Love in Flame (De La Fuente Book 5)

by Lexi Buchanan

  “Thank God, babe. For a minute there you had me worried.”

  Rae wraps herself around me and I know that I’ll do everything I can to keep her. I just wish that I could spend the night holding her while we stay wrapped up in each other.

  RAE

  “Mom, are you awake?” Andie asks, diving onto the bed like she used to do as a child. Now she’s an adult it makes more of an impression and it’s more difficult to pretend that I’m still asleep.

  “Mmm,” I respond to the gentle shove in the side. My eyes refuse to open while my body feels well loved and sated that I’m not sure I’m going to be capable of moving anytime soon. “I’m awake but I’m not moving.”

  “We’re going home today, right?” she asks.

  I frown and open an eye to look at her lying beside me. “Yes. Why the rush?”

  “I need to get some papers to the Professor at school about my graduate program, and they’re back at the house.” She sighs. “I thought I’d shoved them in my laptop bag, but I can’t find them.”

  Softly smiling, I reach out and brush the dark hair behind her ear. “I’m so proud of you, Andie. So very proud,” I admit with a catch to my voice. “I don’t tell you that often enough. I love you, baby girl.”

  Andie turns onto her side, facing me. “I know, Mom… What’s brought that on?” she asks and then rushes on, “I mean not that I don’t love hearing that.”

  I really don’t know why I chose this moment to admit to her how proud I am. Perhaps I’m feeling nostalgia after being with Diego. “Just because.” I shrug as best as I can while still surrounded by the quilt.

  She searches my eyes. “I’m excited about the next step in my life, Mom. I had to study harder than the others because of my dyslexia, but I did it in the end. It’s given me the confidence for the graduate program and the TA job is more than I ever expected. Professor Sawyer Lawrence has a really good reputation around college, and everyone wants him as their Professor.”

  I watch my daughter closely because when she says the Professors name her voice softens, which tells me more than she probably wants me to know.

  “Mom, are you listening?”

  I drag my eyes back to hers. “Sorry, honey. I haven’t had coffee yet.”

  She rolls her eyes. “You need to get up and ready so that we can go.”

  “Okay,” I close my eyes. “Give me half an hour.”

  “Will do.” Andie rolls from the bed and leaves the room.

  Rolling to my stomach, I bury my face in the pillow and let out a long sigh when I catch Diego’s scent. “Mmm,” I mumble with want. Being with Diego has spoilt me and I miss having his hands on me, and his arms around me. He makes me feel loved and cherished.

  “I hope that moan is for me,” he whispers.

  I gasp in surprise and turn my head, just in time to watch Diego as he moves the quilt from the top of me.

  “Andie said you asked for thirty.” He smiles. “I couldn’t resist helping you with those minutes.” He spreads my thighs and crawls between, hovering over my body with his as he traces my spine with feather kisses.

  “I was lying here wishing that you were with me. Holding me. I missed you.”

  He kisses my cheek before he nuzzles into the curve of my neck and settles his body over mine. “I slept badly last night because I kept reaching for you and waking up when I came up with air.” Diego slides his hands between the bed and me, one cups a breast, and the other clings to my waist. His erection nestles between the cheeks of my butt and for a split second I can’t resist pressing up, creating more friction along his throbbing length, which in turn makes me throb.

  “Shower,” he growls into my ear. “Now.” He hauls me up and taking hold of my hand, drags me into the bathroom.

  The warm water is instant as Diego tugs me under the spray. I close my eyes and tilt my head so that my face is in the stream of water, shoving the hair away from my face.

  At the first whisper of a touch against my lips, I open my eyes and stare into the dark as midnight eyes of the man who is seconds away from taking me. His body throbs with restrained need, so it’s with a mischievous smirk on my lips and splash that I suddenly drop to my knees in front of him.

  His growl snaps my eyes up his delicious body and I watch as he throws his head back and breathes heavily.

  In the position I’m in, I have a perfect view of his penis. He’s beautiful, long and thick, and while I soap up my hands he throbs before my eyes. His legs quiver as I wrap my hand around his solid length while his fists clench at his sides.

  I smile to myself because it’s such a rush knowing that I arouse him as much as I do and my own arousal pulses heavily between my thighs.

  I bring him to my mouth and swirl my tongue around the bulging head. He moves slightly as his hands flex on the top of my head, and he lengthens and throbs.

  “You’re killing me, Rae,” he hisses when I rub my tongue along the throbbing vain running along his flesh.

  “It feels so good knowing that it’s me that has you so worked up.” Widening my mouth, I slide him inside.

  Reaching between his legs, I lightly rub, making sure to massage his balls with the palm of my hand. My other hand wraps around the thick base of his shaft as the dark pubic hair tickles my fingers. He’s only lightly coated and it feels amazing against my skin.

  Pre-ejaculate leaks into my mouth and just when I’m about to savor the taste, I’m hauled to my feet, pushed up against the wall of the shower, and Diego thrusts inside.

  I wrap my arms around his neck, my legs around his waist, and feel him. He’s so big and stretches me wide, touching every nerve that causes my body to pulse.

  “Seeing you on your knees with my cock in your mouth is too damn much,” Diego hisses into my ear, “but add, feeling you wrapped around me so tightly, and I’m on the brink of release.” He drops his mouth to my shoulder. “I need to move and I’m embarrassed to admit that when I do I’ll probably come.” He lifts his head and his eyes blaze fire of arousal at me.

  I clench around him and grin when his eyes roll. “I’m going to come with you.”

  “Yes.” He grunts and once he slowly retrieves, he thrusts balls deep before his thrusts become erratic.

  My release is climbing slowly through my body and then he shoves me further up the wall and clamps his mouth around a nipple. My orgasm hits, my core spasms around his dick to tightly that I’m surprised he can still move. Then Diego slams inside of me and holds me down on him while I feel the kick of his cock as he comes. My own body pulses and ripples, my nipples hard as bullets, squished against his chest.

  Completely sated in Diego’s arms, I dread the real world seeping in.

  Diego leans in and quickly kisses me before he pulls out and helps me stand. “We better quickly clean off,” he says, but does the opposite when he takes me back into his arms and hugs me. “One of these days we won’t need to rush. We won’t need to keep this between us a secret.” He presses his lips against my forehead and holds there.

  My arms tighten around him while I move to rest my face against his chest. “I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”

  “I look forward to it.” Diego caresses over my back and rump before he steps back, reluctance written all over his face.

  I watch as he finally breaks the connection between us and leaves the bathroom. Through the open door, my eyes follow his every move while he quickly dresses.

  With one final glance at me, he turns and leaves.

  I’m not sure how long I stand staring at the empty space for, but the water runs cold and starts to chill my skin by the time I step out. Wrapping a towel tightly around my body, I pad into the bedroom and tug the quilt back over the bed before I quickly pat myself dry with the fluffy towel and dress.

  The sooner I pack my clothes and few belongings away, the sooner I can take Andie back home.

  Sadness grips me because I know that being with Diego the way I just have will be more difficult. I’d give
anything to be able to spend time with him away from prying eyes, especially the disapproving ones of Lucia.

  In a way, I don’t blame her for wanting someone more Diego’s age to be with him, but the heart wants what the heart wants. And mine is too involved to push Diego away at this point. I can’t do that to him, or me anymore. He seeped under my skin and into my heart before I really had a chance to harden myself against him.

  Smiling as I slip my feet into my boots, I realize that I wouldn’t have had a chance anyway because Diego is a charmer and he’d have gotten his way sooner rather than later. I guess he has anyway. The only thing I would change would be our coming together under his parents’ roof. I wince at the remembrance. At least it won’t be happening here again.

  Looking around the room, my chest flutters with panic when it suddenly hits me just how complicated my life has become.

  I’m lying to friends and more importantly I’m lying to my daughter. We’ve never had secrets and the guilt is slowly eating away at me.

  “Mom?” Andie interrupts my musings by poking her head into the room. “You nearly ready? Kasey’s made waffles.” She beams.

  I return her smile and take her hand into mine. “I’m ready.”

  Andie leads me through the house and into the kitchen.

  The De La Fuente ranch style home is beautiful and filled with so much love that it’s always warm. Diego sits at the table with a cup of coffee in his hands and his uneaten waffles and bacon on a plate in front of him. Emelia and Dante sit opposite.

  Kasey puts more food on the table before wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me in for a hug. “Go sit next to him,” he whispers and kisses the top of my head. With a shove in the right direction, I take the seat beside Diego.

  I slide my hand to his thigh and squeeze. His hand covers mine and our fingers briefly intertwine and with a quick squeeze we let go and start to eat the delicious breakfast.

  “Thank you for this, Kasey,” I offer between mouthfuls. “I hadn’t realized how much of an appetite I’d worked up.”

  All eyes focus on me and inside I cringe at how tactless I’d been. Kasey’s jaw drops open and his gaze quickly flickers between Diego and me. Seconds later he chuckles.

  “Um, I mean packing,” I mumble and hope my comment will be forgotten as I feel a light blush coating my cheekbones.

  I glance at Andie who laughs and rolls her eyes before engaging Kasey in conversation.

  My eyes snap to Diego when he clears his throat. It sounds more like he’s trying to cover a laugh. I stare at him and when he notices, he offers me a wide grin. He shakes his head and takes a large bite of his remaining waffle. “Eat.” He motions to my plate.

  Glancing across the table, I notice the curious expression on Emelia’s face as she glances between her twin brother and me. She knows is my first thought, which is followed by relief when I realize that she doesn’t appear to be as bothered as her mother is at the thought of there being an us.

  Emelia tilts her head as she continues watching us before her gaze stays on Diego. “I hate that you have to head over to the fire again.”

  My heart thuds heavily in my chest at the thought of Diego being in the thick of another forest fire, which I had no idea about.

  As I’m about to ask, Andie stands with Kasey. “I’m going out to the barn with Kasey before we leave.”

  My eyes widen in surprise.

  “To see the horses,” Kasey clarifies, chuckling.

  I watch them leave before I turn to Diego. “You’re heading to another fire?”

  His hand slips to my thigh and rests there. “It’s not as big as the one that brought you here.”

  Closing my eyes against the worry, I feel his palm caress my face. I open my eyes and hold his gaze. “Stay safe, Diego. Please.”

  “I have every reason too,” he admits, both of us forgetting that Dante and Emelia are witnessing our affection.

  7

  Diego

  Emelia can shop until she drops and has more patience than anyone I know, even now that she’s pregnant. Me though, I hate shopping nearly as much as my twin loves it. Love is the reason why I’m here with her. I’m not stupid and I knew it was only a matter of time until she got me alone after what she’d witnessed back at our family home a week ago.

  The fire that had sprung up had kept me away, but now I’m back and she’s punishing me with a shopping trip in a women’s clothing store. I know Emelia, and she’s come in here thinking that I’ll be embarrassed but I’m not.

  “I need to get off my feet for a bit,” Emelia moans when she appears beside me, rubbing the small bulge of her baby belly.

  “Let me get you home.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and usher her outside. It’s here that she deviates from the path to my truck and enters an Italian café.

  My hope of escaping her questions is dashed as I follow her inside. Emelia grins with mischief as I sit opposite her at the small antique coffee table.

  “You’re not getting rid of me until you’ve told me everything…and, I mean everything.” She raises a brow, which drops into a frown when I stay silent. “Diego, you’re my brother, my twin, if you can’t talk to me then there’s something wrong.”

  I rest my elbows on the table and lean closer. “Like you talked to me about Dante?” I fire back.

  She sits back and I curse when I see tears hover on her lashes. She looks away and rapidly blinks.

  Cursing, I move and crouching beside her, I take her hands into mine. “Em, I’m sorry. I understand why you kept your feelings for Dante to yourself. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “It’s the truth though. So why should you talk to me?” She shrugs.

  I offer her a wry smile and take my seat. “Because like you said I’m your twin…Rae and I are complicated, Em.”

  “I know, but I want you to be able to talk to me if you need to, okay? Please come to me, Diego.”

  I hold Emelia’s stare and finally sigh before admitting, “I’m in love with her. It’s the kind of love that consumes you. It kills me not being with her all the time. Not being able to go home to her at the end of my day… I love her.”

  “Oh.” Emelia sniffles, wiping at her eyes. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

  “It doesn’t bother you?” I question.

  Once she’s wiped at her face with a tissue, she sighs and admits, “I know it bothers Mom. It doesn’t bother me. There are good age differences between Eric and Sylvia, and Mateo and Erin, so I don’t see the difference.”

  “It’s not that easy Em, and you know that.” I drag a hand down my face, feeling tired. “Mom can’t even bring herself to talk to Rae.”

  “She’ll come around.” She sighs.

  “Do you really believe that?”

  Emelia chews on her lip. “It will be difficult, but she will in the end especially when she sees how much you love her.”

  “I wish I was as optimistic as you,” I admit. “There’s Andie to consider as well.”

  Shaking her head, Emelia laughs, “I don’t think Andie will be a problem. She has a secret of her own and that’s all I’m saying on that.”

  I raise a brow in interest but Emelia just grins and turns to Leah, our regular server, who has just topped up the glasses with fresh water. Emelia begins ordering for the both of us. It’s something that we both do depending on where we’re eating because we’re both creatures of habit.

  My sister glows with her pregnancy and other than her wedding day, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy. It makes me happy to see her this way even when I feel a hint of sadness. I want everything that Emelia has with Dante, with Rae.

  Sitting back in my chair, I grin to myself at the thought of how much I’ve changed in the past six months. The changes are good even though unexpected.

  “What’s so amusing?” Emelia asks, a small smile decorates her lips.

  “Until I met Rae, I had no interest in settling down. In having what Eric, Mate
o, Aiden, and you have with your other halves. Then Aiden brought Rae to the house and I felt as though I’d been hit by lightening. Just being around her makes me happy.”

  Emelia reaches across the table and grasps my clammy hands in her own soft ones. “Then you need to hold on to that happiness, Diego. I truly believe that it only happens once in a lifetime. Hold on to Rae.” She gives my fingers a tight squeeze and lets go, sipping at her water.

  “I’m going to do everything I can.” I just don’t know what I’m going to do about Mom, I silently add.

  “Enough about me,” I change the subject. “I want to hear all about my niece or nephew that’s cooking in there.” I indicate her stomach.

  She chuckles and relaxes into her seat as the food is placed in front of us.

  “Your niece or nephew is doing great and will be making an appearance in around five months.”

  “So you’re not asking the baby’s sex, huh?” I enquire because if it was me then I probably would’ve asked, but Emelia is much more patient than I am.

  “We talked about it, but decided to have a surprise. All I’m bothered about,” she forks some pasta into her mouth, “is that the baby is healthy.”

  “I hear you.”

  “It would be nice if I did know because then I could purchase dresses, or outfits for a boy, instead of neutral things.” She shrugs. “I’m still enjoying shopping though.”

  “I hadn’t noticed,” I drawl, rolling my eyes.

  She chuckles. “Oh Diego, why do you think Dante opted to stay back at the farm? He isn’t into shopping like I am.”

  “The only reason your husband isn’t with us is because you wanted me to yourself.” I raise a brow daring her to deny what I’ve just said.

  “Maybe, but it worked. You talked to me now that no one else is around.”

  Her words ring true. I talk to my other siblings, but none like I do with Emelia. They say twins have a special bond and we certainly do.

  “As we’re talking, what did I overhear you telling Mom?” I ask.