Page 24 of Arturo's Temptation

With each spank, she counted, each one more breathless than the last. The warmth spreading across my palm was delicious. The moment my hand collided with her arse one last time, she rose up giving me the barest hint of her right breast.

“Five,” she panted, she was a sweaty mess and it was a phenomenal sight. I stood to my full height and desperately ignored the distinct smell of desire that had punctured the air. She’d deny it but if I slid my hand between her thighs she’d be so damn wet.

“You look fuckin’ beautiful, Isabella,” I hushed, admiring the red blush spreading across her cheeks.

“Fuck you.” Even out of breath, sore, and dripping, she still had an acid tongue. She was clearly confused by her reaction to this.

“Don’t move.” I ordered as I searched her vanity for something useful.

Perfect.

I dropped to my knees behind her, as she remained in position, her arms buckling from the session in the gym and what I had just put her through. I pressed a gentle kiss against the welt my ring had caused as she sucked in a sharp breath the moment my stubble came into contact. With gentle circles, I massaged some body lotion across her sensitive skin.

“You don’t have to do that. I can take care of myself.” I could hear her voice break a little, but she would never show it.

Ignoring her, I finished rubbing the cream into her skin, before standing and gently helping her to her feet. When she turned her to face me, I was greeted by flushed cheeks and watery eyes.

“Go.” Her voice wobbled. Damn, had I gone too far?

“I can’t.” The words left my mouth before I had time to process them.

“Arturo, I need you to go.” Defeat and something akin to humiliation swam in her eyes.

“Isabella,” I whispered against her lips, the need to slam mine against them was becoming too much.

“Just get out, Arturo.” She shoved me then and I nodded.

“I’ll see you at dinner this evening then.”

Once in the hallway, I allowed my shoulders to slump. Regardless of what had just happened, I knew she hated me and everything I was making her feel.

11

The moment Arturoclosed the door behind him I felt like I could breathe again.

What the hell was I thinking?

One second I was angry beyond all belief, the next I couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of him touching me. I pulled my towel back on and sat gingerly onto the bed, wincing slightly.

I despised that bastard with every fibre of my being. So why was I so desperate for him to kiss me? The moment he decided to leave I felt relieved, he wasn’t going to spank me. But as soon as he opened the door, something took hold of me and I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted him to stay. I needed him to put his hands on me. And truth be told, I hadn’t hated it… Far from it. What Arturo had just done had felt more intense than anything I had ever felt. Each time his palm collided with my skin I felt more and more alive. And when it was all over, I wanted nothing more than to have him touch me all over. That new but familiar ache surfaced again making me shiver.

No, what had just happened was a blip, nothing more. And it would never happen again.

“Bells, you dressed?”

Fuck… Tyler and his timing.

“One second.” I called, chucking off my towel. I pulled on some underwear and a pair of jeans which irritated the handprints I was sure now decorated my ass. I threw on a plain white t-shirt before opening the door.

“You’ve been ages, what have you been doing?” He smiled as he flung himself on my bed.

“I lost track of time.”Liar.

“Right, well dry your hair. I’m starving,” Tyler rubbed his tummy with a fake groan.

Tyler was three years my junior, he had just turned twenty-two and was as much of a younger brother as Andre was. He was Red’s son, the result of a one night stand. According to Emmet, Tyler was apparently dropped on our doorstep one evening, with a note to say that Red would make a far better parent than his mother ever would. And that was the last anyone had heard from her. Not that this information bothered Tyler. He viewed my mother as his own and she treated him as such. He and Andre may have been best friends but Tyler had been my shadow since as early as I can remember.

“I can dry my hair later, let’s go,” I smiled, ignoring my burning skin.

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