Page 64 of Raul

“The same,” Raul said to the young man, who vanished inside just as a young woman emerged, carrying a tray.

“A selection of appetizers,” she said, placing a long, narrow wooden platter with a colorful array of finger food in the center of the table. As soon as she moved away, the young man returned with tall glasses of coconut water, each garnished with a slice of pineapple and holding a teal straw. The glasses themselves were etched with pale green Calevan dragons.

The two servers vanished, and Raul lifted his glass. “To our day off.”

“And finding dragon eggs.” Erica clinked her glass against his before taking a sip. “Mm, does this have cinnamon in it?”

“It’s a Marta flourish,” he said with a smile. “Do you like it?”

“I’m going to add it to my coconut water from now on.” Erica surveyed the platter. “I won’t be able to eat a main course after eating all of this.”

“Then let me help you choose which to sample.” Ignoring the serving tongs, he picked up a morsel and held it out to her. “A date stuffed with goat cheese andjamón.”

She held out her hand, but he pulled back, saying, “I want to watch you take it from my fingers.”

The smooth baritone of his voice vibrated along her nerve endings. Evidently, he planned to seduce her with food, and she was fine with that. She leaned forward to close her lips around the date, making sure to brush his fingertips as she did. “Dios mio, this ismuy rico,” she said as the sweetness of the date combined with the creaminess of the cheese, while the salty ham counterbalanced both.

His eyes blazed a hot blue as he picked up another morsel. “Spicy strawberry crostini with goat cheese.”

“Spicy?” she asked.

“Just a tap of jalapeño,” he said. “And a touch of honey.”

“Sold.” She leaned forward again to receive the round of toasted bread. This time, he brushed his thumb over her bottom lip with a sensual stroke.

“Delicioso, both the food and you,” she said, holding his gaze. “Now it’s my turn to choose.” She grabbed a toothpick that held a perfectly curled shrimp. “What’s this one?”

“Pickled shrimp. It also has a little punch. You’ll like it.”

“No, this is for you.” She stretched across the table to offer it to him.

He pulled it off the toothpick with his even white teeth before kissing her fingers.

“And this?” She chose a tiny double-decker sandwich.

“Two kinds of tomatoes with bacon mayonnaise.” He leaned in to take it, but she snatched it back.

“It sounds so good I think I’ll eat it.” She popped it into her mouth, licking a smear of the fatty mayonnaise off her lips. The bursting freshness of the tomatoes contrasted with the smoky bacon and the rich silk of the mayonnaise. She groaned at the exquisite flavors.

“You could be thrown into the dungeon for taking food from a royal,” he said, a sinful smile curling his lips. “Or perhaps I should just throw you in the pool.”

“You’re on crutches, so you couldn’t throw me.” This time, she offered a sandwich to him.

“All right, I will lure you into the pool.” He brushed his lips on the inside of her wrist before he bit into the sandwich. Delicious shivers danced up her arm.

“Lure me into the pool to do what? Drown me?” She ate a pickled shrimp. It tasted of lime and garlic and the sea.

“That would be a waste.” His voice was pitched to a low caress. “I have far more pleasurable plans for you in the pool.”

Her entire body flooded with heat, and she pressed her thighs together as it curled low. “Maybe you could use a stuffed date to lure me there right now.”

“You’ve lost your appetite?” His smile grew more sensual.

“There are all kinds of appetites.” She pushed back her chair.

He stood up and grabbed his crutches. “I’m afraid you’ll have to carry the date.”

As he started around the table, she caught a flash of movement from the door the servers used. She pivoted toward the pool to realize it was in plain sight of every window in the back of the house…and there were lots of giant windows. A vision of the ten bodyguards leaping out of the SUVs in front of the house rose in her brain.