Marco struggled for a second and then flipped Chance over, making him land hard on his back. Ana stepped forward and then caught her mother’s eye, too.
“You know nothing of this,” Marco ground out. “You have no say.”
“Maybe not,” Chance agreed. “But if you think I was going to stand by and let you try to push her around, think again.”
“And what were you doing, exactly, watching from the shadows? What business of this is yours?” Marco accused.
The two men growled and raised their fists again, and this time, Ana did step forward.
“Alto!” she commanded and ran between the two men before they exchanged blows. “Stop this immediately!”
To her shock, they did, heaving breaths like angry bulls on each side of her, but stopping all the same.
“Marco, I’m so sorry, but I do not want to marry you,” she said, hating to embarrass him publicly, but he had certainly contributed to that. “And, Chance, I will not have this kind of behavior from anyone in my family’s home.”
Ana’s tone was clear and she made eye contact with both men to let them know she meant business.
“I’m sorry, Ana. You’re right, of course,” Chance said, setting off flickers of heat in her bloodstream.
“Yes, he is so noble. Sleeping with a woman promised to another.”
“We are not sleeping together,” Ana said emphatically, feeling her cheeks burn as she defended herself in front of God and everyone. “That comment was uncalled for, as is your behavior, Marco.”
Instead of apologizing, Marco sent them both a dark look and stormed off.
Ana looked at Chance, noting the bruise on his cheek and the tear in his shirt. Other than that, he seemed no worse for wear. Looking past him, she made eye contact with her mother.
“I am so sorry, Mama. I never thought this would happen,” she said, walking forward to take her mother’s hands.
“It is very upsetting, hermosa, but we can talk about it in the morning. For now, it is late, and there has been enough excitement,” Doncia said, though her attention was on Chance, rather than Ana.
Ana couldn’t read her mother’s expression, if it was disapproval or appreciation, or something else, but she nodded her agreement. In her heart, Ana had a feeling this was not going to be the relaxing trip home that she thought it would be.
* * *
CHANCE GRIMACED AS HE STEPPED out of the shower and took in the deepening purple of the bruise on his cheek. Marco had a fist like Ironman, and that punch had nearly knocked him out. But the vision of the guy pushing Ana up against the wall had more than motivated Chance to get up and respond, hit for hit.
In retrospect, maybe not the best move. He’d lost his head for a minute and had forgotten his role as bodyguard, driven by pure male instinct to defend Ana in a much more personal way.
Marco had known. And Chance couldn’t blame the guy for being upset—it sucked to be dumped, but especially with so much riding on the marriage. It was archaic but unfortunate that Marco stood to lose more than his bride, but that wasn’t Ana’s responsibility.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he went into the bedroom and lay down, letting a cool breeze from the screened windows drift over his still-damp skin. When he’d left Ana, she was with her mother and sister, picking up after the party. She was safe, and he needed to think.
There was still something about Marco that kept itching at Chance. He was strong as a bull, but he knew how to fight, and not just instinctively—he’d been trained.
Chance wondered if a new element had been added into the mix.
The male part of his brain was focused on the reality that Ana was now completely free of any obligation to Marco. His mind traveled back to the kiss in the courtyard and how soft she was, but how hot, as well.
She said she wanted more with him. It wasn’t advisable, but there were worse ways to stay close to his principal.
Drifting off, Chance finally gave in to the urge to sleep, something he hadn’t done for days. Sensual images of Ana infiltrated his dreams. Her hands, her mouth...until a distant sound had him awake, sitting upright, staring at the door.
The knob was turning, slowly, silently, as if not to be heard. It was well after midnight, the house silent, Ana’s family sleeping. Whoever this was, they weren’t invited.
Chance stood, hugging the wall by the door, hardly breathing as he waited.
The door opened slightly, and someone stepped in.
He moved quickly from behind, knowing from the moment his hands touched her, and his nose caught the scent of her hair, who it was in his grasp.
“Ana?” he whispered, letting go and shutting the door quietly.
She stood in the soft light of his room, looking at him with those big brown eyes, her hair slightly messy, as if she had just left her own bed. She wore a thin, cream-colored shift that—God help him—showed the lovely silhouette of her naked form underneath the fabric.
“What are you doing here? I could have hurt you,” he said, not taking one step closer.
For the first time since he’d met her, Ana Perez looked uncertain.
“I couldn’t sleep. I’m sorry. I...I shouldn’t have come. I don’t know what I was thinking,” she said, nervous. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “Good night.”
Chance stopped her with a hand on her shoulder before she could turn the knob.
“Ana, what were you thinking?”
He was so close, standing right next to her, that her scent seemed to surround him, hypnotizing him. He drew her against him, his hands on her shoulders, his mouth by her ear.
“Were you thinking about me?” he whispered.
She nodded, swallowing hard. “I wanted to make sure you were okay,” she said softly, shifting in his arms. She raised a hand to his face, touching his bruise gingerly. “And to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For helping,” she said with a slight smile.
“I should have stopped the fight,” he said, rubbing his chin lightly along her hairline, making her close her eyes and tip her head back for more. “I’m sorry I let it go that far.”
“Thank you,” she said, offering her lips up for a kiss that blotted out anything else. Pulling her up against him, his arms closed around her, the two of them pressed together completely.
“You were thinking about this?” he asked roughly before his tongue took to investigating her bottom lip.
“Yes.”
It was what he wanted to hear.
“Me, too. I couldn’t get this afternoon out of my head,” he admitted, as hungry as she was. Lifting her thigh, she slid her leg against his, opening so that her body brought his erection even closer to her core. Chance groaned, pressing in.
“Ana,” he said on a choked breath, sliding his hands into her hair and holding her still as he dived back in for a deeper kiss, his tongue exploring, tangling with hers as she did the same to him.
She tasted so good, he thought vaguely, as she let him hold her and move her any way he pleased. It was wonderful as his hands cupped her bottom, grinding her against him, and she shuddered with need as he brought her very close to coming but then loosened his hold.
She moaned a little in protest, and he pulled her up so that she was no longer standing but had to wrap her arms and legs around him and hold on. His towel had hit the floor, and he caught his breath on a choked curse, feeling her against him.
Perfect, as he knew she would be.
Her nightgown had pushed up with the movement, so she was bare against him except for the slick, thin material of the thong she wore. Chance reached back, twisting the material in his hands and tearing it from her body with one firm pull, making her gasp in pleasure.
He didn’t want anything between them and let go with one hand to try to lift the thin shift from her body, but it was caught, and Ana helped, so that she was as naked as he was.
Ana kissed him this time, her nipples rubbing against the light bit of hair on h
is chest. She swayed back and forth to intensify the contact as she kissed him as deeply as he had kissed her.
“I can barely keep it together. I might end up disappointing you,” he said with a faint chuckle, leading her to the bed.
“Not possible.” She smiled, squeezing his hand.
He set her down on the edge of the massive bed and grabbed his duffel, taking out several small, round foil packets.
“I hadn’t even thought of that,” she admitted. “But I am...safe. Protected.”
“Never hurts to be sure,” he said.
Ana stopped him just short of sitting on the bed with her and turned him to her.
“Let me see you,” she said, her eyes on him.
Chance held still, held his breath, wondering what was next. Hoping.
Her hand ran up the inside of his strong thigh to cup him and then stroke along the soft skin beneath. He trembled and groaned, a hand landing on her shoulder to steady himself.
“Ana,” he said on an unsteady breath as her fingers explored, traveling over his length.
She leaned forward to press a kiss to his flat, taught belly, and he said her name again, reverently. Ana smiled, still holding him in her hand, and dipped her lips down to kiss him intimately, letting her tongue sweep over the tip of his cock.
Sensation so sharp he almost felt split in two drove through him, and he cursed on a sharp exhale, hearing her soft, satisfied chuckle. Ana tasted him more thoroughly, and before she was done, he was shaking, his knees starting to give out as he got closer to coming.
“Ana, stop, or this is going to be over before it starts,” he said, panting and reaching for a foil packet.
She took it from him and covered him herself, her touch making him close his eyes, hold his breath.
She knew what he wanted, and pushed back on the bed so that he could get between her thighs and pull her forward to the edge. She was so ready, and Chance swallowed hard, not taking his eyes from hers as he poised his cock at the swell of her sex, touching, sliding, teasing.
Ana arched off the bed, her hands on her breasts like his fantasy come to life. He eased inside of her, just a bit, and she cried out, begging him for more.
“Ana, you undo me” was all he said before he dipped down to replace her fingers, taking her nipple in his mouth, drawing on her hard as he pressed the rest of himself into her. He looked up then, breathing hard as he stayed planted deep inside.
She caught his eye, her own breath labored now. “Someone might hear. Have to be quiet,” he said with a smile, nodding to the open windows.
She smiled back, nodding in agreement.
He returned to her breast, which had her writhing on the bed, biting her lip as he started to move inside her. He suckled her to the same rhythm of his thrusts, loving how she twined her fingers through his hair.
The tempo of his thrusts quickened, and she moaned and sighed, telling him that she was enjoying the ride. Every muscle in his body went rigid as she closed around him, pulsing tight and drawing his release even closer. He slowed down, wanted to last.
Framing his face in her hands, she looked into his eyes. “Make me come, Chance... Let go... Just take me like you want to,” she said.
It was as if something snapped inside of him, and he stood, tugging her forward, his hands holding her delectable ass as she wrapped her legs around his lower back. He pressed into her faster, wilder, like a hot wire broken free.
“Ana,” he growled under his breath, his body straining when she leaned into him, keening with pleasure as her tight muscles pulsed around his cock. As she climaxed, she clung to him as he set off yet another hot wave of release through her body.
Chance was aware of nothing but the pleasure he felt being inside her, unaware of anything but the searing satisfaction of his own climax as it rushed along every inch of his body. As the most intense moments passed, he let her go, fell forward over her, braced on his arms.
“Ana, if I died right now, that would be okay,” he said, but he was grinning when he tilted his forehead against hers.
Chance had made love to a lot of women, but he was damned sure not one of them had completely wrecked him as Ana had. Nothing had ever been like this.
“No, it really wouldn’t be,” she joked as she kissed him. “I’m not nearly done with you yet,” she added with a smile.
Music to his ears.
7
THUNDER RUMBLED SOMEWHERE in the distance, and rain started to patter softly outside as Ana thought about how much things could change in a day.
She hadn’t been sure about coming to Chance’s room, offering herself to him, but as she’d tossed and turned in bed, he was all she could think of. Wanting him, and wanting something that would obliterate every other thought, worry and concern in her head.
He had certainly done that.
She watched him walk to the bathroom, returning a few seconds later to lay back down beside her.
“What are you thinking about now?” he asked.
She raised her eyebrows and answered truthfully. “About doing it again.”
He laughed. “You might have to give me a little recovery time. You wrung me dry.”
“I can wait,” she said, rolling over to cover him, folding her arms on her chest and resting her chin there, gazing out at the rain.
He was warm, big and solid. Ana cuddled into him, resting the sensitive apex of her thighs against his hard abdomen. She sighed in satisfaction.
“Storm moving in,” he commented absently.
“A small one. Our rainy season isn’t until the summer months, and then, of course, there is hurricane season,” she said with a shudder.
“You’ve been caught in one?”
“A few times. No way to miss it down here. I bought this house for my family—reinforced brick—because everything we had was lost in 2005, with Wilma,” she said, remembering the carnage.
“You take good care of them,” he said, arms behind his head as he looked out the window with her. She liked the intimacy that the rain pattering on the window created between them, as if there was no one else in the world.
“I wanted them to come back to the States with me, but this is home. My father died that year, as well,” she said, swallowing hard as she remembered that sadness.
“In the hurricane?”
She shook her head. “Heart attack, just before. The hurricane just added insult to injury, but that year...it was hard, to say the least.”
“You had just agreed to a contract for your cable show in 2005, right?”
“Sí. It meant I had to be away from home much more than I should have been. I wish I had seen Papa more. I wish—”
She stopped, taking a deep breath and shaking her head. “This is not what we should be talking about,” she said, leaning down to take a flat nipple between her teeth, sucking lightly and liking the sound he made in response.
“You do a lot for your family, for your village,” he said as his hands traveled over her shoulders, her back. “What do you do for Ana?”
She smiled, turning in his arms. “Those things are for me, too. They make me happy. I have a wonderful life,” she said, rising, her hands on his chest.
Ana wanted him again and felt his answer against the inside of her thigh. Still, it was nice to talk, too. To be just two people, making love, getting to know each other, and nothing more.
“You’ve built up half of this village or more. Financed most of the small businesses,” he said, kissing her temple.
“How do you know— Oh, the file,” she said, remembering. “What else would I do with the money? Fast cars and faster men?” she joked.
“Something like that,” he offered with a grin.
“I take care of my family, and I take care of myself,” she said, leveling him a look, rocking against him gently.
Ana was quickly losing interest in the conversation and eyed the remaining packets on the bed.
“In a little while. Soon,” Chance promised, his eyes on
her, knowing what she wanted.
Maybe knowing what she wanted more than she did, as he grabbed her hips and urged her forward, positioning her over his mouth.
Ana quivered with excitement, anticipating his touch. He didn’t make her wait, and she didn’t worry about making noise as the storm rose.
“Oh, Chance, yes, please,” she begged as he took her clit in between his lips, sucking as his fingers explored her slick flesh.
Ana closed her eyes, letting the storm and the mounting pleasure consume her. Chance rolled his tongue around her tender flesh, sucking and lapping at her as his fingers teased her with tender, sensitive touches. She tensed.
“No?” he whispered against the inside of her thigh, waiting.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Returning his mouth to her, his fingers explored and tested, gently finding his way inside her. Ana was lost in the host of new sensations taking over her body. And when he pushed deeper, sucked a little harder, she lost it completely. Thrashing over him, she came harder than she would have imagined was possible, losing track of everything but the pleasure he sent crashing through her. She wasn’t sure how long it lasted, but she didn’t want it to end.
As her pleasure receded, she sought more, sliding down his body to cover him again. He was so hard, so big. Planting her hands on his chest, she lowered herself over him, taking him fully inside as she watched his face contort. His lips expelled her name on a harsh breath as he jacked his hips up under her.
“Come with me, Chance,” she said, as she danced seductively over him, her head back, her breasts thrust toward him.
An explosion of wind and booming sound from outdoors crashed around them as their harsh cries filled the room, mingling with the noise around them. Ana’s wild ride settled to a slow, easy rocking as their passion cooled, and Chance reached down, sliding a finger in between her thighs to caress her. He watched her closely as her body shuddered over his with one more impossibly sweet climax.
He held her close, pulling a blanket over them as the air from the storm chilled their heated bodies. She was half-asleep as he pulled her in, tucking her into his body. Ana released a long breath and slept the best sleep of her life.
His Kind of Trouble Page 8