I smiled at her, shrugging. What did she expect when she had put a spell on me? She was a witch and I was transfixed by her.
I didn't even mind if I never recovered.
I was in trouble and I knew it. The crazy thing was, I didn't seem to care. Not even a little.
Her phone rang again and I stared at it, my mind starting to turn. Had she found another lover already? Was it another man who wanted her as much as I did?
I felt the animal in me rise up again. I would fight for her if I had to. Gladly.
"Who keeps calling you?"
She glanced at me, saying nothing. But I saw worry on her beautiful face. Francesca hated to show weakness. But just for a second, it was there.
"Who is it 'Cesca?"
She bustled around the room gracefully, organizing her things. She had unpacked everything. I realized I had almost really lost her.
"Philipe. And my father."
"Your ex."
She looked at me and nodded once. Then she went back to what she was doing as if the matter was closed. She had another thing coming if she thought she was off the hook that easily.
I stood up, taking her shoulders firmly in my hands.
"What does he want?"
She shrugged again. For a woman who always knew her own mind, she was shrugging an awful lot today.
"Francesca... talk to me. What does he want?"
"Me."
I felt a shot of panic go straight to my gut. She didn't sound disgusted. She sounded resigned.
"And your father?"
"He wants me to go home and marry Philipe as planned."
I stared at her. She didn't look surprised that her own father wanted her to marry the man who had cheated on her. Who had so publicly broken her heart.
"What do you want?"
She stared up at me, her beautiful eyes searching mine. Then she sighed.
"My family wants an alliance. Philipe wants my money. And prestige. He would be marrying up. My title is better than his."
"What about you? What do you want, Countess?"
She smiled at me crookedly.
"I just want to be free."
I watched her packing thoughtfully. My plans involved tying her down, not letting her go. I had just literally done that.
She hadn't seemed to mind, no matter what she said.
Room service knocked at the door and I went to get the food, rolling the cart in myself. I didn't want anyone else to see my barefoot Countess in her negligee. Francesca was still packing so I pulled her away and into my lap. I pulled the trays off to reveal steak and fries. She smiled and reached for the silverware but I pushed her hand away.
I started cutting the food, making her a perfect bite. I held it to her lips. She gave me a look, full of upper class attitude. I grinned. I couldn't help it. I loved that about her.
"I can feed myself, Daniel."
"Humor me."
She rolled her eyes and opened her mouth. I watched as she bit into the steak, her red lips glistening with the oils from the meat. My love was a carnivore, of that I had no doubt.
Love.
There it was again. That word I'd been avoiding saying, almost since I met her. Avoiding even thinking it.
I fed her another bike of steak and picked up a french fry.
"Ketchup or mayo?"
"Neither. Vinegar."
I grinned at her and splashed some vinegar onto the fries. Then I held one to her lips. I watched as she nibbled the fry daintily. When she got to my finger, she bit it.
Instant lust shot through my body. I was always on a low simmer around her. All it took was one little bite to send me into overdrive.
I handed her the fork and let her feed herself. She shrugged and leaned forward on my lap. Perfect.
Just what I needed. I pulled my pants open and pushed up her slinky little chemise.
"Daniel!"
I nuzzled her neck as I rubbed my cock against her.
"Should I stop?"
She didn't hesitate. She shook her head 'no'.
"Keep eating. I'll just... stay here until you are done."
She moaned as I slowly pushed my way inside her. She was soaking wet and ready for me. I held her hips in place as I settled her back onto my lap.
"Chew slowly. I don't want you to choke."
"Hmmm... Aren't you hungry?"
"Yes."
I bit her shoulder and then kissed the same spot. I didn't need food. I needed this.
She laughed breathlessly as we sat there, having the strangest, most erotic dinner ever. I could wait for food. The way she felt on top of me... that I could not wait for.
I felt her body quiver around me. I laughed. I was pretty sure there was no food involved with tantric sex. I'd read that holding still inside a woman could bring her unbelievable pleasure. I planned to find out.
Or at least I hoped I'd be able to hold still long enough to find out.
I'd read up on a lot of things the past few days. Like I said, I had plans.
"Are you finished?"
She nodded.
"Good."
I pulled her chemise off of her and leaned her back against me. I spread her thighs open on top of me and started to run my hands over her bare flesh, again and again.
Still, I did not move.