Page 18 of Deceptive Desires (The Syndicate #2)

Cecilia

The growl he lets out at hearing his name sends a shockwave down my spine, joining the butterflies in my belly and the tingling in my core.

He pushes a leg between mine where my skirt opens and pulls my left leg from the ground and over his. This position leaves my weight on his thigh right at my center.

The contact makes me moan again.

“Héroe, I… I feel…” I can’t finish the sentence, not able to push the words out. Too flustered, too new to the sensation.

“I know, sunshine. Rub yourself on me. Chase that pleasure.” It’s a command. A demand. One I’m unable to stop myself from following.

I rock myself against him in rhythm with the music. Each brush against my clit has me panting.

“Roman, I’m close,” I moan in his ear.

“Fuck, Celia. Keep going,” he groans, but I can’t. It’s too much.

“Don’t you dare stop,” he grits out, sounding on the verge of exploding.

But I can’t move. Can’t breathe.

His left hand grips my waist, and his right hand grips my thigh thrown over his leg. Then he starts lifting me, sliding me on him.

His hardness digs into my stomach, grinding into me.

“Rome… I’m close… Please, héroe,” I beg. He can’t stop now. I’ll never recover.

“Are you going to come for me?” he asks in a dark, low voice.

“Yes,” I whimper through heavy pants.

And he growls. It’s so animalistic, so barbaric, so sexy.

I feel myself flood. My panties were already soaked, but now, now they’re drenched.

“Fuck, sunshine. I can feel your arousal through your panties. Through my pants. On my thigh. You’ve soaked through both layers and are now soaking me.”

I whine and close my eyes in embarrassment. I tuck my head and let my hair fall over my face as a curtain. I can feel my cheeks, already flushed from arousal, now burning with mortification.

But Roman doesn’t let me hide. He brushes my hair behind my ears and cups my cheeks, lifting my head to his.

“None of that. This is the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced. Don’t you dare shy away.”

I nod my head, forced to believe him. His words can’t be anything but true. He can’t fake the desperation seeping through them.

“Now open those beautiful brown eyes. I want to see you when you come on my thigh. I want to see you tip over the edge. Because of me.”

I open them and he’s right there. Mere inches from me.

“Are you close, Cecilia?” he asks darkly.

“Yes, héroe… I… I…” I can’t speak. Can’t think. I’ve never been so turned on.

“Then comes for me, sunshine. Come on my thigh. Soak me,” he demands. He growls it as he pulls me down harder on his thigh.

I tip over the edge. My vision blacks out. I open my mouth, unable to hold back my scream, but it never comes out.

His mouth is on mine, stifling my voice. Reminding me we’re in public. It only makes this hotter. I keep coming and coming. He groans into my mouth, and I feel him twitching.

I feel weightless, unable to hold myself up. I sag against him.

But he takes my weight, holding me to him as if it’s nothing.

“No one gets to hear your cries of pleasure,” he says it so darkly, I have to look up. He doesn’t sound like my jovial hero. He sounds like a man possessed. When I look up, his eyes are dark, but when he meets mine, they melt into softness.

After who knows how long, something to our right draws his attention. I go to look, but he captures my lips in a kiss. A sweet, soft kiss.

“Let’s get you back to our table. I need to go to the restroom, and I don’t want you stranded out here.” He places his hand on the small of my back and leads the way.

When we get back to our table, he pulls out a seat for me and lifts me into it. I’d blush further if my entire being wasn’t already red.

I look up and meet Gracie’s eyes. She’s grinning from ear to ear.

Oh no. I think she saw.

I chance a look at Leo, and he’s fuming. His nostrils are flaring and he’s gripping his drink so hard, his knuckles are white. And his glare… If looks could kill, Roman would be on the ground.

Oh no. I think he might’ve seen too.

Roman tosses them an easy smile, then looks at Gracie. “I’m going to the restroom. Watch out for her.”

Surprisingly, she nods to him in agreement instead of chewing him out for telling her what to do. I’m surprised she’s putting up with him.

He kisses the top of my head then leaves.

“Guess the old man has a small bladder,” Leo mutters, clearly drunk. “I bet he’s not even coming back now that you’ve whored yourself out to him.”

His glare is now directed at me.

Tears well in my eyes.

His words splash over me like cold water, breaking me from my trance.

I didn’t whore myself out to him, right?

But I did. I was intimate with him on our first date. If this is even a date.

I look down, blinking away.

I hear a slapping sound and look up to see Gracie shaking her hand, and Leo gripping his cheek.

“Don’t ever fucking talk about her like that,” she grits out. “Go take five. You’re drunk.”

He looks at me apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Cecilia. I didn’t mean it.”

I don’t accept his apology. I can’t yet. I’m too hurt to forgive him. But we both know by the time he returns, I will have.

Gracie pushes his shoulder, and he walks away from the table.

“Fuck Leo! I hate him, Cecilia! I fucking hate him!” Gracie growls.

“We don’t hate. It’s bad for the soul,” I remind her gently.

“You don’t hate. But I sure as hell do. I hope he doesn’t come back.”

“He will. And we’ll pretend it didn’t happen. It’s his birthday, and I invited another guy and bailed on him to dance with Roman. It’s my fault too,” I explain.

“Fuck that. Leo being jealous is not your fault. But forget him.” She shakes her head, then grins at me. “So, what was that on the dance floor? Seemed like a lot more than dancing.”

I groan and lay my head on my hands, unable to make eye contact.

“Did everyone see?” I murmur, too embarrassed to face the world.

“No, just us, and only because we were watching.” We see Leo making his way to the table, three bottles of water in hand. “We’ll talk about this later. I want every detail.”

“I’m sorry. I come bearing apology waters. Time for me to sober up.” Leo dips his head in remorse.

I reach for the one closest to me, but he gives it to Gracie. Instead, he hands me the one in his left hand.

I open it and am surprised it doesn’t crack like an unopened bottle typically does, but I’m too thirsty to care.

I gulp half the water down and see Leo staring at me with hard eyes and a grin that makes me uneasy.

This grin isn’t his usual one. It isn’t jovial and friendly.

After a few minutes, the room tilts, then spins. A terrible headache comes on. I lean against the table, still seated, needing help to balance. And suddenly, I’m so tired.

“I’m going to… find… Roman.” The words come out slurred.

I let my eyes drift shut, just for a moment.