by Nana Prah
She gave her hair a nervous pat, wishing she had the strong mixed drink in front of her now. Relationship was a broad term. They weren’t dating. They were in business together. That’s all. “Are you telling me you don’t drink?”
“I do, but as I mentioned before, a lot has changed and my drinking habits are one of them. Now I stay sober when I’m partying. I see the truth of my circumstances.” He shook his head. “No more imagined fun.”
He slid the glasses down and pierced her with his dark gaze, making her wish she could remove the contact lenses to enjoy the uniqueness of his eyes. “But you never used to drink. Not even wine coolers.”
She hitched a shoulder. “Broderick was a social man. When we used to go out, he knew me well enough to order drinks I’d like. He was right every time.”
His jaw muscle flexed, making the fake beard move. Bringing up her ex seemed to annoy him. Was he jealous? Don’t be silly. I’m simple little ol’ me and he’s the great Miguel Astacio. They were worlds apart and the chasm was too wide to fill. She’d do well to remember that.
The server returned with their drinks and a wink for Miguel. Tanya’s hand balled into a fist to punch the woman. With the coolness of her drink oozing into the pads of her fingers, she realized the absurdity of her reaction. Nobody had stolen Miguel’s freedom or his healthy appetite for women, although she hadn’t heard or read anything about him dating anyone in months. Maybe he’d gone out with his women while in disguise.
Or worse, they’d spent cozy evenings in his palatial home, laughing, talking and making love. She took a healthy swallow of her drink at the possibility of anyone but her laying a hand on him. The strength of the flavors danced on her tongue. It had to be one of the best she’d ever had. “It’s good.”
“And that’s how a drink is supposed to be. While we’re talking about drinks, you need to fire your manager.”
Not this again. It had been a bone of contention between them every time they’d gotten together. Things really were all about business with him. For her, friendship and loyalty played a huge role. Clint had been both to her.
Another sip of the cocktail sent the familiar warmth of alcohol sliding down her throat into her belly. “Have you heard back from your sister about the finances?”
“She said she’d have it to me sometime this week.” What she could see of his face lit up and her skin heated without having to take a drink. “She said she would’ve had it done by now, but my niece is being a holy terror with her teething.”
Nothing made her happier than experiencing the family side of him. “Poor thing. I’ve heard it can be bad.”
“Chloe is normally such a calm baby.” He pulled out his phone from his pocket and slid his finger over it until he found what he sought, then flung the phone in front of her. “Isn’t she adorable?”
Were they really at one of the hottest clubs in New York City talking about babies? She reached out for the phone and became awed by the chubby cheeks. “She’s beautiful. Look at all that curly hair, and those hazel eyes.” Tanya grinned up at him. “Other than the dark skin, the girl is your little clone.” She handed the phone back.
He glanced at the screen with a sappy grin. “She’s my heart.”
Tanya looked down at her body to make sure she hadn’t actually melted. The man was killing her. Every moment, each revelation brought her closer to the fall. What was she talking about? She’d never gotten out of the deep pit of loving him. Only now, light seemed to be streaming in, making it a more comfortable place to be. This time she wouldn’t do anything about it except to let him go when their time together was up. She pushed away the sad reminder. With one more long sip of her drink, she jumped up. “I don’t know if your current persona dances, but I’m going to do some reconnaissance on that crowded floor.”
His laughter as he stood pleased her. “If I let you out there alone looking as fine as you do, there’s going to be a fight up in here.”
“You’re too much,” she said, giggling before breezing away from him. The place was dark, but she was sure her skin radiated enough for him to see the flush of pleasure that had crept into her face. Yes, she was in big trouble.
* * *
Four in the morning and five clubs later, Miguel was ready to call it a night and cancel tomorrow evening’s outing. Wouldn’t it be nicer to spend the time with her in one of their hotel rooms and talk until the sun came up?
When had he changed so drastically? Back in the day, he would’ve taken a bunch of the club goers and moved the party to his place. Now all he wanted to do was escort this beautiful woman to his room and get lost in her. The image of her long, sexy limbs wrapped around him as he sank deep into her hadn’t strayed far from his thoughts, keeping him in an uncomfortable semi-erect state all evening.
It hadn’t helped when at the third club, she’d loosened up enough to grind up against him. His body had reacted. He knew she’d felt him, but she’d continued to undulate, driving him deeper into a state of need.
He shouldn’t have let her have a drink at each club. The champagne had tipped her over the edge from tipsy to drunk, and he’d found her extremely entertaining. Even when inebriated, the woman had class—only now whatever popped into her head came out with a limited filter.
They’d left the fourth club after fifteen minutes when Tanya had threatened a woman who’d tried to dance with him. He’d loved every minute of her jealousy. She still cared about him. Or was it just the alcohol making her possessive?
“I think this place is the bestest,” Tanya slurred as she sank onto his lap in the armchair they’d occupied in the VIP section of Club Annex. She poked his cheek. “You are so right about the Ple...Plex...um, glass. We can see everyone and they can see us, but it still gives us privacy.” She took off his sunglasses. “I hate these contact lenses.” He caught her hand before she could go for his eye to remove the lens.
Would he ever get the chance to hold her like this again? Enjoy this uninhibited side of her?
She snatched her hand out of his and stroked his face. “You shouldn’t hide your eyes under a bushel. They’re too beautiful.”
Her lush body against his and her soft fingers stroking his skin stole away any ability to think logically. “Bushel?”
Slapping his shoulder, she giggled. “Yeah, like in the good book when we’re told not to hide our light under a bushel.”
He laughed. “I get it. Are you ready to go?”
She stuck out her bottom lip, and it had taken extreme willpower not to pull it into his mouth, laving it with his tongue and applying a gentle suction.
“I’m not ready.” She wiggled her hips in rhythm to the reggae tune playing. The exquisite torture was too much, so he lifted her onto the space next to him.
Gripping his arm, she gazed up at him. “You are so strong to be able to lift a hefty girl like me.”
One thing he hadn’t liked about her drunk personality was the disparaging remarks about herself. As if she didn’t see herself in the new light she’d stepped into. She hadn’t believed him when he’d countered them.
“Baby, I’ll always be able to carry you.” And he meant it in more than a physical way. He’d support her no matter what she was going through. He’d stand by her side. If she’d let him.
Getting up, he reached a hand down to her and she took it, sending a shock of electrical energy through him.
She swept her other arm toward the dance floor. “Let’s boogie.”
He laughed at her enthusiasm and couldn’t bring himself to diminish it by telling her he wanted to go back to the hotel, so he found a space against the wall and watched his woman dance. He stepped away when anyone, man or woman, dared to try to get with her, but Tanya didn’t seem to notice them. Her gaze held his throughout her slow, sensual dances.
He experienced an intense need for her. He’d ensure that the clubs they’d go t
o in Miami would only play fast music, even if he had to bribe the DJ to make it happen. There was no way he could go through this for another night without having an outlet other than a cold shower or self-gratification.
Seduction wasn’t in his game plan when it came to Tanya. He wanted her to desire him as much as he did her. And to fall in love with him again. He had a lot of work to do to make it happen. Her generous spirit had forgiven him, but, unfortunately, she’d built up some kind of wall using their social standings as the bricks. He’d do his best to make sure she felt cherished, worthy and beautiful for the rest of her life.
Chapter 16
Tanya moaned as she snuggled into the warm body behind her. Warm body? Her eyes popped open only to slam shut against the brightness. She squinted to find herself in a strange room with an arm resting over her hip. She scrambled away from the body and held her hands up to defend herself.
A wide-awake, bare-chested Miguel lay on the other side of the bed, smiling. “Good morning. I was wondering when you’d wake up.”
The sight of the man’s glorious muscular body didn’t do anything to stop her heart from trying to burst through her chest. Tearing her gaze from him, she glanced around the room. They were in her hotel suite. She looked down her body and saw her rumpled club clothes.
Her mouth felt fuzzy and plain nasty. “You forced me to drink a whole bottle of water last night.” Was that what she was going with? Asking why the hell she was in bed with him would’ve made a lot more sense.
He propped himself onto one of his defined arms, making her mouth go even dryer. “Do you have a headache?”
She did a self-assessment. “No.” How much had she had to drink last night? Without warning, the memory of the best night of her life came flooding back. Mortified at her behavior, she scrambled off the bed and pointed in the direction of the bathroom. She backed away, keeping a close eye on him like any prey would do her predator. Only she’d been the one to attack him last night.
In the bathroom she gasped as she looked in the mirror. Makeup smeared, hair a wild mess—and was that dried saliva on her cheek? What had she been thinking when she’d asked him to spend the night with her?
That’s why she rarely drank. It lowered her inhibitions so that her truest desires came to her without her having to think about it. She’d craved him last night. The bulge in his trousers as she’d ground against him had told her he’d wanted her, too.
And yet here she stood, fully clothed without a pulsing awareness between her legs that would’ve told her if they’d made love.
She emptied her bladder, brushed her teeth, scrubbed her face and smoothed down her hair as she struggled to remember what he’d said after she’d offered herself to him.
Taking a deep breath, she reached for the door to face the man who’d rejected her. Again. Her knees went weak when his words from last night hit her like a tempest. He’d held her by the shoulders as she’d struggled to get closer to kiss his tempting lips, to offer herself to him. “Don’t get me wrong, I want you.” His voice had been deep, husky. “So damn much I can’t see straight, but you’re drunk.”
She’d protested with slurred words, but he’d ignored her. “When we make love, it’ll be with a clear head. You’ll feel and remember every touch and stroke we share, and you’ll know who gave you pleasure beyond any you’ve experienced before. And then—” he’d brushed his lips against the shell of her ear, making her shiver “—you’ll ask for more.”
If he’d thought his words would cool her ardor, he’d been wrong and she’d tried to leap onto him. That’s when he’d kissed her forehead and forced a bottle of water on her. By the time she’d finished drinking, fatigue had descended and when she lay down, her eyes closed. The last thing she remembered saying was, “Please don’t leave me, Miguel.”
The mattress had dipped behind her as he’d pressed his body against her back. “Never, baby. I’ll never leave you again. And I promise not to do anything to make you want to go. It’s you and me, my love. You and me.”
With that she’d fallen asleep. Smiling.
Had he really said those sweet, tender words to her instead of taking her like she’d begged him to do? Had he really called her his love? Her throat tightened at the memory. But it didn’t mean anything; it couldn’t. He’d been using terms of endearment since the first day she’d stepped into his office. He must throw them out like Hollywood agents did to their clients.
She stepped into the room. Miguel still lay on her bed, looking good enough to make her want to fly into his arms. That wouldn’t happen so she walked to the window and looked down at the ant-like people filling the street eighteen stories below. Why not keep things light and let the night fall away like the dream it had seemed to be. “What time is it?”
“Ten minutes to noon.”
“Wow. I can’t believe I slept so late.”
“You had a good time last night.” She jumped as his voice came from directly behind her, but she couldn’t bear to face him. Not after the way she’d behaved. “Are you hungry? I ordered breakfast,” he said.
The pangs of an empty belly hit her. “I could eat. Thanks for forcing that water down me last night.”
“Tanya.”
“Yes.” She hated the shyness that had come over her. Couldn’t she wind back the hands of time and make things between them comfortable again? She’d have to go back to before she’d ever laid eyes on him in college, and she never wanted to have never known him. Even after everything she’d been through, meeting him was the best thing to happen to her.
“Sweetheart, look at me.”
The butterflies in her stomach took flight, but she feigned interest in the occurrences of the busy city. She had no choice but to obey when he grasped her shoulders and turned her. Staring at his chest did nothing to ease her anxiety, so she took a leap and looked up into his eyes. Back to the brilliant hazel she’d always loved.
For every moment they stood gazing at each other, she sank deeper. She could barely remember who she’d been when he hadn’t been in her life for the past ten years. He was her world at that moment and nothing else mattered.
Her breaths came out in little pants as dread competed with nerve-racking anticipation. Would he kiss her? The air pulsed around them. Pushing her from behind to get closer and press her lips against his to see if what they’d shared all those years ago had been real. History stopped her from taking the plunge. If anything were to happen between them, he’d have to initiate. Not her.
He held her gaze as he lowered his head. If he feared she’d move away, he was mistaken. A knock on the door made them both jump. Miguel glowered in the direction of the offender. The person would be in deep trouble if he answered the door.
The incredible moment dissipated as quickly as it had arrived. She hitched a thumb toward the barrier, keeping the intruder safe from his wrath. “I’ll get it.”
* * *
Scrubbing both hands down his face, Miguel berated himself. He’d had his chance. Twice. Last night, she’d offered herself to him and he’d let the opportunity slide by. If only she’d been sober, he wouldn’t have hesitated to finally show rather than tell her just how much he loved her. Had always loved her.
He’d been strong when her tantalizing full breasts had pressed up against his chest and she’d slurred that she wanted to make love to him. Her hot, alcohol-infused breath in his face wasn’t a turn-on, but the fact that her inhibitions had lowered so she’d admitted she wanted him had him on an emotional high.
He’d spent the night cuddled with her when she’d asked him to stay. Her soft, curvaceous body had enticed him, and he couldn’t leave her. After what had seemed like hours, he’d finally fallen asleep to the sound of her soft snores.
“Good morning.” The waiter rolled in the breakfast trolley.
Miguel could choke the cheerful young man for disturbing their m
agical moment. She still loved him. It shone in her eyes, and he hadn’t been able to tear his gaze away from the amazing sight enough to kiss her. He’d wanted to revel in it for hours, but a magnetic force had pulled him closer.
The anticipation of finally tasting her. Savoring the full, soft texture of her lips had been within his grasp, only to be stolen by a young man doing his job.
Rather than choke the innocent fool, Miguel tipped him. The boy could forget about receiving a smile.
“You ordered too much food, Miguel,” Tanya said as she lifted the tray covers.
He shrugged. “I didn’t know what you liked.” That wasn’t true. He knew her favorite breakfast had once been waffles drenched in syrup with a side of bacon and fried eggs with the yolk barely cooked. Now that she’d lost weight, he had no idea what she’d decide to eat. The fiber-rich, tasteless cereal might be her preference for all he knew.
Air stalled in his throat as she looked up at him. “With all the dancing I did last night, I can afford a waffle or two.” Then she nodded. “Once again, thanks for the water. If it hadn’t been for you...”
Snatching a fresh strawberry, he held it to her lips. She hesitated for only a moment before opening her mouth, taking a bite and moaning as the juice coated her lips. Before he could break out of the spell and lick her lips clean, her tongue flicked out and did the job.
Would she run away if he kissed her? Rather than take the risk and ruin the rest of the day and night in store for them, he finished off the strawberry, understanding why the balanced, sweet yet slightly tangy flavor had brought her such pleasure.
He picked up an empty plate, handed it to her and said, “Let’s eat before the food gets cold. You’re going to need your energy for tonight.”
Accepting the dish, her eyebrow rose. “What’s on the agenda? More clubs in New York?”
A bagel, scrambled eggs, ham slices and fresh fruit made it onto his plate as he thought about how to answer. She loved surprises more than any other person he’d ever met and he didn’t want to ruin this one. “Let’s just say I think we’ve taken enough lessons away from New York to make your club awesome.”
