Love in Flame (De La Fuente Book 5)

by Lexi Buchanan

  In truth, I don’t really care what problems crop up because I’m sharing with Diego, no question about it.

  9

  Diego

  The sunrise in Montana from the high ridge up behind the house is a sight for sore eyes. I live for the early mornings when I can get up here. It’s where my father used to bring Emelia and I when we were children. During her teenage years, Emelia gave it up for snuggling into her warm bed. Not me though, I love it, and once Emelia stopped coming along with us it really became a bonding activity between Dad and me.

  Dad sits beside me, mounted on his horse while silence surrounds us. I know why he suggested this ride except I’m not sure if he asked or if Mom put him up to it because she knows I would never refuse this ride. Either way, I cherish this time with him and it’s something that I can say is truly ours alone.

  The sun has risen casting a scarlet hue over the clouds—so beautiful. Taking out my cell, I snap a picture and with a few clicks I’ve sent it to Rae with the caption riding with my dad and a smiley face. I smile when I receive a smiley blowing a kiss back within a few seconds.

  “She makes you happy,” my father observes. “You’re also more involved than what you led your mother to believe, right son?”

  Sighing, I rest my hands on the horn of my saddle. “Yes. I’m in love with her and this whole thing with Mom hasn’t given me much choice but to lie, if she found out the truth she’d treat her even worse.” I turn my head and meet his worried gaze. “Why is she being so difficult about Rae? I don’t understand. Eric and Sylvia have an age difference, so do Mateo and Erin. Aiden and Sarah not so much, but the biggest one of all is Emelia and Dante, plus their relationship wasn't so straightforward either. She accepted that a lot easier than she’s accepting me being with Rae.” I pause.

  “I don’t know what do, Dad.” I look at him with defeat.

  Dad stares out at the vastness in front of him with the farmhouse in the distance. “She just wants the best for you. She always has.”

  “Then why can’t she accept Rae?”

  “I’ve tried talking to her and she keeps going on about you needing lots of babies around you and Rae not being able to give you that.”

  “What?” I snap my head not believing he’s serious. “Babies? Really? That’s what her attitude is all about?”

  “I don’t know if that’s all of it, but it’s some of it. Your brothers have gone for women younger than they are, so I guess that makes a difference. But the heart chooses, and what she’s doing is wrong and I think she knows that deep down.” He sighs. “I’m tired Diego, and I want to see all of my son’s married, living their life happily. That would be the greatest gift to me as a father.”

  I watch him with concern and he shakes his head. “I have no plans of going anywhere soon, and considering how slow Kasey is with finding his other half, it’s just as well.” He chuckles. “If Rae is who you want then you can’t let anyone stand in your way, Diego. I’ll talk to your mother, again.” Sighing he shakes his head, continuing, “She’s stubborn, but I should imagine that she’ll come around eventually. She just needs time to get used to the idea.”

  “I’m not sure about that,” I mumble, staring at my hands. “She made it damn clear the other morning that she didn’t want me to have anything to do with Rae.”

  “Hmm.”

  Silence follows for the next fifteen, twenty, minutes and then we start to make our way back to the house for breakfast.

  Sarah’s SUV is in the drive when we canter into the yard and then I spot them just inside the barn, making out. Dad spots them too and chuckles before he throws his leg over his horse and dismounts. He watches them walk toward us before his eyes meet mine. “Remember what I said, Diego. Hold on to what you have.” He gives me a small smile before he turns and leads his mount into the barn for the morning ritual groom.

  “You look deep in thought.” Aiden watches me carefully, keeping Sarah by his side.

  I brush off his concern. “I’m fine, just thinking about how refreshed I feel after the ride. I’m also thinking about how hungry I am now.”

  Aiden follows me into the barn and helps in grooming Ginger while Sarah assists our father with King. In half the time it would have taken, we’re finished and ready for breakfast.

  I’ve avoided Mom for a few days after our confrontation over breakfast, but I promised her that I’d be there today. It’s also a headache trying to avoid her when I live under her roof. It’s something that I’m hoping will change once everyone knows about Rae. I want a home with her, and I know how much she loves her cottage, which is why I haven’t looked for my own place, no matter how much I crave space of my own.

  “Definitely pre occupied,” Aiden mumbles, holding the backdoor open, trying to catch my eye.

  I try to ignore him but the hand he places on my chest stops me. “We need to talk…later.” He moves and takes his seat at the table while I disappear over to the mudroom to clean up for breakfast.

  My heart is heavy while I watch Emelia and Dante sitting together, their heads together. Mateo and Erin are also here for breakfast, their daughter asleep in her stroller. Mom and Dad are sitting together at the head of the table, and that leaves Kasey and me to be the only ones without a partner to sit beside us. It hurts knowing that Rae wouldn’t be welcome here.

  Mom watches as I take my seat and continues to watch while I drink half of the coffee in the cup that was waiting. The bacon and eggs on the plate look crisp and the waffle is warm and fresh. Conversation carries on around me while I eat breakfast and drink my coffee in silence, all under the watchful eye of Mom—whom I don’t want to acknowledge.

  It isn’t like me especially when Kasey’s home because we tend to toss insults at each other and the others often find us entertaining, but with the unsettled feeling in my stomach, I have no interest.

  Pushing away from the table all conversation ceases. My siblings watch me as my fists tighten on the back of the chair. “I have things to do.” I finally glance at Mom. “Thank you for breakfast.” I quickly make my way to my truck and pull out of the yard before there’s any chance of anyone following me.

  The breakfast was awkward because I’m angry and annoyed. I pull over to the side of the road and debate going back to apologize, but when my cell beeps, I put the truck back on the road and head for Rae’s place.

  RAE

  When I hear Diego’s truck pulling around back of my cottage, I open the door and lean against the doorjamb, just watching him.

  Diego always makes my blood thrum faster through my body and desire rushes not far behind. His dark hair is always messy, and when his black as midnight eyes land on mine, I know that he’s thinking of me. His full plump lips are those that dreams are made of. Except my dreams are dimming as I watch him and get taken over with concern. He hasn’t moved from the truck, and he hasn’t even seen me waiting for him.

  Usually he’d be out of the truck so quickly that the engine hadn’t completely stopped. Frowning, I slip my feet into my flip-flops and move over to him, opening the trucks door. Diego turns his head and meets my gaze. All I see is sadness. “What’s wrong?” I cover the tense hand that rests on his thigh and watch as he intertwines our fingers. He brings our joined hands up to his mouth and kisses my knuckles.

  “I’m not sure what I am, but I’m sure my brothers have an idea,” Diego admits as he climbs out of his truck. He keeps my hand in his and with his other, cups my cheek. “I’m angry at what was supposed to be a family breakfast. I ate and left. I love my family, Rae. This whole thing is breaking me.” He wraps me in his arms and my head rests against his chest while he drops his chin to the top of my head. “I can’t choose them over you, I need you both.” He kisses the top of my head. “I can’t let the anger or disappointment go. I try. I even went riding with Dad at sunrise to try and empty myself of all the anger that is building up, but I discovered over breakfast that nothing has changed. It’s still there.”

  Lifting m
y head, I reach up and cup his face. He leans in, kissing my palm. “I love you, Rae,” he whispers, and leaning in captures my lips. The kiss starts off as a slow assault on my senses but soon becomes heated and so full of want that I cling to his biceps.

  Diego reaches for my hips and hauls me up his strong body. I wrap myself around all the hardness that is my man and deepen the kiss while rubbing against him. He’s strongly aroused with his swollen shaft pressing in just the right place against my core. Wanting and needing more, I reach between us and unfastening his jeans, shove them down slightly so that I can get to the throbbing goods.

  My finger rubs around the wet tip causing Diego’s legs to tremble. He breaks the kiss and hisses while trying to walk toward my cottage. I break into a giggle when he stumbles. Diego joins in and shoves me up against the wall beside the kitchen door. “I want you naked. I want to make love to you without being rushed…although,” he looks sheepish, “I think the first time might be hard and fast.” To prove his point, he rubs his cock back and forth against my heat.

  My eyes roll as my hands clench on his shoulders. “Don’t stop,” I moan, head thrown back while Diego nuzzles into my neck.

  “I need more.” Diego clenches me to him and moves into the kitchen.

  Seconds later my bottom lands on the kitchen table and Diego makes quick work of my shorts and panties. “I have to be inside you, Rae.” He takes his penis in hand, and meeting my gaze, admits, “This is going to be the quickest coupling in history.”

  He groans while slipping his fingers between my wet folds, a slight tremor to his hand, before he guides his flesh to the entrance of where we both need him to be.

  Quickly looking over my shoulder, I knock everything behind me to the end of the table and lie back. I bring my feet up to the edge of the table and widen my thighs. Diego’s loud, “Fuck me,” causes my eyes to lift to his face. His eyes are solely focused between my legs, and then I feel him pushing inside of me. My eyes roll at the same time as I gasp, arching my back in pleasure. Diego takes advantage and quickly removes my shirt and bra.

  He leans over me and places his elbows beside my shoulders, his hands cup the top of my head and the feel of his hard chest against my breasts causes my arousal to go up in flames. Not that it needed anything more.

  His forehead drops to mine and he whispers, “You are mine.”

  “Yes.” My hands dig into his sides and my core quivers around him when his cock swells and jerks. “I love you,” I admit, and smiling, add, “I think I’m going to come without you moving.”

  “I’m going to be right with you, baby.” He retreats and when he thrusts back inside, I feel the first flutters of release unfurling in my belly. “Right with you,” he gasps. “Right…” he breaks off, capturing my lips with his and thrusts. My toes curl and nothing has ever felt as good as having Diego thrusting between my legs. His cock is long and thick, not leaving an inch of me untouched, and then he reaches and tweaks a nipple…that’s all it takes to send me into ecstasy.

  My core grabs ahold of Diego’s cock like a vice, making it difficult for him to move, but he manages one thrust to the hilt before his back and buttocks lock tight, and then, I feel him releasing. I continue to ripple and convulse around him, even when he collapses over me, his face buried in my neck.

  Sliding my fingers through his hair, I hold him close and kiss his shoulder. My feet caress over his ass while he slowly rocks his hips. I’m so sated right now that I’m not sure where his energy is coming from, and then I realize it’s his want of me that is keeping him going. I feel him hardening as my sensitive walls quiver with sensation.

  “You feel perfect inside me,” I admit. “I love how you fill me.” I wiggle under him and smile when he curses.

  “We need a bed. You’re going to get hurt if I keep you on this table.” He grins. “Although,” he pushes upright, but keeps his cock buried deeply inside of me, “I have to admit that seeing you spread out on the breakfast table with my cock buried inside of you is hot as hell.” He gently thrusts and my eyes roll. “I’m so hard for you.” He thrusts again. “So hard,” he mumbles as his eyes drift closed while he gently rocks his hips.

  My core tingles as the pleasure he’s causing rushes through me. “Bed,” I hiss.

  “What?” His eyes snap open then he focuses on me. “Oh, bed!” He smirks and his hands shake when he slowly pulls out. My eyes immediately drop to his glistening cock, which jerks under my gaze. “We won’t make it that far if you don’t stop looking at my dick.”

  My gaze locks with his and I grin while sliding from the table. Naked, I slip out from in front of him and move toward my bedroom. From over my shoulder, I glance at him and ask, “Coming?”

  He grabs his dick and with a slow, lazy stroke, pumps his fist, following me. “In seconds, baby,” he drawls.

  In my room, I perch on the end of the bed and crook my finger for him to come closer. His clothing gets removed before he’s standing between my thighs. His eyes blaze with heat then when I move my eyes to his erection, his hips strain forward toward my waiting lips.

  Using my tongue first, I swirl around the bulging head and let him guide his shaft along my tongue as I lick and suckle along the long length. It’s as though it’s alive with how much I feel it throbbing against my lips.

  “That’s it,” he groans, his breath more of a pant. “Watching you pleasuring me has my balls so fucking tight that I’m ready to come.” He slips the tip between my lips, and my mouth automatically opens to take more, his flavor bursting on my tongue.

  Unable to talk with him filling me, I slide my hands up his thighs and cup his balls, tickling between his legs with feather strokes. He trembles and his belly quivers when I finally give in to instinct and start bobbing up and down on his shaft. His hands thread through my long hair before he cups my head, holding me still. “I’m going to come.” His body tightens with the need to release.

  I take him inside my mouth one final time and let him nudge the back of my throat before I suck, hard. Diego growls when the first splash of his release hits my throat. I quickly grab the base of his shaft and tug tightly while he roars with pleasure causing my thighs to clench.

  “No more,” Diego groans, covering my hand on his dick before he slowly pulls himself free. I can’t resist him, so I meet and hold his gaze before I take the crown back inside my mouth and suckle on him. He curses under his breath and his mouth opens and closes in a long groan before he finally tugs his suddenly ridged flesh from between my lips. “Your turn.”

  He drops to his knees and grabbing my legs places them over his shoulders. Kissing up along my thighs, he watches me. “I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful.” He kisses closer to my mound. “I’ve never felt such a deep satisfaction when I release before.” His hands reach up, covering my aching breasts. I arch into his touch and nearly go up in flames when he dips his tongue between folds.

  His tongue is like flames of heat as he licks and sucks on my most secret place. Using his teeth he brings me to unbearable arousal and if it weren’t for the hand he clamps over my stomach, I would have wiggled out from under him. The pleasure he wrought turns my flesh to a pincushion of goose bumps.

  “I love you, Rae. Only you,” he whispers before his tongue pierces into me as his finger rubs at the hard bud of my clit. My head rocks side to side and all sensation centers between my legs. He uses two hands now to hold me still so I slide my own to rub my nipples, trying to ease the ache. I feel my release start in my belly as it slowly builds until I can’t feel anything. My orgasm rolls through me in volcanic bursts and when Diego sucks hard on my clit, fireworks explode and I scream.

  He slowly brings me down with his mouth before he crawls up my body and brings me with him to lie against the pillows. Cradled in his arms, I finally catch my breath and lifting my head, I kiss his sweet lips. “I love you, Diego.” I smile and caress over his brows and high cheekbones with my fingers. “My only regret is that we can’t be open about our feel
ings.”

  Diego tangles his fingers in the locks of my hair. “I live in hope, and after Vegas we are going to tell Andie.” He pulls me closer for a kiss. “I want to move in with you.”

  I pause wondering if I’ve missed heard him, but from the nervous look on his face, I know I haven’t. “You seriously want to move into my cottage? It’s small.” I shake my head and laugh. “Ignore ‘it's small’ that was a stupid thing to say.”

  “Rae, I’m serious. I only live at the farmhouse because of convenience and because I’m a lazy ass and haven't bothered looking for something of my own. The thing is,” he rushes on, “I don’t want a place on my own when the woman I love, my girlfriend, has a place that she loves.”

  “Then once Andie is used to us being together then yes, you can move in.” I smile. “Besides, Andie goes back to school soon so it will mainly just be us.”

  “As long as we’re together.” Diego tugs me down into his arms, and wrapping himself around me we drift off to sleep.

  10

  Diego

  Sharing a blanket with Rae while watching the sunrise feels like home, it’s perfect. We’re gently rocking on her porch swing and she’s pulled tightly against me. Rae calms my thoughts and makes me believe that I can do anything I set my mind to. After sharing my past with her, especially about the last fire I worked in New York, I can’t imagine not having her with me.

  “What are you thinking so hard about?” she asks, kissing my chest.

  “You.” I smile when she lifts her face and meets my gaze with her doe like eyes. I brush the hair away from her brow, letting my finger trail down her cheek to her plump lips. “I was thinking back to my life before I knew you, and I realized that I never want to go back to that. I want everything with you Rae.”