Summer Dreams (18 page)

Rising to his feet, he slipped from his jeans and boxer shorts. Naked, he towered over her, his perfect male body outlined against the firelight, like some mythical god of old, a young Adonis. His wide shoulders blocked out the ceiling, his muscled chest flexed, revealing the hard-planes of his abdomen, and his slender waist tapered into powerful thighs, dusted with dark brown hair.

He was even more beautiful than she'd imagined. Completely masculine, yet beautiful at the same time. Her gaze strayed lower and riveted on that most masculine part of him, the physical evidence of his desire. His penis, hard and straight as an arrow, rose proudly from the nest of hair at the apex of his loins. One, lone drop of moisture glistened on its cleft head, caught in jewel-like splendor by the light of the flames.

Tentatively, she stretched her hand out. He lowered himself beside her. Her hand closed around him, marveling at the unique feel---his penis was both hard and soft at the same time. She ran her hand up and down the length, tenderly exploring. And his cock was hot, too, like heated metal covered with velvet. She cherished the alive, pulsing feel of his penis in her hands.

He pulled away and reached inside of his jeans, drawing forth a packet. Turning his back to her, he prepared himself, fitting a condom over his bursting manhood. Bemused with passion, she was glad that he cared enough to be responsible for both of them.

Then he lowered himself beside her and brushed kisses across her face and mouth, whispering sweet nonsense words in her ear. His lips and tongue strayed lower, and he pulled her breast into his mouth, lapping at the nipple until it rose to a strutted point. His fingertips traced lazy circles down her abdomen and pressed on her woman's mound. Parting her gently, he discovered the nub of her clitoris and rolled it between his fingers, rubbing and stroking her with exquisite care. 

She strained against his hand, her hips arched, silently pleading for her release. Like a master, he expertly stoked the fire within her. The flame of desire simmered along her veins, building and spreading, flaring higher and higher, sizzling, burning white hot. Leaping from nerve to muscle, his touch enflamed her senses, driving all rational thought from her mind, devouring her in a crucible of passion so hot, so intense, she felt as if she would die from the pleasure-pain.

Shuddering violently, she found the blue-hot core of the fire and took it within herself, burning into a crisp, floating away on a wisp of smoke.

At the apex of her climax, he entered her. His penis filled her, stretching her to bursting, sharing her pleasure, absorbing the after-shocks of her release. The hard velvet of him plunged into her, retreating and joining, feverishly rocking against her. Urging him on, she lifted her hips and wrapped her legs around him, seating him deeply within her.

She opened herself completely and drew him closer, uniting them as one being, one flesh. He reached a shuddering climax, too, calling out her name and shouting his love for her. 

They lay together for several moments, surrounded by the musky but unmistakable scent of spent sex, holding each other close, savoring their nearness and the pleasure they had given each other.

***

The fire had burned down to glowing embers. They were both dressed again, after a fashion. Esteban had his jeans pulled on, and Natalia had slipped into the old flannel shirt.  Gazing into each other's eyes, they sat, Indian fashion, on the floor and sipped their brandy, content to be together, not feeling the need to talk.

Their joining had been as inevitable as summer storms over the mountains. As Pura had told her, foreordained, written in the stars. Growing up together, they knew each other better than anyone else. Sharing their bodies, as two adults, had merely been an extension of that closeness.

But was it mere physical attraction that made her melt inside when she saw him? Mere physical attraction that made the blood sing in her veins? Mere physical attraction that made her blissfully happy, just being near him?

Or was it something more?

Esteban had declared his love for her tonight. Had said he'd loved her always. Did she love him in return or was this infatuation? A long suppressed desire given free rein?

Natalia wished she could be as sure as he was and know that she truly loved him. She'd already made one mistake. She'd vowed not to make another. She didn't want to run to what seemed like a safe harbor, only to be sadly mistaken. She was through with doing things just for security.

Knowing he loved her gave her a certain sense of security. But it wasn't enough. She must return his love, unconditionally, and be prepared to spend the rest of her life with him. But he hadn't spoken of commitment, just his love.

It was Esteban who broke the long silence, speaking again of love. "
Te amo
, Natalia. I've dreamed of this night." He lifted her hand to his lips and turned it over, feathering kisses across her palm. "But my dreams can't compete with the reality. I've never been happier in my life." He gazed at her and asked, "How about you? No regrets?"

Smiling seductively, she traced his lips with her fingertips. Unable to declare her love, she replied, "No regrets, Esteban. In fact, I want to spend the night with you."

"Don't you have class in the morning? What will Pura say?"

"I'll cut my class, and I'll call my grandmother in the morning. She'll understand."

Shaking his head, he said, "I'm not so sure she will. Your
abuela
has some old-fashioned ideas. I don't want her coming after me with a shotgun."

She laughed but admitted, "You're probably right. I guess I better not. But it was nice to fantasize for a minute, wasn't it?"

"You really mean that? You would have stayed with me if it wasn't for Pura?" A note of wonder had crept into his voice. "Are you sure?"

"
Sí
," she replied simply and brushed his mouth with hers.

And she was sure.

She'd never been so sure about anything in her life. She wanted to be with him all the time, every waking and sleeping hour. If she couldn't find the right words to say, if her fears still controlled her, she wanted to banish them. And the only way she knew to overcome her fears was to be with him.

If she couldn't tell him she loved him, she could show him, over and over again. Until she could speak her heart, she would live what was buried there, proving her love without words.

Chapter Nine

Pura cracked the screen door a few inches. "Natalia's not home, Hector, she's at class."

Hector edged his foot into the small opening. He had to get inside and convince Pura to let him build the road across her property. He'd hocked the engagement ring and wired the cash to the Pérez brothers to cover the interest.

But he wasn't off the hook yet. He needed to repay the principal before more interest accumulated and Paulo's patience wore thin. The only way to do that was to put the development deal together and take his share as the general partner, off the top.

Pura stared pointedly at his foot. "Is there something else I can do for you, Hector?"

"I didn't come to see Natalia. I came to talk to you about the road."

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I've decided against it. I don't want a bunch of tourists roaring through my farm. There are enough resorts already."

He wasn't surprised. After what had happened at the Mariposa, he'd expected resistance.  After all, he hadn't exactly endeared himself to Natalia by attacking her new boyfriend. And he knew how close Natalia and her grandmother were.

He shouldn't have let his emotions run away with him, shouldn't have taken a swing at Esteban. It had been foolish and undignified on his part.

He wasn't even jealous of Esteban. Esteban was too far beneath him for that. What he didn't like was Esteban acting as if they were equal. He'd wanted to put him in his place. But he hadn't considered the price he would pay for alienating Natalia and her grandmother.

"Mrs. Alberty, I'm sorry about the other night. I wish you would extend my apologies to Natalia when she returns home."

"You can wish away, young man," she replied. "But you need to do your own apologizing."

Sighing, he said, "Surely, you won't let a little fist fight color your thinking, Mrs. Alberty.  Natalia and I have broken off our engagement, and I admit I lost my head. You know, jealousy can be a green-eyed monster," he lied, hoping to appeal to her romantic side.

"If you're so jealous, why take your ring back?"

He didn’t know what to say to that, so he cleared his throat. "Could I just come inside for a moment?" Lifting his briefcase, he said, "I brought the plans for the road and a written offer for your right-of-way. Won't you please look at them?"

Hesitating, her eyes bore into him. He had the funniest feeling she could see straight through him, and he didn't like it.

Pushing open the screen door, she gave in. "Bring your papers inside. If it makes you feel better, I'll look at them. But I doubt they will change my mind."

He followed her into the dining room, and she gestured toward the table. "You can spread your papers there."

Opening the briefcase, he pulled out the engineer's map, a sketching of the road and the right-of-way, and spread it on the table. Then he placed an envelope holding the documents outlining the cash offer beside the map.

Pura settled her glasses on her nose and quickly scanned the map. Taking up the envelope, she pulled out the papers and flipped through them with equal dispatch. 

"I don't want a road cutting across my farm, young man," she declared. She set the papers back on the table and folded her arms across her chest. "You'll need to find another route to your development. Not across my farm. I don't want or need your money, either."

She inclined her head toward the door. "And since this isn't a social call, I won't detain you with refreshments."

"Won't you at least---"

"I've chores to do," she said. She rose and crossed to the screen door and held it open.

With no other choice, he walked to the door. "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Alberty."

"Don't you want to take your papers with you?"

"No, they're for you. You keep them. You never know, but you might change your mind."

She shook her head and ushered him through the door without a word of farewell.

He climbed behind the wheel of the Beamer and turned on the engine. Pura might have won the battle, but not the war. He couldn't afford to lose this development deal. He'd researched other routes and found they would cost double. That would be a hard sell with his investors. The road must cross the Alberty farm.

And there was more than one way to skin a cat.

***

The water gushed and poured over their naked bodies, slicking back their hair and cooling their over-heated skin. With Esteban unable to work or play ball until his wrist healed, they'd taken to whiling away their days on the mountain, playing in the waterfall, hiking in the forest, and fishing. One time, Esteban had even borrowed horses from his father's farm, and they'd gone riding.

But most of all ... they made love.

Esteban grabbed for her and pulled her close. His slick mouth fused with hers, nipping and teasing, running his tongue over her wet lips, licking at the moisture there. His lips trailed down her neck, and he lapped at the water with his tongue, circling and taunting, the rough nap of his tongue tickling her. His hands, both hands, because his wrist was almost healed, found her breasts and smoothed the moisture over them.

Shuddering in ecstasy, she pressed herself closer, savoring the exquisite sensation, begging for more. His penis rose, hot and hard, pushing against her abdomen with its own insistent urgency.

Curling her hands around his biceps, she murmured, "You're insatiable. We just made love---"

"I can't get enough of you," he said, his voice thick with passion.

Twisting away from him, she leapt into the deep, emerald pool, calling back, "If you want me, you'll have to catch me."

Swimming with strong, even strokes, she crossed the wide pool in a matter of seconds.  Looking back, she saw that he was pursuing her. But for once, she had the advantage.  With his wrist only half-healed, his usually powerful strokes were hampered.

Shivering in anticipation of when he caught her, she laughed and taunted, circling and crossing the pool, managing to keep a few strokes ahead. They cavorted like young seals, their bodies naked and slick. She'd stop for a second only to splash water in his face and swim away. Several times, he dove deep and managed to catch hold of her ankle. But with a hard kick, she wriggled free.

When she felt as if her lungs would burst from the exertion, she finally pulled herself from the water and lounged, purposely enticing him, on a large, flat rock. The heated surface warmed her chilled flesh. She combed through her wet hair with her fingers while watching what Esteban would do.

He wasn't taking any chances. He might be hindered by a sprained wrist, but she was no match for his stamina. Evidently expecting her to dive into the water again, he circled the rock cautiously, making smaller and smaller arcs, closing in on her like a cat on a mouse.

Trembling with excitement, she shifted on the rock, giving him a better view of her breasts. Seemingly oblivious to his approach, she kept combing her hair, playing the delicious waiting game.

He rose from the water, his chiseled-hard body reminding her of a young Neptune rising from the sea. His manhood stood at attention, hard and pulsing with a life of its own.

At the last possible moment, she squealed and tried to roll away. But he caught and lifted her in his strong arms. Carrying her to the bank, he gently laid her down among the fragrant moss without a word. Sinking to his knees, he straddled her, pinning her to the earth, not giving her a chance to get away.

Every nerve in her body quivered while she waited for him to prepare himself. He hadn't touched her except to carry her there. But there was no need because their cat-and-mouse game had already excited her, sending waves of scintillating anticipation pulsing through her body.