"Wait. I want you to myself for a few hours." He held both of her hands until she looked up athim.
An entirely different smile came on her face while she tugged on his arms and led him toward the bed. "Are we to talk about your taste in bedspreads?" She picked up the comforter. "This one is awful man-ish."
Was she flirting with him? "Put that on your list of things of things to do." Whatever made her happy. "Change whatever youwant."
She sat on the bed and brought him down next to her. "I'd like to change our relationship statusnow."
He stared into her huge brown eyes that reminded him of the vast forest around the palace. He didn't dare move. "How isthat?"
She swallowed, held still for a moment but scooted a leg on the bed. "I want to try and see how we fit...together."
Confusion mixed with hope. She didn't move her leg, so he brushed the bottom of her foot. "Fit together" sounded like sex. "You're saying you want me to touchyou?"
"Yes." She crashed her lips against his and his heart beat faster. Amy was all he wanted and she tasted better than those cupcakes of his youth. She was real and he'd have to show her just how good they were together because he never wanted to let hergo.
12
Amy,a bundle of nerves, was determined to show Lucio that she wanted him. They had the privacy of his suite, he set her blood on fire, he’d chosen her. She wasready.
Lucio traced her face and neck with his palm, but stopped on the necklace. "Let's take off thesepearls."
"Okay." She nodded and reached behind her to take off the necklace, then the earrings. She placed them on the nightstand and turned toward him. Her pulse raced and there was a tightness in her throat she wished wasn't there. She reached for his hand on the bed. "I'm going to need you to tell me what todo."
He traced her arm and squeezed her shoulder lightly. "Just relax." Right. She closed her eyes and told herself to do as he said. He brushed her hair behind her ear and her skin felt a tremor where his fingers left a trail. His lips next to her ear, he said hotly, "Everything I do is supposed to make you feelgood."
Warmth invaded her muscles as she gazed at him. "What do youintend?"
"Trust me," he whispered and his lips claimed hers. Her hands wrapped around the back of his neck. Kissing him was better thanbreathing.
Her lips tingled as he ended the kiss and she craved more. She closed her eyes. "Okay. Whatever youwant."
His warm breath tickled her skin, but he didn't kiss her. Instead he traced her still-clothed body. "Look at me, Amy. I want to see if you like what I’mdoing."
She opened her eyes and he reached for the top button of her blouse. Panic began to race through her, and she opened her lips. "What..."
"I want to tease you." He didn'tmove.
This was her choice. He was her choice. She needed to show him. She nodded and reached for the next button of her shirt. She fumbled but loosened it as she met his gaze. He was worth it. "Lucio..."
"Don't tense up on me." He reached behind her shoulders and simply rubbed them like he was massaging her. She leaned forward but he motioned for her to turnaround.
"I'm trying not to be anxious." She followed directions and unbuttoned the third and final button of her blouse. It slid off withease.
Lucio massaged her shoulders and his fingers trailed lower to her back where he continued his rubbing and stroking her skin. He leaned closer. "Right now, just think of this as a nicemassage."
"I’ve never had one," she admitted. The idea of someone touching her always made her giggle, but her skin heated from his work and she felt her musclesunwind.
He continued with more pressure on her lower back and in the space between her shoulders. "We'll correct that soon, but loosen your muscles and trustme."
She nodded and let him. In one swoop, he lifted her blouse off her, so she sat in her bra. However, the continued pressure felt too good to care. He motioned for her to lie down, but she began to tense. If she and Lucio didn’t work out, she’d never be okay, ever. "What..."
"If you want me to stop, tell me." He didn’tbudge.
Right. This was her choice. She reached behind her and unsnapped her bra. "Let me takeoff..."
He kissed her back and her skin tingled with excitement. "I'm teasing you, sweetheart. Just go withit?"
"Okay." She unbuttoned her pants while he continued to work on hermuscles.
