CHAPTER EIGHT

SANTIAGO

My hands roam down Noel’s body as if it were my first time examining the female form. I’m fascinated and burning with need. This is more than sex. I like Noel. More than I probably should, considering our situation and the short time I’ve known her, but I can’t get enough of her. It’s a need inside of me that pounds with ferocity. In a short amount of time, I’ve learned more about her than some people I’ve known for years.

“Santiago…” The way she emphasizes the second A in my name with need makes me smile.

“Yes, cariño?” I look up at her from between her legs, where I gave her an orgasm. “You taste delectable.”

She whimpers, and my hands continue to roam her body, claiming each centimeter as I kiss my way up to her mouth. She doesn’t hesitate to take my lips with hers.

Noel breaks the kiss and looks at me. “What’s carino?”

I chuckle and kiss her nose. “Cariño,” I pronounce it correctly. “It means dear or love.”

“I like that.” Her body is languid on my bed; her arms lazily draped across my shoulders.

“Good, but you’re going to like this better.” I kiss her, thrusting my hard dick against her pussy.

Noel moans and widens her legs. Taking her invitation, I reach for a condom and align myself with her center.

I stare into her eyes, brushing her hair away as I inch into her. Her lips part before she bites her bottom lip, which I skim with my thumb, removing it from her teeth before dropping a kiss on her mouth.

“You’re beautiful.” I finish thrusting into her, getting lost in her body, the sounds she makes, and her touch.

We kiss with desperation as our bodies move in equal need. Hands touch and possess each other. I feel like I can’t get close enough to her.

When her pussy squeezes around me, I jolt. The sensations are overwhelming. It’s more than my body feeling the pleasure. My heart beats fast and hard from exertion and emotions. This woman has found a way into it, claiming a part of my heart when I wasn’t even looking. When I had promised myself, I was done with love.

She got me believing in it again so unexpectedly, but I could see a life with her. Ignoring the logistics and reality that follow that thought, I focus on her and on the present moment.

After taking my time with Noel and showering, we lay out on my terrace, sharing a lounge chair. Her head rests on my chest as we stare up at the sky.

“Sky is cielo, and stars are estrellas,” she says, going over her Spanish.

“Yeah,” I smile down at her.

“How do you say library?”

“Biblioteca,” I respond.

We’ve been like this for an hour, and it might be my favorite moment spent with her.

“I’m hungry is tengo hambre. I’m thirsty: tengo sed.” I tell her different phrases.

Her fingers twirl around mine as if she were trying to tie them together. I tighten my hold on her, tugging her closer, so she’s basically on top of me.

“What about travel?” Her eyes glance up at me.

“Viajar.”

She kisses my chest and scoots up. “No quiero viajar…next week. Her nose scrunches up as she finishes off her sentence in English, but I’m stuck on what she said.

My eyes soften, and I hug her to me, kissing the top of her head.

“I don’t want you to leave next week either,” I tell her. “Stay. Extend your trip. You could work from anywhere.” I stare into her eyes, pleading with my own.

“You’ll have to leave for Madrid for pre-season.”

“Then come with me.”

“Can we survive outside of this beautiful bubble?” She waves her hand around us.

“I want to believe we can.” I hold her chin, keeping her gaze on mine. “A few more weeks.”

“What happens after? I leave, and it’ll hurt more because we’ll be more attached.” I want to wipe the frown from her face.

“You’re my destino,” I tell her. My heart pounds at the truth in my words. I need her to see it.

“Let’s enjoy the moment.” She kisses my lips and slides back down, resting her head on my chest again. Silence encircles us like a cage, trapping us to face the world we don’t want to look at yet.