“I don’t think you know what you do to me, Victoria,” he finally found the strength to say. His mouth was filled with her taste. Her scent was burned into his skin, deep into his pores. And even now, while spasms were still leaving his body, they were humming for her.
“I don’t think you know what you do to me either, Cortez,” she whispered softly.
That’s precisely what he needed to hear. It leveled the playing field. Now the game was no-holds-barred. He forced his eyes open to look down at her. “Hungry?”
“I’d rather stay like this a while longer.”
That would work, he thought. When she snuggled closer to him, he tightened his arms possessively around her and closed his eyes.
Hours later, when Cortez woke up for the second time that day, Victoria was still tucked in his arms. She came awake when he shifted his leg off hers. She smiled. “What time is it?” she asked yawning.
He glanced at the clock. “Close to noon.”
Cortez clearly remembered her being hungry for food earlier, but he’d been a greedy ass and had wanted her again. “Time to feed you.”
Easing out of bed, he pulled her naked body with him. “Come on,” he said, sweeping her off to the bathroom with him. “We’ll shower, eat lunch, and then come back in here. I plan to keep you busy for the rest of the day.”
“Will you be inside of me the entire time? Even when we’re napping?”
He definitely liked that idea. “I think that can be arranged. I like being inside of you.”
“And I like having you there.”
He hoped she remembered those words when they returned back home. As he carried her into the bathroom, he said, “Get ready for a few surprises today.”
“Surprises?” He placed her on her feet in front of the vanity sink, and she wrapped her arms around his waist and curled into his side. Staring up at him, a smile of sexual satisfaction all over her face, she said, “I have a feeling that I’m going to like that, Cortez.”
He smiled down at her. “Good, because tonight is all we have. And I want to make sure you remember it.”
VICTORIA STOOD AT THE window in her office, looking out. It was hard to believe it had been two weeks since she’d returned from Paris. Two weeks after spending what had been two of the most wonderful nights of her life. Two days and nights she would always remember, just as Cortez had wanted her to do. Any misgivings she’d originally had about joining him in Paris were forgotten. She was glad she’d decided to go.
Now what?
They had left the villa together in the rental car and had flown on the same flight to JFK International Airport. That’s when they’d parted ways. He had caught a connecting flight on to L.A., and she’d taken one to St. Paul. Before saying goodbye, they had shared one last kiss, not caring who saw them. That kiss had been so powerful, her toes were still tingling, even now.
But that wasn’t the only thing tingling…
Every time she thought about those two days, her entire body reacted. She recalled the number of times they’d made love; the places they’d made love and the ways they’d made love. It was as if their bodies had needed each other, driving them to get as much of each other as they could. He’d even taken her against a wall, for heaven’s sake. And on a couple of occasions, a table. Her body had been on stand-by, always ready for his hard thrusts constantly slamming into her, filling her, claiming her, possessing her in a way that had her screaming her pleasure so often, she wondered if she would ever speak coherently again.
She had loved every single stroke of him inside her body. She’d needed them, welcomed them, and at times, even begged for them. She’d pleaded for him to thrust harder and he had. It seemed he knew just what spot to hit that would make her come while screaming his name. Every time Cortez entered her, she felt him branding her.
He liked seeing her naked, and on their last day together, she’d paraded around that way to please him. She distinctly remembered the look in his eyes. It lit up his handsome face, and let her know that he wanted her, as well as just how much he wanted her. They only left the house to stroll through the countryside, hand in hand. During that time together, they didn’t talk about work, family, or friends. Nor did they discuss the state of world affairs. What they did talk about was sex. Hot, passionate, and sometimes dirty sex. They would talk about what they planned to do to each other when they returned to the villa, and just how they would do it.
Victoria smiled, thinking how that topic of conversation always made for rather quick walks. The bottom line was that now she missed him in a way she’d never missed anyone before, especially a man. She’d missed him four years ago…but it was never like this.
As he’d requested, she had sent him a text to let him know she’d arrived home safely and he’d sent her one, as well. He had told her again how much he enjoyed their time together and that was it. There was no hint or suggestion that they do it again one day. But then, she figured they wouldn’t. Paris was one and done and they’d agreed to move on.
So why was she feeling so down? Why was it as if she’d become addicted to him those two days in Paris? The first week after she’d returned, she’d felt as if she’d been on one hell of a sensual high. The memories had been hitting her right and left, and she’d found herself smiling all the time. Even her cousins had commented on what a good mood she was in and how they’d caught her smiling to herself more than once.
But now as the days rolled on, something else was beginning to happen…she was realizing that what they had shared was indeed over. She knew it couldn’t be any other way. She wasn’t ready to commit to a serious relationship. And Cortez hadn’t said whether he was or not, though she’d pretty much figured he wasn’t since he hadn’t been in one all this time.
When she went to bed every night, she missed his warmth. She’d become used to sleeping with him, practically skin to skin, snuggled close to each other.
And now, each night before drifting off to sleep, she would think about the titillating kisses they shared. First, he would take her mouth with a tenderness that would make her moan. Then he would deepen the kiss, and her moans would become full-blown groans.
And she would always remember their kiss in the villa right before leaving. They’d been packed, and he’d just finished loading everything in the car. She’d gone from room to room to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything, and when she returned to the living room, he was standing in the middle of the room waiting for her. She had crossed the room and he’d taken her in his arms, pulled her close, and kissed her in a way that had made her feel happier than she’d ever felt. And she had returned the kiss with equal fervor. She had asked him to give her all the passion he’d had, and he had delivered with a bang. No pun intended.
But all the happiness she’d felt then had turned into sadness now.
She knew there would be occasions when they would run into each other at family gatherings, but it wouldn’t be the same. How would they react when they saw each other again? Would there still be sexual chemistry between them, or was it over and done with?
Victoria figured she would know next weekend when she attended the birthday party Brandy was throwing for Grey in Orlando. Her aunt would expect her to attend, and Victoria figured Cortez would be there, as well. She’d known about the party before Paris, but hadn’t mentioned it to Cortez. And he hadn’t brought it up either.