by Mia Madison
That I was falling wildly in love with him. Even though I’d done my best not to.
And what if I’d let him do that, only for things to not work out between us? I couldn’t have lived with myself knowing that I’d ruined such a good man’s life. Miguel deserved the best, even if he didn’t know it for himself.
It hurt, but letting go was necessary. It was the right decision. It was for the best. Because, if I was being honest, I never expected things to work out in my favor. Unfortunately, my almost-relationship with Miguel was just another casualty of my shitty luck with love.
But yes, there was no more denying the fact that I did love him. That much had become perfectly clear after two weeks of being completely alone.
Unfortunately, it was too little, too late.
I looked at my phone. No missed calls. No new messages. No signs of life from his side of Miami. For a moment, I thought about picking it up and calling him. It was the same thought I’d had every single minute of every day since he’d left. And again, I held back. I resisted the urge.
What could I have possibly said, anyway? Sorry? I know I shit on your heart and nothing has changed, but… I just wanted to hear your voice?
No.
That wasn’t good enough. Miguel deserved better. He certainly didn’t deserve to be jerked around by my stupid insecurities.
The studio door opened again, pulling me from my thoughts. My eyes squinted against the imposing sunlight as I tried to figure out whose silhouette darkened the doorway, but all I could see was a pair of arms and legs behind a ridiculously huge Pistils & Petals bouquet.
“Excuse me, are you Bianca Rios?”
The young man peered from behind the mass of lilies and sunflowers, tulips, daisies, and dozens more flowers that I couldn’t identify. The bouquet was bright and sunny, and I could smell the wonderful fragrance of so many flowers even from ten feet away.
“I’m Bianca, yes. Is this for me?”
He nodded, passing the bouquet to me. It was deceptively heavy, and I had to set it in the floor between us just to be able to see the man in front of me.
“It’s beautiful, but who sent it?”
He shrugged. “Didn’t say. My boss just told me to bring it here. I think there’s a card.”
I spotted it as soon as he said the words, and plucked the small card with the cheerful yellow envelope from the middle of the bouquet.
“Thank you,” I said absently as he turned to go.
My attention was on the card in my hands, though. There were only a few people who would send me a bouquet of flowers out of the blue — well, only one person, really.
And I fucking hated his guts. Because there was no way in hell Desmond could ever buy me back. Not after he fucked me over by getting another woman pregnant, and then giving her my ring – and most especially after ruining the one positive thing that was actually blooming for me in the wake of our very public, humiliating breakup.
I opened the card, taking a deep breath to try and calm my trembling fingers. I needed my zen and my nerves under control, because I could only imagine the disrespectful, taunting attempt he would make. Yet as soon as I started to read it, tears sprang to my eyes.
Bianca -
I hope you don’t mind, but I saw these flowers and immediately thought of you. They were just so bright and cheerful and… perfect. I couldn’t resist sharing them with you.
There were so many things that I never got the chance to tell you. Like how much I appreciate your friendship, and how much I value everything about you. And even though I understand why we can’t be together, I regret that I never got the chance to tell you how happy you always made me.
You’re an extremely beautiful woman, inside and out. I wish you the very best in life, and I truly hope you find the love and acceptance that you’ve helped me find in my life. You deserve it more than anyone I know.
Another thing you deserve is the success you’re building for yourself. You have an incredibly bright future ahead of you, and I hope all of your dreams come true. With that hope in mind, you’ll find a check with this card.
There are no obligations to repay the amount enclosed, no strings attached, no need to call me later. It’s a gift from me to you, and it makes me incredibly happy to think that I’ll be able to help you reach for the stars and achieve your dreams.
Thank you for everything, and I hope our paths cross again someday. I feel blessed for having you in my life, even if it was only for a short time.
Con Muchas Gracias (plus Hugs and Kisses),
Miguel
I had sat down on the floor while I read, and didn’t dare to look up into any of the countless mirrors that lined the room. I didn’t want to see myself ugly-crying.
God, this man was so unbelievably perfect.
Then, remembering the note about the check, I looked into the envelope again, finding it folded there.
When I unfolded it and read the amount, my mouth fell open, and I cried even harder. If I hadn’t already been sitting down, I would have surely fallen to my knees. I wiped away the tears to double-check the amount, to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
Nope. Not dreaming.
This was real life. This was really happening. Through my tears, I smiled, then laughed, then looked again.
Holy. Shit.
In my trembling hands was a check from Miguel for one hundred thousand dollars. It was more zeros on a single check than I’d ever seen in my life. And it was made out to me. Free and clear, no strings attached.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “Oh my God!”
I was going to have my studio, and I wasn’t going to be in debt to do it, nor was I going to have to give up equity to someone I didn’t even know. It was literally the answer to my prayers.
Thank you, Jesus. And thank you, Miguel.
Miguel
I closed my eyes and silently counted to three. Why had I let Maria talk me into this, anyway? The last thing I wanted was to go on a blind date — especially not to the little restaurant on Ocean Drive that my mind would always associate with Bianca.
If Maria’s objective had been to help me get over Bianca, it had failed miserably. I thought about her constantly, day and night. The only time I’d smiled was when I’d received the confirmation that her flowers had been delivered, and I’d tried to imagine the surprised look on her face when she found the check.
It was a poor substitute for the real thing, but at least for a moment I’d been able to share in her happiness, even if it had just been in my mind.
But that chapter of my life had closed, and I was going to have to try and find a way to put it behind me.
I felt a brief pang of guilt for the woman I was about to meet. She didn’t deserve to be compared to Bianca, but there was no way around it. It was hard to imagine ever being able to look at another woman without thinking of Bianca, no matter how unfair that might be to the other women, or to myself.
I got out of the car and slowly waked toward the restaurant. Time to suck it up. Time to put on a good show.
The hostess smiled when I gave her my name, and said my table was ready. At least my date was on time. That was a good start. I’d just have to remind myself to keep an open mind about everything else. There was just no way she could compare to —
“Bianca?” I said, stopping suddenly when the hostess stepped aside to reveal the table and the beautiful goddess sitting there. Even with her back to me, there was no mistaking her.
And when she turned to face me? I could have died right that minute and would have been happy knowing that my dreams had come true.
“You must be Miguel,” she said, winking. “Your sister didn’t tell me how handsome you were when she set up this date.”
I laughed. A full, deep laugh. It was the first time in weeks that I’d felt that kind of happiness, and I didn’t even try to hold it in.
“She definitely didn’t tell me to expect such a beautiful woman,” I said, still smiling as I sat down a
cross from her.
I reached out and took her hand in mine, kissing the top of it. I couldn’t resist. It felt like I’d gone weeks in the desert without water, only to find a lush, beautiful oasis waiting for me.
And she was more beautiful than ever, her ruby red dress in stark contrast with her dark hair, her skin soft as satin. It was all I could do not to scoop her up and carry her out of the restaurant.
“I’m glad you’re not upset, at least,” she said, nibbling at her lip. That sparkling red gloss would be the first thing getting licked off the moment I got to really touch her.
“Upset? Why would I be? I don’t think I could ever be upset with you.”
It was her turn to laugh. “Well, don’t be surprised if I remind you of that someday. But I just… I missed you, Miguel. And I’m not sure if this is a mistake or not, but I had to see you again.”
“It’s not a mistake. I know that for sure. The two of us together isn’t wrong, and it can never be a mistake.”
“But your job—”
“I don’t care. I’ve been thinking a lot about my job, my life, my future, since — since the last time I saw you. And I’ve got ideas. I’ve got plans. Dreams of my own. Maybe I’ll start my own firm. It would be a challenge, but I’ve got some clients who I know would follow me, and I’ve got a nice level of savings…”
Her eyes went wide. “Oh my God, Miguel, that would be amazing! Are you really considering leaving that place?”
“Yeah, I really am. I don’t want anyone controlling me or my career with their bullshit.”
I scrubbed a hand down my face. It was surreal to be sitting there with her, talking about plans for the future. Plans that I desperately wanted to include her in. “We can talk about that another time, though. I’m just so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you so much. I’ve missed… everything about you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. More than you know. And I wanted to thank you in person for the check—”
“No,” I held up a finger and shook my head. “No need to thank me. Thank me by following your dreams and never looking back. That’ll be more than enough thanks.”
She nodded, and her eyes were suspiciously bright. “Okay. I’ll do that. I promise.”
I grinned. “I hope you don’t mind if I hold your hand for a while — just to remind myself that you’re really here. That this isn’t a dream.”
She leaned in. “This isn’t a dream, but I can tell you some of the things I’ve been dreaming about lately. Some of the things that I’ve been wanting to do with you.”
Her seductive tone and those suggestive words sent a jolt go straight down to my cock, and I swallowed hard. “I definitely want to hear more about these dreams. Like, right now.”
She laughed again. “We haven’t even ordered yet. I’m afraid if I get started, I’ll want you to take me home and turn those fantasies into reality — like, now.”
I nodded. “Oh, that’s happening. Count on it.”
Her eyes glittered with a sexy, naughty excitement that made my cock even harder.
“But just so you know,” I lowered my voice and gave her direct eye contact, “When I take you home, I’m not fucking around anymore, Bianca. I’m going to make love to you. I’m done waiting. You’re the one I want. You’re the one I’ve been waiting on. And I’m not holding back anymore.”
She looked at me, her eyes deep brown, smoldering with consideration as she devoured my words. It felt like time stopped as we stared into each other’s eyes, sending telepathic messages of love, desire, and deep-seated, passion that nobody would be able to hear but us.
“Then we’d better eat a good meal,” she finally replied, with a wink. She bit her juicy red lip and leaned forward. “Because this is going to be a very long night.”
Oh my God.
Everything I’d wanted was happening, and it was happening so fast that I was having a hard time keeping up. Bianca was here. With me. We were going to make love. Tonight.
Oh. My. God.
I felt like I’d just hit the lottery, like I was the luckiest, illest motherfucker alive. She made me feel that way, just with a look, with a smile, with a touch.
And now that I had another chance with her, I wasn’t going to blow it. I wasn’t going to lose her again.
I put that on everything.
I’d barely been able to contain myself through dinner, and the drive back to her apartment was excruciating. Several times, I’d had to resist the urge to pull the car over and kiss her, touch her, make love to her right there on the side of the road.
The only thing that stopped me was knowing that she deserved more than that. I wanted her to enjoy the night as much as I already knew I was going to. And even though I wasn’t at all confident in my skills, I wasn’t too nervous, either.
I knew that she would show me what she liked, what she wanted, and I trusted her completely. I loved her, and once I’d been able to admit it to myself, that had made all the difference.
Fuck Desmond. Fuck Terri. Fuck everybody at that ass-kissing firm.
She took my hand and led me through the door of her apartment, not stopping until we were in her bedroom. It was dark, with just a sliver of moonlight filtering in through the curtains.
Without a word, she walked around the room, lighting candles. Somewhere along the way, she’d turned on some music, and she when she finally looked back over her shoulder at me, the lust in her eyes was unmistakable.
“Take off your clothes and get comfortable.” She nodded toward the bed, and turned back to lighting candles.
My mouth had gone dry and I’d felt sort of mesmerized as I’d watched her sway to the music, but her words had finally spurred me to action. I fumbled with the buttons on my shirt and pants, tossing them both aside along with my boxers as I climbed onto her bed.
She turned to face me and slowly unzipped her dress, shimmying out of it to reveal the lacy black lingerie she’d worn beneath it. I sucked in a sharp breath as my already rock-hard cock throbbed against my stomach.
“Damn,” I whispered. “You’re so beautiful.”
The corners of her mouth twitched, but she didn’t smile. She didn’t speak. She just moved in time with the music, tossing her hair playfully as she danced for me.
I started stroking myself as I watched her. I couldn’t help it. She was just so fucking hot, and I felt just the way I had that very first night I’d met her, the first time I’d seen her dance.
Except now, the dance was just for me.
When she finally — finally — climbed up onto the bed next to me, then straddled my legs with her own, it was almost enough to put me over the edge.
“Are you ready, Miguel? I need you inside me.”
“Yes,” I nodded frantically. “Oh God, yes.”
She smiled, moving her hips with slow, deliberate motions as she slowly pulled her panties off. I reached for her, but she leaned back.
“Let me do the work, baby. Tonight is about you.”
“It’s about us,” I corrected, grinning. But okay. I was more than happy to play along and enjoy the view.
And a hell of a view it was. A low moan escaped my lips when her hands moved to unclasp her bra, and I licked my lips as she freed her gorgeous breasts, the tiny buds of her nipples already standing out and just waiting for my lips and tongue.
She moved back and leaned down, gently moving my hand out of the way as she wrapped her hand around my cock. “First, I want to taste what I’ve been missing.”
“Oh, God, yes.” I let my head fall back as her mouth closed around my shaft, the warm wetness of her mouth feeling like a dream come true. Her free hand massaged my balls as she bobbed up and down on my length, sucking my cock better than any of the porn stars I’d ever seen do. Bianca was the real Super Head.
If I hadn’t known what was coming next, I would’ve been more than happy to stay there, just like that, all night. But I’d been waiting for too long, thinking and dreaming and fantasizing about what we
were about to do. I needed her, and I didn’t want to wait any longer.
“Bianca, mami please,” I panted. “I need to fuck you. Now.”
She looked up at me and smiled as my cock slipped from her lips. Without another word, she raised up and guided me between her legs, sliding my cock along her wet pussy, pink, waxed bare, and already dripping wet with the evidence of her arousal. Feeling her slide against the tip of my ultrasensitive cock was pure torture, and I groaned as she guided the head to part her lips.
Her hair fell in front of her face and we both moaned in erotic relief as I slid inside of her, her tight warmth gripping me like a glove that had been made just for me.
“Oh, fuck,” I ground out through clenched teeth as she began to rock against me. She felt so wet, so deep, so tight and hot. My eyes rolled. Now I knew what Bruno Mars meant when he said his girl made him feel like he’s been locked out of Heaven.
I wasn’t getting pussy. I was entering Paradise. Feeling it in the flesh, and being worked back to the garden of Eden.
I raised my hips to meet hers, thrusting in time with the sensual music as she leaned in for a kiss. The heat of her mouth and her tight, sweet pussy already had me close to the edge, but then she opened her mouth to me with one of those delicious, needy whimpers, crooning my name. It was almost enough to put me over the edge. But I steeled myself, because I refuse to let this end so easily.
“Just like that, Miguel,” she whimpered, leaning back, jutting out her perfect breasts as I thrust harder and faster. “Keep going, baby. Just. Like. That.”
“You feel amazing,” I whispered, eyes low. I felt like the luckiest man in the world as my hands roamed over her body, from her breasts down to her hips, where I grabbed onto her and held her in place as I thrust into her.
“Miguel, papi, you’re gonna make me come.”
“Yes,” I growled. I was always told ladies come first. I urgently increased my thrust as I begged. “Yes. Come with me.”