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When the evening’s over, after we’ve sent the last of the fucking dawdlers home, I take off my jacket, ditch the tie, and roll up my sleeves on the way to ask the band to play one more song. I want to dance with my wife.

Not the polite practiced dancing we did earlier, but the kind of slow dancing that high school kids do: arms around each other and hormone-laden bodies pressed together without a smidgeon of light between them.

Dancing is not my favorite activity, but Daniela loves it. She and Valentina are always singing and dancing. Although I can get down with the kind of dancing I’m thinking about.

“What do you want to hear?” the vocalist asks.

“Something with a slow tempo made for dancing with a beautiful woman.”

“My specialty,” he says, with a knowing smile.

I find my wife, who has slipped off her shoes, and is walking around the tent, thanking the help. She has on a red dress that’s skimming the floor now, like it skims her curves. It’s backless, and I took every opportunity tonight to rest my hand on her silky skin.

Daniela spots me and sashays in my direction with a sexy smile and shimmering eyes. She wore her hair down tonight, and it makes her look even younger than her twenty-four years. She is gorgeous.

That damn dress, though. It shows a bit of cleavage—too damn much as far as I’m concerned. During dinner, the prime minister, who was seated beside her, kept glancing at her tits. That son of a bitch is damn lucky I didn’t stab him in the eye with my fork. But I will not be supporting him in next year’s election. Take it to the bank.

Although now that everyone’s gone, I’m going to appreciate the hell out of those tits.

“They’re playing our song.”

“We have a song?” she asks softly, with that touch of sassiness that my cock loves.

“Dance with me.”

“You don’t have to ask twice. Although that really wasn’t a question. You know, the whole inflection thing at the end of the sentence really works. You should try it sometime.”

“Keep it up,” I say softly, as I take her into my arms. “And I’ll fuck you right here in the middle of the dance floor.”

She wraps her arms around my neck. “Ah, my charming date has given way to my dark prince.”

I cradle the back of her neck with one hand and slide the other to her ass. “A dirty princesa needs a dark prince to satisfy her.”

“It’s true,” she whispers into my neck. “Tonight was like a fairy tale. Something I’d always dreamed about, but thought I’d left behind when I went to the US.”

I pull her closer, until there’s no daylight between us. “This is who you are. Who you were born to be. If I have one regret, it’s that I didn’t understand that when I let you go to the US. I wish I would have known sooner how perfect you are for me. If I had, there’s no way you would have left the country. If I had made a better decision, I could have loved you longer.”

Earnest and humble. It’s the kind of confession a powerful man only makes to a beautiful woman he can’t live without. And even then, only once in a blue moon.

The band plays on and on, and everyone and everything bleeds away—except for her. I inhale her scent like the greedy bastard I am, and let her goodness seep into every pore, until the need to devour her becomes overwhelming.

“I need to meet with Tavares and the rest of the team before I leave. Go upstairs and wait for me,” I murmur, brushing my mouth against hers.

“Don’t be long,” she whispers, gazing at me with so much unfettered lust in her eyes, I almost bag the meeting.

But I can’t.

* * *

There were no surprises tonight,but even so, the morning’s events make the discussion with my men longer than I hoped. When I get upstairs, the light is dim, and my princesa is asleep, snoring softly.

I don’t turn on the light, but I make a fair amount of noise as I change, hoping to wake her and finish what we started on that dance floor. But even when I slip into bed behind her, she doesn’t stir.

“Mmmm,” she murmurs, when I curl my naked body around hers. But she’s not awake.

Even though my cock is aching for her, I don’t wake her—or attempt to take her. She’s had a huge day. And it’s only the first day of the celebration. Two hundred children are coming tomorrow for lunch and a carnival, courtesy of Daniela and Valentina.

It’s been a hell of a day for me too, and I could use some sleep. I inhale the sweet scent of orange blossom and shut my eyes, hoping for a little peace.

The gunman’s face appears the minute they’re closed.

I pull her closer, tighter, shielding her with my body.

I can’t lose her.