by Blue Saffire
“Cristóbal,” I stop and turn. “I want you to meet my son.”
My brows pinch. Manny sighs and runs a hand through the front of his hair. His brows knot mirroring mine.
“He’s going to be one. We didn’t—”
I hold up a hand. “Hermano, let’s go to your place and have a long chat. It seems we have lost touch somewhere.”
He nods tightly. I draw in a breath and wave my little brother over. My anger weans. I pat his chest.
“Never keep things from me again,” I say.
“To be honest, I didn’t know,” he huffs.
“Oh, this keeps getting interesting.”
Chapter 5
You Need Me
Detra
I lift a brow at the reflection of the hairstylist in the mirror. I needed to get out of the house before Nelson and Talina drove me insane. However, this heifer is about to make me cut her.
My hair is a mix of my Mommy and Papi. Curly, but not the silky texture of my dad’s. The way this winch is looking at it, you’d think it was a mop that smelled. All I want is a wash and set.
I needed my scalp massaged to hopefully rub the sounds of Nelson breaking Talina’s back out of my head. Sounds that have me longing for my husband. The man has rendered my vibrator useless. The thing feels more like a tickle after what Cristóbal has done to my body.
Ugh, here you go again.
I thought I had a hard time pushing Cristó out of my mind the first time. This last visit has been weighing my thoughts down and keeping me up at night. It’s so powerful that even an hour later, after having my hair washes and set, my thoughts are still on him.
As I sit with my eyes closed I swear I can smell him. This chick clucks her tongue as she combs through my curls and I have to bite my tongue not to throat punch her. Her attitude haven’t changed a bit.
Between this hair dresser’s attitude and my insistent thoughts about my husband, I’m ready to rip her a new one. The comb stops moving through my hair and I feel her shift away from me. A much larger hand runs through my scalp, causing goosebumps to cover my skin.
I gasp, not wanting to open my eyes. The scent of his cologne is too strong for me to be imagining things. The hand runs through the back side of my hair pushing it away from my neck.
I open my eyes just in time to see Cristóbal plant a kiss— that sends lightning bolts through my entire being— on the side of my throat. Damn this man. Those hazel-blue eyes capture my gaze and hold it. The heat I see in them causes my pulse to race.
“What are you doing here?”
“Is that anyway to greet your husband, Esposita?” he says against my skin, his beard tickling me.
I shiver and ball my fists. Our eyes remain on each other’s as he lifts to his full height. The electric blue suit and grey shirt draping his body scream power and suave.
He reaches into his suit jacket and retrieves his wallet. Pulling a few notes, he waves that stylist over. She scurries closer.
“She’s done here,” he says.
“Don’t tip that bitch.”
He chuckles at me, piling off a few note. I narrow my eyes at him, but it’s useless. He has my elbow in one hand and my purse in the other. I’m on my feet as he leads me out of the salon.
“Cristó, what the hell?” I hiss as my little legs try to keep up with his quick pace.
“You wasted your time getting your hair done. I’m going to fuck it into a mess,” he breathes into my ear.
“Are you crazy? You can’t just show up demanding sex,” I say as he starts to shove me into the back of his waiting car.
He slides in after me, tossing my things aside. When he levels me with a glare, I almost have a mind to shirk back. I’ve never coward to anyone, but the sexy, crazy look in his eyes makes me second guess that one.
“If you think I’m here to just demand sex, I might have to rethink the credit I give you,” he says. “First, I’m going to fuck you until you can’t walk for leaving my bed, my home and not telling me. Then, I’m going to find out why you felt you needed to cut our time short to be here, from your lips.
“I warn you, pequeño. Don’t lie to me. I’ve been looking into what you’ve been up to behind my back. I know everything.”
“What do you think you know?” I toss back.
“This Cabrón, Art,” he says and watches as my face tightens. “Sí, I thought you would know that name. I don’t like you keeping things from me.”
“I had it handled,” I grumble.
“No,” he barks. “I have handled it. You… you have patted this problem on the hand. You are stronger than that. I’ve taught you better.”
“Are you questioning my judgement?” I seethe. “I had reasons for handling things the way I have. You think I don’t know you have been digging into my problems? I’m getting phone calls about you prying into things that don’t concern you.
“I don’t need you to come stomping all over what you feel I have not handle right. Fuck, Cristó. I can’t believe you just took a shit in my backyard without telling me.”
“Your backyard?” He lifts a brow. “I think you are forgetting who this all belongs to.”
I push closer to him to get into his face. “I haven’t forgotten a thing. I think you are forgetting who to trust. Stop thinking with your dick and think with your head.”
Wrong move. He has a hand in my hair, tugging my head back before I can process the move. His eyes are hard and all signs of the friend and husband I’ve come to know are gone. In their place is the man that has built an empire even before I showed up on his door step.
“Watch who you are talking to, Detra. I’ve been doing this before you knew how to wipe your pussy, let alone bring a man to his knees with it. I made the call you should have.
“I took care of your little problem without leaving a trail. Don’t over play your position with me. I will always be on top. You just make sure you don’t lose your value to me,” he says in a deathly calm.
“Does that mean in your bed or in your family?” I say defiantly.
“Watch it, corazón,” he says tightly.
“Don’t threaten me, Cristó.”
“Why do I bother?” he huffs before crushing my mouth with his.
He devours my mouth, dousing my fire. My fingers are locked in his hair before I can refrain from falling into his spell. He’s panting as hard as I am as he consumes me.
His hands and mouth manipulate me into his demands. I’m pressed against him needing something I don’t want to need and wanting everything I shouldn’t want. When he lets me up for air, I can’t even remember why I was supposed be so pissed off at him.
“You will learn I always win, Esposita,” he breathes against my lips.
“Vamos a ver,” I toss back.
“Sí, we will see.”
Cristóbal
I look over my shoulder at my naked sleeping wife. My eyes travel her body lazily taking her in. When I land on her hair my lips twitch into a smile.
It’s a sweaty mess. Just the way I wanted. I can get used to this make up sex.
But did we make up?
I scrub a hand down my beard. I don’t think we have. She is so independent and that’s the way I want her. It’s the way I’ve always known her to be, but I don’t like this idea of her challenging me.
The problem is, I don’t think it’s the challenge in business that bothers me most. My bed is where she belongs. I just need to figure out how to keep her here.
Frowning, I turn away and stand from the bed. Sitting here isn’t going to solve anything for anyone. I walk out into the common area, slipping into a robe.
Collecting my phone from the trail of clothing we left behind, I dial the last missed call and place the phone to my ear. My gaze falls on Detra torn dress and a smile comes to my lips. As good as she looked in the black sheath, I enjoyed tearing it from her body more.
“Hola, Jefe. I have that information you asked for,” Alonso answers the line, pulling
my attention from thoughts of my wife.
“Good, bring it to my room. Also, make dinner reservations. Someplace special. Call in a few favors,” I command.
There is a moments hesitation before Alonso replies. “For two?”
“Why do you ask me such stupid questions? Sí, for two. Did I not come here for my wife?”
“Sí, sí, I just wanted to check, Jefe,” he rushes out.
I narrow my eyes as if he were in front of me. Sí, I have many changes I will be making. First, I will deal with my wife. Then, I’ll handle those that think I don’t see them.
“Alonso?”
“Sí, Jefe.”
“Loyalty is everything in this life. I’m grateful for those that have remained so loyal to me. It does not go unnoticed,” I say.
“Gracias, Jefe.”
I hang up. Wise men hear what is said. Entitled men hear what they want. I have survived many by becoming the former.
Chapter 6
Dinner
Detra
I’m not going to let this man keep ripping up my clothes. I see the way he’s eyeing this dress. I don’t care if he bought it. I like it and the one still in tatters on his hotel room floor.
“Why are you here?” I ask for the hundredth time.
“You are begin to wound my pride. From the way you were screaming my name this afternoon, I thought you were happy to see me. No?” he replies.
“That’s not an answer to my question and you know it.”
“I don’t like this question. You are my wife. You should be wherever I am,” he says tightly.
My grip tightens on my fork. My belly shouldn’t flip every time he calls me his wife. I hate that my nipples are so hard they are chaffing against the fabric of my bra.
“But you were not here. You are now where I am and I want to know why,” I reply.
“Your problem is that you can’t help that smart ass mouth of yours,” he says glaring at me. “When are you going to realize that I am not going anywhere. You will have to face me.”
I tilt my head to the side, studying my husband. I think I know Cristóbal better than anyone. I know him well enough to know that he has locked in on this mission to make more of what we are to each other.
That’s not good for me.
“What if I don’t want to face,” I wave my fork between the two of us, “this?”
He mirrors my body language, tilting his head to the opposite side. Something about the move makes me feel like prey. I straighten in my seat, prepared to protect myself.
“You will face us,” he says. “You have no choice.”
“I always have a choice, darling. You are the one that taught me that,” I purr at him.
“Sí, I did teach you this. But you have also learned that I always get what I want. I’ve taught you to do the same, and no matter how much you want to deny it, you want this as much as I do.”
“No, I—”
“Don’t. We don’t lie to each other. Don’t give me this bullshit. You are scared. I just have not figure out of what,” he says cutting my words off.
I bristle at this. It’s hit the mark, but that doesn’t mean I like it. I turn away from him, not wanting him to see the truth in my eyes.
“I like my freedom.”
“Sí, you do. I will not take this from you.”
“Come on, Cristó. That’s a lie. I’m not moving to Puerto Rico. I have a life.”
He falls back in his seat, his lips pinched. “You mean, you have Nelson,” he says with a glare.
I grin at him. My husband is showing a new side of himself. A side I never thought I’d see on Cristóbal Suarez.
“Are you jealous, Marido?”
“Mmm,” he releases the sound as if I’ve just sucked him into my mouth. “You are finally admitting that I’m your husband. This is a start.”
“I have never denied that you are my husband. I just liked it better when you were my silent husband.”
“You say the words, but your body betrays you even now,” he replies leaning into the table. “I don’t have to make noises when I’m eating your pussy. I just know you like it.”
I have to catch myself from drooling. It’s no wonder his bed has never been empty. With a mouth like that and the skills he puts down, no woman in her right mind would deny him.
“We need more than sex for a real marriage,” I murmur, not able to meet his gaze.
“And we have had that for the last nineteen years. We’ve been building our friendship, no? We of all people in the world have what it takes to be in a real marriage,” he counters.
“What if I want children?” I ask, feeling a victory in my grasp.
“Then, we will enjoy making them. You are thirty-eight. Still plenty of time for us to have a family. You will give me gorgeous children,” he says with a devilish smile on his full lips.
“Aren’t you too old to be thinking of children?”
“Do I have to remind you of what happened the last time you called me old?” he taunts, pinning me with a pointed look.
“This is ridiculous.”
“That I want to have children with my wife?”
My confidence deflates. He’s serious. I see it in his eyes. He never used to want children.
“What the hell has happened to you? You have always been adamant that you don’t want children. Why now?”
“Because you have asked for them. Because it would be with you,” he says smoothly.
My fork and plate forgotten, I palm my face and blow out a breath. I don’t want a real marriage. I don’t want love. Love ruined my life. Love made me the hard woman I am. Love brought me to Cristóbal’s door.
My family doesn’t do right by love. We just don’t do well with that word at all. I blame my dad. He taught us all that love hurts.
“I don’t want this change,” I whisper.
“Esposita—”
“No,” I shake my head.
“Detra, listen me. Mira, mira,” he says firmly, but gently when I won’t look at him. I lift my eyes to his slowly. “I have—”
“Cristóbal? Is that you?” a woman’s voice sings.
I watch my husband tense. Not liking the look on his face, I turn to find the owner of the voice. Of course, another big tittie, blonde.
I purse my lips and roll my jaw. This is why I’m not falling into this trap. One day he’s going to wake up and the lure of my young pussy will wear off. He will be back to bedding big breasted, pale skinned Latinas.
I’m not his type, she is. Why play myself? I’m going to finish here in London and go back to New York to lick my wounds.
I slam shut the door I came so close to pulling open. I return to my meal as if neither of them exist. At least, I try. My poor chicken and veggies are getting stabbed to death in my efforts.
Cristóbal
That voice makes my skin itch. Of all of the places, of all of the moments, this is not the one for this woman to appear. My life is starting to fill with regrets.
I watched as Detra had been to cave. I’d been so close to reaching her. Now, I can see her closing off from me again.
“You’ve gotten more handsome with time, amante,” she purrs.
“I have not been your lover for years. Don’t disrespect my wife addressing me as such,” I seethe.
“Your wife?” she squawks. “I’ve heard rumors say that—”
“Do I look like I care about rumors. You see her seated here. I’ve just told you who she is,” I say and glare.
“Sí, sí, I apologize. Have a good evening, Señor Suarez.”
I stare as Detra as she stabs at her food. Releasing a sigh, I signal for the check. I know better than to provoke a scorpion. This will need to pass.
But God is she beautiful when she’s angry.
Chapter 7
Divorce
Detra
“Come take a shower with me,” he says in my ear as he steps behind me and begins to lower my zipper.
I glare at him
through our reflection in the mirror, while I remove my earrings. I scowl harder when I glance at the top knot in my hair. He made good on his word earlier, ruining my freshly washed and set do.
“I’m not in the mood,” I say, ignoring his bare torso.
He kisses my neck and shoulder. “I can fix that, cariño.”
“No you cannot.”
I pull away from him and move to the other side of the room. I fumble to get my clutch open. I need my phone. I’ll be leaving to return to Nelson’s place. I will not spend the night here.
The only way I’ll get my husband out of my system is to stop letting him put his hands on me. I will be the one to end this, since he seems to forget this was not the plan. If he wants change, I have some change for him.
“I want a divorce,” I say as I feel his eyes on me.
I don’t look up from texting for a ride to come for me. I don’t care to see his reaction. I just want to be done.
“You know that has never been an option,” he says so coolly, I do lift my head.
“Why not?”
“Are you forgetting who you are?”
“Watch your tone with me,” I warn him.
He is across the room in a few short steps. I lift my chin and throw my shoulders back, meeting him head on. I will not shrink to him.
“You are telling me to watch my tone with you? Sí, you have not only forgotten who you are, you have forgotten who I am. There will be no divorce.
“You belong to me. In and out of my bed. You are mine. There will be no walking away from me,” he says icily.
“I can do my job and not be married to you,” I demand.
“Funny, but isn’t that the reason we married? Because you could not.”
My nostrils flare. His chilly words hit their mark. He is right, but things have changed since I was that young girl, desperate to find a way to fix things.
