Chapter 50
FIFTY
RAFAEL SANTOS
I watch Valentina walk into the kitchen, still in her off-shoulder navy sweater, jeans, and red-bottomed heals—you can take the girl out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the girl, or something like that.
Her ass swishes from side to side, and there's an air of peace around her. I still don’t know everything she and Mateo talked about, but I know when she came back inside, she was happier.
I’m grateful. I was ready to repay the beating he attempted to give me with one of my own.
“Tequila?” She looks over her shoulder at me, half her face glittering in the overhead kitchen light.
“I’ll start a fire.” Putting my jacket back on, I walk outside, grabbing some wood from the fresh pile. There’s a bite in the air, and if I lived anywhere but Texas, I’d wonder if it was about to snow.
Back inside, the fire roaring, Valentina and I settle on the couch, her across my lap in that way that’s become comfortably ours. “Are you glad we went?” I draw circles on her exposed shoulder, watching the flames dancing in the curls of her silken hair.
She nods. “Yes. I didn’t know it could be like that.”
“What? Christmas?”
“Family.” When she looks at me, there’s a fresh sheen in her eyes. I set my glass down and wrap my arms around her tightly. I can’t stand seeing her cry. I press a kiss to her shoulder.
Willy bounds into the room, whooping and crashing into things as he flops around. Valentina relaxes in my arms as we watch the demon puppy sniffing and nipping excitedly at every new thing he finds.
Valentina sits up again, patting my hand in a motion that lets me know I’m to release her. I don’t; instead, I hold on tighter.
“Come on, I have to get your gift.” She giggles.
I groan, rolling my face in her back. “We said no gifts. I didn’t get you anything.”
Guilt consumes me. It’s not that I didn’t want to get her anything; no, it’s that I have nothing to buy it with, not at the standard she’s used to, anyway.
It’s a fact that’s begun to gnaw at me.
Valentina Reyes is used to a life of luxury—of the finer things. I can give her none of that. I’m as poor as they come. I’ve nothing besides my hard work and undying devotion to give her.
She presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “I don’t care about any of that, Rafael. I know what you’re thinking, and it doesn’t matter to me. I have enough for the both of us. Besides, I got something for me too.”
I groan. It’s worse than I thought. She knew how I’d feel and prepared a pity gift in my honor.
“Be a good sport, please.” She’s halfway laughing, and I want to melt into a puddle of shame on the floor.
“Fine.” I release her, crossing my arms as if that will keep the unwanted feeling of inadequacy at bay. It, of course, is a hopeless cause.
Valentina hurries from the living room, returning a few minutes later with a large box in one hand and a bag in the other. She’s also removed her nice clothes in exchange for a fluffy robe that looks more like a cloud than it does a garment.
She holds out the box first, her face far too gleeful for me to not fear its contents. I take it, pulling the end of the long velvet ribbon first.
I open it and pause. “It’s a cowboy hat.” It’s more than that—it’s the first cowboy hat I’ve ever owned. It’s a rich felt, tan with a thin black hat band wrapped around the crown—it’s one of the most beautiful hats I’ve ever seen. “It’s too much.”
I pull it out, desperately wanting to put it on but knowing I can’t repay it even if I wanted to. I know the brand, and it’s far too expensive for the likes of me.
“Shut up.” She rolls her eyes, still gleeful. “Put it on, please.”
Valentina claps her hands, giddy even, and I do as she asks. It slides onto my head perfectly, and I already know I’ll never find a better looking or feeling hat. Fuck, she’s good.
“It’s incredible.” I run my hands on the brim, appreciating the craftsmanship.
“There’s one more thing in there.”
I look back into the box, pulling out a black wild rag scarf. I look up at her, eyebrows raised.
She smiles wickedly. “Now you can look like an outlaw.”
I shake my head but excitedly tie the scarf around my neck all the same. “Well?”
“So fucking hot, just like I knew you would be.”
I smirk, moving to stand, but she extends the bag out to me instead. I take it, although all I’d really like to do is chase her down the hallway and fuck her silly.
“It’s empty.” I stare at the bottom of the red bag. When I look up, my breathing stops completely.
Valentina’s always been gorgeous. She’d never need expensive lingerie to make her so.
But as I drink in the sight of her wearing nothing but a set of red lingerie, the front of the bra open but tied together with pathetic little bows, and a thong to match, I appreciate the extravagance all the same.
She’s mind-numbingly, ball-tinglingly sexy. And she’s fucking mine.
“Do I get to unwrap all that?” I draw a line between the various bows.
Her grin is feline as she nods. “If you can catch me.” And then, she races out of the room. I jump up, barreling after her.
She’s fit but not quick, even with her miles of legs. She’s too busy laughing and looking over her shoulder at me to gain any real distance. Normally, I’d try to play a little more fair.
But not now—not when the prize is so pretty, when the victory will be undoubtedly sweet.
“When I catch you, I’m going to tie you up so you can’t run from me again,” I growl, and she squeals as I get closer.
Willy yaps as he dashes between us, his small body a greater obstacle as I try to avoid him while still gaining ground on V. Valentina’s skin glistens as she runs around the room, the firelight glimmering off her hair, her face, her perfect naked ass.
I have to have her. And I have to have her now.
“Valentina.” She looks over her shoulder again as I hiss her name, her eyes wide with fear. It’s a thrill and exactly the distraction I needed. I leap for her, wrapping my arms around her waist, and we crash into the soft cushions of the couch.
She squeals, kicking her feet as she tries to free herself from my hungry grasp. “No way, baby.” I press a kiss to her neck, right above her pounding pulse, and goosebumps erupt down her bronze skin.
“Let me go,” she pants, half-heartedly kicking her feet.
I tighten my grip. “Never.”
She flails her arms, but it’s not enough, and her dire need to get away only fuels my desire to hold her closer, to trap her until she knows she’s mine—now and forever.
Feeling around on the cushion behind me, I secure the ribbon she so prettily presented my cowboy hat in. Gripping her wrists in one hand, I wind the velvety ribbon around them, knotting it tightly.
She gasps as I pull on the restraint, checking to make sure it’s tight enough before I push her back onto the couch. I make it to my feet, towering over her heaving body as she looks up at me with enormous eyes.
“Now,” I say, heart thundering as I look down over her, “I’m going to make sure you know exactly what you get for running from me.” Her golden eyes flash, her pink lips parting. But she says nothing, and it makes me smirk. “Lost for words, baby?”
“What are you going to do now?” she whispers, shifting against the cushions as if looking for friction.
“I’m going to unwrap my very naughty Christmas present.” I lower my face mere inches from hers, breathing in the sweet smell that’s wholly Valentina Reyes.
She shivers before licking her lips. “I’m so wet.”
My eyes flutter shut, every drop of blood in my body instantly racing to my cock in a tidal wave of desire. It pulses against my leg, throbbing with a painful heartbeat. When I reopen my eyes, V’s skin is flushed a deeper crimson, her desire evident.
“Want me to taste you?”
She bites her lip, nodding.
I drop to my knees in front of the couch, and she draws her legs up so her feet rest on the cushions, pushing her red, bow-covered center toward me in offering. Her hands, still bound, lay in the valley of her heavy tits. I love the sight of her tied up and needy for me.
Grabbing the brim of the hat, I lift it off, but she shakes her head vigorously. “Can you leave it on?”
I smile wider, dropping the hat back on. “You want to get fucked by an outlaw?”
Her eyes roll back as I say it, her legs falling open wider in answer.
Knowing I won’t be able to taste her the way I want while wearing the hat, I slide an arm under her waist, hoisting her up and pivoting to lay her flat on the floor. The fire dances across her skin, and my cock grows harder at the sight of her.
Eyes wide once more, she stares up at me in silent submission. I grab a pillow, sliding it beneath her hips to prop her up, and then, I sink to her level on the ground. At this angle, I stare straight at her center, still covered in the flimsiest bow, and inhale the scent of her again.
“God, you’re perfect,” I breathe, and she squirms, growing more impatient by the moment.
Quickly, I undo the bow at her waist, and the panties fall open, exposing her glistening pussy. She wasn’t lying—she’s so wet, it’s dripping into the creases of her ass.
Swiping a finger through her, I bring it to my mouth, licking it clean. She moans, her legs quivering. “Please, Rafael. I can’t take much more.”
I lower my head directly above her, teasingly swiping my tongue through her heat.
She cries out, her back arching to bring her closer to my mouth.
I reward her, pushing my tongue deeper. As the taste of her coats my mouth, I become more frantic.
I grip her inner thighs, my fingers digging into the tender flesh, anchoring myself to her.
“Yes! Oh fuck, yes!” she screams, and it spurs me to go harder, deeper. I suck her clit into my mouth, rolling the bundle between my lips before soothing it with hard, flat licks.
Valentina becomes instantly wetter, her want quickly coating my lips, chin, and nose. It’s intoxicating—as I consume her, she consumes me.