She was stunning.
Dressed in a flowing turquoise green dress that reached just past her knees and dipped low in the back to show the edge of her tattoo, she was the stuff of every man’s fantasy. Her hair had been slicked back into a long ponytail that reached her waist and swung with her every movement, making him wish he could grab her by it and drag her back to their room, but he would fuck her raw if he wasn’t careful so he was attempting to give her a body a rest by keeping her in public. The dress fastened behind her neck in a halter top and it pleased him to see evidence of his bites on her shoulders and neck, marks that clearly indicated she belonged to him. Those marks had gotten a couple double takes by people, but every time someone noticed Rya would give a mysterious, but very pleased smile and touch the one of them with a lingering caress. Most often the person would look away with a blush, but a couple times he’d caught women looking from him to Rya with open envy.
Taking a sip from her fruity martini, Rya gave him a small smile. “You keep looking at me like that and I won’t be able to finish my drink.”
“Do not tease, zaika moya. I do not have much restraint with you.”
She grinned and took another sip before setting the glass down. “Where did you learn how to speak English?”
He toyed with his glass of excellent bourbon, trying to figure out how much he should tell her. “My…family is friends, maybe not friends but deals with many other families. My father’s first wife came from Dubini family. Her sister was brilliant woman who spoke many languages. She was entrusted with teaching the children of other families English. That is how I met some of my best friends. We were in her class together. English is the language of business and my father was very dedicated to teaching my brother and myself everything we need to survive and make our family thrive.”
“Wow. I can understand that. My step-dad got me into MMA when I was a teenager and started getting these.” She gestured to her large breasts and his hands twitched with the need to fill his palms with her abundant bounty. “I thought he was crazy at the time, but my friend Tawny took them with me and it’s helped keep guys in their place.”
“He is smart man. You are beautiful woman, stunning. Why do you not have a man in your life?”
She sighed and her right foot began to swing. As short as she was the stools were too tall for her feet to reach the ground. “I don’t know. My past relationships haven’t worked out for a variety of reasons. I mean it’s not like I haven’t been looking, I like to date and all of that. I just haven’t found anyone like you. Shit, never mind. Forget I said that. Damn vodka gets me every time.”
A scarlet flush spread from her chest all the way to her ears and he leaned forward, stroking the soft skin of her exposed back. “No, I not forget. I keep this memory forever, little Rya.”
When she looked over at him her gorgeous golden eyes were filled with tears. “This sucks.”
He cupped her chin. “Tell me what to do in order to bring the light back to your eyes. Ask me and I will make it happen.”
Her soft laugh was a reward like no other. “Really? Can you dance?”
“Of course. Though I am not traditionally well-educated, I have learned how to do many, many things well in my life.”
She slipped away from him with a smile and tugged him after her to where an old fashioned jukebox sat against the far adobe wall. Rya selected a song, then took him through the archway to the patio area. A single fountain lit from within gurgled in the yard and beautiful tiles made up the floor. A desert garden enclosed the patio and he took a moment to admire the moonlit cliffs in the distance. He’d never been anywhere like the American southwest, and he found the raw beauty of the place made his spirit quiet. Usually he only felt this kind of peace out in the middle of the forest during winter, after a snowfall.
A smooth, mellow kind of music he’d never heard before came through the speakers and he absently noted people in the restaurant watching them with a smile. “What is this song?”
“It’s I Only Have Eyes for You by the Flamingos. This was my grandparents’ favorite.” Rya watched him with a small smile. “Listen to the words.”
He bowed to her and she giggled, then curtsied. With a well-practiced move he swung her into his arms, letting her twirl through the air with a laugh that made him feel like the luckiest man in the world, her small heels kicking. She was so petite, but such a sweet armful, and she was fun to dance with. Without even trying she followed him gracefully through the moves, almost like she knew where he was going to step before he did. The energy between them, this perfect connection, was like nothing he’d ever experienced, and he found himself drowning in the amber depths of her eyes.