The Dahlia Trilogy (The Gilded Flower Series) Read online

  She smiles coyly at him, pushing away any misgivings and doubts. “Well then, I think you have yourself a deal.”

  Chapter 31

  Gustavo stands and places his jacket over the back of the winged chair on the other side of the sofa. He walks over to refill their glasses, leans against the bar and regards Dahlia carefully. “You remember that weekend at the fazenda? No woman has pleased me the way you did then.”

  Dahlia gets up and slowly approaches Gustavo, fully assuming the role she’s performing tonight. There’s no reason to play the reluctant seduced woman anymore. There’s too much on the line, and the deal is done. Let’s see if Gustavo can deliver on his many promises.

  She reaches behind him for her glass on the bar. Dahlia takes a sip, pushing her tongue along the edge of the glass before setting it down.

  Gustavo clenches his teeth in an effort to restrain himself. He wants control. It’s up to me how much I let him have, Dahlia thinks to herself.

  She unbuttons his shirt slowly, not taking her eyes off him. Before she can finish, he grabs her wrists. “Let’s not be in such a hurry, angel.”

  “Even though I’m a sure thing?” Dahlia asks.

  “Especially because you are a sure thing. Although I’m never certain about anything when I’m with you.”

  “You still have feelings for . . . ,” Dahlia pauses, “Me?” She asks, trying to cover her near blunder.

  Gustavo regards her carefully and produces a remote control tucked away in a drawer in the bar. A few clicks and soft, sensual voices fill the large, sumptuous room. He pulls Dahlia in for a dance, holding her tightly around her waist so she can feel his arousal pressed against her stomach and the soft hairs on his chest tickle her neck. They dance to the slow rhythm of the music all the while moving toward the terrace, where they continue dancing until the end of the song.

  Hurricane lamps line the glass wall of the terrace, giving it a soft glow. Gustavo sits down on a reclining chaise and pats the seat next to him, inviting Dahlia to join him. “Come, angel.”

  She drops one knee, then the other, on the soft cushions, wondering why Gustavo seems to feel a need to draw out this whole seduction scene. But before she can utter a single word, she feels his hand glide up her thigh.

  “It’s so nice to lie here with you like this. We never had many opportunities to be together.” Gustavo leans over and kisses her neck, his warm, moist lips causing Dahlia’s breathing to turn ragged, the heat radiating off his body warming her. His hand continues its journey over her soft flesh until it reaches the seam where her sex meets her thigh. “For so long I’ve wanted this moment with you. To touch you this way again.”

  Dahlia moans and adjusts her leg, opening it ever-so-slightly for him, her sex beginning to fill with need.

  “Feel how much you want me, angel? I’m barely touching you,” Gustavo whispers as he trails kisses up and down her neck, finally stopping at her soft earlobe and biting down gently. “Everything I do affects you. Don’t forget that. Or this,” he says, finally moving his fingers over her very wet snatch.

  Dahlia’s jaw drops, surprised by how in one quick movement he can have her craving his touch more.

  “That’s right. Every bit of you is screaming for me,” he croons, moving his body so he’s hovering over her. “And I want to hear how much you want this.”

  Gustavo gently pulls the delicate strap of Dahlia’s dress off one shoulder until her left breast is exposed, her nipples hard from the chill of the fall air and lust coursing through her. He does the same with the other strap then leans back to admire her half-naked body. “Always so perfect, angel.”

  Dahlia stares back at him, desire and aversion at war in her. She has to give in and let desire take over, even if it means letting Gustavo win.

  Chapter 32

  Dahlia props herself up on her elbows and drags her tongue across her lower lip. “Maybe I don’t need to be your angel tonight, Gustavo.”

  He crashes his lips onto hers, every movement of his lips becoming rougher by the second, their tongues sucking and pulling each other with want and need. Dahlia’s dress is dragged down the length of her taut body and left in a pool of silk next to the chair. Gustavo tears off her soaked panties and shoves them into his pocket. “A souvenir for tonight,” he whispers, cupping her sex.

  Dahlia groans into his mouth as he teases and brushes his finger over her clit. As quickly as he starts, he stops. “Don’t stop,” she whispers.

  Silence fills the space between them as she notices him looking into her eyes. After a beat, he pushes his fingers inside of her, instantly giving her pleasure and making her want more.

  Gustavo kisses his way down Dahlia’s body, stopping to give attention to each breast, licking and sucking her rock hard nipples. He continues to play and suck the soft underside of her flesh while moving his fingers in and out of her, knowing just when to stop and have her wish for more.

  Dahlia begins to grind down on his fingers, trying to find relief from the torment of not being able to come. She arches her back, brings her hands to her breasts, and pulls on her nipples.

  Finally, he reaches her soaking wet pussy and flicks his tongue over her clit, nearly sending her over the edge. Dahlia grabs a hold of Gustavo’s thick hair to keep him over her cunt, wanting, no needing him to get her off.

  He replaces his fingers with his tongue, piercing and licking her as his thumb runs over her swollen clit. Dahlia’s hips begin to move in rhythm with his tongue as she feels herself climbing toward her orgasm. Gustavo spreads her thighs wider with his elbows and continues to work over her pussy.

  “I’m going to come,” she says, her breath ragged and uneven, her body about to clamp down on his tongue. Dahlia looks down and sees Gustavo watching her, pure longing in his eyes.

  Two more flicks and Dahlia squeezes her tits as her body trembles from her intense orgasm, her heart beating hard against her chest.

  Gustavo doesn’t stop his ministrations until Dahlia relaxes. Slowly, he kisses and runs his tongue over her until he reaches her mouth. He covers her lips with her need, stirring a frenzy in her. “We’re not even close to the end, angel.”

  Chapter 33

  Dahlia follows Gustavo into the suite. He turns to gaze at her long body, flushed and pink from his making her come.

  “I love seeing you naked with those heels,” he says, admiring her crystal sandals, and pulling her in for another kiss. “I want you wearing them when I fuck you.”

  Dahlia bites her lip. Once again, wanting more, if only it were with someone else.

  “But first things first,” Gustavo says. “Those lips.”

  Finishing his thought, Dahlia takes a few steps forward and quickly unbuckles his belt, his length straining against his pants. Before she can free him, he moves backward in the direction of his bedroom. “Let’s take a shower.”

  Dahlia raises an eyebrow and resists the urge to point out how carefully orchestrated this whole evening seems to be. He really does want to reenact his weekend in Brazil with Lily.

  By the time she reaches the large, marble bathroom, Gustavo is already standing under the hot stream of water, the bathroom filling with steam.

  Dahlia enters the shower, her now sensitive skin tingling under the water. The sight of a completely naked Gustavo sets her sex aflame. Stalker. Obsessive. Scoundrel. Despite all of his flaws, he’s truly one of the most beautifully chiseled and well-built men she’s ever seen, which admittedly is saying a lot. He notices her looking at him and smiles.

  “I’m glad to see your time with your Cuban boy hasn’t kept you from admiring a real man.”

  “No, of course it hasn’t. He’s made me appreciate what it means to be with someone of character who is kind, generous and most of all, respects me for who I am.”

  Gustavo’s smile fades. He reaches out and grabs Dahlia’s ass, pulling her under the showerhead with him. He fists her hair in his hands and pulls it back, kissing and nipping at her neck. “I have always
admired and respected you, angel. It’s why I can’t let you go.” He rests his forehead against Dahlia’s, pushing her against the hard marble wall.

  “But you will,” She reminds him. “After tonight.”

  Gustavo lets go of her hair and takes a step back. Dahlia glances down and notices he’s ready for her, seemingly more turned on the more she argues with him.

  Dahlia lowers herself in front of him, gripping his enormous cock with her hand. Gustavo hisses as she licks the underside of his shaft before taking him fully into her warm mouth. She strokes his dick as she runs her tongue over his head, tasting his own need.

  “Your mouth feels incredible. I always loved fucking it.” Gustavo groans, picking up the rhythm and moving himself in and out of Dahlia’s mouth.

  She increases her pace, touching herself as she goes—not wanting Gustavo to be the only one to get off.

  “That’s right, baby. Touch yourself. I love watching you make yourself come. Remember, Lily? Oh God!” He says, fully pistoning in and out of her, Dahlia barely able to catch her breath. “Just wait until I fuck you, angel.”

  Dahlia continues to work over his cock with her lips and tongue, feeling his throbbing vein underneath. It’s impossible not feel powerful in this moment, controlling Gustavo’s pleasure. She starts to feel her own orgasm building, her pussy slick with water and her own desire. Her mouth opens wider to accommodate his swollen cock, his need ready to spill into her.

  Gustavo holds Dahlia’s head firmly, sending himself deeper than he’s been. Dahlia nearly lets it escape from her mouth as her own orgasm takes over, her release vibrating throughout her core.

  “I’m going to come, baby,” he grunts. A few more strokes and flicks of the tongue and Dahlia takes Gustavo with her, his warm seed spilling into her mouth. He pulls out and continues to come on her chest until he’s fully spent.

  She leans back on her haunches and allows the water to wash over her. Gustavo leans against the shower wall and runs his hands through his wet hair.

  “That was better than I remember, angel,” he finally says.

  Dahlia stands up quietly and finishes her shower, feeling somewhat victorious that she could affect him. Perhaps leave him with a memory of her—Lily— that he won’t soon forget.

  “Before long, your memories will be all you have,” she says, exiting the shower.

  Chapter 34

  Gustavo comes up behind Dahlia as she’s towel drying her hair in front of the bathroom mirror. “I want to make more memories with you,” he says, pressing his dripping wet body against her back

  Dahlia stares back at their reflection, awed by how well their bodies fit together, and how well he commands his. She feels herself respond, reflexively leaning back into him as he moves his lips across her shoulders.

  He spins her around and lifts her up on the marble vanity, spreading her legs apart with his strong arms. Dahlia rests her back on the mirror and watches as Gustavo inserts two fingers inside her, stirring her arousal. She closes her eyes, relishing in the pleasure and realizing how much she’s missed being with someone so intimately. What she had with Rodrigo weeks ago wasn’t the same. It was fueled by anger, resentment, and most of all, their shared disappointment that they couldn’t move beyond any of it.

  Before him it was Kai. Whole, generous, and compassionate, he made her feel safe and appreciated. Yet, their intimacy was lacking a fire that she realizes now she craves. Shane had reignited it within her, and now Gustavo is stoking this fire, drawing it out of her one stroke at a time.

  Dahlia’s eyes fly open. She catches him regarding her with such intensity that she can’t look away. She doesn’t want to. Strangely, she wants to own this time with him as much as he does, despite his obsession with her sister. Dahlia wants to preserve the passion and force that she experiences at the hands of Gustavo.

  She smiles and runs her tongue over her top lip. “I’m ready for you.”

  Chapter 35

  Gustavo stands in front of the large, king-sized bed and gazes at Dahlia as she puts on her high heels. “You are incredibly beautiful,” he says admiringly. “And sexy.”

  Without saying a word, she pulls his lips to hers for a long, wet kiss. Dahlia’s mouth parts, and his tongue enters, teasing and licking her own. She raises one foot on the long leather bench at the foot of the bed, opening herself to him. They continue to kiss passionately as she takes hold of his hand and rests it on her now soaking cunt. “I think it’s time to finish what we started,” she murmurs.

  Gustavo grinds his hard cock into her, wetting it over her slick sex. She matches his movements, allowing him to play over her clit as she throws her head back. He buries his face into her breasts, grabbing and kneading one as he sucks on the other. Dahlia enjoys his warm saliva trail between her engorged breasts as he continues to bite and lick her.

  This is passion, she thinks. She pushes away the creeping doubt. Not now, Dahlia tells herself as she lowers her leg and pushes Gustavo on his back. With one finger, she motions for him to move to the head of the bed. Desire and need radiate from his body as he obeys, not once taking his eyes off her.

  She moves up over him on her hands and knees until her breasts are just inches above his face. Dahlia hisses as Gustavo takes her nipple into his mouth and sucks hard. Just as he’s about to take the other in his mouth, she crushes her lips against his and bites down on his lower lip, nearly drawing blood as she runs her tongue along his teeth. She leans back and moves her hands down his chest and over his tight abs until she reaches his waiting cock.

  Dahlia turns around and sucks him into her mouth, her cunt in Gustavo’s face. She wants him to taste her one last time before it’s all over. She glides her tongue over him two more times before she draws herself up and lowers herself over his dick.

  Gustavo groans. “You feel unbelievable.”

  But Dahlia can hardly hear him. With her eyes closed, she moves over him slowly, allowing him to fill her until her pussy is stretched completely. Turned around, she can imagine him to be whomever she wishes in this instant. Out of nowhere, it hits her who’d she’d rather be with in this moment, the recognition both startling but comforting. She closes her eyes again and finds a steady rhythm.

  Gustavo reaches around and squeezes her tits, pulling Dahlia out of her spell. He thrusts his hips up to meet her with every pulse. “My God, angel,” he says, slapping her ass. “I want all of you.”

  Dahlia picks up her pace, moving up and down, allowing his cock to fill her each time. Suddenly, she gets off of him and moves up to the head of the bed. Facing the wall, she rests her hands on the headboard and gets on her knees. Gustavo kneels behind her and pushes his rock hard cock into her. She arches her back from the force as he kisses down her neck until he reaches her mouth. Once there, his tongue meets hers, licking her as he drives himself deeper into her.

  Dahlia glides her wet pussy over Gustavo’s cock, both of them moaning as they move together. “See how well we fit?” He whispers into her ear. “So perfect.”

  He digs his fingers into her hips as she feels her release begin to build.

  “That’s right, baby. This is what I do to you.” Dahlia lets go of the headboard and pulls Gustavo’s head toward her, wanting the full weight of him against her. She continues to grind into his thrusts, feeling his engorged cock stretch her more. “Mmmm. I’m going to come,” she cries out, lacing her fingers with Gustavo’s while he pulls on her nipples.

  “Yes, angel. Come for me. You know you want this with me.” He says with great intensity.

  Dahlia finally lets go, her orgasm sending shockwaves throughout her body.

  “I don’t want to come yet,” Gustavo moans, pumping himself into her some more. At last, he stills, pouring his hot release into her. He holds Dahlia tight to his body as he continues to come. He pulls Dahlia onto the bed with him and holds her to his chest, their breathing jagged and uneven.

  Minutes pass, perhaps more. Dahlia rolls out of his embrace, ready to end
the charade and move on. As she gets out of bed, Gustavo takes her hand and kisses it. “Thank you,” he says sincerely. “I’d hoped you’d be as good as your sister.”

  Chapter 36

  Dahlia sucks in a breath and swallows back her rage, refusing to give anymore to Gustavo than she already has. “Pity. I can’t pay you the same compliment.”

  She turns on her heels and heads to the terrace to gather up her dress. She pulls it on and notices a tear on the side. It will have to do for the two-flight descent.

  Gustavo watches from his room, naked, looking smug and victorious.

  Dahlia picks up her purse off the side table, along with the evidence on Vi left out on the coffee table. “I’m sure you have copies. I expect everything to be delivered to my room by the morning,” she says firmly.

  “Don’t be that way, Dahlia,” Gustavo says smirking. “You couldn’t possibly think I’d believe you were Lily.”

  “What gave it away?”

  He shakes his head. “Other than the fact that I knew I couldn’t lure Lily to Paris, nothing at first. You and your sister are identical in pretty much every way.” Dahlia clenches her fist, despising the way he said that.

  Gustavo pretends not to notice and continues. “But unlike Lily, you take control. She never disappointed, always ready, willing and anxious to please.” He runs his hand over his stubble. Dahlia spots his cock twitch. “I needed to lead her. But you, on the other hand, know what you want.”

  “Very observant, Gustavo.”