Tequila Nights (11 page)

“You know, I think I might. For the first time in my life, I actually felt that energy with someone. You know, the one people write about that you never believe happens.” I knew fully well what she was referring to. I had felt it with Leo. Still did every time he touched or even looked at me.

“Him having a child doesn’t bother you?”

“Strangely enough, no.”

This got my attention. Turning, I studied her genuine expression.

“He asked me on a date and I said yes.”

“That was fast.”

“It’s just a date. I’m not marrying him. Weird hey,” she sounded dreamy, “the way life can take you sometimes.”

At this point in time, I didn’t consider my new path as weird. I considered it a nuisance.

“She’s got some balls,” Nicole’s attention returned to Holly, who currently had her hand possessively on Leo’s shoulder while they laughed with Mimi.

“If only she did, I wouldn’t hesitate to kick her where it hurts.”

***

Later that night as the party had settled and Mimi was growing weary from her medication, Jase began wheeling her to bed.

“Dad, I want Aunt Josie to tuck me in,” she said over her shoulder, not quite able to meet her father’s face.

“Josie, do you mind?”

“Not at all,” I said, placing my almost empty glass of wine on the table. Taking over the steering I wheeled her into her downstairs bedroom. It was adorned with all things girly. Pale pink walls with a black unicorn stencil dominating one side. Shelves with books and dolls filling the other.

Folding the blankets down, I hooked my arms under her knees and arms and lifted her lightweight body onto the bed. Drawing the covers up to her chin, she smiled warmly at me. Reaching up, she took a tendril of my long hair and toyed with it in her tiny hands.

“Aunt Josie, I know you’re leaving.”

My heart caught in my throat. Her sad face was soul destroying.

“I know that when you come back, you and Uncle Leo will be together again.”

I nodded, unable to speak. The words of a little girl bringing tears to my eyes.

“I know that he loves you,” she continued, unaware of the effect she was having on me. “And I know you love him.” Without saying another word, she released my hair and pulled open the drawer of her bedside table. Just like she’d done at the hospital, she handed me a drawing. It was similar to the last one, except between the figures that were Leo and me, stood a naïve image of the Eiffel Tower.

“It’s beautiful, I love it!” And I did. It warmed me from the inside out.

“That’s you and Uncle Leo when he comes to find you.”

“Find me? He knows where I’ll be.”

She didn’t respond to that, just smiled in her sweet way, her eyes almost closed. Leaning forward I kissed her on the forehead, her skin not quite as warm as it should be.

Turning off her lamp, the small nightlight cast a dull purple glow throughout the room. Closing the door halfway, I stopped when I heard her voice.

“I hope I can be there at your wedding.”

If my heart wasn’t tender already, it shattered into a million pieces. Swallowing hard, the tears I had held back now fell down my cheeks. I knew what she was saying. It wasn’t a case of not being invited. It was whether she would still be alive when it happened.

***

“Is everything okay?” Jase asked as I rounded the corner back into the living room. Furiously swiping at the tears, I answered as best I could.

“Yes. She’s such a sweet girl.”

His concern faded and was replaced with a tenderness I was sure he only reserved for Mimi. “She is my life. I don’t know what I would dowithout her, even though reality tells me I have to fully prepare for the day when she leaves me.”

“This must be such a rollercoaster ride of emotions for you, I can’t even begin to imagine.”

He nodded, lost in thought, the shadows of the darkened hall not disguising his heartbreak. “She’s a strong girl and every time we are told to expect the worst, she somehow shows everyone up. And look, I’m sorry about the whole Aunty thing. She’s really taken to you in a way I’ve never seen before, and she has it stuck in her little head that you and Leo are made for each other. I mean, I’m not saying you aren’t, but she doesn’t mean any harm calling you that.”

“No harm done. I feel honored that she would consider me so fondly.”

His smile was of reassurance. “And Leo,” he heaved a sigh, “I’ve never seen Leo so smitten before. You have certainly captured his attention.”

My heart warmed and broke all at the same time.

“He’s a good man, Josie. Fiercely protective, as you have seen the other night at the restaurant. But you have quickly become the center of his world. I know he holds onto every second he spends with you knowing you’re leaving. If he could go with you, he would. Just know that.”

“I know he would and I would love to have him with me. It wasn’t an easy decision to make and it plagues me every day, questioning whether I’ve chosen right.”

“If I know Leo, he will wait. You are his future. I’m with Mimi on this. You two will find each other again.”

CHAPTER
20

“Why don’t you come along, Marge?” She didn’t strike me as the type who had ever been dancing, but she was a recluse who needed to experience the world before it was too late.

Immediately her face paled, the thought of being with others in an environment that required bodily contact, all too much to bear.

“Oh, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she replied nervously, lifting her glasses higher on her nose.

“Why not? You just stay at home and listen to your neighbors getting down and dirty, so why not go out and have your own fun?”

“Marge!” Laney barked, interrupting us as she sauntered over. We were waiting for Professor Lindsay to arrive and for some reason, Laney, who had never once spoken to us, suddenly had something urgent to say.

“Yes?” Marge replied, carefully curious.

“Your test results are terrible,” she announced, indiscreetly. Her natural voice was shrill and captured the attention of the other students waiting to go in for drawing class.

“What do you mean?” Marge looked on the verge of crying.

“You totally misunderstood questions six and ten and your analysis of the rest is poorly done.”

“Shouldn’t this be discussed in private?” I spoke up, feeling like Laney was enjoying publically humiliating my friend.

This apparently warranted a glare and a
‘who the fuck are you?’
look. “I’m sorry, I’m not talking to you.”

“I realise that, but you are lacking professionalism. If you have concerns about Marge’s test results, you should discuss it in private. Not embarrass her in front of everyone.”

Her eyes narrowed as she assessed me. “I know who you are! Josie Marks, finalist for the Lafayette scholarship.”

“And?”

What the fuck did that have to do with anything?

“Monsieur Bordeaux has quite the reputation.”

“Is that so!” My sarcasm was ill-disguised. I knew Monsieur Bordeaux was my tutor when I arrived, but I knew nothing of him and in my opinion, if I could survive Professor Lindsay, I could survive anyone.

“You don’t know what you are doing, do you?” She seemed amused.

“I’m not quite sure what you’re implying, Laney. But I was selected for a reason and I’m sure I can handle whatever is waiting for me.”

“Confidence. Monsieur Bordeaux will like that.”

Her comment was double-edged, but I decided to not take the bait.

“Why didn’t you get selected, Laney?” She didn’t know that I knew she had applied. Her affronted look only confirmed it. “I’m sure Professor Jolly could have pulled a few strings for you.”

Beside me, Marge made a noise like a wounded animal. Laney’s eyes flicked to her and then back to me.

“What are you insinuating?”

“Nothing,” I replied with a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders. “Only that it does seem like you know a lot of the professors both in France and here. Maybe you possess an art for persuasion we all lack.”

Laney scoffed, her unblinking eyes finally catching on.

“Next assessment which just happens to be your final, Josie, will fall in the second half of the alphabet. That just happens to be the group I will marking next.” Her snide smile told me she was the type to allow a grudge to keep festering until she could exact her revenge. Stepping forward, she slapped the test papers against Marge’s chest, loose sheets of paper falling from her grasp. “Think on it.”

***

The truth was Laney’s words were troubling me. I was leaving my home, family, friends and Leo for something that apparently came with a travel warning. Of course, I knew what she said should be taken with a grain of salt, but that didn’t stop the doubts from clouding my vision.

“Josie?” Leo’s voice repeated for the third time. We were a few cycles through a new step that I still hadn’t mastered despite its simplicity. “Is everything okay?” Concern laced his features, his hands squeezing mine in reassurance.

“Yes, just distracted tonight.”

Bringing his lips to my ear, I felt them brush my skin, tingles of pleasure making me forget the worry that had been plaguing me. “I have ways of refocusing you.”

“I always look forward to your teachings, Mr. Santiago.”

Before releasing my hands, his teeth softly bit my earlobe as a parting gift. Making my way to the back of the line, I met Nicole’s amused expressed.

“You both know, that everyone can see you, don’t you?” Her partner twirled her around before her gaze met mine again.

“If Leo doesn’t care, then I don’t.”

“Someone does.” I followed her gaze as we took a step to the right to look for new partners.

Holly sat in the booth with a female friend watching the class progress through the hour. They were both dressed in skin tight black dresses, breasts plumped to the max.

I would be blind if I didn’t acknowledge that she was stunning. With a straight black silky mane and creamy skin, she was simply beautiful. With full lips and perfectly arched eyebrows, she instantly earned my envy. And judging by the surreptitious glances of all the hot-blooded males in the room, it was obvious she had captured their attention.

“She’s like a bloodhound on the scent of a piece of steak!” Nicole blurted, also clearly unimpressed. “How can she be so brazen?”

“I guess when you have nothing to lose and when you know the girlfriend will be out of the picture soon, it doesn’t really matter how overly confident you look.”

The music came to an end and we thanked our partners before the crowd began to dissipate. Nicole remained standing, chatting with her partner who was catching her up on some moves she’d missed in previous lessons. A strong arm wrapped around my waist, a heavenly scent making me melt.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m keen to get out of here,” Leo’s gravelly voice instantly filled my soul with happiness.

“But you’re the star of the show,” I teased, even though he was. People flocked to Leo, not just because he was the owner of the restaurant or a supremely sexy and talented dancer, but because he carried a charisma about him that people either looked up or were attracted to.

“My time with you is precious, Josie. So you either walk out of here attached to my arm, or I lift you over my shoulders and carry you out.”

I heaved a sigh of contemplation. “Both of those sound enticing. You pick.”

“I’m afraid if I choose the latter, the sexy little dress of yours is going to show everyone here what I get to worship. And that is not cool.”

Feeling giddy with anticipation, I wound my arm through his and allowed Leo to steer me through the restaurant. Passing Nicole on the way, she winked in approval and then the resentful eyes of Holly met mine with a cold hard glare.

If I wasted my energy focusing on her intentions, I would be missing prime time with the one who actually mattered.

I just hoped that when I was on the other side of the world and Leo felt the need to move on, that it wasn’t with her.

***

The moment we were through the door, Leo hoisted me into his arms, hands snaked under my dress cupping my ass. His kisses were loaded with a passion that took my breath away, the intensity soul-rattling. But I loved it. With my arms hooked around his neck, I let him carry me up the stairs, strong and confident in his hold. Feeling his erection through our clothes stimulating my clit was driving me crazy.

“I need you right now, Leo,” I begged between kisses. In a rare moment, I was happy to forgo foreplay. I was energized, eager to feel him moving inside of me.

“Right now, Bella?” he mouthed back.

“Yes! Now, please.”

Without needing any further encouragement, he backed me up against a wall, his hard cock straining against his jeans. Breaking slightly apart, he allowed enough room for me to fumble undoing the button and zipper. Shimmying his pants and underwear down just far enough, I watched in awe as his cock sprang free. Between my legs I was wet, wanting, demanding. Balancing me against the wall with his strong body, Leo moved his own hand underneath me, pulling my lace panties to the side. Holding them in place, he lowered me onto his hardness and I took him all the way in. Our moans of pleasure were in unison, my head thrown back in ecstasy as his mouth found my neck. Leo pushed deep inside causing me to cry out, nails digging into his shoulders.

Thrusting hard, my back pounded hard against the wall, but I didn’t care. I needed it rough, I wanted to feel some pain. I needed instant gratification. I craved the urgency in which Leo moved inside me. Dripping with sweat, he claimed my mouth after working a trail up my neck. His tongue danced with mine, my clit now throbbing.

With the lace of my bra rubbing over my tightened nipples, I could take no more. Screaming in pleasure and still some pain, my pussy clenched Leo’s cock as my orgasm rocked me into blissful oblivion. He continued the rhythm until the wave was over before he responded with his own. Slowing his thrusts, he plunged deep, grinding his pelvis against mine making my clit scream for more. Groaning against my mouth, Leo released inside me. Sucking my bottom lip into his mouth, his teeth gently biting down, I rocked my hips until he slowed.

Lowering me to the floor, forehead to forehead, sweat dripping down our temples, he kissed me tenderly. Despite the voracious nature of our lovemaking, Leo had a way of showing me affection in every degree.

“Come,” he said. Stepping back, he clutched the hem of my dress and lifted it over my body. Stepping out of my underwear, I worked on unbuttoning Leo’s shirt. Taking my hand, clothes left in a heap on the floor, he walked me to a cupboard and retrieved two towels and beach blanket.

Without saying a word, we each took a towel, me clutching mine above my breasts and Leo around his waist. Taking the path I was becoming used to, we stepped off the balcony and onto the loose sand. Trudging along the beach, the moon and the chorus of crashing waves our only guide, we stopped just shy of the shore.

I watched in admirable delight as Leo dropped his towel, the whites of his eyes glistening with the glow of the moon.

“Coming in?” his tease enticing me.

“Catch me if you’re quick enough.” No sooner after finishing my brazen statement, I fled down the wet sand hearing Leo’s chuckle close behind. I was shin deep into the warm Pacific water when two strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind, lifting me a few feet into the air. Screaming in delight and laughing at my poor attempt to win my own challenge, I let Leo carry me deep until the water sat mid-waist. Sinking down, I turned and fell into his arms, kissing him deeply.

“I know I shouldn’t,” he started, his voice carrying an edge of sadness. “It wasn’t part of the deal, I know that. But I can’t bring myself to not say it to you.”

Leaning my head back, I studied the gorgeous man in front of me. Even in the moonlight I could see his brows creased together in seriousness.

“I love you, Josie. I knew I would from the moment I saw you.”

Inhaling sharply, tears burned my eyes, the tightness in my throat rendering me speechless. He was right, he shouldn’t have said it. Admitting to such a thing wasn’t going to make our goodbye any easier. But my heart was swelling with joy, because I would never have forgiven myself for keeping such a thing quiet.

“Leo, I love you. From our first kiss I’ve lived and breathed everything Leo Santiago.”

This time, it was his turn to inhale sharply, his forehead resting against mine. Gently kissing my lips, I let the salty tears glide down my cheeks and fall into the salty ocean.

He was my moment of perfection. My summer of love.

***

That night as I lay in his arms listening to his gentle breathing, I cried.

My hot tears etched down my face, my body racked with a mild trembling I tried and failed to subdue. The sound of Leo’s voice played over in my head. The words he brought to life should have sounded happy, yet they were wounded. They carried a sorrow that should never accompany the words
‘I love you.’

But I understood why.

I too felt the pain.

I loved him with all my heart.