Page 63 of Set Play

Keeping my grip firm, I push myself to a standing position and carry her down the hall, away from any people. Thankfully, a building this size offers plenty of places to hide. Once we find one that is far enough that we can’t hear the other guests, I ease Élise down onto her feet against a pillar and take a step back.

“Me telling you that I’m not lying to you isn’t going to help anything right now. But you do need to know, regardless of what comes of my rivalry with your brother, I would never make you choose between me and your family, Chispita. One day, I hope you’ll open up to me about everything, but I won’t push you.”

Her eyes fill with tears again, and I reach out to stop them from falling. “Please don’t cry. What can I do?”

“Kiss me. Touch me. Anything,” she whispers. “Please.”

My thumbs freeze on her flushed cheeks. “Élise, I don’t think that’s a good–”

In a startling feat of strength, she grabs my wrists and spins us to push me against the pillar. “Big Shot. I want you to help me get out of my damn head. You asked what you can do, and I’m telling you. I just need the reminder that my demons are only up here.” She taps her temple and gazes back at me with desperation painted into her eyes.

This is such a bad idea. I know that using physical chemistry to avoid real issues isn’t a solution. It’s a lesson I should be well familiar with after the way my relationship with Jade imploded. By the end, I knew we weren’t going to last, but we were so good together physically that I tried to force it.

Am I making the same mistakes?

Immediately, every particle of my being screams that things with Élise are different. I never felt this way toward Jade. That alone should mean something, right? I close my eyes on a deep inhale, shoving all those thoughts and doubts to the back of my mind.

Élise needs you right now. That’s your priority.

Opening my eyes, I search for any uncertainty or a sign that she’s hiding from reality but don’t find either. Dropping my voice to a low murmur, I lean in and whisper against her throat, “You need a reminder, Chispita? You need me to show you that you’re here with me?”

She bobs her head and I inhale the smell of her subtle lavender vanilla perfume as her hair whispers against my face.

“Remember what I told you, gorgeous. I don’t like sharing with anyone, real or imaginary. That includes those fucking demons of yours. So, be a good girl and focus on me, okay?”

Her responding whimpers are my cue to reverse our positions so her back is pressed firmly against the pillar. She reaches out to touch me, but I grab her wrists and pin them above her head with one hand. Trailing my nose down her throat, I whisper, “You have to be quiet, Chispita. Unless you want someone to come find you like this.”

“Please Big Shot,” she gasps as I nip her shoulder. The sound demolishes any hope I have of staying in control.

“Fuck, I can’t resist you, Chispita,” I groan, just before I press my lips to hers. My free hand finds her thigh as she hooks it around my hip. Swallowing her sounds of pleasure, I glide my hand further up until I find her soaking, and exposed, center.

Surprised, I pull back to look down at her face. “Where are your panties, Chispita?” I ask slowly as I trail my thumb over her, gently grazing her swollen clit.

“Panty lines would’ve ruined the look,” she gasps out when my thumb repeats the motion. “Plus, the slit is too high. They would’ve been visible.”

The thought of anyone in attendance seeing her like that has a possessive rumble forming low in my chest. “I’m trying so hard to not think about how easily someone could have gotten a peek at what’s mine. You knew I wouldn’t like that, so I think you need to make it up to me, don’t you?”

Her eyes widen, but she nods. “Words, Chispita.”

“Y-Yes, I need to make it up to you. Can I, please?”

I hum, as if thinking about it, and she pulls against my hold. “Damnit, Mateo. Let me touch you.”

An unhinged grin pulls at my lips, but she doesn’t bat an eye at it.

“As you wish. What my girl wants, my girl gets.”

Élise

As soon as my hands are free, I immediately grab Mateo’s lapels to pull him into another bruising kiss. The hand that was holding my wrists fists my hair and I smirk against his lips.

Perfect. Just what I needed for what I have planned.

I take another subtle glance around before slowly sinking to my knees in front of him, keeping my back close to the pillar. Looking up at him, I grab a hold of his belt. “Is this okay?” I ask quietly.

I won’t do anything he isn’t comfortable with, even if I feel ready to explode myself.

At his pleased noise and eager nod, I smile and work his belt open before undoing his slacks. I don’t dare pull them down more than a few inches.