“We’ve been apart for too long. We’re not wasting another second.”
I stroke a hand along the silk bedsheets, admiring my surroundings. Art Deco elegance drapes every corner of the room, the color pallet black and gold. There’s a crystal chandelier. When I draw back the curtains,moonlight spills into the room and I’m faced with a breathtaking view of the city.
“Harper,” Felix calls from within the adjoining bathroom.
“That’s him now. We’ll talk more soon. Love you, bye.”
The bathroom is dark when I enter, lit by flickering candlelight.Dozensof candles, all scattered around the room. I smile, shaking my head. Nothing about Felix is ever expected. The man is neck deep in criminal activity. He’s dangerous. But at the core, he’s a romantic.
Felix is already in the tub with both arms resting on the sides. Steam curls around him. There are no bubbles. I can see his entire body through the water. His erection.
“Come here,” he murmurs.
I’m heated to the core as Felix watches me undress.
“You’re blushing.”
I laugh, pushing my hair behind my ears. “Remember the story behind your snake eyes dice tattoo? That’s why I’m blushing. Your eyes are always so intense on me, like a snake. You make me nervous, but in a good way. I never want you to stop looking at me.”
A guttural rasp leaves his throat, filled with pleasure. “Get herenow, Harper.”
After removing the last of my clothes, I lower into the hot water. His hands slip around my waist, guiding me to straddle him.
“Tell me about your new tattoos.”
The last time we were together, the ink mainly covered his arms. Now, it’s all over his chest and back.
“Take a look. You’ll find they’re all self-explanatory.”
My fingers roam the muscles of his chest and torso, studying each piece of artwork. The tattoos are similar to the ones on his arms—a mix of skulls, snakes, poker cards, and money.
I smile when finding a ballerina on the side of his abdomen with red hair. “This is me?”
“Obviously.” A spark of amusement lives in his eyes.
I frown when seeing the nameAuroratattooed beneath the ballerina. Jealousy spikes in me. “I swear, if you were dating some girl called Aurora and got her name tattooed onto your body?—”
He laughs, which frustrates me. I have no clue why he would think this is funny. “Read the rest of the names.”
Only now when he mentions it, do I realize a list of names trail lower down his side. “Giselle. Sylvia. Odette. Sugar Plum Fairy…”
My jaw hangs open when recognition kicks in. Not only are these the names of characters in famous ballets, but they’re the names of characters I’ve danced as.
“Felix… What is this?”
“I have a confession to make,” he murmurs, stroking his thumbs in small circles over my hips. Candlelight flickers across his face. “You were magnificent on opening night ofSleeping Beauty, dancing as Aurora. You were magnificent on opening night as Giselle. Opening night as Sylvia. Odette. The Sugar Plum Fairy. Cinderella. Esmerelda. Tatiana. Who else am I missing? After next weekend, I’ll need to addJulietto the tattoo.”
My heart is in my throat. I can barely find my voice. “You attended all of my opening nightperformances?”
“Yes. Watching you was painful, but I’ve never been more proud of you, especially when you performedSleeping Beauty. You did your mother proud.”
Sleeping Beautyis the ballet that made me fall in love with dance as a little girl. It was a bonding moment between me and Mom.
My eyes water, overwhelmed by the confession. “I love yousomuch, Felix.” I lean in, pressing my lips to his. My hips search for the head of Felix’s cock, needing him in me, but he holds me still.
“Trust me, I want to be in you. First, we have a lot to discuss about our time apart. This will be a difficult topic, but I don’t want any secrets between us.”
“Neither do I. Ask me anything.”
