Page 77 of Devil's Iris
The second I step off the plane, I slip from his grip, walking past the waiting staff. I kick off my heels, sighing in pure bliss as my toes sink into the softest sand imaginable. Salty breeze sweeps my bangs across my forehead, and I smile, closing my eyes to savor the moment.
When I open them again, my heart jolts. Romero is staring at me with an expression I can’t read. I swallow, pulse hammering, but even my nervousness about the dark way he’s suddenly looking at me isn’t enough to dampen my excitement.
I spread my arms wide and spin in a slow circle. “This is—indescribable, Romero.”
He steps into my space when I face him again, his hand sliding to my lower back as he leans down. “Good.” Then his lips brush mine in the faintest ghost of a kiss that sends my pulse scrambling. “I want our first time together,yourfirst time, to be special. Because you are.”
Heat rushes to my face. The matter of my virginity haslingered between us these past few weeks, but aside from that short library conversation, we never brought it up again.
My pulse skitters when he presses me closer, drawing me flush against the solid heat of his chest. “I’ve been going crazy these past few weeks, Leni.”
I gulp.
“Welcome to Moon Crest Bay.”
The voice behind us makes Romero take a reluctant step back. But it’s not nearly enough space to stop the fire sizzling in my veins or calm my thudding heart. I turn towards the woman, hyperaware of his hot palm still burning against my lower back like a brand.
“I’m Clara, the island concierge. It’s so nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Lombardi.”
Mrs. Lombardi.My brain short-circuits when Romero’s thumb starts moving in slow circles on my spine, and I can only stare at Clara with parted lips, fighting not to make any embarrassing sounds.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Clara,” Romero murmurs, his warm breath teasing the nape of my neck, raising goosebumps everywhere.
Fuck.
Clara nods, then launches into tour guide mode as she leads us towards the villa. “I’ve sent the other staff back inside for now since there isn’t much for them to do yet, but we have a private chef in residence, a housekeeper, and three servers who can bring meals to whichever room you prefer. They’ll also attend to any needs you have. And of course, cleaners come in daily, so you don’t have to worry about tidying up.”
She continues her speech as she walks us through, but it’s impossible to focus. I try to listen. I really do. But Romero… he’s relentless. His hand has migrated up to where my dress opens in the back, his fingers now brushing the exposed skin there. Every nerve ending in my body zeros in on those barely-there caresses. My heart is pounding so loudly it drowns out Clara’s voice, keeping perfect rhythm with the insistent throbbing between my thighs.
Is he doing this on purpose?
The villa has four ridiculously oversized suites, including a master with amazing dual views of the forest from one window and the ocean from another. I gasp at the sight, using the opportunity to slip from Romero’s maddening touch, but like a magnet to metal, he follows instantly and glues himself to me again.
I know we’re supposed to sell our newlywed act to the concierge, but this is too much.
He cages me against the window, and I glance back at him, breath snagging in my chest. But he’s staring out at the view while his thumb lazily circles the center of my spine.
I barely swallow the moan that wants to escape my throat when he hits a particularly sensitive spot that makes me want to arch like a cat, and his lips twitch into the barest ghost of a smile.
He is doing this on purpose, the bastard!
But I can’t rip into him in front of our audience, so I endure it, trying to slip away from him each time our tour guide shows us another incredible room in this labyrinth of a villa.
A massive library straight out ofBeauty and the Beast. A gourmet kitchen that’s every chef’s wet dream. An entertainment room loaded with every game imaginable—table tennis, shuffleboard, video games, you name it.
Then Clara leads us to the next floor, and as we climb the stairs, I increase my pace, practically sprinting ahead to escape from Romero and his hot touches that are slowly driving me crazy.
Finally, we reach a huge balcony—insanely huge—with lounge chairs, a fully stocked wet bar, and the crown jewel: aninfinity pool that seems to melt seamlessly into the shimmering water of the sea beyond.
I gasp, walking closer to admire it just as Romero’s palm grazes the top of my ass. He probably meant to place his hand on my lower back again, but my quick movement combined with the way I lean forward means his hand lands squarely on my butt.
The scandalous sound that escapes me would make a porn star blush. I jolt forward from the shock of the touch, my feet slip on the wet floor, and?—
Splash!
The warm water engulfs me in a rush, and for some absurd reason, the sensation tugs directly at my clit as my dress molds to my body. I surface to find an amused Romero and a horrified Clara staring down at me.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” The concierge hurries forward with her hand out at the same time Romero steps up to the edge.
