“I’ll have it in your office by Friday.” He immediately hung up.
My phone rang as soon I disconnected. It was Ramon.
“Yeah?”
“You gonna tell me who fucked up your girl? You and Stella are protecting that info like it’s a black ops file.”
“El padre de la nena.”
“Como?”
“Not sure. My guess is a glass or bottle of some sort.” My blood pressure kicked up just thinking about it.
“Alright. I’ll get what I can from Stella later.” I heard a door open and shut. He was home. We didn’t live far from each other. I was in Old San Juan and he lived in Condado; the hotel was relatively close to the middle distance between us. “Where you want to take them tonight?”
“They haven’t been out of the city since they got here so I figured we could take them up to La Cocina Montano.”
“Sounds good. Separate cars though. It’s the perfect opportunity to get more information from the women.” He sighed. “Damn, amigo. She’s not even my girl and I’m pissed.”
I clenched my jaw; my teeth ached beneath the pressure. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to think about what the pendejo did to her. I just wanted to enjoy the time we had left.
“I’ll see you in forty,” I said.
He must have heard the grit in my tone. “Ta bien.”
We hung up.
I found a spot in the parking garage and headed up to my condo to get ready.
Chapter 13
CRUZ
I had been blown away by her curves the moment she opened the door. I normally didn’t notice women’s clothing, but the lone, dark color of her outfit drew my attention to her feminine frame. She had an hourglass shape that would have most Latin men slobbering on the floor. It was set off by the necklace that dangled at its largest point just beyond her breasts; her chest protruded to the point that the pearl didn’t touch her upper stomach. She filled out the soft shorts in the rear, pulling just enough around the fullest part of her ass to have me salivating as she walked in front of me, following Stella towards the table. Her heels made me think of bending her over the table, wearing nothing but the sexy heels, and taking her right there.
Ramon and I had agreed on a restaurant a bit out of the way, toward the center of the island, but it was well worth the drive to enjoy the scenic view. The women had been awestruck the second we parked and they got their first glance at the cascading jungle which was visible for miles into the distance as it covered the hills and mountains. We let them roam the patio, absorbing all nature had to offer from this vantage point, before we all settled at the table half-an-hour later. I couldn’t take my eyes off her though. She had a glow that I hadn’t seen the first night I met her. I was happy to see here letting go and enjoying our time.
The server handed us our menus. Summer pressed her glasses up on her face as she skimmed it. It was a simple action, yet warmed me. I could see her doing it as she cuddled on the sofa beside me reading a book while I watched TV.
“What’s good here?” Stella asked, breaking my trance.
“Anything with steak,” Ramon answered.
Summer reached out and grabbed my hand, squeezing lightly. “You okay?”
I lifted my hand, brushing her fingers with my lips. “Si.”
SUMMER
It felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. My fingers tingled in the wake of his touch; a soft warm feeling spread through me. I lifted my lips, smiling at his gesture. He winked, turning his attention back to the menu.
We ended up ordering a platter for all of us to share. The guys ordered a beer while Stella and I sipped a glass of white wine. Slowly, we relaxed into a steady conversation.
“So, tell me boys, what exactly do you do?” Stella leaned forward, eyeing each male, waiting for a proper response. My curiosity kicked up a notch.
Cruz didn’t bat an eyelash, but he didn’t offer up an answer either. Ramon turned to him. They silently communicated. In the end, Cruz nodded his head once. “We’re bondsmen and bounty hunters,” Ramon stated.
I swallowed hard, my eyes watching Cruz. He observed to me, equally studying me for a reaction. Suddenly, it all made sense. That explained the long hours he’d indicated; the guys at the beach were probably past turnovers or related to someone who was. It was probably the reason why he hadn’t gotten close to a woman before. My lungs constricted as the information settled in, reality slicing through me. There really was no chance for us after this weekend.
“Aren’t you guys supposed to carry guns and cuffs and other things around all the time?” Stella narrowed her eyes.
“What do you think is in our cargo pockets? We have custom built inserts that hold all our equipment in them,” Ramon replied. He opened up his bottom pocket, allowing Stella to peer inside.
Well, that explained why Cruz’s shorts were always so heavy. I sighed. I ran my thumb along the condensation of my wine glass. I was foolish for letting myself get involved. How could I put myself out there like this? I should have followed my instinct to run and stay the hell away. I took a sip of my drink, allowing the alcohol to slide down my throat. I hoped it would help wash away my feelings for Cruz but had no such luck.
“Why is your job such a big secret?” Stella crossed her arms over her chest, brows raised in their direction.
“It’s not. We just have a few too many enemies and don’t want to get anyone mixed in,” Ramon advised.
“That’s a load of crap; otherwise you would have told me when I asked the first gazillion times. You had me thinking you were a drug lord or something criminal; although I would expect A/C at the very least if you were any good at it.” She lifted her chin, assessing the men from her seat. “So are you any good at it?”
“One of the best in the country,” Ramon bragged.
My heart plummeted; the rug was pulled out from under me. I glanced his way. Cruz took a large swig of his beer, avoiding eye contact. I felt the distance growing between us by the minute.
CRUZ
Mierda! I knew this was going to be a deal breaker. That’s why I didn’t tell women. They knew the danger of this job and automatically ranked it among police officers and military soldiers.
I felt her pulling away from me, shutting down as she processed everything. I thought she was different. Damn it. I should have told her in the beginning so my heart never had a chance to get attached. It was going to be hell to let her go, but if that was what she wanted, I wouldn’t stop her.
“Um, I’ll be right back.” Summer abruptly stood and headed for the front door.
I sighed, scrubbing my face. When I lifted my head, Ramon and Stella were watching me.
“Are you seriously going to let her walk away?” Stella barked. I clenched my teeth. I didn’t want to let her go. I wanted to drag her back to me; I wanted to force her to never leave me, but I had no right to do that. “Damn. I really read you wrong.” She stood up. “You know for a bounty hunter, you’re a damn pansy.”
“What do you want me to do?” I snapped. “I can’t force her to accept my lifestyle. Believe me, I would if I could.”
“Bullshit. She doesn’t have a problem with your job. She has a problem with you using it as a shield. You’re trying to avoid committing.”
Something in her words clicked. Summer wasn’t wary of my career; she thought I was using my career as an escape clause because I didn’t want her. After all, that’s all I’d done in the past. I’d let my job keep me from a relationship, or so I thought. Now I realized that I wouldn’t settle because I hadn’t found the right woman. Danger was always going to be there, but it would be worth it for the perfect girl.
How could I have missed it? I shoved out of my chair. I leaned over the table and kissed Stella’s cheek. “I owe you one.”
“You know I’m gonna collect on that one, right?” she called after me. I was focused on one thing only though: getting to Summer. It was time to lay it all out there.
&nb
sp; I found her standing outside on the viewing deck, gazing out at the beautiful sunset. Her hands swiped at her face, indicating she was crying. My gut tightened. I was supposed to protect her, not hurt her.
Cautiously, I approached her. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, holding her to me. I kissed the right side of her head. She trembled in my embrace. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” I swept her hair away from her neck and placed a soft kiss on her pulse point. “I understand if you don’t want to get involved, but that’s not what I want.”
Gently I twisted her around to face me. My chest constricted at the sight of her red-rimmed eyes. She was biting her lower lip again, her chin quivering; she was trying to hold back more tears. “Ay, mi amor.” I kissed her forehead. “I want you. I want to make this work after tomorrow. I can’t picture my life without you.” My eyes stung as the emotions built within me. So much for being a tough guy. I caressed her cheeks. “I love you. In all my thirty-five years, I’ve never been so sure of myself. Whether you can handle my business or not, I will always love you and always be there for you, no matter how far apart we are.”
SUMMER
His words hit me hard, knocking the breath out of me. I never imagined I’d come for a weekend, but walk away with someone to spend a lifetime with. I had more questions than answers at this point, but the most important one was answered for me. He wanted me. He loved me and wanted to make this work. I knew it’d been a short time, but I could honestly say I felt the same way. I didn’t know how I was going to walk away from him. The thought of it sparked an ache inside me.
My vision blurred around the edges as fresh tears began to spill. He stood there, open, having poured his heart out to me, waiting. He was more than I ever imagined I’d get.
I nodded my head, meeting his eyes. “I want it to work too.”
“Then we’ll make it work together.” He curled his lips in satisfaction as his glossy eyes lovingly gazed down at me. He leaned into me. “I’m going to kiss you now.” His breath tickled my lips.
I smiled wide. “You can kiss me whenever you want.”
His lips brushed mine. “I’m going to remember that.”
We were both all-in as his mouth connected with mine. I followed his lead, his lips caressing mine into a sweet surrender. His tongue dipped beyond my lips, the taste of him driving my taste buds crazy. My heart raced; it was bursting at the seams with joy. I was a plus-size woman, and I was still getting the man of my dreams.
I ran my hands up the front of his shirt, fisting his polo as I leaned up into him. His arms snaked around me, holding me tightly, protecting me, and I knew he always would. I nipped his bottom lip, laving it with my tongue. With one final gentle connection of my lips to his, I pulled back.
“About damn time you two came up for air.” Stella’s voice carried over to us from the entrance of the restaurant. I felt my cheeks start to warm. Cruz chuckled, brushing his lips to mine before turning around to meet her gaze. “The foods getting cold. And with the damn garbage disposal at the table, it’s also disappearing quickly.”
Cruz grasped my hand, kissing the back of it. “Let’s go eat. You’re gonna need the energy to survive what I have planned for you tonight.”
“Oh really?” Excitement rolled through me; heat gathering in my womb at his promise.
He smirked. “Yes, really.”
When we arrived back at the table, I saw what Stella meant about Ramon’s talent for eating. Over half of the platter was empty, his plate having been refilled to the max from what I could tell.
“Save some for the lovebirds.” Stella smacked his arm.
“Mira! Don’t they teach American women never to come between a man and his food?” Ramon shoveled food into his mouth just to set her off on purpose.
“My name’s Stella, not Mira, and didn’t your momma teach you not to talk back to a woman?”
“Just eat,” he snapped.
I chuckled. “It’s okay, Stel. We can always order more.” Cruz held out my chair for me, scooting it beneath me as I sat. “Thanks.”
“I just do it for the view.” He smirked, repeating the same line from this morning. His wit always made me smile.
Chapter 14
It was nearly midnight by the time we returned to Cruz’s condo. He locked the door, flicked the light switch and immediately led me towards the large couch. He sat down, grabbing my hips and forcing me to straddle him, my knees biting into the sofa cushions on either side of his legs.
He captured my lips with an unexpected urgency in his kiss. Even though I’d experienced the passion behind our connections this entire weekend, my body still reacted to his touch like it was the first time.
Despite his upper lip being slightly fuller than mine, our mouths aligned perfectly. The taste of him on my lips was exhilarating. My hips bore down as his tongue swiped along the soft, sensitive flesh of my lips.
His hands traveled up, frantically pulling my shrug off my arms. He leaned back, the sheer desire stared me in the face, slicking my folds with anticipation. He kissed my cheek, removing my glasses and setting them on the coffee table. “I don’t want anything to happen to those. Otherwise, how will you see how sexy I am?”
I laughed. Running my hands along his chest, I pressed into him. “I don’t need my glasses to see that.”
He growled. “No necesito gafas con tu tambien, mi gato sexy.”
I snorted. “Did you just call me a cat?”
“No. I called you a sexy cat.” His words had a growl about them; the undertone hit me low. He promptly removed my shirt, tossing it aside.
“Oh.” I groaned.
He ran his hands over my bra, my nipples straining towards his palm. He yanked my bra cup down and away, exposing my breasts. Locking eyes with me, he suckled my breasts; pleasure tickled my areola as my womb tightened.
He placed a few kisses on the swell of my chest before he pulled away. “Do you trust me?”
I hesitated. He’d done nothing to hurt me, nothing to give me a reason to doubt him, but fear still rattled me. I knew I had to make a choice. I could continue to live in the past under the fear of my father or I could move into the future under the powerful protection of Cruz.
Not trusting myself to speak, I nodded my head. I swallowed past the lump in my throat, trying to guess what he had planned.
He kissed my lips, reassuring me that I was in good hands.
Without a word, he stood, turned off the overhead light and led me to the bedroom. He released my hand, walked over to the nightstand and turned on the bedside lamp. Moments later the hum of the air conditioner echoed throughout the space. Nerves and excitement had my heart racing as I watched his every move.
“I want you to strip. Then get on the bed and lie on your back in the center,” he ordered. He stood staring at me, his arms folded over his chest; his muscles both intimidating me and enticing me.
I licked my lips, my body quivering with expectation. Ordinarily, having an audience as I got naked would have had me frozen in place, but there was only pure indulgence in his expression. He was enjoying every second of this, which gave me courage.
I climbed onto the bed, my ass bent in the air as I teasingly crawled into place. I lied back with my head on his lush cloud of pillows.
He picked up my shoes off the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. One by one he held out the heels, urging me to put them on again.
He broke away, walking into the closet and coming back out with a black scarf. My pulse sped up. I knew he was either going to blindfold me or restrain me, or possibly both.
“Sit up,” he directed. He quickly wrapped the piece around my head, enclosing my eyes in darkness as he tied it snuggly. My nerves picked up again as blackness cut off one of my senses. “Can you see?” he asked as I lied back again.
“No.”
“Is it too tight?”
“No.” I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
His lips briefly caressed mine. “Do
n’t worry, mi amor. I’ll take good care of you.” His voice was soothing. It told me where he was. It was my safe house.
The bed lifted and he was gone. The room felt cold; my skin broke out in goose pimples. I tucked my arms beneath my back, trying to keep myself from fidgeting. Anticipation rose inside me, but worry had my body frozen.
The mattress moved at the base of the bed. Suddenly, I felt his whiskers grazing my legs. He kissed my knees before he bent them upwards, adjusting them as he made his way closer to my pussy.
Rather than stop at my apex, he bypassed it, moving toward my stomach. He pressed his lips across my puffy midriff. He took his time, ensuring that I felt every connection he had with my skin. Slowly, my stress began to subside as he caressed me into a sensual relaxation.
He moved up my body, loving every curve, admiring every imperfection. By the time he reached my lips, I was ready to touch him and stroke his flesh the same way he’d done mine. He held me at bay though. As his mouth continued its exploration, he lifted my arms over my head. In a split second, my wrists were handcuffed, the icy metal shocking my skin in the wake of his warm embrace.
CRUZ
I felt her stiffen beneath me the moment I chained her hands to the bed. She didn’t fight me though; she didn’t demand that I undo her. She showed me that she did indeed trust me.
“I promise I won’t abandon you. I’m not going anywhere,” I cooed, kissing her temple. She relaxed slightly at hearing my words.
I focused on her breasts, their swollen peaks enticing me. I covered them with my mouth, savoring the taste of her flesh on my tongue. She moaned, forcing her body against me. I immediately pulled away.
“Don’t move. That’s the rule.”
She nodded her head once and laid back on the mattress.
I took my time loving her luscious body. My fingers skimmed every succulent curve; my lips kissed every inch of her until her folds were drenched and a whimper escaped every time she exhaled. She’d done well. She hadn’t spoken or fought her way deeper into my touch.
Summer Nights Page 10
