Chapter 39
Max
My body is drenched, rivulets finding paths down every curve and hollow.
My dad was up at the crack of dawn to train me.
His training methods were slightly different.
More effective and old school. He exclaimed, “We don’t need any fancy equipment.
” For a man who has done no physical activity in years, he’s pretty fit and has plenty of stamina.
He runs with me, surprising me that he could keep up.
All week it’s been brutal. My mornings begin with cardio, I head to work, and I finish the day in the ring.
With Dad’s training, I become mentally and physically strong.
He doesn’t just teach punches as Carlos did.
My dad has been building me from the ground up—shaping me.
He went through every strategy. Fundamental techniques, fight strategy like setting traps and combinations, adjusting tactics mid-fight, just to name a few, then went on to conditioning and fitness.
Then on to sparring. Although I knew all of this, it was a refresher, and I wanted him to feel needed.
“That’s it for today, son,” Dad shouts, tossing me a towel. “Big day today.” He grins.
He’s been completely giddy, like a chick over me proposing to Sol tonight.
While I’m nervous as fuck, I know she will say yes, but damn, she literally brings me to my knees with nervousness.
I rehearsed every word in my head several times.
It keeps bringing me back to young Sol asking me to pinky promise to marry her.
She once had me pinky promise to find her if we got sent to different homes. Life has a way of coming full circle.
“The decorator should be here in another hour.”
He wipes the sweat from his face. “You get yourself ready while I instruct them in the backyard.”
Midweek, I called Lana and asked her if she could help me out by picking up Sol and doing girl shit with her. They went for a massage and got their nails done while I get things in order here.
“Thanks, Pops.”
Leo has been doing laps in the pool all morning.
He’s been ready to go back to his place.
He and my dad fight over the TV, but in the end, Leo ends up watching novelas with him.
We haven’t heard from Carlos, but Nessa tried to call me twice.
I didn’t answer her. Maybe they got the hint, but honestly, I don’t think they did.
Johnny said he’s been out with Daniel again at his strip club, drinking. Deep down, I know something is brewing.
Three hours later, I pick up Sol from Lana’s house. She walks out relaxed and full of energy. And with…black hair. My mouth unhinges. I’ve never seen her with any other hair color than her natural cinnamon. She looks good…real good.
“Do you like it?” She flops her hair to the side. “I wanted to be scandalous.”
The thread of soft raven hair is silk through my fingers. “You look stunning with black hair.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I step back and drink her in. “You’re perfect.” I run my fingers through her hair again. “I love the new style of layers and the color. It makes your hair look fuller.”
“It does, doesn’t it? At first, I was afraid it wouldn’t look good on me, but I figured I should risk it. I love how it came out. Now we’re twinnin’, you and me.”
I laugh, guiding her to the car, the palm of my hand on the small of her back. Then wave a thank-you to Lana, standing in the doorway. “We are,” I answer as I start the car and grip the steering wheel with my nervous hands.
“You look handsome. Where are we going?”
“Home. I made us dinner.”
“How sweet. I like it when you cook. I know you don’t believe it, but your food is good.”
My cooking is okay, but nothing compared to hers. She really gets down in the kitchen when she experiments with baked goods. She fills the vast island with it. My dad has always had a sweet tooth. More than anything, he enjoys it.
When we arrive at the house, my dad and Leo are already gone. Leo’s helping my dad clean up his house. Packing what he wants to keep and making a pile of what he wants to donate. I’m excited about this step for him. It’s a big one. He’s always wanted to keep my mom’s decor up.
“Smells good.” She sniffs the air. She really does look cute with her growing bump and her black hair.
At the last minute, I decided to cook instead of eating out.
I prepared the sides ahead of time, and I cheated on some by having my dad make the rice.
My Spanish rice comes out mushy. All I have left to cook is the carne asada.
This is one of her favorite meals, and mine too.
“Do you need help?” she offers.
“No, I just need to grill the meat, and that’s it.”
I’m starting to wish I’d chosen a restaurant instead—planning this at home is more complicated than I anticipated.
With the blinds drawn and every window shuttered, at least she won’t catch a glimpse of the backyard gazebo I’ve transformed with flowers and lights.
Although I still have to cook the meat outside, and hopefully, she doesn’t come out.
“Nah, you sit and look pretty, baby.” I pull out a stool for her from under the island.
“Sit.” I hand her a sports magazine. “This right here is a really great column. It’s a story of a boxer.
” It’s a lie. I haven’t read it, but that should keep her busy.
“It looks interesting. Let me know if you need anything.”
Taking the meat from the marinating bag, I lay it out on the hot griddle. Mierda. I shake my hand where I burned my finger.
“Are you okay?” she shouts.
“I’m fine, just burned myself.”
She calls out from the kitchen, “Should I bring the first aid kit, honey?” The slight tremor in her voice betrays her worry.
A smile draws on my face. “No, mi vida, I’m fine. It’s small,” I shout back.
Twenty minutes later, we are eating. Thank god, I didn’t burn it or dry it.
“Max,” she says, wrapping her meat in a tortilla.
“I want to go visit my birth parents’ grave.
Maybe tomorrow or next week, when you have time.
I don’t want to go alone. Is it strange I’m nervous?
” She has been delaying this. I think I know why—she feels guilty.
What happened to her was beyond her control.
“It’s not strange at all. You have only recollected your memories months ago. You’re still healing. You might not be meeting them in person, but you will be where they rest, and it’s okay to feel nervous.”
“I…I just don’t know what to say when I get there.” She frowns cutely at her plate like she’s thinking hard.
“You don’t have to say anything. You just being there might be enough. I’m sure the words will come out on their own when you’re ready. Now, if I remember correctly, a young, sassy girl once said I can talk to my mom from anywhere. I didn’t need to be at her graveside to do so.”
Her frown turns into a smile. “What a smart friend you had.” Sol takes a spoonful of rice. “I remember that memory. You sat on your side of the bed, and I sat on mine. We both chatted about our day with our parents.” She smiles. “Thank you, Max, for reminding me.”
My palms begin to sweat, knowing what I’m about to do next.
I dump the dirty dishes in the sink. Maybe I should brush my teeth and shower first. Sweat gathers around my nape.
Grabbing a paper towel, I pat the perspiration around it.
I’m not good at being romantic. I can only hope this day is one she will always remember.
Warm hands wrap around my middle, her head resting on my back.
When she does it, it feels like a baby koala to my broad back.
“Te amo, Max.” Her voice is a soft caress to my soul.
Pivoting to face her, I gently rasp my knuckles on her pink cheeks. Looking down at her. “I love you, amor, more than words can say.” I lace her hands in mine, without knowing she always knows how to calm the storm within me. “I want to show you something.”
The women who decorated had arranged hundreds of white roses into a perfect heart shape, and in the center, they’d spelled out, “Will you marry me?” with tea lights nestled in crystal holders.
A winding path of scattered rose petals and twinkling fairy lights guides us toward the gazebo, which stands like a silhouette against the indigo twilight.
My thumb finds the remote in my pocket. When I press the button, hundreds of tiny bulbs illuminate at once, casting a golden glow across her face.
She gasps, her eyes widening with recognition, and her hands quiver in mine.
We’ve both dreamed of this moment for too long.
“Max.” Her voice trembles.
I lead her to the center and pull out the ring.
I drop to one knee. My heart stutters with excitement and nervousness.
I look up to the woman who knew nothing of me and still gave me a chance when I didn’t have a penny to my name.
She never looked down on me but loved me anyway.
She took my side over the world, gave me hope and a dream, and taught me what love truly means.
“Sol, I’ve waited for this moment so damn long.” I clear my throat. “You’ve weathered every storm with me. I promised you a rainbow would follow. I intend to protect you and the kids and give you that rainbow of happiness. I love you so much. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes swim with tears. I take the ring out of the red velvet box. Her chin trembles. She nods. “Yes…yes, Max.” Sol’s voice quivers. “I want to be together forever.”
“So do I.”
She wraps her arms around me, and we almost tumble over. Our lips collide. A blazing kiss that would light this world on fire. Breathlessly, we pull apart. I slip the ring on her finger. She stares at it. “Your mom’s ring,” she whispers.
“I took it in to get fitted for your size and add more gems to customize it more for you, then added your initial on the inside next to my mom’s.”
She extends her hand out, gazing at it with dreamy eyes. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for trusting me with your mom’s ring. What an honor.” A tear slides down her cheek, and I catch it with my thumb. “I love it. The news article said you were in a jewelry store. Is this what you were doing?”
My lips lift into a smirk. “I’ve been planning this way too long. You think I was ever going to let you go?”
“I was actually upset you didn’t come breaking down the door.”
Note to self, never listen to anyone and do what I feel is right. I thought Carlos was giving all the right advice to give her space. She didn’t need space—she needed me to be there for her.
“I knew you liked my crazy ways.” My voice rumbles in the crook of her neck.
“Life would be boring if I didn’t have you unhinged.” She smiles. “The gazebo looks beautiful. Did you decorate it? Scratch that. Who did you have decorate?”
I hoist her up gently, and she wraps her legs around me.
“I hired someone.”
“They did a beautiful job.”
“Uh-huh” is all I say, carrying her inside, my lips on her delicate neck.
Gingerly, I set her on the kitchen island and spread her legs. “Max, what are you doing? What if they come back?” She knew Leo and my dad were going to clean up the house.
“They are staying at my dad’s until tomorrow morning. We have the house to ourselves.”
A mischievous glint sparkles in her eyes. “What do you have planned?”
What do I have planned? So many unholy things. If she could read my mind, it might excite her or terrify her. It certainly isn’t a game of strip chess we’re playing. I don’t have the patience for that right now.
The delicate threads of black lace snap between my fingers.
Her lips part, her lungs freeze mid-inhale, then release as her head tips back and her body is bowed.
Lifting her dress up, I slide her to the edge of the island.
My tongue slides between her soft thighs.
My fingers move to her wet entrance. She doesn’t hold back on her moans.
They fill the space between us. My dick pulses with the need to fuck every hole in her in all areas of the house.
But first, I want to taste every part of her and watch her unfold at my touch.
“Max.” Her breath is heavy and desperate for more. My fingers thrust into her faster, and my tongue works around her throbbing area. So willingly, she strips her clothes off her full breasts, ready for me to suckle. “More…Max.”
“Anything for you, amor.” She has me at the mercy of her feet.
She always has. Only her. Always her. “Lie down and put your legs on my shoulder.” She does with no hesitation, never mouthy when I’m between her legs, and only sounds of pleasure escape those full lips.
Lifting her ass, I dive into her entrance and do the most unholy things with my tongue, and my finger slips into her other hole, which has her body shaking.
“Let’s get married tonight.” My voice is dark and deadly serious.
I want to make her my wife tonight. I’ll find a priest and have him come to the house and marry us. Now.
“W-what?” she cries out in pure bliss. My mouth devours her pulsing needs.
Lifting my head, I peer at her. “I don’t want to wait a week, days, or months, not even a year, to have you as my wife. We can have a big wedding after. Right now, what I want is to make you my wife—to give you my name.”
She reaches for a fistful of my hair and shoves me back down to her bare pussy. Needy little thing. “Yes,” she screams.
I’m not sure if the yes is for “yeah, let’s get married tonight,” or “yes, I’m about to fucking cum.”
“After we’re done, let’s get married, but right now I want you naked and inside me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Clothes fly all around us. Damn, she’s so beautiful.
The kitchen island hits me at mid-thigh, and when she perches on its edge, her eyes dance with flames of lust as she realizes we’re perfectly aligned.
Her legs part, inviting me closer, and I step between them without a word, the marble edge cool against my skin as we meet.
The thick head of my cock lodges inside her.
Deep, steady strokes shake her as I lift her off the counter and thrust into her.
She’s so damn tight. I grit my teeth. I guide us to the wall, where I lean my back.
The softness of her lips trails along my Adam’s apple, her hot breath seeping into my bloodstream.
“Are you okay…your stomach? Do you want me to lay you down?”
“I’m fine.”
My mouth closes over her nipple, then my fingers work the other. She says she’s fine, but it might be uncomfortable for her, so I sit on the chair beside us and have her straddle me. “Ride me, baby.”
My hands roam all over her body, and we ride the waves of ecstasy together.
Our breaths are labored, my head falls back, and her head falls to my chest. I lift her hand, and my thumb brushes against the ring.
Once we both come down from the high, I say, “Let’s get ready to make you my wife.”