Love in Flame (De La Fuente Family 5)

He continues to hold my hand while he licks another finger. “You have me.” After placing a gentle kiss to the palm of my hand, he closes my fingers over it. “You’ve captured my heart the way you’ve just captured my kiss.”

“Oh…I don’t think anyone has seen me as tearful as you have. That was beautiful. I love you so much.”

“If my friends saw me now they’d call me pussy whipped. But I wouldn’t give a shit about what they thought, because you’re the only one who counts.”

“Okay,” I sob and grab a napkin, “I give up.” My tears run down my cheeks while Diego gives me time to pull myself together. “I never thought that you’d be so damn romantic. It makes my heart sore but in a good way.”

“I have more waiting where they came from.” He winks.

“Before I really am in floods of tears tell me about what you’re doing now. I mean with the forestry.”

“Eat more before I eat it all.” He fills my plate as I wait. “You know why I left New York,” he glances at me, nodding, “well, when I moved back here a friend that I went to school with had just signed up with the forestry fire department. It’s made up of voluntary emergency personnel so I figured it was a good idea and since I had nothing much to do around the farm. It’s hard, exhausting work, but worth every minute of my time. When I’m not out fighting forest fires, I’m working on the family farm, riding, mucking out stalls.” He laughs. “I like being busy and I have the balance that I need with both jobs. One paid, one unpaid. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“You’re a good man Diego De La Fuente.” The huskiness in my tone has Diego’s eyes darkening with desire.

“What time is Andie due back?” he asks, glancing at his watch.

“Five.”

“Then I still have time alone with you.” He then proceeds to eat his way through the rest of the platter and before I know it we have a creamy concoction sitting in the middle of the table to share. “Meringue, strawberries, raspberries, chocolate, and fresh cream,” Diego clears the mystery.

“Ah.” I pick up my spoon, feeling lighter than ever before. Diego does that to me and I hope it never changes. “I think I’d like to see something of yours covered in cream,” I tease.

“If you’re trying to make me hard, you’ve succeeded…” his jaw slackens when I dip my finger into the dessert, and slowly insert it into my mouth. My lids dim with the pleasure of taste and I moan.

“Rae,” Diego growls.

I open my eyes and smirk. “You getting worked up?”

“I’m seconds from hauling you into the restroom to see how wet that talk has your little panties.” He grips the edge of the table and closes his eyes.

Thinking that it might be best to let the tiger calm down, I glance around and realize that while we’ve been lost in our own world here, the place has filled up. Even seeing so many people doesn’t have me afraid. While I’m here with Diego, I have the world in the palm of my hands.

“You finished?” Diego asks, pulling my gaze back to him.

I nod unable to speak with the sexual pull between us suddenly unbearable.

Diego tugs me up from the table and after our farewell and thank you’s to Anna and Matthew, I find myself up against the wall around the side of the building.

I open my mouth in a gasp when Diego seals our lips together…and I’m lost. I cling to him, feeling every hard inch of him against my softness. I tingle from head to toe with his taste in my mouth and his body sheltering mine. There’s only one Diego and I’m going to love him like no one else ever could.

11

Diego

Kasey hasn’t stopped bitching since we all got the wake up call. He’s still at it while tossing his stuff into the back of my truck because it’s still dark and he is usually in bed at this ungodly hour. I couldn’t wait to get going.

The departure for the Vegas trip had felt like it was never going to arrive, but it’s here and pulling up outside of Rae’s, I can’t wipe the cheesy grin from my face.

“You make me want to puke,” Kasey drawls from beneath his cap, but I see the slight grin to his lips.

“I’m going to make your life hell when you find a woman that ties you up in knots.”

“Won’t happen.” He smirks, and nods toward the house.

My heart stops and my smile slowly slips as I watch Rae walk toward us. It’s only a nudge, or rather more of a hard shove, from Kasey that gets my brain marginally back in gear. She’s wearing a short dress with cowboy boots, and a cropped jacket that makes my mouth water and scrambles my brain.

“Bro,” Kasey shoves me again, “go help your woman.” He opens his door and jumps out, muttering, “Idiot.”