Sweet Vengeance (44 page)

"We're
good together."  He grinned, and a spark ignited where her hand rested on
his chest. 

She
laughed to hide the powerful feeling of attraction, but the spark grew
stronger.  In the few short minutes since they'd met, she found herself
surprisingly attuned to the stranger who held her.  His chest was strong and
solid.  Though he smiled and teased, she recognized the intelligence in his
eyes.  And the spot where his hand rested against the skin on her bare back?  It
burned like an inferno.

He
twisted her in his arms, his fingers whisking across her skin, before he held
her tight once again.  Her back was against him, the length of him pressed to
her as they moved.  His breath warmed her ear, and she couldn't resist leaning
into him.  She sucked in another breath, wondering if she was oxygen-depleted
because of the dancing or because of him.

She
was shocked to admit she wanted him…like she hadn't wanted a man in a long
time.  Maybe because she knew he'd never be part of her life and knew he'd
never have the opportunity to try to control her, she relaxed and enjoyed the
fun.

He
spun her back around, and she met his gaze.  Seduction smoldered there along
with a hint of naughtiness.  He knew what she wanted.  She could tell by the
smile on his face, and there wasn't a thing she could do to hide it. 

Not
that she wanted to.

It
was obvious he wanted her, as well.  Could she allow herself a wild and
passionate fling?  One hot night in Cabo?  Recreational sex could be a good
thing if handled properly.  Right?

Just as the song ended, he dipped
her low and held her suspended.  She was completely vulnerable in his arms, and
he stole a long, slow look down her body before his gaze met hers once again. 
He lifted her up and pulled her close.  He pressed her hand to his chest, his
other hand resting provocatively on her low back. 

Her insides burned with need. 
She dropped her gaze to his lips.  She wanted to taste the man who'd whisked
her headfirst into his sensuous world.

But
he didn't kiss her.

She
looked back to his eyes, happy to find them still smoldering.  The music
switched to a slow, sultry tune, and he began to move, still holding her tight
against him.  Her hips swayed with the music, with him, their thighs
practically joined.  Pleasure tingled through her breasts as she pressed them
against his chest. 

He
looked to her lips and then back to her eyes, but still did not kiss her.  A
hint of promise tugged at the corner of his mouth. 

What
was he waiting for
?

She
licked her lips, tasting salt from the ocean air.  Was he toying with her? 
"What are you doing?" 

His
smile grew wider as though he knew how he affected her.  "I'm dancing with
you."

"That's
not what I meant."

He
arched his brows.  "Then I don't understand your question."

She
studied his face, his knowing smile.  Oh, he knew.  She had already recognized
he was a player…but what did she care?  She wanted to play, too.  In fact, that
might be kind of fun, taking the lead, being the seducer.  The idea of it
empowered her.  "I think you're trying to get me into your bed."

"No." 
He twirled her and pulled her close again.  The heat between them magnified as
their bodies met.  "I'm just making sure you have a nice evening,
remember?  I promised."

The
hard length of him pressing against her told her otherwise.  She smiled,
enjoying the game.  She moved her hips, bumping him in all the right places,
keeping her expression innocent.  "I just want to be clear on that point,
because I wouldn't want to give you the wrong impression."

He
curved his lips in a sensuous smile.  "No.  No wrong impressions
here."  He traced a slow circle on the small of her back with his finger. 
Every nerve ending stood at attention, each begging for his touch.  The shift
from predator to hunted was subtle, but she knew she'd lost her edge.

She
needed to cool down, to regain her composure. 
She
wanted to control
this seduction.  Wanted to see this player on his knees.  She smiled.  Maybe
literally.

Elena
stood on her tiptoes, purposefully rubbing her breasts against his chest as she
leaned close to his ear.  "You haven't told me your name," she
whispered, sliding back down.  A good offense was always the best defense. 

"It's
Joe," he said in a soft voice.  "And your name is Elena."

For
a moment, his answer gave her pause, and then she remembered he'd overheard her
earlier conversation.

She
leaned in close again.  "Well, Joe, it's too hot in here.  I need some
air."

Elena
turned and walked away, resisting the urge to see if he followed.  He would. 
He wanted her, and it felt good.  Grownup seduction was much more fun than her
teenage exploits. 

Mercedes
caught her eye as she neared the doorway.  Her friend smiled, giving her a
thumbs-up.  Elena returned her smile, thinking for the first time that Mercedes
might actually be right.  Already she felt more alive than she had in years. 

Yes,
she did need a wild night with a hot man.

Cindy
Stark lives with her family and her own dog named Boo in a small town shadowed
by the Rocky Mountains.  She currently writes romantic suspense, contemporary
romances, and young adult paranormals. 

To find more
books by Cindy, visit her website at
www.cindystark.weebly.com