Chapter 28
SARINA
That’s not how I wanted to tell Tomás about James. But it was only a matter of time before he would find out. Especially since my dad thought it wise to invite him to Harper’s wedding.
I can only imagine the slew of questions swarming around his head right now. Neither of us have said a word since we got into the car. Not that I’ve made that possible, with how loud the music is blaring from the speakers.
It isn’t until I drive through the ranch’s entrance that he takes the initiative to turn down the music, and his voice emerges in its place. “Pull over. We need to talk.”
“Can’t we talk inside?”
“We could, but I would rather have this conversation where no one else can hear us.”
Cryptic much? Goddamn. I pull over near the bushes that line the beginning of the two-mile-long driveway of Hemp Grove.
Assuming he wants to talk about James, I decide to go first, but as soon as my lips part, he leans forward, silencing me with a kiss.
But it doesn’t make the thoughts swarming my head lessen.
If anything, the longer our mouths remain intertwined, the more I want to apologize for my father’s behavior this evening, and to reassure him that James is a piece of shit and he has nothing to worry about.
So much to say, with no opportunity to. Not when he’s undoing my seat belt and bringing me onto his lap on the passenger side with ease.
I break the seal of our kiss long enough to speak. “I thought you wanted to talk.”
“I do. But I think you deserve to relax first. That was…”
“Something. I know. Listen, I’m sorry my dad is…”
“Exactly what you warned me he would be,” he says, his lips skimming my neck. “And like I told you, I’m not worried about that. What I am worried about is you. Tell me, carino, do you like how it makes you feel when I call you that?”
“I do.”
A grin smears across his face. “That’s right. We said I do. Making us partners.”
I swallow thickly, becoming lost to the fantasy. Delusional as it is.
“Do you like being my partner?”
I nod my head.
“Good. I like being yours. Same way I like being the one you think about while you hump your pillow, getting yourself off.”
My heart skips a beat, trying to piece together how he knew that. Not that I’m left wondering for long.
Slowly, he fills me in as his lips travel to my neck. Through soft kisses, his breath filters to my skin, igniting my entire body in flames rich with desire.
“I should have hung up when you accidentally called me.”
“Why didn’t you?” I pant.
“I couldn’t. Not when you sounded so pretty moaning my name.”
A pulse emerges in my center, quickly graduating to a throb I can’t ignore. My hand travels between my legs, and the moment I make contact, his eyes become glued to my fingers swirling at the sensitive nerves begging for relief.
There’s no ignoring the mischief in his eyes while he reclines the passenger seat, angling himself so one leg is pressed against the door and the other is centered for me to straddle, as he hikes up my dress.
“What are you doing?” I repeat.
His hands clasp together behind his head.
Getting ready to enjoy my front-row seat.”
“To?”
“You relaxing. I’ve picked up on your cues long enough to figure out that you feel most comfortable speaking with your body. So, if you won’t tell me how you’re feeling, can you at least show me that you’re okay.”
I sigh. “If it makes you feel any better, he meant nothing to me. Our arrangement was all my father’s doing.”
“Ssh. It’s okay. You don’t need to explain yourself.” His hands holster themselves onto my hips, and I slowly begin to roll them. “No panties?”
I shake my head no, causing him to bite his lip.
“That’s my girl,” he praises.
“What do you want me to do?”
He grabs my hips, pressing me down onto his thigh. “I want you to feel comfortable enough with me to make your problems mine. For as long as I’m allowed to play the role of your husband, you’re my wife. That means I’ll do anything you need me to.”
My hips roll. “Anything?”
Desire coats his eyes. “Anything.”
My heart is doing somersaults in my chest. The adrenaline his words are causing in my system, the heat from his body, is too much. Yet I never want this feeling to end.
Picking up the pace, I grind on his thigh, unable to ignore how his body is reacting to mine, and how hard he is becoming beneath his pants.
“That’s it. Just like that. Use me,” he breathes. “I’m at your disposal, mi esposa.”
His words are enough to have me unravel right here and now. But it’s the way he’s looking at me, like I’m a queen he’s not worthy of, that is tugging at my heart strings. He’s such a good man. Such a …
“I can tell you’re close. Don’t be shy. Ride my leg until you come. I want you dripping all over me. Mark me as yours.”
“But you’re wearing pants.”
“So?”
“I get really wet when…” My own whimpering interrupts me as his hands knead and possess my hips.
“I know how wet you get. Who cares. Make a mess on me. Whatever you do, don’t stop. Keep going,” he encourages.
“Your pants will get ruined.”
“So ruin them. Ride me like you did your pillow, right fucking now.”
I’ve never felt this way before. Admired. Truly admired. Not just for my looks but for who I am. Good, bad, and all the weirdness in between. Protected.
Pride soars through me with every pass my hips make, grinding on him until I’m a thrashing, withering mess, leaking onto his leg.
I collapse onto his chest and the way his arms wrap around me feels like an embrace that I’ve waited my entire life for.
Feeling satisfied from my orgasm, I don’t feel the need to work myself up to another, but I still use the opportunity to grind on him, since he likes it so much. A few more passes and I feel more warmth —wet warmth— emerge from his lap.
I glance down.
A noticeable wet spot stares back at me, centered on his groin. “We don’t need to talk about that.”
“Mr. Ramos, did you just come in your pants because I’m on your lap.”
“You call me that again and you’ll make it happen again.”
I throw myself at him, dramatically collapsing. “Oh my god, that’s so fucking hot.”
“Seriously?” He sounds surprised.
“Umm, yeah, to have that much power over a man that he will literally come in his pants from how badly he’s turned on. Fucking. Hot.”
“I don’t get it. But you’re welcome? I guess? I mean, the second you started grinding your pussy on me, I knew I was a goner.”
I kiss him and press my head against his forehead. “Yours,” I correct him. “My pussy. It’s yours.”
Satisfaction blossoms on his face. He brings his hand to my chest, laying his palm flat against my heart that’s beating a mile a minute. “What about this?” he asks, full of hope.
I don’t answer him. There’s no missing the disappointment in his voice, followed by a silent What did we do this for then? plea that weighs heavily on my chest.
There are a dozen ways I can answer that.
Because you made me feel happy for the first time in a long time.
Because you made me feel safe for the first time…ever.
Because you allow me to live in the moment.
Because I wanted to.
A tap at the driver’s side door steals both of our attention. It’s my brother, Liam, “You both good?” he asks through the fogged windows.
“Yeah,” I shout. “Now go fuck off so I can get dressed.”
“Ew, I’m not looking. See you both back up at the house.”
I slink back to the driver’s seat.
“Fuck, he probably wants to kick my ass now,” Tomás says with a guilty innocence that only adds to his charm.
“Please. He caught us post fooling around and we’re married,” I remind him playfully.
“Even if we weren’t, he should know that I’m a grown woman with needs.
It is what it is. He’s not going to act all crazed for that.
So calm down. Not everyone gets all pissed off and ‘Get off my sister’ like you,” I say, half joking, but it’s enough to lighten the mood and put him at ease.
“Guess this was karma for me walking in on Lo and Tino.” He shudders at the memory as I laugh.
“Guess so, lucky for you, my brother didn’t act like you did.”
Tomás lets out a sigh. “Yeah, I got Tino good.”
“From what I heard, you have a mean left hook.”
“Yeah, I do.” He throws his hands up shrugging. “Never forgot my fighting days.”
Tomás clears his throat, his demeanor turning serious. “We have time, you know.”
“For?”
He reaches for my hand, kissing the top of it before placing it over my heart and making what’s supposed to be pretend suddenly feel very real.