Page 57 of Love or Leave

Cara laughed, but it caught in her throat as her dress gave way from being too loose and slid down her shoulders, exposing her torso.

"Do we have that in common?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I don't mind checking out the occasional festering wound."

Antonio gave a warm, rich laugh. He backed away slightly and the space he created made her dress drop and pool at her feet. He took her by the waist and turned her to face him.

She was exposed and chilled, yet the gentle way his hands circled her skin, as if she was something precious, warmed her. He reached his hand to her temple and pushed aside her bangs, as if trying to get a better look.

"I like beautiful things, too," he said, scanning her face and landing on her eyes. "Like big brown eyes that shimmer like stars." His gaze dropped to her mouth, and he traced her bottom lip with his thumb. "And soft red lips that taste like dessert."

She was speechless.

Literally speechless.

She parted her lips, knowing she should speak at that moment, but had no words. She moved in closer and pressed her lips to his, soft at first, until she felt a low sound rise from his chest—as if he’d found great relief—and he deepened the kiss.

She almost couldn't believe it was happening. She was in Antonio's hotel room, and he wanted her—a lot, it would seem.

Her hands moved up and into his soft, thick hair, and she pulled him closer, wanting more—needing more. His handsmoved, gliding up her back, over the clasp of her bra, down to the waistband of her panties, then sweeping back up.

She wanted to rip the rest of her clothing off. Wanted to see him and feel him with nothing in between them.

She broke the kiss and moved her hands to his belt to unbuckle it. When she glanced up at him, his eyelids were low, and his breathing was shallow and fast. She tugged the buckle loose, letting it clatter open, then reached for the button of his pants.

"Cara?"

She looked back up, seeing that his face was strained. "Yeah?"

"You're sure about this, right?"

"As sure as I am that the earth is round."

He tilted his head to the side. "Well, you can't know that for certain."

She snapped away from him as her jaw dropped. "Oh my God," she said, her head shaking. "Please tell me you're joking. I can’t sleep with a Flat Earther."

He smiled and let out his rich laugh. "Of course I'm joking," he said. His hand reached up to her face, and he ran his thumbs gently across the tops of her cheeks. His smile faded into a serious expression.

"I just want to make sure we're going to be okay after this."

Her eyebrows raised at the seriousness of his tone. He was obviously worried about what would happen after this, but he didn't need to worry. She knew what this was. And she'd become pretty good at keeping secrets from Max.

"We'll be fine, Antonio," she said, wondering how to reassure him she wouldn't get attached and expect a marriage proposal as if they were living in eighteenth-century Britain and he'd defiled her.

"I know this isn't going anywhere," she said.

His movements suddenly stopped and he gave her a blank look. "That's not…"

He paused, staring for a while, then reached a hand up and rubbed the back of his neck. "You do?"

Cara nodded and a hot tingle of embarrassment crept up her neck as she realized she would have to tell him the truth.

"I don't have a ton of experience in this department, and I was hoping I could, you know…"

He stared at her and gave a slight shake of his head, clearly not quite understanding what she was trying to say.

God, this was humiliating.

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