“Maybe I should be the one thanking somebody.”

“No, Mami.” He captured my lips, right there as we stood in the ocean with diamonds sparkling around us.

Chapter 20

Alvarez

Tonight she’ll be mine.

I promised myself that once these murders were solved I would go after her. Discovering Reece and Dayanara as the culprits shook me up and shoved me off the edge of normalcy. Earlier, I’d sat in my office and drank, not desiring to pour my sadness all over Elle.

But I couldn’t stay away from her. I couldn’t not be next to her when she sat somewhere in my castle.

When I arrived at her door with the weight of the entire world on my shoulders, she drew me into her arms and knocked all of my stress away. She comforted and spent time with me when she didn’t have to. She didn’t know me at all, had no idea who I was or what I intended for her, whether passion or pain. But her heart pushed her forward, that beautiful heart I wanted for myself. So when the moment came to kiss her as we stood in the water at the beach, I seized it like a desperate man. I was a mad one on the edge of insanity and she was the tonic I needed.

Moaning, she melted into my arms and molded her body against mine as if giving me permission to take whatever I yearned for.

And I will. I can’t think of anything else.

The ocean waves crashed against us. That cool water rose up to our knees. All was forgotten in those sweet kisses—lips gliding against lips, wet tongues twisting and exploring, hungry hands and taunting fingers. Fireworks of lust and need exploded inside of me. My jeans stuck to my legs, but I couldn’t care less. I moved us further into the ocean. Her dress painted her wet body, yet she followed me deeper into the waters as they reached well above both of our hips.

Greedy tremors of desire shook me. I had to be careful, and take my time, kiss by kiss, because what formed inside my chest and turned over and over until it was a huge hot orb expanding and building, would be too much for her to handle. It was too much for me to even contain, but I had to. Elle deserved patience and someone who could wait as long as she needed before trying to taste every part of her.

She giggled. “All the times I’ve lived near a beach. I’ve never just walked in like this and gotten all wet.”

“We can take your clothes off, if you would like.” I’d meant it as a joke right before diving in for another sample of that welcoming mouth, but she surprised me.

“I’ll take mine off if you take yours off.”

I stiffened against her. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“Why? Are you telling me that as a Cuban man you have something else to offer when your clothes are off? You already claim to have an extra heart, do you have something else that’s extra?” She signaled to my crotch.

“No. One is enough.” I nipped at her neck. Little drops of salt water met my tongue. “Now back to our clothes. I must warn you. If I take off my clothes and yours are off too, I can’t guarantee I’ll behave myself.”

She didn’t shy away or avert her eyes. Instead, she met my gaze with a confident one that made me hard inside of my pants. “Alvarez, I’m hoping you won’t behave yourself.”

Shedding my clothes took no time. I swore I heard a few rips come from my shirt and jeans as I wrenched them off. She laughed when I fell back into the water with one leg entangled in some weird knot of fabric. My butt hit the sandy floor. Water soared over my head and swallowed me whole. Salt water rushed into my nostrils. I should’ve felt shame or embarrassment. I didn’t. I was with my lady.

A comforting sensation washed over me as my head and body immersed in salty water. Holding my breath, I opened my eyes in the ocean. Moonlight seeped through the water. A mermaid with lush black hair, pale skin, and a wondrous white tail of shimmering pearls swam to me. She lifted me up. “Are you okay?”

“I didn’t know mermaids were real.”

Elle hit my chest. “Oh stop it. Did you lose your clothes?”

“Yes. My shirt and jeans are probably floating their way to Cuba by now.”

She turned her head from side to side. “No. They’re probably around here somewhere. Do you want me to help you find them?”

“No.” I pulled her to me. “I want you to lose your clothes, too.”

I slid her straps down over her shoulders and kissed the wet skin. Her hair slicked back and showed off that incredible face. I paused for a second to really take her all in. “You have an amazing face. I think all of that beautiful hair hid it from everyone. I feel lucky to see it.”

Tags: Kenya Wright Mystery
Source: readsnovelonline.net