He gave me a squeeze and ordered softly, “Look at me.”

I didn’t want to. No, I really didn’t want to. So I didn’t.

“I don’t think I can,” I told him. “You probably think I’m crazy.”

He gave me another squeeze, waiting a moment and then he spoke.

“Mamita, they’re not gone. They’ve always been there, you just discovered them. They’re who you are.”

His words surprised me, mainly because they made sense and I lifted my head to look at him.

“Do you think so?” I asked.

He rolled us so he was mostly on top and his eyes scanned my face.

“Yeah,” he answered. “You’re the most complicated woman I’ve ever met.”

My brows drew together in confusion.

“Is that good?”

He grinned and his eyes went warm.

“Fuck yeah,” he told me through his grin. “Gotta tell you, mi cielo, you missed a few.”

This time, my brows went up.

“I did?”

His mouth touched mine but his eyes stayed open, staring at me. Then his head moved away an inch.

“Yeah. Crazy Sadie. Sweet Sadie. Funny Sadie. And my favorite, the Sadie who just let me f**k her the way I wanted and she got off on it, even more than me.”

Someone, please tell me he did not just say that.

My eyes narrowed.

“I did not get off on it more than you.”

This time he smiled and it was his wicked smile, so, even though I was angry, my belly still melted at the sight.

“You did,” he said.

“I did not,” I retorted.

His hands started moving on me and his mouth came back to mine, not to kiss me but instead he murmured against my lips, “Mamita, don’t you think I can feel you? You’re so wet, you’re slick. You feel like silk. You came hard, you always come hard. I know it, I can feel it. When you do, you get so f**kin’ tight…”

Oh my God!

Even as his words were turning me on (yes, again!), I interrupted him.

“You think a lot of yourself, Hector Chavez,” I snapped, lifting my hands to push at his shoulders, he moved away a few inches but his smile got bigger, whiter and far more glamorous.

“Yeah, and you do too.”

I gasped, outraged.

He bit his lip, watching me then said, “I see I got Attitude Sadie now.” Then his head bent and he nuzzled my neck. “I like her too.”

At his words, for some bizarre reason, ice water flooded my veins and my body froze.

“Don’t make fun of me,” I whispered.

Immediately, his head came up and I noticed his smile had vanished.

He stared at me a second, eyes dark, then he spoke.

“I’m not makin’ fun of you, Sadie. I’m teasin’ you. There’s a big f**kin’ difference.”

I watched him and realized belatedly that his smile had not only vanished, Mr. Mood Swing was getting downright angry.

He kept talking, proving me right.

“Mujer, you’re gonna have to learn, pretty f**kin’ quick, to trust me. I’m not like the people you know, the society bitches, the ass**les your father recruited. You don’t have to shut down. You don’t have to put those f**kin’ shields up. Christ, I want you to be who you are.”

Yes. I was right. He was downright angry.

My heart lurched.

I did it again. I insulted him. Not as badly as last night but not good either.

“Hector –” I started.

“This is your gig, Sadie. I can’t help you. You’re gonna have to figure it out and fast. I’m not walkin’ on eggshells wonderin’ what f**kin’ reaction you’re gonna have to everything I say. I’m gonna say this once so pay attention. I’m not passin’ the time here, enjoyin’ a sweet, hot piece for the f**k of it. If you don’t get it yet, I’ll give it to you. What we got, it means somethin’. Do you understand?”

My heart lurched again but this time it felt nice and that warm, happy glow hit my chest.

“I understand,” I whispered.

“You better f**kin’ understand,” he bit out.

I closed my eyes tight then opened them again.

“I’m sorry.” He stared at me silently and I continued. “About just now and about last night. I was horrible, I said horrible…” I stopped and then started again, “I’m working through it, I promise.”

He kept staring at me, a second then two then his fingers slid into the side of my hair and I saw his mood swing again but not fully, he was holding onto some of his anger, I could see it.

“Jesus, you’re a pain in the ass,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry about that too,” I said instantly and I meant it.

His thumb came out of my hair and started sliding along my temple.

“I’ll make up for it,” I told him.

His eyes were watching his thumb but at my words, they came to mine. “Yeah?”

“I’ll buy you a building,” I offered.

His body went tight and his eyes narrowed.

“Or, an island somewhere,” I went on quickly. “I don’t know how much islands cost but there has to be one in my price range.”

It was then I felt him relax, his mouth did that fighting-a-grin thing, I knew he finally let go of his anger and the happy glow settled in.

Since what I was doing appeared to be working, I kept talking. “It might just be a beach and a palm tree but what else do you need on an island?”

He lost the fight with his grin, his head descended and I carried on, even when his lips were against mine.

“We’ll bring a cooler and a picnic basket…” I stopped talking because he started kissing me, open-mouthed and sweet.

His body settled on mine, his arms were sliding around me when his cell rang.

He lifted his head and I saw right away that he’d morphed again, this time looking frustrated.

He pressed into me as he reached to the nightstand to nab his phone.

“This is over, mi cielo,” his eyes came to me as he flipped open his phone, “I’m takin’ you to a f**kin’ island.” Then he put his phone to his ear and clipped, “Yeah?”

My gaze was on Hector’s face, my thoughts were on being on an island with Hector and in the very, very back of my mind, I figured my Mom would like that. I mean, I wasn’t altogether certain my Mom would be thrilled about Hector’s creativity in the sack (or my response to it) but what he did to me was beautiful in its way and he made me feel good so she had to approve of that.