Page 43 of Dark Masquerade
In the bathroom, he ran hot water into a vast tub. Elli eyed it with a grin. “Big enough for two. You know, I’ve never had sex in a bathtub.”
Indio pretended to be serious, stroking his beard. “Really? Well, scientific studies show that sex in a tub in Paris, specifically with a man whose name begins with an ‘I,' means beautiful woman called Elli are guaranteed an orgasm.”
Elli giggled. “Oh, is that what they say?”
“They do.” He grinned, looking ever more like the boyish hero of her youth. Elli kissed him.
“Silly man. I love you so much.”
“As I love you, ElliBella. God, when this is all over, we’re going to be as silly as we like. More fun and more jokes. I’ve laughed more in the time we’ve been reunited than in the eight years we’ve been apart. I’m looking forward to getting back there.”
“Adventures.”
“Hell, yes.”
They lay in the warm water, Elli leaning back against his chest. Indio’s fingers trailed bubbles up and down her belly. Elli felt more relaxed and content than she had in years, turning so she could look at him. He cupped her breasts in his hands, stroking a rhythm over her nipples with his thumbs. She swept his damp curls away from his face and studied his swarthy, tanned skin and his bright green eyes gazing at hers, soft with love.
“Have you any idea how beautiful you are, Indio Navaro?” Her voice was awestruck. “Inside and out. There could never be any other man for me. Not ever. I was dumb to think there could be.”
Indio smiled at her. “Then I’m just as dumb, Elli. I spent eight years trying to fight what I felt and what I knew in my bones was our destiny.”
Elli’s eyes were sad. “Why? Why fight so hard? Enzo …he would have come around. He wasn’t my keeper.”
Indio shook his head. “Right now, I don’t know why. When his girlfriend accused me of assaulting her, it was such a visceral shock. In a way, I don’t blame Enzo for banishing me. I didn’t feel good enough for you …in my mind, no one was good enough for you, Elli.”
She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. “You were and you still are my hero in every way. I love you so much, Indio. So,somuch.”
Indio slid his hands into her hair and gazed at her. “Marry me.”
“Yes,” she said simply, but he shook his head, smiling.
“No, I mean, while we’re in Paris. Marry me. Don’t go back to him. Stay with me. I’ll keep you safe, I promise. I can’t bear that he touches you.”
Elli smiled through her tears. “Yes, yes, god, yes, Indio …”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. Indio reached between her legs and spread her labia, and she guided his cock inside her. They made love slowly and intensely until they were both gasping for air and laughing, telling each other how much they loved each other.
***
In the morning, Elli woke up with Indio’s arms around her and felt happier than she ever had. She turned in his arms and watched him sleep for a few minutes before he opened his eyes and smiled at her. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning, my love.”
Indio kissed her, and they made love before showering together. Indio went out to buy some breakfast rolls, returning just as Elli finished dressing. She was waving two passports at him. Indio was confused. She grinned and handed him one of them.
“It’s Aldo’s. I took it so he couldn’t follow me here.”
Indio laughed, flicking through it. “Clever girl, although, knowing how corrupt he is, he probably has several under assumed names.”
Elli’s face fell. “Damn, I never thought of that.”
Indio mussed her hair. “It was still a good idea. We can see where he’s been.”
Something snagged in Elli’s memory then. “Hey, let me see that for a second.”
She flicked through to where there was a customs stamp and held it up. “This is from when we went to Seattle. US Customs stamp, right? They always, always stamp it?”
“Yep.”
