“Fuck me!” she squeals, moving forward a bit to create space between us. “You can’t keep doing that.”
I look at her confused. “Doing what?” I ask, knowing full well what I’m doing as I drop to my knees in front of her, my mouth skimming the hem of her dress, hiking it up with my teeth.
“That,” she breathes.
I lift her dress upward, taking one of her legs and guiding it over my shoulder.
“This,” she pants, as I extend my tongue to her exposed, still wet slit, both my eyes on her.
Her breathing increases, as moans pour out of her mouth with my tongue circling her already swollen clit.
“I don’t want to get used to this,” she pants, repeating her sentiment from before.
“Ssh.” My mouth vibrates her core as I devour her, while saying to myself a reply,“Let me get used to this.”
CHAPTER 22
TOMÁS
“What do you mean you won’t be around for Dad’s birthday? We always get together for it,” Lorena reminds me, as if I don’t feel guilty enough as it is.
“I know.”
My sister’s eyes narrow at me. “Let me guess, work?”
“Sort of.” I leave it at that. Ignoring the“Of course it is”comment she makes loud enough for me and everyone else sitting at the table to hear.
Lorena should know more than anyone how important our tradition of getting together to celebrate our dad’s birthday is since his passing. I’ve never missed it. But I gave Sarina my word, and as I’m a man of my word, if I told her I’d accompany her to Colorado for her sister’s wedding, that’s what I have to do. If I were able to say the exact reason, I’d hope she’d be understanding.
Ignoring the dissatisfied death stare Lorena maintains my way, I pass the bowl of habichuelas to Tino who remains quiet, sensing the tension between my sister and me, and wanting no part of it. Can’t say I blame him.
“Tomás.” Lorena snaps her fingers. “Hello? That’s all you have to say?”
“Something came up that was out of my control. You know if I could, I would be there.”
“That’s bullshit,” Lorena huffs.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tino rub her hand, trying to settle her down, but Lorena pays him no mind as she continues to lecture me. This is standard for our relationship. While we have immense love for each other, we continually butt heads.
“My god, Lorena, knock it off. I swear, you two are worse than when you were kids with the bickering,” our mom intervenes, gliding her gaze to my sister first. “You heard your brother, if he were able to he would. He’s never missed a birthday, so it’s obvious something very important came up. Don’t start guilt-tripping him.” The tears she’s trying to hold back cause her voice to become hoarse. Adrian, her boyfriend, takes her hand to comfort her as a stray tear falls down her cheek. I appreciate the comfort he provides her. Even though I’ll admit it took years for me to come to terms with their relationship. We grew up with Adrian always around; he was our dad’s best friend, for Christ’s sake. And if it wasn’t for the way he treats my mother, like a queen and nothing less, I don’t think I’d have ever come around to it.
“Thanks, Ma,” I say, holding eye contact with my sister.
“Of course,hijo.”
Lorena mumbles something under her breath, but thankfully she drops it. Which is very unlike her, given that she always has something to say, but I welcome the change in pace.
I have a lot weighing on my mind between not being here and whatever awaits me with Sarina’s dad when we arrive in Colorado, I don’t need my sister pestering me right now.
“So, work has been busy, I take it?” My mom changes the subject. Though I can tell from the way she’s asking she’s likely curious as to my reasoning for missing Dad’s birthday.
“Always,” I say between bites.
Lorena clears her throat, and it sounds like the equivalent of a‘Yeah, right’. Clearly, she isn’t going to let this go after all.
I take another bite of the arroz con habichuelas my mom made, savoring it, before I decide to address the elephant in the room, well, as much as I’m able to.
“I’ll be in Colorado.”
