Summer Nights (7 page)

I heard the hurt in her voice. “I’m
sorry, Stel. I’m just overwhelmed. I thought this weekend would be
a fun and fancy-free vacation. I didn’t expect to have a fling with
a man that I’d actually have a connection with. I mean, we daydream
about stuff like this, but rarely does it actually happen. I’m just
trying to sort through the emotional and mental
aftermath.”

“No, what you’re trying to do is run
away from it, and you’re getting pissed because I won’t let
you.”

“Don’t you hate always being right?” I
threw a hand on my hip.

“Nope. I love it.” She stuck her nose
in the air and sashayed off ahead of me. “I don’t know about you,
but I’m famished.” Her voice was regal as she flaunted her
success.

My stomach chose that moment to growl.
I rolled my eyes and rushed to catch up. “Let’s go grab something
to eat.”

***

The moment we returned to the hotel,
Stella pulled out a new outfit from her shopping bags, showered and
dressed. She fussed over herself, ensuring every hair, every
accessory and every smidgen of make-up was in the right
place.

“How do I look?” she asked, her palms
up, arms extended at shoulder height in question.

I took in her brown eyes, highlighted
with the pearl and purple shadow on her lids. Her face was dusted
lightly in powder, just enough to even her skin tone and take away
the shine. Her full lips were coated in a shimmering plum lipstick.
Her hair was styled perfectly; her white shorts, tan tank top,
silver tear drop earrings and purple beaded necklace all worked
with each other. She finished her ensemble with her silver sandals.
She was beautiful.

“Fabulous, darling,” I replied in a
fake, old Hollywood accent.

“Good. Now, you need to get fabulous,
darling, for when Mr. Cruz comes around.”

I bit my lower lip, fidgeting in place,
wishing my nerves would stall out. “I, uh, think I’m gonna go out
tonight.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Summer Louise,
you better march your butt into that bathroom-“

“I can’t.” My mouth was dry, my chest
tight.

She calmed down and closed the gap
between us. She pulled me into her arms and surrounded me with a
firm, loving hug. “Honey, I know you’ve been hurt by men and your
family, but you’re never going to know love unless you risk the
pain again. I’m not saying this is it and that he’s the one, but I
am saying that you work too hard and play too little. Let him wine
and dine you. Let him show you San Juan from a resident’s point of
view. Indulge yourself. You deserve it.”

I wiped the few stray tears from my
eyes. “I know you’re right. I guess I just feel a little vulnerable
still from all that’s happened lately.”

I flashed back to the night of my
father’s drunken rage. His words slurred as he projected them
throughout the house. He stumbled in an effort to reach my
mother.

“Don’t you take another step towards me
you drunk bastard,” my mother ordered.

“Egh” –he flicked his wrist, blowing
her off- “I don’t n..nee…need you. Ibe got someone better. Come
here, bubby girl.”

My eyes widened as I looked to my
mother for help. I didn’t know why. She’d never rescued me before.
She turned away and went upstairs, leaving me to fend for myself
yet again. I didn’t know why I still came around. I was a dreamer I
suppose. I kept wishing and praying that things would change, but
they never did.

“Dad, I think you should sit down.” I
tried to remove the nearly empty bottle from his grip as he drew
closer. He swung his arm out away from me.

“You trying to steal fum me?” His eyes
were dilated, proof that the monster was about to come out and
play.

“No. I think you’ve had enough to
drink. Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll get you some water.” I
took a step back, unsure of what he would do next. My heart raced,
shivers chasing up my spine as I waited with bated breath to see if
he’d comply.

“Fuck you.” He swung his bottle,
connecting with the right side of my head. The remnants of the
whiskey sloshed over me, soaking my hair and lashes.

I gasped, jumping back in shock. A
throbbing, shooting pain set in. I lifted my fingers shakily
towards my head. They came away bloody. Without another thought I
grabbed my purse and ran out the door. I didn’t look back to see if
he was following; my mother didn’t even call downstairs to see if
everything was alright. They didn’t care. The sad truth was, they
were my parents, but they’d never cared.

A couple blocks away, I pulled over on
the side of the road, too jittery to continue. I called Stella. She
called 911 and met them at the scene. She talked me through
everything, kept me sane amidst the chaos. If it wasn’t for her, I
never would have filed charges against my father, and I would have
probably returned by now, hoping that the next family dinner would
end on a better note.

Absently, I rubbed my wounds. They’d
removed three thick shards of glass that bit into my scalp; the
wound required forty-two stitches. I was lucky they were tucked
away beyond my hairline.

Stella pulled my arm away from my head.
“Stop. I know most of them have dissolved, but still. I don’t need
you splitting something open in a foreign country. Plus, my Spanish
would probably have you in Labor & Delivery rather than the
ER.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, it probably
would.”

“You deserve happiness, Summer, even if
it’s just for a couple nights with a sexy Latin hunk.”

“Alright. If he comes by, I’ll answer
the door,” I reluctantly conceded.

“Uh huh. I’ll call you later for a
progress report.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

A knock sounded at the door. Stella
squealed silently, her hips shaking in her delight. She stopped for
a moment, primping herself, before opening the door.

Ramon stood with a bountiful bouquet of
exotic flowers tightly grasped in one hand. He’d cleaned up too
having freshly showered and shaved. He even trimmed a good inch off
his mohawk. He was dressed in khaki cargo shorts that hung
perfectly on him and a white button up shirt with the sleeves
rolled up and the top buttons open; its thin fabric left little to
the imagination.

Stella lit up at the sight of him. I
didn’t miss the twinkle in her eyes or her delicate gasp when she
noticed the flowers. She was smitten. Despite her earlier claim,
this was a man I could definitely see her flying the distance for
occasionally.

I cheerfully waved them off,
encouraging them to have a good time. Stella reminded me to do the
same, winking as she strutted down the corridor on Ramon’s
arm.

Chapter 7

I quickly showered and dressed. I was
just about to do my make-up when a knock sounded at the door. My
stomach fluttered about as I made my way towards it. I took a deep
breath, my hand shaking on the knob. Slowly, I opened the
door.

Cruz stood in fresh camo cargo shorts,
an extra tight, black Lacoste polo shirt and crisp white sneakers.
What stood out though was the absence of his hair.

“Uh, hi.” The words came out breathy,
my body warming at the sight of him.

“Hola, mi
reina
.” His eyes grazed up and down my
body.

A wave of self-conscious discomfort
rolled through me. I slid further back behind the door.

“Did you just join the
army?”

He chuckled, his face lighting up.
“No.”

I looked at his cargos again, then back
up to his freshly shaved head. Only a few centimeters of each hair
remained. Admittedly, with his unshaven face, he was too sexy for
words.

We stared at each other. I knew I
looked like a deer caught in headlights. Stella had warned me of
his drop-in, but I’d imagined myself a bit more prepared before he
arrived.

“Are you going to invite me in or am I
going to have to barge in on my own?”

“Oh.” I glanced back at the space.
Stella’s bed was covered in clothes, her luggage still lying open
at the foot of it. Though mine was clean, it wasn’t the cleanliness
I was concerned about. Even as I stood there, I wanted to pull him
into me and kiss the breath out of him, but I resisted. I couldn’t
help but wonder if the door was my protector, and I was afraid to
find out.

“Fine.” He slid past me into the room.
He closed the door and pressed my back against it, his mouth
eagerly seeking mine.

His lips were strong in their assault,
his tongue skating beyond my lips to taste me. I sucked his tongue,
savoring his taste. He was a delicious entrée that I couldn’t get
enough of. He angled my head, deepening our connection, sending all
the warmth in my body south. His erection pressed against my
stomach; my nipples strained against my thin, oversized grey
t-shirt. It offered me no protection against his skilled hands. His
thumbs strummed my breasts through the flimsy material. I clutched
his buff biceps, my body aching to be closer to him.

Abruptly he pulled away. His breathing
was labored, his chest heaving as much as mine. As my teeth went to
press into my lower lip, I noticed it was still sore from last
night. I tried to hold back a groan, my body coming alive, tingling
from his touch.

As soon as he regulated his inhalation,
his features pulled tight; his hands fisted at his sides. “You left
me,” he stated in a sharp tone.

I swallowed hard, my temperature
dropping a few degrees. I stared at him, unsure how to respond;
unsure of how he wanted me to respond.

He grabbed my hand and led me to my
bed. He sat down on the foot of the bed and situated me between his
legs. “It’s not the same here. You’re not as safe.” There was
genuine concern in his voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“You have to promise me you will never
do that again. I will take you wherever you want to go.” His brown
eyes watched my every move, reading each emotion as it crossed my
face.

“I promise.” His words held maximum
conviction so I didn’t press.

He relaxed at that. He flew backwards
onto the bed, tugging me on top of him along the way. My wet hair
hung down around my face, droplets wetting hit shirt. “Now, I
believe you owe me an apology.” He had an iron grip on me. I wasn’t
going anywhere, not that I wanted to. My heart flipped in my
chest.

“I already apologized.” I lifted my
chin defiantly.

“In Puerto Rico, we believe in make-up
sex.” He kissed my chin, trailing my jaw and sliding down to nibble
my neck.

“You can’t just waltz in here and
expect me to drop my pants for you,” I snapped.

“Of course not, but I promise you’ll
want to.” His seductive tone made my pussy moist
already.

He pressed his mouth to mine. He
flipped us effortlessly, gliding me along the sheets until my head
hit the pillows. I heard his shoes hit the floor.

I ran my hands along the hemline of his
shirt as he kissed me. He pulled back and discarded the barrier
between my hands and his skin. His hands roved my body, stroking
every curve, every slope. He squeezed my hips, crowding his center
to mine. He slid around to my ass, grasping tightly along its round
edges.

He pulled back, his
nostrils flaring. “I’m sorry,
mi
amor
. You’re like a drug. I want you too
bad. I can’t wait.”

CRUZ

Her smell, her taste, the tiny whimpers
that barely escaped her throat; everything about her invigorated
me. It sent my body into a frenzy. Usually I was always in control.
Even at night, sleep never ruled my body. I remained in control.
But not when she was there. She walked in and turned my world
upside down. The scary part was, I barely remembered my life
without her in it; and, after barely twenty-four hours, I couldn’t
picture it without her.

I needed leverage; I needed something
to slow me down, to stop me from pounding her in the most barbaric
way. I stood, pulling her off the bed with me. She appeared
confused for a moment before I captured her rosy lips, swollen from
my rough assault. I reached under her shirt, unclasping her bra
with ease. I pinched her pert nipples; she winced, moaning the
moment I soothed them with my palms.

I unbuttoned her jean shorts, sliding
my hand in beneath her lacy panties. I sought her pussy; my fingers
splayed her lower lips. Her center was hot, warming my hand as I
worked my fingers over her straining clit to her channel. I dipped
two fingers inside, her slick walls inviting me in.

Her breath hitched. “Oh, Cruz,” she
sighed. Her head dipped backwards as I caressed her
pussy.

Damn she was hot. My cock throbbed. I
longed to be seated deep inside her, but I would wait a little
longer. I knew it was going to be rough.

As I lifted her shirt and bra, I
captured her breast in my mouth. I sucked her tight peak, brushing
my tongue over the sensitive bud. She wiggled her hips, my fingers
pumping in and out of her, reaching new depths each
time.

I switched breasts, abandoning her
heated core to slide her shorts and panties away at the same time.
I quickly disrobed my lower half, mindful of my cargos. She cupped
my face, pulling my lips to hers. I backed her against the wall
before lifting her into my arms and driving home.