by Sable Hunter
“Take me, Benedict. I need you so.” Isabella was trembling, holding onto his shoulders. She wrapped one leg around his thigh and attempted to climb his body.
Bull groaned with mindless need, cupping her bottom and lifting her so she could wrap her legs around his hips. “Help me.” Bracing her delicate body against the wall, he took his dick in hand and began to seek entrance to her body.
She reached down to help, guiding the head of his cock to her small opening. “Oh, please…please,” she panted, her arms going back up around his neck as she pushed her hips forward, attempting to impale herself on his thick, hard shaft. “Yes…” she moaned as he entered her, pressing forward, working his way in, inch by glorious inch.
“Fuck, baby, fuck, fuck,” Bull hissed the amazing relief he felt at the joining of their bodies. “I never thought it could be this good.”
Isabella couldn’t answer, because she’d surrendered to an orgasm that took them both by surprise. Clinging to his body, she buried her head in his neck and shattered in his arms. Crying out in utter ecstasy, she shook while the climax went on and on and on. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before.
Bull was stunned, he went stock still. His whole body lit up like a flare. There was no mistaking it, he could feel her fluttering all around him on wave after wave of pulsing contractions. This miracle in his arms wasn’t faking it, she was flying apart in his arms, with his cock buried deep inside of her. The truth pole-axed him, shook him to the very foundation. He’d been told he was lacking, but this beauty was in the throes of ecstasy and she made no effort to hide anything from him. Her fingers flexed, digging into his muscles. Her breasts pushed into him, her chest heaving, her back arching, her body quivering. Her lips parted and she gasped and moaned, crying out his name.
“Benedict, my Benedict!”
Bull covered her mouth, catching her words. He needed to seal her to him in any way he could. This was nothing like he’d ever experienced before and he wanted it to go on forever. At last, he began to move his hips and to his ever-loving shock, her release just kept coming, on and on, pushing him toward his own incredible peak. When he achieved it, Bull almost blacked out, he felt his body respond, the blood surging to the point of perfect pleasure. All he could do was hold her tight and pump his hips, reveling in the throbbing aftershocks, wishing he never had to let her go.
Isabella felt both undone and utterly complete. Something amazing and sacred had passed between them. “I have no words,” she whispered, kissing his lips reverently. “Thank you.”
When Bull could eventually move, he set her down gently, adjusted his clothing and helped her redress. Not a second went by that he didn’t kiss her somewhere as he made sure she was taken care of. “My beauty, I am your slave.” He had such amazing feelings soaring through his being, he wanted to pick her up and ride off into the sunset with her. “How can I let you go? How can I let you walk out of here, not knowing whether you’ll be safe or not?” He touched that damned mask. “I haven’t even seen your face. I don’t know your name.”
She felt as overwhelmed as he. “I know, I feel the same way.” Isabella touched the mask on her face. “You’ve rocked my world, Benedict Redford. My life is complicated, just give me a little time.”
“You didn’t just rock my world, you blew me away.” Bull rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. “I don’t have a lot of money.”
“I don’t care about money,” she whispered.
“I don’t have a lot of time either, not in Mexico. I’m only here for another couple of days.” He searched her eyes, those beautiful, dark brown eyes. “I don’t know who you’re hiding from, but you don’t need that damn mask with me.”
The idea that he wouldn’t be in Mexico long ate at her soul. She tried to weigh her options. Had she been foolish? “I understand, you have a life.”
Bull’s hand was shaking so hard, he jammed it down in the pocket of his blue jeans. “I live a lonely life.” Hell, what was he doing? If she gave him an ounce of encouragement, he’d propose on the spot. He’d never felt this drawn to a woman. He wouldn’t call it love at first sight, but it was damn close. “Right now, I’m more concerned about you. Who were those people trying to harm you?”
His bringing up the subject of the man with the paint gun reminded her of all that was at stake. “I don’t think they would’ve hurt me, not really. Their goal is to either expose me or scare me, but I don’t think they want to take my life.”
“I’m not sure you’re right about their motives. What did you do to piss them off?”
Isabella shrugged. “I threaten their way of life. Bullfighting is ingrained in our culture. Many depend on it for their livelihood.” She gazed up into his face, her body still reacting to his nearness. “How can I repay your bravery…and your kindness?”
“How can you ask me that after what we just shared?” Her gratitude didn’t set well with him. “You don’t owe me anything but your name and some answers. And I want to see you again.” He was being bold, but he’d set his own desires aside for too long. An opportunity like this might never come again.
Sad, Isabella shook her head. “There is no time. We must go. I’m sure someone alerted the policio. I can’t afford to be caught and neither can you.”
“To hell with me. Why are you vulnerable? I don’t understand. And why do you hide yourself?” Boldly, he ran a finger down the exposed curve of her velvet cheek. “Remove this mask. Let me see you.”
“I can’t. Not now.” She shook her head. “I do this for people I love and for a cause I believe in. If my name were to become known, other things and people I’m responsible for would be affected.”
Sensing her reticence, Bull whispered. “I’d never, ever hurt you. Trust me.”
Isabella was just about to speak again when a banging sounded on the door next to the room they were hiding in. “We must go. I need to leave.” She stepped away from the wall.
“Do you have means of leaving here safely?” Hell, first he missed his guns, now he was missing his truck.
“Yes.” Unable to just walk away, she went on tiptoe and hugged his neck. “You have been a godsend. Thank you for showing me how wonderful love could be.”
Her words tore Bull’s heart from its moorings. As she moved away, Bull caught her by the arm. “I can’t lose you forever. I’m only here another couple of days for a meeting.” Desperate, he tried to think. “Here.” He dug in his back pocket. “Take this and call me. Call me, please. Anytime.” He thrust his business card into her hand. “I can’t lose touch with you. I can’t.”
She accepted the card, then pushed him toward the back entrance. “All right. I promise. Now, let’s get out of here.” They burst out the other side. “You go one way, I’ll go the other.” Again, like the sweetest déjà vu, she clasped him to her and stole a kiss before disappearing from his sight.
Every step she took away from Benedict Redford hurt her heart. She wanted to throw caution to the wind and remain at his side. Yes, she knew the whole idea was filled with holes. What did she know about him, really? Two factions of her reasoning warred against one another – part of her understood her responsibilities and knew things like this shouldn’t be rushed, and the other part of her believed she knew everything she needed to know about him. Her cowboy had touched her heart, he’d been brave, strong, and willing to risk himself for her.
And his touch!
She was still trembling from their lovemaking. Isabella blushed remembering how she’d responded to him. Even if she never saw him again, she couldn’t regret something so beautiful.
Glancing behind her, Isabella ran for the staircase. Always trying to think ahead, she endeavored to do the exact opposite of what people would expect her to. She didn’t leave the arena amidst fanfare or in the back of a limousine. Instead, she made for the women’s restroom on the top floor where she’d stored her regular clothes and a floppy hat. After making a quick change, she stuffed her ‘suit of lights’ in a large
shoulder bag and ducked out, after making sure no one else was about. Carefully and as stealthily as she could, Isabella exited the arena, making for her car that was parked several blocks away. As she hurried, she couldn’t help but watch for Benedict. He was fast becoming important to her.
When she reached the Porsche, Isabella unlocked the door, slung her belongings inside and climbed in. In a matter of seconds, she was on the road home to Terra Dura. As she drove, the glow from Benedict’s lovemaking finally faded as troublesome thoughts came unbidden. As she’d suspected, someone wanted her efforts in the bullring stopped. All the painful memories of her parent’s deaths came flooding back. Officially, their murders remained unsolved, yet Isabella couldn’t let go of her secret suspicions.
The road from town to her family’s ranch was narrow and winding. She had to focus, keeping one eye on what was ahead of her and one in the rearview mirror. Isabella didn’t expect to be followed, but she couldn’t shake the odd feeling she was being watched.
Every mile she gained away from town, her spirit grew a little lighter. The mountains rose high and green with wispy clouds hanging precariously from the tallest peaks. Deep, lush valleys lay between the mountains where cattle grazed and horses ran along the banks of the winding river. Vineyards dotted the gently rolling foothills and deep thermal pools were set into the hillsides like rare and beautiful jewels. When she rode her horse over this land she loved so well, Isabella felt as if her parents were still beside her.
Unfortunately, when they passed, no will could be found. For several years, Isabella hadn’t understood the problem. Don Luis and the faithful servants were good to her and her life went on as normal, or as normal as it could for a child who’d lost both parents. Only when she grew older, did the conflict come to light. What should have been undeniably hers - wasn’t. Their situation was much more complicated. Mexican law favored patrons. Young single women were at a disadvantage, especially where a male relative with as much influence as Don Louis was concerned.
She and her uncle clashed many times. He expected her to be docile and allow him full rein over the ranch and her fortune. To his dismay and sometimes fury, she was as stubborn as her matador father.
As she drew nearer to the hacienda, a poignant memory washed over her. From the time she was small, Isabella romanticized how Romero Cortez fought the bulls. She could remember going to the pastures with a hand towel and climbing under the fence to play with the calves, making friends with them, tempting them to play with her. Her father and mother would laugh as she would prance around with her towel cape, shouting ‘Ole! Ole!’. When her friends would visit, she would drag them down to the pens, laughing when they would squeal in fear as the young bulls would rush toward them. They couldn’t understand how she could stand her ground, trusting they would slide to a stop before they trampled her. Truth be known, Isabella slipped them treats, stroked them gently, and whispered sweet nothings in their velvety ears. Earning their trust and affection was a heady experience and she loved the animals as others would have feelings for a more common pet. “I want to be a matador, Papa!” Isabella could well remember the day she’d shared her childish aspirations with Romero Cortez.
“Are you sure?” he asked gently. “You do know the bulls are killed in the ring, don’t you?”
Isabella was stunned. “No!” So, that’s why her mother always escorted her out before the very end of her father’s bouts. Valentina always told her it was to get ahead of the crowd. Her face crumpled with tears. “Why?”
Her father shrugged and told her that was the way it had always been, an ancient ritual of their people. She’d been devastated, following him around for the rest of the day, debating the issue and pleading with him to stop being a matador. He’d gone to his knees, taking her hands in his. “Isabella, my pet, I am a matador. This is all I know. The battle I have with the bulls is one of honor and strength. I respect their power and I respect their sacrifice. I, like you, wish there was some way to preserve our traditions, yet let them live.”
“There has to be,” she’d begged, “please, Papa.”
Romero had kissed his daughter’s cheek. “You’d have me turn the world upside down, wouldn’t you?”
Just the memory of her father and his kind heart brought tears to Isabella’s eyes. Over the next few years, she’d kept up her quest to change his mind, finding a surprising ally in her mother. Valentina’s father, Jose Mercedes, had also been a matador, a very brave one who’d brought prestige to the family by being inducted into the Toreador Hall of Honor before his death. When Isabella confided her dismay to her mother over the treatment of the bulls, she understood. Together they sought to change Romero’s mind, even convincing him to stop selling the cattle on the ranch for slaughter. This decision was met with much opposition, especially from Don Luis. Instead, Romero concentrated on raising breeding stock.
“Oh, no,” Isabella whispered as she made the last curve and the entrance gate to her stately home came into full view. Just ahead of her, Don Luis’s limo could be seen making its way toward the main house. She’d so hoped to get back before he returned from his trip. Immediately, she began wracking her brain to come up with a likely story as to where she’d been and what she’d been doing. Thank goodness Renata was used to covering for her, if the need arose.
True to her expectations, she’d no more than pulled into the driveway and turned her car over to one of their employees when the storm struck.
Don Luis strode toward her. He was a distinguished looking man, but his countenance was marred by a perpetual frown. “Where have you been, Isabella? I thought you were working on your studies while I was gone.”
Isabella chose to be evasive. “I am caught up with my studies, Uncle.”
“I don’t believe you, I think you’ve been out with that wild friend of yours.” He narrowed his gaze. “Have you been seeing a man?”
“I’ve seen many men,” Isabella countered. “I pass them on the streets and in restaurants.”
“Don’t be smart with me,” he warned. “If you give me reason, I’ll restrict your movements. You will be a proper lady. I will allow no shame to be brought to the Cortez name!”
His accusations angered Isabella. “Your gambling and drinking does more to dishonor the Cortez name than anything I could ever do.”
Slap! Isabella reeled to the side when her uncle struck her hard on the cheek.
“You dishonor your family and your father’s memory!”
Placing her hand to her face, Isabella stood ramrod straight, refusing to cower in front of her uncle. “I would never dishonor my father’s memory, but you are not my father!” Even as she defended herself, a twinge of guilt worried her mind. Would La Diosa tarnish Romero Cortez’s legacy? She’d received word he was being considered for induction in the Toreador Hall of Honor. She knew this wouldn’t be happening if his decision to change his way of fighting bulls had become known. But he’d been killed the night before he was to make his big announcement in Mexico City. The coincidence of the timing wasn’t lost on Isabella. She knew they were connected, she’d just never been able to prove it.
“I shall count my blessings!” Don Luis raged. “No child of mine would ever speak so disrespectfully to their elders!”
Choosing to survive to fight another day, Isabella calmed her voice, seeking a reasonable tone. “I am an adult, Uncle. I am grateful for your concern, but I have no need of your supervision.”
Don Luis also seemed to temper his reaction. Whether they liked it or not, one was dependent on the other…at least for the time being. “I beg to differ, Isabella. I shall continue to ensure your safety and your well-being by monitoring your activities and the company you keep.”
Seeing that they were just rehashing the same argument they always had, Isabella sought to end the verbal duel. “Periodically, I need fresh air, Uncle. I’ve been driving around the countryside and the ranch…remembering happier times.” All of that was true, just not the whole truth.
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br /> Mention of the ranch seemed to distract him from his inquisition. “I have a visitor coming in the morning, one who might strike a lucrative deal with me.”
Isabella heard his words, with me. A deal with him, not with her, not with the ranch – with him. “Very well. Terra Dura’s reputation should be spread far and wide.” Her answer was cool. Isabella understood why her uncle would be possessive over the ranch. Even though it belonged to his brother, Don Luis had lived here for years. Trusting her relative was hard, however. Isabella was afraid her uncle viewed her parents’ deaths as an opportunity. If he could, Don Luis would take Terra Dura away from her.
To forestall trouble, Isabella was seeking the advice of an attorney. She had a plan, but she had to be careful.
“Pedro! Inform our foreman that I would like to meet with him concerning our guest and the bulls I want readied for his inspection.”
Pedro came forward, his gate slow, but his eyes intelligent. “I’m sorry, Sir. The foreman is out near the vineyard inspecting the new irrigation system.”
“Have Juan saddle my mount, I’ll ride out to talk to him. And bring me some cigars!”
Don Luis’s orders was met with a nod. Old Pedro let his gaze skate over Isabella’s face, but their employee didn’t allow his emotions to show. They both knew how much her uncle enjoyed playing the role of rich rancher. Sadly, if it weren’t for her and the men who’d worked for the family for years, Terra Dura wouldn’t have survived. A property this big required constant care and supervision. Don Luis was too easily distracted by his vices. At least when he was otherwise occupied, Isabella could do what she needed to, both on the ranch and in the bullring. Yet if she was arrested or embroiled in a scandal, there was no doubt in her mind he would attempt to use those things to gain complete control of her fortune and her ranch.
