Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Mateo's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I haven't forgotten. And I've been thinking about where to begin since I saw you in that stunning dress."
My cheeks flushed at his intense gaze, and my heart raced. "That's not what I meant."
"Regardless, let me make good on my promise," he said with a mischievous grin, finishing his drink. The ice clinked as he set down the glass and moved closer to me. As he closed the distance between us, I could feel the heat of his body against mine. He turned my stool and took hold of my face. His touch was amplified by the alcohol swimming through my veins, electric as he traced a line along my jaw, his eyes never leaving mine.
There was a hunger in his gaze that both thrilled and terrified me. I tried to steady my racing heart as he leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a tantalizingly soft kiss. Time seemed to stand still as we lingered in that moment.
One hand tangled in my hair, pulling my head back to deepen the kiss. The other slipped under my dress, roaming up my smooth thighs. His movement faltered when he reached the hem of my lacey thong. His grip on my hair tightened and he pulled away from my mouth. “I don’t recall sending underwear with this dress.”
“I couldn’t go without,” I replied softly, the warning in my head distracting me.
“Already doing as you please?” He stared down at me. “I need to get you upstairs.” He stepped back and pulled me to my feet with a gentle but firm grip, his eyes never leaving mine.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Without another word, he led me through his expansive home. The dim lighting made it difficult to see, but I could sense the sheer size of the space as we walked. We climbed a grand staircase and turned down another hallway, continuing until we reached a pair of double doors. He opened them gracefully and revealed a bedroom far larger than mine, an elegant fusion of luxury and intimacy.
It had a distinct, inviting scent—a blend of rich leather, faint tobacco, and a hint of something spicy, like sandalwood. The chandelier above us was set low, casting a soft intimate glow. Dark walls and plush furnishings exuded sophistication. A massive bed was the focal point of the room, surrounded by equally lavish nightstands and lamps that screamed expensively. I heard the door click shut, and a surge of awareness shot through me like a bolt of lightning, cutting through the haze of alcohol in my system.
I was alone with Mateo Escuro.
I was alone with Mateo Escuro in his bedroom.
It wasn't hard to discern why he would've brought me there after the kiss at his bar, even in my partially inebriated state. He brushed against my side as he moved around me. I remained rooted in place, as he walked over to the nightstand nearest the door, watching him remove his watch with care. There was a glint of metal in his hand next. My heart skipped a beat as I realized it was a gun, one that I had failed to notice before. But of course, he carried. He was essentially a king in this world of organized crime.
He placed it on the nightstand next to his watch with practiced ease before turning to face me. “Is this your bedroom,” I blurted out, immediately feeling like a fool for asking the obvious.
Amusement flickered in his eyes; his dark brows raised slightly.
"Yes, it is. You're one of the very few women I've allowed this far into my home."
Right. Because there had obviously been others. Why hadn't he married any of them? His head tilted to the side, a sly grin spreading across his lips as if he could read my every thought. And then it hit me - I had said that last thought out loud.
"There's a difference between the women men like me fuck and the ones we marry."
I felt my heart drop as I stared at him, silently pleading for him to explain. He let out a short laugh and rubbed his chin in amusement. "Some are nothing more than pretty objects for us to flaunt around. They're easy to handle until they become clingy. Others are overly ambitious and crave danger, begging to be used by powerful men like me. They never last long - once our novelty wears off, they go running off into the sunset never to be seen again."
I swallowed hard, understanding the unspoken implication.
"Then there are the rare women like you, Anjinho," he continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "Born into this world and fully aware of its ways, yet so naïve and untouched by its cruelty. Beautiful. Vulnerable." He paused as if considering his next words. "Meant to be possessed, pampered, pinned down and fucked.”