Forbidden Relationships - Chapter 2

Seventy-two hours of tantalizing freedom.

But she had no intention of letting him escape that easily.

She was already damp just from the thought of it.

In the kitchen, she began to prepare dinner with theatrical precision. Each movement was calculated so that when he finally emerged from his sanctuary, he would find her bent over the counter, her back's curve exposed, the dress riding dangerously high on her thighs with each slight movement.

The sound of the office door opening sent her heart racing.

"Need any help?"

His voice was lower than usual. Marina didn't immediately turn around, finishing slicing the tomato with slow fingers before replying.

"You can uncork the wine," she finally said, turning around with the glass extended.

Ricardo halted in the middle of the kitchen, his dark eyes raking over her body in a glance too swift to be casual. Marina caught the exact moment he swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down under the bronzed skin of his neck.

The air between them grew tense as he moved to pick up the bottle. Marina made a point of moving simultaneously, their bodies almost brushing in the confined kitchen. His warmth was nearly tangible, and she could have sworn she caught a whiff of his aftershave mingled with something more primal, more masculine.

"Apologies," she murmured without any intention of stepping back.

Ricardo uncorked the bottle with movements that were too precise, as if concentrating on the mechanical act could divert his attention from the woman standing just inches away. Marina observed as the muscles in his forearms tightened with each movement, the veins standing out under his skin when he pulled out the cork with a soft pop.

"Are you nervous?" The question escaped her lips in a sigh as she leaned over to retrieve the glasses, her chest brushing against his arm.

He nearly fumbled with the bottle.

"Why would I be?"

Marina simply smiled, her fingers lightly tracing over his hand as she picked up the glass. The spark of the touch caused them both to pause for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

Dinner was an exquisite torment. Marina positioned herself in such a way that the candlelight perfectly highlighted her décolletage, taking pleasure in watching as Ricardo's gaze darted to anywhere but her - the ceiling, his plate, the window - anywhere but where it clearly longed to rest.

"More wine?" He proposed after a prolonged silence, his voice huskier than she'd ever heard before.

Marina slowly extended the glass, and that's when it happened. Their fingers brushed against each other on the dewy crystal. It was a touch that could have been accidental, but the way neither of them pulled back suggested otherwise.

Marina could feel the heat of his skin through the glass, and she watched as his eyes deepened in color as the seconds ticked away. Four. Five.

The air between them became electric, making it almost difficult to breathe.

It was Ricardo who eventually broke away, wiping his mouth with a napkin as if trying to erase the sensation he had just experienced. Marina smirked behind her glass, taking an exaggeratedly slow sip and licking her lips.

"It's good," she murmured, maintaining eye contact as she licked an imaginary drop from the corner of her mouth.

He choked on his wine, and Marina felt a twisted sense of victory as she noticed his grip on the silverware turn white.

She fell directly into Ricardo's lap with a quiet sigh. His warm body instantly enveloped hers, his large hands instinctively finding her waist to steady her. Marina felt his fingers dig into the soft flesh above her hips, so hot they almost seared through the thin fabric.

Then she shifted. It was just a minor adjustment, sitting a little further back, but it was enough to leave no doubt. Something hard and undeniable pressed against her buttocks through the layers of fabric.

Ricardo held his breath, his fingers involuntarily tightening on her skin, as if torn between pushing her away or drawing her even closer.

Marina pivoted in his lap until she was facing him, her thighs now straddling his hips. She could feel every inch of him against her damp center, the heat between her legs intensifying with each passing second.

"Ricardo..." she murmured, her lips a breath away from his.

For a moment that felt like an eternity, she thought he would finally surrender. His eyes were as dark as the night, pupils dilated until they nearly engulfed the iris, his lips slightly parted as if they could already savor her. Marina leaned in even closer, feeling his warm breath mingling with the scent of wine.

"Let's... let's clear the table," he said, his voice uncharacteristically deep, his gaze fixed on anything but her.

Marina remained motionless for a moment, feeling her heartbeat pulsate between her legs, the dampness that now surely marked her underwear. When he turned to collect the dishes, she couldn't resist - she slid her hand down his back, grasping at the bulge in his pants, feeling his firmness twitch under her touch.

Ricardo emitted a guttural groan, tossing the plates into the sink with a clatter that echoed throughout the kitchen.

"Marina, for heaven's sake..."

But she was already darting away, her light laughter permeating the house as she sprinted for the hallway. At the threshold of her room, she paused for a moment, seeing Ricardo still rooted in the kitchen, his hands now gripping the counter as if he needed the support to keep from collapsing, his shoulders rising and falling with each labored breath.

Marina slowly shut the door, leaving just a sliver open - an invitation, a promise. Tomorrow was another day. And she already had the perfect plan to make him capitulate.