Once the auction was over, an attendant ushered me out of the auditorium and down a long hallway. He was reiterating everything I already knew. I had come to the auction at the urging of Nile and Noah Pennington. The twins were constantly dragging me to strange events, concerts, and into new business ventures, especially after I lost Alexandra. I believed it was their way to keep me engaged in life outside of work and my daughter.
When they signed on to participate in the auction, I knew they were doing it because of their family inheritance. I found the stipulation incredibly humorous. Watching two brothers who genuinely loved and cared for one another try to outdo one another in order to earn a tiny additional share of their family inheritance was a show I didn’t want to miss. They had me submit my information to Madam Alana “in the event” I got a wild hair and wanted to participate in the auction.
When I happened to be coming to visit Las Vegas at the same time the auction was being held, I had zero intention of bidding on a woman. Until Faith stepped on that stage. And then I knew, with my entire being, that my Alexandra had sent her to me. There was no other possible reason I could feel so strongly about a woman, a stranger, upon sight alone, unless something cosmic and otherworldly was occurring. My Alexandra had believed wholeheartedly in destiny, fate, déjà vu, astrology, moon signs, and all the hocus pocus that went with it. I’d humored her over the years, but after losing her, I’d prayed each night for a sign from my beloved. A sign of what I was supposed to do. How I should take care of Penny’s emotional needs, as well as her physical and developmental ones.
Today, I got that sign when I looked into the eyes of the woman who would become my second wife.
My daughter was only a year old when her mother died. Penny didn’t remember her, even though my mother and I both shared stories and tidbits about Alexandra to keep her alive in our home. And yet, it was not the same as having a living, breathing woman in her life to love her more than anything the way Alexandra had doted on our girl. Even as a brand-new mother she’d been devoted to Penelope. And then she became sick and wasted away before our eyes.
Fuck cancer.
One memory I would never forget of my late wife was our first date. A blind date, in fact. From that date on, we had five short but life-changing years together before she got sick. However, from the very beginning she’d always said she knew I’d be hers from our very first kiss. She’d said a single kiss can tell you everything you need to know about a person. And that didn’t change in our day-to-day life; it only grew more profound with time. With every press of our lips to one another’s, we could feel exactly where the other stood. As if our most genuine emotions were being transferred to the other through the simplest of physical acts.
A single kiss had changed the trajectory of my life and hers.
Could it happen again?
I had the same bees buzzing in my stomach prior to meeting Faith as I had felt before meeting my late wife, Alexandra. And when the door opened and I entered the contract room where Faith stood, her sparkling ocean eyes set upon me, fearful yet curious, I knew exactly what I had to do.
I sucked in a sharp breath, walked straight to her, curled one hand around the side of her neck, the other around her waist, dipped my head, and took her mouth in a searing kiss.
She gasped, opening to me instantly.
I took advantage, sinking my tongue in her mouth and sliding it against hers. She tasted of cherries and cinnamon, her sweet and spicy flavor making me moan low in my throat.
The room fell away as both her forearms flattened against my chest, her hands running up and curling around my shoulders as though she was trying to hold on for dear life.
She tipped her head to the side and our tongues danced against one another. Naturally. With a comfort and ease that spoke of years of being together, not scant seconds. I held her against me, taking the kiss further, nibbling on her lips, sucking on her tongue, our teeth gnashing as we lost ourselves to one another.
It was bold, audacious, and hungry.
My cock was painfully hard against the fabric of my pants. So much so, I ran my hand past her waist, cupped her tight rear end, and ground against her, needing that carnal connection after four long years of my sex drive being dormant.
Her fingers tightened against my shoulders, and she miraculously pressed closer, bringing her chest flat against mine as her arms wound around my neck and she lifted up onto her toes. Her body was flush against mine from knees to chest. A slip of paper wouldn’t have fit between us.
I growled into her mouth, drinking deeply until I physically couldn’t breathe any longer. I ripped my mouth away and ducked my head to her neck, panting against her skin. Her fingers were in my hair, twisting through the long layers. I inhaled sharply and felt my dick throb and twitch at the delicious mixture of her coconut and citrus scent filling my lungs. It reminded me of being out in the sun on the beach beside my home in Santorini, Greece. Mouthwateringly good. I wanted desperately to run my tongue along her neck, taste that scent directly, and drag my teeth across the delicate surface, leaving my mark.
My heart pounded, my chest tightened, and my cock wanted nothing more than for me to bend this woman over the signing table and stake my claim. In the past, I’d never been the overbearing alpha type. And yet, something about Faith brought out a possessive side. As if I was getting a second chance at everything I’d ever wanted, and I needed to secure it in every way possible.
Which was ludicrous as we’d not even properly met before I put my mouth on her.
Stupid and selfish. I couldn’t imagine what she must think.
I loosened my grip on her and slid my hands back up her waist and settled them on her biceps as I stepped back a foot so I could greet her appropriately.
Her eyes were endless pools of blue water that I wanted to stare into for hours. But as we both stood there foolishly silent, taking in one another, Madam Alana interrupted by clearing her throat.
“Well, now that was an interesting greeting.” She beamed. “Mr. Castellanos, could you be so kind as to sign the contract before you take any additional liberties. Not that Faith seemed to mind.” She tsked, and Faith’s eyes widened.
I watched as a rosy flush slid across her face and she pressed her lips together as though halting a smile. I cupped her cheek and ran my thumb over her mouth until she let go of those kiss-swollen lips. Lips I wanted very much to plunder again.
Soon, I promised myself.