Page 24 of Serena (Shattered Queens #1)

“Pomegranate, please,” I tell Ruby when she asks what flavor I want my next mojito to be. I look at Ian, who’s staring at me like I grew a third head. I’m more relaxed than when we got into the car earlier.

“Are you eating a potato?” he asks with a disgusted look on his face.

I roll my eyes, which I seem to do a lot with this man. “No, well, yes kinda. It’s a Mexican turnip. Want to try?”

“No thanks.”

“I grew up eating them; they remind me of my grandmother. She had a garden and grew pomegranates and jícama. It’s nostalgic.” His smiles melt my insides.

“Did you know that when you smile, your eyes turn a lighter shade of green?” I blush because I can’t believe I said that out loud.

“Do you look at my eyes often?”

“Well, I can’t help it; you have pretty eyes.” Oh my god, what the fuck, Serena? How much did I drink? Looking at my drink, I see that I finished the second mojito. Okay, no more drinking until I eat.

“Are you and Caleb close?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“Why are you interested in him?”

“I’m not. I’m just trying to have a conversation.”

“About my charming cousin?”

“About you and your life.”

“Hmm. Well, we grew up together, but very differently. His mom and my mom are sisters. I’d spend summers with them, instead of my family.

Caleb had a rough upbringing until my aunt remarried the man I call Uncle.

He raised Caleb to be who he is now, to take over his businesses, like I’d take over my father’s. ” He looks at me.

“We are both monsters in our worlds. Unlike Caleb, who flaunts it, I hide mine in the shadows, but make no mistake, it’s always there.”

“Ian, are you trying to scare me? Because you aren’t.”

“Well, Hermosa, that’s good to know, but I'm not. I want you to know who I truly am.”

“You don’t scare me, Ian,” is all I can say.

I say my goodbye to Ruby and promise to keep in touch. Making our way out, I turn to face Ian. “Thank you, this was nice.” I push onto my toes and kiss his cheek. Instantly feeling warm. It’s the drinks, I tell myself. We walk toward the car, where Augustus is waiting for us.

“Hi, Augustus! I got you some food.” I insisted on feeding the man who’s driving us around. Ian narrows his eyes at Augustus, but his driver smiles politely and takes the food. I can see he also enjoys pushing someone’s buttons.

“Thank you, Serena.”

“Ms. Nerva,” Ian chastises. We get into the car and start to head back to the hotel.

“I’d like to go sit by the outdoor fireplace when we get back to the hotel. It’s such a beautiful night.”

“Sounds perfect.” He pulls out his phone and starts typing. Then he leans down and gently places a kiss on my neck. I shift in my seat. Through my peripheral vision, I see his smile. Sexy as sin.

We arrive at the hotel and are immediately escorted outside.

The firepit area faces the ocean. The atmosphere is intimate and romantic.

Although the sun has set, the moonlight reflects on the ocean.

It's majestic. We take our seats on the L-shaped couch, next to a pre-lit firepit, blankets lying on the armrest. Now I know who he was texting.

“I guess we’re the only ones here tonight.”

“Yes, I reserved the whole area. So, it’s just us.”

“What. You can’t do that?”

Ian’s voice softens. “Yes, I can. I do whatever I want, and that includes whatever you want. So, please, just enjoy it.”

“Okay.” I give in. He takes the blanket and puts it over my lap. I don't realize that I lay my head on his shoulder until he lifts his arm, giving me the room to adjust myself on his chest.

“This isn’t a date.” I don’t know if I'm reminding myself or him.

“Well aware, Hermosa.”

“The drinks were strong.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell since you drank them like water.” He laughs.

“I love the sound of crackling fire. There’s something so hypnotic about the flames. The sound of firewood burning soothes me. You know, I think I could live here.”

I feel his body tense. “You want to move?”

“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. “The thought crossed my mind a couple of months ago before I applied for the VP position.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I can work from anywhere.”

“Ian, don’t say stuff like that. We aren’t—”

“Don’t finish that sentence.”

I don’t want to go back and forth right now. I just want to stay in this moment. Because that’s all we’ll have when we get back home.

We don’t talk, we just sit here, and that’s fine with me. The back and forth, the flirting— everything is becoming too much.

Heading back to the room, I can feel the tension between us, like the fire, it’s crackling in the air.

The nearness of him, the touches, the kiss.

I want to regret everything, but I don’t.

He opens the door, and once we are in, he closes the distance between us.

His hands go to the side of my face, and without hesitation, he crashes his lips to mine.

I don’t fight him; instead, I open my mouth to him.

This kiss is control, it’s dominating, it’s Ian.

And I want more. I need more. My arms wrap around his neck and bring him closer to me.

He bites my lower lip, and I bite back—the taste of copper on my tongue makes me wild for him.

My hands move to his hair and pull. He lets out a deep groan, and I feel it in my pussy.

He slams me against the wall, and I moan into his mouth.

One of his hands moves down and grabs my ass; he squeezes it hard.

The roughness of it keeps me grounded in the moment.

He pulls away. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to touch you like this.

” Then he returns to my mouth. His other hand moves to my nape and bunches my hair around his wrist. He pulls my head back, angling it to meet his eyes.

He turns my neck to the right, giving him access to the left side.

I don’t realize what he’s doing until he places the first kiss.

Behind my ear, right where my scar is, he kisses the entirety of my jagged reminder.

I feel like I'm holding my breath, and my body is tense, but his next words melt it all away. “You’re so beautiful. Every.” Kiss. “Part.” Kiss. “Of.” Kiss. “You.” Kiss.

“Ian.” The needy whimper escapes my lips. My pussy is throbbing, and I can feel how soaked I am.

He moves his hand from my ass to my waist. His grip on my body is firm, holding me in place.

Caressing down my thigh until he’s at the hem of my dress.

He lifts the fabric, and I can smell my arousal.

He tortuously moves his hand closer to my center.

I feel his fingers caressing my pussy through the fabric of my panties.

“Fuuck. You're soaked for me.” With one swift move, he rips the fabric from my skin. I could come just from that feeling.

He pulls back to look at me, not breaking eye contact. Letting go of my hair, he moves his large hand to my breast, cupping it. He pinches my hard nipple through the thin fabric.

“You're strong, beautiful, intelligent, graceful; the list goes on and on. When I look at you, I see a fucking queen. And baby, I'll happily kneel for you.” Then he starts to get down on his knees. His green eyes have turned the color of emeralds, and I’m lost in them.

My trance is broken by my dress being pushed up.

I should stop this; I should run from this.

What if he's just using me? What if tomorrow I wake up and he’s gone?

Ian grabs my right leg and puts it over his shoulder.

He starts kissing the inside of my thigh.

Every kiss has me panting and aching for more.

I feel him stop right above the scar on my inner thigh.

I didn’t realize how close he was. I freeze, and he must see the terror in my face.

I'm holding my breath. I expect him to look disgusted, but he doesn't. Gently, ever so gently, he leans in, with his eyes on me, and he places a kiss and another and another. I can’t help the tear that escapes.

I turn away so he doesn't see me. A reminder of a past that continues to haunt me.

“Look at me,” he demands. “Hermosa, look at me.” And I do as I’m told.

“Good girl.” His praise soothes my need to run but ignites my need for him.

“You’re so perfect. I’ve been dreaming of tasting you. Baby, I’m going to devour this pussy. And you’re going to be a good girl and come all over me. Isn’t that right?”

“Hmmm,” is the only response I can give.

“Use your words, Serena.”

“Yes,” is all I can manage.

Then he leans in; there’s nothing gentle about the way he’s working his tongue. He licks me, using his fingers to open me up and tongue fucks me to oblivion. He nips my clit, his tongue working circles. It’s driving me crazy.

“Fuck, baby, I’m going to come just by fucking you with my tongue.”

“Ohh god, Ian.”

“That’s right, scream my name, baby. Let everyone know whose tongue is fucking your tight, sweet pussy.

” His hand is gripping my waist so tightly, I can feel the bruises forming.

The other is on my thigh that’s trembling over his shoulder.

He’s relentless. My hands go to his hair, and I pull him to me.

He’s buried so deep between my legs, I don’t know if he can breathe.

Fuck, I don’t care. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He lets out a deep and long groan that makes my pussy vibrate.

I can feel the pressure building inside me; I’m so close.

“Ian, I’m going to… Oh god, oh god…”

“Not god… Me. I want to hear you scream my name as you come all over my tongue. Then I'm going to lick every single drop of your sweet pussy juices.”

“Ian…more… I want more.”

And he gives it to me, and I come so hard. My hand’s still in his hair, keeping him in place as I ride out the best orgasm I've ever had. I finally let go, but he isn’t done. His tongue is lapping up every single drop.

He lays another kiss on my inner thigh, then stands up.

I see the huge bulge in his pants—damn, he’s big.

My arousal is glistening on his face. He leans in and kisses me.

I taste myself all over him, and it’s delicious and intoxicating just like him.

I feel myself getting wet again. God, I want him, and he knows it.

“Baby, I want to take you to my bed and make you mine. Show you how much I want you. Because I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you. I want to worship you. I want you to remember every kiss, every moan, every touch, every orgasm. But you’ve been drinking tonight. So I’m going to wait.”

He must see the disappointment in my face because he just smiles.

“Okay, so I guess this is you being respectful.” I glare at him.

“Oh, baby, there isn’t anything respectful about what I want to do to you. But I’m a proud man, and I need you to remember the first time I make you mine. Because I’m going to ruin you like you’ve ruined me.”

“Fuck.”

He smiles. “Let's go to bed.”

“Ian, I don’t do the whole cuddle thing.”

“That’s going to change, but tonight it wouldn’t be a good idea to be in the same bed. I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”