Their Masquerade (The American Soldier Collection 6)

A little voice in the back of her head begged her to heed caution. She was young and perhaps impressionable as L.T. and the others accused her of being so many times before.

Fuck! Why did I have to think of L.T.? Why? Damn them.

He licked his lower lip as he held her gaze with quite a superior and dark expression.

“Mariah, I am a man of action, but also a gentleman. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t want you to be as accessible as possible to me.”

Oh, God, he is so sexy.

“But I do not want you to misunderstand me. Manchenso requires competence, as well as control. Whether you take this job or not, I’m still very interested in getting to know you. All of you.”

She was immediately caught in awe by his words and his actions. His hand remained on her hip and she felt his thumb caress against her hipbone. It didn’t feel like it felt when Axel touched her, or when Quentin and Deacon did. But she did find Armando attractive in so many ways.

Uncertain of how to respond to his declaration, for lack of a better word, she turned away from him and toward the window overlooking the lab down below.

He stepped up against her from behind. The palm of his hand moved up her lower back and straight to under her hair, against the nape of her neck. She felt him place his other hand over the railing in front of them, his arm snug against her hip. He was keeping her in place. She felt controlled, dominated, and damn it, sort of aroused, by his show of control. It was what she’d always wanted in a man. Well in men, but if they weren’t interested in the same thing, then her decision to move on and elsewhere stood directly behind her. If she wasn’t mistaken, that was his hard, thick cock against her ass, too.

“Did I frazzle you, Mariah?”

She closed her eyes as his warm breath collided against her skin.

“No. Why would I be frazzled?” she asked. Her shaky voice would surely give away the lie she told. A man like Armando would easily identify her inexperience with men.

He gripped the hair under the back of her head and neck a little snugger. She gasped because at the same time his arm wrapped around her waist, hoisting her back against his body. The man was hard and muscular beneath his designer clothing.

His lips pressed against her skin on her neck and left ear.

“Don’t lie to me. I can feel you shaking. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Your lack of experience with a man like me is part of your charm.” He licked her skin, and she had to bite her lip to stop from moaning.

“You smell incredible, Mariah. I’m sure your cream is just as sweet as you are.”

Oh! I can’t believe he just said that. I can’t believe I’m not running for the nearest exit. Running to what? I have no one. I’m a twenty-two-year-old virgin in the arms of a wealthy, young millionaire who just happens to work for a company I am looking for a job in to gain some experience. Looks like I’m going to gain a lot of personal experience, too. But I need to be strong here. Dominance I like, but control to the point of seeming weak cannot be accepted.

She took a deep breath.

“I think you should release me, Armando,” she said, as he massaged the back of her neck and gave her midsection a squeeze with his forearm wrapped around it, before he gently lessened his hold.

“I don’t want to. You fit as perfectly as I had expected.”

She turned in h

is arms.

“As you expected?” He raised an eyebrow at her strong tone. She swallowed hard, feeling his dominance once again. After all, he was technically in charge of her too if she were to take this job. Maybe she shouldn’t?

“As I expected,” he whispered as he held her gaze. She was transfixed by the color of his eyes and the determination she saw there. In a flash he pinned her wrists behind her back and then cupped her cheek with his right hand.

His lips were over hers and she allowed him to kiss her. She was caught up in the moment, in the atmosphere Armando had created. In her mind she battled for some sort of understanding and acceptance of this man and his desire to have her. His hold was firm, and a total turn-on. His dominance as he stroked his tongue between her teeth and explored her mouth thoroughly, while he wedged his body against hers was enlightening.

Her nipples hardened and she kissed him back. She wanted to let go. She wanted to see if she could put L.T., Quentin, Axel, and Deacon behind her, just for this kiss. It was a small step in what was to come this week at the masquerade. She could do this. She could give her virginity to a man in a mask, or to men in masks she didn’t know and would never see again.

Armando slowly released her lips as well as her wrists.

“Delicious.” He pressed a finger gently against her lips as he smiled down at her.

“Let’s finish up the tour. I can’t wait to have dinner with you this evening, and to learn all about what makes you the woman you are. Come with me, Mariah. Oh, and don’t overthink this. Just go with it.” He kissed her cheek, then took her hand and led her from the secluded area and back toward the offices.

Chapter 8