Page 97 of On The Edge

“This way,” Cruz says with a tilt of his head.

“But all of the auction items are that way.”

His grin is lightning fast. “Exactly.” He links his fingers with mine and leads me toward the back of the party area. I glance over my shoulder nervously. There’s no way that he’s going to, that we’re going to . . .

“Where are we going?”

His chuckle falls through the darkness, and that’s all the answer I need as to where we’re going. The walk is short. Down a corridor. Into a darkened part of the palace that Cruz obviously gets clearance to by the nod of the security guard as he grips my hand tighter.

“Cruz,” I whisper because for some reason I feel like whispering is necessary right now.

“Shh,” he says as he pushes open a door, looks inside, and then grins when he tugs me along with him. “The Navarros donated to have this room refurbished. I have access any time I want.”

“We’re going to get caught. I can see the headlines now—”

“Perfect. I love headlines.” He laughs.

I get a quick glance around—it’s the history of sports in Monaco—at least I think it is by the pictures lining the walls and the trophies housed in glass cases—but my glimpse is short-lived because within seconds, Cruz has my back against the now locked door and his lips are on mine.

The kiss is the epitome of desperation. Lips and teeth and tongue as his hands slide down my sides to fit between the door and cup my ass.

He tastes like the whiskey he was drinking and like a drug I can’t get enough of.

“It shouldn’t hurt this much to want you,” he groans into my mouth as my hands fumble with his trousers, fingers scraping over his already hard cock. “But Christ, all I’ve done all night is look at you and fight the urge to fuck you on every surface out there.”

His words are gasoline thrown on a fire.

On embers that seem to constantly be smoldering.

On a woman burning just as hot for him as it seems he is for me.

“I need you,” I whisper into his mouth. Our hands switch positions, each of us taking care of our own clothes now. “I want you.”

We move in hurried motions. My hands inch my elaborate gown up over my hips. Cruz frees his cock from his pants.

But it’s when he looks up from his cock in his hand to see me standing there, dress around my hips, garters attached to stockings and no panties, that his feral groan reverberates around the room.

It’s one heartbeat to the next that his lips are back on me. That his fingers are sliding through the slickness between my thighs and tucking into me. That my gasp fills the room the same time I take his cock, which is thick and heavy in my hand.

It’s hard to concentrate—to remember to stroke him instead of just gripping him tighter—as his fingers manipulate and sensations swamp me. My head leans back against the door, and my mouth falls open as I moan at his touch.

“You’re fucking addicting,” he says as he takes me in. And I’m sure I make quite the sight—legs spread, body shaking, my arousal soaking his fingers. He leans forward and tugs my bottom lip with his teeth. “This mouth. This mind. This body. This pussy. The whole goddamn package.” He slips his tongue between my lips. “You look so goddamn gorgeous just like this, right now, that I don’t want to mess you up.”

He puts his hand on the small of my back and pulls me against him. My body craves the connection. The feel of his cock hard against my lower belly. The warmth of his breath on my lips. The scent of what he does to me clinging to the air.

“Hold your dress with one hand,” he orders and waits till I collect the fabric and hold the bunch of it at my waist. “Good. Just like that.” His praise is like a feather over my skin. My core aches. “Now turn around and put the other hand against the door.”

I do as he says, using the urging of his hand on my waist to guide me until my back is to his front. And it’s then that he slides his hand slowly up my body—over my abdomen, across my breasts—until his hand firmly spans my neck. The heat of his breath hits my ears as his other hand caresses my bare ass.

“We don’t have much time. As soon as the auction is over, people will get to roam these halls. I’m desperate for you.” He slides the head of his cock up and down my slit, his own groan causing the coil in my stomach to tighten. “Have been all night, but I’m about to make a mess of you, and I can’t have that on your dress now, can I?” He chuckles and my nipples harden.

“Cruz.” It’s a plea.

“Can you take what I’m about to give you and stay quiet?”

“Yes.” Breathless.

“Because I need you gripping my cock. Coating my cock. Coming on my cock. Do you understand?”