What worried him though was how would he ever keep her at the hacienda and keep his distance? Eventually they would become lovers, he was sure of it. What then? How could he keep a wife and a mistress in the same house?
Rafael eased Bella to a slow gallop. Sweat ran down his face and his shirt stuck to his perspiring chest. He hadn’t meant to ride his mare so hard and it hadn’t been Bella he wanted to ride.
He wanted Gaby. He wanted to feel her moist flesh against his, feel her buck beneath him and cry out in pleasure. He wanted to capture her moans in his mouth, fuel their passion and quench their hunger again and again.
“Madre Dios. I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want Gaby,” he said raising a fierce fist to the heavens.
As though in answer, thunder rumbled in the distance. It warned and reminded. Gaby was an innocent peasant girl, not his for the taking. Stay away and leave her for one of her own kind.
He turned Bella and headed back to the hacienda at a slow, steady gallop. The rumbling thunder grew louder and the sky darkened, promising an afternoon thunderstorm. To Rafael it was a stern warning. One he had no doubt would prove difficult, if not impossible to heed.
Chapter Six
Louisa Ortega stood only five feet three inches. She was petite in form and character. Her small breasts gave way to a slim waist followed by narrow hips. Her pure dark complexion was accented by lustrous black hair that was artfully braided to run up the back of her head and fastened with an ivory comb. Even the delicate white lace dress echoed her demure character, but when she spoke her true personality emerged.
Gaby saw her for her true worth, a strong woman who knew what she wanted and she wanted the Cabrillo money and power. She had firm hold of Rafael’s arm ever since she and her father had arrived a half hour earlier.
The woman continued to flatter him with noxious talk of his superior horsemanship as well as his ability to protect those around him. She fueled his manly pride until Gaby was certain his chest would burst with self-importance.
Louisa had also made certain to comment on Gaby’s inadequacy as a servant, thanks to Rafael. Her taunts had begun as soon as she had caught Rafael glancing at Gaby with a hint of hunger that was undeniable. The petite woman no doubt perceived it as a serious threat.
“How terrible, Rafael, that you are saddled with inexperienced help,” Louisa said, reaching out to take a crystal glass of red wine from the silver serving tray Gaby held in front of her.
Gaby maintained her smile and composure, though she wished to dump the entire tray of glasses on the obnoxious woman’s lap.
“Gaby is companion to my mother and does her job well. She is not part of the regular servant staff,” Rafael said in her defense.
“How lucky for you,” Louisa responded with a sympathetic pat to his arm before slipping her hand over his. She didn’t care for his response. Gaby was obviously under his dictate, not Dona Maria’s. She wondered with much concern if the young, well-endowed girl was under Rafael in a more physical way. She didn’t like the picture her thoughts painted, and she sent Gaby a scathing look.
Gaby simply grinned, turned with a flourish and exited the room with her hips swaying to the lively rhythm of the music.
Rafael saw that Louisa could not conceal her annoyance while he did his best to conceal a smile, entertained by Gaby’s spirited nature.
“Do the vineyards look good to you this year?” Eduardo Ortega asked, taking Dona Maria’s arm and helping her to the chair beside his daughter.
Rafael stood, freeing Louisa’s hold on him. The petulant frown she cast his way was lost to him as he focused his attention on her father. “This will be an excellent year. The grapes are plump with juice.”
Eduardo smiled broadly, the many lines on his aging face deepening. “It is a good feeling to see the land produce such rich pleasures. I look forward to every glass of wine that my vineyards produce.”
Rafael agreed with him. The man had some of the richest acreage in Los Angeles, gained by hard work. Rafael liked the short, robust man. His almost sixty years showed on his aging face. And his body still retained the thick muscles in his arms and legs from the endless days of working in the field while his slightly rounded belly hinted at his love of good food and wine. Rafael found himself well-satisfied with the man as a future father-in-law. He only wished he liked Louisa half as much. He was no fool. He knew what the woman was after, but then, most Spanish marriages were arranged to benefit the wealth of the family, not love.
His first marriage had been such. Anna had been a dutiful wife, obeying his every command, even in bed. There had been no love between them, but she had gotten pregnant because it was her duty, and because she knew that as a good husband, he would not touch her intimately until after the child was born.
Afterwards, she tolerated his touch until he finally withdrew from her bed entirely until such a time for another child to be conceived. Would Louisa be the same way? Cold to his touch?
Gaby wouldn’t be.
The thought didn’t shock him. It had actually been lingering there tormenting him and there was no point in denying it.
Gaby was like the earth, her scent rich with the sweetness when newly tilled and ready for planting. It accepted the seed with fervent pleasure, taking it deep within and nourishing it with life. Gaby would accept a man that way. She would take him willingly inside her, filling her and him with pleasure, accepting his seed and nourishing it with love.
“Don’t you agree, Rafael?” Dona Maria asked.
Perspiration licked at Rafael’s brow and trickled along his chest beneath his white shirt. His thoughts had heated more than his skin, and he shifted his legs to help ease the ache. “What was that you asked, Mother?”
“I was saying how nice a trip to Spain would be for Louisa. She has never seen the mother country or experienced the thrill of being received at court.”
Louisa’s face brightened. “It sounds so exciting.”
Eduardo cupped his hands behind his back and frowned. “The sea voyage could be dangerous.”
“Nonsense, Papa,” Louisa scolded, though maintained a smile. “I’d love to see Spain.”
“Of course she would, Eduardo,” Dona Maria insisted. “What woman wouldn’t want to be at the center of such gala activities and fashion? It would be a wonderful wedding gift.”
“Perhaps,” Eduardo conceded reluctantly. “I’ll consider it when she becomes betrothed.”
All eyes turned to Rafael. He glanced from one to another their smiles filled with expectation. Then his glance met with Gaby standing in the doorway. She wore no smile, her brown eyes fixed on him with a sobering ache.
She would never settle for the role of his mistress and marriage between them was not possible. Louisa was of his class. She would know her place and see to her duties like them or not. His own duties reminded him of this and yet he answered, “A trip to Spain would be nice—one day.”
The three smiles quickly faded. Dona Maria immediately eased the awkward situation, leaning closer to Louisa and whispering, “Give him time. He knows you are best for him.”
Louisa smiled and nodded. But her eyes glanced in Gaby’s direction and she knew without a doubt that time would be her enemy and she needed Rafael’s proposal soon, very soon.
The festive air returned during the meal. Eduardo entertained them with stories of Spain. Lupe’s culinary talents dazzled all starting with the fresh slices of fruit in wine sauce, to the fowl smothered with green chilies and corn, to warm avocados filled with mashed beans and hot burritos stuffed with Lupe’s secret filling that guaranteed a mouth-watering pleasure. And though all were full by evening’s end, each found room for the delicious cake saturated with rum and lemon pie lightly whipped and folded into a flaky crust that scooped up light and airy.
“What shall you have, my dear?” Rafael asked, leaning closer toward Louisa.
“Oh, Rafael, I really shouldn’t,” she said coyly.
“Nonsense, Louisa
. Every woman must envy you your petite form.”
Louisa blushed appropriately. “Thank you, darling.”
Rafael continued playing the ardent suitor, for Louisa’s benefit or to agitate Gaby, he wasn’t certain. He placed his hand over hers and spoke. “Let me choose for you.”
Louisa nodded her consent and smiled up at Gaby. She returned the woman’s smile while holding the serving knife high.
“The lemon pie, the rich sweetness suits you.”
Louisa smiled, pleased.
Gaby kept smiling as she brought the knife down to slip under the slice of pie. It was a large slice and she had difficulty balancing it on the serving knife. She handled it with caution, careful not to drop it.
As she turned to serve it, she caught the warning glint in Rafael’s eyes. He reminded her to behave and that annoyed her. She may be a peasant but she had been taught manners and respect, things that Louisa lacked. She wanted nothing more than this evening to come to a quick end, her stomach ready to retch from all the false bantering sweetness.
Gaby felt, too late, the slight shove to her elbow. It was enough to send the piece of pie tumbling off the serving knife to splatter all over the front of Louisa’s dress. Lemon filling stuck like stiff peaks to her small breasts while the rest of the slice splattered across her midriff.
Louisa didn’t waste a moment. She shrieked with disdain and shock. “My dress, you stupid fool! Look what you have done to my dress.”
Rafael turned angry eyes on Gaby and Dona Maria glared at her appalled. Eduardo Ortega was the only one whose eyes held any sympathy.
The older man attempted to defuse the smoldering situation. “I’m sure the girl didn’t mean it.”
Dona Maria appeared relieved and hurriedly agreed with him. “Oh my yes, it was simply an accident. Gaby has little experience serving.”
Rafael hadn’t said a word and that worried Gaby. He was probably trying to keep tight rein on his anger, which didn’t bode well for her.
“Gaby, leave this room at once,” Rafael ordered, “and send Lupe to finish serving.”
She knew it was useless to explain that it hadn’t been her fault, so she did as she was told; she left the room.
The house was silent. The Ortegas had left with repeated apologies from Dona Maria for the unfortunate accident and a promise of sending for material from Spain for a new dress for Louisa. After bidding them good-night Rafael had abruptly retired to his study, not wanting a confrontation with his mother, who he knew was disappointed. She no doubt had expected him to request permission from Eduardo to call on his daughter or perhaps to have extended an invitation to Louisa to go riding with him.
He had done neither and his mother was probably upset with him and no doubt Louisa was as well.
He was the last of the Cabrillo men and was expected to do his duty, marry and have heirs. His mother knew he would do what was expected of him. He always did.
Gaby hurried along the red tiles barefoot. She had finished tending Dona Maria preparing her for bed. Now she was to tend to Rafael’s quarters. She wanted to hurry and get done so that she would not be there when he retired.
She had been relieved though surprised that Dona Maria had not reprimanded her for the accident, but then it was not her place to do so; it was Rafael’s. She had been amazed that she had not been summoned to his study when she learned he had secluded himself there shortly after the Ortega’s departure. She was almost positive that he had every intention of punishing her for what he probably assumed was an intentional act.
Of course he would never consider Senorita Ortega capable of such deception, and she wasn’t in the mood to argue with him.
She approached the end of the corridor with caution. Rafael’s quarters were on the opposite side of the hacienda from his mother’s. It afforded privacy. She placed her hand on the iron latch and paused a moment. She mumbled a quick prayer that he was not within and pushed open the door.
A lone candle flickered in the glass globe on the table near the window, casting eerie shadows around the room. Gaby smiled relieved that he wasn’t there and hurried to tend to her duties and be done with them as fast as possible.
She lit two more candles, forcing a warm glow to spread across the room. She poured a glass of red wine from the crystal decanter on the wooden table between the doors that led to a private patio area. She was careful not to spill and stain the beautiful white linen cloth that covered it. One accident, though not her fault, was enough for the evening. She carried the glass over by the bed, placing it on the short, narrow table next to the bed.
Gaby reached out reluctant to touch where Rafael slept. Naked? She silently chastised herself for such a wicked thought. Not wanting to spend another minute here, she pushed past her reluctance and grasped the edge of the soft, pale beige blanket pulling it down to fold along the bottom of the bed. She followed it with the linen sheet, stopping halfway down then folding it back at one corner.
Her hands shook, her nostrils flared and her breath caught when she got a whiff of the scent that was all Rafael. It was a mixture of wine and the fresh earth. At times the scent was almost sweet, especially when he had been riding in the orchards or vineyards. Other times it was more vibrant and full-bodied, like the finest of wines. Whatever way though, it always ignited her senses.
Her hands grasped his pillow, preparing to fluff it and the other three and then be on her way. But the pillow was ripe with his scent and she couldn’t stop herself from burying her face in it. She breathed deeply, drinking in the intoxicating aroma. She moved her head from side to side, marking herself with his scent.
She pulled it down between her breasts hugging it to her, realizing this evening had upset her more than she had wanted to admit.
“I like my pillows fluffed not flattened,” Rafael said from the doorway.
The heat of embarrassment stung her cheeks. She kept her back to him and punched the pillow back into shape.
Rafael smiled at her uneasiness, but was pleased. He had been damn uneasy when he spied her from the doorway, caressing his pillow to her face. Then when she had taken it between her full large breasts, he imagined his face there and heat rushed threw him until he had grown so hard that it hurt.
He fought the wicked thoughts as he entered the room. “That’s enough. By the time you finish, the pillow will be battle-scarred.”
Her cheeks bloomed red once again and she desperately wanted to escape to the safety of her room, far removed from his. She placed the pillow on the bed and went to walk past him. His hand shot out and grabbed her arm.
“I wish to speak with you.”
His fingers dug lightly into her skin letting her know it wasn’t a request.
He released her and she backed a safe distance away.
Rafael took his time. He wore no jacket or tie and several buttons had been undone exposing a good portion of his hard muscled chest. He picked up the glass of wine by the bed and sipped it, intentionally prolonging Gaby’s uneasiness.
“You should have been more careful this evening.”
Gaby’s uneasiness fast turned to annoyance.
“I realize that you are unfamiliar with serving a meal, but that accident could have been prevented if you had been more careful and paid attention.”
“It wasn’t my fault.”
Rafael walked nearer to her. “Not your fault?”
She nodded wondering if explaining the truth would prove futile.
“Whose fault was it?”
Gaby didn’t hesitate. “Louisa Ortega.”
Rafael regarded her like a skeptic parent. “Louisa Ortega dumped the pie on herself?”
Gaby kept her wits about her even though her temper simmered. “Perhaps she wanted a larger piece of pie.”
“Enough,” Rafael hissed. “Louisa would have no reason for deception. You on the other hand...”
Gaby rested her hands on her hips. “Of course, I forgot. I’m a thief, which makes me a liar.”
; “You have yet to prove your innocence and unfortunately you now have added to your crimes.”
“Oh yes, crimes must be punished. Let me see, a horse thief gets hanged, so a liar would have his tongue cut out?” With that Gaby stuck her tongue out for inspection.
Her audacious actions shocked him. He glared at her tongue sticking out and wiggling in his face. It teased, taunted and tantalized. The wet, soft pink flesh and the long length sent a shiver through him and he silently cursed his uncontrolled response.
Gaby caught his reaction and hastily drew in her tongue and snapped her mouth closed.
Rafael walked to stand just inches in front of her. “You react before you think—a most unwise trait. And one that could prove detrimental.”
The heat of his body drifted around her along with the scent of him, vibrant and strong, not an ounce of sweetness to him. She warned herself to flee, leave now before she did something foolish. She slowly took a step back.
Raphael grasped her arm once again, though so tightly that she grimaced. He instantly relaxed his grip. He eased her up against him, his breath warm upon her face.
“Don’t play games with me, querida, I always win.”
“I play no games,” she whispered, her tongue peeking out to lick her dry lips.
“Are you truly innocent or do you bait me?” He pushed her away. “Go! And make certain that Lupe instructs someone else to tend my quarters while Anita is ill, even if she must handle the chore herself. You are never to enter this room again.”
“Si, Don Rafael,” she said and hurried out the door.
Rafael watched the door close behind her. He turned intending to add more wine to his glass. Instead he walked to the bed and reached for the pillow Gaby had embraced with her breasts. He brought it up near his face, the strong scent of her drifting off it. Just before he could surrender to the urge to bury his face in it, he angrily tossed it across the room, cursing soundly.
Untamed Fire Page 7