A Rescuer's Kiss

by Vicki

The rough cement felt cold and grainy under my cheek, even though earlier the evening had been hot and muggy as is usual in Puerto Rico. I had arrived four days ago and had been shopping, sightseeing and sunning my way through the city. The cruise I had been booked on was scheduled to leave in the morning for 7 days of luxury in the Caribbean Sea.

The attack came just two blocks from my hotel. It had gotten late and since I still needed to repack my bags for the cruise leaving in the morning I had decided to take a short cut through an alleyway. What a stupid mistake to make. Waves of nausea caused hot bile to hit the back of my throat like a wash of acid. The yelling voices I heard came at me from a distance as I tried to push myself up from the pavement. Spots appeared before my eyes and light from the street lamps receded as I slumped back down to the pavement. The pounding in the back of my head intensified and become a thundering roar that threatened to split my head open.

I must have passed out because the next thing I remember was the shape of a man looming over me. My screams echoed in the dark alleyway and I tried to scoot away from the man reaching for me.

"Hey, wait, wait, wait" he said as I tried to struggle to my feet. "I'm trying to help you." Unfortunately his reassurances fell on deaf ears as I once again wilted to the ground unconscious.

The next time I opened my eyes, I had to squint because of the brightness. The small room I was in appeared to be a bedroom and the sunlight streamed from an open window. There was not much in the way of decoration in the little room, but it was neat and relatively clean. The bed was the largest thing in the room with a web of twisted wrought iron for a bed frame. My head still pounded like a jackhammer, but the nausea seemed slightly less than before. I reached up to feel the back of my head, when the memory of what had happened came flooding back.

Dammit, why had I decided to cut through the alley to get back to the hotel? I knew better than that in a strange country or even my own. Puerto Rico may be a part of the United States, but it still was foreign to me. The lump on the back of my head felt like a grapefruit and judging by the crusty hair I felt, I had bled at some point. The blue plaid pillowcase had a large spot of dried, rust colored blood that I knew would be difficult to get out in the wash. Although I had not used my nursing skills in some time, I did a quick assessment and besides various bumps and bruises, the only serious injuries seemed to be the back of my head and my left shoulder. It was difficult to raise my left arm at all, but it did not seem broken. My clothes were still a mess from the incident. I vaguely remember my attackers ripping my shirt open and cutting the front of my bra after they had taken my purse and searched my pockets. I did not understand the rapid-fire Spanish the three boys were speaking, but I did not need words to know what would have happened to me next if someone had not come along at that point. A man yelled at my attackers just in time to prevent a horrid rape, but what happened after that was a blur. As I continued to mentally replay what had happened, I tried to get up from the soft mattress.

The door to the bedroom opened and in walked what I assumed to be the owner of the bed. His large amber eyes saw that I was awake and he brought the bowl he was carrying over to the bedside stand. He was not a large man, but was muscular and compact. His jeans were tight and worn white in a few places and were an eyeful for a girl who had not been close to a man in a long time. The red shirt he wore was cut short in the sleeves and revealed muscular arms with intricate tattoos on his upper arms. I could see that he had long, dark hair, but it had been pulled back into a tight ponytail at the nape of his neck. In a word, he was gorgeous and my breath quickened as he walked over to the bed and sat at the foot.

"Como estas?" was the only portion of the question that I understood. "Next time I go to another country, I'm learning the language first," I thought to myself. His voice was at once a low mixture of velvet and gravel. The man's looks, voice and presence captured as well as frightened me. Was this my attacker or my rescuer? "Who are you and where am I?" I asked as I backed up in bed as far as the headboard would allow.

"My name in Tony Ramirez and you are in my apartment" he said in English. "You were attacked last night just outside the building and I brought you up here when you passed out. How are you feeling?"

"Horrible. My head is pounding and I feel like I'm going to throw up. I don't remember hitting my head last night." I slowly rubbed my forehead as if to ease the pain. "You didn't" Tony said shortly. "One of those guys hit you on the back of your head with the butt of his gun - I'm sorry, but I think I caused him to do it when I yelled for them to stop."

"Did you see who they were? They took all of my things including my money. My cruise ticket was in my purse too! I'm supposed to leave today - what time is it?" I began to panic as I saw all of my well laid plans for vacation circle the drain.

"I'm sorry, Chica, but the boats have left already. They usually go early and it is already after noon. I recognized the men who attacked you and they have been punished, but I did not find your purse." Tony still sat at the foot of the bed, which made me a little uncomfortable, but since it was his bed, I didn't feel like I could complain. "Is there someone I can call for you - maybe at your hotel?"

"No, I am vacationing alone. I've been in Puerto Rico for a few days and was to have left on a cruise today. Thank God I have cruise insurance or I would have lost a fortune on that too." The pain in my head was getting the best of me and I slowly inched my way back down to the pillow. "I have to call the hotel - they think I am checking out today. But, I guess I'll do that later, I don't feel so well just now." As my head sank into the pillow, my eyes closed of their own will.

"Here is some aspirin if you wish." Tony moved up the bed and handed me two white pills. I sat up and took them gratefully and the glass of water he offered. "I brought some water to wash your face with - it is pretty bloody." His voice was soft and low as he dipped a cloth into the bowl of water he had set on the table.

"I can't right now, I've just got to rest - I'll do it later," I mumbled an answer as my voice trailed off.

"Wait, wait - tell me your name!" I heard him asked as I began to drift off. "Tessa Johnson," I whispered back at him before the merciful darkness descended on my consciousness.

I could not see it, but Tony's concerned face studied mine and at the blood that had dried in streaks. The large amber eyes that I had admired swept over my face and the rest of my form. He took in the sight of the ripped shirt with a sigh, covered my exposed white skin with a light cover and proceeded to wash the blood from my face.

The next time I opened my eyes, the evening shadows were across the room and a cool breeze drifted in the open window. A blanket had been drawn over me and my grateful thanks could not be expressed. Again, the owner of the lovely iron bed I resided upon was not to be seen. The pounding in my head had diminished to a dull thud and I found that I could move a little without the crippling nausea I had experienced earlier. As I turned over in bed, my eyes landed on my suitcases and garment bag hanging over the edge of a chair in the room. It took me a couple of seconds to register the fact that they shouldn't be there and then wonder how and when they arrived. I slowly sat up on the side of the bed and reached over for the small case that held my bath things and make-up. The small mirror I found revealed how badly I really looked. Tony had washed my face, but rivulets of dried blood ran down my neck and my normally auburn-brown hair was dark rust colored and crusty in places. I longed for a bath and a cup of coffee, but I wanted some answers first. The ruined shirt and bra landed in the garbage and I found an oversized T-shirt in my things to pull on over my aching head.

The door to the bedroom was just a few steps away, but it seemed like it took me forever to make my way over to the opening. When I opened it I discovered Tony talking with another man in the living room. They both stood and rushed over to my side when I entered.

"You shouldn't be up, here, sit down," said Tony as he led me over to an oversized stuffed chair. The other man looked at me intently as he took my other arm and assisted me to a sitting position.

Tony introduced the other man as a friend. This is Esteban, who is also a doctor. I would like him to check you out to make sure you are ok."

I looked Esteban who seemed to be waiting for me to acquiesce before he proceeded. As soon as I nodded he turned to open the black bag that I saw sitting on the table in front of the sofa. His exam was thorough and I answered his questions with a medical knowledge that he found curious, until I told him that I had been a nurse for a number of years. He injected the split on the back of my head with Novocain and explained that it needed a few stitches. I reluctantly agreed, as I knew it had opened and bled again while I slept earlier. He set up a tray next to the chair and Tony watched closely while the doctor sewed a few stitches into my scalp. Once finished, his instructions were to stay with someone at all times for the next several days in order to watch for signs of concussion and to keep the stitches relatively dry. He reluctantly agreed to let me wash my hair later, but advised me to keep the stitches from soaking.

After the medical exam was finished, I curled up in the chair with the warm cup of chicken soup that Tony had thoughtfully brought and listened to the sounds of their voices as they spoke in quiet tones. The fireplace had been lit and the soft sounds of their Spanish language began to lull me to sleep. Esteban checked me over once more before he left and said that I would be fine, even if I would be stiff and sore for a few days yet to come. I thanked him sleepily, but did not move from my warm nest in the chair.

"Can I get anything for you?" Tony asked as he began to turn lights down for the night.

"No, I am just so sleepy. I think I'll just stay right here if you don't mind."

"That will be fine, if you're sure you don't want to spend the night sleeping in the bedroom. It is no problem for me to sleep on the sofa again," Tony said as he looked into my face. "Are you sure I can't get anything for you?"

"You've done so much for me already. I'm not sure I can ever repay you," I said shyly.

"There is no repayment needed. I just want you to be well, and staying here with me will assure me that you have recovered enough to go home," he said.

"Are you sure I won't be a bother if I stay here a couple of days?" The thought of spending time with this man filled me with a feeling I could not describe as gratefulness.

"No, it's no problem," he said with a shake of his head. His long, curly hair had begun to escape the ponytail that usually contained it, and the wispy strands curled against his cheek. He did not seem aware that his physical appearance was anything else but ordinary. "It is late, so I will see you in the morning. Let me know if you need anything," he said politely as he walked to the bedroom.

The fire burned low as I contemplated the fates that had brought me to this time and place. I had spent the last few years caring for my late husband, George. We had grown up together and had been "best buddies" for most of our lives. He had been diagnosed with cancer right after our years at college and I had married him as a friend. Our friendship had not changed after marriage, though the physical relationship had been consummated. I loved him but had not been "in love" with him. Once his diagnosis had been made, I knew that he would need all the love and support he could get. Our marriage allowed him to obtain the medical insurance he so badly needed for treatment. Our few sexual encounters ended abruptly after surgery and chemotherapy began. George had always felt a little guilty that he required so much help, especially in the end, and he had insisted that I take an elaborate vacation on his insurance money. He would have been thrilled to see me taking this Caribbean cruise. He would also have been giggling like crazy to see me alone in the apartment of a good looking, Spanish speaking stranger. His sense of adventure always believed that I would find romance once he had "gotten out of the picture" as he used to say.

Sleep was fitful, at best, and I awoke many times with a start, wondering where I was. Dreams filled my mind, and the visions of dark men chasing me had me screaming in my sleep. My left shoulder throbbed as one of the men grabbed my arms and shook me.

"Tessa! Tessa! Wake up!" the attacker called.

The screams continued to erupt from my throat as I saw not the man holding me, but the three demons who had been haunting my dreams. Suddenly, my attacker brought his lips down to mine and kissed my open mouth. Screams stopped suddenly and I brought my hands up to push against the strong arms holding me. Slowly I realized that the man holding me was only too real and the kiss softened as my struggling ceased. The feeling of surprise that I felt when I found Tony kissing me turned to another emotion as his lips caressed mine.

"What is it? Are you all right?" he said. He continued to hold me as my breathing slowed and I nodded speechlessly. He had apparently had been asleep when he heard me screaming and the gym shorts he slept in did not do much to cover his wonderful body. The dark hair was loose and long, and the chest that was entirely too close to me was muscled and warm.

"Why did you kiss me?" My question sounded foolish, even to me.

"I'm sorry but It was the first thing I could think of to stop your screaming. Were you having a nightmare?" he moved away from me to sit on the footstool in front of the chair.

The chill of his leaving brought a shiver to my spine and I longed to crawl back into his arms. "Yes, I guess I was, but I don't remember much about it," I said. "I'm sorry to have woken you up."

"That's all right. It is nearly dawn and I have much to do today. Why don't you go back to sleep and I will wake you when I have some breakfast ready?" Tony stood to walk back to the bedroom.

My reply must have been garbled, as I could not look away from the vision he made. With his wildly mussed hair and little in the way of clothing, he was an awesome spectacle. The dark hair on his chest thinned to a line that ran into his loosely tied shorts. A good two inches of belly showed under his belly button and the legs that came out of the shorts were muscular and hairy. I had heard of the term 'animal magnetism' before but did not know Tony's picture was listed under the definition in the dictionary. He turned to look at me strangely before heading though his bedroom door.

The day passed quietly with Tony working at the computer most of the time. I would frequently nap and wake to find a cool glass of tea or warm bowl of soup on the table next to me. Our conversations were light and of common things. Tony made a wonderful batch of paella for supper and I asked him why he was taking such good care of me.

"I would want someone to do the same for me if I needed help," he replied simply. "I may have to go to America sometime soon, and you never know, I may need help as well. Sometimes, we all need a friend."

"If you do come to America, would you consider coming to see me?" I asked with a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. Why did his answer mean so much to me?

Tony looked at me for what seemed a long time before answering. "Would you like me to come to you, Tessa?" I wasn't sure he was talking about a trip to America anymore.

"Yes, I would," I replied softly. Both of us had stopped eating during this interchange and the moment seemed charged with electricity. I was sure that it was the little bit of white wine that I had consumed that was making me tingly and warm inside.

Once dinner was finished, Tony started clearing the dishes. He refused my help so I went into the bathroom to take a much-needed bath.

The water was gloriously warm and sudsy and I soaked for what seemed like hours. Lilac and jasmine scented bath beads had coated the top of the water with an oily sheen. The bath oil seemed to sink into my joints and banish the aches that lingered. My bruises were a lovely shade of dark purple at this point, and seemed to be clustered on my upper arms and hips. My eyes closed in rapture as I languished in the tub. I was dying to wash my hair, but I could not raise my arm high enough to get the job done. It would just have to wait. After patting dry, I pulled on my terrycloth robe and padded out to the kitchen where Tony had a cup of tea ready for me. Coffee was my preferred drink, but the tea was sweet and hot and tasted like nectar to me.

"Thanks, this is great." I said as I slowly sipped the tea. I had sat at the kitchen table and watched as Tony leaned against the counter and stirred his own cup. The jeans he wore strained against his thighs as he leaned back and I had a hard time finding another place to look. The alternate spot I chose was even more revealing with his tight pants, so I took refuge in the cup of tea. When I looked up at his face, his sly smile of amusement hinted that he had known of my difficulty in finding a place to rest my eyes.

"Uh, just how did you get my things from the hotel?" I asked as he moved to sit at the table.

"Well, I called after you had fallen asleep and talked to the manager. They were not going to be able to keep your room for you, so I went over to pick up your things. You will stay here until you figure out what you want to do." Apparently, he had no idea how imperious he sounded as he outlined my immediate plans for me.

"But why did they release my things to you instead of just keeping them for me? You could have been anybody just saying you knew me," I was curious to know.

"Well, I am, how do you say it, a cop."

"A cop? Oh, I see. So I guess they thought you were trustworthy, right?" I wasn't above teasing him about abducting my belongings.

"Yea, I guess so. Shows what they know!" he smiled a crooked, sly smile and my heart jumped into my throat. My God, was this man gorgeous. It had been a very long time since I had felt the sexual excitement that I felt now in the pit of my stomach. I quickly looked down at my tea and tried to breathe normally. It had been over a year since George had died, and even before that, our relationship had not been one filled with breathless passion. These feelings made me seem like an awkward teenager and I found that I did not like the out of control sensation that coursed through my veins.

"You did not wash your hair like you said you wanted to," Tony observed as he returned his cup to the counter. "Why not?"

"I couldn't lift my arm over my head," I said as I rubbed my left shoulder. "I must have hurt my arm more than I had thought. I know the doctor said I couldn't soak the stitches in my scalp, but I didn't know of any other way to wash my hair without soaking in the tub. So I decided it would have to wait," I said reluctantly.

Tony's lips pursed in thought, then suddenly he held out his hand. "Come on, get up," he demanded.

"What? What for?" I asked as I slowly rose from the kitchen chair.

"We'll wash your hair here at the sink. The way mi madre used to do in when I was a boy," he said as he rotated a chair back against the counter. "Sit, sit, sit," he indicated to the chair as he furiously opened cupboard doors looking for something. "Ah, here it is!" he exclaimed as he pulled out a pitcher. "Why do you not sit?" he said as I continued to stand there looking stupidly at him.

"Well, I don't…. uhm…I'm not sure…" I fumbled for words as I frantically thought of reasons not to have this man's hands on me.

"Oh, just sit down. You need your hair washed and I can do it in a minute. Where is your shampoo?" he asked as he left the room.

"It's in my small bag!" I called after him as I nervously sat on the kitchen chair.

Tony returned carrying not only my shampoo and crème rinse, but a couple of big, thirsty towels that he handed me. He rolled up one of the towels and placed it behind my neck as he carefully lifted my hair into the sink. My hair was not too long; just past my shoulders, but was very curly and thick. I had just visited the "bottle" doctor before I had left home, so the color was a beautiful auburn brown. I felt a sinking in the pit of my stomach as Tony turned the water on and fussed with the temperature until he felt it was right. His hand touched my cheek as he guided my head back and began to fill the pitcher.

"Is it too hot?" he murmured as he poured the water over the crusty strands. It could have been scalding for all I knew, but said "no, no, it's ok" as the places his hands touched me burned. My chest was tight and my throat felt full as he began to massage the shampoo into my hair. His fingers avoided the bruised and stitched area but dug into my scalp away from the injury. His strong digits swirled in a circular pattern that played havoc with my senses. As he leaned over me, my eyes fluttered open and my field of vision was filled with a hard belly covered with white shirt just inches away from my nose. As he reached up, the shirt pulled up as well and my eyes traveled down the line of dark hair that disappeared into his jeans. I gave a surprised "oh" yelp and Tony stopped momentarily.

"Does it feel OK?" he asked, concerned that he was hurting my head.

"Oh yes, it feels just fine." I wasn't sure if he could tell the discomfort in my voice, but I could tell that it was thick with desire. It was difficult to swallow and as he leaned over me again, I could smell the scent of his essence; a mixture of masculinity and spicy, musky cologne. His belly brushed against my cheek as he leaned in to pour water over my head. My breathing was jerky and shallow as my eyes closed to block off the view of his hard body so close to mine. He once again slowly began the process of sudsing my hair between his hands. The massaging sensation of his fingers against my scalp was heavenly and tortuous. On one hand I wanted him to stop in order to stop the sensations I was feeling in my body, but I also wanted him to go on forever.

He must have seen my hands clench the arms of the kitchen chair because his wet finger brushed down my cheek and under my chin to force my eyes open. His voice had become husky and deep as he bent down to my face.

"Are you sure it feels good?" he asked as his eyes traveled down my face and back up to look into my eyes."

It was difficult to find the normal voice I knew I had somewhere inside of me. What came out of my mouth was a breathless whispered "yes." My eyes locked with his and Tony's hands buried themselves into my thick hair. I could not look away as his face slowly came closer until finally his mouth hovered above mine. I could barely take a breath because of the sensations in my head, chest and further below. His lips touched mine and fluttered across my mouth. The kiss began as a soft press but deepened almost instantly into something long and slow. The tentative touch of his tongue came across my lips, as if testing the water of my reaction. I opened my mouth and met his tongue with my own shy touch. It was as if the dam broke on his tightly held restraint and the kiss developed it's own life as his mouth took possession of mine. His hot tongue delved deeply into my mouth though his hands were still firmly planted into my soapy hair. My hands lifted on their own and slid up the sides of his legs until they very briefly touched the tight expanse across the back of his jeans. As I touched his hips lightly, he groaned into my mouth and the kiss became more intense.

My hands came up to touch his face and I broke the contact by turning away. My breathing was fast and labored as I struggled to control my emotions. He never let his hands leave my hair, but watched my face closely as I turned back to him.

"Querida … I'm sorry, I could not stop myself. Please don't be upset with me," Tony said as he looked deeply into my eyes. "I do not mean to frighten you."

My breathing steadied and I confessed "You don't frighten me, Tony. My own feelings frighten me. I have never felt these things before."

"But I thought you said you had been married," he asked as he began to finish the job of washing my hair. I noticed that some water had splashed from the sink onto his shirtsleeves, and as my eyes traveled down his glorious body, I noticed that he showed the evidence of his feelings as well. The erection that his pants so poorly hid intensified the ache that had begun between my legs. I looked away quickly and focused on the tiles on the ceiling.

"George and I did not have that type of marriage. We were together mainly because of convenience. He needed someone before he died and I was his friend. More than his friend, really. We were soul mates - like brother and sister but closer. We grew up together and when he was diagnosed with cancer, he counted on me to help him. He could not get insurance coverage so I married him in order to provide him with mine. It was the least I could do so he could get treatment. It was not a sacrifice because I did love him in a way. I mean, I was never going to get married - too bullheaded and pudgy to be popular." My voice had turned melancholy as I remembered my good friend.

Tony was finished with the shampoo and wrapped my head in a thick towel. It already felt so much better that I nearly cried with relief. He cleaned up the counter as I returned the chair to the table.

"Thank you so much. You've done so much for me - how can I ever thank you?" I asked as he picked up the teacups and refilled them.

"Don't worry about it. It has been only a pleasure," he said as he turned to look into my eyes. The double meaning of his words told me that he had not forgotten the incident I had been trying to get out of my mind. I took my cup from his hand and walked away into the living room to sit before the fire to dry my hair.

"When did your husband die?" Tony asked as he turned on some soft music and went to add a chunk of wood to the fire.

"A little over a year ago. He insisted that I take a trip on his insurance money after he died, so that's what I'm doing here. I always wanted to go on a cruise and Puerto Rico sounded like a good starting point. If only I had known…" I shook my head and mentally lamented my choice of ports.

"Chica, don't beat yourself up over what happened. It's over and you must go on. The culprits have been punished," he said harshly.

"You said that before, that they had been punished. What do you mean? I never filled out a report with the police or even told anyone what they looked like." I looked at Tony curiously as he stood and went over to the fire to place another piece of wood on the grate.

"I knew them, so I took care of it," he said ominously. "Don't ask anymore about it."

"What do you mean, don't ask anymore? I deserve to know what happened," I said indignantly.

"They were punished, ok? I cannot say anymore than that so don't ask," he said sharply.

"Fine!" I turned away angrily and began using the brush furiously on the ends of my hair.

My irritation turned quickly to nervousness as I realized he had turned from the fire to watch me fuss with my hair. He had been sitting on his heels like a catcher in a ball game as the blazing fire lit him from behind. His dark face was staring intently at me with a look that made my hands still their nervous task. He slowly rose to his full height. As my eyes traveled up from my vantagepoint on the floor, my face blushed with something other than the heat of the fire. I could not take my eyes from his face as he quietly walked over to me. His stride reminded me of how a wild cat walks. When he got to my side, he again sat on his heels and took the brush from my hands.

"You will tear your hair if you brush it like that, querida, " he whispered as he tossed the brush aside. His large hands encircled my face as once again his face came close to mine. "Tessa…" he muttered as his mouth came down on mine. This kiss did not begin with tentative touches but burned deeply and furiously into the center of my womanhood. His tongue instantly dipped into my moist mouth and searched for mine over and over again. Each time our tongues touched they danced a timeless mating ritual. Tony fell onto his knees and wrapped his arms around me as he slowly pushed me to the soft carpet in front of the fire. He looked into my eyes as his fingers traced the curve of my cheek. He was slow and sure as his seduction continued. My breath was hot and my chest felt tight as the sensation of desire tapped its dance over my nerve endings.

I knew I had never felt this way before and I could not have stopped for any reason at this point. I wanted to know - I wanted Tony more than I have ever wanted anything before. Nothing but this man at this moment filled my existence. Tony kissed me again, deeper and then dragged his tongue down my neck. His hands slid down the side of my body, gripped my behind tightly and pulled my hips against his. I could feel his hard maleness grind into me. I groaned without even realizing it and pulled him closer to me with eager hands.

As his hands moved to the front of my robe I suddenly panicked. "Wait, wait!" I panted as I grabbed the front of my robe to keep it closed.

"What? What is it?" Tony's voice was thick and breathless with desire.

"I….I…." I didn't know what to say. How do you tell someone that you have always considered yourself too pudgy to be sexy? "I am not very attractive…you don't want to do this…" I stammered as I weakly pushed against his chest.

"What do you mean, are you crazy?" He leaned down again to kiss me deeply. "Don't be foolish. You are beautiful and I want you here and now." Tony began talking to me in a whispered Spanish, words that I could not understand but I knew were telling me things no one had told me before. His mouth and tongue seared a path from my mouth and neck to the edges of my robe. His tongue licked a hot path down my breastbone as his hand slipped into the robe to touch the fevered skin within. My mouth opened in a soundless cry as his palm found my breast and began the slow assent to the peak.

My objections died in my throat as the robe slipped open and his hot mouth followed his hand over my breast. He slipped his hand around again to my rear and pulled me close as he flicked and teased my nipple with his tongue and teeth. The jeans that had fit so tightly now were stretched to their limits, as his erection seemed to grow with each second. He went from one breast to another as his hand splayed over my belly. He lifted his head to look at me with dark, intense eyes.

"You are perfect the way you are," he said as his hands played over my stomach and slid down to the garment that hid my womanly treasure. His face was inches from mine and I could see his eyes darken in the firelight as he ran his finger under the elastic of my plain cotton panties. His kisses began lightly again, but I could not reciprocate as my mind was filled with the sensation of his hands at my groin. Tony's tongue dipped into my mouth and his finger mimicked his tongue as he touched source of the sexual ache he had started. My hands gripped at his shoulders spastically as he pulled the panties off to fondle me. His kisses were hard and deep at this point and I wanted his skin under my hands, and not fabric. I pulled his shirt from his pants and Tony got the message. He leaned back on his knees and pulled his shirt from his body. The tattoos on his arm were dark against his dark skin and the muscles across his chest bunched as he threw the shirt across the room. I reached up to unbutton his waistband and his head fell back as he groaned. His eyes closed as I slowly unzipped his jeans. My fingers brushed against his hardened crotch and he caught my hands to hold away from him as he tried to maintain control.

Soon his clothing had joined mine in a heap on the floor and he covered my body with his. His skin felt like smooth, tan silk under my fingertips and I touched him everywhere I could reach. I knew this was madness, to be doing this, but I did not care. The feelings he evoked in me were powerful and overwhelming.

His tongue felt wet and rough as he licked over the bruises on my hips. The strong hands seemed to be in dozens of places at once and he touched and stoked my body. Once again, his mouth returned to mine as he knelt between my thighs. Dark eyes poured into me as he began the slow dance of love.

The light from the fireplace flickered over our skin as time slowed to a crawl and the night breeze did little to cool our heated lovemaking. The soft whispering of Spanish love words led me down a path of ecstasy I had not known was there. Cries of pleasure filled the living room and our labored breathing began to slow. When I had recovered my senses, I looked up at the face of my lover to find him watching me closely. My hands caressed his face and Tony leaned over to kiss me softly.

"Querida, let's move to my bed. Tonight I want you over and over again," he said softly into my ear before capturing the lobe with his teeth and nuzzling my neck.

My body had not finished the quivering he had caused so recently before the sensations of want and ache began again. As he lifted me high in his strong arms and strode to the bedroom, I knew that the insurance policy I purchased in case I missed the cruise had already been paid in full.