Chapter 10
Diablo
I’m woken by the sound of pots and pans which is odd, I usually can’t hear anything in my room at the clubhouse.
I blink my eyes open; everything is so bright…
definitely not my room. A vivid flashback creeps into my thoughts of last night in the shower with Elizabeth, and a smile crosses my face when I remember that I’m at Miguel’s house.
Coming here was the best decision of my life, opening up to Elizabeth about my feelings means that we’re together, and it’s just going to be us, no one else.
Falling asleep with her last night was everything I’d hoped it would be, and more, and I can’t wait to do it again.
According to my phone it’s still early, but judging by the sounds coming from the kitchen, everyone else is up.
Hearing Elizabeth’s voice in the distance pulls my body upright, needing to see her and be in the same room as her as soon as possible.
The clothes I left on the sofa bed next to me are missing so I search the floor to check I haven’t kicked them out accidentally.
Realizing they’re nowhere to be found and not wanting to wander around Miguel’s house in just my boxers, I have to call for my mom like a little kid .
“Mamá, ?dónde está mi ropa?”
“Ellos estan aqui,” she shouts from the kitchen, “los lavé.”
I sigh, of course she took them this morning and washed them. Footsteps approach from down the hall and I call out.
“You don’t need to wash my clothes for me.”
“Good to know.”
I look up at the sound of Elizabeth’s voice, she’s smiling at me and looking gorgeous, her hair left loose so it cascades around her shoulders.
I get another delicious flashback of her naked in the shower while she washed it, shampoo suds sliding down her curves…
Shit, I can’t be thinking about this right now.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, princess,” I say.
“Not such a bad sight yourself.” She doesn’t hide the fact that she’s checking me out, sitting in my boxers. “Here.” She hands me my clothes, freshly laundered and folded neatly.
I’m about to ask how she slept after I left, but more footsteps approach.
“Morning, D!” Donovan says as he bounces around the corner.
“Woah, little bro, you’re gonna need to dial this down a few notches, no one is supposed to have that much energy in the mornings.”
“What? How can you even say that to me?” he asks, “Beth, tell him that my energy levels are perfectly normal.”
She looks between us. “You know I’d never normally want to admit this, but I’m with Diablo on this one, you’re insufferable in the mornings.”
Donovan’s gaze flits between us, calculating.
“Nope, I don’t like this, you two agreeing on something, it’s unnatural. ”
Elizabeth laughs. “What’s unnatural is you giving off Golden Retriever vibes before 10 a.m.”
“Yeah,” I say, “you’re like an excitable puppy.”
Elizabeth and I are both laughing while he looks at us in mock horror.
“I go away for two weeks and you’re already ganging up on me, so not cool.”
“Come on,” Elizabeth says, linking his arm. “I’m going to need more coffee; I’m out of practice dealing with ‘morning Donovan’.”
They head back to the kitchen leaving me to get dressed.
The smell of waffles drifts through and my stomach lets out a happy growl.
Man, I’ve missed my mom’s cooking. Everyone is seated around the breakfast bar, Miguel reading the paper, Mom flicking through a magazine, and Elizabeth and Donovan are fighting over the maple syrup for their waffles.
I go straight to my mom, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and kissing the top of her head.
“Morning, Mamá.”
“Buenos dias, mijo.”
I nod my head to Miguel, “Morning.”
“Morning,” he says, “was the sofa bed okay?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Elizabeth smirks, knowing I spent very little time on it.
“Waffles, mijo?” Mom asks.
“I’ll get it, you enjoy your breakfast.”
I head to the counter and serve up a plate for myself before sitting next to Miguel, not because I want to sit near him, but because it puts me directly opposite Elizabeth so it’s easy to get looks in without being too obvious.
“Please can you pass me the syrup, Elizabeth?” I ask, desperately trying to keep my usual aloof expression instead of smiling at her like I really want to .
I catch it as she slides it over and dig in. The waffles are amazing; I really do miss my mom’s cooking.
“So what’s the plan for today?” I ask.
“We’re relaxing by the pool, because tonight we’re going to a gallery event,” Mom says, “Guadalupe Mendoza is showcasing her new art collection.”
“I’m so excited, Sofía,” Elizabeth says, “I looked up her work and it’s incredible.”
Her expression tells me that she’s not just being polite, she genuinely loves the artwork. The thought of being able to see her smile like that all evening is too much to resist.
“Can I come along?” I ask.
Miguel lowers his paper slightly, Donovan freezes with his fork halfway to his mouth, Elizabeth keeps her gaze down towards the table but her eyes widen, and my mom looks at me with a shocked expression.
“What?” I ask.
“You want to come with us?” Mom asks.
“Yeah, I’m here to spend time with you all, what am I gonna do, stay here?”
That answer seems to satisfy Donovan and Miguel who go back to eating and reading, but tears fill Mom’s eyes as she says, “Sí, sí, please come with us.”
Elizabeth glances up at me and smiles but I have to look away before I break out into a grin.
The rest of the day is spent lounging by the pool; I didn’t bring anything to swim in, but I’m more than happy to sit back and watch Elizabeth swim, sunbathe, read, chat to Donovan…
Shit, I’d watch her do an ything. I have to keep averting my gaze whenever my mom looks over and catches me staring, she keeps giving me these smiles and nods, as though she knows about us, but she can’t… right?
When the sun goes down, the others head inside to get ready for the event.
I’m the only one without a change of clothes, so my usual black jeans and button up shirt will have to do, at least they were freshly laundered this morning.
I meet Donovan and Miguel in the living room, both also wearing shirts and smart trousers.
I smile as Miguel’s face lights up when Mom walks in.
“Muy bonita, mi amor,” he says.
I nod. “You look great, Mamá.”
Donovan wolf whistles and Elizabeth laughs behind me, when I turn around my breath catches in my throat.
She’s wearing a sleeveless bottle green dress which hugs her figure perfectly, showing all of her curves, and the low neckline highlights her smooth porcelain skin.
The dress goes to just below her knee and her legs look incredible in the heels she’s wearing.
She’s added a touch of makeup, but not much, and her hair is flowing down her back in gorgeous waves.
“You look beautiful, mija,” Mom says, her hands clasped together under her chin as though she can’t believe her eyes. She gives me a pointed look. “Doesn’t she look beautiful, ángel?”
Everyone’s eyes are on me. I want to tell her that she’s the most stunning creature I’ve ever seen, I want to take her in my arms and never let her go, tell everyone to leave so I can spend the night worshiping every inch of her.
I go to speak but the words catch in my throat, “Um… yeah… uh… she looks great.”
How the fuck am I going to get through the night without touching her ?
Elizabeth
“You look beautiful, mija,” Sofía says. “Doesn’t she look beautiful, ángel?”
I glance at him and he’s just staring at me. It’s almost as though a switch has flipped; where before his eyes were often unreadable to me, now his thoughts are flowing freely, and he’s clearly enjoying the view.
“Um… yeah… uh… she looks great,” he mumbles.
Wow. I never thought I’d see Diablo… Angel… speechless.
“Thank you,” I say, “shall we go?”
Deciding it would be easier to take one car, I end up sitting in the middle of Miguel’s backseat, with Donovan on one side of me and Angel pressed against the other.
I barely hear the conversation that’s happening as it’s taking everything I have to keep my hands from touching him; even the sensation of our legs in contact is driving me crazy.
Anytime Miguel takes a corner a bit too quickly, my upper body presses against him and the closer I get the more I can smell him; even though the leather and whiskey scent isn’t as strong as usual, it’s still there.
All I can think about is burying my face where his shoulder meets his neck and inhaling deeply.
When he held me last night, I don’t remember the last time I felt so safe.
I’ve shared a bed with other men before, and even with Donovan we snuggle, but it’s not the same, the closeness with Angel felt different.
I’d do anything to be able to fall asleep with him every night, but I know that’s dangerous water to be in.
Those types of thoughts take this into more than just casual sex; those thoughts lead us into relationship territory .
I breathe a sigh of relief when Miguel parks and we file out the car, hating being away from Angel but needing the space to be able to function.
The gallery is stunning, a huge glass building with light features accentuating the angular walls.
The glass and light create a haze over the interior, so from the outside, everyone looks as though they have a filter over them.
Miguel and Sofía go to meet their friends, telling us to mingle and enjoy our evening. Donovan says he’s heading to the bar to get drinks and that he’ll come and find us, leaving Angel and I alone. I turn to speak to him, except he’s not there either.
“Guess I’m going to check out the art by myself then,” I mutter, before heading into the main gallery space.