I smiled. “Okay. Thank you.” I checked my watch for the time. “Well, I’m going to head over to that lioness’s den. You should get ready. Catalina said we should leave soon if we want to beat traffic to get to the billboard.”
“Right.” His attention traveled past me, focused on the skyline. “The billboard.”
“That isn’t a very excited response.”
“No, no. I am excited. I just am not looking forward to the crowds. But I want pictures so that Aleesa can be reminded of these moments.”
“It’ll be fine.” I pressed up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “Now wash your ass and come eat. Don’t leave me in there to drown.”
“What if what I want to eat is right in front of me?” He placed both hands on my waist, then twisted us around. When he lifted me up and placed my butt on the countertop, I yelped.
“Javier, did you not have enough last night?” I laughed.
“Have enough? Of you?” He kissed the bend of my neck, then the area just below my collarbone. “That could never be possible.”
“No?”
“No. I willalwayswant more. I am insatiable when it comes to you.”
It was dumb of me to think, but I wondered if he’d said the same thing or something similar to his wife. Surely, he’d felt the same way about her.
Nope. Remember what Davina said. Don’t compare yourself.
Shoving the thought aside as best I could, I cradled his face in my hands and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
“We’ll have plenty of time later.”
He wasn’t done, though. Before I could wriggle away from him, he caught my mouth again, kissing me so deeply that I wanted to sayFuck it, rip my clothes off, and let him have every inch of me.
Who cared if his family was waiting? Who cared if his mom got mad? They could wait ten minutes longer.
Javier Valdez was the kind of man that could make any woman melt if he truly wanted her. His dominance, his accent, his body ... it was all an addictive cocktail. One that I was becoming more and more thirsty for by the day.
By some miracle, we decided to behave.
He helped me off the counter. “Go,” he said, lowering a caress to my butt before spanking it. “Before you end up needing another shower.”
I bit back a smile as he gave my butt another squeeze.
Seriously. Don’t ask me how I managed to leave that penthouse intact.
Thirty
Octavia
Bubbles and Swaddles had nailed it.
It was clear the owner, Kyla, was doing great things with her company, because we were now all staring up at one of the New York billboards with her brand’s name on it.
Thousands of people would walk past this. Thousands would see the photo of the famous Javier Valdez holding Aleesa, who wore a hooded towel and was cheesing from ear to ear.
In the image, Javier smiled at his daughter, holding her close, as illustrated bubbles floated around them. His signature was stamped in the bottom right corner.
Far below the billboard and at just the right angle, I took a few pictures of Javier with Aleesa on his shoulders. Both of them wore big, eager smiles. They were so cute together, really. And he made such a great father.
I captured more photos of him with his mom and sister included, then a few candid shots of Aleesa, who did several princess poses with duck lips. I swear I loved that little girl.
When we all had had enough, we found an Argentinean bakery within walking distance, to catch a coffee and a quick sit-down.
