“I’m sorry about what my mother said,” Alegria muttered when she motioned him out of the room.
“Don’t be.” Mantis smiled and drew her closer to him. “Do you think your parents might want some time alone?”
“Probably.”
“Because I know I would.”
Alegria could feel her cheeks turning pink and her heart rate speed up. There was nothing stopping them from making love. Whether she’d been able to talk to Dutch about it or not, she knew he understood that their relationship was over. In fact, she wondered if maybe he and Malin were rekindling their romance.
“What are you thinking about?” Mantis asked, smiling.
“Being alone with you.”
“Good.”
They said goodbye to her parents, agreeing to meet up later for dinner.
“Where is the apartment?” she asked when they walked out into the hallway.
“On the fifth floor.”
She couldn’t explain why, but knowing they were staying on a different floor made her feel less uncomfortable about what they were about to do.
Mantis held her hand while they waited for the elevator, but as soon as it opened, he pushed her up against the back wall and covered her mouth with his.
&n
bsp; It was a kiss much like the one they’d shared on the side of the road on their way back to Bagram Air Base. They kissed so hard, it almost hurt as their tongues explored each other’s mouths.
“I’ve never wanted anything more than I want to make love to you right now, Manon.”
“I want the same thing,” she breathed.
When the elevator opened on their floor, Mantis picked her up and carried her the rest of the way to the apartment door.
“Where is the key?” she asked, not wanting him to put her down.
“The card is in my shirt pocket,” he told her.
She pulled it out and waved it in front of the door handle. When it clicked, she opened it.
He kissed her again as he carried her down the hallway. When they got to the bedroom, Mantis set her on her feet.
“I need to see you naked, baby. Take off your clothes.”
Alegria almost swooned. This was what she craved—Mantis taking charge—because she knew what came next would be him bringing pleasure to her body like no one else could.
“Look at you,” he groaned. “You take my breath away.”
He left her standing where she was as he let his eyes wander over every inch of her body. When he’d looked his fill, he came and knelt before her.
“You have too many clothes on,” she murmured, getting only a raised eyebrow in response.
Mantis ran his lips across her hips and licked down from her belly button to her sex. Alegria gripped his scalp with her fingers in his hair.
“It’s too much,” she groaned. “Please, Mantis. I need you so much.”
“Say my name,” he told her as his tongue would’ve brought her to her knees if he wasn’t holding her up.