Chapter – 18

The wedding was perfect in every sense. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks when Enrique kissed Chiara. The setting sun cast a golden shadow on the couple, and the photographers utilized the moment to capture the moments that would be remembered forever.

Warm lips graced my bare shoulder, and I turned to meet Orlando’s stormy gaze. We moved aside, and I stayed by his side as he greeted the guests, introducing me to them.

The function was a blur, and my cheeks ached with all the smiling I’d been doing that evening. We shared our first dance together, and I couldn’t help but admire how delectable he looked in his white suit.

“That was such a wonderful moment.” Mike’s mom burst into tears.

“It was.” Orlando smiled down at his aunt.

“I’m so happy for you both.” She hugged me. “Ari and Rosa are my darlings. Take good care of her, Orlando. I don’t want to see any more tears in her eyes.”

Orlando’s face tightened. Mr. Frisby was right on time for the rescue. He pulled his wife away with a wink in our direction, and I felt Orlando’s posture relaxing beside me.

 “Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay.”

When it was time for the dance, he led me to the dance floor. Our feet moved in rhythm, our bodies gently swaying. My skin tingled where he touched it. The memory of our previous dance surfaced, filling me with anticipation.

“Lavender suits you better,” he murmured while his hand moved to rest above the curve of my ass.

“Mhmm. The other day, you said purple looked good on me.”

“Do you want me to tell you the truth?”

“Yes.”

“I think none of the colors do you justice,” he claimed, making my head spin. Excitement bubbled in me. “You looked much better without any colors on you.” His voice lowered, whispering the last part.

My body was instantly on fire, and my cheeks heated up. “You shouldn’t talk like that.”

“You wanted the truth, and I’m being honest.”

When he twirled me, I took a much-needed breath before being pressed to his side again. “Your honesty should wait until we get somewhere private.”

Orlando chuckled, and his lips brushed my forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

My gaze followed him, and I nodded when I saw Dean McAllister waving at him. I looked around and found my friends on the dance floor. Rosie waved at me, beckoning me over.

“You’re glowing tonight, Rosie.”

“No. Chiara is the star tonight.”

“Can’t disagree, but you look really great tonight,” Jeff piped in.

I winked at Rosie, who laughed. “So, did you guys set a date?”

“No. I’m heading with Jeff to meet his parents.”

“That’s great.”

“Hey, Ari, how about a dance?” Mike twirled me around, making me giggle.

“Sure.”

It was once again like the old days. My evening was filled with laughter and fun. Weddings united families. Chiara’s family members took their turns dancing with the bride and groom. Uncle Rick stepped out of his comfort zone and was dancing with Chiara’s aunt while Grandpapa Cortez chatted with Chiara’s grandma. Mike’s parents waved at me and continued with their dance. They were always so much in love with each other.

When it was time to call it a night, I found myself alone in the room. Enrique had carried Chiara to their honeymoon suite in bridal style while the others whisked away their own partners. I didn’t see Orlando for the rest of the night, and it shouldn’t bother me. But I found myself mulling over it and couldn’t help but think that he ditched me. No. He wouldn’t do that.

With nothing to do and my brain wide awake, I tried to busy myself with removing my makeup and taking my time. When it didn’t keep me occupied, I stepped into the shower stall and yanked the faucet. The hot water soothed my muscles, but there was no controlling my raging nerves. I didn’t want to be alone tonight.

 By the time my feet hit the soft carpeted floor of my room, my mind was made up. I’m finding him. Pulling on a short dress that flared at the hip, I dabbed on some cologne before locking the door to my room. I’m a woman on a mission.

Bare feet made no noise as I approached his room. My heart suddenly lurched, hand pausing in mid-air. What if he had company? I was quick to curb that thought. Relax. The knock was hesitant, and I almost turned, aborting the mission.

The door swung open, and he stood there, still wet from the shower. The towel hung dangerously low on his hips. Crap. Desire pooled in my belly and traveled south. Laughter wanted to bubble out. He wasn’t expecting me. Did he really think he could ditch me like that?

“Hey, can’t sleep?”

“I want you tonight, Orlando.” I paused, allowing him to register my words, and stopped him before he objected or said anything to change my mind. “I expect nothing from this. I just want to forget. Everyone has company tonight, and I feel alone. I don’t want to feel alone. Please, I want to know how it would feel to be wanted. I want to know…Orlando. Show me how it would feel to be loved by a man.”

“Ari—”

I kissed him, pushing him away from the door, and kicked it closed. He staggered, taking me with him, when his back hit the mattress. Lust and desire were my driving force. I felt him open up to my seeking tongue, his hands running along my back.

A throaty moan left his lips when my hips ground against him. His cock was hard and pressed against my thigh. My hand slid between our bodies, stroking him, and he shuddered. I continued to kiss his neck, nipping his skin as his member twitched in my hand.

When he switched positions, I was caged between his broad frame and the mattress. His weight pressed down, allowing me to feel all the solid, muscular lines of his body. Our chests heaved, and our breathing grew heavy as his hands worked on removing my dress.

I wore no bra. When his eyes zeroed in on my hardened peaks, they were tingling with anticipation. And he didn’t make me wait for long. His head dipped, taking one aching nipple in his mouth while his thumb and forefinger rolled the other. My back arched when his tongue rolled around my areola, sucking the tip.

Jolts of pleasure shot through me, igniting my primal need. I dug my fingers into his shoulder as my toes curled. My loud moan drifted around us. My eyes rolled to the back of my head as his attention turned to the other breast. Strong fingers slid beneath my underwear, exploring my womanhood. By the time his lips traveled past my navel, I was writhing with pleasure and anticipation.

“Orlando…”

His eyes locked with mine briefly, and the corners of his lips lifted. His strong hands tugged at my panties, removing them. Long, tan fingers traced my skin from hip to ankles. I was bare in front of him. It should’ve made me feel vulnerable, but it didn’t. My heart raced, and my belly clenched.

Orlando’s eyes darkened with lust as he licked his lips. A shudder ran through my body as his intention became clear. His fingers parted my folds, revealing more to his eyes. “You’re so beautiful and wet.” His voice was hoarse with need. One finger pressed on my clit, making my whole body jerk. My head tipped back against the mattress, and my teeth involuntarily bit my lower lip to control the moan.

One hand reached out, releasing my lip from my teeth. “I want to hear it.” He pushed my legs apart with his broad shoulders and used them to keep my thighs open while his eyes drank in my sex. Then, without warning, he buried his face in my apex.

My hips jerked at the first brush of his tongue. The next few minutes had me writhing under his ruthless mouth, begging for mercy, and when he relented, a scream tore past my lips. The pleasure rendered me speechless, and I was panting hard when he climbed between my legs. A distant sound of something being torn reached my ears.

Body and mind, giddy with pleasure, I peered at him through half-hooded eyes when his erection pressed against my entrance. Then he sank deep, stretching my sex. I could feel every inch of him filling me as I gasped for breath. It felt so good. When he began to move, I was lost. My legs wrapped around his waist, holding him closer as his hands locked mine over my head. His lips claimed mine again, swallowing my moans.

Suddenly, Orlando pulled out of me and dashed into the bathroom, leaving my emotions in disarray. I blinked in confusion, wondering if I’d done something wrong. It didn’t last long, maybe less than a minute, but I could tell he came too soon and was upset. Maybe he just went to discard the condom?

Disappointment washed over me. Why was I upset? This was just sex, wasn’t it? I sat straight, trying to collect my jumbled thoughts. My body still pulsed with need. The remnants of pleasure still clung to my soft spot and made the skin tingle when I moved. Should I go in there? Why did he run away like that? Did I do something I wasn’t supposed to do?

When he didn’t come out, I decided to check on him. I shrugged on his shirt before going in. I could see him through the crack of the door. Orlando stood clutching the bathroom counter, his knuckles white with the pressure. The expression on his face was something I wasn’t expecting. Pure disgust and anger coated his features, and it made me wonder if I was the reason for his disgust.

I watched him grab a bottle of pills from one of the cabinets. What was that for? Before I had time to comprehend, he opened the cap in a swift move, popping a pill into his hand.

“What are you doing?”

Orlando whirled around as shock replaced his anger. “Why are you here?” His voice rang with a tinge of anger, and I let it slide.

“What are those tablets for?”

“That’s none of your business,” he spat.

The fury in his voice caught me off guard. While I wanted to recoil and run away, I saw something else flash in his eyes. Hurt. I had to remind myself that he was like a wounded animal. Sometimes, you just had to risk a bite to tend to their injuries.

“It is in every sense my business since you left me hanging.” I saw him flinch at the mention of his abrupt departure, and I grabbed the bottle, reading the prescription before he could stop me.

“Give it to me!” He snatched the bottle. “Get out.”

I stood unmoving; the information I just read kept swirling in my mind as I locked my gaze on his. Sex stamina pills? Someone hurt his male ego, he told me. Did that have something to do with this? Did he believe he wasn’t good enough?

“You don’t need this pill.”

“Don’t test my patience, Arianna. Did you think you can ask me questions just because we’re fooling around and fucked once?”

It stung. But the hurt in his eyes overrode the anger on his face. “No,” I whispered. “But it matters when you resort to this pill to fuck me.”

Orlando looked taken aback, but he was still brooding. It was as if he was expecting me to say something worse. “Leave, Arianna.” His voice softened with hurt and defeat; his back turned to me.

“I won’t.”

“I’ll leave, then.”

I caught him before he could leave. “It doesn’t matter how long you can fuck me. What matters is how you make me feel during and after.”

His posture stiffened, but he didn’t turn. It felt as if I understood the reason behind his hurt.

“You made me feel special and wanted,” I continued. “It felt good to be wanted for once. Trust me, you don’t need that.” Tears blurred my vision.

“Arianna…”

“I’m not her, Orlando.” My tears broke free, trickling down my chin. “I’m not her.”

His demeanor changed, and he scooped me in his arms, his lips covering mine. My lungs expanded, breathing him in. I tasted his tears on his lips, and at that moment, something shifted within me.

What I felt for him wasn’t just a leftover teenage crush. No, this was intense. More intense than the feelings I had for Brian. Thinking his name had no effect on me at that moment, which clarified everything.

My eyes rolled into my skull when Orlando plunged in without warning, claiming my body, this time without a barrier. He hoisted me onto the counter. With each thrust, his kiss deepened, consuming not just my body but my soul. I knew I had fallen for this man more deeply than I ever had for Brian.

I took what he offered and gave him everything I had. There wasn’t a loser in this game. Orlando grunted, his hand going between us to my center of need. I threw my head back as his lips trailed down to my neck, my ass perched on the bathroom counter. He lowered his head, catching one of my nipples in his mouth, and every logical thought left my mind.