Eternally His

Longing tugged at my chest. Yes, Raúl was a hard, scary man, but he clearly loved Marisol. I wanted that. I wanted to be loved.

I buried the thought as quickly as it came. Love was too much to hope for. I didn’t have to be alone anymore, but it would only lead to heartache if I entertained impossible notions. My companionship with Sebastián was more than I ever could’ve dreamed of in a marriage. It was enough for me.

If tiny Marisol could pluck up the courage to ask her surly lover to dance, I could ask my taciturn husband. Straightening my shoulders, I followed her toward where the men were seated. I felt Sebastián’s eyes on me like a physical caress, but I couldn’t seem to look directly into his handsome face. I wanted him too badly, and I couldn’t let him see just how keenly I wished he would touch me.

Before we could reach their table, he stood and was in my personal space. I stared at his square jaw, the way the light glimmered in his short silver beard. His fingers curled beneath my chin, lifting my gaze to his.

“What’s wrong, tesoro?” he asked softly, as though he might spook me if he handled me with anything but gentleness.

I didn’t want gentleness from him. I wanted him to pin me down and force pleasure from my body. I even wanted him to spank me again. Anything to feel his big hands on me, rough and possessive.

“Dance with me?” I barely breathed the words, fearing rejection.

His eyes searched my face, as though trying to read my soul. Gathering my courage, I didn’t try to hide anything from him. I opened my heart, letting him see my longing and hope.

His warm hand clasped mine, and he led me onto the crowded dance floor without saying a word. My heart soared. He didn’t have to say anything; his actions spoke to me far more clearly than pretty words ever could.

He pulled me into his strong arms, touching me for the first time in weeks. I almost moaned at the relief of his hands on me, finally connecting us in the way I’d craved. His touch lit up my entire body, my nerves sparkling with pleasure at every caress as his thick fingers trailed over my skin. He brushed my exposed thighs before gripping my hips firmly, holding me close as he guided my body where he wished. My breasts teased over his hard chest, and I wound my arms around his neck to pull him closer.

His nostrils flared like a predator scenting his prey, and his black eyes glittered with hunger. I tipped my head back, sure that he was going to kiss me. His control would break, and I craved the ferocity he would unleash upon me after long weeks of painful denial.

Then an unfamiliar hand grabbed my ass, and toxic heat brushed my back. “Leave the old man and dance with me, beautiful,” the man whispered in my ear, his words slurring slightly.

Sebastián’s snarl rumbled through my body, making my belly quiver. The predator wasn’t fixated on me anymore; the man who’d dared to touch me now commanded his full, lethal focus.

CHAPTER 22

SEBASTIÁN

Rage descended on me in a red haze. The bastard had grabbed my wife. His face was so close to hers, his lips brushing her neck as he whispered in her ear. Her lovely eyes flashed with alarm, and her arms tightened around me as she struggled to get away from the motherfucker who’d dared to put his hands on her.

My grip on her waist firmed, and I twisted so that my body was between her and the dead man.

Because he was dead. He’d sealed his fate when he touched my wife. Isabel was mine.

I released her and spun, my fist already flying toward his smug face. His nose crunched, and blood sprayed over the dance floor. Several people shouted, but their shocked cries were white noise in my ears. All I could hear was the bastard’s jaw shattering beneath my fist; all I could see was his ruined face. The fucker had smirked at me when he’d molested her.

He wasn’t smirking now.

Strong arms wrapped around my shoulders, hauling me back. I surged forward, struggling to free myself so I could finish killing the little shit who’d thought he could take what was mine.

“That’s enough.” Distantly, I recognized the harsh voice of my oldest friend. Rafael was dragging me away from my quarry with the help of Raúl.

“Get the fuck off me,” I growled, twisting against their unbreakable hold. I couldn’t fight both of them.

“We have to leave,” Rafael barked. “Get your shit together, Sebastián.”

“He’s not dead yet,” I seethed, my muscles bunching with lethal intent.

“You can’t kill him here,” Raúl reasoned with me, but his tone was hard with his own anger. “Hunt him down later if you have to, but we have to get out of here. They’ll call the cops if you don’t stop.”