“You can say that again.”
“I’d rather do it again.”
She realized he was still hard inside her. Worried again, she asked, “Didn’t you come?”
“Oh, yeah, bebé. But let’s do it again before my dick gets the message.”
Good Lord! Her prior experience had been with her father, who took hours to be ready to go at it again. Thank God. She’d never had sex with anyone close to her own age before.
Most days, she felt more like ninety herself. Still, she’d had three orgasms in a matter of a few minutes. With a stranger, no less. And why didn’t she care? Today, she just wanted to feel young, carefree—and alive.
Damián had given her the most beautiful experience of her life. But he only made her want more. She didn’t want this day to ever end. She pulled his mouth toward her and just before they made contact, she whispered, “Fuck me.”
* * *
An hour later, Damián collapsed onto his back on the wet sand. Mierda, he couldn’t get enough of this woman. Her screams reverberated around the walls of his mind from her last orgasm. How many was that for her now? Six? Seven? Madre de Dios.
When he thought he could string two coherent words together again, he raised himself onto his side and propped his head into his cupped hand. He just stared down at her, his hand playing with the strands of her hair curled around one of her tits.
She smiled up at him, but he saw sadness in her expression. Regrets already?
“What are you thinking, querida?” he asked.
“I wish we could stay here forever.”
Ah, now that kind of regret he could live with. He bent down and kissed her, gently this time. So sweet. Pure torture. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to make love again and didn’t care. He just wanted to feel her lips, her body, against his. As if ruled by a mind of its own, his hand reached out to cup her firm breast. He couldn’t keep his hands or lips off her.
But he knew they couldn’t stay here forever. He wondered what she was going to do now. He hoped she wouldn’t return to being a paid escort. She deserved a better life than that.
Raising his head again to look at her, he asked, “If you could have any job you wanted, what would it be?”
He watched her teeth trap the corner of her bottom lip between them and she puckered her brow as she thought about the question. Then she smiled and shrugged, as if it were a pipe dream. “A social worker. I’d like to work with abused kids.”
Wow. What would someone like her know about abused kids? Well, she certainly was an abused adult. Something like that would require a lot of education. Not that she couldn’t afford it.
“So, what’s keeping you from pursuing your dream?”
She looked away. “It’s too late.”
How could it be too late? She wasn’t any older than he was. She had to have the time. Look what she was doing now. And money? Hell, she lived in Rancho, after all. Still, if she was so wealthy, why was she selling her body? Maybe she was one of the hired help, rather than an owner. Did she have a sugar daddy keeping her? Was it Jerk-off from the hotel? But, if that were the case, then why didn’t she have money?
She puzzled him.
If money was the issue, he wished he could help her pay for college. But he could barely support himself. And now that he’d been fired….
“Can’t your family help?”
“No.” She turned toward him and brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “Don’t ask. It’s complicated.”
But why wouldn’t her family help her make a better life? Damián had come from a supportive, loving family. They didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but Mama had made sure they had food in their bellies, even if they had to eat tamales twice a day. Mama and Papa had both worked themselves into early graves, making money for the rich bastards in Rancho.
He decided to let it go.
Damián wondered if he’d ever see her again. Doubtful. They were worlds apart. But their bodies sure spoke the same language. Was there any chance they could date?
Yeah, right.
But he still had her with him now. Pulling Savannah into the curve of his body, he held her. She molded herself against him. Soon, he felt her breathing slow down and become more steady. She’d been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours. Her body needed sleep. He hadn’t gotten much sleep either, but was too wired to give in.
He’d have to get her back home soon. But what awaited her there? Did she even want to go back? She seemed in no hurry, that’s for sure.
Then what? He lifted a lock of hair from her bare shoulder, rubbing its silk between his thumb and forefinger. He’d never dated a blonde before. And he wouldn’t be dating this one either. Too different.
Just a few more hours and she’d be out of his life. His head grew heavy and he laid it down on the towel, pressing his forehead against the side of her head. So right. Would he ever hold something so perfect again? He wished….
Fuck! Damián jerked up. He’d fallen asleep. He looked outside the opening of the cave and saw the sun making its descent to the horizon. It would be dark within an hour. He needed to get her home.
Savannah stirred next to him, then looked up with sleep-filled eyes and smiled. His dick hardened. Damn. He couldn’t get enough of her. She reached up and placed her hand at the back of his head and pulled him toward her.
His lips met hers and tenderness soon turned to flames. She opened to him and he reached for her breast, kneading her soft flesh. What he really wanted was to sink himself inside her again.
Half an hour later, both of them breathing hard and sated, Damián sighed. He stood and reached down to pull her to her feet. She winced again and he remembered how bruised and sore she was after the beating. He hated the thought of anyone hurting her like that again. She reached out and brushed sand off his side.
He turned his finger in a circular motion. “Turn around.”
She did so and he brushed the sand off her, as well. Luckily, there wasn’t much there. “I think the water might be a little too cold for us to wash more of this off.”
“I’m fine.”
“The ride back might be a little uncomfortable.” He worried about her legs, but at least the welts were still covered with the bandages.
“I said I’m fine.” Her voice had taken on an edge.
Damián shrugged. Fine then. He picked up her underwear and dress, shook them out, and handed them to her. “Come on. Get dressed. We have to go before the tide comes in.”
He couldn’t help but notice the disappointment in her eyes. She didn’t seem any more anxious to end their time together than he did. No sense prolonging the inevitable, though. They dressed in silence, then he reached for her hand and she tucked it inside his. As he led her toward the entrance, he thought how right her hand felt in his.
Framed by the opening of the cave, the sun touched the top of the ocean on the horizon.
“Wait,” she whispered. He looked down at her and saw her skin softened to a pale pink by the glowing sun. Her face was filled with wonder, as if she’d never seen a more beautiful sunset. Well, neither had he. Watching it on her face.
When the glowing globe was but a memory, he turned her toward him. Tears again? Savannah broke his heart. He brushed the tears away with his thumbs, then cupped her face and lowered his mouth to meet hers. Feeling the quiver in her lips sent his dick throbbing again.
He kissed her sweetly, knowing they couldn’t stay. The tide would begin to roll in soon. When he pulled away, she smiled up at him. “Thank you for showing me your special place Damián.”
Uncomfortable, he grinned. “I have a new special place now. Wherever you are.”
She smiled back, a bittersweet smile. Somehow Damián knew this was goodbye. He lowered his lips to hers, needing one more taste of her before he took her back to her safe gated world.
Then he lifted her and carried her across the rocks to the beach. When he got to the steps, she protested his continuing to carry her, but
she didn’t realize how often he had used these steps as his own personal gym. He could have carried her up and down them all day, especially the way he felt after their lovemaking.
“We should stop and get something to eat.” Some date he was! Hadn’t even thought about food all day.
“I’m fine.”
“Well, I’m not.” She was way too thin anyway.
Soon they sat over platters of enchiladas, rice, and beans. Savannah remained silent and barely made a dent in the food. She’d already begun to pull away from him. But he couldn’t take her back to a life as an escort, especially one who had so little regard for her own safety.
“You going to be okay at home?”
She looked up from her plate and smiled. The smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll be fine.”
Why did he doubt that?
“That Jerk-off from the hotel doesn’t live with you, does he?”
She glanced back down at her plate. “No. He’s just a…business partner.”
“You need a new partner.”
A tear slid down her cheek and onto the table. Mierda. He’d made her cry again. He reached out and squeezed the hand holding her fork. “I’m sorry. Just tell me that you’re going to be okay when I drop you off.”
She nodded, but didn’t make eye contact.
“Convince me or I won’t take you home.”
Her head came up again. A mixture of fear and excitement flickered in her expressive eyes. “I have to go back. But everything’s going to be fine. Things have…changed.”
Things sure had changed for him, but he didn’t understand what she meant. Then she smiled, pulled her hand out of his grasp, and took a forkful of her Spanish rice and ate it.
They left the restaurant in Laguna nearly an hour later, when he’d given up on her eating any more. He’d prolonged their time together to its limit. Time to take her home.
Darkness engulfed the 5 as they headed south. He’d put his jacket on her again to keep her from getting cold. When they passed the San Onofre power plant, with its pair of red glowing nipples, he couldn’t help but thinking about her breasts pressing against his back, or taking each of her nips in his mouth once more. His still erect dick throbbed.
Not this time, chico.
Once in Rancho, she gave him directions to her particular gate. Taking the remote from her purse, she opened the wrought-iron entrance to her fortress. As the gates opened slowly, he never felt more out of his element.. He half expected St. Peter to be waiting on the other side telling him he needed to park his ass right where it was or, better yet, turn around and head back the other way where he belonged.
She started to take the helmet off. “I can walk from here.”
“Like hell you will.” He rolled on the throttle and enjoyed the feel of her hands grabbing him around his waist again as he ascended the winding driveway.
He pulled up in front of the mansion, illuminated by a series of spotlights showing off the monstrosity at the top of the hill—although Damián had no idea who could see it with all the trees.
Isolated. She must have incredible views of the ocean on the back side of the house. He wondered why the sunset at Laguna had captured her with such awe.
“Please, Damián! I don’t want you to…”
Damián felt her hands tighten around his waist as they saw lights going on from room to room as someone made his or her way to the front door. He had barely stopped the Harley and put the stick down before she let go and scrambled off the bike. She hurriedly unhooked the helmet and handed it to him.
“Thanks for everything, Damián. This will be the best day of my whole life.” She pecked him on the cheek and made a dash for the front door, as if she hoped to get inside before anyone saw him. Did he embarrass her?
Mierda, he wouldn’t have guessed that she was like that.
What did she mean by “will be” the best day? She had her whole life ahead of her. How could she know that?
Before she reached the door, it opened inward. Rather than the man from the hotel, a tall, older man stepped onto the fan-shaped flagstone entrance. She lowered her head when he put his hand on her shoulder to halt her. Was this her father?
The placement of the man’s hand seemed more familiar than a father would touch his daughter. Her sugar daddy, then? Man, won’t he be pissed to learn she’d let someone else dip his wick in her. His crude thought soured his stomach, but if she could just throw away what they’d experienced, then so could he.
“Go in the house, Savannah. Wait in the office.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man reminded him of the Doms in his ex-girlfriend’s porn videos. Was he her Dom? Did she really get off on that pain shit? Then why was he pimping her out to other men? To Jerk-off? Those other men?
He saw her body tense as she cast a glance at Damián. Tears shone in her eyes. Did he see a bit of fear, as well? His gut clenched. Goddamn it, why did she put up with that crap? Clearly, she’d found sexual satisfaction with him at the beach, and he’d done nothing to hurt her. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her. Take her away from here. Cherish and protect her.
She turned her body toward Damián, lifting her head just enough to make eye contact, and mouthed another thank you, then veered away to enter the house. Damián watched until he could no longer see her, then turned his attention back to the old man. If the asshole could breathe fire, he’d singe the tires off the Harley. His face was splotchy red, hands clenched at his sides.
“If I ever catch you near Savannah again, Orlando, I’ll make you sorry you were ever born.”
How’d he know his name?
Well, fuck you, old man. “If she wants to see me, that’s her decision.”
“Savannah makes no decisions. And I’ve done some investigating. If you don’t want to be charged with assault and battery for that incident at my hotel yesterday, you’ll heed my words.”
What the fuck? He owned the hotel where Damián had worked? Did Savannah work for him, too? He guessed so. Why? Hell, he realized he didn’t understand anything about her. She was the most screwed up chica he’d ever met. If she was willing to sell her body so she could live like this, he’d never have anything to offer her.
“Get that contraption off my drive before it leaks any more oil.”
His Harley did not leak anything. Pissed, but not wanting to risk an arrest and doing jail time, Damián revved the motor, glanced at the open door Savannah had disappeared through, then peeled away. He turned back to see the black streak of rubber very visible in the overly lit tiled driveway. He gained a sense of satisfaction knowing that, every time her sugar daddy saw that patch of rubber, he’d remember Damián. His spirits lifted a little.
But the haunted look in Savannah’s eyes as she mouthed her thanks would be what burned in his memory forever. Had he made the right decision to leave her here? Mierda. He should have given her his phone number, in case she needed him. Not that he would have expected her to use it.
Madre de Dios, he hoped she’d take better care of herself.
Damián would just have to hold onto his memories of what had been the most perfect day of his life, with the most perfect woman.
* * *
Savannah sank to the floor, laying her flushed face against the cool tiles. Her stomach still threatened to revolt, but she knew there would just be more of the dry heaves she’d experienced for the last fifteen minutes.
What she’d worried about for the past month seemed a certainty now. Two missed periods. Morning sickness.
She was pregnant. Her hand moved lower, from her stomach to the area over her womb. A baby. Tears prickled her eyes, then dripped onto the floor. She had to protect this baby. Who would help her?
Oh, Lord, what was she going to do?
Damián. I need you so much.
She only knew Damián by his first name. She’d tried to get an address or phone number from the hotel’s business manager, but the woman wouldn’t give out confidential employee
information. On former employees either.
Her father had beaten her so severely the night Damián had brought her back from their special day at the beach cave over two months ago. If only the torture had ended there. By the time her Master and Lyle had ended the beating, probably because their arms were tired, her father had had to carry her to her room.
She’d been afraid he was going to rape her again for the first time in a long time. Then he’d told her he wouldn’t want to catch a disease from that Spic. Savannah shuddered. Her father and Lyle were the only diseases in her life.
Too sore to move for the next couple days, she hadn’t carried out her plan to end her life. Then, when she had been able to get out of bed, the possibility of seeing Damián again someday kept her from going through with it.
Not a day went by since Damián had brought her back here that she didn’t regret letting him leave without her. But Damián couldn’t have known. She hadn’t told him what her life here was like. Why hadn’t she been brave enough to trust him?
Because of her shame. Thank God he hadn’t noticed the brand in the dark cave. She’d never want anyone to see that.
But something had changed that day. No, not just something. Everything. She’d begun to live again. To experience life. Damián had roused long-buried feelings inside her. She’d been numb for so long. Opening herself up to the experience of being treated with respect and cherished by a man, if only for a short time, had made her feel worth something more than a body to be used for sex.
As she had guessed, allowing herself to feel had only succeeded in making her punishment even more intense. However, now she had a new safe place to escape to during the beatings. In Damián’s arms at the beach cave. She knew the cave wasn’t just her imagination now, but a real place, where she could hear the waves crashing on the shore, see the dusky light of sunset, and feel his arms around her.
Magical.
No, safe.
She stroked the skin over her bare abdomen. And now she needed to protect what had resulted from that beautiful day. Sitting up, she pulled herself to her feet by holding onto the rim of the pedestal sink when her weakened legs threatened to give way. In the mirror, she saw that red splotches dotted her cheeks and neck from the strain of the dry heaves. She took a washcloth and wet it with cold water. Holding the cool cloth to her face, she closed her eyes and the image of Damián’s face gave her comfort.
Masters at Arms Page 9
