Fully unleashing myself on her had been the most intense sexual experience of my life, and I hadn’t even fucked her.
If she turned to me right now with the barest hint of an invitation in her eyes, my cock would be rock hard for her in an instant.
But there was a different, stranger satisfaction that’d settled deep in my chest since she’d awakened from her nightmare at dawn. She’d shared pieces of her soul with me, placing herself in my hands and making herself completely vulnerable. She’d drifted back to sleep in my arms, peaceful and sweet.
After indulging in my morning coffee and a delicious homecooked breakfast, an unfamiliar languor had settled in my body. My lips stretched in a lazy smile as I listened to her exclaim over the food that I’d provided for her. She didn’t seem to mind my almost nonexistent communication skills, and I didn’t feel the irritating obligation to offer more words than I actually wanted to say.
Nearly all of my human interactions involved either cartel politics or Stefano’s insane parties, which were also cartel politics but with more bullshit small talk. I never invited guests to my home because I found socializing tedious, and when it came down to it, I didn’t have much to say to people I didn’t really give a fuck about. I definitely didn’t care to hear about their mundane lives, and half-pretending to listen took all my mental energy.
But I didn’t have to pretend with Marisol. I didn’t have to try to behave in a way that didn’t come naturally to me. I liked her presence in my home. She was too soft and sweet to ever grate on my nerves.
And she was a fucking fantastic cook. I made a mental note to fire my chef.
As I continued to watch her, offering the occasional grunt of agreement that seemed to please her, something warm began to pulse at the center of my chest. Idly, I rubbed my palm over the spot, enjoying the sensation.
Finally, she closed the fridge and turned to beam at me. “This is amazing, Raúl. I forgot how much I like cooking, especially when there’s someone else to cook for.” Her smile took on a sad twist, but she didn’t seem distraught. “I’m not sure if I even realized how much I like it until I couldn’t do it anymore. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you’re happy. I should be thanking you for the delicious meals. You’ve saved us both from my shitty cooking.”
Her delighted giggle went straight to my head, intoxicating me. I closed the distance between us, extending my hand to her. She placed hers in mine without hesitation, and the warmth in my chest pulsed hotter.
“Come on,” I urged. “I have something to show you.”
Her head tilted with curiosity, and she eagerly followed me as I led her out the backdoor and into the garden. She gasped when she caught sight of the array of colorful blossoms. Suddenly, her hand was tugging on mine as she practically skipped toward the flowers. I followed her, bemused by the fact that this tiny woman was pulling me around my own home.
“Dahlias? And gladioli! And…” She rushed to a small bush that was only showing tiny buds. “Are these roses? Oh, Raúl!”
I caught a bright flash of her sparkling eyes and bright grin before she barreled into my chest. Her arms wrapped around me, squeezing me tight.
“Thank you.” Her fervent words of gratitude were muffled by her face pressing against my shirt, but they thrummed through my body like a reverberating bell.
My hands traced the contours of her body. I loved the feel of how small she was when she was tucked against me like this. I’d killed countless men with my bare hands, but I’d never felt bigger or stronger than I did when she was nestled in the protective cage of my arms.
“I’m glad you like them. I had them delivered for you this morning. I thought you might like to add them to the garden.” A worrying thought popped into my mind. “I’m assuming you know how to plant and care for them. Or does your family’s shop focus more on arrangements?”
She tipped her head back, and her incandescent smile was bright enough to blind me. “Both.” She squeezed me again with what I was certain was all her strength. “This is wonderful. No one has ever done something like this for me. You remembered what I told you about my family’s shop. I… Thank you.” She choked up a bit on the last, and I returned her fierce hug with a little squeeze of my own.
“Of course I remembered. I want you to be happy here, Marisol. Whatever you want, I’ll provide it.”
Her melodic laugh soared through my chest. “You’re very good at that, you know: providing. I can tell it means a lot to you.” Her chocolate eyes were suddenly intense on mine, and her dainty hand pressed directly over my heart. “I want you to know that you’re good at providing. And that means a lot to me, too.”