Lonely Heart (19 page)

She bowed her head, no doubt blushing. “Yes.”

“Then make love to me on the dance floor.” Linking our fingers behind my back, I led my beautiful, bare foot date into the middle of the crowd. She watched the couples around us. “It’s easy, watch my feet and let me guide you.” One of her hands went to my shoulder while the other rested in my hand. My free hand slipped down to her waist. I left enough space between our bodies so she could follow my lead. “Relax, baby, loosen up…move your hips. Look at me.”

Those green eyes met mine. The sudden blood loss in my brain meant only one thing. I pulled her close and her eyes widened. She could feel me through the ruffled layers of her dress.

“Remember, you’re making love to me. Close your eyes and…,” Kaitlyn got the message. She pressed her body against me; my hand slid lower on her waist. I guided her hips in a smooth one, two, three, step, ball change move. The friction of her breasts, stomach, and hips made me groan. The memory of Kaitlyn on top of me and the untamed movement of her body had me lost. Soon, we would be alone and everything I imagined doing since that night spent in her bed would come to fruition. I dipped my head down to the top of her hair and inhaled.

The seductive fragrance of her perfume mixed with the natural scent of her skin proved more intoxicating than the beers I consumed. I never wanted anyone as much as I wanted her. Kaitlyn was a fresh breeze, a promise of perpetual sunshine in my life. I couldn’t imagine going a day without her laugh, her smile, or the way she made me feel as if I were the only man that could make her happy.

Chloe was icing on the cake.

A tap on my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts.

“Perdon,” my father said, “Could I have this dance?”

Kaitlyn appeared as flustered as I was. “Um…sure.” She smiled, pulled away from me, and stepped into my father’s outstretched arms.

“He doesn’t know what he’s doing. Let me show you how real men dance with beautiful ladies.” He laughed and whisked Kaitlyn away.

It was impossible not to scowl as I walked back to the table where my family sat.

“Sit down,” Fernando said.

“What?” My attention was on the dance floor, making sure there was space between Kaitlyn and my father.

“¡Siéntese por favor!” he spat, tugging my arm until my butt hit the seat.

Across the table, Adrianna shook her head, laughed, and continued to rock my nephew to sleep.

“What?” I asked again, unable to hide my irritation.

Fernando leaned in. “You were about to get X-rated out there. Your papi came to save you.” He chuckled. “The next time you get up, put your jacket back on.” He added, pointing to his crotch.

I looked down at the tent in my pants. “Que mierda.”

His laugh turned into a cough. “Dios mio. Don’t look now, but here comes Gina.”

“Gina?” If things weren’t awkward enough.

He nodded.

“Antonio, long time, no see. ¿Que pasa?”

And just like that, the tent deflated. I forced a cordial smile. “Hello, Gina. How are you?”

She rested sharply manicured nails on her hip. “You’d know if you bothered to call. It’s been months, Antonio.”

Five to be exact. “I know.”

“You never called back.” Her stare felt like shooting daggers. I could see Fernando in my peripheral scoot his chair away.

“Gina,” Adrianna tried to get her best friend’s attention; it didn’t work.

I looked around, hoping the people at the surrounding tables were unable to hear us, but the odds of that happening were impossible. Gina always made sure her presence was known, even in loud places. “Now isn’t the time or place for this conversation.”

“Excuse me?” A thin eyebrow lifted, a telltale sign something unpleasant was about to come from her mouth. “The wrong time and place? Let me tell you─”

I jumped up from the table, grabbed her elbow, and escorted my ex-girlfriend out of the community center to the parking lot. Gina was beyond feisty when mad. She was not about to ruin my sisters’ party with a temper tantrum.

“Let me go!” she ripped her arm from my grip the minute we hit the parking lot.

“Gina, calm down.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew it was a bad decision.

“Calm down? Are you kidding me? We dated for two years then you suddenly stop calling. No warning…nada. Now months later you’re with some white puta and you tell me I need to calm down?” She stormed around, expletives shooting from her mouth.

Jealousy never looked good on her.

“If memory serves me correct, you were the one who said not to call until I made up my mind about seeing you again.” I shrugged. “Do you expect me to believe you’ve been sitting at home alone all this time?”

I saw the fire in her eyes a split second before her hand connected with the side of my face. Man, did she have an arm.

She swung again; I caught her arm and held firm. “You only get one freebie. You’re right; I should have called and said it was over. I’m sorry.”

“Two years, Antonio…dos años and you leave me for that─”

“Antonio?”

Kaitlyn walked out of the building with Adrianna and Fernando on her heels.

“…puta!” Gina spun around to face Kaitlyn, a bull seeing red. She ran past me in her direction.

I grabbed her waist, pulling her back. “Whoa, no, you are not about to do something stupid.”

Kaitlyn stopped in her tracks, looking back and forth between us.

Gina was a ball of rage, every nasty thing she could say in Spanish came from her painted mouth. I lifted her, kicking and screaming, putting distance and myself between them.

“I may not understand everythin’ she’s sayin’, but I understand ‘bitch’ and the body language. If she tries to lay a finger on me, she’s gonna regret it.”

I looked over my shoulder as Kaitlyn removed the dangling earrings she wore and placed them in my sister’s bewildered hands.

This was a side of her I’d never seen before. Though she stood her ground, it was apparent she’d take Gina on if necessary.

When Gina realized Kaitlyn would not stoop to her level, she stopped struggling and demanded to be free. She cursed me out once again in Spanish, then stormed off, heading back inside. Adrianna shook her head at me in disappointment, before going after her.

Fernando looked around and realized he was the only one left. He pointed to the building. “I’m just going to go…”

I nodded, waiting for him to get some distance before turning my attention back to my date.

Kaitlyn stared at me, her expression unreadable.

“I’m sorry, let me explain.” I walked towards her, but stopped when she held up a hand.

“It’s time to go.” She went inside and left me standing alone.

I ran a hand over my face.

Tonight went from one full of promise to a nightmare in less than sixty seconds.

Antonio stared out the windshield, his key in hand. “Kaity, please, let me explain.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the irritation away. Seeing a woman with feelings for him ignited a flame of jealousy I didn’t know existed.

It wasn’t because he talked to another woman. After the way he held me while we danced made it obvious he wanted me.

God knows I wanted him.

The problem was another woman wanted him, too. The pain in her eyes and voice made it obvious the two of them shared history. The question was whether or not they were truly done.

“Let me guess, she’s the woman you blew off the night you put Chloe’s crib together.” I gave him the side eye.

He looked me dead on. “Yes.”

“You gave her up to sit with a pregnant woman and watch birthin’ shows on TV?” This time my eyebrows rose.

The woman was gorgeous, making me envious of her raven black hair and hourglass figure. They shared the same heritage. What was it he saw in me and not her?

It was obvious they had had a sexual relationship. After the way he took his time pleasing me and we hadn’t had full blown sex, I could only imagine what the complete Antonio Rodriguez experience must be like. She must be desperate to be with him again.

My body tingled with the memory of Antonio’s mouth on my belly. So was I.

“Yes.” His gaze didn’t waver.

“What is wrong with you?”

His eyes narrowed. “Nothing’s wrong with me. I prefer your company.”

“Okay, then what’s wrong with her?” Maybe there was some hidden deformity underneath the short, red, skin-tight number hugging her hourglass figure.

Her outfit put my short, strapless, yellow, baby doll number to shame.

“We grew apart, Kaity.”

“Apparently she didn’t get the memo,” I mumbled.

Antonio sighed. “She told me to call her when I was ready to get back together.” He shrugged. “I didn’t want to.”

“You didn’t tell her that either.” Now it made sense.

His gaze stayed on me. “I got caught up by a woman who took my breath away.”

I forced myself to meet his stare and ignore the way his words made me feel. “Do you want her?”

“No.” Antonio didn’t hesitate with his response.

I tilted my head, studied the light red spot on the side of his face, then touched it lightly. “She’s really pissed at you. Why didn’t you call?”

“Because I can’t give her what she wants. You see what kind of temper she has. It wasn’t worth the time.”

I pulled my hand away. “What does she want?”

Antonio seized my hand, ran his thumb over my wrist. “It’s not important.” He held our linked fingers up for me to see. “What we have between us is good. I’m happy with my decision.”

I shivered as his thumb slid softly over my wrist. “What exactly do we have, Antonio?”

He kissed the back of my hand. “How about we spend the rest of the evening finding out?”

****

“Wait, don’t get out yet.”

Antonio rounded the front of his truck, opened my door, and handed me his key ring. The moment my feet touched the running board, he swooped me into his arms.

“Whoa!” I laughed, clutching my shoes to my chest. One arm went around his neck. “What are you doin’?”

“Protecting your feet. You said they were still hurting. I don’t want you walking in bare feet across the parking lot.” He smiled. “Besides, what do you weigh, one hundred and twenty pounds?”

“Like I’m tellin’.”

He chuckled, nuzzled my neck. “I like the way you feel in my arms.”

I sighed; me too.

We made our way to his apartment. I realized this was going to be the first time I’d come here. He always seemed to be at my place.

Antonio turned so I could unlock the door. Once inside, he kicked the door shut, then put me down in the foyer. The only illumination came from what appeared to be light above the stove in the kitchen.

“Where’s the light─” My words were cut off by a kiss that melted me to the wall.

Antonio slid his arms around my waist and pulled my pelvis against his. “We don’t need light, Corazon,” He changed the angle of his head, exploring my mouth with a sense of urgency.

I succumbed to his touch, absorbing the heat of his kiss, and weight of his body pressing me against the wall.

His lips left mine and traveled to my throat. A moan escaped as I found the strength to dig my fingers into the thick waves of his jet black hair.

“Mmm…you smell good. I’ve wanted you out of this sexy dress all night.” To demonstrate, his hands slid low, raised the hem, and caressed my thighs.

“You think this dress is sexy?” I couldn’t help asking after seeing his ex in that flaming red number.

“Sí, estas muy sexy con ese vestido.” His lips went to my naked shoulder. “It leaves just enough for the imagination. Fantasizing makes discovery much more exciting.”

Cool air tickled my hips as he raised the dress higher, stopping at my waist.

“Hmm… what’s this?” He straightened, eyes on me, filled with lust. He gripped my butt with both hands and squeezed. “Is this a thong?” He slipped around to explore the front of my panties.

My head rested against the wall as I closed my eyes and gasped; the man had magic fingers. “It’s black lace. I hope you like it…”

The butterfly strokes ceased as he hooked his fingers into the top of my panties and slowly pulled them down. “I like...” His words were punctuated with a slide of his lips along my collar bone.

I braced myself against the wall as Antonio got down on his knees and freed me from the small square of fabric. Oh yeah, these were nothing like the panties he watched me fold at the laundromat.

That seemed like another lifetime...

“Turn around.” His command was nearly a growl.

I did, placing my hands on the wall. My breath caught as fingers, lips, and tongue traveled up the backs of my legs and disappeared beneath the bunched up hem of my dress.

Just when my body felt it would catch fire from his ministrations, he stood.

“Let’s take this off.” He slid the zipper down and my dress became a yellow mass on the floor. The only article of clothing left was my black strapless bra.

Antonio ran his fingers over my shoulders and down the middle of my back. “Where’s the clasp?”

“In the front,” I managed, trying not to sound desperate for an orgasm.

He drew me against his fully clothed body. His fingers slipped to the front of my bra. It fell apart like liquid into his hands.

Antonio fondled my sensitive nipples and nipped my ear with his teeth. “We’re going to make love right here. When I come home, I’m going to think about you…” He kissed my shoulder and turned me to face him. His eyes were heavy with passion. “Every time I leave, I’m going to remember what it feels like to be deep inside you…” He pulled my hands to the buttons of his shirt. “Undress me.”

My fingers trembled. Where did this nervousness come from? Technically this wasn’t our first time. He had seen
me naked, kissed, touched, and tasted every part of me. Yet Antonio made me feel as if it was the first time. His words, his expression, his eyes… his actions were of a man wanting more than sex and willing to give without question.

Where did that leave me besides being horny?

The time spent in my bed should have me wanting nothing but another round of sexual satisfaction. Instead, I was scared because of my feelings for him, there was no doubt we both cared for one another and wanted this.