by Stefania Gil
Yes, it was desire. He was even more surprised by the pulsation his penis issued in protest.
He felt his nerves invade him in a bad way.
He had gone centuries without experiencing such a genuine throb. He only remembered what would happen if he and a woman got to the point of a sexual encounter.
Suddenly, terror seized him. He needed to run as fast as possible on his horse. All he had to do was spur the animal twice so it would speed up leaving Natalia behind. She gaped at him with surprise as he only focused on the field that opened in front of them.
He inhaled sharply and closed his eyes for a moment to clear his thoughts.
He wanted the wind to take them but it was impossible. He grunted, remembering Natalia’s ass.
Was it possible Natalia woke up the man in him and kept his terrible past experiences at bay? Until that moment he had no manifestation of his abominable past memories. They didn’t spontaneously resurface as usual. He was bringing them out as if punishing himself for what he felt for her. He himself was voluntarily tormenting himself as if involuntary doses were not enough.
He turned his head and realized she was not behind him.
Suddenly he felt his blood drain, as he scanned his surroundings.
There was no sign of her. How could he be such a fool to leave her alone?
He turned to go back the same way. If something happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
He rode aimlessly until he saw her heading for the dilapidated residence.
He pulled Scout’s straps to slow him down to a trot until he reached the property.
She stared at him with amusement.
“It seems you can’t bear to lose, Mr. Peña.”
He blinked a couple of times as he looked at her thoroughly, making sure she was whole and unharmed.
He had to stop being paranoid. No one knew he was there.
He got off his horse and approached her.
He studied her eyes and confirmed she was the cause of him not being able to control his nervous system. His nostrils were invaded by the wonderful sweet fragrance that emanated from her skin.
She was perfect.
Her mouth was perfect.
He could feel his ragged breathing. It was enough for him to move closer to her.
Just as Manuel opened the door, witnessing what was happening, he silently resolved to go back inside the house.
Francisco came so close to Natalia, she could feel his warm breath grazing her skin.
He wondered what the inside of her mouth would taste like.
She seemed to read his thought and bit her lip. Francisco’s entire life, more than four centuries halted and the only thing that matter was that moment insinuated between them.
Natalia became the personification of sensuality for him.
His desire materialized again.
He moved closer to her. His lips barely brushed hers making her breath quicken.
“Since you’re not going to kiss, I'm not going to spend all morning waiting for you two. Come in this damn minute to start moving before I change my mind and tell both of you to go to hell.” Manuel interrupted the moment and they both erupted with laughter at the old man's remark. However, Francisco made a mental note to find the opportune moment to continue what they started because he wanted to know how it would feel to kiss Natalia.
***
The day passed normally during the move.
The truth was mobilizing Manuel plus two boxes of personal items took only an hour.
They helped him settle in the house Francisco had occupied while remodeling the main house.
Natalia was pleased to see Manuel seemed to relax and feel comfortable inside that house even though it also needed a few repairs. Though, it was a palace compared to the ruins in which Manuel recently lived in.
Francisco lit the chimney since the temperature suddenly dropped. It provided a pleasant warmth as they sat in front of it engaged in banal conversation.
For lunch, Natalia suggested ordering pizzas and both men agreed.
After the meal, Manuel excused himself to rest and they left him alone in what would be his new home.
“Do you have something important to do now?” Francisco asked.
Natalia looked at her watch and saw Isabel had not yet arrived at her office. She didn't open that evening due to the party.
She promised to stop by the Alcalá Orange Grove estate before going home to help with what was needed. She and Juan Carlos decided on a great horror decoration for the estate.
However, she didn't want to leave Francisco.
Hours before, they would have kissed if it had not been for Manuel interrupting them, how rude. They would have. It seemed the world stopped at that moment and only the two of them existed. It was so subtle and so intimate it awoke Natalia’s interest in the man who now slide her sideways glances as they walked towards the main property.
“I have to help Isabel with the last minute decoration details for the Halloween party tonight.”
She watched his expression change.
“I don't have to go right now. It would be okay with me if we went for a cup of coffee.”
She smiled at him mockingly and Francisco's eyes lightened.
She liked them. She told him as much when Natalia mentioned she liked Azabache.
She didn't even try to hide her attraction.
“I suppose if you have a party tonight, you can’t go to dinner.”
She laughed and he took her hand.
That sublime contact made him feel special.
“Were you going to invite me to dinner?” He nodded while looking into her eyes. “Well, we could postpone it for tomorrow, and perhaps you could accompany me tonight to Isabel's feast of terror.”
Francisco’s features hardened at once, and his gaze darted forward with a frown.
Natalia was grateful she had not let go of his hand, even though she did not quite understand what she said.
“I only asked because I have no one to accompany me to the party. I was going to go alone, but how today went,” she said with embarrassment, “I would like for you to accompany me.”
He continued with the same serious expression.
Natalia was confused. The uneasiness she had earlier returned as she stood in front of Francisco. He was hiding something.
He didn’t say a word. They sat on the apartment’s back terrace and after a call to the kitchen, a woman appeared with her head down to leave a tray with small pastries and coffee.
Natalia watched him openly.
She was willing to discover what he was hiding.
Francisco admired her more than he liked. He did not want to stop enjoying what he experienced when he was so near her. She didn’t reject him. She was old enough to have an affair with him and they were not in the last century where women were condemned if they enjoyed their freedom and sexuality.
The mystery surrounding Francisco made him more tempting to her. She assessed the danger she was risking, of course, her curiosity triumphed.
“Well,” she interrupted the silence while he poured coffee, “are you coming with me or not?”
Francisco seemed to be absorbed in his thoughts.
She went over and touched his forearm.
The contact broke his hypnotic state. He immediately fixed his eyes on hers igniting sensations buried so deep inside him, he didn’t even realize they existed.
She looked at him with fascination.
How many more things could she discover about him?
Francisco took her hand and kissed the back.
“I don’t think I can go with you. I’m sorry.”
That was not the answer she expected. She thought Francisco was a dangerous person and it would be best to stay away.
He kissed her hand again and she gently pulled it away before she completely melted.
She had never felt so comfortable with a man. She thanked her rational side for making an appearance before her odd
behavior.
Why couldn’t he appear, was he that discreet?
“Why can’t you join me?”
“It's complicated, Natalia.”
She sipped her coffee. She needed a little time so she didn’t say anything she would regret later. Since she adored Francisco so much, she knew she wouldn’t be able to get him out of her head so easily.
She decided it was better to know where she stood before the surprise exploded in her face.
“Are you married?”
He shook his head no.
She took another sip of coffee.
“Are you with the mafia or a drug cartel boss?”
He stared at her with surprise and dismay. Natalia understood without needing answers he would never be something like that.
“Please tell me why something as simple as going to a party can be a complicated affair.”
Francisco remained silent.
She decided it was time to leave. She wanted to die, but she was not getting involved with him without knowing his secrets if they were so difficult to divulge.
“Listen, Francisco, you are really charming and I would really love it if you came with me to the party tonight so we may get to know each better, but for that, I want to know the truth about you. I'm not willing to get involved with you if you are not willing to tell me what you're hiding. That would make me a very irresponsible person.”
“And if I'm into something bad and you decide to stay by my side, wouldn’t that be equally irresponsible of you?”
She peered at him doubtfully. It was true what he was saying.
“That's true, but I'm too old to make decisions and have to pay the consequences for them. If I know from the beginning, I wouldn’t be bitterly surprised when it is too late.”
Francisco adverted his gaze.
She had just told him that she could fall in love with him and he didn’t react.
Maybe destiny was telling her Francisco didn’t suit her at all.
“I think it's best if you leave.”
She was stunned. Natalia understood that yes, fate seemed to be right. The charming man who had haunted her seemed to have disappeared being replaced by the man here with her now.
She was not going to argue with him. They hadn’t even kissed, so there really was not need to argue.
She already knew what he thought.
She gathered her things.
“I’ll see you later.”
He nodded and Natalia frowned.
She left without looking back.
She got into her car and went straight to Isabel’s. She had her costume in her car and didn’t feel like going home. She would stay at the Alcalá Orange Grove.
***
Francisco spent that afternoon in a foul mood.
He found no peace with himself.
From the moment Natalia left him alone with his thoughts, he felt like a real fool to let her go after the great day they spent together.
That day was so different. In her company he felt normal, free to live his life as he wanted.
He returned to the harsh reality when she invited him to the Halloween party that very night.
He thought of taking her to dinner first, as Manuel had suggested. He did not know where to take her. The truth was he didn’t want to expose himself to her, not without first being sure of who was watching him from afar. He felt like he was being watched day and night.
He couldn’t expose Natalia to greater danger. No. No way.
However, he did not want to stop seeing her, and for that reason he thought maybe they could dine together at his house tonight. He would be happy to prepare her dinner while she had a glass of wine sitting next to him telling him things about her past because yes, Francisco was interested in kissing her, let alone knowing everything about her.
He understood when Manuel interrupted him before kissing Natalia. He could still close his eyes and smell her. He would have kissed her slow and sweet.
His mouth watered at the thought and his desire was rekindled.
He shook his head.
He couldn’t agree to go to the party. The secret society was moving quietly around him and he didn’t want to flee again. Not after finding so much peace. Today was as normal as any day he had lived before being captured so many centuries ago.
He only felt complete and really alive when he was near Natalia.
Her laughter, blue eyes, blond mane, the way she walked and most of all, the way she behaved when she was with him, made him feel special.
He knew she was just as attracted to the feeling they shared. She liked him.
He admired her sincerity with her feelings and reality. Francisco didn’t expect her to be so observant in the few times they were together.
She liked things clear and to know exactly where she stood.
Francisco closed his eyes breathing deeply. That woman was burrowing into the depths of his soul. He could feel her digging an ever deeper pit to settle in the background permanently.
That was not good. He could not fall in love, though he could sense it was a little too late. It was all happening so fast, and being unable to control his feelings frustrated him.
He remembered taking her by the hand. He missed physical contact with other human beings.
He had to find a way to talk to her again and let her know he couldn’t tell her certain things but would never do anything to hurt her.
He recalled when she told him that she wanted to know the truth before it was too late.
What did that mean? Could she fall in love with him?
He shook his head. It was one thing for him to fall in love with her and another very different for her to fall in love with him. Eventually, he would have to disappear due to his condition. He would have to abandon her, hurting her. He could live regretting not having her by his side but he could never live with the guilt of causing her to suffer by leaving.
He frowned.
He was really upset, how did he let what he had avoided for so many years happen?
How could he not control and stop what now seemed unstoppable?
He was in the stable brushing Scout.
The animal was already protesting considering he had been at it a long time. Hell! He didn’t care, he was his only friend and he had to endure.
Scout whinnied loudly.
“Okay! It’s done. I'll leave you in peace,” he sighed dejectedly. “I'm an idiot, Scout. I just let her go.”
Scout whinnied again as if he were agreeing that he was an idiot.
Francisco smiled half-heartedly.
“I can’t tell her the truth, my friend,” he said in defeat. “It’s for her own good. I like her too much to hurt her.”
The horse pulled away. Scout seemed annoyed with him.
Night was already falling. It would be time to go home, have dinner, and then go to bed.
He was very uncomfortable with the thought. He did not want to go to a house where the absolute solitude and silence made his ears ring.
He frowned again.
He thought of Natalia and her charming smile. He remembered when she touched his arm and allowed him to kiss the back of her hand sweetly. Her skin was magnificent.
He also remembered how he held her hand as they walked toward the main house. She seemed to accept him quite naturally.
His irrational side wondered if he was going to let go of all that for what he really was.
“No. I do it because it is not fair to condemn her to a perilous life of lies,” he replied aloud.
His irrational side seemed to understand his stance even accept it but suddenly an unknown anguish settled in his chest. Yes, right next to where his feelings for Natalia were still burrowing in the depths.
His mind created an image of her accompanied by someone else, walking hand in hand. An attack of jealousy seized him completely. Mind, body and soul.
He cursed with a vengeance even though he understood he was fighting a losing battle against a force much
stronger than him.
Scout whinnied again and Francisco acted on impulse.
He took out his cell phone and called Rodrigo.
“What can I do for you, Francisco?”
“Do you have Natalia's number?” At that moment he admonished himself for being so careless as to not ask her for her number.
“No sir.”
“Ask your wife if she has it.”
Rodrigo lowered the phone and Francisco listened to him asking his wife.
“No. She has Isabel's.”
“What the hell!”
“Is everything alright?” Rodrigo sounded worried, but at the same time amused. He realized Francisco's anger might have something to do with wanting to court the lady. The foreman was no fool. He realized that day how much they liked each other. He snorted with amusement. “What happened?”
“Nothing, Rodrigo, I'm an idiot. She invited me to a stupid party and I refused.”
“Did she invite you to Isabel's?”
Francisco didn’t answer.
“I know we don’t talk much, but take my advice. If I were you, I would go to the party.” She likes you, Francisco, and I think you could use some estrogen around here.”
“Tell me how to get to Isabel's house, she told me she'd be there.”
“I can take you, we're invited, too. We’ll pick you up in an hour. Also you can’t go without a costume. We'll get you one.”
An hour? Costume?
“I don’t think so,” Francisco recanted.
“You don’t know the area well and—”
“I know it better than you do, trust me.”
Francisco didn’t realize what he was saying due to the overwhelming urge to get to Natalia as soon as possible. He didn’t want to disappoint her. On the way he would invent something to tell her about the complicated affair he was not able to clarify before because he obviously meant his immortality.
He’d tell her he was in the FBI witness protection program or whatever. He would think about it on the way.
After listening to Rodrigo give the address and memorizing it, Rodrigo asked:
“How the hell are you going to get there if the SUV is being repaired and you don’t have another car?”
“That's why I have Scout.” He thanked his foreman and bid him a goodnight.