High Stakes Seduction - Book 3 (6 page)

"Yes, a short stroll would be nice. The breeze will feel good on my skin, I think." Besides, I hoped it would help bring back the casual intimacy we'd had during the day.

As we rounded the far side of the ship, the sounds from the nightclub filled our ears.

"How about a nightcap?" Antonio suggested.

I recognized the song from the radio, though I wasn’t familiar with the artist or the name of it. It didn’t matter. I was enjoying being close to Antonio, and the thought of being in his arms, even on the dance floor, was enough to convince me.

The club wasn't terribly crowded and we found a small table off to the side. I looked around at the patrons as Antonio went to the bar to get us some drinks.

"Angela! You followed us!" came a familiar voice from behind me.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up as Julian called back to his friends, "Hey guys—look who's here!"

I smiled over at the two others sitting behind me, and waved in greeting.

"Come on," Julian said, taking my hand. "Dance with me."

He pulled me up and out onto the dance floor in spite of my laughing protests.

I have to admit, I love to dance, and the beat was infectious. Luckily, Julian wasn't such a bad dancer. What he lacked in style, he made up for in enthusiasm, grabbing my hand and twirling me around nearly every chance he got.

Then he insisted on another dance since we'd gotten out on the floor not long before the song ended. That was fine with me, I was having a good time.

Before we could head back to the table, Scott was there, playfully pushing Julian out of the way and pulling me back out onto the dance floor. Some techno-beat song came on and he moved into a strange rendition of a robotic-movement dance that had me laughing so hard I nearly wet my pants. Obviously, this guy loved being the comedian of the group.

Antonio was waiting for me as Scott returned me to the table, his face unreadable in the dim light. Scott bent over my hand, thanking me for the dance and headed back to his friends.

"Whew," I said, fanning my face with my hand. "Those boys sure can dance."

"You weren't so bad yourself," came the reply.

I laughed. "I always loved to dance. When we were young, Maria and I used to make up dances for our parents." Maria. I hadn't talked to her in a couple of days—I needed to make sure I called tomorrow.

I took a welcome sip of the cold drink, letting it slip down my throat, then slid the side of the glass across my flushed cheek.

"Thanks for the drink. Why don't you join me on the dance floor?" I asked, giving him a coy, sideways glance and grin.

"This music isn’t really my style. Maybe if something slower comes on."

That thought sent a delicious shiver right through me. Before I could say anything, though, my friends were back, this time with Andy in tow.

"Hey, Andy wanted to have a dance with you, too, but he was too shy to ask," Scott grinned.

"So we told him we'd ask, but then you'd have to dance with all of us," Julian chimed in. Andy stood there, red-faced but hopeful.

I turned to Antonio, raising my eyebrows.

He shrugged and grinned good-naturedly. "Take good care of my lady friend," he told the younger men and shooed us off.

I finished off my drink, and, the warm buzz of the alcohol fueling me, headed onto the dance floor with my new friends.

I was a bit more intoxicated than I was used to, and I knew the boys had had their fair share. My inhibitions were holding on by a thread as they wrapped themselves around me, gliding in and out of our little circle, getting a little braver, even under Antonio’s gaze in the distance.

I have to admit I was having a blast on the dance floor. The fact that the boys were enjoying it and kind of egging me on bolstered my resolve to be bolder with Antonio.

A hand would brush my back, or rest on my hips. One of them would lean in, another would twirl me into his arms and then out into one of the others'. I loved every moment of their attention, and even though I thought of them as "boys", I knew I wouldn’t have to do much to get anything I wanted from them. That feeling of control was as intoxicating as the liquor coursing through my system and the "new me" was drinking it all in.

Some part of me knew I could have Scott, Andy, or Julian with just a crook of my finger—hell, I could have all three of them at once, if I wanted! I almost laughed, I'd never had such kinky thoughts before. But they were only passing thoughts. I didn’t want any of them, no matter how much I enjoyed the adoration.

The only man I wanted was sitting at a table in the dark, watching me dance. And that, of course, brought up even sexier thoughts and memories.

The music shifted into a slow song, and the guys moved in closer, almost vying with each other.

"My turn, fellas." Antonio seemed to pluck me right out of their tight little circle as if by magic. He pulled me closer and I felt his manhood pressing into me. I looked into his eyes, seeing his hunger growing as he pressed harder against me.

The boys protested, trying to convince Antonio to give them a little more time with me. I was literally being fought over! It was new to me, and loved it.

Antonio leaned down and whispered, "Time to go, Angela." There was an edge to his voice. I looked up into his face and knew my evening with the guys was over.

"You have yourself a good night," Scott said, as Antonio and I walked past them.

Julian leaned in to kiss me chastely on the cheek. "A really good night," he said meaningfully.

"Thanks for the dance," said Andy.

"Thank you, guys, for a fun evening!" I winked at them, grinning as I looked up at Antonio, his arm still around my waist. His eyes had that hooded look I found unreadable, but that was nothing new. I saw the muscle tighten in his jaw, though, and he pulled me even closer.

I even began to tremble a little as I became acutely aware of the throbbing ache between my thighs. I was almost afraid to hope what else the night might have in store for us.

The music drifted up from Antonio’s phone.

"You wanted to dance? Then dance for me." Antonio slid his hands down my naked arms, sending shivers through me.

The sultry saxophone playing the same melody he’d put on when he’d first asked me to dance for him. This time, it wasn't a request so much as a statement.

But I felt no hesitation in complying with his demand. The warm ache within me had only increased as we’d walked back to our room in silence, and the alcohol ensured that there were no doubts or reservations to stop me now.

Antonio sat in the overstuffed lounge chair in the main room, leaning back, arms crossed with his chin resting on a fist.

The desire was already deep under my skin and I let the music take me, swaying my hips. I turned my back to him, running my hand down my braid, slipping off the band at the bottom. Then I ran my fingers through my hair, slowly pulling the braid apart, and letting the tresses fall onto my back. I shook my head, enjoying the soft, feathery feeling along my neck. Then I reached behind me and pulled my hair up, piling it on top of my head. I looked back over my shoulder at Antonio, then let my hair drop as I swung around to face him.

My fingers caressed my skin, running my palms over my shoulders, slipping fingers under the thin straps of my dress and tugging them gently, one at a time, releasing them from my shoulders. I let the straps fall, exposing my naked breasts, swollen and aching with desire. I looked down as I brushed my fingers over my hard little nipples, a soft moan escaping my lips as my eyelids fluttered closed for an instant.

I opened my eyes, but just barely, enough to make sure I didn't miss a moment of Antonio’s reaction. His lips were parted slightly and I saw the steady rise and fall of his chest. His hunger drove me on in a primal, wordless demand and I ran my palms down my stomach, smoothing the fabric and tugging at my hem. The thin fabric slid over my hips and the dress fell into a puddle on the ground. I stepped out of it and moved purposefully toward him, swaying and thrusting my hips to the rhythm, bending, arching my back, undulating my body—making sure he understood that every part of my body was there for him to see, to touch, to enjoy as I moved closer and closer.

Then, standing before him, my hips moving slowly to the beat of the music as I leaned towards him, arching my back and pushing my breasts forward. I placed my hands on his legs and gently pressed them apart so I could move in between his thighs.

I was wearing nothing but my heels and a pair of red lace panties now. I locked my eyes on his, letting him see my desire as I brought my lips close to his. I reached out and took his hands in mine. He didn’t resist as I straightened up and drew his hands to my sides. I hooked my thumbs into the thin elastic of my panties and, with his fingers entwined in mine, I slowly began to pull them downward, then as they passed my hips, released them to fall to the floor.

The music stopped then, and for a moment, reality threatened to break in, a niggling warning reminding me of what happened last time. I was stark naked, standing directly before him. Totally vulnerable and at his mercy. Could this be a cruel joke? What if—

Before I could piece the thought together, his hands slipped out of mine, massaging their way back up my thighs in small gentle caresses. The quiet insistence of his fingertips pulled me forward, and I stepped closer, his lips hovering ever so close to my anxiously waiting sex.

"Please," I heard myself whisper as his hands drew lines of fire up and down my body, his fingers caressing my buttocks, and his breath a warm tickle.

It seemed like an eternity of this excruciatingly glorious teasing, but I didn’t want to be teased. I wanted to feel him inside me. I looked down to find Antonio Mancini staring back at me. His eyes locked on mine, that mischievous glint twinkling at me. But behind it was something more. Something darker. Something that promised me I was not going to forget this night.

"Oh God, please!" I whispered, almost desperately.

I saw his predatory grin as he brought one hand forward, his fingers gently brushed my tiny curls, spreading my lips slightly. His tongue flicked out to taste my wetness and my knees nearly gave way.

My hands moved of their own volition, combing through his silken hair as his tongue moved deftly, circling the pearl of my desire and his fingers slowly, gently, eased their way inside me, twisting and turning, making me crazy.

His mouth explored every last inch of my wetness with tantalizing nibbles and licks. Sucking gently on my outer lips, exhaling his warm breath on my wetness, working his tongue into each crevice, tasting all I had to offer.

I ached so badly for this, ever since that first time in the taxi—I remembered how I'd thrown myself at him and how he'd pushed me over the top.

I wanted him. I wanted him more than anything I'd ever wanted before. I needed him. Inside me.

My hands tightened in his hair and his fingers became more insistent. His other hand caressed my thighs, moving up the curve of my butt, setting off little electric shocks.

My knees become weak, and suddenly I was no longer in control. I clenched my vagina, wanting to pull him inside me further. My head dropped back as the first wave of ecstasy began to crest within me. He pressed harder, increasing the lapping of his tongue, gently pulling the tight nub of my clit into his mouth. The first shudder wracked my body, radiating out from the place where his lips met my flesh. I fought to remain standing, even as my legs buckled, when another wave passed through my body. My ragged breath could barely even moan as the waves overcame me. He caught me in his arms, scooping me onto his lap and holding me against his chest, arms surrounding me protectively.

I lay there feeling safe and satiated, trying to catch my breath and regain control of my senses.

After a while, I looked up, touching my fingers to his cheek.

"Thank you. That was…" I began,

"Shhhh," he said, pressing my head back against his chest. I lie there a little longer, listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart.

"I don't know if I can stand up," I told him.

He chuckled. Then in one swift movement, he stood, lifting me at the same time. I gasped at his strength.

He carried me into the bedroom, laying me gently on my bed, and kissing me on the forehead as he knelt beside me. I smiled into those beautiful eyes of his.

"That was amazing, you know."

"Cara," he said, a softness in his eyes that I had seldom seen there before.

"But now it's your turn." I pulled him toward me, giving him a warm, inviting kiss. "Oh, Tony," I whispered, desire stirring again, "I want you inside me."

"Angela." He moved away from me. That hooded look dropped down over his eyes again as he stood beside the bed. Within moments, the warm intimate closeness we'd enjoyed was suddenly gone. Turned off. Like a faucet.

"What's wrong?" I asked, suddenly reminded again of the taxi ride. "Did I say something wrong?"

He looked down at me, still lying naked on the bed. He gave me the courtesy of running his hungry eyes up and down my body appreciatively before answering.