Page 60

VICTOR

“ D ance with me, Mrs. Cardello.” I extended my hand to her, and she took it with the poise of a goddess.

She wore a simple, elegant dress—cream-colored satin that accentuated every delicious curve and shimmered with every step. My heart swelled as the light glinted off the gold band on her finger.

“Blue Velvet” played on the phonograph, low and sultry, as I pulled her onto the balcony. She melted into me, soft and warm. In my arms, she was a perfect fit—pure elegance, pure grace, and purely mine.

Outside, on the penthouse balcony of the Golden Oasis Hotel, the warm desert breeze teased the hem of Barbara’s dress.

We danced together beneath the canopy of stars.

The Las Vegas strip hummed with life, its neon glow casting a soft, colorful wash over her skin, turning her into something ethereal, otherworldly.

“I still can’t believe it,” she murmured, her voice a soft hum against my chest.

“Believe what?” I dipped my head to catch her gaze.

“That we’re here. That we did it.” She held up her left hand, admiring her new wedding band. “It all feels like a dream.”

I kissed her forehead, breathing in the delicate fragrance of her skin. “If it’s a dream, please don’t ever wake me up.”

The music wove a sultry spell around us as we swayed, lost in each other. Her warmth seeped into me, a soothing balm for the countless wounds and scars I carried—the ones on my body and the ones on my soul.

The record spun to a close, leaving only the soft crackle of the needle on vinyl. We stood in silence, just holding each other, letting the night soak into our bones.

“I love you,” I said, and I meant it with every fiber of my being. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

She smiled, sharing that radiant joy that could chase away the darkest shadows.

We walked back inside the suite, and I poured two glasses of champagne. The room was opulent, dripping with the kind of gaudy luxury only Vegas could pull off—crystal chandeliers, plush velvet furniture, gold-trimmed everything.

We met in the center of the room, and I handed Barbara a glass. She lifted hers high, and the chandelier’s glow danced through the crystal, scattering light like diamonds.

“To our future,” she said, her voice a soft, melodious lilt.

“To us.” I clinked my glass gently against hers.

The champagne was crisp and effervescent. Barbara closed her eyes as she took a long, savoring sip. She opened them again, and they were half-lidded and sultry, fixed intently on me.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking”—she set her glass down on the table and stepped closer, sliding her hands under the lapels of my jacket—“that we have far too many clothes on.”

She tugged at my jacket, and I let it slide off my shoulders, catching it in one fluid motion before tossing it onto a nearby chair.

Her fingers skimmed my chest through my shirt, sending electric sparks skittering across my skin.

Heat radiated from her body as she leaned in, her breath warm against my neck.

I kissed her, our lips crushing with an urgency that had been building all night. I drifted my hands to the small of her back, pulling her closer, eliminating the space between us. She moved with me in a slow, deliberate rhythm, each motion promising what was to come.

With a swift, graceful turn, she spun out of my grasp and strolled toward the bed, her hips swaying with seductive confidence. She looked over her shoulder, her blue eyes blazing with invitation.

I loosened my tie and started after her, unbuttoning my shirt as I went. Perched on the edge of the bed, she played with the straps of her dress, teasing me. I quickened my pace, but just as I reached her, she dashed to the other side of the bed, laughing softly.

I loved this playful side of her—mischief laced with desire.

It was a promise that our passion would never fade, that fire and laughter could live side by side.

I circled the bed slowly, like a predator stalking its prey.

She backed away, eyes alight with a tantalizing mix of apprehension and eagerness.

“Come here,” I commanded, my voice low and rough.

“Make me,” she challenged, biting her lower lip.

In two swift strides, I was upon her. She tried to dodge, but I caught her wrist and pulled her hard against my chest. Her breath came in quick, shallow bursts as I held her firm, immobilizing her. I kissed her ear, then her neck, tracing a line with my lips that made her shiver.

“Got you,” I whispered.

Her resistance melted as she leaned into me.

I kissed her with a fierce hunger, devouring her as my hands roamed over her supple curves.

The searing heat of her skin bled through the cool fabric of her satin dress.

I found the zipper at the back and pulled it down slowly, savoring the sound of cloth giving way.

The dress loosened, and I peeled it from her body with reverence, like unwrapping a Christmas present.

She stood before me in nothing but delicate lace. I paused for a moment to drink in the sight of her—her flushed cheeks, her parted lips, the curve of her collarbone, the swell of her breasts. She was a vision of pure desire.

I stripped off my shirt and tie, then unfastened my pants, letting them fall to the floor.

My heart pounded in my ears, blood rushing like a river in spring.

I stepped closer, the heat between us rising as I unhooked her bra and let it fall away.

Her breasts were soft and delicate in my hands, nipples hardened against my palms. The moan that fell from her lips was smooth, enticing.

I lowered my hands to her hips and knelt before her, my breath hot against her stomach.

Kissing a trail down her abdomen, I pulled at the waistband of her panties with my teeth, then with my hands, letting them glide down her legs.

She stepped out of them, and I rose to kiss her again, fiercely crushing her lips against mine.

In one swift motion, I scooped her up in my arms. She let out a surprised but delighted gasp as I carried her to the bed.

With a playful toss, I sent her sprawling onto the plush black-and-gold covers.

She laughed, a musical, carefree sound that quickly dissolved into breathless anticipation as I pounced on top of her, pinning her wrists above her head.

I was desperate to be inside her. The feel of her naked body beneath mine, the way she writhed in anticipation—it drove me to the brink of madness.

I usually took my time—savoring each kiss, each touch—but tonight was different.

Tonight, I couldn’t wait. And neither could she.

I spread her legs with a commanding yet gentle press, my hands sliding down the silken skin of her thighs. Her heat beckoned me, a fiery core that promised to consume us both. I could feel her wetness even before I pressed against her, and it sent a jolt of electric need through my entire body.

“Victor,” she breathed, her voice cracking with longing.

With a swift, urgent motion, I thrust into her.

A gasp tore from her lips, echoed by a guttural moan from my own throat.

She clenched around me, hot and slick, pulling me deeper with each pulse.

The sensation was overwhelming, like plunging into molten glass—intense, searing, and exquisitely painful in its pleasure.

I drove into her again and again, each stroke more desperate than the last. She raked her nails down my back, leaving trails of burning fire on my skin, and arched her body to meet my every thrust. Her breath came in ragged, needy gasps.

The bed creaked and groaned under our combined weight and force, our colliding bodies filling the opulent suite with a primal symphony.

I gripped her hips and rolled, pulling her on top of me. She straddled my waist, hands resting on my chest as she ground her pelvis against mine, her eyes half-closed in bliss.

She rode me with a frantic fervor, her pace quickening with each passing second. I reached up and cupped her breasts, kneading them gently at first, then harder as her moans climbed the walls.

“Victor,” she cried out, her voice high and strained. “I’m?—”

Before she could finish, I sat up and wrapped my arms around her, crushing her body against mine. She pressed her lips to my neck, biting and kissing with a desperate hunger.

I held her tight, whispering into her ear, “Ride me, angel. Grind against me until you see stars.”

A shiver ran through her, and she pulled back just enough for me to see the fervent gleam in her sapphire eyes.

There was no hesitation as she shifted her weight and moved her hips in slow, deliberate circles, each motion sending a wave of burning pleasure coursing through my body.

My hands gripped her waist, fingers digging into her flesh as I fought to contain the surge building within me.

She threw her head back, her hair cascading like a golden waterfall, eyes closed in rapture. Her breasts bounced and heaved with each thrust. The sight of her lost in ecstasy was heaven.

I was aware of every inch of her as she took me in deeper with each roll of her hips. She tightened and pulsed around me in a sinful rhythm that threatened to undo me.

“Victor,” she breathed, her voice thready and fragile. Her body tensed like a drawn bow. Each movement of her hips grew sharper, more urgent. I could see it in her face—the way her mouth formed a silent “O,” the way her eyes squeezed shut as if to contain the explosion building within her.

A strangled cry tore from her throat as she climaxed, her entire body convulsing with sheer power. She dug her nails into my shoulders, leaving crescent moons of pain that only fueled my desire. She clenched and spasmed around me, pulling me deeper into her with each wave of her release.

I seized her and flipped her onto her back, not giving her a single moment to recover. Her eyes were wide and dazed with pleasure as I spread her legs wide and drove into her with a single, punishing thrust. A high, keening wail burst from her lips, mixing overwhelm and lingering ecstasy.

“That’s it,” I growled, my voice raw. “Scream for me, baby.”

“Yes!” she cried out as I thrust deep, grinding my hips to press every inch inside her. “Oh, God, yes!”

“Louder,” I commanded. “I want the whole damn city to hear you.”

Her hands gripped the sheets, knuckles white against the black-and-gold fabric. Her breasts swayed with each stroke. Her flushed skin glistened. She craned her neck, tendons standing out like cords, as she gave herself over to the moment.

“Victor!”

Her cry was my undoing. I thrust into her one final time, as deep as I could go, and held her there as my release tore through me like a bullet.

My vision blurred, my muscles locked in torturous pleasure.

Hot waves of ecstasy surged from my core, shooting out to every nerve ending, leaving me trembling and weak.

I collapsed onto her, my chest heaving against her breasts, my face buried in the crook of her neck. Her skin was warm and soft beneath me, her breathing slow and deep. I rolled to the side, careful not to crush her, but kept an arm draped around her waist.

She was mine. Truly mine.

She turned to face me, eyes glowing with a sated tenderness.

For a long moment, we just stared at each other.

I traced a finger along the curve of her hip and then up to her ribs, feeling the delicate rise and fall of her breath.

She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, a warm smile blooming at my touch.

“Is it real?” she asked softly. “No more hiding? No more pretending?”

“It’s real,” I replied, my voice a gentle rumble. “You’re mine. I’ve wanted you to be mine from the first moment I laid eyes on you. So I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”

“And now we can have the life we dreamed of.” She sighed wistfully. “You saved me, Victor.”

I shook my head. “No, angel. You saved yourself. I just held up a mirror so you could see what a strong, amazing woman you are.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t. But you”—I pressed a long kiss to her forehead—“have saved me a thousand times over.” I peppered her hair with kisses. “Thank you, my darling, for giving me a fresh start. For believing in me.”

She looked up at me, her blue eyes catching the light like sun on the sea.

“Guys like me aren’t supposed to end up with girls like you.” I exhaled, letting the words settle. “The hero always gets the girl in the movies, and I’m no hero. Not by a long shot. I’ve never heard a story where the villain gets the girl, but maybe we’re writing one right now.”

Her lips curved into a soft, mischievous smile. “Heroes are boring.” She gently kissed me. “Give me the villain any day.”