She shoved her hands into her jeans pockets and shrugged. ‘This and that.’
He flicked a glance at her. Then he picked up the nearest drink and took a sip. ‘What’s this one called?’
Push him away!
She took a deep, frantic breath. ‘Sleazy Playboy. The one next to it is The Studly Warlock, the blue one is the Belize Bender, and the pink one I’ve termed The Virgin Sacrifice.’
He stiffened.
‘There’s a black Sambuca one I’m intending to call Crazy, Stupid Revenge—’
‘Enough, Ruby. I get the message. I’ve upset you. Again. Tell me how to make it better.’ He looked over at her and his eyes held a simple, honest plea.
Dear God. Narciso wasn’t all gone at all. In fact, right at that moment, he was the single, most appealing thing in her life.
Heat and need and panic and lust surged under her skin as his gaze remained steady on hers. With every fibre in her being she wanted to cross the room and launch herself into his arms.
Giacomo’s face flashed across her mind.
‘There’s nothing to make better because there’s nothing between us.’
His eyes widened. ‘Scusi?’
‘We had what we had, Narciso. Let’s not prolong it any further.’
His eyes slowly hardened. In quick strides, he crossed the room and jerked her into his body. The contact threatened to sizzle her brain. Throwing out her hands against his chest, she tried to break free. He held tight.
‘Let me go!’
‘Why? Scared I’ll prove you wrong?’
‘Not at all—’
He swooped down and captured her mouth. His kiss was raw, possessive and needy.
‘What the hell’s happening, Ruby?’ he whispered raggedly against her mouth.
Again her heart skittered.
Briefly, she thought to come clean, tell him where she’d been. Panic won out.
‘Dammit, Ruby, kiss me back!’ he pleaded raggedly against her lips.
She couldn’t deny him any more than she could deny herself what would surely be her last time of experiencing this magic with him.
Desperate hands grazed over his chest to his taut stomach. Grasping the bottom of his T-shirt, she pulled it up. He helped her by tugging it over his head and flinging it away. Eyes blazing with an emotion she was too afraid to name met hers. Stepping forward, she placed an open-mouthed kiss on his collarbone.
His hiss of arousal echoed around the room. Emboldened, she used her teeth, tongue and mouth to drive them both crazy. When he stumbled slightly, she realised she’d pushed him towards the sofa. With a hard push she sent him sprawling backwards. Within seconds he was naked, his perfect body beckoning irresistibly. Driven by guilt and hunger, she stripped off her T-shirt and bra and unsnapped her jeans.
With a shake of his head, he covered her hands with his. ‘Let me.’
The slow slide downward was accompanied by hot, worshipful kisses that brought tears to her eyes. Afraid her emotions would give her away, she hurriedly stepped out of the jeans and pushed him back down again and resumed the path she’d charted moments before.
His groan when her lips touched the tip of his shaft was ragged and raw. But encouraging hands speared through her hair, holding her to her task.
Boldly, she took him in her mouth. ‘Dio, Ruby!’
She looked up at him. His eyes were closed, his neck muscles taut from holding on to his control. Taking him deeper, she lost herself in the newfound power and pleasure, her heart singing with an almost frightening joy at being able to do this, one last time.
Tomorrow would bring its own heartache but for now—
‘Basta!’ he rasped. ‘As much as I’d love to finish in your mouth, my need to be inside you is even greater.’
He pulled her up and astride him. Reaching for his discarded jeans, he took a condom from his back pocket.
The thought that he’d come prepared dimmed her pleasure for a second. But realising what the alternative would’ve meant, she took the condom from him, tore it open and slipped it on his thick shaft, experiencing a momentary pang at how big he was.
Silver eyes gleamed at her. ‘We fit together perfectly, tesoro, remember?’ he encouraged gently.
Nodding, she raised her hips and took him inside her.
Delicious, sensational pleasure built inside her, setting off fireworks in her body. His face a taut mask of pleasure, his hands settled on her thighs and he allowed her to set the pace. But this new, deeper penetration was her undoing. Within minutes, her spine tingled with impending climax. She had no resistance when Narciso reared up, sucked one nipple into his mouth and sent her over the edge.
She surfaced from the most blissful release to find their positions reversed. Narciso’s fingers were tangled in her hair and his mouth buried in her throat.