city of Cancun, I found, had a high-gloss charm. Sprawled like a languid queen amidst the natural splendid beauty of white-sand beaches and indigo sea, it abounded with four-star hotels, glittery nightclubs, and international tourists roaming the night looking for fun.
“It’s just dinner,” he said when I protested the expensive-looking restaurant his driver pulled up in front of. “You are doing me a favor by keeping me company while I eat, truly.”
We dined in discreet luxury, ushered immediately to a corner table, bypassing the line, the maitre d’ and waiter treating us like royalty.
“They seem to know you,” I said, grateful for the lace shawl that hid the yellow bruises on my arms.
“I dine here often,” Roberto said.
Digging immediately into the food, I found myself unexpectedly ravenous. “Everyone’s looking at us,” I whispered.
“That’s because they are all wondering who my lovely companion is.”
It proved to be an accurate surmise. Not that I was lovely, but that people here were curious as to who I was. Other diners, acquaintances that Roberto knew, stopped by our table—a dapper gentleman who proved to be the mayor of the city, a local real estate mogul, even the owner of the hotel we were dining in. It appeared the crème de la crème of society was here, all peering at me with avid interest in their eyes.
Roberto introduced me simply by my name. The proprietary hand he laid casually around my shoulder, however, defined our relationship more clearly than any words he could have uttered.
“What are you doing?” I asked in a low voice.
“I am staking my claim to everyone.” With a smile, he laid a gallant kiss on the back of my hand, sending a chorus of whispered speculation buzzing anew throughout the dining room.
“I told you before,” Roberto murmured, stroking my hand, sending tingling warmth coursing through me, “other women have never interested me the way you do.”
“So I’m the first woman you’ve dined with in public?” I said skeptically.
“No, I have had other dining companions. But you are the only one I have ever touched or kissed like this.”
Roberto, when he turned on the charm, was mesmerizing, and despite myself, I found myself relaxing beneath his warm, intoxicating attention. Two glasses of fine wine also no doubt helped.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked as our waiter discreetly cleared the plates from our table. Not only had I eaten a main entrée and dessert, but I had guzzled down soup and salad and an appetizer as well—much more than I usually ate.
“The food was divine, the company wonderful, and the setting exquisite,” I said, sitting back happily replete.
“I am only wonderful, while the food was divine and setting exquisite?” he said sadly. The twinkle in his eyes told me he was teasing.
“You’re good,” I drawled back, “but not as good as the food. Especially the dessert.”
“Oh, you wound me.” Mockingly he clasped his chest.
When I giggled, he smiled happily. “You know, I have never had a more wonderful time. Dance with me.”
“Where?” Live music was playing, but there was no space to dance.
“Outside on the patio.” He drew me to my feet and pulled me out the terrace doors.
“It feels unreal,” I said as he enfolded me into his arms outside. “ You feel unreal.”
“I’m very much real,” Roberto murmured as he brought me close against the hardness of his body. We swayed in time to the music as a cool sea breeze blew across our skin.
“Kiss me,” I said, lifting up my face, feeling more relaxed than I’d ever felt in my entire life. Feeling almost beautiful.
“I’ve been wanting to all night.” His head dipped down and claimed my lips, and with sweet magic that ever-present chemistry flared up between us.
His kiss, his touch, sent pleasure thrumming through me. With a small sound, I parted my lips, inviting his tongue in to tangle with mine. I ran a hand through the thick silk
“It’s just dinner,” he said when I protested the expensive-looking restaurant his driver pulled up in front of. “You are doing me a favor by keeping me company while I eat, truly.”
We dined in discreet luxury, ushered immediately to a corner table, bypassing the line, the maitre d’ and waiter treating us like royalty.
“They seem to know you,” I said, grateful for the lace shawl that hid the yellow bruises on my arms.
“I dine here often,” Roberto said.
Digging immediately into the food, I found myself unexpectedly ravenous. “Everyone’s looking at us,” I whispered.
“That’s because they are all wondering who my lovely companion is.”
It proved to be an accurate surmise. Not that I was lovely, but that people here were curious as to who I was. Other diners, acquaintances that Roberto knew, stopped by our table—a dapper gentleman who proved to be the mayor of the city, a local real estate mogul, even the owner of the hotel we were dining in. It appeared the crème de la crème of society was here, all peering at me with avid interest in their eyes.
Roberto introduced me simply by my name. The proprietary hand he laid casually around my shoulder, however, defined our relationship more clearly than any words he could have uttered.
“What are you doing?” I asked in a low voice.
“I am staking my claim to everyone.” With a smile, he laid a gallant kiss on the back of my hand, sending a chorus of whispered speculation buzzing anew throughout the dining room.
“I told you before,” Roberto murmured, stroking my hand, sending tingling warmth coursing through me, “other women have never interested me the way you do.”
“So I’m the first woman you’ve dined with in public?” I said skeptically.
“No, I have had other dining companions. But you are the only one I have ever touched or kissed like this.”
Roberto, when he turned on the charm, was mesmerizing, and despite myself, I found myself relaxing beneath his warm, intoxicating attention. Two glasses of fine wine also no doubt helped.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked as our waiter discreetly cleared the plates from our table. Not only had I eaten a main entrée and dessert, but I had guzzled down soup and salad and an appetizer as well—much more than I usually ate.
“The food was divine, the company wonderful, and the setting exquisite,” I said, sitting back happily replete.
“I am only wonderful, while the food was divine and setting exquisite?” he said sadly. The twinkle in his eyes told me he was teasing.
“You’re good,” I drawled back, “but not as good as the food. Especially the dessert.”
“Oh, you wound me.” Mockingly he clasped his chest.
When I giggled, he smiled happily. “You know, I have never had a more wonderful time. Dance with me.”
“Where?” Live music was playing, but there was no space to dance.
“Outside on the patio.” He drew me to my feet and pulled me out the terrace doors.
“It feels unreal,” I said as he enfolded me into his arms outside. “ You feel unreal.”
“I’m very much real,” Roberto murmured as he brought me close against the hardness of his body. We swayed in time to the music as a cool sea breeze blew across our skin.
“Kiss me,” I said, lifting up my face, feeling more relaxed than I’d ever felt in my entire life. Feeling almost beautiful.
“I’ve been wanting to all night.” His head dipped down and claimed my lips, and with sweet magic that ever-present chemistry flared up between us.
His kiss, his touch, sent pleasure thrumming through me. With a small sound, I parted my lips, inviting his tongue in to tangle with mine. I ran a hand through the thick silk
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