Her heart was pounding. Every nerve in her body was standing straight up and buzzing. She felt electrified from the inside out. She couldn’t sit still. Couldn’t stand without moving, pacing. Could hardly breathe through the knot of anticipation lodged in her throat.
Back at the beach bar, when she’d been sitting on Rico’s lap, she’d felt the hard proof of his desire for her. And even there, surrounded by strangers, she’d wanted nothing more than to turn in the chair, straddle him and— Oh boy, she was in very serious trouble.
Feeling this way for your husband was one thing. Wanting the man who only wanted to use you then discard you was simply a road map to misery. God, she remembered so clearly what it was like to be loved by Rico King. To be the reason his eyes warmed when she walked into a room. To know that he was right there if she stretched out her hand. To have his arms come around her in the middle of the night, making her feel safe and treasured.
And she knew what it was like to lose all of it.
Now she would have to lose it again, and Teresa didn’t know if she’d be able to bear it this time. Because she’d already lived through years of emptiness without him, so this time when she left, she knew exactly the kind of cold, dark place that would be waiting for her. She’d do anything to avoid that wide chasm of utter loneliness again. But there was just no way out.
Her careening thoughts skidded to a halt when she actually felt Rico’s presence. Slowly she turned to see him standing in the open doorway, watching her. The wind caught his hair and tossed it across his forehead. His blue eyes were fixed on her and his mouth was tight, as if he wished he were anywhere but here. And yet…there was heat and tension spiraling between them, binding them together with invisible tendrils of desire and need.
Whatever else also lay between them—lies, betrayal, anger—this was just as real. This living, breathing passion that was so strong it was pushing her to take the first steps toward him even now. It didn’t matter why he wanted her. Only that he did. She couldn’t take another moment without feeling his hands on her. She’d wanted for so long and now she could have.
He held his ground, half in the bedroom, half out, and waited for her to come closer. Every step was a test in courage. Every breath a victory. She couldn’t look away from his eyes and when she saw a flash of heat dazzling there, she crossed the last of the space separating them in a dash.
Teresa threw herself at him and he caught her, encircling her in his arms, holding her tightly to him so that she could feel every ridge and plane of his body. She felt the thick hardness of him pressed against her middle and instantly she went hot and wet.
Here, her mind whispered. Here was where she belonged. Where she always wanted to be.
What sounded like a growl erupted from his throat as he threaded his fingers through her hair, tipped her head back and held her for his kiss. She met him eagerly, hungrily. Their mouths fused, tongues twisting and dancing in a frenzy of need. Breathing was short and labored. Hands slid up and down burning bodies and when he suddenly turned and walked her backward toward the bed, she kept pace.
Teresa fell back onto the mattress and kept her arms around Rico’s neck, as if a part of her was afraid that he would stop now. Take that one step away and return to that careful, cold distance between them just to torture her. But she wouldn’t let him. Not this time.
Every night she slept beside him and every morning she woke up entangled with him, feeling the heat of his body pouring into hers just before he bolted from the bed and left her there. Alone.
She was done.
Let the revenge begin.