimmering lights barely cut through the shadows. When he pulled me into his arms, I immediately smashed my palms against his chest, trying to jerk away.
“You act as if you’re afraid of me,” he said, his growl permeating my eardrums.
“I’m not afraid of you, Zorro, just annoyed. But I’ll play your game. Should I be afraid of you?”
He spun me around, his upper lip curling. “The only fear that you should feel is because of your need to escape the tight confines of your mind.”
There was no need to continue our conversation. I was thrown into a whirlwind of emotions as we danced, the masked man paying no attention to the beat or vibe of the music. He was taking full control of the situation, assuming that I’d find his dominant personality attractive. He slid his arm around me, pulling me tightly against the heat of his body.
There was no escape.
The burn of need furrowed inside, shutting down everything but his extreme magnetism. I hated to admit it but I was enthralled by his method of seduction, his overpowering need that couldn’t be faked.
As I gazed into his eyes, the world around us faded. I finally allowed myself to enjoy the intimacy, one dance turning into two. Then three. As the beat slowed, he eased me further into the shadows, finally pinning me against the wall. He palmed the surface with one hand, slowly lowering his gaze by several inches.
I wasn’t certain what I expected but when he brushed his fingers down my forehead, flexing them open as the tips slowly made their way to my jaw, I shuddered audibly. Then he wrapped them around my throat, lifting my chin with his thumb. There was utter domination in his hold, but I wasn’t afraid. Every cell in my body was exploding from excessive heat, my thoughts jumbled, but there was no mistaking the desire sweeping through both of us. He had that kind of powerful draw.
As he slowly lowered his head, the wafting cascade of his hot breath titillated my senses. Then he tightened his hold before capturing my mouth, holding his lips in place. I pushed both hands against his chest, still shivering but only from the increasing hunger. Then I curled my fingers around his shirt, arching my back as I darted my tongue back and forth across his.
He made no other attempt at controlling me for a few seconds, allowing me to slip my tongue inside, swishing it across his. The pulsing beat created vibrations that danced with the hard thumping of my heart. This was insane. I didn’t know him. He could be a murderer intent on destroying my life.
But at that moment I didn’t care.
I wanted the closeness. I needed the feel of his heated body pressed against mine.
And I craved being lost in the moment for longer than a dance would allow. As soon as I eased my hand to his jaw, he regained full control, squeezing my throat with enough pressure stars floated in front of my eyes. Then he explored every centimeter of my mouth, husky growls permeating the space between us.
He was nothing but a true predator, a hunter who’d captured his prey. I slid my arm around his neck, pulling him as close as possible, the kiss becoming a passionate roar of two people consumed by fire. There was no sense to our strong connection, no reason my mind wasn’t attempting to shut down the moment. Nothing good could come out of this.
Except for a night of raunchy sin.
Did it matter? Should I be confined by tight constraints of what I thought my life should be? The answer didn’t come easily.
He pressed his thumb under my chin, lifting it even higher as he sucked on my tongue. When he finally pulled away, it was only a mere inch, allowing him to drag his tongue across my jaw before biting my lower lip. The man was ravenous, his hunger knowing no bounds. He jerked my head to the side, exposing my neck, brushing his tongue around my pulse of life. It felt like he could make the choice to keep me alive or end my existence. The power he held was significant, which only added to the volatility of the moment.
I still didn’t care.
I wasn’t the kind of girl to live dangerously, but reckless behavior or not, this was everything I’d craved. He bit down on my neck and stars exploded in front of my eyes. I could swear the man was marking me, the single act a proclamation that I belonged to him.
There was no doubt I was right as he shifted his attention to my ear, nibbing my earlobe then whispering, his husky voice exciting:
