“That’s it, baby. Take all you want.”
The climax hit me long and hard, keeping me aloft in a sea of beautiful clouds for what seemed like an hour, although I knew better. When I finally lowered my head, the first thing I noticed was the incredible glimmer in his eyes.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
I bit my lip, slowly lifting my hips then easing them down. He didn’t fight me or try to regain control. This time, he allowed me to take over. I enjoyed watching him, studying his facial expressions as he let go, allowing himself to enjoy the moment. It rarely happened. He was all business, but at night everything was different. He became another man, one full of primal needs, forgetting about the world around him.
As his breathing became irregular, I took a deep breath, holding it in until the moment of his erupting deep inside. Then I blew across his face, savoring every moment of his husky growls as he filled me with his seed.
This was nothing more than a beautiful fantasy, but hope had started to slide into every thought, wishful thinking for a future together.
I’d never hoped to find Prince Charming in a world where chivalry had become an impossibility to find. Yet in discovering the man hidden inside the darkness, I realized I no longer needed the light.
As long as he was by my side.
* * *
Moonlight.
I’d never experienced a full moon in such an incredible way, and I felt almost able to reach through the crystal-clear panes of glass and grasp it with my fingers. Alessandro had teased he’d tie a lasso around it, snagging it for my dreams. The pictures had been taken inside an incredible restaurant located on the top floor of an all-glass skyscraper in the heart of New York.
Stars had filled the night sky along with the luminescent giant orb, providing a playground of hopes and dreams. I’d stood at the window, mesmerized by the glorious sight for several minutes at a time, until the rugged man refused to allow me to ignore him any longer.
We’d laughed and shared a bottle of wine, several glasses of champagne. The photographer had snapped photos of us dancing and enjoying a succulent meal together over the warm glow of a candle. It had been a perfect evening, especially since Alessandro had rented the entire restaurant for his use for the night. I couldn’t imagine the cost. And in truth, I didn’t care. For once, it was fabulous to pretend like I was a princess.
Sadly, as soon as we’d returned to the house, he’d gone back to work, making several phone calls. I stood in the center of his office after he’d left, drinking in the atmosphere. His scent remained, permeating my skin. I brushed my fingers across the bite mark, stifling a giggle. The photographer had tried to convince me to cover the spot with makeup, but Alessandro had refused.
I turned in a full circle, realizing this was my favorite room in the house. Every piece of furniture and every bookshelf, the dark wood and huge leather chair reminded me of him. Sighing, I pulled off my high heels before heading up the stairs. I never knew how long he’d be, but he always ended up beside me in bed, ravaging me for hours. It was amazing that I wasn’t sleepwalking at this point.
After changing, I glanced toward the burner phone Alessandro had purchased. It was late and I hadn’t talked with Brittany for three days. I also hoped Clarice had left me a message. She’d been the first person I’d called after Alessandro had given his blessing on making a few short calls. The nagging I’d had regarding the flowers had returned, the dull throbbing combined with the memory I’d had earlier forming a lump in my throat. There were no messages.
Why wouldn’t Clarice return my call? That wasn’t like her. She’d never been too busy to talk to me, usually forced to calm me down because of some issue. Plus, she should have demanded to know all the sinful details by now. I fingered the screen before dialing her number. It went straight to voicemail as it had three nights before.
“Clarice. I’m getting worried now. Just call me, okay? Even if I don’t have my phone with me, there’s this little thing called leaving a message.” I tried to laugh, although the sound was hollow. The butterflies had turned into a sickening feeling.
Something was wrong.
I stared at the screen for a full five seconds then dialed Brittany’s number.
“Hey,” she answered, her scattered voice indicating I’d awakened her. “I was going to call you. I just…”
“What’s wrong? Did something happen at the bistro?”
“No, it’s not that.” Her voice cracked.
“Brittany. You can tell me whatever it is.”
“Clarice.” Now the girl was sobbing.
“What about Clarice? What? What is it?” An icy chill slammed into my system. “Tell. Me.”
“She’s dead.”
CHAPTER17
Alessandro
“He tried to kill me,” Sierra said quietly. Then she lifted her head, blinking away the few tears slipping past her lashes.