“Neither do I,” Jaime replied, his eyes searching hers. “But I want to find out. With you.”
In the heart of Jalisco, under the festive lights of the Feast of San Isidro, Alma found more than just the joy of tradition. Shefound a love that was as unexpected as it was beautiful. A love that, like the festival, brought color and light into her world.
They slowly walked back to the hotel. Hand in hand, stopping every few steps to kiss under the streetlights.
Finally, back in the hotel, Jaime scooped up Alma and carried her across the threshold.
Like a bride.
Alma didn’t say a word about it, but her mind raced. He was being so romantic. What had gotten into him?
Jaime placed Alma down on the bed, gently, with no urgency. The other night in the bar, they had fucked. It was raw and hot, but it had only been sex. Amazing sex. He’d fucked her so fast, so hard, so deep it made her head spin in pleasure. She loved every minute of it.
But this time, everything seemed different. Maybe it was just the romantic location—a beautiful resort compared to a trendy bar.
She felt like they were on their honeymoon. Ay, what had gotten into her today? She couldn’t stop thinking about marriage and weddings and honeymoons. She was insane. They weren’t even boyfriend and girlfriend.
And she was clear in her head. She was in love with him. She wanted this to work. But she doubted he truly could commit to her, no matter what he said or believed.
And she couldn’t help her thoughts. A priest once told her it wasn’t a sin to think about sex—we couldn’t control our thoughts. However, we could control ruminating about topics once they sprung to our minds.
Jaime’s face softened when he looked at her. No more eager anticipation or lustful hunger. It was almost as if Alma was in a timewarp back to how they used to be. Back when they were young and infatuated.
Back when they were in love.
Could they still be in love?
She couldn’t tell. Years ago, it was a deep, true first love, the way only first loves could be. Alma had been full of dreams and fantasies.
But this time, everything was different. Her heart had been broken by the very man in her bed.
She was still crazy about him, but she no longer thought he was perfect.
Not that she was perfect either. Far from it.
Maybe they were perfect for each other.
He brushed a lock of hair away from her face as he lowered to kiss her. A sweet kiss. Soft, loving. His hand made its way down her body, slowly, oh so slowly, stopping only to caress her breast before moving to trace the outline of her waist and eventually settling on her thigh.
His stubble scraped the palm of her hand as she cupped his face. She stopped and considered his eyes, which were just a little more trusting and loving than they had been since he’d come back.
She seized that moment, taking advantage of this opportunity when he seemed to be truly open to her. “I’m so happy that you came back to Marin, and you took me to Mexico.”
Jaime smiled. He took a moment to speak, and the seconds were excruciating to Alma. Then he said, “I’ve never stopped loving you, Alma.”
He loved her? Not in the past but now?
Did she love him? Of course she did. She always would, but that didn’t mean she felt that they were right for each other now.
She didn’t know how to react, so she remained silent. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Did he want to get back togetherwith her? Did he really want to commit to her? She was dizzy with lust and confusion.
She considered ruining the moment by interrogating him and getting the answers she so desperately needed and craved, but instead took a deep breath and exhaled.
Time to enjoy the present.
With his free hand, Jaime peeled off his shirt. A smile graced her face as he let his shirt fall to the floor. She would never tire of staring at his chest, ever. Broad shoulders, abs for days, and a thin line of dark hair trailing to his pants. He motioned for her to lift her arms, and she did as he slipped her T-shirt off over her head, taking her bra with it, and flinging them off the bed.
His attention turned to her breasts. He thumbed her left nipple and sucked on her right one. She let out a moan as he lightly nibbled her bud.
