Miami Spice (11 page)

Nico indulged in a quick glance. “Maybe give
us ideas.”

Suddenly, Erica felt her heart rev up. She
smiled. “You never know.”

* * *

Her cousin Maya had booked the terrace of Las
Palmas Hotel. Now as night approached, the marimba band took over
the festivities with festive salsa music. The trees had been
decorated with hundreds of twinkling little lights, and a variety
of colorful piñatas hung from ropes above the wedding crowd. The
main buffet table held a vast variety of foods, and a sweet Madeira
wine fell from a silver fountain and into a pool of sliced fruits.
The most unusual feature had to be the huge bird cage filled with
bright multi-hued parrots and a few macaws.

“Well? What do you think?” As she spoke,
Erica leaned back in her padded chair and fingered one of the
wedding cookies from the bowl next to her.

“The night is still young, and
amor
fills the air.” Laughing, Nico tapped the table to the beat of the
band’s conga drum. “Unless you want to eat some more.”

She glanced at the near-empty china plates
before them. They had both over-indulged on the spicy shredded
pork, red enchiladas, the
frijoles
boracho
, chicken
and red rice, the fried plantains, and the various island fruit
salads.

“In a minute,” he continued. “I just might have the
energy to join the happy couple.”

Erica’s gaze followed Nico’s as they watched Maya and
her new husband, Tomás, do a feisty two-step for their wedding
dance. Soon other couples joined in.

Relaxing for the moment, Erica felt a
wonderful calm settle over her, and not just from the wine. She had
to be the luckiest woman in
el mundo!
Nico Sloan, in his
casual guayabera shirt and jeans, had to be the best-looking guy
here, even surpassing the groom in his white suit. Nico had even
found a pair of huaraches, and added a small gold ring to his left
ear to match the gold chain around his neck. Funny, but Erica
didn’t recall seeing a pierced opening on his lobe before, though
she hadn’t really paid too much attention to his upper body except
for his gorgeous hair, face and mouth.

Of course, the minute he spied her when he
came to pick her up for the wedding, Nico produced a low whistle of
appreciation. For the occasion, Erica chose to wear her hair back
in a tight chignon and added a hair pick of silk, exotic plumeria
on the side. The sarong dress, in pink floral voile, set off her
curves nicely, while the gold sandal pumps were comfortable enough
to kick up her heels all night.

Her own family, the Rael clan, were quite
taken with Nico, but Erica refused to spend the rest of the evening
in the company of her mother and aunt who would pepper her with a
myriad of pointed questions. Tía Yolanda had the bad habit of
dousing her niece with questions like the hot chili flakes she
added liberally to her spicy
caldo
. Olga Rael’s maternal
gaze certainly sized Nico up for her possible son-in-law; but in
order to tone down the effects of her family’s meddling, Erica had
purposely steered them to a table far from family members.

Now Nico gripped her hand. “You do know, it’s
a tossup between you and your mother who gets the first dance with
me.”

“Oh, please!” she countered lightly. “The
more you indulge
mi mamá
, the more she’ll drive me crazy. Do
you know, she already has the tux picked out for you. The church,
too, I imagine.”

“A tux, huh?” He laughed. “I thought we’d
marry sans the traditional wardrobe with the bride in a towel
marked Hers and the groom in one marked His. Saves time during the
honeymoon.”

Even though she chuckled along, Erica felt a
twinge of apprehension. She didn’t want to give him the idea she
planned to move them into a permanent arrangement—or allow her
mother to do so on her daughter’s behalf.

Before Erica had time to form an answer, Nico
took her hand and led her to the dance floor. They started with a
corrida
, moved on to a
cumbia
, and then to an
old-fashioned, rock and roll dance. When the band segued into a
slow Spanish ballad, Nico brought her close, and Erica easily
molded her body and steps to his own.

Surprisingly, he whispered along to the
Spanish lyrics, and Erica shivered with a newfound appreciation for
his many assets. “So, you know this song?”

“I know many things,
querida
,” he
cooed in her ear. “I have only just begun to give you a sample of
my varied talents.”

“Sounds exciting.” She nuzzled against his
cheek and savored his cologne. “I can’t wait!”

“Spontaneity is my stock-in-trade. What do
you say we try skinny dipping in the pool later on?”

Erica knitted her brows as she had a quick
thought. “Don’t we have to be guests of the hotel?”

“That can be arranged. If the married couple
have the honeymoon suite tonight, we can ask for the other VIP
room, the Horny Guests Who Need a Bed suite.”

Tilting her head, she laughed. “Is that the
one with the mirrored ceiling, the vibrating bed and the hot tub in
the shape of a huge champagne glass?”

“The one and only.”

“Although,” she reasoned, “I think Maya and
Tomás are taking a midnight flight to Cancun. That honeymoon suite
may be available after all.”

Pulling away to look into her eyes, Nico
smiled. “We can always check in as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who were
just married today.”

“Juan or John Smith?” she added breezily,

“Juan and Maria, of course.”

“Of course!”

“All right!” As soon as the band whipped into
a lively country-western number, Nico kicked up his heels. “Texas
honky tonk! Come on!”

As she allowed him to guide her, Erica soon
twirled and jitterbugged like a pro. By the time the song ended,
she had to catch her breath. “Time out!” she called and allowed
Nico to lead her back to their table.

“
Más vino?
” he asked as he picked up
her goblet.

For an instance, she thought of tempering her
alcohol intake, but tonight seemed so special, so free and
dangerously impetuous, that she held no reservations when it came
to agreeing to his suggestion. “Go for it,
mi bobo
bailando!
”

“Dancing fool, huh?” Nico chuckled as he
started for the buffet. “Just you wait,
mi dama linda!
I’ll
have you begging for more!”

Beautiful lady
... Erica certainly
would beg for more as soon as she found the first opportunity to be
alone with her charming date. Of course, two could play that game.
She’d make sure to have Nico Sloan, alias Juan Smith, begging for
deliverance after her slow, seductive tortures!

* * *

From the side of the bubbling hot tub Erica
and Nico watched the wedding guests go crazy as they tried to whack
open the papier-mâché piñatas. Those who finally succeeded became
doused in a shower of candies and little gifts. By now, the bride
and groom had left to change in their hotel suite and take a limo
ride to the airport, where they would be off on their month-long
honeymoon of sun and surf.

“Ah, this is much better,” Nico commented as
he enjoyed the water beside her. Since they had the tub to
themselves, they threw caution to the wind and plunged in sans
bathing suits. “I’d much rather watch the
borrachones
than
join in the fun.”

“Just wait until my Uncle Miguel starts
balancing a wine glass on his big nose while he dances. But I don’t
think he’s quite soused enough yet to start the entertainment.”

As she spoke, Erica cuddled up to his naked
hip. The couple had checked in earlier as Mr. and Mrs. Juan Smith
and looked forward to taking advantage of the hotel’s amenities. A
bottle of premium champagne, a king-sized bed and satin pillows
awaited them in Room 1210 of a Las Palmas suite. Despite Erica’s
protests over the expense, Nico insisted they share the night
together in style, his treat. With this, plus their weekend at the
B&B, the costs added up considerably, yet Nico insisted on
giving Erica the royal treatment. For a split second, she wondered
if she could live up to his expectations; or, heaven forbid, give
him what he expected in return. Of course, she had no idea what
that might be.

Nico quickly scooted behind her and clasped
Erica around the waist. “I’d make love to you right here,” he
murmured against her damp hair, “but I’m spontaneous only to a
degree. I don’t want to get us kicked out of here for lewd and
lascivious behavior.”

She rubbed his groin with her derrière and felt the
sudden rise of his cock. “I thought honeymooners were supposed to
be lewd and lascivious.”

“I think that’s reserved for more private
encounters. I’d hate for your aunt to come walking this way and spy
us in the middle of our own entertainment.”

“She knows we’re having much more fun, but
you’re right. Besides—” Erica pulled away from her gentle
stimulation. “—my family invited us for brunch here tomorrow
morning. The hotel serves a fabulous buffet. I told them yes. It’s
that all right?”

“Of course,
mi amor
. Your aunt and
uncle came all the way from North Carolina for the wedding. They
want to see their
sobrina
before they leave.”

Turning and placing her arms around his
shoulders, she nuzzled her wet nose against his. “Why are you so
wonderful, Adriano Sloan?”

“Whoops! You have the wrong man. I’m Juan
Smith, remember?”

“You could be Don Juan for all I care.”

Clutching his head, Erica pressed her mouth
to his in a fervent kiss. The combination of his warm, tender lips
and the bubbles around them put her in a heady, glorious mood.
Within seconds, his stiffened cock joined in the embrace by
pressing against her abdomen.

When they finally broke the kiss, she smiled.
“I think we’d better get upstairs before Juan, Jr. gets out of
control.”

“He can’t help himself. The sight, feel,
sound, taste and smell of a gorgeous woman push him over the top
with excitement. You definitely qualify on all counts.”

Reaching under the water for his hand, Erica
brushed his excited penis in the process. She couldn’t help but
giggle. “Then come on, Juan Senior, and son, what are we waiting
for?”

* * *

Bodies, limbs, lips, flesh. Between the satin
sheets, they converged in a wondrous, passionate embrace. They did
their own dance, to music only they could hear. Bodies moved to a
magic salsa rhythm, undulated and flowed with sweet melodies. Limbs
and flesh met and melted over and over. Erica had never felt so
alive as his taste, smell and feel became an exquisite part of her.
His essence, too, pumped into her as hands and mouths turned hot,
sticky and greedy. All together it served to fuel her, pulsating
through her body like a slap of pure adrenaline.

And Nico became a formidable force as well,
delving, thrusting and pummeling with his incredible cock, not
once, but twice as they responded to their resurging dance with
cries of elation, fulfillment, and ultimately laughter. Her heart
soared along with his, and they enjoyed their own private song too
beautiful for mere words.

When they felt strong again, the couple
shared an intimate bath in the garden tub, surrounded by bowls of
orange blossoms and scented candles. Somehow, the champagne
remained unopened as they fell into the cool sheets and into a
lovely, entwined sleep.

“I feel silly wearing the same outfit,” Erica
commented as they took the elevator down to the first floor and the
terrace where Sunday brunch awaited. “I know my family will realize
we spent the night together.”

Grinning, Nico caressed her bare arm. “And
that’s bad how?”

“I suppose you’re right,” she said with a
sigh. “They might as well know what a crazy, wanton
hija
and
sobrina
they have in the family.”

“You’ll fit right in with my own
familia
.”

Erica smiled with the thought of meeting his parents
at last. “Is that an invitation to the nut house? If you and your
twin are any indication, then I should consider myself the only
sane person between the two families.”

As the elevator doors opened, Nico threw her
a sly wink. “We’ll see.”

They joined Erica’s family at a large, round table.
She had to work fast to evade any sly questions, and did so with
the expertise of a spy under interrogation. In contrast, Nico
simply smiled and answered questions with polite aplomb. Finally,
Erica felt herself slip into a more comfortable mood when she
allowed her first Mimosa cocktail to take effect.

Before they started for the buffet table,
Nico excused himself to use the restroom. Now as her aunt and
mother used the opportunity to pump her for more information, Erica
kept them at bay by directing the conversation to less volatile
topics between her father and uncle. Soon, a familiar voice greeted
them, and she was both surprised and delighted to see Maritza on
her way over.

“I finished early,” Mari told them as she
swept around the table to give everyone a kiss, “and when I called
mamá
, she said to meet everyone here for brunch. So, here I
am!”

Today, the newest member of the Adentro Televisión
news team wore an indigo sundress dotted with pink and yellow
petals. Of course, Mari looked fabulous with her hair done in gold
waves and her makeup perfect. Despite feeling like a dowdy
stepchild, Erica couldn’t wait to introduce her sister to Nico, the
mystery brother. After all the sisters had shared concerning their
love lives, she felt they had much more in common now than just
passing romances.

A sudden crash behind them made the Rael family turn
heads. A general murmur rose amongst the diners, and several
waiters scurried about. From her viewpoint, Erica could see the
remnants of a lobster and shrimp salad scattered over the flagstone
floor. Finally, the commotion settled back to normal conversations
and activity, and she turned her attention back to her group. When
a waiter came to her side, Erica gave a small frown and accepted
the folded note he handed her. As she read, her expression turned
from sublime happiness to a growing anxiety.