Free Dalir's Salvation by Nina Crespo

do? Follow me?”
    “Don’t flatter yourself.”
    Ari pinned him with a mutinous gaze as she stabbed her finger into his chest. “No. You stop flattering yourself by believing you have a say in anything involving me and my life.”
    Couples at a nearby table stared at Ari as if she’d grown horns out the top of her head.
    Dalir gripped her arms, subduing her movements. He leaned in. A seductive perfume warmed on her throat. Last night he’d discovered that scent on her breasts. The curves of her hips. In between her thighs. His mouth grew dry. “Stop fighting with me. You’re bringing attention to yourself.”
    Ari released a deep breath. She casually smoothed her hair from her forehead and strolled to the shadowed corner. “Once again, because of you, I look like I’m crazy. Why don’t you just lea—”
    He slammed his lips on top of hers, capturing the forthcoming command that would send him away. Ari’s moan incited need. Dalir deepened the kiss.
    She grew pliant in his arms, matching his urgency stroke for stroke, glide for glide.
    He had to stay far away from her. He wanted her tucked away safely at home. He needed her naked and under him in bed.
    Urgent chatter and laughter from the nearby table penetrated his haze of want.
    He broke from the kiss. As he grasped her hips, Dalir resisted cupping her ass. She looked positively sinful. Her dress hugged every damn curve. “There’s a bouncer coming in on the left. Don’t argue. Grab your purse. We’re leaving.”
    Ari darted a glance at the beefy guy wearing a dark polo bearing the club’s name and dark slacks. As big as Dalir was, if he were really there, the guy probably wouldn’t have approached her alone. She grabbed her clutch from the table.
    With his hand to her back, Dalir steered her toward the exit.
    Now after ten o’clock, The Song had entered into prime party time for the patrons. With a packed club, more urgent altercations demanded the bouncer’s immediate attention.
    Dalir followed her to a blue coupe in the parking lot.
    As she faced him, she shook her head. “What am I doing?”
    He didn’t require a peek into her mind to understand the source of Ari’s confusion. The magnetic pull of desire still buzzed between them. He had to find the strength to send her home and walk away. “I’ll tell you what you’re doing.” Dalir cupped her face. “You’re going home to get some rest.” He kissed her. One last chance to savor the warmth of her mouth and the feel of his hard cock nestled against her belly. He ended the kiss. Time to let her go. “Goodnight, Ari.”
    A stony expression sucked life from her gaze. “Oh, I get it. Exactly how does it work? You have a string of women all over the world that you just pop in and visit when the mood hits?”
    Dalir took her by the waist and hauled her against him. “There is no other woman.”
    She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “Then where do you go when you leave me?”
    He had nothing to give her. Not even the truth. “I can’t be the man you need, Ari.”
    “Who made you the authority on me and what I need? I never said I needed a man. You’re the one who rolled up on me, acted like you owned me, and almost got me kicked out of a club. After all of that, you don’t get to happily skip on your way without giving me an explanation.”
    “I don’t skip anywhere, and I never said I was happy about leaving you.”
    “Then don’t.” She cupped his erection through his jeans.
    “Ari, damn it. I’m trying to do the right thing.” Even as he said it, he couldn’t stop himself from pushing into her palm.
    “You and I are grownups. We’re allowed to have fun.”
    He could settle for having a strictly sexual relationship just to be close to her, but she deserved better. “Trust me. I’m not what you want.”
    “I’m not interested in a promise for the future.”
    Infinity help him, but when he touched her, she made him want to think about the future.
    She smiled as she tugged