Love in Flame (De La Fuente Book 5)

by Lexi Buchanan

Diego

  Even though I’m sitting with my brothers, my eyes and attention stray over to where Rae is sitting with the girls. She’s beautiful and her happiness is making her face shine. Mateo, Aiden, and Kasey haven’t yet noticed my distraction because they’re too busy questioning Eric about married life to bother. I’m guessing with all eyes on Sylvia that she’s getting lots of questions from the girls. They say women are gossiper’s, but in my opinion men are just as bad, especially my brothers.

  “Diego,” Eric snaps. “I’m talking and you haven’t heard a word that I’ve said because your head is in the clouds.” Eric raises a brow and I’m guessing he’s expecting an explanation, but not this time.

  “So?”

  Aiden looks between the women and me, Kasey has amusement in his eyes, and Mateo looks as clueless as Eric. Except Eric is starting to get annoyed with my silence. This is so not the way I wanted this to go today.

  “Look, I’ve got some things on my mind and I’ll tell you all when I can.” I shake my head to try and get my attention off Rae. “We’re here for Aiden so anything going on with me can wait.” I push away the attention. “What I don’t understand is why we’re over here and the girls are over there, when both parties want to be together.”

  Eric grins. “Hmm, I think my little brother is on to something…and I think that’s our cue to join them.” He stands. “We can blame you if they’re pissed,” he adds.

  The others move passed when Aiden grabs my arm. “Is something going on between you and Rae?” he hisses.

  As much as I don’t want to have this conversation with him just yet, I can’t lie to him. “I’m in love with her.”

  The hold on my arm slackens with Aiden’s look of surprise. “You can’t be,” he whispers. “Diego, what the hell.”

  I stand in front of him so that the others can’t see us talking, and add, “I love her, bro. So damn much that it hurts not being with her.” I brush my hands through my hair in frustration. “When we get home we’re no longer going to keep our relationship a secret, and everyone will just have to deal with it because I’m not going to lose her.”

  Aiden tips his head, considering my words. “My carefree brother has gone.” He offers a wry smile. “I’m glad that you’re with her. I already consider Rae part of my family so just go slow with her okay? I don’t want to see either one of you hurt.”

  I nod, fighting for control. After hearing what Aiden has to say on the matter all I want is to pluck her from the chair and sit her back down but on my lap. The way I’ve just witnessed the others do with their wives and fiancée.

  Shaking away my want, I smile as I slip a chair between Andie and Rae. Andie glances and smiles at me before her eyes quickly move to her mom before she goes back to her conversation with Kasey.

  She knows!

  That thought makes me smile as I turn to Rae and meet her gaze. She returns my heated look and with a slight adjustment her thigh rests along mine. The touch makes me wish that we were skin to skin, just like earlier.

  “They’re discussing where to head out to. I think a walk along the strip is winning,” Rae whispers while the conversation carries on around us.

  “At least you have the flat boots on,” I comment.

  “You’re thinking about those high heels that I had on before you made me change them.” Rae grins because the sight of her legs in those shoes had me hard and aching. I’ve promised to fuck her later with only the shoes on, which is why I removed them from her feet and passed the boots over.

  “You wouldn’t have been able to walk if you’d worn them, but I bet you’re glad now that we’re going walking.”

  “I am, although I had no desire to actually wear them tonight. I just wanted to see your reaction.” She pats my thigh before picking up her bottle of beer and taking a drink. “It was worth it.”

  Laughing, I help her to her feet and turn to help Andie who is already standing with amusement crossing her face.

  “We’re going watching a game,” Kasey announces with Andie standing happily at his side.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mom. Everyone, have a good night.” Andie and Kasey leave but not before the others look between themselves.

  The knowing looks are off base because there is no way Andie and Kasey are together as a couple. I’ve spent more time around them than my other siblings have and I may be distracted with Rae, but I know the signs of flirting and there is nothing like that happening between them. They act more like siblings than anything else.

  “You okay?” Rae asks, her hand on my arm and concern in her eyes.

  “Just thinking about Kasey, but yeah. I’m fine.” I slip my hand to her waist and move after the other couples. Except I have to remind myself that we can’t act like a couple around my family yet. Those thoughts don’t really work when I give in to the urge and tug her closer, not bothering as to whether or not anyone sees us. I lean in and kiss the top of her head.

  Rae holds me close before we slowly move slightly apart. The pain I see on Rae’s face hurts me deeply and if it weren’t for the talk with Andie not yet taking place I’d be wrapping Rae up with me—a kind of coming out to my family.

  Instead, I settle for walking beside her as we stroll out of the hotel into the heat of the Las Vegas desert. Our hotel, the Flamingo, is opposite Caesars Palace and the further we walk along the strip the nearer we get to the chapel that advertises Elvis Weddings.

  Wedding… Something I’ve thought about before we arrived here.

  Binding Rae to me for the rest of our lives causes my heart to thump heavily in my chest. I know that I want her with me forever, and seeing the advertisement for the Elvis Wedding, only reaffirms that want and need in me…to be married in Vegas though, it would be a story to tell for years.

  RAE

  Diego has gone quiet and as I glance at him from the corner of my eye, he’s staring intently at the wedding chapel. My eyes widen and I quickly stare straight ahead.

  The thought of being married to Diego doesn’t scare me as much as it would have done a few weeks ago. He’s said numerous times that he wants to be with me forever, but I’ve never really thought that far ahead…until I’ve just caught Diego eyeing the chapel. My eyes widen even more when I spot the cardboard Elvis.

  Chuckling aloud, Diego moves in front of me and walks backwards, wiggling his eyebrows. “See something that interests you?”

  “Hmm,” I eye him up and down then admit, “I was imagining you dressed as Elvis.”

  He stops moving, his brows rise in surprise. “Seriously?”

  “No!” I shake my head, laughing. “I noticed that Elvis is the preacher. I found it amusing.” I press my finger against his navel before I trace along the band of his jeans.

  He catches my hand. “You keep doing that and we’re going to be finding the restrooms.”

  I catch sight of the others waiting for us over Diego’s shoulder, but I still can’t move away. “Can we leave the others? I’m tired of not being able to touch you because of who might see us. I want to go somewhere that we can be ourselves with no secrets.”

  Diego closes his eyes and when he opens them again, he holds my gaze. “I’ll make our apologies, and then I’m all yours.” He winks and walks toward his family with me trailing behind. I don’t want to just abandon him to them, but at the same time I’m lost for words—an unusual occurrence for me.

  In a blur though, Diego has us excused, and his siblings moving away. He moves closer and surrounds me with his warmth. My belly flutters at his nearness and my insides quiver at the look on his face. It’s his serious, don’t mess with me face, but when his features soften the look he gives me is so full of love that my heart melts.

  “I love you,” I whisper as tears threaten with the overwhelming feeling of content that comes over me.

  Diego’s arms wrap around my shoulders as he holds me close. A large hand gently presses my face to his chest and then his chin rests against the top of my head. “Ever wanted to
get married by Elvis?”

  “What?” I meet his gaze.

  The nervous look that crosses his face makes me realize he’s serious. “You want to marry me?”

  “Yes. The minute I saw that chapel I knew it was meant to be. I love you, Rae. I want to marry you. I want and need you tied to me so that it will take more than an army to separate us.” Laying his hands on my face, I feel them tremble. “We can have a wedding back in Montana with Andie and my family at a later date. But the more I think about it the more I want Elvis to marry us tonight.”

  “Wow.” He’s shocked me speechless, but I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t crossed my mind because it had just minutes ago. I look at the chapel and then back to the only man to ever look at me this way. There’s only one way to answer. “This is a crazy idea after only being together for a short time, but, I love you. So yes, I’ll marry you tonight in Vegas.”

  Diego beams with happiness and I know that the decision I’ve just made is the right one. He lifts me up to him, my legs go around his waist and he cups my bottom to keep my short dress covering my assets. “You will never regret this and I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you,” he promises. “And I’m so damn relieved that you changed your mind about us. Until tonight that was the best day of my life.”

  My lips hover over Diego’s as I whisper, “My heart won over common sense.” I kiss his lips. “Now, I’m too much in love with you to care about age. It would kill me to see you with someone else.”

  “Baby, that’s something you’ll never see.”

  Our lips seal together and then the next hour becomes a blur of excitement as I become Mrs. Diego De La Fuente. I know reality will eventually sink in and when I’m not with Diego, I’ll panic wondering what I’ve done without talking to Andie first, but for now, I’m not going to worry. Instead I’m going to look forward to spending the rest of my life as the wife of the man that I love, knowing that he loves me just as much.

  13

  Diego

  When Elvis announced us husband and wife, the reality of what exactly we’d done came crashing down and caused a flare of panic to race around me. Not because I was married but because right then in that chapel I had the woman I loved, and the thought of loosing her terrified me.

  On our wedding finger we both wore matching cheap bands, which will be replaced as soon as we get the chance. I couldn’t wait though and had needed everyone to know that she was my wife. We haven’t discussed telling our families, but I’m planning on getting Andie alone with us early on tomorrow. She needs to know before either one of us slips up. Everyone else can wait until we’re back home, which makes me wonder how that is going to be possible when I’m reluctant to even consider removing my ring.

  Now that the wedding was hours ago, I still can’t help holding my hand out to admire the cheap band and I smile when my eyes find the marriage license, open on the dressing table. She’s mine and I’m not letting her go.

  Sleep evades me as I lie on my side with Rae snuggled up against me. One of her thighs is thrown over my hip as she softly snores. In sleep her features are relaxed and the worry and stress of being together has disappeared. I know she loves me and I know that her real worry is her daughter’s reaction, which I think will surprise her—I hope. I haven’t admitted that I think Andie knows about us because I think that’s for them to discuss, but I want to see all the worry leave Rae’s face for good.

  The biggest hurdle is going to be my mother. Just the thought of it makes me nervous as hell. But as I caress Rae’s face I realize that she’s worth it. She’s worth everything to me. I wince as I consider my twin. Emelia is going to be pissed that she wasn’t here to watch me get married. That’s just something that I’m going to have to make up for. Our connection is solid and always will be, but my connection to Rae is so much more.

  I brush a strand of hair away from her face causing her to twitch and roll to her stomach giving me an amazing view. My gaze travels down the sleek line of her spine to the curve of her bottom, continuing down her shapely legs to her dainty feet. She’s a small package that constantly has me hard and aching.

  Unable to resist a moment longer, I stroke over the soft mound of her rump while wrapping my other hand around my dick. I slowly stroke myself while increasing my searching touch on Rae. Her soft moan and widening of her thighs when I caress her smooth skin has my own arousal dripping from the bulging head of my cock. I constantly feel like a horny teenager when I’m with Rae but knowing that she’s now my wife affects me a lot more than I would have thought possible.

  “Mmm, Diego,” she mumbles, stretching her arms above her head as her ass twitches.

  I roll between her legs and grasp hold of her hips. “I love how you say my name.” I bite her bottom before I soothe it with my tongue. Reaching for a couple of pillows, I slide them beneath her hips before sitting back to admire my handiwork. My dick jumps at the sight of her sexy rump pointing directly toward me.

  Her legs open wide in invitation so I drop to my stomach and tongue her pussy. She’s so wet that I ache to fill her and as my tongue breaches the entrance to heaven, her loud moan sends lust shooting along my dick.

  “In me,” Rae hisses. “I don’t want to come unless you’re inside me.”

  I pause for seconds before I’m guiding my shaft into the warmth that only Rae can provide. Her pussy grasps ahold of my cock and with slow pulses, sucks me in until my balls press against her. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so deeply inside of anyone before.

  Panting, I crowd over her and rest my hands at the side of her head for support. “You feel so good, wife.”

  “Mmm, I love waking up surrounded with you.” She turns her head, meeting my gaze. “Promise me that you’ll always be with me, unless you’re working.”

  I hear genuine fear in her voice and holding her gaze, I realize that I need to face her, no matter how good she feels surrounding me. Slowly withdrawing, I roll her over and slip back inside her heat. I cup her face and bend, kissing away the tears hovering in her eyes. “You’re worrying me.” I kiss her. “I’m not going anywhere. Why the sudden worry?”

  Rae lets out a shaky breath. “I was dreaming that your family convinced you that I’m too old.” Her lips wobble as she looks away.

  I turn her face back to mine. Resting my forehead against hers, I tell her, “You’re my family now, Rae. You and Andie.” I smile. “The others are my family as well and I love them, but my priorities have changed for the better. Number one is my beautiful wife. You come first, and don’t ever forget that.”

  She offers me a watery smile, which widens. “I come first, huh?”

  I blink and join in her amusement. “That’s all you got from that?”

  “I heard every word, I just might need reminding every now and again.” Her hands grasp my hips and her legs wrap around my waist, allowing me to slip deeper without even moving.

  “I’ll remind you as much as you need me to, but, I’ll always show you how much I love you. You’re my wife.”

  “Mmm.” Her fingers tangle in my hair as she pulls herself up to my mouth, our lips searching and finding a rhythm as old as time while I make slow love to my wife.

  RAE

  Waking slowly to the sunlight filtering in through the crack in the curtains my heart flutters in my chest when thoughts of last night flutter through my brain.

  I’m married!

  “We got married,” I whisper into Diego’s chest that I appear to be spread over. He makes a good bed—nice, warm, and home.

  “We certainly did, Rae De La Fuente,” Diego growls into the top of my head as he tugs me further up his torso. “I love the way that sounds on my tongue.”

  “Mmm.” Panic settles into my belly, except before I have time to be swamped by it, Diego rolls us to our sides. His arms and his whole body surround me with warmth and love that my panic starts to subside.

  Diego kisses my forehead. “You okay now?”

 
; I smile. “Yeah. How did you know?”

  “I just know you Rae.” He kisses my lips. “You’ll worry until Andie and my family know about us.” I nuzzle into the hand he places against my cheek.

  “It just unsettles me.” I kiss his palm. “Not being honest with family.”

  “I’d already planned on having breakfast in our room with Andie.”

  “You’ve asked her here?” I glance around for the time, coming up short.

  “Not yet.” Diego smiles. “I figured I’d wait until we were up and ready before I called her.”

  Chewing my lip worry comes back at me. Andie is my only family, my daughter, and I’ve just gotten married without her. This is so wrong.

  “Andie?”

  “I—”

  “You’re freaking out. Calm down.”

  With me panicking Diego starts to panic and makes a grab for me when I roll from the bed. I toss his shirt from the night before over my head and start to laugh when it drops to mid-thigh. My laughter turns to tears, which Diego makes sure fall against his chest.

  “We were talking about Andie. Tell me, Rae. What thoughts upset you?” He holds me closer.

  I sniffle into his broad chest, wrapping my arms around his waist unable to get my words out. I find myself lifted into Diego’s arms as he sits on the bed with me in his lap.

  “Please talk to me,” he begs, his voice strained with worry as he brushes the hair back from my face. “Rae, baby.”

  Knowing that I must look a sight, I lift my face and my watery eyes search his. “Andie should have been there.”

  He knows what I mean as he pulls me closer and rubs my back. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have rushed you.” He audibly swallows. “I’m sorry, Rae. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I just knew what I wanted and went for it.”

  I shake my head. “Please don’t apologize. I wasn’t under the influence of alcohol.” I lay my palms against his sad face. “I love you, Diego. You make me happy and I love that I’m your wife. I just wish that I’d stopped to think about Andie being with us when we said our vows.”