by Linda Bond
Antonio chuckled under his breath, strolling around to the other side of the table. “It’s a party, Rebecca.” Picking up an even bigger brownie, he took a bite, chewing slowly.
Her stomach turned. “It’s a charity event. Paid for with tax dollars, most likely.” Suddenly appalled by the waste that had been her life practically every Saturday night recently, she raised the obnoxiously large brownie in a salute and casually tossed it into the nearest trash receptacle. If you can’t beat ’em then join ’em. “The governor let the Tampa Ladies Club, of which his wife is a member, use his home to raise money for the less fortunate, but I bet they’re spending more money on food and entertainment to entice these big spenders than the same big spenders will donate and leave behind tonight. That just doesn’t make sense, does it?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I donated six grand. And I know my money is going to a good cause.” He grinned, looking suddenly normal, not like the angry rebel at all.
Antonio had chocolate on the corner of his mouth. She longed to reach across the table and wipe it off, but that would be too intimate of a gesture, and she didn’t want to draw attention to Antonio yet. Rebecca glanced away, self-conscious. “And look at that older man slurping champagne while staring at that young girl’s cleavage. Is he really here to help charities like yours?” She glanced back.
Wiping the corner of his mouth, Antonio sucked the frosting off his own finger. “Now you’re being too cynical. Many of these people are your friends, and I’m sure their intentions are good.” But then he winked at her.
Her cheeks flamed; she knew he understood what she was trying to say to him. She finally got it. She finally got him and his mission. He’d won. He’d changed her. Forever.
Antonio walked around the table, and as he brushed past her, his fingers grazed hers, barely touching her skin.
She shivered.
He gestured with his head for her to follow.
“I think we need to go outside to finish this conversation,” she whispered, not even sure if Antonio heard her.
“My thoughts exactly.” His eyes were dilated again.
She’d seen that naughty intent in Antonio’s gaze before at Johnny’s farm. He wouldn’t be stopped back then and probably wouldn’t tonight, either. That kind of energy still crackled between them. Another reason she had to get them both out the door quickly.
As she pushed the back door open, she glanced over her shoulder and noticed Carmelita standing in the entranceway, staring at them wide-eyed. Freaking great. Rebecca waved at Carmelita, having no choice but to acknowledge her, but Rebecca couldn’t seem to get enough air as the invisible noose, made by her own actions, began to tighten. “We’ve been spotted.” She shot a quick look Antonio’s way. “Meet me in ten minutes out back, in the garden maze by the greenhouse. It’s behind where the men are smoking cigars.”
“No. We’re finishing this conversation now.” Antonio’s eyes flamed.
Carmelita started walking toward them. She was the second-biggest gossiper in South Tampa, next to the plastic surgeon’s wife. Rebecca turned to face Antonio. “I promise, I’ll be out there in ten minutes. Let me deal with the mayor’s wife, first.”
“Rebecca,” he stopped. “You know me well enough to know I don’t give a damn about the mayor’s wife.” Antonio attempted to grab her hand. “But I do give a damn about you. You are coming outside with me. Right now.”
She jerked out of his reach. “I can’t. I have to ward off trouble for both you and me.”
“I’m not afraid of trouble.”
“Don’t I know it.”
This time when his fingers wrapped around her wrist, they locked on, and he tugged her, forcing her to move her feet in order to not fall over.
Glancing behind her, she swallowed. Carmelita stood ramrod straight staring at her and Antonio. Carmelita’s mouth was wide open. Rebecca signaled to her across the room and mouthed the words: I’ll be right back. How stupid was that?
Antonio pulled her onto the porch, tugging her through the crowd of well-dressed men, smoking stogies and drinking sherry and expensive port. He led her down a set of stairs and through a garden gate, until they were suddenly alone in a dark corner of the governor’s garden maze.
He pulled her into a small, unlocked greenhouse. The windows were partially covered with half-open shutters; the door was now shut behind them, and the noise of the party but a low buzz in the background. The only light filtering in was coming from both the party and the moon.
Once again she found herself trapped with Antonio in an enclosed place, with little light to see and electricity popping around them. But this time it wasn’t from Mother Nature.
Antonio turned to face her.
Her eyes quickly adjusted to catch the seriousness of his features.
“Maria told me how hard you’ve been trying to find me.”
Her heart fluttered. “I tried everything I could think of, but…”
“It’s okay. I’m fine.” He placed a finger over her lips. “But I do want to know why you wouldn’t give up the search.”
“Antonio.”
“You care about me, that’s why, but you don’t want to admit it. You’re afraid if you love me, these people might not approve, and this fancy life will go away.” Antonio gestured to the stocked greenhouse. Then he moved in on her, backing her against a table in the center lane of the glass house.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him.
“But I can give you this life, too.” Gripping her face in his hands, Antonio kissed her, his lips firm and unrelenting.
The old Antonio, the demanding revolutionary, was back, and his powerful confidence was injecting her with the euphoria of an illegal drug. She pushed against his chest, creating needed space between them. “That’s not what concerns me. You don’t understand. The police are looking for you. You’re a wanted man. I don’t want you to be arrested. Your whole world will change.” She said it all in one breath, and feeling dizzy, stumbled.
He caught her, both hands on her elbows. “Both of our worlds have already changed.” His black eyes flickered, like they had that night in the tent in the Everglades. “Cuba changed you. I changed you.” His grip on her elbows tightened. “Isn’t that what you’ve been trying to prove to me tonight with all your talk of waste and extravagance?”
He was right. She swallowed.
He pulled her closer. “And you’ve changed me.”
She knew what was coming. She took a deep breath, her whole body tingling in anticipation.
“Enough with the talking already. You know how I prefer to communicate.” His lips pressed down on hers again. His tongue shot into her mouth, capturing hers, suffocating her until she feared she’d pass out. He kissed with a fierce intent other men had always lacked. She wondered if it would always be like this.
Then Antonio pulled back, grabbing her chin roughly. “You will never look at your old life the same way again. And no one will ever satisfy you the way I do.”
He’s right. But she still feared his complete control over her. Other men didn’t make her swoon. Only he did. “Maybe my ignorance was bliss.”
“No, ignorance is just ignorance.” His chest was heaving up and down. As they stared at each other, both trying to catch their breaths, she witnessed some of the fire dissipate in his eyes, replaced by uncertainty and then what? Fear?
He let go of her, and as he stepped back, the warm Florida night air failed to replace the heat of his rock-hard body. “I hate these fancy penguin suits.” He struggled to undo his bow tie.
This Antonio looked and sounded more like the one on his knees before his grandmother, his vulnerability so rarely on display.
“No, no. Antonio.” Love rushed through her veins. She’d do anything to protect this wounded man. Anything, now that she understood him so much better. “I’m appreciative of how you’ve changed me, and how you make me feel.” She placed a hand on his chest. “And I love you in a tux.”
Antonio
’s voice sounded husky, his tone dropping a notch. “You love me, period. Maybe you need to be reminded of how much.” He reached for her, enveloping her in a hug. His lips found her neck and traveled from the base slowly up the side.
His fingertips skimmed her back just above her strapless gown line. He inhaled, than exhaled slowly, his breath leaving a warm imprint on her flesh. “I missed the smell of your skin.” Then his hand moved from her back to cup her right breast. His deft fingers tugged down her gown enough to expose her.
She froze, frantically glancing around to make sure no one else had joined them in the greenhouse. Did the governor have surveillance cameras? Would they work in such low light?
It was dark enough that maybe no one could see.
Still.
This could get her fired.
God, would Antonio always drag her into dangerous situations?
And would she always respond like this?
She tried to pull her gown up. “I have to go back inside before Carmelita starts wondering what’s taking me so long.”
“Rebecca.” The way he whispered her name indicated a warning she knew she should heed. “Stop talking.”
His hand snaked into her perfectly styled hair, and this time he wove his fingers into her curls with such force that the little white pearls popped out and the carefully pinned strands came undone. He wrapped her locks around his skilled fingers and jerked her head toward him, meeting her halfway with a kiss meant, no doubt, to shut her up.
And it worked. She exhaled into the kiss, giving in, admitting finally to herself that this man was the man. The one who made the hair on her skin rise, made her heart swell with longing, and made her brain fire off like fireworks were stuck inside. Coming up for breath, Antonio whispered, “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. How much I’ve wanted to do this.”
Oh, but she did know. And she wanted it, too. And now she was going to do something about it.
He shuddered as her hands found his abs and her fingers rolled down his hard stomach, moving south. He grabbed her hand and forced her to feel the length of him over his clothes.
“I want to hear you tell me how much you want me, too.” He released her hand and quickly pulled up the bottom edge of her designer gown, his fingers finding her naked skin.
She sighed as his fingers traced circles on her thighs. Teasingly, he moved his fingers higher, on a path to a place wet and full of longing.
“Antonio,” she pleaded. “You know we shouldn’t do this here. I’ve already drawn enough attention to myself. And I don’t want people to be asking questions about you. Let’s go somewhere else.”
His fingers found the lace edge of her brand-new panties and hovered there.
“Please, Antonio.”
“Please what?”
“Please…please, please.” Oh God, he wasn’t going to stop until she told him exactly what he wanted to hear. What the hell was she thinking? He wasn’t going to stop at all. Heat rushed to her cheeks.
“Please what? Touch you like this?” He slid one finger under her thong.
“Ah.” She arched and tightened her muscles.
He stroked her with a controlled feather light touch. She arched her back to meet his fingers, wanting more. “That feels great.” He’s so skilled at this. All she could think about was the physical release she knew was moments away. But she wanted him inside her.
“You need this,” Antonio whispered, his lips against the throbbing artery in her neck. “You need me.”
“I do.” The time he’d been away had been so taxing. She’d been so desperate to find him. He had no idea. And now that he was here, she couldn’t risk not having another chance to tell him, “I love you.” She sighed. “And I need you inside me.” Holy shit, did she just say that?
Apparently, that’s exactly what Antonio had been waiting to hear, because he unzipped his pants and sheathed himself so quickly she barely had time to open her eyes and register what he was doing. Not sure how he was balancing them both, he lifted her onto the table and pushed up into her. Slowly at first, he began picking up the pace, his movement so consistent and so right, the orgasm started to build. “Let go, Rebecca.”
She wanted to. God, did she long to let go. Of so much she’d been holding on to for so long. And she’d do anything he asked right now. Anything. Because she loved him.
“I know she’s here.”
Through the fog and haze of her own lust, Rebecca picked up Carmelita’s distinct Spanish inflection. She was walking this way! Rebecca’s heart stopped. She tried to put her feet on the ground.
Antonio held her fast, his hot breath quickening on her flesh, his pace picking up.
“I saw her leave with him. Everybody did.” Carmelita’s voice grew louder.
Antonio moved back an inch, his eyes meeting hers. His gaze locking onto hers. He whispered for her to remain quiet.
“Leave with who?”
Jesus. That was Zack’s voice. Sam and Dallas had to be with him. Rebecca couldn’t swallow. They were going to get caught!
“I don’t know him. A handsome guy, though. And it was obvious they know each other.” Carmelita was sure stirring the pot tonight.
Rebecca’s throat went dry. She reached down to stop the illicit act.
Antonio shook his head, mouthing the words, “Don’t say a word.” Then his body continued its slow assault, his gaze never leaving hers. He moved just enough to keep her right on the edge.
Antonio leaned in closer. “You will never feel this way with anyone else, Rebecca.” He intensified his movements.
Her whole body tingled as she first pushed away, and then into him.
By the sound of their voices, Carmelita and Zack were only a few seconds away.
A ripple from deep in her center spread outward, the waves of pleasure drowning her like a tsunami. She couldn’t stop now if she wanted to. And she didn’t.
“I think he’s the man who bid on her.” Carmelita’s voice was so close Rebecca swore they were right outside the door.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Zack must be speaking to either Sam or Dallas.
Antonio pulled her hair, forcing her head to one side, pushing her over that orgasmic edge with that little infliction of pain. “No one will ever know you this intimately, or satisfy you like I will. No matter what happens next, I want to make sure you don’t forget that.”
A groan escaped her firmly pressed lips.
“Rebecca, I love you, too.”
Every hair on her body tingled. He said it. He loved her, too.
“Who’s there? Rebecca?”
She shut her eyes, trying to block out the suspicion in her friend’s voice.
The muscles in her upper thighs clenched as the wave of an orgasm crashed over her. She bit down on her lip to keep from making any more sounds. Burying both hands in Antonio’s short hair, she couldn’t find much to grasp. She missed his long, rebellious curls, but she pulled at his scalp as if to share the intense sensations bursting through her.
Antonio shuddered.
“Over here.” Carmelita’s voice had an odd satisfied ring to it. “I think I heard something right inside here.”
Antonio pulled away.
Rebecca jerked down her dress, quickly smoothing it into place, little tremors of an earthquake still rocking her.
Antonio adjusted her dress, tucking her back in.
Remembering how Antonio had pulled at her hair, she smoothed back the errant strands and twisted it all up into a loose bun, her insides burning now with a dread that made her shake. Looking down, she made sure she was covered.
“It’ll be okay, Rebecca,” Antonio whispered. “Trust me.”
Trust him? Jesus, she couldn’t trust him or herself. The crazy things desire made you do. Anchoring her gaze on the man who’d just seduced her in a somewhat public place, her heart fluttered with wings of worry. She’d never done anything this naughty or risky before.
Okay, maybe everything
she’d done since meeting Antonio had been risky.
And exciting.
And addictive.
She put a hand over her heart, taking a deep breath to slow it.
Antonio jammed his shirt into his pants, readjusted his belt, and ran a hand over his hair. He then turned to her and smiled in a knowing way. Much to her surprise, he walked casually to the door, opened it and stepped forward, out of their dark hiding place into the moonlit, party-filled night.
Her pulse skyrocketed. What the hell was he doing?
“Remember, trust me.”
Chapter Nineteen
Antonio stepped out of the dark greenhouse where he’d just made love to Rebecca. His blood was still pumping, but a deep sense of satisfaction calmed his nerves. Rebecca was his. He’d felt her shift and give in to it, this crazy connection they’d had almost from the start. He would let nothing stand between them ever again. “Looking for me?” Not even this crew of her friends, standing outside the greenhouse.
Dallas Jones, in a tux, stood next to a tall man with dark hair and knowing eyes whom Antonio didn’t know. A petite, attractive woman he’d seen before on Rebecca’s TV station and the mayor’s wife were walking up.
When Dallas saw Antonio, the photographer stopped talking, rubbed his chin, then his eyes popped wide. “No way.” Dallas stepped back. “That really you, man? Damn, son, you look fresh.” Dallas’s worried gaze flickered to the man he’d come with. “It’s clear you didn’t come back on a flotation device.”
Interesting that Dallas didn’t call him by his name. Or try to shake his hand. Or even smile like he was glad to see him.
Instead the photographer stood in front of Antonio, stiff, shifting onto a different leg, looking around, probably for Rebecca. So the guy with Dallas had to be a cop. No other reason for Dallas to look so uncomfortable. Good to know.