Page 47 of Perfume Girl
“Perhaps you should be.”
Caution hadn’t served me well in the past. All those times I’d held back had led to missed opportunities and eventually heartache. What if I acted on the passion rising within me and leapt into this moment with abandon. “I’m not the threat here, Astor.”
There was something predatory in the way he stared at me. I sensed he was waiting for me to surrender so he’d have the upper hand. He was the enemy yet my body yearned for his touch.
“This is not why I brought you here,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Why did you?” My nipples beaded and the sensation felt divine; my body trembled with the realization that he, too, was feeling the chemistry between us.
“I only want the truth,” he whispered.
“All that I am is true.”
“I want to believe that.”
“Are you as bad as you say?”
“I brought you to Cuba.” He opened his palms to make his point. “I consider that tame.”
“What else would you do to me?”
“Sure you want me to answer that question?”
I gave a wary nod.
“Each enemy is dealt with differently.”
“I’m not the enemy.”
His seductive gaze turned dark. “Your punishment would be me taking you to the edge of pleasure and then plunging you over into an abyss. If you consent to it.”
“Doesn’t sound so bad.”
He gave me a cruel smile. “So…you wish to be ravished entirely? And then destroyed? Ruined?” He stepped back and started to walk away.
“Yes.”
He turned around to face me with a curious expression.
“I want that,” I said huskily.
Astor moved closer, looming over me. “Do you believe you deserve such treatment?”
“I want…”To feel something, anything. I want to be free of this numbness…
Astor tipped up my chin. “You’re already broken.”
I rose on my toes and bit down on his lower lip. He groaned and yanked me against his chest in a full kiss, reaching up to cup my face as his mouth ravaged me. I felt his hardness against me as our tongues lashed—his battling mine as he fought for control, fought to conquer me.
I forgot both time and place, knowing only the divine sensation of being held against him, sinking deeper into my need, this yearning to be desired so fervently.
He nipped my earlobe, and then pulled back, looking conflicted. “Raquel, you had two shots. I need to know you want this before you let me do more.”
I let out an impatient sigh. “I’m a scientist, Mr. Beauregard, which means I take my time and carefully explore all the details before making a decision.”
“Of course.” He stepped away, frowning. “Forgive me.”
“My answer’s yes.” I raised my chin proudly. “However, it will be the last kiss I allow you.”
