by Piper Stone
Shuddering, I loathed the way my body had already betrayed me, my nipples so aroused they ached every time they sliced against the thin material of my dress. I’d never had this kind of reaction to any man, especially some dark and mysterious stranger. It had obviously been far too long since I’d experienced a sensuous touch. Thank God the raucous clapping and cheering of all his female admirers dragged me out of the compelling state, enough so I straightened my back against the stool, one hand fisting in my lap.
Goddamn it, he was undressing me with his eyes.
While he wore a practiced smile, the look on his face was entirely different, one of interest.
Hunger.
Desire.
Possession.
I was thrown by the wave of longing searing every nerve ending, the intensity and commanding power coming from his aura stealing my breath.
Rafael’s lip curled as he studied me, remaining exactly where he was for a full three minutes. I forced myself to turn around, wrapping my hand around the glass of wine. The crowd continued to whistle, even some of the patrons stomping their chairs and stools in a determined effort to force him to return.
I cautiously took a sip, holding the liquid in my mouth as I heard his deep baritone voice conversing in Spanish with several members in the audience. At least the gorgeous girls would keep him occupied. I rubbed my tired eyes before closing them, realizing this wasn’t the right scene for me. The attack remained too fresh in my mind. However, Angelina was absolutely right. The way Rafael jazzed the crowd was incredible, his sensuous music comforting. If only I could relax.
If only I could let go of my demons, ugly monsters plaguing me every night.
“‘He is a perfect man, but I’m not interested.’ I can see that I have very much lost my touch with a beautiful woman.”
I was mortified at my own words being tossed back at me, my mouth suddenly dry. The velveteen tone in his voice swept over me like a beautiful, romantic kiss, the deep baritone and lilting accent creating a series of tingles all through my body. Why did I have the feeling he was merely making fun of me? “While I appreciate the compliment, I’m not buying.”
“And I’m not selling,” he muttered as he sidled up to the bar, his body dangerously close to mine. He glanced in my direction, a smirk crossing his face. “Although if I were, I’d certainly provide a significant discount to one so extraordinary.”
“Do all men in Spain believe they own a woman?”
His upper lip curled, his eyes managing to twinkle in the darkness. “Possession can be a thing of beauty as long as both parties understand what to expect. A woman offering her surrender is utterly intoxicating, the moment as close to perfection as there can be.”
Wow. The guy was using a full court press. Why? With his stunning good looks, he could have any woman in the room. I was nothing but a plain Jane in my mind. I wanted nothing more than to ignore him but the explosive connection between us left me aching inside. As I inhaled, the richness of his cologne invaded my senses, becoming more intoxicating than any amount of liquor or wine. I didn’t want to turn around, to even consider indulging in a brief conversation with him.
Nothing good would come out of a single discussion.
Except for sin.
“The truth is, there is no such thing as perfection. Not in any relationship and certainly not from a controlling man. They are... abburido,” I managed, that last word said in Spanish. I took my time to turn my head in his direction, opening my eyes slowly.
“Boring. Huh. Well isn’t that fascinating,” he said in a husky tone, nodding toward Angelica. “Perfection is a matter of loneliness and imagination, designed for people who refuse to take a chance on life. I find those kind of people... sin valor. They spent their days pretending to give a damn when they only desire to feed their egos.”
“Wow. Worthless. My turn to say fascinating. Then I will guess that almost everyone you come in contact with, you find worthless.” The arrogance in the man wasn’t surprising. The manner in which he issued the words was. “I gather you see yourself as an impulsive and controlling man, one destined to take over the world.” I was unable to keep the edge out of my voice. I also was drawn to the scar as if the shattering of his amazing good looks had somehow shaped him into a cold and uncaring bastard.
Rafael chuckled, waiting until Angelina delivered a drink, her eyes shifting from the pompous ‘star’ toward me. He swirled his drink, licking remaining drops of liquor from the rim of the glass before taking a sip.
“Some would call me a dangerous man, but I am just a man, one who enjoys the sounds of music, the taste of a good bottle of scotch, and the company of a gorgeous woman. Does that make me a horrible person?”
“I’m not certain,” I said, studying his features. I was thrown by my reaction to him, the excitement building to the point I could lose my inhibitions.
Perhaps my very sanity.
“Fair enough. I am a musician by trade. I’ve been lucky through the years, savoring enough success to enjoy the fruits of my labor.” Rafael glanced around the bar. “This is the first time I’ve been home in almost a year.”
“Mmm...” I said, uncertain whether I wanted to continue the conversation. “Why are you considered dangerous?”
He took a sip of his drink before looking me directly in the eyes. “I’m not a good person, but I am an honorable man. I would enjoy getting to know you.”
While some amount of truth rang in his statement, the look in his eyes was different than any man I’d been around.
Alluring.
Captivating.
Predatory.
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”
He swirled his drink, nodding several times. “I sense you’re a woman in need, hungering for a man to take control, a desire burning deep within that you can’t understand.”
Exhaling, I took a full gulp of my wine, resisting tossing the remainder in his face. He actually thought he knew me? The man was... Exciting. Daring.
I was disturbed by the fact I was attracted to him, loathing the way my body betrayed me, desire bubbling to the surface. I’d always been drawn to the bad boys; men who had no value for women other than use of their bodies. Perhaps that was the way of romance, a longing that would never be requited, at least not in the concept of happy ever after. This time, I would ignore the yearning that continued to build, refusing to fall prey to a buff body and a gruff demeanor.
Tonight, I would learn to walk away.
“You don’t know me at all, Rafael.”
“I think I do,” he countered. “I’m an excellent observer, my instincts never wrong.”
This time, I laughed. “Well, you are certainly an arrogant jerk. I’ll give you that.”
“In my world, hunger knows no bounds, the danger and darkness clawing at the surface as troubling as they are invigorating. However, when domination of a beautiful subject is handled correctly, pain as well as pleasure forge a perfect union, allowing for nothing but raw ecstasy.”
“There is no such thing as ecstasy, Rafael. There’s only crushing fear of letting go, knowing that when you do, that very darkness will be suffocating.”
“I assure you, mi cielo, letting go is only the beginning of utter rapture.”
I knew the term. My sky. Any other woman would find his words appealing in every manner, falling immediately into his bed. I wasn’t that kind of woman. “As I said, arrogant.”
I took a sip of wine, savoring the flavor before pulling cash from my purse and easing the few bills across the bar. When I slowly slid off the barstool, he had no reaction, merely a brooding man sulking over his preferred glass of scotch. I walked around him without saying another word, knowing he was following me with his eyes.
I allowed myself a moment of celebration that I’d actually walked away from his smooth lines and buff body. Hallelujah. Perhaps I’d broken the ugly pattern after all.
Then why was my mouth dry yet my pussy remained wet, staining m
y inner thighs? Why was my heartrate soaring, my skin covered in goosebumps? I hadn’t spent time with a man in so long I’d almost lost myself, the need and desire mixing together in an explosive state.
There was something about Rafael that was overtly ominous and controlling, as if he’d never been forced to take no for an answer. Maybe I did crave that kind of passion, unbridled in every way, but it was something I couldn’t handle.
No, I refused to tolerate any kind of man who believed I would succumb to his domination.
I walked outside, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, glaring up at the sky, my entire body trembling. How had a few brief minutes created such an intense connection?
The rain had just started, large drops spilling across my face as I headed toward the flat. Within seconds the volume increased, creating a chilly feeling coursing down my arms and legs. I knew before I reached the apartment building that I’d be soaked. Nothing a long, hot bath couldn’t cure. I picked up my pace, trying to stay as close to the buildings as possible.
Then I felt a hand wrapping around my arm, my body pushed against the solid brick. My reaction was shift, smashing my fist into the assailant’s face then realizing in the dim street light that I’d hit Rafael. “What do you think you’re doing?” I demanded.
“Exactly what you want me to do, what you’ve craved every night while sleeping alone,” he said, the same damn husky voice flowing over me like the softest blanket. Even his dark eyes twinkled as drops of rain cascaded down his face, accentuating his chiseled features and full lips.
I suddenly couldn’t feel the effects of the rain, only the combustible heat that continued to build. How had he seen through the layers of protection I’d placed around myself? How had he grabbed onto the hungers buried deep within me? I had to fight the attraction, to push him away. I didn’t want this.
I couldn’t want this.
Yet I did.
“Like hell I do.” His haughtiness was off the chain, as if I could want him. Rearing back, I was prepared to punch him again when he grabbed both hands, shoving them against the ragged brick.
“Trust me, beautiful flower, I always do exactly what I want.”
Before I had a chance to react, Rafael crushed his mouth over mine. I pushed hard, doing my best to jam my knee into his crotch, but within seconds, he had full control, his massive body grinding against mine as if he owned me. There was no way to get away from him, nowhere to run.
Shivering, I struggled in his hold, undulating my hips. My God, the feel of his very hard, throbbing cock pushing against my belly was incredible. My body was responding to his, my anger at his audacity slipping away, as if all he’d need to do was take me. Sweet Jesus, electricity soared between us, crackling as if a live wire dancing in the rain. Desire roared from the depths of my being, his swagger and control overwhelming.
Tempting me.
Driving me.
I was lost to the pleasure as he slipped his tongue inside, filling my mouth. His scent was more than just intoxicating, filling my nostrils, smashing against every cell. He was all male, more dominating than I’d anticipated.
And he was taking what he wanted.
As the rain began to pour, I allowed myself to fall prey to the heat of his body; strong arms and a virility that my body refused to deny.
Perhaps he was the darkness that would ignite a fire I’d long thought dead, allowing freedom.
If only for a few precious moments in time.
Or perhaps the demons had found me once again, refusing to forgive.
Refusing to allow me to live.
Chapter Six
Rafael
Darkness.
Danger.
I hadn’t lied to the luscious American woman who’d captured not only my eye but my full arousal. I was nothing but a monster prepared to snag her very soul.
Structure.
Organization.
Those were my mottos and ones I’d lived my entire life. I was unforgiving of everyone who dared break my cycle, including myself. Here I was smashing every rule I lived by.
All for a woman.
She was even more beautiful than I’d remembered, her flaming red hair fitting her feisty personality perfectly. Sadly, she had no way of knowing she’d just been captured by the devil himself, a beast who took what he wanted without question.
The feel of her was breathtaking, her body wiggling against mine. Even the spunk she’d used inside the confines of the bar had excited the hell out of me. She’d managed to do what few other men had ever contemplated for fear of my wrath, yanking my arousal into a heightened state. She was a wildcat, the fire within her very being unstoppable.
Just like I knew she’d be.
Every concept of possession rushed into my mind, an almost blinding need to own her. Any man would be a fool not to covet something so magnificent.
My thirst for her refused to be denied.
I hadn’t intended on bothering to find her after the night I’d saved her life. Karma had shoved us together, much like it had on that dark evening. She’d simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, the scam well known throughout portions of Galicia. Several young women had disappeared during the last few months, all to a slave trading operation the Los Charlines controlled. The thug who’d attacked her had been a high-ranking soldier in charge of the entire process. The Blade, as he was known, was a disturbing piece of shit, enjoying his constant torment of the pretty creatures who lost their freedom.
As I’d known all along, there was no honor in the ugly world of the Los Charlines. They were simply brutal killers, determined to take out not only my family but anyone who stood in the way of building their empire.
I would have great joy in destroying what they believed to belong to them.
Ending the Blade’s wretched life had been a sheer pleasure even though an unplanned kill; one that had created dissention within the ranks, rumors surfacing that a rogue member within the Los Charlines had ordered the hit. Other less powerful clans had smelled blood in the water, circling the city of A Coruna and the outlying areas like piranha. As luck would have it, my actions had presented an even more valuable situation, word on the street indicating Alviro’s return to the area in order to protect his multimillion-dollar operation.
While the rat had yet to surface, I knew it was only a matter of time.
As long as my patience held out.
The beautiful American was nothing more than a distraction I didn’t need, but I found myself unable to resist her. The few minutes spent with her in the bar had stripped me of sanity, pulling me into a web that she likely had no idea surrounded her. Even her statements, so haunting and truthful, had kept me fully aroused, my mind reeling with barbaric hunger. She’d had no way of knowing who she was talking to, the force of evil that had descended on the quaint little town for nefarious reasons.
She wasn’t the kind of girl who’d dare taste the forbidden fruit, yet after struggling for less than a minute, she’d accepted the moment of domination. She was aching inside, curious as to why there was an instant attraction, crackling like a live wire.
I sensed she was wet, the scent of her feminine wiles filling every cell explosively.
Every muscle and tendon in my body had been electrocuted, sizzling my nerve endings with white-hot heat.
The night I’d saved her life, I’d almost taken her, my hunger exploding from the single sight of her. She hadn’t been the frail, helpless creature that I would have anticipated. She’d walked toward the scene, defiance written all over her face. The moment she’d slipped into the café, my adrenaline had increased, my cock twitching as she’d walked closer. I’d even had difficulty breathing, my heart still thudding against my chest wall. I’d never had a reaction of this nature to any woman, my tastes bordering on the taboo with women who surrendered easily.
Willingly.
Obeying my every command.
The majority of both men and women called me a sadist, a man with no
heart, no understanding of a conscience. They were all true, terms I usually basked in. But the ugliness that would usually be unfurling at this point was quiet, the beast merely watching and waiting.
Somehow, I knew the American girl would never truly succumb, not unless she had no other choice. However, I would give her a taste that she’d never forget.
Tonight, she belonged to me even if she remained unaware.
Perhaps somewhere in my twisted mind I considered it payment for saving her life. That was the sick bastard in me. I simply wasn’t a decent human being.
I pressed my palms against the hard brick as I crushed her mouth, thrusting my tongue past her voluptuous lips. The taste of her was far too sweet, invoking the vilest thoughts, desires that wouldn’t suit a blossoming flower such as herself. Still, the beast within me wanted nothing more than to deflower her.
Use her.
Train her.
Keep her.
I ground my hips back and forth, my balls tightening from hearing the soft moans pushing past the passionate kiss. As the rain continued to pour, I felt nothing but the warmth of her incredible body pressing against mine, her fingers digging into my shirt.
I’d taken an incredible chance, one that could cost me my life, but I had to take her.
If only for a single night.
One night of blissful pleasure.
One night introducing her to obedience.
One night of stripping away her inhibitions.
And I didn’t even know her name.
As she pressed her hands against my chest, she arched her back. Her actions screamed of denial even though her arousal had wafted across my nose in the shadows of the bar. She was just as desperately hungry as I was, pretending she could never want such an arrogant beast.
I dominated her tongue as I wrapped my hand around her long neck, pressing my thumb into her skin. She clung to me, even rising on her tiptoes, her entire body quivering. I kept my hold, using enough pressure she whimpered.
