She was retreating again. Her shoulders hunched, her eyebrows drawn together in a scowl. He wanted to help her, to take away the stress in her posture and her voice. He was good with money. He could help her, teach her.
But first, he wanted her to relax. With him.
The second she put the lid on the pot, he swept her into a dance again. They danced between sips of wine and taking turns at the stove. When the food was ready, they opened a second bottle of red, made their plates, and ate standing up, dancing between bites.
“What are we eating?” he asked, spinning her close.
“Sancocho—it’s like stew.Arroz con gandules—rice with green pigeon peas. Andplátanos maduros—sweet fried plantains. Like you said, it’s comfort food.”
He pressed a kiss to her hair. “Well, I feel comforted.”
She laughed and leaned against him. “Damn it,Macho.”
“What?” He tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him.
Her voice trembled. “Why can’t I ever say no to you?”
It was what he’d been waiting for. Natasha, soft and pliant in his arms. Her thoughts only on him, not on her money troubles, or her past, or her job. She’d opened up to him tonight, told him more about her life than she ever had before. It left him with more questions, and an even deeper desire to know her. But now wasn’t the time to follow those threads.
Now was the time for seduction.
Her face was already lifted toward his. Her lips parted, her eyes on his. Her tongue darted out, swiped against that full lower lip.
With a groan, he closed the distance and kissed her.
14
Sweet Jesus. Dimitri’s knees locked to absorb the impact. Would he ever be prepared for her kiss?
Natasha tasted like wine and spices, her mouth hot and ravenous under his. He cupped her face to hold her to him, then backed up until the edge of the granite counter hit his ass. Her slim fingers gripped the waistband of his jeans, sliding under fabric. He groaned, hardening as the backs of her nails teased his skin.
Touch her. He had to touch her.Neededto. He skimmed his hands down her body, and then brought them up again, to pull off her tank top. Underneath, she wore a lacy black bra.
He broke the kiss to run his fingertips along the frilly edges of the cups where they met her skin. “Is this new?”
“Uh-huh.” Eyes heavy-lidded and full of heat, she grabbed the back of his neck to draw him down for another kiss.
Natasha kissed like she was drowning, like he was the only one who could save her. She kissed with fire and bite, and a hint of desperation. Her kiss hooked him in every time. For a man who needed to be needed, it made him want to give her everything he had and more.
Sex was the only way she’d take it. Even now, she was only here in his kitchen because she had nowhere else to go.
He’d change that, though. He’d show her how it could be between them if she stayed.
“We shouldn’t,” she whispered against his mouth.
What the fuck? Yes, they should. He nipped at her chin, trailed his lips down the long, strong column of her neck and sucked at the delicate skin. “Why not?”
She slipped out of his arms. He reached for her, but she wasn’t going away. Instead, she slid down his body to kneel at his feet. Dimitri tipped his head back and groaned. His pants and boxers were down around his thighs in a matter of seconds. When it came to blow jobs, Natasha didn’t waste time, and he loved her for it.
Shit. Love? Too much. She was too goddamned much.
“New rule at the show.” Her breath puffed against his thigh, making the skin tingle, as she stroked his dick along her soft cheek.
“What show?” She was killing him. His brain was fried. What were they talking about?
“The Dance Off.”She licked along his length, curling her tongue around the head, and he gulped for air. Before he could ask her to elaborate, she sucked him into her mouth, and he didn’t care anymore.
Her cheeks hollowed out as she moved her mouth up and down his cock, using her hand to pump the base. He unclipped her hair and sank his hands into the riotous mass of spirals. Sensation zinged through him, his skin prickling, and he flexed his legs to keep his knees from buckling. This was going too fast, like always. If they didn’t slow down, he was going to prop her up on the kitchen counter and take her here and now.
