Had she colored her hair, too? It was a subtle lightening, but he recognized right away that it was browner than usual under the lights.
And the guy…holy shit. He was good-looking with golden-brown skin, and younger. He had to be at least ten years younger than her.
Hector’s hand tightened on the bar top and his shoulders became rigid. “Who the hell is he?”
Martin touched his arm. “Listen, man—”
Hector shrugged him off and stood. Adelaide was out on a date. A damn date! How could she? How could she when they’d had such great conversations this week? This was the ‘plans’ she’d told him about? The reason she couldn’t spare a couple of hours with him tonight, because she had a date with another man?
And what the hell was going on with the makeover? She looked shiny and new and happier than he’d seen her in years.
Hector tossed some bills on the bar top. “If that doesn’t cover my bill, pay the balance for me and I’ll pay you back.”
“What are you about to do?” Martin asked with a worried frown.
“I’m about to say hello to my ex-wife,” Hector bit out. His gazed flew to the window, but they’d walked out of his line of sight. Shit.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think you should—”
Hector didn’t hear a word Martin said after that. He charged toward the door, pushing through what seemed like a mile-long obstacle course. He wound in between the tables, sliding past a waitress carrying a tray filled with drinks and then half-shoving his way through the crowd at the entrance.
He finally escaped and rushed outside along the waterfront. Under the night sky, couples strolled arm in arm and kids squealed as they ran ahead of their parents. He hurried in the direction he’d seen Adelaide go in, craning his neck for a glimpse of her and the pretty boy.
After minutes of brisk walking, twisting his head to and fro and almost having a heart attack every time he caught a glimpse of red, Hector finally admitted defeat. He stopped in the middle of the walkway and stared out at the dark water. He had no idea where they were or where they’d gone. They could have sauntered into one of the other restaurants or into one of the shops. Hell, they could have left already.
“No,” he muttered, chest hurting at the thought of her leaving with that guy and possibly going back to his place. Or worse, back to her place. Their house. No, she wouldn’t be so brazen. He had called her cell phone twice but she hadn’t answered, and he already regretted the frantic message he left asking her to call him right away.
They were divorced, so it made sense that she’d moved on. That’s what people did. But he was damn near panicking at the thought of her leaving him behind and starting a new chapter with someone new.
“Calm down, Hector. She wouldn’t do that right now. Not while the two of you have been talking regularly.”
Would she?
He didn’t know for sure, but he knew how to find out.
Joseph pulled his rental behind Hector’s Jeep Cherokee. “Looks like you have company.”
Adelaide frowned. “That’s Hector’s car.”
Hector exited the vehicle and rested his hands on his hips, staring at them. She couldn’t see his face well but knew from his intimidatingly rigid stance that he was displeased for some reason.
“Uh, need me to stick around?”
“No, it’s fine. He and I are good, but I didn’t expect to see him. Thanks for the night out. I had a great time.”
“I did, too,” Joseph said.
“Have a safe flight back.” Adelaide squeezed his arm and climbed out of the car. As Joseph pulled out of the driveway, she waved. He honked twice and disappeared down the street.
When she turned to face Hector, his grim expression gave her pause. “Hi. Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know, you tell me.”
“What?”
“You were on a date at Seaside Village with the man who just left. I saw you tonight when I was there with Martin. It’s now…” He made a big show of looking at his watch. “Almost twelve o’clock. I’ve been waiting here for three hours. What were you doing for three hours, Adelaide?”
He hadn’t raised his voice, but tension vibrated in his tone.
“Excuse me?” She wasn’t sure that she’d heard him correctly.
“I left a message on your phone, which you haven’t responded to.”
“I turned off my ringer because I wanted to have an uninterrupted night.”
“You never turn off your ringer because we have kids. What if something had happened to one of them?”
“I didn’t have these kids by myself. You’re their father. If something happened to one of them, they could call you, too.”
“That’s not the point. You know as well as I do that they’ll call you first.”
“This isn’t about the phone, is it?”
“No, it’s not. I thought you and I were getting closer, but then you go and get all dressed up for some young buck. Is all this for him—the hair, the sexy dress, the makeup?”
Adelaide straightened her spine. “All of this is for me. I wanted to feel pretty.”
“Pretty for him, but never me,” Hector said bitterly.
“Not for him, and you’re being ridiculous.” Adelaide marched past him.
“I’m not done talking to you.”
“I’m not going to argue with you in the driveway so the neighbors can hear,” she said over her shoulder.
She let herself into the house and Hector followed close on her heels.
In the bedroom, she swung around and faced him. “Do you mind?”
“We’re not done talking.”
“We can talk when I get finished changing. You can wait in the den or the kitchen.”
“Who is he?”
Adelaide released a long breath and tossed her purse onto the bed. Folding her arms over her chest, she replied, “Joseph. My cousin’s son. The one who lives in Tucson.”
“What?” He looked genuinely perplexed and she had a hard time not laughing.
“I’ve talked about him before. Joseph, and we all call him J.T. He’s here on business and headed back to Tucson tomorrow. He offered to take me out, and I jumped at the chance to get dressed up and…do a mini-makeover with my hair.”
She touched her hair and Hector’s eyes followed the movement.
“Oh.” Hector rubbed the back of his neck. “J.T. I thought…”
“You thought I had a hot date even though we’ve been talking the past few nights,” Adelaide finished for him.
“And you let me think that. Why?”
“I kinda liked that you were jealous,” she admitted with a shrug.
“I almost yanked open his door and beat his ass.”
“You wouldn’t have done that.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Hector muttered, running a hand over his face.
“What would you have done if he really was a date and I brought him inside?”
“I don’t know, broken down the door, thrown a brick through the window.”
Adelaide laughed and then he let out a short laugh.
“You’re as bad as Danny,” Adelaide said.
“Worse. I’m too old to be doing stupid shit like that.” His gaze roamed her face and then lowered to caress her body. He looked at her the way he used to. Long ago. “You’re so beautiful, mi amor. It drove me crazy thinking that you were dressed like this for him.”
“Thank you,” Adelaide said softly. “I just wanted to go out.”
“I could take you out.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need you to take me out, out of pity.” She stepped out of her shoes and tossed them in the closet.
“It wouldn’t be out of pity.”
“Well, whatever. I’m fine. Do you mind? I want to change.” She went to the dresser and removed her earrings. She met his eyes in the mirror.
“I told you I wanted to spend more time with you, and I meant that,” Hector said.
&
nbsp; Slowly, he came forward and stood so close the warmth from his body reached out to hers. “What happened to us?” he asked, voice a low rumble.
Adelaide’s heart began to race. “I’m not sure, but I knew our marriage was truly over when we took Danny to school and didn’t say a word to each other the entire ride back.”
He ran his knuckles up the bared skin of her back. “Damn, you look beautiful, mi amor.” Lust was thick and heavy on his tongue.
She lifted her gaze. His gaze was lowered, eyes focused his movements.
“But you’ve always been beautiful, without even trying.”
When he brushed her hair out the way and tasted her neck, Adelaide shivered. He released the clasp at the top of her dress.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
His eyes finally met hers. “You said you need to change. So I’m helping you undress.”
10
The top of the dress fell around her waist and exposed her breasts to his hands.
“Don’t you need help?” Hector whispered huskily.
Adelaide’s eyes closed as her nipples pebbled against his palms. “I do.”
She breathed with difficulty through her mouth, the noise at the back of her throat conveying need and a desperate longing that filled her nights and disturbed her days.
His tongue teased her earlobe, and Adelaide gripped the dresser, leaning back into the strength of his chest, warm desire pooling between her legs as he continued the relentless massaging of her breasts.
She turned in his arms, anxious for a kiss—anxious for the taste of his mouth again. He kissed her collarbone and then moved higher to her neck, sucking gently on the underside of her chin, and finally connected their lips.
His fingertips skimmed up her bare back before he pushed her against the wall with an impatient growl. Fingers sliding across his nape, Adelaide caressed the back of his head and let them climb into his hair. Her nails scraped his scalp the way he liked and he shuddered, forcing her mouth wide.
Hector knew how to kiss, and touch, and arouse her body to a fever pitch. Granting him deeper access, she allowed his tongue to slice into her mouth. He went deep, tongue tunneling in and sweeping from one end to the other—tasting and reclaiming what had been his for years.
His hands glided down her back to her bottom and squeezed. Adelaide shivered against him, nipples turning into tight pebbles against his hard chest.
She moaned and pressed closer, angling the lower part of her body toward his so that she could feel his rigid erection. She could never get enough of this man. He was her first love and her last love.
Hector broke free and showered amorous kisses along her upper chest and lower to one breast. He took the nipple in his mouth and sucked, tugging with his lips.
His hands were everywhere. On her breasts, squeezing and teasing. Then lower to her waist, caressing as if reacquainting himself with the concave curve. Then between her legs, where she was hot and aching for him.
“Hector,” Adelaide whispered, her voice trembling. All this time she’d missed him and never dreamed she’d be held by him in such an intimate embrace again.
She raised onto her toes to make it easier for him to devour one breast and then the other, teasing with the edges of his teeth and the tip of his tongue while he held her tight against his body. A horrible ache possessed her, the need to be taken by the man she adored, the man she loved almost from the day they met.
Hector slid his hands up her thighs and under the dress, and the material bunched on his forearms as he grabbed her bare ass.
“You’re wearing a thong?” He looked into her eyes, his eyebrows arrowing down. The question sounded like an accusation, a how-dare-you tone to his voice.
“I didn’t want any panty lines,” she whispered.
His hands slipped beneath the crotch, and he rubbed circles around her clit with his thumb. He used her own wetness against her, sliding over the thickened bundle of nerves.
“Hector,” she whispered with her lips trembling against his throat. She lifted her leg and grinded her hips against his like a cat in heat.
“Dime,” he commanded.
“I want you inside me.” She tugged down his zipper and freed his erection, and with a forceful push his pants fell around his ankles.
“Impaciente,” he said shakily.
“I’m very impatient. I want you now.”
Hector pressed her against the wall and trailed kisses down the side of her neck, his breath harsh against the sensitive skin. “I’ve missed you so much,” he said hoarsely.
“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered.
He pulled the hem of her dress higher and shoved the thong down her legs. Adelaide knew what to do. She stepped out and wound her arms around his neck. He lifted her from the floor and she quickly wrapped her legs around his waist.
Hovering her lips next to his ear, she whispered, “Hector, baby, please.”
He guided his erection between her open legs. The tip kissed the entrance in a gentle tease that curled her toes and fingers in anticipation before he pushed into the silken sheath of her sex with an energetic thrust. He laid claim to her body and they both released heavy groans as her softness stretched around his girth.
Keeping her propped against the wall, he continuously surged inside her. She was slippery and wet and absorbed every advance while cursing each retreat. Whimpering, she dug her fingers into his muscular shoulders, angry that he wasn’t yet naked so she could feel his soft, warm skin. She ached for naked flesh against naked flesh, but this would have to do.
Aggressive kissing joined the powerful thrusting of his hips. She wanted to swallow him whole. She never wanted to lose the taste of his salty skin on her tongue again.
They groaned simultaneously, the reacquainting of their bodies sending an explosion of heat through her loins. Panting, Adelaide lifted up and down as he pumped his hips, both hands gripping her backside.
“Yes, yes,” Adelaide moaned.
She kept her legs and arms tight around him and kissed his face and neck. She took deep lungfuls of air filled with his male scent, their breaths mingling together in yet another hungry kiss.
He was like an animal, his fingers digging into her flesh as he fucked her against the wall. Each solid thrust hard, relentless, and taking her higher as over and over he slid in and out. His teeth nipped at her neck and collarbone as his harsh breaths washed over her achy breasts. He’d surely leave marks on her skin, but she welcomed the branding, tightening her clamped legs around his hips and arching her throat to take more of the delicious bruising.
As pressure built in her abdomen, Adelaide buried her face against his throat. It wouldn’t be long before she exploded. Her toes and fingers tightened in anticipation of the release. Hector’s deep grunts matched her whimpers, his hips landing with more solid blows between her open thighs.
He knew what to do. He just knew what to do to satisfy her—to damn near bring her to tears. White-hot pleasure bolted through every cell, and her high-pitched cries filled the room. She bucked against him, panting and clawing his shoulders, digging in her nails as she lost all control.
She came with a keening cry, and her head falling backward as pleasure tore up her spine and lambasted her insides.
Hector pumped his hips faster, his hands gripping her bottom. His breaths came deeper and harder, the words he whispered in Spanish lost at the end of a groan that left him trembling when he climaxed too.
“Addie,” he half-gasped—the sound of a tortured man finally getting what he most desired.
He let loose a series of F-bombs as he crushed her against the wall, his body frozen to absorb every drop of ecstasy.
Finally, at the end of a moment that seemed to last forever, Adelaide lowered her feet to the floor and rested her forehead against his shoulder. Before she could utter a word, Hector kissed her nose and the corner of her mouth.
“Bed,” he said, as if that was the only word he could manage.
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They slept soundly, but in the middle of the night, Adelaide awakened Hector by nudging her bottom against his hips. When he moved restlessly, she turned to face him and caressed his chest down to his abs. He was almost naked now, and she was able to take pleasure in the hairs that covered his chest and arrowed below the waistband of his boxer shorts.
In a haze of lust, she touched his hard body in all the places she’d longed to in the past year. His hips, his powerful thighs, and then higher to his swollen erection.
“Addie.”
He came fully awake and slid his hands between her legs. His mouth wreaked havoc on her hard nipples, and her breathing stuttered as he guided his tongue over her curves and stroked her damp sex until his fingers were coated with her slick arousal.
She slipped out of her underwear, and he pushed the nightshirt high on her waist and entered her with one smooth stroke. Pleasure slashed through her abdomen. She gasped. The muscles in his back and legs flexed under her hands. Gripping his back and wrapping her legs tightly around his waist, the lower part of her body lifting frantically against his.
Adelaide came with a sharp cry, and he came with a loud groan, muscles quivering from the intensity of their lovemaking.
When he rolled off of her, they finally settled down to sleep again.
Spent but satisfied.
11
Adelaide’s fingers wandered through Hector’s tousled dark hair as he slept, gently so she wouldn’t wake him. She couldn’t believe she could touch him again the way she wanted to.
She eased out of bed and picked up the discarded clothes from the night before. She went over to the walk-in closet and tossed them in the hamper. Then, slipping on her robe, she tightened the belt around her waist.
Before entering the bathroom, she took a good look at Hector, sprawled across the mattress, bare chest lifting up and down, one arm flung away from his body in abandon, his norm. He was a bed hog and had denied it for years until she took a picture one day and showed him the evidence.
Seasoned Page 15