‘No.’ Alejandro rose and planted his hands on either side of her head. ‘It’s time to end this.’
‘Alejandro—’
‘You have severe hang-ups about your sexuality. Which is understandable considering the less-than-stellar guidance you were given regarding your body. Your parents tried to turn what should be a natural expression of desire into a commodity to be peddled. You denied them the power to do that by choosing how you used your body. You’re beautiful, querida.’ He punctuated the compliment with a kiss. ‘You have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. When we made l
ove, you held nothing back. You fell apart in my arms and that’s how I want you, every time. Telling your lover what you want in bed doesn’t demean you, especially if he wants it, too. Sí?’
Elise didn’t realise tears had welled up until she blinked. When they rolled down her eyes, he brushed them away. ‘Yes.’
‘Good.’
He kissed her, soft and sweet. Then he rolled them over so she was poised above him. ‘Now, to demonstrate, here comes your first instruction. Brace your hands on the headboard.’
She glanced up at the smooth, silk-lined board that extended halfway up the wall. ‘I... What?’
His grin was pure wickedness. ‘I didn’t stutter.’
When she continued to stare in puzzlement and trepidation, he gripped her waist and pulled her up until her torso was suspended above him, her breasts a tantalising inch from his mouth.
With a deep groan, he parted his lips and closed them over one nipple. Elise gasped, her hands seeking the solid reassurance of the headboard as white-hot pleasure seared her.
After an age he freed her bud, and licked her areola. ‘I’ve wanted to do this since the day you walked into my office.’
‘Just this?’ she asked, her voice a breathless mess.
A sexy smile formed around her aching nipple. ‘Oh, no, amante. But this was what I had in mind for starters. Hours and hours of this.’ His tongue flicked rapidly over her heated flesh, sending spears of need straight to her core. Fingers digging into the headboard, she gave in to the insane urge to look down, see what he was doing. The visual sensation was even more intense as he switched his attention to her neglected nipple.
‘That sounds...dangerously mind-altering,’ she whispered.
Merciless teeth nipped. ‘You’ve had me in a state for a while. It’s only fair that I reciprocate.’ He nipped again.
‘Alejandro!’
He groaned. ‘Sí, say my name like that.’
She repeated his name because she couldn’t form any other words. And because beneath her, his flesh thickened against her thigh each time she said his name. Power, feminine and wicked, surged through her. For a moment, she was ashamed of it, certain it was similar to that which her mother had honed and wielded for as long as Elise could remember.
‘I hope you’re not trying to induce a different form of mind-alteration by thinking about anything else but what’s happening in this bed right now?’ Alejandro growled.
Elise shook herself free of the intrusive thoughts. ‘No. I wouldn’t dare.’
Alejandro lifted an eyebrow. ‘You and I both know you would. You’ve been daring me since the day we met.’
‘Okay, maybe I would, but I want you more than I want to risk you stopping what you’re doing. So I surrender.’
His eyes flared for a single, gripping moment. Reaching across, he plucked a condom from the table. His gaze still trapping hers, he slid it on, positioned her in place and gripped her waist.
‘Time for your next lesson. And, Elise?’
‘Yes?’ she gasped, her senses already on fire as his powerful erection probed her core.
He entered her in one smooth thrust, his teeth clenched on a guttural groan. Only when he was fully seated inside her did he continue.
‘You will not hold back.’
* * *
Those five words set the bar for the next few weeks as Alejandro and Gael took the financial world by storm. With a specially selected team, they crisscrossed the globe, setting up satellite offices and factories and vetting other conglomerates who vied to be affiliated with the newly formed Atlas Group that comprised SNV, Toredo and Ishikawa Corporation.