Tequila Nights (14 page)

My body heated from the inside and with the limited time we had left together, I couldn’t imagine anything better.

CHAPTER
27

“Are you ready?”

“What?” I sounded like a wounded animal. “Why on earth did you get me to do this? I’m nowhere near ready.”

“Yes, you are, Bella.” Leo was attempting to soothe my nerves, but it was only making matters worse.

“Leo,” I rounded on him. “In case you haven’t noticed you are like some…” I wracked my brain, “graceful swan when you dance, and I look like a drunken one-legged gazelle.”

Leo bit his lip to refrain from laughing. “That reminds me,” he said leaving the room.

Huffing an exasperated sigh, I turned back to the mirror and studied my reflection. I looked beautiful. Leo and Natasha had worked well in picking a suitable dress for the dance, and it was stunning. It was Saturday night. Doomsday. The day of reckoning. Very shortly we would be on stage, everyone staring at us, everyone critiquing our moves.

Returning no less than a minute later, Leo entered carrying a tray with four shots of tequila.

“Extra nerves requires extra tequila,” he said placing the tray on the small table and handing me a glass.

Exhaling heavily, he held his own while he stared into my eyes. There was a glimmer of emotion he had momentarily allowed to be seen. This wasn’t an easy night for either of us. Tomorrow, I would be leaving.

“Bella,” he swallowed, “you’ve given me the best three months of my life. This dance is ours. It’s our story.”

My eyes welled with burning tears and as one slid down my cheek, he used his thumb to catch it from falling. I nodded slightly unable to convey my true feelings. If I did so right then, there was no way I was walking out on stage.

“Salud, Bella.” His fingers gently lifted my chin so my gaze met his once again. “To us.”

***

Our tequila nights had come to an end. That would be the last time Leo and I would drink to celebrate our time together. Yet, as I stood waiting to be announced, Leo somewhere in the crowd, I could feel the two shots of tequila working their magic. A weight had been lifted and a bittersweet melancholy replaced the sadness I felt earlier.

There were a few hundred people gathered, already sweaty from their dancing. The night was hot, the air dry. Citronella poles surrounded the vast area, their flames flickering with the gentle sea breeze. The music faded and I inhaled deeply knowing my time was next.

An accented voice took over the speaker, his enthusiasm amping up the crowd. When introductions finished, a round of applause started but was soon overcome with music.

I recognised the tune immediately. It was one I had said I was extremely fond of, but not the one we had practiced to.

It was raw, emotional and held me transfixed every time.

Walking out on stage, the faces of everyone in the crowd muted from the lights shining in my eyes, I stopped in the middle of the floor.

The beat would be the same but the tempo different. Slightly slower and more intimate.

Despite the tequila, my body began a slight tremble. Not until I smelled his cologne and felt his chest press against my back did I start to relax.

“Bella, you look stunning,” he mouthed against my ear, a shiver coursing down my spine. I could feel the eyes of hundreds watching, waiting.

When his right hand reached around my stomach to clasp my left, I knew it was time to start. Leo’s hips began a gentle rock easily highlighting the beat for me. With a gentle push with his free hand on my back, I curled away from him until we came face to face. Although it was a quick step designed to get us into position, I still took the time to admire just how incredibly handsome Leo Santiago was. His lips twitched and gave a wink before pulling me close against his hard chest. In position, his thigh slipped between my legs and he moved me across the floor with ease and grace I was sure no other man possessed.

When his hips moved, as did mine, a measure designed to show off the woman’s body in all its sensual glory.

Leo’s hand left my waist and cupped my cheek, pulling me close until our lips grazed. We moved like this for at least sixteen beats before finally he kissed me. The crowd applauded, but it became white noise in a world that was just Leo and me.

“Why this song?” I murmured.

Kissing me again, he spun me out in turn before bringing my back against his chest.

“I will show you tonight. Just feel it.”

Less than a minute later the song came to a close and as the audience cheered and clapped with approval, Leo ended the dance by snaking his hands to the nape of my neck, our foreheads touching. His tongue darted out to moisten his lips, the undisguised sadness in his eyes breaking my heart.

***

Later that night, Leo took his time showering me. I could have done it myself, but in his words, he wanted to enjoy every part of me. I couldn’t argue with that and as his hands ran over my body creating a slipstream of soap suds, I relished in his touch.

Before we were even fully dry, I lay on the bed with Leo hovering above, his lips trailing my neck and teeth gently biting my breasts. For the next ninety minutes, Leo Santiago indulged me. He possessed my body and took me to the peaks of climax I’d never experienced before. He was selfless. He was controlled and crazed all at the same time.

By the time we were crying out together, our moans a blended chorus, sweat had covered every inch of our bodies.

I was tender, red and swollen.

Used, celebrated and worshiped.

And I had never felt more alive.

CHAPTER
28

The next morning Leo dropped me back home.

I needed some time with Nicole before I left and despite us both now having busy lives, I needed to make sure she was okay. Taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor, I headed straight for her room and saw something I’d never seen her do in fifteen years of friendship.

“Jesus! What’s happening?”

She looked up through her long lashes with a knowing smile. “Just a simple domestic chore.”

In shock, I watched as she carefully folded her blanket under her pillows and smoothed out the creases.

“You’ve never made the bed before…ever.”

Standing straight, she paused. “I know. Everyone around me is changing, so I think it’s only fitting I do too.”

“By starting to make your bed?”

“By just growing up, I suppose.” Her smile turned sheepish. “Plus, Jase is super tidy and I don’t want him to think that I’m the opposite.”

“Ah, now the truth comes out. You did a fantastic job for your first ever go.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

I watched as humor left her beautiful features and her face turned into a picture of sadness. “Josie,” her bottom lip began to tremble, eyes instantly spilling tears, “I don’t want to start this next stage of my life without you.”

With a shattering heart, I made quick steps toward my vulnerable friend. “Hey, come on,” I cooed wrapping my arms tightly around her. “You won’t even notice I’m gone.”

“Shut up,” she muttered against my shoulder followed by an unladylike sniff.

Shedding my own tears, I stroked her long mane. “This is so wonderful for you,” she choked. “And I am happy.”

“I know,” I barely managed.

“But things just won’t be the same. You’re my best friend and the sister I always wanted, and two years just seems like a world away.”

“Do you remember when you had your job interview and we went out shopping for like two days just to buy one dress for it? Then five minutes before you were called in, you spilled your latte down the front of it tripping up the stairs?”

“It was your foot that tripped me.”

Nodding slightly to accept fault I continued, “That step was higher than the others. Studies have proven mere millimeters is enough to trick brain and foot coordination. But,” I exclaimed, pulling her away to arm’s length, “that was only two years ago. Yet, we remember it like it was yesterday.”

Biting her cheek in contemplation, she swiped at the stray tears. “I guess you’re right.”

“I am. Plus, you, Jase, and Mimi are going to be so busy you won’t have time for anyone else.” Before I could finish the sentence, realisation dawned. “You’re moving in with him! That’s why you’re practicing making the bed, and you just said
‘this next stage of your life.’
”

“He asked last week, but I haven’t yet given him an answer.”

Taking her hand in mine, we sat on the edge of the bed. “He’s nothing like Vince, honey. If that’s the reason you are questioning it, then don’t. Understand that Jase is a carer and a provider. If he’s asked you to be part of his life, it’s because he loves you and he trusts you with Mimi.”

“You think I should say yes?”

“Yes, like a week ago.”

This earned a smile and another unladylike sniff. “Okay. I will accept.”

“But…on one condition,” I said light-heartedly knowing that if they were moving this fast already there was nothing stopping them. “No marriage or kids until I return home.”

***

The weather had turned miserable.

The once beautiful blue sky was now a sickening purplish gray. Heavy droplets of rain were starting to sporadically fall smashing like miniature tidal waves on the windscreen.

Leo was meant to pick me back up to take me to the airport, but I messaged to say Nicole would drop me off at his. I needed the extra time with her to ensure she was grounded before I left. Fortunately, it seemed our little chat and weeklong revelations had done just the trick. She seemed confident and assured that the future looked bright. She held my hand as we drove and chatted about nothing of importance so as to avoid the tears.

Then once we hauled the bags out of the tiny car, the tears again began to roll.

“I want to see regular updates, chat at least once a week and plenty of pictures.”

“Deal and ditto.”

Nicole pulled me into her arms and we held each other tight. “I love you so much, babe,” I muttered through a tightened throat.

“Beyond words,” she replied before setting me at arm’s length. “Now go see your man. Message when you land, okay?”

“Okay.”

With one last hug and kiss, I watched as Nicole wore her bravest of faces, biting hard on her bottom lip. Rounding the car, she shot me a sad look and gave a small wave before she climbed in and drove off. I stayed rooted to the spot until she disappeared out of sight. The smell of rain was strong, the droplets now a steady fall. Wheeling my bags up the drive to the front door, I found it to be wide open. Placing them just inside the threshold, I called out to Leo and got no reply. The house was empty. Cutting straight through to the back door, I spotted him down by the shore. It was low tide so even if I called out, he wouldn’t have heard. Kicking off my shoes, I made my way down the stairs and trudged over the loose sand that was now dimpled with tiny rain cavities.

Coming to a standstill, I watched the man who had his back to me, hands in his pockets, staring out at the ocean. I could feel myself crumbling, my resolve taking a backseat, vision blurring the gorgeous man I loved so much. Swallowing the hard, painful lump, I continued my path, the rain now falling at a steady pace. By the time I reached him, my clothes were dripping, hair clinging to my face.

“Leo,” I murmured, my strained voice sounded like a husky whisper.

His head dropped slightly at the sound of my voice. When he didn’t turn, my tears fell down my cheeks blending with the drops of rain. Taking another step, I joined him by his side. We both stared out into the vast gray ocean, its choice of colour scheme fitting for the day. The waves churned like a dark cauldron with the impending storm on the horizon, a cold chill settling in.

Silently taking my hand in his, fingers now interlaced, there was a deep-seated sadness that passed between us. Blinking furiously to shake the rain from my lashes I turned to him.

Gradually, he met my gaze and my heart shattered into a million pieces. His eyes were bloodshot, red-rimmed and tired.

“Josie,” he whispered. And just like that I was beaten. Lacking all control, my cries violently erupted from my shaking body. I couldn’t talk. I could hardly breathe. Everything became a blur.

Drawing me into his arms, he held tight, cocooning me in his love. I could feel his heart frantically beating, his hand snaking to the nape of neck holding me close. Foreheads touching, Leo gently kissed my quivering lips. It was long, lingering, and full of sadness and goodbyes. Pulling away, he inhaled deeply beckoning composure.

“It was never meant to be easy,” I stammered, the words not making sense even to my own ears. “We knew it wouldn’t be, but we still did it.” By now the rain had us both saturated, yet I barely felt it.

“I couldn’t not have, Bella, not even for a second after seeing you for the first time.”

Biting my bottom lip, the pain assaulted me, but it was nothing to how bad my heart was hurting.

“In another time and another place, Josie Marks, we will be together again.”

***

In fresh dry clothes, we sat in the warmth of Leo’s car on our way to the airport. The rain had subsided, but the sky still was an ominous black, thick clouds rolling over the Hinterland mountains threatening further downpour.

Summer was over. The summer of sunshine, crashing waves, warm salsa nights spent with Leo and the sweet taste of tequila and love were now nothing more than a memory.