She caught his eyes, and her mouth curved up in a satisfied smile. She continued to tease him, letting her lips linger everywhere except the one place he wanted it most. When she finally took him into her mouth, he was primed to explode, but she pulled away before he reached his peak. He grabbed the pillow and stifled a groan. She toyed with him again and again, promising him fulfillment, only to take it away. He rocked his hips, desperate for release, but she refused to give in.
When he couldn’t take it any longer, he gasped in submission, no longer caring that he’d lost the game. “Victoria.Please. I concede. You win. Just…please…”
She laughed and took him deep into her mouth. Unable to hold back a second longer, he pumped himself into her, groaning into the pillow as the sensations shuddered through him. The pleasure was intense. World-shattering. She didn’t release him until he’d finished, whereupon she pulled away, wiped her mouth delicately, and lay down beside him, looking as smug as hell.
He let out his breath. “Damn. Clearly, I was outplayed.”
“Clearly. But you get an A for effort.”
“What do you want for your reward?” If it was sex-related, he was going to need a minute. Maybe ten.
“After your cousins leave, I want you to cook me breakfast.”
“That’s it?” His affection for her spilled over, warming his heart. “I would have done it anyway.”
“It wasn’t about the prize. It was about the thrill of winning. And watching you beg.”
Her superiority didn’t bother him in the slightest, not when she looked so damn proud of herself. He twined his fingers into her hair as a wave of contentment washed over him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this kind of blissful satisfaction.
“I never stopped thinking about you,” he murmured.
For a second, he worried he’d said too much, but she nestled in closer, resting her head on his chest. “Same here. I tried to forget you, but I couldn’t. Not really.”
“Even though you were engaged to Ben?”
“Maybe that’s why our sex life was so unsatisfying. He never made me feel the way you did.”
Rafael’s heart surged with tenderness. The fact that she’d never quite gotten over him was unbelievably gratifying. He’d almost drifted back to sleep when she sat up and stretched.
“Any chance I could steal your shower? And maybe a clean shirt?”
“Sure.” He would have offered to join her, but the shower was barely big enough for one person, let alone two. And right now, he had nothing left in the tank. Instead, he admired her figure as she got out of bed.
She turned back and grinned. “Are you ogling me, Chef Sanchez?”
“Sorry. I should know better, but I can’t help myself.”
“Since I’m the victor in today’s game, I can be gracious. Take a nice long look.” She struck a coquettish pose, then winked and fled into the bathroom.
As he heard the water running, he knew he should feel guilty that he’d let his libido get the best of him. But right now, he had no regrets. The Victoria who played the Quiet Game was the woman he’d known in Baja. Fun, sexy, and spirited. He wondered how much longer he’d get to enjoy that Victoria before she went back to business as usual.
At this point, he wasn’t going to question it.
Or ask if this little interludemeantanything.
He was just going to savor the day.
* * *
By the timethey’d both showered and changed, they had the apartment to themselves. Rafael set out ingredients for huevos rancheros and made a pot of coffee. Victoria sat at the breakfast bar, looking adorably cute, with her wet hair in a loose topknot, wearing one of his old Baja t-shirts knotted at the waist.
When he passed her a mug of coffee, she let out a happy sigh. “Thank you. This morning has been incredible.”
He couldn’t suppress his smile of satisfaction. “Glad to hear it. Are huevos rancheros okay?”
“Yes, please. Is your salsa homemade?”
For that, he gave her a huff of disbelief. “You think I buy salsa in bulk from Costco? I make three different kinds. Medium, hot, or ‘the devil’s playground’?”
