His Ultimate Prize

by Maya Blake

  ‘Marco...’

  He swore under his breath. ‘Go, Sasha. I need to cool off, or Dios help me, I won’t be responsible for my actions.’

  She went, with the heaviness of his hot gaze scorching her skin.

  Pausing at one end of the pool, she stretched her arms over her head. At his sharp intake of breath, she let a sensual smile curve her lips.

  The water was a welcome but temporary relief from the sensations arcing between them. He dived in after her a second later, quickly caught up with her and matched her stroke for stroke. When she swam faster, to escape the frenzied need clawing inside, he kept up with her.

  His presence made every stroke of water against her skin feel like a caress. At the last lap he increased his pace and heaved himself out of the water. She clung to the side, her lungs heaving, and watched the play of water on his magnificent body as he returned to the poolside.

  ‘Out,’ he commanded tersely, his hand holding out a towel like a bull-baiting matador.

  She rose out of the pool, careful not to look at the wet clinginess of his boxers. He folded the towel around her, his movements brisk as he rubbed the moisture off her. Then he swung her into his arms and carried her to the enclosed cabana a few feet away.

  Two silk-covered loungers stood side by side, separated by a table laid out with several platters of food, from local delicacies to caviar on blinis. In a sterling silver tub a linen-draped bottle of vintage champagne chilled on ice.

  Marco set her down on the lounger and picked up the bottle.

  Sasha forced her gaze from the play of muscles and looked at the table. ‘There’s enough here to feed an army.’ Reaching for a small plate, she dished out grilled prawns and fragrant rice.

  ‘You don’t like caviar?’

  She grimaced. ‘It smells funny and tastes disgusting. I don’t know why people eat the stuff.’ She took a mouthful of her food and felt the explosion of textures on her tongue. Thankfully she managed to swallow without choking. ‘Now, this is heavenly.’ She took another mouthful and groaned.

  Marco took his seat across from her and held out one glass of champagne, his gaze never leaving hers. What she glimpsed in the heated depths made her heart quicken.

  ‘Marco—’

  ‘Eat. We’ll talk when you’re done.’

  How can I eat? she wanted to ask. Especially when his eyes followed her every move. But words refused to form on her lips. It was as if he’d cast some sort of spell on her. Maybe he was a vampire after all, she thought hysterically.

  The thought should have lightened her mood, made it easier for her to cope, but all it did was cause a fevered shudder to race down her spine.

  Clawing in a desperate breath, she set the plate aside. ‘Let’s talk now. You invited me to the concert, then ignored me to make out with your girlfriend. What else is there to talk about?’

  ‘Flavia’s not my girlfriend, and I wasn’t making out with her. She was congratulating me on the team’s win, just like a lot of people have done tonight.’

  ‘She was all over you. And you didn’t seem to mind.’

  ‘I was...preoccupied.’

  She snorted. ‘Evidently.’

  ‘Para el amor de Dios! I was waiting in the VIP room for you! The Prime Minister turned up when I was about to come and meet you. I tried to get away as quickly as possible, only to find you were more interested in plastering yourself all over your favourite rock star. It was very evident you didn’t have a bra on, but tell me—were you even wearing panties under that dress?’

  A harsh flush of anger tinged his cheekbones. This was the angriest she’d ever seen Marco. The reason why stopped her breath.

  ‘You were jealous?’

  His jaw clenched. ‘Do you mean was that what I expected when I had the band flown over for you? No. Did I want to break every bone in his pathetically thin body? Sí. For starters.’

  The air thickened around them.

  A thousand different questions rushed into her mind. One emerged.

  ‘I’m not stupid, Marco, I know where this is going. But what about the consequences? The ones that made you avoid me for the past three weeks?’

  He abandoned his glass and rested his hands on his knees, his eyes never leaving hers. ‘Seeing you in another man’s arms has simplified my decision. For the sake of my sanity, and to avoid murder charges, no more staying away,’ he rasped.

  ‘Right. Well, I’m happy for you and your sanity. But what about what I want?’

  His eyes dropped to her lips. ‘If you know where this is going then you know how badly I want to kiss you. Come here.’

  Her mouth, the subject of his very intense scrutiny, tingled so badly she had to curb the urge to bite it. ‘I meant what I said in London. I don’t want a relationship.’

  A hard look passed through his eyes. ‘I don’t want a relationship either.’

  ‘What about your clause?’

  ‘I’m not a racing driver and I don’t work for the team so I’m exempt. Come here, Sasha.’

  ‘No. Aren’t you twisting the rules?’

  ‘No. I can quote them verbatim for you later. Right now I want you to come over here and kiss me.’

  Her breath shortened. ‘What if I don’t want to?’

  His gaze darkened. ‘Then I’ll return to the concert, find your reedy rock star and decorate the VIP lounge with him.’

  A roar went up a few miles away. The throb of the rock concert echoed superbly the blood surging through her veins as Marco continued to watch her.

  ‘I hope you won’t expect me to bail you out of jail.’

  He shrugged. ‘I live in hope for a lot of things, querida. At this moment I’m hoping you’ll stop arguing and crawl into my lap. Would it help if I said that not a day went by these past three weeks when you didn’t feature in my thoughts?’ He lifted a winged brow.

  ‘Maybe that helps. A little...’

  Without warning he reached across the table and scooped her up. Settling her in his lap, he freed her hair and sighed in pleasure as the heavy tresses spilled into his hands. Then he lowered her until her back rested on the upraised lounger.

  Despite her bikini’s relative modesty, Sasha had never felt more exposed in her life. Especially when Marco took his time to trail his fierce gaze over her, missing nothing as he scoured her body, and followed more slowly with one long, lazy finger.

  ‘You’re doing it again.’ Her voice was smoky with lust, her flesh alight wherever he touched.

  ‘What?’ he murmured, his eyes resting at the apex of her thighs.

  Beneath her bottom the hard ridge of his erection pressed into her flesh, its heat making her skin tighten in feverish anticipation.

  ‘The thing with your eyes. And your hands. And your body.’

  ‘If you want me to stop you’ll have to kiss me.’

  ‘Maybe I don’t want you to stop. Maybe this is what I’ll allow before I decide this is a very bad idea.’

  His finger paused on her belly. ‘You think this is a bad idea?’

  A thread of uncertainty wheedled through her desire. ‘My last involvement left a lot of bruises.’

  He tensed. ‘Derek physically hurt you?’

  ‘No, but he influenced a lot of people against me. You included.’

  He shook his head. ‘I make up my own mind. If you truly don’t want this, say the word and I’ll stop.’

  The thought of denying herself made her heart lurch painfully.

  Her body moved closer of its own volition. He hissed out a breath, the skin around his mouth tightening as he visibly reined in control. ‘If you intend to stop that’s not a great idea, querida.’

  Sasha had had enough. Marco had spent far too much of his life controlling everything. For once she yearned to see him
lose his cool, to crack the shell of tightly reined-in emotion. She wriggled again.

  His gaze connected with hers. The dark hunger in its depths made her breath catch. Giving in to the urge, she slipped her hand over his nape and urged his head down.

  He took control of her lips in a kiss so driven, so desperate, she cried out against his mouth. He fisted one hand in her hair to hold her still, his other hand sliding over her bottom to drag her closer.

  Sasha went willingly, her body a fluid vessel of rampant desire that craved only him. Every single doubt that crowded in her brain drowned under ever-increasing waves of sensation.

  She might be risking everything to experience a few hours of pleasure, but Sasha could no more push Marco away than she could voluntarily stop breathing. She would deal with regret in the morning.

  Losing herself in the kiss, she boldly thrust her tongue against his. His body jerked, making a tiny fizz of pleasure steal through her.

  When his fingers squeezed her buttock, she moaned.

  He pulled back. ‘You like that?’ he rasped, his gaze heavy and hooded.

  She nodded and licked her lips, already missing the feel of his mouth against hers.

  ‘Tell me what else you’d like, mi tentación.’ He released the tie of her bikini top and trailed his mouth over her skin.

  ‘You...not to be so overdressed...’ she gasped out.

  Another roar from the concert ripped through the night air. Momentarily she remembered where they were.

  ‘On the other hand, maybe that’s not so bad—’

  ‘We won’t be disturbed.’

  The finality of the statement, along with the graze of his teeth over one Lycra-clothed nipple, melted the last of her reservations. Giving her feelings free rein, she slid her hand over his shoulders, touching the smooth skin of his nape before exploring his damp, luxurious hair.

  Her urgency fed his. With renewed vigour he kissed her again, pulling off the wet cloth and tossing it aside. Reversing their positions, he eased her onto the lounger, then tugged off her bikini bottoms.

  In the soft, ambient light of the enclosed cabana his skin gleamed golden, the dark silky hairs on his chest making her fingers tingle to touch.

  ‘I want to touch you all over.’ The heated words had slipped out before she could stop them.

  His face contorted in a pained grimace. Tugging off his boxers, he stretched out next to her. Leaning down, he ran his tongue over her mouth. ‘I believe I mentioned the near insanity that has plagued me these past weeks? Touching me all over is not a good idea right now.’

  Her breath rasped through her chest. Breathing had become increasingly difficult. ‘Oh. Then I guess it’s not a good time to mention I also intend biting a few strategic places?’

  A heartfelt groan preceded a few heated Spanish words muttered against her lips. ‘Do me a favour, mi tentadora. Keep your thoughts to yourself for the time being. You have my word. I’ll let you vocalise your every want later.’

  Swooping down, he captured one exposed nipple in his mouth, his fierce determination to shut her up working wonders. Words deserted her as sensation took over. Liquid heat pooled at the apex of her thighs, the flesh of her sex swelling and pulsating with the strength of her need. By the time he transferred his attention to her other nipple Sasha was incoherent with desire.

  Marco traced his lips lower, ruthlessly turning her inside out with pleasure, but when she felt his mouth dip below her navel she froze.

  Sensing her withdrawal, he raised his head. ‘You don’t want this?’

  ‘I do.’ So much so the force of her need shocked her. ‘I do... But you don’t have to if...’ Her words fizzled out at the searing heat in his eyes.

  ‘I’ve spent endless nights imagining the taste of you, Sasha.’ He parted her legs wider, licked the sensitive skin inside her thigh, his eyes growing darker at her breathless groan. ‘But I’ve always preferred reality to dreams.’

  He put his mouth on her, slowly worked his tongue over the millions of nerve-endings saturated with pleasure receptors. Sasha screamed, and came in a rush of pleasure so intense her whole body quivered with it.

  Before the last of her orgasm had faded away Marco was surging over her. His kiss was less frantic but no less demanding. And, just like the engine of a finely tuned car, her body responded to his demands, anticipation firing her blood like nothing had ever done in her life.

  Tension screamed through Marco’s body as he raised himself from the intoxicating kiss. The sound of Sasha’s orgasm echoed in his head like a siren’s call, promising him pleasure beyond measure. He couldn’t remember ever being so fired up about sex—so impatient he’d nearly forgotten protection.

  Luckily sanity prevailed just in time.

  Sasha moved restlessly beneath him, her sultry gaze steady on his as he parted her thighs.

  Every single night of the past three weeks he’d woken with an ache in his groin and a sinking sensation that he was fighting a losing battle. He’d congratulated himself on staying away, but he’d known deep down it was a hollow victory.

  Truth was he’d never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Sasha. He’d stopped trying to decipher what made her so irresistible. She just was. He’d also made discreet enquiries and verified that she’d spoken the truth—she hadn’t been involved with Rafael.

  So just this once he was going to take. Sasha Fleming had worked her way under his skin like no other woman had and now this was the inevitable conclusion. Her underneath him, her thighs parted, her sultry gaze steady on his. Just as he’d dreamed...

  With a groan he sank into her.

  ‘Thank God!’ she cried. ‘For a second there I thought you were about to change your mind.’

  As if to stop him taking that route, her muscles clamped tight around him.

  Another groan tore from his throat. ‘I thought I told you to shut up?’ He pulled back and surged into her once more, pleasure such as he’d never known rocking through him.

  ‘I am... I will... Just please don’t stop.’ Raking her nails down his back, she clamped her hands around his waist.

  As if he could even if he wanted to. He was past the point of no return, his need so great he was almost afraid to acknowledge its overwhelming scope. Instead he lost himself in her pleasure, in the hitched sounds and feminine demands of her body as she welcomed him into her sweet warmth.

  ‘Dios, you feel incredible,’ he rasped as sensation piled upon sensation.

  Inevitably the bough broke. Ecstasy rode through him, blinding him to everything else but the glorious satisfaction of unleashed passion.

  With her cry of bliss he followed off the peak, the muscles in his body tightening with the force of his orgasm as he emptied himself into her.

  He collapsed on top of her, her soft, sweat-slicked body a cushion to his hardness. He remained there until their breathing calmed then, rolling onto the lounger, he tucked her against his side.

  As the last of the haze faded away he felt the first inevitable twinge of regret. He’d succumbed to temptation. Now the piper would expect payment. And for the first time in his life Marco was afraid at just how much he was willing to pay.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ‘WHAT—?’ SASHA jerked awake.

  The solid body curved around hers and the arm imprisoning her kept her from falling off the lounger. Opening her eyes, she encountered Marco’s accusing gaze.

  ‘You fell asleep.’

  The wide expanse of muscled chest scrambled her brain for a few seconds, before a few synapses fired a thought. She’d had sex with Marco. Wild, unbelievable, pleasure-filled sex. After which—

  ‘You fell asleep,’ he incised a second time, affront stamped all over his face.

  ‘Uh...I’m sorry...’

  ‘I get the feeling you
don’t mean that.’

  ‘And I get the feeling I’m not following this conversation at all.’ Before she could stop it a wide yawn broke through.

  His glare darkened.

  ‘Did I not please you?’ He seemed genuinely puzzled, and a little unsure. One hand curved under her nape to tilt her face up to his.

  Thoughts of their lovemaking melted her insides. ‘Of course you did,’ she said, struggling to keep from blushing at recalling her cries of pleasure. Lifting her hands, she framed his face. ‘I’ve never felt more pleasure than I did with you.’

  ‘It was so good you fell asleep straight after?’

  ‘Take it as a compliment. You wore me out.’

  His lids veiled his eyes. ‘This is a first, I admit.’

  ‘Wearing a woman out?’ she asked, stunned.

  ‘Of course not. The falling asleep part.’

  Laughter bubbled up from deep within her, delight filling her. Leaning up, she pressed her lips against his in a light kiss.

  Marco took over and turned it into a long, deep kiss.

  By the time he was done with her she struggled to breathe. And he...he was fully engorged, his erection a forceful presence against her belly. Emboldened by the thought that she could arouse him again so quickly, she caressed her fingers down his side, eliciting a shuddered groan from him that released a wanton smile from her.

  ‘Like I said, I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you?’ She slid her hand between them and gripped him tight. His lips parted on another groan. She caressed up and down, marvelling at the tensile strength of him.

  His mouth trailed over her face to the juncture between her neck and shoulder. Erotic heat washed through her.

  When her grip tightened, his breath shuddered out. ‘Sí, mi querida, that’s the right way to make it up to me.’

  His hips bucked against her hold, heat and strength pulsing through her fingers. Liquid heat gathered between her thighs. She was unbelievably turned on by the pleasure she gave him.

  At yet another caress he suddenly reared up and flipped her over. ‘You’re getting carried away.’