Page 4 of Rio

“By being nice to you because you saw me back to my room safely.”

“You think you’re safe from my charm here?”he murmurs.“I think you still want me.”

He’s infuriating, and not wrong.But I’d rather die than admit that.I tilt my chin up in defiance.“You think very highly of yourself.All of you Knights do.”

“I think very highly of what I see, and what I want.”He does it again, his gaze taking its sweet time trailing over me, slow and deliberate, every cell in my body vibrates.Heat flares at the base of my belly.I want to lift my dress up and have him be on his knees, pleasuring me.

Damn this man.

Damn my thoughts.

I force a light laugh, but it’s laced with challenge.“You’re wasting your time here.I don’t do men like you.”

“Do?That’s an interesting choice of word, princesa.”His eyes glisten with mischief.“What exactly do you mean by men like me?”

“The type of men who think the world revolves around their name, their money, and their ability to get whatever they want.”

His smile is lazy, full of undisguised interest.

“What type of men do youdo, then, Raquel?”

My name on his mouth sounds like temptation and sin.I love the way he says it.Slightly dirty, and in his voice thick, and raspy.Stupidly, I step forward and place a finger on his chest.“I do men who can keep up.”

I start to walk away, but he grabs my wrist, gently, but firm.

“I can keep up, princesa.What are you offering?”

Chapter 2

RIO

I told myself I was being polite when I offered to walk her up to her hotel room.

That I’m not hoping for anything.But the way Raquel’s eyes cut to me over her shoulder—half dare, half danger—makes my restraint unravel one thread at a time.

I take off my jacket and toss it over the back of a chair.“It’s too damn hot for all that formality.”

I can tell she’s getting hot in that dress.So hot, she had to untie that big fancy bow at the neck.I wonder if she’s planning on getting changed into something more comfortable.

Now that I’ve downed a Jack Daniel’s, I wouldn’t mind downing a few more because of the way she’s looking at me, dark eyes, full mouth, lips stained in a rich red satin lipstick.She makes it impossible for me to look away.Those big, dark Bambi eyes, framed by thick lashes, are hard to look away from.I can see myself falling, deep, deep, deeper into them.Losing my mind and my morals.Her loose hair tumbles over her silky dress in waves, and she’s barefoot.Just seeing her painted toes, oddly intimate, ties me up in knots.

It’s a teasing glimpse into the woman who seems to keep her walls up around everyone, especially me.Not only is she sensual and beautiful, not only do I find myself immensely attracted to her, but she’s also a mystery.One I desperately want to unravel.

I want to kiss her, and taste her, and do so many thingstoher,withher.But she’s fighting this attraction between us.We could be fucking like wild animals, on that supersized bed of hers, but she can’t get past that goddamn moral compass of hers.She hates me, and while I love the thrill and chase when it comes to a beautiful woman, I don’t like wasting my time.

Clearly, she’s not feeling what I’m feeling.She doesn’t like me.My family.The Knight name.Who knows which of these it is?She’s not seeing me as someone separate.She’s not feeling what I’m feeling so there’s no point sticking around any longer.“I should go.”

“Let’s play a game,” she says.

We both spoke at the same time, and now we’re staring at each other.Did I hear correctly?She wants to play agame.She can’t fight it, her attraction to me.She doesn’t want me to leave.This woman wants to party.I knew it.I goddamn knew it.

I’m in.

“A game, huh?”I swipe a hand over my beard.“What are we talking here?Hangman, Scrabble?”I need to make sure we’re on the same page.

“You play poker?”

Hot damn.Her question brings a smile to my lips.Poker?This is my kind of woman.I knew it from the moment she sidled up to me at the bar in Manhattan.“You offering money or something better?”Anticipation makes blood course through my veins and my pants suddenly feel tighter.