He was mafia, and just thinking it made her lip curl.
Being around him shouldn’t be fun. She missed the club and being back in Fort Clover.
Carlos was always a busy man, and that meant constant protection. She hadn’t left his side since Smokey gave her the job to take care of him.
The nightclub downstairs was thriving with activity. The walls practically hummed from the noise, and the truth was, she had to let go. Needed to.
“It’ll only be for an hour, tops,” Carlos said. “I know I’ve kept you cooped up for too long and you need to shine.”
“Fine,” Raven said, taking his hand. “We do this, and we do it my way. You don’t leave my side, got it?”
Carlos locked his fingers within her grip. “Consider me constantly at your side.”
She didn’t say a word, even though she liked the way his hand gripped hers. In the past week, where she couldn’t run away, or cover up what she was feeling, she was brought back to how good it felt to hold his hand. Late at night, when she sometimes woke up, not from nightmares but just to get a little more comfortable, she’d feel his arms wrapped around her. She never pushed him away.
With him asleep, she allowed herself to feel safe and content. His arms around her and his touches made her feel safe in a way she had never experienced before. It was all new to her.
This was all crazy. The moment she went back home, it would all disappear, and there would be nothing left for her to look forward to. Until then, she was determined to enjoy it.
They made their way down to the main hall. Soldiers were everywhere, even attempting to blend in so no one would feel threatened. She didn’t know if it was working for them or not. She didn’t trust the soldiers. Loyalty could be easily swayed, so she constantly kept an eye on them. Always checking if they were sweating or showing any signs of potential attack.
Carlos always told her to relax, but she refused to.
If he died in her care, then she’d have no choice but to hand her ass to Smokey, and he would either kill her or remove her from the club. Just the thought of not being part of the club punched her right through the chest. She quickly closed those feelings off as they had no room for her.
Not tonight. Not while she was taking care of Carlos.
Men and women were so close, in different states of undress.
Carlos took the lead and pulled her onto the dance floor. With how many people there were, she had no choice but to be almost flush against him.
He ran his hands over her curves, and she never knew who was watching, so she didn’t push him away. Even though … she liked it. She didn’t want him to stop.
This was happening more and more.
Her body responded to his, like she was designed for him or something. This had never happened to her. It was like Carlos had found the switch to her body.
“Have I told you how fucking beautiful you look?” he asked, running his hands down her ass and gripping the flesh. He yelled the words to be heard over the music.
Raven didn’t know if it was the withdrawal from Fort Clover, a week away from the club, or just the music, but she grabbed Carlos’s face and pulled him down. She hadn’t kissed him properly since the time she asked him to close his eyes so she could kiss him.
One of the hands on her ass remained, while the other started to travel up her spine, sinking into her hair. Carlos moved her so he could easily slide a thigh between her legs, and he lifted it.
A moan escaped her lips, and he swallowed it down. The dress gave way, and his thigh touched her pussy. She wore panties, even though the dress was probably not designed for them.
He wrapped some of her hair in his tight fist, and she felt an answering quake within her body.
As she broke from the kiss, her lips were swollen. They felt like they were. She stared at him as he kissed the tip of her nose.
He didn’t let her go, and Raven felt that spiraling heat. The need. His thigh was pressed against her, and she was so wet.
What the hell was she doing?
This was Carlos Santiago. The enemy. The enemy she had promised to protect. There was no way she should be kissing him or craving him.
Her body was on fire.
She didn’t know how she was able to untangle from his grip, but she did. At first, she tried to stumble to his office, but she needed fresh air.
Fresh air and some sanity to slap her in the face and force her to see sense. This man was the enemy. Not someone she should be kissing or wanting to feel deep inside her.