Tango (Sultry Nights 2)

By Melanie Munton

Tango (n): dance characterized by drama, attitude, and passion with a provocative rhythm

Protecting her family is the most important thing in the world to Sophie Fuentes. Which is why she’s not going to let LA drug boss Max Ramirez run roughshod over her. He wants to hold her captive in his penthouse suite and use her for his own pleasure like some sort of play thing? Fine. She doesn’t have much of a choice.

But he should be careful what he wishes for.

Undercover DEA agent Max Romano is quickly losing control of the situation with Sophie. He needs the information she has on her cartel boss in order to lock him up for good. But his undeniable lust for her is getting in the way of his job. Not to mention the guilt he feels for lying to her about everything.

He told himself to stay away from her. Told himself to focus on the job.
But now it’s too late.
Because he’s already in too deep.

And the more he uncovers about Sophie's boss and her own past, the more Max realizes just how much danger he's already put her in.

**This is a SHORT story series. Each volume is a short story serial and is an average of 30,000 words. This is NOT a full-length novel series.**

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melanie Munton
• Release date: Jul 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463666944

Melanie Munton

Traveler. Reader. Beach-goer. St. Louis Cardinals fan. Pasta-obsessed. North Carolina resident. Sarcastic. Bit of a nerd.Author of the Cruz Brothers, Possession and Politics, and Timid Souls series, Melanie loves all things romance, comedies and suspense in particular because it's boring to only stick to one sub-genre! From light-hearted comedies to sexy thrillers, she likes to mix it up, but loves her some strong alpha males and sassy heroines.Go visit Melanie's website and sign up for her newsletter to stay updated on release dates, teasers, and other details for all of her projects!http://www.melaniemunton.com/You can also follow Melanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads.

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Tango

Sultry Nights

Volume Two

Melanie Munton

Copyright © 2019 Melanie Munton

Tango

Sultry Nights, Volume Two

Copyright © 2019 Melanie Munton

All rights reserved

Cover Design by L.J. Anderson at Mayhem Cover Creations

www.mayhemcovercreations.com

eBook Edition

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This is a work of fiction and any similarities to persons, living or dead, or places, actual events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters and names are products of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Bonus Scene

More books by Melanie Munton

Acknowledgments

About the Author

More books by Melanie Munton:

Sultry Nights:

Salsa (Sultry Nights Volume 1)

Standalone romance:

King of the Court

The Unforgettable Kind

Slow Seductions series:

Casual Affair (Slow Seductions #1)

Sweet Attraction (Slow Seductions #2)

Cruz Brothers series:

Playing for Kinley (Cruz Brothers #1)

The Art of Sage (Cruz Brothers #2)

Always Mickie (Cruz Brothers #3)

Timid Souls novellas:

Stubborn Hearts

Unexpected Love

Possession and Politics Trilogy:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Chapter 1

Sophie

I wonder how people throughout history felt when they were walking to the gallows.

To their death.

Did their legs tremble in terror? Did their hearts beat wildly with fear? Did their souls fill with so much dread that they almost welcomed death by the time it came?

Because if so, I know exactly how they felt.

I’m not sure if I’m walking toward my own death as I approach Max Ramirez. But regardless, my choices have suddenly been stripped from me. And there aren’t enough curse words in English nor Spanish to vocalize how truly pissed off I am right now.

The words of Diego Suarez run on a loop inside my head.

He wants you to…spend time with him while he’s in town. I made a deal with him, and now you’re his for the next two weeks.

… You will do exactly what he says. He’ll tell me if you don’t, and then I’ll take it out on your sister.

The sounds of Calor’s sprawling nightlife thumping around me aren’t enough to drown out the loud ringing in my ears. My fingers curl into the material of my dress in an effort to prevent myself from clawing Max’s eyes out when I reach him.

He knew this was going to happen.

When I spoke to him earlier at the bar, he’d had a look on his face I couldn’t explain at the time. It wasn’t just that he seemed to know a secret I didn’t. It was as if he already knew he had me under his control and was reveling in it.

He stands at the bar now, watching me stomp across the floor, one hand casually placed in his pants pocket, the other stroking the rim of his glass tumbler. His eyes grow more and more heated with every step I take in his direction.

Well, I’ve got news for him.

The rules just changed.

Before, a small part of me hoped he wasn’t some two-bit criminal like Diego Suarez. The last bit of optimism inside me thought that maybe he could be one of those Robin Hood-type figures who technically broke the law but had a very noble reason for doing so. I desperately wanted that possibility to be reality because then it might justify my attraction toward him. It would at least lessen the guilt I feel over what we did in the hallway last night. How we devoured each other’s mouths. How he touched me in places that still feel warm from his hands.

But that’s all a fantasy.

Which means my fascination with him is, too. A fascination that is now dead and buried.

He’s just like all the others, thinking they can have whatever they want, whenever and however they want it.

And I’m the it in this little scenario.

He went to Diego, demanding to have me as his own for the next two weeks. As if I were on loan or something. And because Diego threatened to kill my mamá and sister, Manny, if I don’t do exactly what Max says, I’m going to him willingly. In a way. I’m not kicking and screaming, and that’s the best Max is going to get.

His mouth spreads into a satisfied smile when I stop a foot away from him. I guess what they say about Latinas having fiery tempers is true.

I don’t like games.

His eyebrow quirks. Neither do I. Well, his eyes trail down my body, there are some exceptions, I suppose. In the right context, games can be rather fun.

The sexual innuendo only rankles my nerves even more. "I don’t consider playing with my life to be fun at all, Mr. Ramirez."

His smile falters slightly. I’d prefer it if you call me Max.

I’d prefer not being dragged around like a dog on a leash, I respond snidely. Yet here we are.

I gather Suarez explained the situation to you.

I stubbornly cross my arms over my chest. If he thought he was going to get a meek, complacent companion for the next two weeks, he’s about to be sorely disappointed.

"What he said was that I have to do exactly what you say. I wasn’t allowed to refuse."

His smile finally drops, his expression hardening. "Do you want to refuse?"

I snort incredulously. I admit I got a little carried away last night, but I don’t remember ever giving you the impression that I’d be okay with being your whore.

He sucks in a sharp breath, his nostrils flaring, and takes a step toward me. "Never call yourself my whore again, Sophie."

My breath catches in my throat at the ferocity in his features. It reminds me of the way he handled the scumbag who groped me last night by the bathrooms.

It scares me but… I can’t deny my body’s reaction.

I seriously need help. This guy wants to use me as his fucking sex slave. And I’m not one of those girls who thinks degradation and humiliation are sexy.

"Despite what Suarez says, you do have a choice here."

My mouth twitches. He has no flipping clue. That’s what you think.

His jaw clenches and he looks away, seeming to rein in his frustration before looking back at me. Look, I’m not a monster. You might think so, but I’m not in the habit of forcing women to do anything. I never have to. So, if you come with me, I want it understood that I’m not holding you against your will. Whatever transpired between you and Suarez is none of my business. You can leave whenever you want, and I won’t say a word to anyone.

I narrow my eyes. What are you saying?

He brings his face closer to mine. Our lips are only inches apart. "If you come with me, that’s your choice. However long you’re with me is your choice. I’m not going to tie you up or make you do anything you don’t want to do."

The thought of him tying me up causes my pulse to quicken. And not in a bad way.

Then why did you go and ask him for me at all? Why not come to me? His words and actions contradict themselves.

Because due to some recent business decisions, I wanted to show respect by going to him directly. Again, his sneer belies his words. It’s as if he doesn’t like dealing with Diego at all. I just want to explore this a little more, Sophie. I wasn’t thinking much beyond that.

I take a wary step back. This meaning…?

He grabs me by the waist and hauls me back to him, close enough that I feel his hardness right against the juncture of my thighs. "This. Us. Whatever the hell happened last night. Tell me you aren’t the least bit curious. Tell me you didn’t want it as badly as I did in that hallway. And if acting like a selfish bastard in order to spend more time with you is the only way I can get more of this, then so be it."

I should be offended by his brazen words.

But that isn’t the case. I’m turned on, no doubt. More than anything, I appreciate his honesty. I’m not the type to mince words and I prefer other people do the same. That doesn’t change the fact that I’m still appalled by