Emery
Rafe and I spent the next several hours outside with Elvis, alternating between watching him and watching Talladega Nights. My baby was high on life being in the Cruz yard. First, it was huge. Second, there were tons and tons of places for him to perch. I adored the outdoor space as well, but I was also five steps beyond exhausted which meant I wasn’t on my A game. Over the course of the previous ninety-six or so hours, I’d been in too many time zones to keep straight. From New Zealand, which was twenty hours ahead of Los Angeles, to Malibu, and then on to Spain, which was nine hours ahead of LA, my body had no clue what time it was supposed to be. I’d definitely skipped over a day somewhere and my circadian rhythm was struggling.
“You know what you need, Miel?” Rafael asked from the other end of the lounger we were on.
Turning my attention from watching Elvis scout out every nook and cranny of the Cruz compound, I turned to Rafe. For the previous ten minutes or so, he’d been rubbing my feet, which was fantastic but possibly too relaxing. I needed to stay awake until at least nine, but the struggle was real.
“Hmm?”
“Starbucks.”
I perked up immediately. “You have Starbucks here?”
He snorted out a laugh. “Yes, and since I never got to get it for you when we woke up in Malibu this morning, now’s as good a time as any. Even better—you can come with me to get it. That’ll eat up some time and keep us awake.”
“Do you think I’d be recognized?”
He shook his head. “Barcelona is busy and I’m going to put a baseball cap on you. It’ll be fine.”
I clapped excitedly as I jumped up from the lounger. “I’m up, I’m up. This is the best news ever—it’s been almost a month since I had a venti mocha latte. I’m having at least two.”
I called out for Elvis who was busy walking the length of the pool. “Mommy and Rafe are going to go out for a while, little man. I’ll bring you back a treat, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”
He stopped walking long enough to look over at me and caw his approval enthusiastically.
Rafe chuckled as he slung his arm around my shoulders and walked me into the house. “You worry too much. A blind man could see that Elvis would never leave you.”
Ducking out from under his arm, I hurried across the room and slid into my flip-flops. While I did this, Rafe pulled two Real Madrid baseball caps from the closet. I’d noticed when I unpacked that there were about twenty on one of the shelves. I hadn’t realized until I asked Rafe on the plane why the throw blankets we had had the team logo on them that Joaquin played for the team. After that, all the Real Madrid stuff I saw made sense.
“The thing is that most peacocks stay where they live because they’re in an enclosure,” I explained. “Since I raised him differently than any of the others, he decided early on that being fenced in was not cool. With all the moving he’s had to do in the last few days, I worry that he’ll get annoyed and wander off.”
He grinned as he dropped a kiss on my lips before he put the baseball cap on my head. When he did, he made sure to pull my ponytail through the rear opening so that the hat was securely on my head.
“That bird is living the life and he knows it. On top of that, he loves you like crazy. He’s ride or die with you, for life.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I smiled as I accepted the hand he held out for me and slid my fingers between his as we made our way through the house to the garage. With his free hand, he picked up a pair of keys from the wall inside the door. Hitting the control, he unlocked the white Range Rover that was parked just in front of us. Leading the way, he opened the door and got me situated before he walked around the front of the car and got into the driver’s seat. After adjusting the seat, he pressed the button for the garage door, started the car, and pulled out.
I oohed and aahed as we pulled out of his parents’ driveway into the neighborhood. It was stunning, beautifully landscaped and the houses were set quite far apart. Mateo and Ava’s house was the only other home for about a block, which meant there was lots of privacy.
As I took it all in I turned to Rafe and said, “This is beautiful.”
“It is, isn’t it? I never thought I’d want to live up here but now…”
I waited for him to say more. When he didn’t I prodded, “Now?”
Reaching over, he set his hand on my thigh. “Elvis is a big boy,” he answered. “No penthouse in Barcelona is going to give him the kind of outdoor space he needs.”
Without further ado, he turned on the radio and gestured for me to choose something for us. What he didn’t know—but was about to find out—was that I loved pop music. I watched for his reaction when I stopped on a channel that was playing Demi Lovato’s Tell Me You Love Me and was happy that he didn’t roll his eyes or mock me the way Elliot had. Neither did he give me dirty looks when I sang along.
The drive into Barcelona took about thirty minutes and I spent the entire time looking out the window drinking it all in. Rafael answered all of my questions and seemed to be as enthusiastic to show me things as I was to see them. For years, Kaya and I had talked—and talked and talked—about visiting Spain. It was hard to believe I was finally there, and I couldn’t wait until she and Alejandro arrived so that she and I could experience it together with the men in our lives.
The Starbucks was in a busy area so it took a minute to find parking. Once he had us in a space, he came around, opened my door, and helped me out before he relinked our fingers. My baseball cap was facing the correct way in order to hide my face. Rafe wore his backward and it was ridiculously hot. Then again, I thought that about pretty much everything about him.
The menu was a little different than it was in the states—some things I liked weren’t available while other things I’d never seen but that looked incredible, were.
When we got to the counter, I ordered two mocha lattes with extra cream—then asked if they could give me extra, extra cream. I shrugged my shoulders when Rafe and the barista both laughed. Obviously, I liked whipped cream a lot. Unable to resist the lure of the cheesecake in the display, I ordered a slice of that and a butter croissant for Elvis, while Rafe ordered an iced caramel macchiato. Spying a delicious looking churo on the counter, I ordered one of those, too.
He was adorable and wouldn’t even let me help carry the food. Instead, I took control of one of my drinks while he carried everything else. When I started to walk at his side without touching him, he stopped me. “Loop your arm through mine, Miel.”
After I complied, we headed toward the car. “You’ve got one hell of a sweet tooth,” he teased as we crossed the street.
I made a sound of agreement as I sipped my drink. “If Kaya had been your neighbor growing up, you’d have one too. Gigi started teaching her to bake when she was six years old and I swear she hasn’t really left the kitchen since. You wouldn’t believe the things that girl can whip up.”
He chuckled as he helped me into the passenger seat. “Having eaten some of her food, I get it. That beef Wellington was easily one of the best I’ve ever had.”
Once in the car, he turned my way. “You hungry? Because it’s just about dinner time and there are about a million places we could stop at.”
I was so happy to be out and about that I said yes without hesitation. After a quick discussion of our options, Rafe drove about four miles down the road to an Asian restaurant. During the short drive, I managed to drink all of my first latte and half of my second.
The Asian tapas place was a highlight for me. It might not sound like the two things go together but they so do. The homemade dumplings, spareribs, and ramen were all incredible.
“I love this tapas style,” I raved as we walked back to the car.
“This is just the beginning, Miel. I have so many places to take you. You are going to love Spain.”
I beamed up at him as I squeezed his hand. “I already do.”
Back at the house, I got my Elvis cuddles for the day as we fed him and made sure he was happy. Naturally with all the attention, he was. Caroline and Charlotte were out exploring the nightlife in Spain, so Rafe and I were all alone. I loved that he liked to spend as much time outdoors as I did, and we were back there for about two hours. When an obviously tired Elvis went up into one of the big trees at the back of the yard, Rafe and I locked up and went inside to the theater room on the second floor.
After a few minutes’ debate we decided to watch Deadpool. Although it was a movie we’d both seen before, we agreed that it was so good it couldn’t be watched enough. Once the movie was all set up, Rafe pulled me down into a double recliner so that we could cuddle. The carefree way he showed his affection had me falling deeper by the hour. I was positioned against him and had my left leg draped over his lap. He used the opportunity to run his hand up and down my thigh and his touch sent little jolts of electricity through my body. When his cock hardened beneath my thigh I snuggled in closer and traced my hand over his stomach before dipping it beneath his shirt so I could feel his skin.
“Give me your lips,” he murmured.
I complied immediately, tilting my chin up so that he could kiss me. The movie faded away as we kissed. He used his hand to grip my ponytail and pull me back a bit. Guiding me closer, he gently bit down and tugged on my lower lip. I moaned when he tickled his tongue over the bite before he swept in and kissed me again, harder and a bit more desperate.
As we kissed, I trailed my hand from his stomach to his belt. I fumbled with it for a second before he tore his mouth from mine and helped me. When I had his jeans open I tugged at the waistband of his briefs and pulled out his cock, fisting it in my hand. He hissed out a sound of need as I slid off his lap to the floor. I kept his cock in my hand as he spread his legs and I scooted in closer. Leaning in, I traced my tongue around the bottom of his shaft before I took one long, wet lick, all the way up to the tip.
His eyes were hooded as he watched me. “Jesus, seeing you do that is hot,” he said on a tortured groan.
I licked one palm and then the other before I started using both fists to create a pattern where I was jacking up and off with the left and down and off with the right. I stopped when his hips started rising up to meet the downward stroke.
“Uh-uh-uh,” I said in a teasing voice. “You have to let me play my way.”
“Whatever you want,” he promised.
Opening my mouth, I stuck out my tongue and then smacked the tip of his cock on it three times in quick succession. His breathing got heavier as he watched. “I want what we talked about earlier,” I said.
His pupils were so wide that his denim eyes were nearly black. “My come in your mouth and down your throat,” he rasped. “Fuck, Emery.”
“Yes,” I chuckled, “we’ll be doing that, too. Later.”
Sitting back, I tugged my simple cotton sundress up and over my head. Gesturing to him I said, “take your shirt off.”
After he complied, I reached behind myself, unsnapped my bra, and let it slide down my arms. His eyes flared when my naked breasts were exposed to his gaze.
Getting back into position I sat up on my knees, held the base of his shaft, and traced my tongue around the head. I alternated between licking, swirling, and sucking the tip as I learned what pressure and speed he liked. Wiggling my tongue against the underside of the head, I watched him watching me.
“I like the way you taste,” I whispered.
“Fuck,” he growled, his breath growing even heavier. “Take more, Dulce Niña. Let me see what you look like with my cock in your mouth.”
I moaned as I licked at the bottom again before I came up, opened my mouth, and sucked him in. His left hand fisted around my ponytail as his right gripped the arm of the leather recliner.
I took him as far as I could go before I came back up only to do it again, and again as I set the pace. With my right hand, I worked the bottom of his cock so that he was being touched everywhere.
“Fuck yes, Miel. Dios, do it like that,” he rasped.
When he let go of the chair and my ponytail and brought his hands to either side of my face to guide me up and down, I was no longer the one in control. I shivered as he rocked his hips up so that he could fuck into my mouth, the wet suction making a noise that I could tell Rafe loved. When the head of his cock hit the back of my throat and it lodged there for a moment he whimpered before he pulled back and did it again and then again.
I gripped his hips with my hands as he went faster and his breathing grew harsher. “Dios, your fucking mouth,” he hissed as I wiggled my tongue against the bottom of his cock.
“Ah fuck,” he groaned. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, Emery! I’m gonna come.”
Thrusting in one last time he stiffened, his legs locking up as the first blast of come hit the back of my throat. Pulling back, he whimpered as more of him poured into my mouth, hissing when he thrust in again before pulling back.
“Open your mouth and hold out your tongue,” he growled as he pulled out. Quickly swallowing what was already in my mouth, I held out my tongue as he fisted his cock and jerked out the last few ropes of his release onto it. When he was finished, I stayed where I was, tongue out, and waited for him to tell me what to do.
His eyes flared as he grabbed my chin. “Swallow, Miel. I want it all inside of you.”
I held his gaze as I did as he’d instructed. After I swallowed, he zipped up his pants and gestured to my dress.
“Put it on,” he ordered.
Picking it up, I pulled it over my head. While I did, he gathered up his shirt and my bra before he picked me up and carried me out of the room. I giggled as he hurried down the stairs and into the guest room, kicking the door shut behind him before he deposited me on my feet.
“Dress off.”
I yanked it off and then stood before him with my hands at my sides as he stripped down. Walking behind me, he gripped his fists around the waistband of my panties and tugged me back against him. I shivered when I felt that he was still hard.
“It’s never been like this, Miel,” he said as he kissed his way down my back. “I’m fucking hard for you all the time.”
I nodded as he crouched behind me and started to pull my panties down as his warm breath against my backside made me wet. When he got them down around my ankles, he tapped one foot and then the other so I’d lift my feet up.
“I wish I could explain how beautiful you looked with my cock in your mouth,” his murmured against my left buttock as he dropped several warm kisses against it. Switching his attention to the right buttock, he bit down gently and swirled his tongue around the skin. As he kissed, caressed, licked, bit, and sucked at my ass, his hands were trailing up and down the inside of my legs. Sliding two fingers between them, he groaned when he felt how wet I was.
“Have you been this wet since you sucked me?”
I bit my lip and nodded. “Yes.”
“Fucking perfect,” he growled as he stood. “My beautiful little cocksucker gets wet while she makes me crazy. I love that, Miel.”
Pointing over my shoulder, he gestured to the bed. “Climb up and get on your knees. I’m going to eat your cunt from behind and then you’re going to ride my tongue and come all over my face like a good little girl.”
His dirty talk made me crazy. If anyone else spoke so crudely I’d be repulsed, but when he did it my body trembled with desire. Standing behind me, he put his hand to the back of my neck and pressed me down. “Spread those legs and stick your ass out,” he ordered.
I whimpered as I complied, the position leaving me open in a way that I’d never have considered assuming before him. When he set his hands on either cheek and squeezed, I felt my clit throb.
“Perfección,” he praised.
I felt the warmth of his breath against me about a second before he swiped his tongue against my aching sex. When he spread me open with two fingers and wiggled his tongue between them, I moaned and pressed back against him. He ate me like he’d been deprived of me for days instead of just hours and I loved every single second of it. Pushing two fingers inside, he thrust them in and out while his tongue worked my clit. In need of anchoring, I dug my nails into the comforter and cried out. When he stopped and climbed onto the bed I knew what was coming. My legs started to shake as I watched him lie down before he held out his hands to me. “Hold onto the headboard and ride my tongue,” he rasped.
His hands went to my hips as I climbed up and straddled his face. I tried to hover above him but he would have none of that. Using my hips as leverage, he pulled me down against his mouth and held me there. The feeling of him licking me as I rocked on his tongue was nearly indescribable. I hadn’t known it could be like that—the level of intensity was unreal but at the same time, it was also incredibly intimate. It was not a position one would ever choose to do with someone they didn’t trust. Leaning forward, I clutched the wrought iron frame and buried my head against my forearm.
“God, Rafe, yes, yes, please,” I cried.
When he pulled me down harder and quickened his tongue movements, I came with a choked cry. My orgasm was still rolling through me when he lifted my hips and helped me onto the bed. Sitting up he turned me onto my back, spread my legs, and thrust inside. My pussy quivered as I adjusted to his size. He rocked into me slowly with very precise thrusts that he finished with the swivel that drove me crazy on every downward stroke. I wrapped my hips around him and held on as he pumped.
“No hay nada mejor,” he groaned, telling me in Spanish that there was nothing better.
He was right—there wasn’t.
“Lo siento todo. Tanto, tanto.”
I repeated the words back to him in English. “I feel everything too,” I moaned. “So much, Rafe. So fucking much.”
He kissed me with such tenderness I thought my body would melt. With my arms and legs wrapped around him, I returned his kisses with fervor as he ground against me.
When I started to come he let go, pouring himself inside of me as he murmured, “tanto, tanto,” over and over again.
I felt different because we had been different. We hadn’t just had sex or fucked hard. We’d made love.