Page 73 of Raul

He nestled his head against her neck, his breath feathering over her skin. She wrapped her arms around his broad back, lacing her fingers to keep him close for these last precious minutes.

She lost track of how long they stayed like that, cocooned in each other’s bodies, but finally Raul shifted and slid out of her.

She mewed in protest, and he kissed her softly as he levered himself upright. “I have to get rid of the condom,mi amor.”

Letting out a long sigh, Erica sat up beside him. As he stripped off the condom, she trailed her fingers over the dragon tattoo’s tail where it curled up his back, touching his smooth, olive skin while she still could.

“Is the dragon male or female?” she asked.

“Female. They’re much fiercer.” A shade of relief sounded in his voice at the innocuous topic.

“Because they protect their nests.” She traced the edge of the dragon’s frill. “Has Bertucci done anything suspicious yet?”

“Nothing that Mikel has reported to me.” He snagged his boxer briefs and pulled them on.

She got the hint and retrieved her panties and bra. He shifted on the couch to open up space between them, and her last shred of hope withered and died. This was the end of their affair.

After they dressed, they stood facing each other, Raul’s shirt hanging open without its studs. She swore the air between them vibrated with longing.

“Erica, you are an extraordinary woman,” Raul said, his gaze skimming over her face. “This has been—”

She couldn’t bear for him to say any more. She wanted to hug his compliment in her memory and keep it untarnished. “Stop.” She dared to interrupt him. “I know who you are and who I am.” She stood on her toes to press a soft kiss against his mouth.“Adios, Su Alteza Real.”

She walked toward the door with her head held high, refusing to look back, even when he said her name in a strangled voice.

She had her pride.

As the door closed behind her, Raul felt as though his guts had been pulled out to leave him hollow and echoing.

He had been agonizing all day about what to do. When he’d begun the flirtation with Erica, he had expected nothing more than a few pleasurable days with a sexy, interesting woman. Somehow, it had developed into a relationship so powerful he had lost control…of his mind and his heart. And he had done the unthinkable. He had betrayed his family’s darkest secret.

Ending it with Erica was the only possible solution.

Especially since Gabriel’s wedding day loomed, an occasion when Raul would be watched like a hawk to see which eligible and appropriate noblewomen he dined and danced with. The noblewomen from whose ranks his duty dictated that he choose a wife.

He wanted to collapse onto the rug and moan in pain.

Instead, he sent a secure text to Mikel, asking for a meeting tomorrow. He needed reassurance that Erica could be trusted.

And then he had to tell his father about his appalling mistake. Raul winced at the thought.

He started when a text dinged on his phone. Mikel had responded,I am still at the palace. Shall I come to yourhabitaciónnow?

Why not get the first confession over with?

Sí, he wrote back before going to his bedroom to replace his tuxedo shirt with a black tee. He closed his eyes for a moment.Dios,the feel of Erica’s fingers tracing along his tattoo! But he needed to stop thinking about that.

He walked back to the living room to pour himself a couple of fingers of single malt Scotch in a cut-crystal glass. Too soon, a knock sounded on the door, and at Raul’s invitation, Mikel glided in. It was uncanny how the man walked without a sound.

“Señor.”He made his usual half bow and waited with a still, coiled energy.

“Drink?” Raul asked, raising his glass of amber liquid.

Mikel surprised him. “I would not say no.”

“You’ve had a long day,” Raul said as he poured another glass and handed it to Mikel.

“So have you,” Mikel said, taking a sip and then another larger one. “Ahh, this is excellent Scotch.”