LusitanianStud (4 page)

I could have said no. I could have pulled away.

He would have let me.
Maybe.

Except I didn’t say no or pull away, so he lowered his head
and his lips touched mine.

Oh God!
The magic was back.

He rubbed his mouth over mine and I wound my arms around
him, sinking into him. His tongue slid past my lips and an onslaught of wild
kisses began. I had not expected my body to respond to his so quickly, though
it had always been that way with Diogo—instant combustion the moment he touched
me. His hand touched the side of my breast and my heart faltered. I’d missed
his touch so badly. Oh how I wanted to be loved by him. Feel one more time all
those amazing, joyful sensations of being with the only man in the world who
truly mattered. But doubt and mistrust spoke louder.

I slapped a hand on his chest, surprising us both. “Diogo,
stop! This is not a good idea.”

“Why not?” he asked, his voice husky.

“Because I did this before and it was horrible when you
moved on,” I admitted, exposing myself to his contempt—or worse, his pity. “When
you forgot all about me…”

Instantly his hand slid up and grabbed my chin, forcing me
to look him in the eyes—dark, angry eyes steadfast on mine. “Is that what you
thought?”

I didn’t answer—I couldn’t—words would not rise beyond the
lump in my throat. So I just stared back, letting him reach his own conclusion.
He wouldn’t have it.

“Answer me!” he insisted, tightening his hold on me.

“Yes.”

He dropped his hand, withdrawing from me, distancing himself
in body and I expected also in soul, and for a moment I thought he was going to
walk out without saying another word. Not even a goodbye. And the pain of
separation that I believed long since forgotten resurged with a vengeance. How
I wished for his denial. How I still craved his love. But as the silence stretched,
hope began to fade.

“You’re wrong,” he said.

I closed my eyes at the strong tug. My pulse rate zoomed and
my throat tightened, making it hard to breathe. Was I hearing things? Had he
really denied my long-surmised belief he’d forgotten me the minute I was out of
his sight? Was it possible? Doubt spoke louder. How was I wrong? How? Had he
not ignored me for the past seven years? Had he not moved on to a new
girlfriend, fiancée, wife—Enough!

“Really? Everything points to the contrary,” I said, letting
the sarcasm fortify my words.

His jaw clenched slightly yet his expression remained the
same. Silence followed, swelling between us, creating an unbearable tension
inside me. “I see,” he finally said, his eyes boring into mine, then with a
smooth, swift movement of his hand, he slipped it under my hair, behind my
neck, and drew my mouth to his.

Again I should have protested, I should have stopped him, I
should have done something. I couldn’t. I didn’t. And the next moment Diogo’s
firm lips were parting mine, his arm tight around me, my breasts cleaving to
his hard chest. It was crazy, yet all I could do was allow his probing tongue
to wander while I tried to restrain the warm sensations coursing through my
body. When he finally withdrew his mouth I pulled out of his arms, breathless,
my mouth tingling with excitement.

“When you’re ready to talk you know where to find me,” he
said, walking out, leaving me in a state of confusion and self-doubt, not to
mention extremely aroused.

Damn him!

I lay in bed later that night aching for Diogo Vilas-Boas. I
didn’t fall asleep until well after two and then it was to dream of him making
love to me. I dreamed he took me repeatedly, making me cry out with each
possession. The dream went on for hours. Then, when I was totally spent, he
held me in his arms and told me he’d never stopped loving me.

Another invitation from Diogo’s mother arrived three days
after my meeting with her son. I considered refusing it. Guessing I might say
no, Eduarda had scribbled a postscript informing me her son had gone to Lisbon
on business and that she would be all alone.

I arrived at her door as anxious and curious as I’d been at
our first meeting a few days before. Only this time I was sure Eduarda was
privy to her son’s prior involvement with me.

“Sarah!” she said with a warm smile and open arms, making me
feel very welcome. “I’m so glad you’re here. I must confess I wasn’t sure if
you would accept my invitation,” she admitted, sitting down.

Why was she telling me this? Why did she care one way or
another? “Why is that?” I asked cautiously.

Her direct gaze—so like Diogo’s—locked with mine. “I know
your meeting with Diogo didn’t go well.”

“Is that what he said?” I asked a bit defensively, expecting
to have to justify my actions.

She shook her head. “No, no, Diogo hasn’t said a word to me,”
she rushed to explain. “He wouldn’t, he’s a very private person. I know my son
well and I can tell when things are not right with him, even when he tries very
hard to hide it from me.”

“I see.”

“No, you don’t.” I flushed, embarrassed by Eduarda’s blunt
refutation, standing silent as she said her piece. “You don’t believe me and you
resent me for trying to interfere, but you see, I think you’ve both pined long
enough, and it’s time you had a serious conversation with each other and
cleared all the misunderstandings of the past.”

Pined for each other? That was the overstatement of the
year, on his part, that is. Misunderstandings? What was there to miss? “He hasn’t
pined for me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “No? I beg to disagree.”

That wasn’t possible. It would mean Diogo cared, had cared…
Butterfly wings flared hope in my heart. “If that was true why didn’t he get in
touch with me all these years?”

“That’s a very good question, though it should only be
answered by Diogo.”

* * * * *

I couldn’t get Eduarda’s words out of my head. Had Diogo
seriously pined for me? He couldn’t have. Not really. Not truthfully. After
all, had he not married someone else? And even if the marriage hadn’t lasted he’d
loved her well enough to propose.

Deep in thought, I wandered along the paths around town
slowly and heedless of the direction I was taking until the sound of water
entered my busy mind. I looked around. It seemed like yesterday. The place hadn’t
changed. Laughter, sighs, whispers and promises of undying love… Happy memories
of a brief spell in the life of a young woman in love resonated through my head
as I stood in the exact same spot where I’d given away my heart for the first
and only time.

“I wondered if I’d find you here.”

I spun around to face the subject of my thoughts leaning
against a tree, his hands deep in his pockets, his long legs crossed at the
ankles and a lovely smile on his face. A tumult of emotions roared through me,
putting knots in my stomach, squeezing my heart, shattering my mind. It wasn’t
fair that one man should be so attractive and his effect on me so powerful.

After a moment of stony silence I found my voice again, to
say the first thing that came to mind, challenge lacing the tone of my voice. “What
are you doing here?”

Diogo raised a dark eyebrow. I blushed and averted my eyes
from the challenge in his. “Same as you, I expect.”

“I came here for a swim after a long walk in this heat.”
Brave
words for a
mind stunned by his sudden presence.

“Then you won’t mind if I join you,” he said, holding his
hand out to me. Amusement flickered in his eyes. “I’m pretty hot myself.”

Hot was just one of his attributes. Gorgeous, proud,
self-assured, just to name a few, were also true. What was I to do? Leave and
let him think his presence still affected me, or swim with him for old times’
sake and risk the consequences of letting him into my heart one more time?

“I don’t have a bathing suit,” I said, ignoring his extended
hand.

He dropped his arm. “And why is that a problem?”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

He chuckled. “Oh come on, I’ve seen you naked before…”

When my stupid blush gave me away he rolled his eyes. “I won’t
look…I promise.” Then he took my breath away when he tilted his head and
smiled.

I turned my back and tugged my top over my head as I walked
to the water. Espadrilles kicked off, belt unbuckled and zipper pulled down, I
glanced over my shoulder. “You’re looking,” I accused him.

“So I am,” he said, his eyes dark and mirthful.

Oh what the hell, it’s not as if I was prudish about showing
my body—unthinkable in my profession. I shrugged and shoved down my shorts
along with my underwear, then leapt into the refreshing water.

I had just emerged when Diogo dived in, barely breaking the
surface. He came up, shaking his black hair, now shorter than before, though
still wavy and dark, his olive skin shining under myriad water drops.

He’s still the most beautiful man I know!

I wanted to touch him so badly. I swam away instead, keeping
as much physical distance from him as possible.

As the years had passed I’d convinced myself my memory
played tricks on me, because Diogo could not possibly have been as good looking
as I remembered. He was. Even more now his sharp features had softened,
matured.

Get a grip!
I shook my head, full of my own foolish
thoughts and feelings his unheralded appearance had stirred in me—proof enough
I was still vulnerable despite all the years gone by. The fault lay with me,
finding him so temptingly attractive.

“Sarah?”

I twirled around. Seeing him so close, I panicked and
snapped, “What?”

He leaned down so his breath caressed my face when he spoke.
“Have you missed me?”

“I…” My voice trailed off. I didn’t know how to respond to
his comments, though my body did—a full-blown shudder rippled down my spine.
How I wished I could stop responding to him so forcefully. “What do you care?”

In spite of my unfriendly words he answered, unperturbed, “A
great deal more than you think.”

This wasn’t fair. He had no right to stir all kinds of hopes
and wishes long since buried inside me. “Oh yeah? What do you know about what I
think?”

He moved closer still, his body blocking my view, arousing
every nerve ending in me. My hand shot out, stopping him from getting closer.
The electric bolt triggered by the contact of skin on skin rippled through me.
Oh man, it was happening all over again—me falling under his spell.

Diogo’s deep voice cut through the sound of the waterfall. “I
want you, Sarah,” he said, and with his gaze holding mine he added, “So much it
kept me awake last night.”

Desire rippled through me. Oh my God, it was happening all
over again. I had to take control of my body and mind. Fast. When I spoke my
throat tightened, making my words sound thick. “I don’t want you to,” I said,
hoping the words, more than their weak delivery, would convince him of my
truthfulness.

They did and I couldn’t help feeling disappointed. We stared
at each other, the depth of his dark, steady gaze making holes in my feeble
resolve. My heart beat as loudly as the sound of water cascading. It was no
good I wanted him as much as I had seven years before. More, so much more now
that I knew what it felt like to make love with him.

“Yes,” I said, changing the course of my life with one word.

Diogo’s beautiful smile broke as he let out a deep sigh. “Thank
God!” The deep timbre of his voice rumbled up from his chest, resonating in my
ear as he leaned in and brushed his lips over my eyes, cheek and mouth. My arms
found their way around his neck as he wrapped himself around me, hoisting me
until our mouths lined up, and kissed me with great urgency.

I had a déjà vu of us at the waterfall making love, and the
memory of that day opened the floodgates of emotion.

Oh my god
, this is real, this is Diogo kissing me.
Wanting me. Loving me.

I had to concentrate very hard not to cry. This time there
were no romantic foolish dreams of happily ever after. I was conscious this was
lust, plain and simple. Well, maybe not plain…Nothing was ever plain
with Diogo—not the way I remembered it—though my lack of experience and passion
for him then might have enhanced reality.
Nah.
His soft lips on my neck
and his possessive hands on my body were proof enough he hadn’t lost his touch.
My recollection of his fantastic lovemaking was probably spot on. A quiver of
intense awareness in my belly released wet heat between my thighs. I pressed
harder into him and he tightened his arms around me, bringing me deliciously
close to his hard erection. Fire erupted through me.

I’m still in love with him…
I’d never stopped loving
him or wanting him. And I sure wanted him now.

“How I’ve missed you, Sarah. Have you missed me?” he rasped.

The echoing of my thoughts in words, his words, shot a thrill
through me. But a passing cloud threw a shadow over us, cooling my enthusiasm,
forcing me to take stock of where we were heading—to a replay of passionate
kissing that led me to lose my virginity. I had no virginity to lose now, only
my pride, which was a lot more valuable to me than a feeble physical barrier.
Damn him for making me remember. I stepped back, away from his irresistible
body, and forced myself to recall the heartbreak and tears.

“I can hardly remember it,” I said dismissively.

He went still as he looked intently at me and I squirmed
uncomfortably. “You’ve changed,” he finally said with a reproving frown.

Why was that surprising to him? It had been seven years
since we’d seen each other, and I’d grown from the naïve and innocent young
girl he’d seduced to a fully grown woman. I was totally in charge of my heart
now and not likely to surrender it or my body just for a summer fling. Surely
that would be an annoying setback for a hot Latin stud such as himself.

Good.

“You haven’t,” I said with a derisive snort. “You still take
what you want regardless of the other person’s wishes.”

I watched with fascination as the fury in his eyes spilled
over into his face, tightening his jaw, reducing his sexy lips to a thin line.
He leaned slightly in and I thought he was going to kiss me but he only stared,
working his anger through his system before he spoke. “You’ve changed. The
Sarah I knew and loved didn’t lie.”

“I don’t lie.”

“No?” he asked, looming over me with his angry stare and
stance. He clutched my hips and yanked me against his hard body, his eyes dark
and fierce, boring into mine, his rock-like erection touching my naked skin.
Thrilling shivers ran up and down my body, and in spite of myself, I let my
hands slip up around his torso and loop around his neck. He lowered his head
and took my mouth by storm, his passionate, wild kisses igniting the fires
trapped inside me for so long. I arched into him, aching with need, seeking the
connection, the ecstasy of another time. And suddenly it all came back—the
arousing smell, the stirring touch, the thrilling words. I caved in.

There’s no use, I still love him. I still ache for him.

Shuddering, I found myself returning his kisses with
maddening enthusiasm and soaring elation, my hands clawing his back, my hips
thrusting, my mound frantically rubbing his stiff cock.

All past and present passion surfaced and I felt the old
stirring in my chest. Suddenly stark fear froze me, preventing me from carrying
on with this wild abandon, forcing me to fend him off by making a dig at him.

“You just proved my point.”

“And you proved mine,” he retorted, walking away, water
gleaming on his tanned skin, dripping down his gorgeous body, taut muscles
flexing as he bent over and retrieved his clothes from the ground.

Mesmerized by his dark, strong male beauty, I murmured, “How?”

Diogo stopped the process of putting his clothes back on.
With his pants unzipped and low on his hips, he half turned his upper body,
displaying long streaks on his back as he stared at me over his shoulder. I
blushed profusely.

Oh no!
I’d done that. Self-denial would not erase the
marks from his back or the need still pulsing between my thighs. I sank below
the water level, drowning the flush of color coming up on my neck and face.
When I came back up for air Diogo was standing at the water’s edge. He looked
at me for a long moment with those dark, dark eyes, his expression unreadable.
Then without changing his demeanor, he leaned over until we were eye to eye.

“Who are you, and what have you done to my friend Sarah?”
With that he left and walked through the trees without so much as a backward
glance, and I rushed to put my clothes on. When I heard the unmistakable sound
of hoofs I knew it was Soberano and a flashback from the past almost brought me
to my knees. I couldn’t imagine the pain of losing him a second time.

“Diogo!” I shouted above the noise of the waterfall, running
after him.

Sitting high on his horse, Diogo turned his head and the
frown of displeasure became a smoldering stare. Then he swung his leg over the
horse’s neck and on hitting the ground leapt forward and grabbed me. I didn’t
have time to speak before his mouth came crashing down on mine, hard and heavy,
giving me no time to think. His fingers tangled in my hair, holding me hostage
as he deepened the kiss, and I joined in with all the joy and excitement that
being in his arms once more stirred within me. When his lips left mine to trail
down my neck and collarbone, wetness flooded my pussy and I shimmied against
his taut body, shuddering with need.

“Let me love you,” he said, his low voice rumbling, sending
shivers down my spine, hardening my nipples and warming my heart.