His nostrils flare. “Not of me, no. But the things running through my mind right now?” His grip on my arm tightens. “I think they’d scare any woman.”
There’s no rational reason for me to want to challenge him.
But I do.
My body is practically screaming with the urge to pull more of that possessiveness from him.
“Well, I’m not just any woman.”
A groan rumbles up from his chest. “No. You’re certainly not.”
I rise up onto my toes, pressing my body against his.
Holy shit, he’s hard.
What the hell is he smuggling down there?
“Careful, stranger,” I murmur. “Don’t show all your cards too soon.”
He thrusts his hips against mine, eliciting a gasp from me.
“Max,” he grates out. “My name is Max.”
Max. I like the sound of that.
“Do you have a last name to go along with that?”
He slowly grins. “You’ll find that out soon, too.” He glances over my shoulder at something. “You should probably go. I think you’re expected somewhere.”
He lets go of my arm as I peek around to see Kai waiting for me with a glare. But the glare isn’t aimed at me. He’s locking deadly gazes with the man in front of me. Do they know each other? Confused, I turn around and—
Dammit, he’s gone.
Max disappeared.
Max.
At least now I have a name to scream out when I orgasm into my own hand.
Chapter 10
Sophie
I walk up the stairs to Diego’s “lair” with strength and confidence. Like all villains in every story, he can smell fear. And I refuse to give him any more power over me than he already has.
He’s leaning over the balcony railing talking on his phone when I reach him. He sees me out of the corner of his eye, ends the call, and greets me with a smile.
“Ah, lovely Sophia.” He places his hands on top of my shoulders. I want to shrink away from his touch but I don’t. “Did everything go well with our sales last night?”
I push Max and our steamy encounter out of my head.
Diego does not need to know that I almost hooked up with a customer. That’s on the short list of no-no’s for my job. Unless, of course, I’m willing to accept payment for it and give Diego all the profits. That would be acceptable, which he’s alluded to several times over the years.
Never going to happen.
“No problems at all,” I answer.
“Bien, bien. Then you are still happy with the job, yes?”
He fucking knows I’m not. He knows I hate it. Hate having to be here to do his dirty work. This is just another one of his methods to keep me in line.
It’s not even a real job. I don’t get any cut of the sales. Not that I would really want his tainted money, anyway. Hence why I teach dance classes during the day. This gig at Calor is simply a way of paying off my father’s debt that we inherited when he died.
After Diego killed him.
I take comfort in the fact that this cocky SOB who thinks he knows and sees all doesn’t know the one thing that could send his entire cartel empire crumbling to the ground. I’ve got more power in this relationship than he knows. No one’s invincible, cabrón. Not even you.
But I can’t tell anyone what I know. Not until the right time.
My life depends on it. Mamá’s and Manny’s lives depend on it. My silence is our own personal life insurance policy.
Which is why I should have realized that what I’m about to say next is not a good idea.
“Actually, I was thinking that maybe I could pick up a couple of waitressing shifts here and there.” His face instantly hardens to stone. “Our landlord increased our rent, and I could use the extra money.”
His hand lashes out and grips my hair before I have a chance to react. I suck in a sharp breath as he squeezes and pulls on my roots, sending pain shooting through my scalp.
Like I said, you never know when the snake is going to strike.
“Why in the fuck do you think you can get a single cent out of me?” he spits in my face. “The only reason you’re here, carina, is because your family owes me money. Not the other way around. Don’t forget your place here.”
I try to force words out of my mouth, but they don’t come. He takes the moment of silence to let his eyes slowly wander down my body. The fingers of his other hand trace over the crisscrossed material holding my dress together at my chest.
“You’re lucky I haven’t done worse with you, you know,” he snarls. “I could have had you for myself. I could have passed you around to my men. Fuck, I could have sold you off years ago for a damn good price. So, you should thank me that I haven’t done any of those things. I’ve spared you, Sophia. Be fucking grateful.”
Just the thought of being sold as a sex slave sends shivers down my spine. Which he notices. And if his expression is anything to go by, he’s enjoying it, too. The sick freak.
But I remember Manny. Pissing off Diego could have repercussions on her, so I have to suck in my pride and fall in line.
“I’m sorry,” I find myself saying. “I am grateful. I won’t forget what you’ve done for me.”
He narrows his eyes, as if trying to sniff out my lies. Apparently satisfied, he removes his hand and steps back to the balcony.
“I didn’t call you up here to punish you, carina.” There’s that bipolar behavior. Trying to be all sweet and amiable again. “I called you up here to discuss a proposition, of sorts. I’ve entered into an agreement with an associate of mine.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
He lazily turns around and leans back against the railing. “He approached me earlier today. It seems you’ve captured his interest.”
What?
“Me?”
He nods. “Si. He’s going to be in town for a couple of weeks and would like some company during his stay. He specifically asked for you.”
I swallow, dreading to hear more. “Asked me for what?”
He chuckles under his breath. “For your company. He wants you to…spend time with him while he’s in town. I made a deal with him, and now you’re his for the next two weeks.”
What in the effing eff is happening right now?
I don’t even know what that means. I’m his for two weeks? Who the hell is this associate? And what, I’m supposed to be his…his whore or something? His little play thing at his beck and call twenty-four seven?
Fuck that.
Diego must see the defiance on my face because his features sharpen.
“You will do this, Sophia. Remember what I hold in the palm of my hand. The life of your precious little sister. You may not care anything for your life, but I’m sure you care something for hers. If you don’t do this and do exactly what he says, I’ll make it hurt for her. You know I can do it.”
Yes, I do.
Goddammit.
This is the kind of shit that happens when you’re a pawn on someone else’s chessboard.
“Who—” I have to clear my throat. “Who is he?”
He angles his body around and points down to the lower floor. “He’s sitting at the far table, in the white shirt and black suit.”
My stomach twists before I can even look to make sure it’s him.
And mother of all things holy, it is.
Max sits at a darkened table with two other men, partially covered by a sheer curtain, sipping from a glass tumbler. My hands clench the railing so hard my knuckles turn white. Diego comes up behind me, speaking into my ear as we both gaze down at the man below us. My future for the next two weeks.
“His name is Max Ramirez, and you will do exactly what he says. He’ll tell me if you don’t, and then I’ll take it out on your sister.”
Ice flows through my veins. This man wants me for his own. And he went to the man I hate most in the world and demanded to have me. As a possession. As his property.
&nbs
p; So, I have no choice.
I have to hate him, on principle. I can’t be flattered by his compliments or aroused by his sensual attentions. I can’t be turned on by his hard body or get lost in his deep eyes.
He’s now my enemy, as much as Diego is.
“When do I start?” I ask, resigned to my fate.
I have no idea what I’m about to walk into, but I know this man will not break me. If I can survive Diego Suarez for all these years, I can surely survive Max Ramirez.
I will come out of this alive and whole.
“Tonight.”
Don’t worry! Max and Sophie’s story heats up in Volume 2!
Order it now here!
BUT FIRST…
Keep reading for bonus chapters and get a peek at Kai and Cece’s story!!
Bonus Scene
Cece
You need the money.
You need the money.
You need the money.
I repeat the words to myself over and over again, just like every other night I have to work at Calor. Moving to Miami, I knew my small waist, perky breasts, big blond hair, and southern accent could earn me some good money. And since I’m not willing to take off my clothes for dollar bills, I’m stuck as a cocktail waitress until I can pad my bank account.
I guess I can’t complain too much. At least there’s a nice view.
A sexy, tattooed, caramel-dipped mancake of a view.
Kai.
One of Diego Suarez’s men. He acts like security when he works at the club, but I know he does far more than that for the drug lord. Things I’m sure I don’t want any knowledge of. And ever since I started working here, he’s dubbed himself as my own personal bodyguard.
But he’s never made a move.
I don’t necessarily need the complication of having a man in my life right now, but it’s not like I’d turn the man down if he wanted to burn up the sheets a little. A girl’s got needs, after all. Plus, Kai doesn’t exactly strike me as the relationship type, which works for me because commitment doesn’t really fit into my current plan.
Not when I might need to make a quick getaway.
Almost six months of mounting frustration, and all the man does is stare at me with those amber eyes from afar while maintaining a healthy distance between us. He seems to only do that with me, too. There are plenty of gorgeous women strutting their scantily-clad butts in and out of this place every night, many of whom try to get Kai’s attention. But he never so much as glances at them.
Just me.
It unnerves and excites me all at the same time.
I approach the bar with my empty tray and relay my drink orders to the bartender, Juan. I feel Kai’s intense eyes on my back, making me all jittery. I might as well be on a stage stripping with the outfit Diego requires all of his waitresses to wear. The silver sequined bikini top pushes up my cleavage, giving all of my customers a front-row seat to The Bouncing Twins Show. And the short black skirt might as well be underwear for how little it actually covers.
Not that Kai seems to mind.
He might only watch me from a distance, but that doesn’t mean his eyes are always on my face. I’ve caught him checking out my ass plenty of times. I’ve seen the lust in his gaze after it’s fallen on my chest. And I’ve noticed the way he licks his lips every time he zones in on my very exposed flat stomach, decorated with my rhinestone belly button ring.
It’s also hard to miss the way his hands fist anytime he sees another man even talking to me.
Which is why I’m beyond shocked to hear his voice come from my right while I wait at the bar. Very close to my right. He’s practically whispering in my ear when he starts speaking. It’s a struggle not to melt at the mere sound of his deep liquid voice rolling over me.
“How are things going tonight, Cece?”
He’s talking to me? Since when?
I turn my head and flash him my beauty queen smile. “Pretty good, Kai. How are you? Give anyone a bloody nose yet?”
I’ve certainly seen him do that once or twice. With ridiculous ease, I might add. The man is at least six foot five and nothing but pure muscle. To make the image even more intimidating, I’ve never seen him smile. Not that there’s much reason to in a place like this, but still. I was raised to always have a polite smile and hospitable attitude ready for anyone, anywhere.
“Not yet, but the night’s still young,” he deadpans.
I gasp, dramatically clutching my chest, making sure to ham up my accent. “Oh, my stars! Did big bad Kai just make a joke?”
The corner of his mouth barely twitches as he pins me with an intent look.
Is that his version of a smile? I made him smile!
“It’s a regular laugh riot whenever I’m around. Haven’t you noticed?”
I laugh, loving this other side to him. I seriously didn’t think the guy had a single humorous bone in his body. “More like just a plain riot.”
A small light sparks in his eyes for only a second before it’s snuffed out. “That table of trust fund douchebags giving you a hard time?”
I drop my gaze to the bar, shrugging. “Nothing I can’t handle. I know you think I’m a little pipsqueak, but I grew up in a place where you had to look out for you and your own. I know how to bring a man to his knees as well as I know how to bake a cherry pie.”
I feel my eyes widen as I realize what the hell I just said and how it probably sounded to his ears. Lord Almighty, the first time we ever have a real conversation and I’ve well and truly embarrassed myself. He’ll never want to talk to me again.
Instead of laughing as I expect, he does some kind of growl rumbling thing. I glance up to see that his face has darkened, heat flaring from his eyes.
“I have no doubt you can take care of yourself,” he rasps. “Though you don’t have to force a man to his knees. For a woman like you, he’d gladly go willingly.”
My lips part. Did he really just say that? Is quiet, intense Kai finally coming on to me?
He continues before I can reply. “And for the record, I don’t think you’re a pipsqueak. You’re more like…sunshine.” His gaze roams over my blond hair, my bright blue eyes, and finally lands on my glossy pink lips. “You can brighten and burn all at the same time.”
My heart is pounding like a drum.
I don’t know what’s happening here. He’s completely thrown me off my game by saying more than five words to me.
He stares for a few moments longer, and eventually shakes his head, his features hardening. He almost looks angry at himself. For saying those things? He shouldn’t be. I want more.
“Let me know if those assholes bother you anymore,” he grates out.
Then he’s gone.
Great job. You stood there like a fish out of water, and made the man feel awkward by not saying anything.
I inwardly groan, mentally kicking my own ass. I’ve wanted Kai to speak to me for months, and I blow it the first chance I get.
He’s really never going to want to talk to me again.
Kai
I swear to God, if one more of those drunken, designer-suit-wearing assholes touches her, I’m going to take out my gun and shoot his dick clean off.
Then I’ll dump his body into the ocean and let the sharks feast.
Cece isn’t yours. Let it go.
I snort to myself.
I haven’t listened to that damn voice inside my head for the last six months. At least, not when it comes to her. I doubt I’m suddenly going to start now. Especially not when she needs someone to look out for her in such an irreputable place like Calor. A tiny little thing like Cece needs protection, and it damn sure won’t be coming from any of Diego Suarez’s other henchman. They leer at her as much as these degenerate customers do.
Not that I would let the other henchmen look after, even if they tried.
Cece belongs to me.
For whatever reason, I’ve made her my responsibility these last several months. Regardless of
whether or not she wants me to be her guardian angel, I’ve taken it upon myself to keep her safe.
Another derisive snort leaves my lips. She’s the angel in this scenario.
I’m more like a demon.
One who should stay away from a girl like her.
But I can’t, so I won’t.
And goddammit, I made a complete fool of myself earlier talking to her. I have no idea why I even approached her in the first place, let alone why I opened my mouth and said the moronic things to her that I did. Her ice blue eyes bugged out of her head when I called her sunshine, and I felt like an idiot. Not that it wasn’t true.
When she said she could bring a man to his knees? Christ, I wanted to raise my hand in the air and volunteer right then and there. With her perfectly round tits staring me in the face and the bottom of her ass cheeks spilling out, I was hard the moment she walked in the building…three hours ago.
And that tiny twinkle of a belly button ring is driving me fucking insane.
I don’t know what it is, but something about that damn thing makes me want to spread her out on the bar and lick every inch of her tight stomach. Then I’d move my tongue up to her chest and suck both of her pink little nipples into my mouth. After that, I’d head south and lift up that microscopic skirt so I could bury my tongue in her—
The same guy who’s been doing most of the hassling all night from the table of suits makes another grab for Cece’s barely-covered ass. She dodges it once again, but the suit seems to get mad this time, especially when his buddies all snicker at his failed attempts to woo her. Or grope her. His face screws into a furious glare. He rises from his chair and makes a move in her direction.
I’m on him in seconds.
I grab him by the neck and haul him toward the exit. His friends don’t follow or try to have his back because they’re all pussies. They take one look at me, noticing how my size dwarfs all of their puny bodies, and keep their asses planted in their chairs. The murderous expression on my face is probably an extra incentive to not get involved.
Salsa (Sultry Nights Book 1) Page 7
