Even through the haze, though, her pain lived strong. That was fine. Last night, she’d been too deep in it, and it would be a while before it subsided. But now that she’d spent the night grieving in my arms, letting me comfort her, I would give her relief and release.
“It would be an honor to avenge you and Bianca,” I said.
She slid her hips back and forth, leaving a wet spot on the crotch of my underwear. “Is there anything you wouldn’t do for revenge?”
“You know it’s more complicated than that. Retribution can be all-consuming.” I struggled to organize my thoughts with her pulsing slit growing greedy for me, but this conversation was important. “I’ll never let revenge rule my life as my father and Diego did. That’s my promise to you. For me—my wife, family, and people come first.”
She hovered her juicy, delicious lips above mine. “I want to know how it feels to come first,” she whispered.
With a short growl, I slid a hand into her hair, both pulling it and holding her where she was. “It’s a path you can’t come back from.”
I needed her explicit permission, but I wasn’t above playing dirty to get it. With my other hand on her hip, I took a handful of her ass and bucked my pelvis up, ramming my shaft against her clit.
Her eyes rolled back into her head. “Do that again.”
Beg. Demand. Tell me to fuck you raw.
It had to be about me and her and nothing else. She had to want this more than she wanted to resist me or hurt Diego. My erection was turning painful, but I needed her to ask, and for it to be now.
With a knock on the door, we both froze. “¿Señor?” came Jaz’s voice.
I closed my eyes and sighed. God, give me a moment of uninterrupted pleasure in this lifetime. Hadn’t I earned the exquisite pleasure of fucking my horny wife for the first time? “Vete,” I called out, sending Jaz away.
“Es importante,” she replied.
“Important?” Natalia scoffed. “No. She has a sixth sense for when you and I are getting close. She wants to come between us. Ignore her.”
Whether that was true or not, Jazmín was intuitive enough to know when she was needed and when she should make herself scarce. I took Natalia’s ass cheeks in both hands and squeezed hard enough to send the message that this culo was mine when I got back—then moved her off my crotch and stood to pull on some sweats. “It could be about Max.”
I shoved my hand down my pants and tried to calm my raging hard-on as I crossed the room. I hid it with the door as I leaned my head out. “¿Qué quieres, Jaz? It’s not a good time.”
“Alejandro wants you downstairs immediately.”
“Puta madre,” I cursed. “What’s it about?”
She shrugged. “I’m just supposed to tell you.”
“Natalia needs me here. She doesn’t want to be alone.”
“Of course not. She wants you all to herself, even if others need you.”
I frowned at her and warned, “Jazmín.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s true,” she said, turning away. “Alejo’s waiting for you.”
I sighed and closed the door before heading for my closet. “I’m sorry, mi amor.”
“What is it?” Natalia asked.
I threw on a t-shirt, moving quickly so I could get this over with. “I’m needed downstairs.”
“You’re needed here,” she called from the bed. “You always go when Jaz calls.”
“I do not. This is Badlands business.” On my way out of the bedroom, I stopped in my tracks. The interruption had taken care of my erection, but suddenly it threatened to return. Natalia sat with her back against the headboard, the thin white sheet tucked under her arms, barely concealing the rosy berries begging to be devoured. Her long disheveled hair fell around her bare arms. I’d resisted her for so long, and now that I had her, I was leaving her naked and wanting in our bed?
“Qué pendejo,” I muttered about myself.
“What happened to ‘this is a path you can’t come back from’?” she accused. With the vitriol in her voice, I met her glare. “I guess it includes the clause ‘unless Jaz needs me.’”
She was pissed, and I was just close enough to the edge to say fuck it and get back into bed. Especially considering Natalia’s possessive side alone was sexy enough to get me going again. But if Alejandro’s news had anything to do with Max, I had to go. And I had to do it now, before I changed my mind.
“I’ll be back as fast as I can. Te lo prometo.” With my promise, I bent at the hip and pecked her hard and fast, before she—or my dick—could protest. “Don’t move an inch.”
* * *
I descended the stairs into the dark basement control center to find Alejandro waiting with his arms crossed over his chest.