The Revenge Ch. 05

The Revenge

Selestina gets a secret message from her father to meet him, but is tricked to believe that it's to clear their name. In a cliffhanger, they argue in a struggle and she stands in front of a gunshot meant for Alejandro who has come to save her, but no one knows what has happened.

Chapter 5 - The End

The echo of the gunshot through the canyon warned Alejandro where Mateo Garcia was. He exchanged tense glances with Miguel and Captain Morales, their expressions a mix of alarm and determination. The air was thick with dust and tension, the silence only broken by the occasional cry of a hawk circling above.

Alejandro reined in his stallion with a quick pull, his dark eyes narrowing as he searched for the source. A moment later, another shot cracked the air, sending a flock of birds from the nearby brush into the sky. Miguel, beside him, ducked instinctively, cursing under his breath. Captain Morales and his men, already on alert, spread out, hands on their weapons.

"Take cover!" Captain Morales barked, his voice sharp and commanding. Instinctively, the group of men ducked behind the rocky outcrops that offered scant protection from unseen assailants.

Alejandro's mind raced, each heartbeat a reminder of Selestina's peril. She was somewhere just around those mountains, a mere few hundred yards away. His heart pummeled against his chest. Was she safe?

"There!" One of the soldiers pointed.

Alejandro turned in time to see two figures on horseback and one by foot disappearing into the distance, dust trailing behind them like a ribbon in the wind. Mateo and Diego.

Captain Morales squinted into the distance, assessing the situation with a soldier's keen eye. "We cannot let them escape," he declared. "They're heading towards the old mission trail."

With a quick nod of agreement, Morales signaled to his men, and they mounted their horses, ready to give chase. "We'll cover more ground if we split up," he suggested. "Alejandro, you and Miguel find Señorita Garcia and head back to ensure everyone's safe."

Alejandro agreed, knowing that his place was not in pursuit but with Selestina. As the Captain and his men disappeared into the dust cloud trailing behind them, Alejandro and Miguel turned their horses, their urgency spurred by fear for Selestina's safety.

He spurred his horse forward, his mind racing.

When he finally found her, she was behind the mountains, standing alone leaning against the boulders behind the shrubs. Her dress was dusty and dirty, slightly torn at the hem, her dark hair loose around her shoulders. There was a tenseness in her stance, as if she were bracing herself.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he demanded as he dismounted, his boots hitting the ground hard. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?"

Selestina lifted her chin, her dark eyes unreadable. "I am alright, Alejandro."

"Alright?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence. "Gunshots, Stina? Mateo and Diego. They are not petty thieves - they are killers. And you were out here alone to meet them!"

"I had to..."

"I don't want to hear it!" He took a step closer, his chin inclined, his jaw tightening. "If my informants hadn't seen you come out here we wouldn't have found you!" He gritted.

"Let's go," he said finally, his voice tight. "Miguel is waiting."

It was against his nature to be this angry with a woman! This woman was infuriating. Did she have any idea what risk she had put them through? From now on, she would be kept under a close watch. Never again, would she put herself in danger.

As they rode in silence back to the hacienda, he refused to acknowledge her.

As they finally reached the hacienda, Alejandro barely made it inside when Isabella rushed to greet them, her skirts swishing as she hurried forward.

"Selestina!" Isabella threw her arms out, ready to embrace her, but Selestina pulled back, hugging her black scarf around herself.

Isabella frowned. "You look pale. Are you alright?"

Alejandro, still fuming, didn't notice at first. "She's fine," he said, turning to face Selestina. "Just out risking her damn life for no good reason."

Isabella looked between them, her worry deepening. Selestina's face was pale, her lips slightly parted as if she were struggling to catch her breath.

Alejandro turned to her, his voice cutting through the tension. "What were you thinking? You could have been killed! Lying, refusing the guards to go with you!" He exclaimed, his voice a mix of anger and overwhelming relief.

Selestina blindly looked at the ground. "I needed to know..."

"To know?" he interrupted, his temper slipping its leash. "To know what? To know how dangerous this was?" What if I hadn't found out where you were? If we hadn't reached you in time?"

She didn't answer, just stood there, her face unreadable. Something about her silence sent a warning through him, but he was too angry to decipher it yet.

"Damn it, Stina!" He ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady his temper. "You are reckless. Stubborn. Impossible. You put yourself in danger and everyone else..." He exhaled sharply. "Do you know what could have happened?"

She lowered her gaze, but still said nothing.

"Say something!" he demanded.

Selestina wavered on her feet, her eyes closing, struggling to keep alert. She opened her mouth, but no words came. Instead, she swayed, her knees buckling beneath her.

"Stina?" Alejandro's voice lost its anger, replaced with sharp concern as he noticed the agony in her face and the increasing frailty in her stance.

Before he could ask what was wrong, she swayed, her eyes rolling back in her head, and she collapsed, her body hitting the ground with a sickening thud. A dark stain of blood revealed on her dress, blossoming across the stone floor.

"Dios mio," Isabella breathed.

"Stina, why didn't you say anything?" Alejandro's heart slamming against his ribs.

He let out a rough curse, lifting her gently in his arms. "Someone get a doctor! Now!"

Miguel shouted orders and Isabella followed upstairs, but all Alejandro could focus on was the woman in his arms, pale and limp, and the realization of tonight's events.

And that, despite everything, she had tried to bear it alone.

~

Alejandro had no idea what time it was. After the doctor left, he hadn't left her side.

He heard the bedroom door open.

"Alejandro," Miguel started. "Our men found the stablehand. He told me everything."

Alejandro rose from the edge of the bed.

"Tell me every detail, Miguel." Alejandro said and inclined his chin.

"Mateo Garcia forced her to give up your secrets, but she refused. He threatened her, held a knife to her throat."

Alejandro turned to face him, dwelled by the horror he heard.

"And when she didn't... He wanted to take her with them. To extort you for money."

"But when we showed up, he pulled the gun to shoot you. Selestina... she stepped in front... The gun went off."

Alejandro felt defeated, weak and crippled. How could he not have protected her? Miguel's hand held his shoulder.

"And where is Mateo and Diego Garcia?" he whispered.

"No news yet."

"And the stablehand?"

"Held by my men in the staples."

Alejandro fumed. Turning, he wasn't yet sure what to do with the traitor yet.

~~~~~

Selestina drifted in and out of consciousness for what felt like days. Sometimes, she surfaced long enough to feel cool cloth pressed to her forehead, hear hushed voices arguing beyond her reach. Other times, all she felt was pain.

But when she finally woke fully, it was to the dim glow of a single candle and the soft scrape of a chair against the floor.

Alejandro sat beside her.

His face was shadowed, his dark hair disheveled, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. He was watching her with an expression she couldn't quite place, relief, perhaps, but guarded.

"How long?" she croaked, her throat dry.

Alejandro exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "Four days."

She tried to sit up, but pain lanced through her ribs, and she gasped. Immediately, Alejandro was at her side, pushing her back down with surprising gentleness.

"Stay still." His voice was firm, but not unkind.

Alejandro frowned, glancing at the room. Miguel's hacienda. Not Alejandro's. She looked back at him. "Why are you here?"

He scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "Where else would I be? You have a talent for getting into trouble."

She swallowed, hesitating. "Did you..."

"I know everything," he interrupted. His tone was flat. "The stablehand confessed. We know what your father did."

Selestina looked away.

Alejandro sighed, scrubbing a hand through his hair. "You should have told me."

"I wanted to..."

"I don't care what you wanted," he rasped. Then he stopped, inhaled sharply. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter. "You almost died."

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, Selestina whispered, "But I didn't."

Alejandro let out a rough chuckle, shaking his head. "No. You didn't." He stood, reaching for the pitcher of water on the bedside table. "Drink."

She took the cup he offered, her hands still weak.

As she sipped, she studied him. He looked... tired. More tired than she had ever seen him.

"Did you stay?" she asked softly.

Alejandro hesitated. Then, with a half smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, he said, "I had to make sure you didn't do anything reckless."

She let out a breath of a laugh, shaking her head. "Maybe you left me to my fate."

Alejandro's smirk faded. He looked at her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Then he exhaled, shaking his head.

"You're mine, Stina."

She wasn't sure what to say.

The days passed in slow, measured hours. Selestina remained confined to the large, sunlit room in Miguel's hacienda, her body weakened from blood loss but her mind sharp and restless. Every morning, the mayordomo would bring trays of broth and medicinal teas. Every afternoon, a physician would arrive to change her bandages, muttering about how miraculous it was that she had survived.

But every night, it was Alejandro who sat by her bedside, reading to her or telling her of the day's events. Isabella would join her late at night with stories from that dreadful night.

He never acknowledged why he stayed. Never spoke of concern or fear. He was simply there, with his quiet presence, his rough hands occasionally brushing hers when he adjusted the blankets or handed her a cup of water.

At first, Selestina thought he was waiting for something, perhaps for her to break, to confess some hidden truth. But as the days stretched on, she realized the truth was simpler.

He could not bring himself to leave.

One evening, Selestina awoke to the sound of distant thunder.

Her room was dim, the candle on the bedside table flickering in the warm draft from the open balcony doors. Alejandro sat where he always did, leaning back in the chair, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the floor as if lost in thought.

For the first time, he looked... vulnerable.

She studied him, the way exhaustion clung to him, the slight crease in his brow. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing tanned forearms lined with faint scars. He looked less like the untouchable man she had always known and more like someone human.

"Have you slept at all?" she asked softly.

Alejandro's head snapped up, his dark eyes narrowing. "You should be resting."

Silence. The storm outside rumbled closer, a cool wind sweeping through the room, rustling the sheer curtains.

Finally, Alejandro leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You shouldn't have gone to meet him," he said, his voice low. "You knew it wasn't safe."

Selestina looked away. "I had my reasons."

He scoffed. "And were they worth nearly dying for?"

She didn't answer.

Alejandro stood abruptly, pacing to the window. "Your father shot you." His voice was tight, controlled. "Do you understand what that means?"

Selestina swallowed hard. "Yes."

"No, I don't think you do," he snapped, turning to face her. "Because if you did, you wouldn't have lied. You wouldn't have hidden your injury like a fool." His hands curled into fists.

"Get some sleep, Stina." His voice was softer.

She watched him for a long moment before closing her eyes.

A few days later, Selestina managed to walk to the balcony with Isabella's help. The fresh air was a relief after being trapped inside, the scent of damp earth lingering from the passing storm.

Alejandro stood below, near the stables, talking to his men.

She could feel his presence before he even looked up.

And when he did, his expression was unreadable.

Isabella followed her gaze, exhaling quietly. "He hasn't left since that night."

Selestina swallowed. "I know."

Isabella studied her. "You do?"

She hesitated. "It doesn't matter."

Isabella's brow arched. "Doesn't it?"

She glanced away. "He doesn't love me back, Isabella."

Isabella didn't hesitate before she said, "I don't believe that for a moment."

Selestina exhaled, gripping the balcony railing. Below, two men on horses came galloping into the entrance. Alejandro turned, walking toward Miguel's office.

"Rest," Isabella murmured. "You'll need your strength."

"For what?"

Isabella smiled faintly. "For whatever comes next."

As Alejandro disappeared through the courtyard archway, Selestina wondered if Isabella was right.

Because no matter what they pretended, no matter how much they refused to name it, something between them had shifted.

And she wasn't sure either of them were ready for what came next.

~~~~~

"She is healing well," the old physician declared, examining the wound at her side. "She still needs rest, but traveling will not harm her, so long as she does not overexert herself."

Alejandro stood in the corner, arms crossed, listening intently. At those words, he only gave a short nod, saying nothing.

Selestina sat up in bed, staring at the open balcony doors where warm night air filtered in, carrying the scent of damp earth and orange blossoms. Alejandro had been near constantly by her side, tending to her in his own quiet, stubborn way. But he was careful. Too careful. As if she might shatter beneath his touch.

The doctor had finally given his approval.

"She is strong enough to travel," the old man had declared. "But no strenuous activity."

Selestina had caught the glance Alejandro gave her at those words, and she had smirked in response.

That night, Alejandro helped her into the carriage, his hands lingering at her waist longer than necessary before he abruptly pulled away.

They rode in silence.

She wanted to ask him why he had stayed with her. Why he had looked at her like she was something fragile and precious.

But she didn't.

Because she was terrified of the answer.

Alejandro's hacienda was quiet when they arrived. The servants were buzzing around, quickly preparing the bedroom, and Alejandro carried her inside himself, despite her protests.

"I can walk."

"Be quiet," he muttered, setting her on the bed gently.

She looked up at him, her fingers curling into the fabric of his tailcoat.

Alejandro froze.

She could see it, the way his body tensed, the way his breath hitched.

"Stay," she whispered.

His jaw clenched. He pried her fingers from his coat, his touch gentle but firm.

"You're too fragile for that. And the doctor said..." he murmured.

Selestina swallowed hard. "I'm not."

Alejandro sighed, stepping back. "I'm still angry with you, Stina."

She laughed softly, though it hurt her ribs. "I know."

Alejandro turned away, running a hand through his hair. "Why did you go to him?" His voice was quiet now. "Why take that risk?"

She inhaled slowly, steadying herself. She couldn't tell him the truth. That she had done it because it was the only way to clear her name. A smither of hope, a chance for them to be together. Because she was hopelessly in love with him. Because she knew she could never have him, but at least she could clear her name for the sake of her mother.

Because if she couldn't have Alejandro's love, then she needed to know that she was more than just a mistress, more than just a secret in the shadows of his life.

"For my mother," she finally whispered.

Alejandro stilled.

"I needed to clear my name. Not for me, but for her. I didn't want my father's shame to stain her memory." Her voice trembled, but she lifted her chin. "I couldn't let him win."

Alejandro exhaled slowly. Then, without another word, he turned back to her.

"Get some rest, Stina. I'll be back later."

Selestina buried herself under the soft blankets, happy to be back home.

~~~~~

His informant brought the news and arrived at the hacienda just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the sprawling estate. Alejandro stood on the balcony, staring out at the land he had spent years building, his hands gripping the adobe railing as the words echoed in his mind.

Mateo Garcia is dead.

He had tried to flee after his capture, making one last desperate attempt at freedom. A gunshot had ended it. A single bullet to the back, swift and final.

Alejandro exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of those words settle deep into his bones. Twenty long years since the night Mateo Garcia had murdered his mother, leaving a gaping wound in his heart that had never truly healed.

By all rights, he should feel victorious.

He should feel satisfied.

Even liberated.

Avenged.

The man who had haunted his past, stolen from him, and taken the most precious person in his life was finally gone. The evil had been defeated by vindication. He should indeed feel a sense of satisfaction of a proven right, the bitterness and anger was absolved.

But he didn't.

Instead, a deep, unshakable sadness clawed at his chest. It dug and festered, lingered by his heart.

Because Mateo Garcia was Selestina's father.

He ran a hand down his face, exhaustion settling in. How was he supposed to tell her? How could he look into her eyes, those same warm, deep eyes that sometimes held the same fire as Mateo's, and tell her that the man who had given her life was dead?

Would she cry for him? Surely not! The man had tried to have her murdered!

Would she hate Alejandro for feeling relieved that he was dead?

Alejandro turned and leaned against the railing, looking blindly into his office. Selestina was steps away in the sitting room, sewing, praying or reading, oblivious to the storm raging inside him.

She never knew of all her father's sins, she was shielded from most of the truths, of most of what Mateo had done.

Alejandro didn't want to tell her the full depth of Mateo's cruelty, how he had ruined lives, destroyed families.

But now he had no choice. The news would find its way to her.

He felt a bitter taste in his mouth. It should have been simple. Justice had finally been served. But nothing about this felt simple.

Mateo had been a monster, but he had also been Selestina's blood.

A cold wind swept through the balcony, and Alejandro closed his eyes for a moment. Whenever he looked at her, he didn't just see her beauty, her warmth, her stubbornness. He saw the ghost of her father in the lines of her face, the betrayal written in the blood that connected them.

And it disheartened him.

He straightened, pushing away from the railing. He couldn't delay this any longer. She deserved to know.

Taking a steadying breath, Alejandro turned and made his way inside, his footsteps heavy with the weight of what he had to say.

He had never feared battle. Never feared blood, war, or death. But telling Selestina this?

This was a battle he did not know how to fight.

~~~~~

Selestina blinked a few times then looked up and found him asleep. Quietly, she traced a finger over his lips. She noticed how full they were, a bit swollen still from kissing her and gorging on her earlier. Normally, she would have blushed at the thought, but she smiled, satiated.

Alejandro did something to her that she couldn't explain. The day he kidnapped her she vowed to herself that she would never be owned by any man, but here she was smiling when he smiled, hurting when he felt pain and only thought of his well being instead of her own.

Just like a few days ago. She saw everything he wasn't saying. His voice was calm, his words measured, but his eyes, expressive eyes, told another story, something that could not be softened.

Regret.

Not for the news of her father's death - her father had chosen his own sad fate - but for her, for the pain he knew it would bring her. It was in the way his gaze had flickered over her face, the way his jaw tightened, his restraint as if he hated being the one to tell her.

A battle within him, between the man who had once been furious with her for being the blood of a killer and someone who now wanted to shield her from pain.

The gnawing feeling she couldn't get rid of returned again. It was there every minute of every day now. It was almost as if she missed him, which was preposterous - he was lying right next to her!

Without waking him, she crawled out of bed completely naked, grabbed the blanket on the wooden chest and wrapped herself in it. She stepped out onto the large balcony and inhaled the night air.

Alejandro had changed. At first, he used to remind her that she was just part of the revenge against her father, but now he was worried about her and surprising her with gifts. Mentally, she shook her head. He was a difficult man to understand.

He promised to take her to places that she had never seen, promising her pleasure wherever they went. She smiled and blushed. Was it a future together?

He wrapped his arms around her and she jumped. There he was; her protector. They stood there in silence for a few moments.

Alejandro buried his face in the crevice of her neck inhaling her scent.

His large arms stretched out and rested on the wall in front of her pushing himself closer. She was caught now feeling his dick against the small of her back. Comfortable with his own nudity, she felt him harden.

"You're too overdressed," he whispered and the blanket unwrapped and was gone. Embarrassed and flabbergasted, she held her arms in front of her chest. "Alejandro, the staff will see!"

"They will not," he said, turning her face to kiss her. She turned around and he bent down to grab her, wrapping her legs around him. His dick rubbed against her slit driving her mad.

"It's been too long since I've been inside you," he teased, finding a way to make her into a wobbly, languid wanton. Her hands found their way to his mane and ran her fingers through his hair. He kissed her neck and licked his way down to her chest. His tongue shot out and thrashed over the taught tip of her breast occasionally biting down. Familiar darts of pleasure stung through her finding a way to her center.

Shamed and ardently turned on by the sight, her muscles between her legs contracted by the thought of someone seeing this offensive display. Alejandro continued to teach her to open herself up to what he offered and she admitted to the butting truth; she adored being his plaything.

She clutched his strong shoulders and overcome with desire and passion, she was able to demand, "I need you, Alejandro. Now!" And she did. She would go insane if she didn't feel him inside her.

He chuckled in her ear, "Giving orders, niña?" And he ruthlessly denied her what she needed. His hands grabbed each ass cheek so tight digging into her sensitive flesh. She knew they would leave marks. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he commanded, "Beg me."

"Please, Alejandro. Inside me, please!" Instead, he ran his cock up and down her slit moving his hips to push her right to the edge. She was teetering there, "Alejandro," she pleaded again and he peeled away the last of her sensibility from her.

"Is this what you want?" Unmerciful! He held his throbbing cock at her opening, coating the tip of his dick with her juices, tempting her, torturing her and it was all he offered, toying with her.

She groaned so deep in her throat that it almost sounded diabolic and tried to glide down his length, but he held her back refusing to allow her the pleasure she hungered for.

"Alejandro," she whimpered feverishly, attempting to cover his hardness over and over.

"Say my name," he demanded. "Alejandro," she mewled.

"Again," he demanded.

"Alejandro!" she wailed into the night sky as he yanked her body onto him. He impaled her, speared her, ramming into her drenched folds reaching into her core, filling, stretching, plunging her full of him in such a fulfilling way that she nearly lost consciousness. Her feelings for him soared through her veins and each time he withdrew, her legs tightened around him demanding his return.

Repeatedly, she sucked him into her wet, warm tunnel welcoming him as he jammed the walls of her center enjoying the slurping sounds their union created.

Every time he shoved she yearned for more of him. There was nothing that could satisfy her thirst for him. And each time he thrusted, her mind exploded with pleasure feeling crashing lightning bolts through her body. A rainbow of colors formed before her as they rode each other.

Their bodies tensed together, his back arching like a tightly stretched bow and he unleashed. His head fell to her shoulder as he exploded, groaning so loud, unburdening, waking up every living being on his estate reaching far into the desert.

Thick, hot spurts of his seed pulsated into her and as her own unyielding waves crashed and surged through her, turning into ripples fading out, she was left exhausted and sated.

Eyelids fluttering, she hung onto him, her legs straddled around him as her toes slowly uncurled. Her mind was completely empty, feeling disoriented, weak and all his.

The only word she could form was 'Alejandro'.

Never had she felt so serene and freed. Being one with him felt like home. He felt like home.

~~~~~

Selestina sat in front of her mirror as the maid entered and smiled sweetly. She placed a few linen in the large wardrobe next to what had become her things. Selestina continued to brush her hair waiting for the maid to prepare her bath.

"Thank you, Atanacia." The maid returned a smile.

"Your bath is ready and I left some extra linen for your monthly, Señorita Stina." She mumbled another 'thank you' and grinned at the nickname Alejandro had given her that seemed to have spread to the staff as well.

Linen for her monthly, she thought and the world started spinning again as she immersed herself into the warm water. Monthly... When was the last time she had bled? The logic of thinking became a task, but it was with certainty almost two months. Gripping onto reality she looked down and held a hand to her belly. She was carrying Alejandro's child.

She leaned back listening to the sound of the water sloshing around her. Under the white cloudy foam she held a hand over her lower belly and smiling widely she pictured a child made of their essence. If it was a boy, he would have his father's wolfish eyes and cleverness. If it was a girl, Alejandro would teach her to sword fight and be brazen and brave beyond a female's usual limitations.

How would Alejandro react? Giving birth to his bastard child would not settle well in his social circle. Then again, maybe that's exactly what he preferred. Anyone who knew Alejandro knew that he didn't play by any rules and didn't follow a norm set before him. What if he would welcome a child raised by the two of them?

But her bubbly dreams punctured immediately. The worst outcome stared at her. She was Mateo Garcia's daughter, the villain who murdered his mother, a convict and a criminal behind bars. She did not need to stand before the court to know the outcome of her own conviction. Thrown out of his home, used and useless to him, with a child of a villain's blood growing inside her; this was a cold fact very real to her that made her shiver.

How could she ever be without Alejandro?

Dazed, she floated deeper into the large, elegant tub blindly staring into nothingness while her hand was resting on their miracle. Thousands of emotions hit her all at once making her dizzy with fear, sadness and guilt.

Warm hands settled on her shoulders massaging her, pushing her forward. Alejandro's hand caressed her cheek, then stepped into the bath behind her and pulled her snug against him. With his hand, he turned her face and kissed her. The water twirled and slushed in soothing waves.

"You look ready to eat," he whispered in her ear and nibbled on her earlobe and neck. Sucking in a deep breath, he was taking his time with her. She felt him everywhere. His large, soft hands travelled over the plain of her stomach up towards the rise of her breasts. It was unlike Alejandro to be gentle, but tonight, he kneaded her generous bosom as if paying tribute to each of them, giving her comfort and titillation only for her.

His fingertips reached her strutting pebbles begging for attention. Alejandro twisted her nipples, sending sparkles directly between her legs. "I always want these hard and ready to play with," he rasped and licked his tongue around the crook of her neck. She worshipped his groping. His touches became scorching and his bulge nudged against her back.

Pulling at her tender nubs, he slid further down behind her, lifting her on top of him. Watching her own body displayed before them and his hands rubbing her wet nipples with his knuckles created hot, raunchy stimulation in her core. His hard cock danced up and down against her soaking slit.

"You will receive pleasure tonight, mi reina." His breath was ragged and uncontrolled. She liked this side of him. "Again and again... and again." He hummed the words and her pussy clenched hard around nothing.

"Alejandro, will you please take me? I will do anything." She pleaded and his arms wrapped around her hugging her, feeling like a safe blanket.

"Oh, yes. But not yet. First, I will enjoy you. Then explore what your succulent body can do."

The palm of his hand ran down the curves of her hips and stomach until they rested by the dip of her triangle. He massaged her skin, warming her, seducing her, releasing moans and sighs, winding her higher and higher, refusing to touch the one spot that needed him.

His hands kneaded the inside of her thighs blossoming her labia and lips open, her swollen nub peaking out alerting his touch. He was tormenting her. He knew he was tormenting her.

With his other hand, he turned her face and kissed her in a deep, passionate, erotic kiss, twirling his tongue around hers and she nearly came undone.

His finger flicked over her clit, then captured it between his two fingers rubbing and massaging with a slow pressure.

Shooting upwards, he held her firmly down with his arm as she hungrily lifted her hips for more. Like an addict, she wanted more, she needed more from him. Even if she reached her peak she could not get enough of him.

"The first one will be quick, mi cielita. But from there I will go slow. I will show no mercy," he chuckled and dipped a finger inside her craving canal. Feverishly, she clenched around his digit and he bent it, touching that special place he had played with before.

Beads of sweat covered her brows, his humming voice working as a mantra towards bliss. She was close. His skilled fingers applied pressure to her warm nub once more and he nuzzled his face into her neck, "Esto es el Cielo" This is heaven. "Yes!" she screamed and he bit her neck to mark his property. The quick pain squashed her shyness shifting into an unceremonious bold scream of uncandid pleasure. The waves danced and caroused, but she felt the emptiness. he was missing inside her.

He let go too soon. She had barely recovered as he lifted her onto him. With each hand holding on tight to the tub, he lifted her onto his raging hardness. Once he was deep inside, he was in charge again. Slowly, he lifted his hips and let her ride his fat, swollen erection, her movements slow and easy.

Meanwhile, Alejandro's hands roamed over her body, continuing over every curve and dip ensuring no unexplored territory. He was determined to possess every inch of her. Selestina leaned back, her head resting on his chest while their bodies moved together, moans escaping their lips, their breaths mingling in the steamy air. She guided his hands over her belly, her hidden secret, wishing for a brief moment that they were someone else with different destinies.

Water splashed around them and Selestina's hair, dark and shiny, fell around them like a curtain. Alejandro's hands drew a gasp from her with every touch, their connection was so intense, a testament to the passion and magic their bodies intertwined, lost in the moment and each other.

"Are you ready again," Alejandro whispered and gently smacked her swollen sex with his palm more than once. "Please, Alejandro," she mumbled, feeling too hot, too greedy, too selfish to deserve his generosity.

"Do you know what you do to me when you beg me?" he grunted in her ear and his fingers held her clit tight.

Her knuckles turned white from clasping onto the tub, her nails digging into the shell and she knew she couldn't hold on much longer. In slow, sensitive circles, he rubbed her there, watching her writhing, twisting and contorting to him. Selestina's moans turned louder mimicking the tension building in her body, the pleasure coiling in her stomach. And then he stopped.

"Alejandro," she cried out as his hand brushed the inside of thighs, over her hips and down her leg. "Oh, please Alejandro." she begged, her voice coming out as a laugh and a desperate cry.

Alejandro hummed licking the spot behind her ear, his hands reaching her breasts, his fingers pinching and rolling her nipples just to hear her moans again.

"Should I end your misery, mi angelita?" He asked and pulled at her hardened peaks. And urgent gasp convinced him.

His hand returned to her mound, setting his fingers around her button and he rubbed again, then stopped. Minutes seemed like hours as he continued his torture. Finally, he rewarded her.

"Oh, God," she cried out, her body convulsing, her pleas gushing in tact with her release. He kept brushing his fingers over her, his touch, feather light. He didn't stop.

"You are not done yet, Stina." He murmured and turned them around. Her skin glistening, his strong, rugged body embraced her from behind pushing her breasts against the edge of the elegant tub, his hands firmly on her shoulders.

He thrust into her, at first, determined and languid, then becoming more forceful, the water splashing over the sides of the tub, resembling the emotional turmoil of pleasure and fulfillment she couldn't overcome.

"Yes, yes, yes," she chanted, receiving him fully, her body moving in perfect rhythm with him as ancient as the earth itself.

Bewildered as she was, puddy in his hands, he reached for her mound again, finding her hidden gem, safely tucked away, abused and swollen. But Alejandro was insatiable and relentless.

"Again, my indulgent girl," he breathed and she closed her eyes tight, letting Alejandro's skills dominate once again.

The ripples were too powerful. Alejandro had wound her so high, almost too far to a place she imagined she could linger forever. The ripples swept them together from one corner of their world to the other, slinging her heart and soul together with Alejandro's in a spiral toppling them together in perfect unison.

Her release triggered his own, groaning out loud with her, his body shaking as he exploded. She felt him shake and lose control of his own body. His body slumped and rested on her, his arms tightly enclosing her, the water around them stilling and calming.

Selestina sagged over the edge of the tub, closing her eyes practically asleep on her arm. Alejandro had exhausted her. At some point, he lifted her out of the tub and scooped her into his strong embrace. Nestling against his warm chest she breathed in his smell and smiled.

Alejandro was a good man. In fact, he was the type of man any woman would consent to marry and bear his children. She would. Gladly. But carrying the burden of her father's wrath she would never have what she truly desired. Like a heavy weight, she desperately wanted to tell him what she craved to tell him. But no matter what, she was still the daughter of a cold hearted murderer who would always cast a shadow over them. She could not and would not cause that saddened fate upon her beloved Alejandro or their child.

~~~~~

The arrival of Miguel and Isabella was a welcome distraction from the unease that had settled over the hacienda since the news of her father. Alejandro has done his best, as had she, to comfort each other.

But as they entered the courtyard, Selestina noticed a subtle tension in the air, a discord that even Miguel's usual ebullience couldn't quite mask. Miguel and Isabella, normally so affectionate, seemed distant, their interactions stiff and formal. There was a tension that Selestina couldn't quite figure out.

Miguel kissed Selestina on the hand, his usual warmth felt forced and tired. "How are you holding up?" he asked, his eyes conveying a concern that was more for show than genuine feeling.

Alejandro gripped Selestina's hand tightly, answering for her. "She's fine, Miguel. A little shaken, but she's strong. Besides, we've learned that she is in good hands, so we can't possibly worry."

Isabella offered a polite nod, her eyes flitting briefly to Selestina before quickly shifting away. "It is good to see you both. I was hoping you would make a stop. Miguel has been talking about a lot of the future plans."

Something is wrong, Selestina thought. It had crossed her mind that she might have been with someone, but why would it come to this extent? Has she crossed some lines of being in love with another person? Did Alejandro care enough to make that assumption? Is she supposed to feel something that she doesn't?

The tension between them was undeniable, a thick cloud that hung heavy in the air. "Let's take a walk in the garden," Isabella suggested, her voice strained. "I could use some fresh air."

As the men excused themselves to discuss business matters, Selestina followed Isabella towards the secluded sunflower garden, her heart filled with a growing sense of foreboding. Something was clearly amiss, and Selestina couldn't help but feel that she was about to be caught in the crossfire.

The sunflowers, in all their vibrant glory, seemed to mock Isabella's somber mood. She walked slowly, her gaze fixed on the ground, her shoulders slumped with a weariness that belied her usual vivacious spirit.

"Is everything alright, Isabella?" Selestina asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. "You seem... troubled."

Isabella sighed, a long, drawn-out sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world. She stopped near a blooming rose bush, her fingers gently tracing the delicate petals.

"It's Miguel," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I always knew it would come to this. It was a matter of time."

Selestina's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? What's wrong?"

Isabella hesitated, her eyes darting around as if afraid of being overheard. "His family," she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "They're pressuring him to marry. To settle down. To produce an heir."

Selestina's heart ached for her. She understood. The position of a mistress... A mistress's life could easily be disrupted by the whims of society and the expectations of family. Was she one of those that also should be concerned with such antics?

"Oh, Isabella," Selestina said, her voice filled with sympathy. "I'm so sorry."

Isabella forced a weak smile. "There's nothing to be done, Selestina. It's just... the way things are. I knew this day would come eventually. I just didn't expect it to be so soon."

She paused, her eyes filling with tears. "They've already chosen someone for him," she continued, her voice trembling. "A woman from a wealthy, influential family. Someone who can secure a political position for Miguel."

Selestina's heart clenched. She could only imagine the pain and humiliation Isabella must be feeling. To be discarded, replaced by someone more suitable, more acceptable... It was a cruel and unjust fate.

"What are you going to do?" Selestina asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Isabella took a deep breath, her gaze hardening with a newfound resolve. "I'm going to leave," she said, her voice firm. "I can't stay here, watching him marry someone else. I can't bear to see him with another woman, knowing that I'll never be more than a mistress, a temporary distraction."

Selestina was shocked, but she understood. Isabella was a proud, independent woman. She wouldn't allow herself to be humiliated, to be reduced to a mere footnote in Miguel's life.

"But... Where will you go?" Selestina asked, her voice filled with concern. "What will you do?"

Isabella shrugged, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. "I don't know yet," she said. "But anything is better than this. I will go back to my home. I have some money saved, and I can always find work as a seamstress, or a tutor. I will be fine."

"Does Miguel know you're leaving?"

"No! And you mustn't tell him!" She reached out and took Selestina's hand, her touch surprisingly strong. "I just wanted you to know, Selestina," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "I wanted you to understand. And I wanted to ask you... to be kind to Miguel. He's going to be under a lot of pressure, and he's going to be hurting too. He may not show it, but he does care about me. At least I think he does."

Selestina's heart ached for her. She felt a deep sense of empathy, a shared understanding of the precariousness of their positions, the vulnerability of their hearts. Selestina had considered telling Isabella about their child, but seeing the sadness in her eyes, she couldn't.

"I will," Selestina promised, her voice choked with emotion. "Whatever you need, Isabella. I will get you money, clothes and valuables. Whatever you can carry."

Isabella squeezed her hand, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Selestina," she said, her voice soft. "That means more than you know."

As they walked back towards the hacienda, Selestina's mind raced. Isabella's revelation had shattered her carefully constructed world, reminding her of the fragility of her own situation, the impermanence of her own happiness. She knew she couldn't stay with Alejandro forever, that one day, she too would have to face the reality of her position, the limitations of her power. And when that day came, she hoped she would have the courage and the grace to walk away, just like Isabella. In the midst of this turmoil, she wondered where she would go, or if she even had any power at all.

~~~~~

Alejandro was elated to finally be alone with Selestina. All night, he had nursed a reposing erection to remain quelled, but his endurance had petered out. He adjusted in the large, plush armchair, ready for Selestina to warm his lap.

The night breeze seeped through the open window, carrying with it the cool air from outside.

Alejandro's breath was heavy, his chest rising and falling as he conceded to his raging need for her. The dim glow of the last lit candles flickered, casting shadows across her delicate features, her black wavy hair emitting a silver shine. Keeping his hands from her was almost like torturing the strongest men of men. The absence of her in his embrace sent a twinge through his chest.

"Come to me," he purred, holding out his hand, his palm open, inviting.

She stood there, with a faint smile. "No," she murmured and bit her lower lip.

Her presence filled the space. He watched her command it, her small frame, a power of life, feeling a surge of something he wasn't sure of, something like... awe.

"Come to me. Now," he repeated firmly, mirroring her smile.

Selestina glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She shook her head, a small, teasing smile playing on her lips.

He knew that their age gap wasn't significant. But sometimes, like in this moment, in the simplicity of his sitting room, the years felt more obvious. Selestina had a boundless energy that seemed to radiate from her core.

Usually, his temper would have gotten the better of him, but instead, he laughed. He laughed, a genuine, unguarded laugh.

"Naughty girl!" He bolted from his seat, reached for her, but her lithe figure zipped behind the armchairs, using them as leverage.

"Come get me." She laughed.

And that was all it took.

Ungentlemanlike, he launched himself over the chairs, a ridiculous grin spreading across his face. She squealed, darting around the room, Alejandro chasing after her with his own boyish chortling.

"Get back here, you little..." he yelled, his voice echoing throughout the wing of the hacienda.

Selestina shrieked with laughter, her voice light and carefree. She dodged him, her long hair flying free of pins. He lunged for her, missed, and grabbed onto a chair, sending it to tip over.

"Almost caught you," he panted, his chest heaving and she took off down the hall. "Never!" She shouted, her eyes dancing with delight.

The chase continued, a chaotic ballet of missed grabs, giggles and breathless pronouncements. He caught her, pinned against the wall, a tangle of limbs and laughter.

He managed to restrain her, tickling her mercilessly until she begged for grace. "No! No, stop. Please!" Selestina yelled between snickers.

As his heartbeat slowed, Alejandro closed his eyes, a wave of contentment washing over him. It was moments like these, these absurd, spontaneous bursts of pure silliness with her, that made his chest feel tight.

Did she feel the same?

He opened his eyes and looked intensely at her, her face radiant with laughter. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead.

She smiled, a slow, sweet smile that made his stomach flip. He leaned in and kissed her, a soft, lingering kiss that tasted like sunshine and happiness. He felt like a child again, ready to conquer the world. And that was all that mattered.

Alejandro gazed into her eyes, reached out to trace the curve of her cheek.

She hesitated a moment, but when her nefarious smile returned, he knew she would keep him young for an eternity.

Slick as a snake, she ducked and was free. Laughing harder, he chased her, with the strangest feeling that his cat and mouse game had changed, their roles were now reversed.

Darting through the long hallway, they reached their bedroom. Now, she was his.

Alejandro kicked the door with the back of his boot. The door slammed shut behind them with a resonating thud.

"Now what will you do, little vixen? I have you cornered."

He knew his body flattened her against the wall. His touch was both tender and possessive, a paradox that left them both breathless.

"You are mine tonight, Stina." Alejandro murmured, his voice a low rumble. He leaned down, his lips brushing against the nape of her neck, eliciting a soft gasp from her. His tongue darted out, licking the salt from her skin, savoring her taste.

She hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering to him before she finally whispered, "I'm y..."

"Louder." His command was sharp, cutting through the silence like a whip.

"I..." she repeated, her voice trembling but louder this time. Alejandro's lips curled into a satisfied smirk.

He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear as he whispered, "You cannot resist me."

Selestina gasped, her body arching instinctively as she felt the heat radiating from him. His lips descended upon hers, claiming her with a famine astonishing him.

The kiss was fierce and unrelenting, his tongue exploring every inch of her mouth as if he wanted to memorize her taste. Selestina's hands found their way to his chest, her fingers gripping the fabric, awkwardly shedding his clothes as she clung to him, desperate for more.

When he finally pulled away, she was breathless, her lips swollen and her cheeks flushed. Alejandro's gaze bore into her, her eyes dark with yearning. "Say you're mine, Stina."

She nodded, her voice failing her as she tried to find the words.

"Say it." His voice sounded desperate.

"I'm yours, señor," she whispered, her eyes locked with his.

His hands moved to the laces of her dress, his fingers working quickly to undo them. The fabric pooled at her feet, leaving her standing in nothing but her thin chemise. Alejandro's eyes roamed over her body, taking in every curve, every dip, every inch of her soft skin.

"Beautiful," he murmured, his voice raw with wonder.

Selestina's breath hitched as he reached out, his fingers tracing the delicate curve of her collarbone before moving lower, brushing against the lace edge of her chemise. Her body responded to his touch in ways he had never imagined.

"Alejandro..." His name slipped from her lips, a plea, a prayer.

"Tell me what you want, mi pequeña?" His voice was a low murmur, his breath warm against her skin as he leaned in closer.

He chuckled softly at her silence.

With that, his hands gripped the hem of her chemise, lifting it over her head and tossing it aside. Selestina stood before him, completely exposed, her body trembling under his intense gaze.

His hands drifted over her skin, his touch both possessive and reverent. He cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her taut nipples, eliciting a soft moan from her lips. He leaned in, capturing one stiff tip in his mouth, his tongue swirling around, licking, nibbling and tasting.

Selestina's head fell back against the wall, a gasp escaping her lips. Her hands tangled in his hair, holding him to her as he continued to devour her.

When he finally pulled away, her breath was ragged, his body on fire. Alejandro's hands moved lower, his fingers skimming over her curvy stomach before dipping between her dark curls.

"So wet," he hummed with satisfaction.

Selestina moaned softly as he explored her, his touch sending waves of pleasure through her body. He found her clit, rubbing slow, deliberate circles that left them gasping for air and sanity.

"Alejandro, please..." Her voice was a desperate plea, her body trembling with need.

"What do you want?" His voice was a low growl, his fingers never stopping their relentless assault on her sensitive flesh.

"You... I want you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Then have me."

With a swift motion, he lifted her off the ground, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently, his eyes never leaving hers.

He leaned down and kissed the nape of her neck, drawing another mewl from her.

"Look at me," he commanded, his voice firm but laced with something softer. They gazed into each other's eyes for only a moment and he crushed his lips to hers. Her touch was electric, igniting a firestorm within him that he couldn't extinguish. He would show her what it meant to be his.

Quickly, he turned her around, covering her body with his. Her long dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, her delicate skin covered in a fine film of perspiration.

Their clothes and bedsheets lay spread across the floor and intertwined on the large wooden bed.

The room was filled with the lingering scents of their lust and burnt out candles.

Alejandro's hands seized the length of Selestina's body, exploring every inch of her soft, supple skin. She responded in kind, reaching behind her, finding his hardness, teasing the sensitive tip with her fingers.

His heart raced as he felt his dick in her palm, hard and ready, and she increased the pressure.

Selestina turned her face, sharing another deep and passionate kiss, their lips pressed together always needing more. They were both hungry, a constant unsated appetite for each other.

Alejandro panted harder in her ear. The desire for her left no room for doubt.

Painfully slow, he traced sultry kisses down her spine. He sighed while working his way down.

"Keep your hands there, mi linda." She crossed her wrists behind her back and sucked in her breath.

He reached the swelling of her derriere and the sight nearly did him in. His palms ran over the peachy hills and he wheezed, "Lift your ass for me." and she obeyed.

His dick lept, craving to find its home, but he had to draw her pleasure first.

Spreading her perfect globes apart, he groaned when her puckered hole winked at him. Her puffy petals glistened with glee and her pink pearl... well, the swollen flesh barely needed to be tasted and she would be going off like fireworks.

Growling like a mad mad, he buried his face in her loins, lapping his tongue at her exposed meat, her moans forcing his own groaning in chorus with hers.

Pulling his face away he noticed she clenched her crevice tight, her juices coating her entrance as her tight ring puckered again and he lost the last of his endurance.

Bathing the tip of his tongue over her glistening flesh, he swallowed her taste. His tongue dipped deeper, slurping and drinking in her sweet honeypot, working in and out of her, mimicking what his rod would soon be doing.

He opened his eyes face to face with her tight hole. Moving slowly he gave in to his weakness and she stiffened at his touch. The tip of his firm tongue met her forbidden hole and she clenched, lowering her ass to escape his invasion.

"Oh, no you don't," he hissed, spanked her and spread her butt cheeks wider than he should, lifting her back towards him.

A moan escaped her like a siren's song, a spell to ensnare him and he gladly let her. He speared his tongue to her tight ring, working his way in and out, over and over, while lapping at her crevice to fully possess her.

Reaching his pinnacle, he lifted himself, breathless and panting for her, reaching below, eagerly finding her clit. He played with the swollen button noting she was damn close. His voice hoarse, he said, "I want you, mi reina."

With his hand, he guided himself to her slick pool of arousal, lowering himself onto her, needing his last resolve to drive inside her, to bring himself home.

Hovering there, her sheath clenched around his bulbous head, hugging him snug, refusing him entry. "Teasing me?" he hissed and buried his face next to hers. Oh, she smelled like longing and ardor.

Slowly, he pushed through her tight satin sleek core, taking his time to feel every inch of her as he drove home. She enveloped him, locked around him, barely swallowing him inside her as her tight, secret hole above winked at him once more. Her velvety canal felt like pure heaven, the sounds urging him on.

Alejandro gritted his teeth, his solid erection slowly dipping further and when she clung to him so tightly as if to deny him inside, he thrusted himself to the hilt with a roar of surrender.

"Dios, so tight." He hissed into her ear. "You feel so good."

"Yes, Alejandro." Selestina moaned, the sound a mix of pleasure and aching. Alejandro stilled, giving her time to adjust before he began to move. His thrusts were slow at first, a gentle rhythm that allowed them to enjoy their intense mating.

He began to move, slow and deliberate, allowing her to feel his sinewy meat fill her. Selestina's hands gripped the sheets, her body arching to meet his as he quickened his pace.

"Alejandro," she moaned, his name a refrain on her lips.

She responded eagerly, spreading her legs further apart to let him in.

"That's it, mi pequeña," he murmured. "Open yourself to me." Her body curved slightly to meet his touch.

The sound of their uncontrollable libido filled the room, the wet slap of flesh against flesh, the moans and gasps echoed off the walls. Alejandro's arms held her tight. Selestina met his thrusts, her moans growing louder, more desperate.

"Yes, Alejandro," she cried out, her body tensing. "Harder, please."

Alejandro complied, his thrusts becoming almost barbaric in their intensity. He could feel her tightening around him, her body on the edge of release. He reached under her, his fingers finding her clit, rubbing it in time with his thrusts. Selestina cried out, her body edging her closer to her peak, leaving her a trembling, panting mess.

It hit her like a flood, screaming, her body convulsing, her muscles clenching so frenziedly around his cock he thought he would lose his mind. Each burst kneaded and stroked his length, her body accepting and tributing him.

Losing himself inside her, he kept thrusting, fighting the inevitable, and jolted to prolong the thrill.

Driven to madness by her, he obeyed her greedy body. His groin tightened and with a final powerful plunge, he spiraled. Proclaiming his superiority and triumph, he pulsed and blasted, uncontrollable, as he marked her, branded and claimed her. Colors exploded behind his eyelids, and he bellowed out her name, stamping it as his.

He collapsed on her, barely holding himself up.

Alejandro pulled out of her, laying beside her, their bodies slick with sweat, their breaths ragged.

They lay there for a moment, their bodies entwined, their hearts pounding in sync. Alejandro's hand stroked her hair, his touch soothing and gentle. She glanced at him, her eyes half-lidded.

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a soft kiss and watched the last of her energy drain.

Selestina's heart was still racing, thumping against his chest, her body humming with the aftermath of their passion.

"Alejandro..." she began, her voice fading.

"Hmm?" His hand stilled on her back, his body tensing slightly as he waited for her to continue.

Wrapping his arms around her, something he'd never done before, he felt a clinging need to protect her. He smiled at his own ludicrousness and kissed her forehead.

"Alejandro..." she mumbled again, fast asleep.

And then it happened.

The very thing he never expected.

~

Alejandro lay there, frozen, afraid to move. He watched her, listened to her soft sleeping breath. Sleep was impossible after what had just happened.

Selestina stirred and moved her arm across his chest and settled. He held his breath.

Moments ago, deeply asleep, she had nestled into his arms and declared in a mumble, 'I love you'. The purity of her admission tightened around his heart and for the first time in his life he was speechless.

But it wasn't her words that made him speechless. No, they were his own. As natural as ever, he had responded with no delay with his own: 'I love you'.

Now, he lay here with her sleeping soundly in his embrace, unsure of the plans the universe had for him now.

Looking down at her innocent, slumbering face, he wondered how this had happened. Earlier in the evening, he had felt like a different man, the man he used to be, forgotten and gone.

Before her, his life had been a decade of a carefully curated plan of adult responsibility. He'd forgotten how to play, how to be truly, unapologetically silly. He'd traded spontaneity for stability, adventure for predictability and his entire life, fueled by revenge and anger.

And now, she'd blown all of that to smithereens.

With Selestina, he rediscovered the joy of simple pleasures, the thrill of taking risks, the freedom of letting go. She reminded him that life wasn't a list of accomplishments or wealth, but a world to be explored.

She made him feel alive. It was a spark that ignited within him that he thought had long been extinguished.

Flashing before him was his future life.

Her. Their children playing, holidays celebrated, arguments fought, lovemaking and simple things that had never mattered to him before.

Instinctively, he wrapped his arms tighter around her.

This is what he wanted. A life with her.

~~~~~

Selestina pressed her back against the cool stone wall just beyond the heavy wooden doors of Alejandro's study, her breath shallow, heart hammering against her ribs. The candlelit corridor flickered with the restless shadows of the night, and she forced herself to remain still, listening.

She hadn't intended to eavesdrop, but the moment she had heard the sharp edge in Jose de la Torre's voice, she had known she needed to hear what was being said.

Inside, the voices of Alejandro's four business partners filled the room, one laced with anger, another with resentment, and something that made Selestina's stomach tighten, contempt.

"Don Alejandro, Don Mateo may be dead and his son in prison, but the Garcia name is still very close to you. And she warms your bed." Jose finished and the other three men huffed in agreement.

Alejandro chuckled out loud. He rose from the chair, putting his glass down with a loud thud. It almost shattered. "I will not let any of you threaten me. The Garcia name is no longer important to me and it no longer should be to any of you either. If I hear that name mentioned again by any of you... You will no longer be doing business with me."

Selestina held her breath. But they were barely getting started.

"You expect us to continue our association with you," Jose continued, his voice filled with disdain, "When you're openly keeping the daughter of Mateo Garcia as your mistress? Are you mad, Don Alejandro?"

A heavy silence followed, punctuated only by the distant crackle of the fireplace. Then came Alejandro's voice, calm, but firm, a warning woven into every syllable. "Be very careful with your words, Don Jose."

Another man, Santiago Velasco, scoffed. "Careful? No, Don Alejandro. It is you who should be careful. Mateo Garcia was a criminal, a thief, a liar, an enemy to us all. And yet, here you are, bedding his daughter as if it means nothing."

"It means nothing to you," Alejandro said coldly. "But it means something to me."

A chair scraped against the floor. Selestina imagined Don Jose standing, leaning forward, leveling his glare at Alejandro. "We cannot trust you, not while she is still here. How do we know she is not feeding information to his old allies? How do we know she is not seeking revenge in his name?"

Selestina flinched as if struck. The accusation made her stomach twist, but what hurt more was the silence that followed. Alejandro did not immediately defend her. The seconds stretched on like an eternity, and the doubt crept in like a cold wind.

"You insult me," Alejandro finally said, his voice low, lethal. "I will not hear such insults in my home."

"Yet, you do not defend it." Jose laughed bitterly. "She is his blood. His legacy. That is enough."

"She is my responsibility," Alejandro countered, his voice sharper now. "And she will remain here as long as I choose."

Selestina bit her lip, pressing her hands against the stone behind her to steady herself. She should have felt comforted by his words, by his unwavering defense, but all she felt was guilt while her heart shattered. He was being threatened, losing his allies. Because of her.

Another voice, softer but no less firm, cut through the tension. "Don Alejandro, listen to reason. If you do not let her go, you will lose everything. We will not stand beside you while you tie yourself to the daughter of a man who stole from us all."

Silence.

Selestina closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. This was her fault. Her presence was a stain on Alejandro's reputation, a mark against his honor. He had worked so hard to build everything he had, to create something no one could take from him. And now, because of her, it was slipping through his fingers.

She couldn't let that happen.

Taking a shaky breath, she turned away from the study and stepped quietly down the corridor, her decision solidifying with each step. She couldn't let it happen. For Alejandro's sake, for his future, for everything he had built. She would not be the reason he lost it all.

As she reached her chamber, she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her pounding heart. There was only one way to prevent him from losing it all. Walking away from Alejandro would break her, but staying would destroy him.

And she loved him too much to let that happen.

Determined and with a shaking hand, she sat down by the desk and wrote a letter to Isabella.

This was the only way.

~~~~~

There was calm in the air. A sweet, soothing scent filled the bedroom, a vile contrast to the storm brewing within her.

Selestina lay awake in the darkness, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and longing. The weight of her secret bore down on her like a physical force, and she couldn't help but feel a profound sadness. Her eyes adjusted to the dim moonlight filtering through their home.

Alejandro lay beside her, his broad chest rising and falling with each breath. He was perfect. Just like this, with a faint stubble on his jaw, his thick dark hair falling across his forehead. He was a vision of strength and beauty, and her heart swelled with a love that felt both endless and bittersweet.

She could feel the steady beat of his heart against her cheek, a comforting rhythm that she would miss when she was gone. She reached for him, her fingers tracing the contours of his face, his strong jawline, his full lips.

"Alejandro," she whispered to herself, loving how exquisite and flawless he was. He stirred, remaining asleep. Her fingertips brushed over his lips, soft and full, engraved in her memory, always.

A slow smile spread across his face and he captured her hand in his, pressing a gentle kiss to her fingertips. He fluttered his eyes open. In the soft glow of the night, she could see the warmth in his gaze, a devotion and longing that matched her own. He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her, enveloping her in his strength. She felt safe, cherished.

"Stina," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

She leaned in, her lips finding his in the dark. Her kiss was slow, sweet, a silent goodbye. His lips parted, drawing her in, and she deepened the kiss, her tongue exploring his mouth. He responded, his hands sliding down her back, pressing her closer. The heaviness in her chest grew, the knowledge that this was their last night together, a bitter pill to swallow. Tonight, she would prove to him that her heart belonged to him.

Her eyes searched his and gazed at him with tenderness. Make love to me, Alejandro, she begged without words.

He rolled her onto her back, his body covering hers. The weight of him, the heat, sent a shiver of need through her. His hands caressed her cheeks, his thumbs brushing her soft, delicate skin. She moaned against his breath, desperate for more. He captured her lips again, his kiss gentle, coaxing. She melted into him, her body responding to his touch.

His lips trailed down her neck, his teeth nipping gently at her favorite spot, branding her fine skin, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

She arched her back, another sigh escaping her lips. His hands explored her body, his touch lingering on her breasts, her waist, her hips. She felt a hunger in him, an ache that made her heart mourn.

He took her nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the stiff bud, licking, sucking, worshipping it. She gasped, her hands fisting the sheets. He lavished attention on each breast, his fingers teasing her nipple while his mouth worked the other. She squirmed beneath him, her body growing hotter for him.

His hands slid down her body, his fingers finding the hem of her nightgown. He pulled at it, his touch light and teasing, until it was bunched around her waist. He looked at her, his eyes filled with devotion and desire. She felt exposed, vulnerable, protected by him.

He kissed her belly, his lips trailing lower as she spread her legs for him, inviting him in and he didn't hesitate. He looked up at her, his eyes dark with need, before his mouth found her sacred gem. She whimpered, her hips bucking against his mouth as his tongue explored her. He teased her, his mouth lapping at her flesh, his fingers easily sliding inside her, curling up to hit that spot that made her see stars. She sighed, her body writhing as he wound her higher and higher.

She gasped louder, her hands finding his mane. He looked up at her, his eyes consumed with hunger. His body covering hers, he kissed her.

She could feel his hardness, warm and throbbing, his desire, hot and yearning. She reached down, her hand wrapping around his length.

Alejandro growled, his hips bucking into her touch. She wanted to please him, to favor his pleasure before her own. Her fingers grabbed his shaft harder, gliding over the spot that hitched his breath.

He grinned, a wicked smile that made her heart flutter. Then, poised at her entrance, hard and ready, he pushed in slowly, filling her with every inch of him, completing her. She released a moan, her body stretching to accommodate him, her arms drawing him desperately closer.

He began to move, his hips rocking against her own, his body worshipping hers with a softness that nearly shattered her.

She wrapped her legs around him, her body moving harmoniously with his. She wanted him to feel her love for him in every touch, every kiss, meeting his every thrust. It was slow and tender, a loving dance of their bodies. This was their last time, their goodbye, and it was perfect.

He thrust into her with more fervent, his body trembling with the effort to hold back, his breath coming in short gasps. She could feel him, so close, so ready. She wrapped herself around him tighter, her body clinging to his and as their passion peaked, they released together, braiding their ecstasy, bursting and soaring together, crowning in a perfect pinnacle. Alejandro held her through her release, thriving how he always ensured her pleasure.

They lay there, their bodies entwined, their hearts beating as one. She knew she had to go, knew she had to protect him, but for now, this was where he belonged. In her embrace, in her love, in her heart.

~~~~~

Selestina woke to an unsettling noise and sat up rubbing her eyes. The sunlight flashed in between the curtains. Morning. She turned to expect Alejandro by her side, but he wasn't. Panic set in. He had left already. Frozen with fear, she leaped out of bed and with no shame flung open the door. Her feet met the cold stone floor making disappearing damp prints as she sprinted towards the staircase.

She had to see him one last time. One last time!

The winding stairs went on for an eternity and she flew past the staff who were all in shock to see Alejandro's brazen mistress wearing only a laced nightgown. The warm morning air met her like a heavy cloud and she made it outside.

"Alejandro," she screamed as loud as she was able.

There he was, far in the distance riding away, the horse leaving a dense dusting in its trail. The rocks on the stoned pathway cut into her feet slowing her down, discouraging her. "Alejandro!" she screamed again and leaped over a divot in the road.

"Alejandro!" she bellowed. He turned and her heart rejoiced. Slowing down and turning around his horse she stopped thankful for being able to catch her breath.

Alejandro jumped from his horse and held his arms on her shoulders, concerned. "Are you alright, Stina?"

She nodded eagerly as he continued, "Did I forget something?" he asked and she responded by standing on her tippytoe, wrapping her arms safely around his neck. "Yes," she whispered and kissed him sweetly.

With gusto, he removed his hat and pulled her so close she could barely breathe. One last kiss, she thought and their kiss deepened. She would remember this for an eternity.

"I wish I had time to take you upstairs," he grumbled as he broke their kiss. He turned to look at his staff who were all laughing, snickering or shaking their heads watching her unfold herself in front of them. He grinned.

"All that for a kiss? I will be home this evening," he teased blissfully unaware of her heartbreaking plans.

"I had to kiss you goodbye," she confessed, admiring his gorgeous eyes that were dancing with youth, glee and euphoria. She vowed she would never forget his handsome face. At least she brought one thing with her that could remind her of him.

He planted another quick peck on her lips and put his hat on again. "Now you get inside before my staff sees more than they need to. You know I get jealous," he demanded and gave her a pad on her ass. She giggled and walked backwards, hating the sight of his departure. He turned around one more time when he had mounted his horse. "Until tonight, cariña." The very same sentence he had said the day he stole her away.

Galloping into the distance, she sobbed, "Goodbye, my love." Her heart dropped once more unsure if she had made the right decision.

~~~~~

The life she offered to Alejandro had become unbearable, tangled in webs of secrets, fear, and a suffocating pressure that she could no longer escape. He was the man she loved with a passion that consumed her.

He was everything to her. Handsome, wealthy, and commanding. But the burden that her father's past and his name carried, had grown too great. She tried to ignore it for as long as she could, but the weight of his enemies, his business partners, the whispers behind their back, had become too much. As long as she was in his life, as his mistress, the woman connected to the dark past that loomed over them both, he would never find peace. She couldn't bear to be the one who ruined him.

Sighing deeply, she grabbed the leather pouch and set off. Selestina peered around the corner of the stables. There she was. Isabella waited impatiently, holding the reins of two dusty mustangs. Narrowing her eyes, she waved at Selestina. The coast was clear.

"Are you ready?" Isabella whispered and their hands met. Selestina's eyes fixed on the hacienda.

"Almost. Just... give me a moment." Her voice cracked glancing down at a bougainvillea bush. Alejandro had ordered his man to plant it just for her, its crimson blossoms vibrant against the white wall. She touched a petal and ripped the bloom from the plant, feeling the tear in her heart.

"Remember that you're doing this for him." Isabella's soft voice warmed. Selestina nodded.

"I didn't know how good the world could be until Alejandro," she admitted, feeling a stab of pain in her heart.

"Then remember that. Remember what's at stake if you stay. We'll take the back route through the canyon. I peeked at the ledger Alejandro's administrador left open. He has paid off the guards on that side for years. That's our best shot. I packed what supplies we could fit into the saddlebags and I put the gold coins you gave me in the hidden pockets. It will help us along the way." Isabella finished and Selestina took a deep breath to steel herself.

"Alright. Let's go." Selestina hid the little flower in her bosom.

They moved quickly, silently. Isabella led the horses along the back of the stables, keeping out of sight. They reached a crumbling section of the hacienda border wall, obscured by overgrown brush. The wall bordered Alejandro's vast property, and the canyon on the other side. Isabella pulled away some loose shrubs and stones, revealing a small opening.

"This will suffice. Hurry!"

Isabella guided Selestina through the opening, then followed, scrambling through. Once on the other side, they mounted the horses and urged them into a gallop. They rode hard toward the canyon, the hacienda shrinking behind them. Selestina risked one last glance back.

By nightfall, Alejandro would be home to find her gone. He would be so angry. No doubt, he would send his men to find her, but Isabella's contacts would get them safely far away.

Adios, Alejandro. I'll never forget you.

She turned forward, her face set, the canyon stretched before them, a harsh but hopeful path to a bittersweet new life.

~~~~~

She could still feel the warmth of his touch, the way his lips would burn against her skin, his powerful embrace that made her forget everything. And so, in a brief moment of desperate resolve, she left him. It wasn't just for her own peace of mind. It was for his. Selstina wasn't foolish enough to believe he could be with her without consequences. She had hoped, in the secret corners of her heart, that once she was gone, Alejandro would finally find freedom. A freedom to reclaim his place without the shadow of her name and her father's crime tainting his future.

It had been almost a month and as the days passed, she realized just how deeply her heart had been tied to him. She couldn't run far enough to escape the thoughts of him, the hunger for his touch. But she didn't look back.

Isabella was her only companion through the silent anguish of leaving the only man she had ever loved. Isabella's own fate was much like hers. The two of them took refuge in the large pueblo, far from Alejandro's and Miguel's reach. She hoped it was far enough, but deep down she confronted her fears that when he wanted something, he would get it. He always did.

The bar owner had decided to let her work in the kitchen cooking and cleaning dishes. He didn't pay her much, but with Isabella's income from the bakery, they could stay in the rooms above the bar and they had what they needed. Their coins were getting fewer by the day, but it was only until she would find more work.

With an exhausted bump she sat down on the hard wooden chair. She closed her eyes and could have sworn she smelled Alejandro's familiar scent. Opening her eyes again, she shook her head. "You are losing your mind."

Selestina glanced over towards Isabella's room. She left very early this morning for work. If this woman hadn't been by her side, she would have been convinced that her life had been much harder.

Her almost four month growing belly flopped and she held a hand over the small bump. "I'll be fine. I'll get us something to eat," she said out loud and smiled.

She carefully stood, at times having to rest on a table or chair. These days the world had an easy way of spinning.

Selestina squinted her eyes meeting the bright sunlight. Living in the city was much warmer than living in Alejandro's large hacienda. A nagging pain dragged through her stomach. It's ok, little one, she mentally noted ignoring the massive sense of missing Alejandro. She wondered if he was happy. Was he with Maya?

Walking away biting at the jealousy, she wished the best for him. Never seeing him again was for the best.

As she turned the corner, she found a stall, paid for some soft bread and relished the nourishment. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw a man staring at her.

When she stopped by the cloth store he stopped as well leaving a distance between them.

At the next corner, Selestina sprinted as fast as she could, but the man was right behind them.

Breathless, she ran until beads of perspiration fell.

But then it was over.

Selestina realized she was cornered.

Trapped like a mouse she knew she had no way out. Two of the men grabbed her arms. Behind her waited a carriage with the insignia on the back she was all too familiar with.

Alejandro had found her.

They secured her in the carriage and to her surprise Alejandro wasn't inside. Selestina closed her eyes tight imagining the penance that awaited her.

~~~~~

The guard's fingers dug into her soft skin and as he pushed her into Alejandro's bedroom. She winced and rubbed her arm.

Inspecting the large room she had expected him to be here, but instead found the warm bedroom empty. A few candles were lit and there was a tray with food that smelled delicious. Her stomach growled and their baby reminded her that she had barely eaten today. She didn't dare touch anything. The silence in the room was eerie.

It had been more than a month since she left and everything seemed the same, everything in its place. Her familiar safe place.

The clock above the fireplace tick'd and tick'd and each minute felt like hours. When panic set in, she paced. Would he beat her? No! Don't be ridiculous. This is Alejandro. Sweet, kind Alejandro. The man she had come to love more than her own life.

Selestina's hand travelled to her growing belly. Would Alejandro notice?

It was as if she had been transported back to her first day when Alejandro had taken her. Alone, used and broken. Here, she was. Just about the same. What would he do?

She was surrounded by the sound of the crackling from the fireplace and deep in her thoughts, she jumped by the sound of the bedroom door opening.

Alejandro.

His hooded eyes were almost black filled with so many emotions she couldn't define. Carried by dark circles he looked like an angry beast that had been injured, defeated, now ready to retaliate. His jaw tense, his gaze pierced her. His exhausted posture made him look even more dangerous.

Selestina's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She opened her mouth to say something, to explain, but the words died in her throat.

He didn't speak. He didn't need to. His silence was louder than any words could be.

"Alejandro!" she said and sucked in her breath. "Please listen to me. I... I left for your sake. It was my choice. I will tell you wh..."

He slammed the door shut so hard that it echoed throughout the desert. She jumped and a chill ran down her spine. It was like a warning shot cautioning her to choose her next move carefully. Stay silent, a voice whispered inside her.

Alejandro took only one step and stopped. Slowly, he removed his jacket, throwing it onto the plush chair, never breaking eye contact with her. He waited, then took a few more long strides towards her. He had her cornered.

Selestina swallowed hard. Instinctively, she took a step backwards imagining what the beast inside him would do next.

"For... my... sake?" he snarled, putting a firm emphasis on each word. He crooked his head slightly, his eyes now boiling with anger.

Another step.

She swallowed hard again wishing that someone would knock on the door or magically appear in the room with them coming to her defense. But there was no one. Bravely, she lifted her chin up ready for whatever would come next. She opened her mouth to speak.

"Don't." His voice was low, a growl that sent shivers down her spine. He crossed the space in three strides, his presence overwhelming. Before she could speak, before she could even think, his hands were on her waist, pulling her roughly against him. His lips crashed into hers, hard and demanding.

She gasped against his mouth, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest. But he didn't relent. His kiss was fierce, almost punishing, as if he were trying to imprint himself onto her, to remind her of what she'd tried to leave behind.

"Do you know what I've been through since you left?" If he hadn't been so close she wouldn't have heard what sounded like a rumble of thunder in his voice.

Saying nothing seemed only to fuel his anger. His hands tightened, drawing her closer. His lips claimed hers again. It was a kiss that promised not pleasure, but punishment. A kiss that tasted of hurt and betrayal.

When he finally pulled away, his breath was hot against her lips. "You think you can just leave?" His voice was thick with anger, but beneath it, there was a rawness that made her chest ache. "You think I'd let you go that easily?"

"Alejandro, please," she pleaded not knowing to fight back or to reason with him. "You're hurting me." He wasn't.

If he could have swallowed her whole he would have. She pushed against his chest, but it was useless. His kiss grew softer and she moaned bringing her back to reality.

He bent down to hold her in his arms and continued to the bed where they had enjoyed each other's bodies many times before.

She felt exhausted trying to hide how she felt for him. Exhausted hiding the existence of their child.

He placed her in front of the bed and started tugging at her dress. A few strands of clothing dropped around her as he undressed her. In between kisses she was left standing in her chemise and her undergarments.

"I will spend a lifetime punishing you for what you've put me through," he growled and ran a hand down inside her bloomers and squeezed her ass cheeks tightly. Selestina sucked in a breath and he continued the punishment.

"Alejandro, please let go of me," she pleaded, but he ignored her. Instead, he buried his face in the crevice of her neck and kissed and nibbled. "Alejandro, let go of me," she tried again, this time a firm command. He still ignored her, biting down gently on her skin and it sent her over the edge. "Alejandro!" she yelled and pushed him away.

His eyes told her she was moments away from being consumed by him.

"I can't take this anymore," she said, her voice trembling. "Pretending. Knowing that I'll always be the reason for your misery. I don't deserve to be in your life." She held her breath and admitted, "The reason I left was for your sake."

His eyes darkened, but softened, "And you know what's best for me?"

"I heard your business partners threaten you. Because of who I am," Selestina said and Alejandro sighed deeply.

For a moment he just looked at her. Then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Stina, I have enough wealth to last generations. It doesn't matter what my business partners think." Selestina couldn't hold back any longer.

"My father... my name..."

"Mi vida, you are not your father. You are the brave woman who fought the world not to become him."

"Maya said that..." she started.

"Maya will never bother us again," he finished. "Whatever she told you is not true and I forbid ever speaking her name again." Alejandro firmly stated.

Before she could respond, his lips were on hers again, softer this time, but no less intense. He deepened the kiss, his hands gripping her arms and Selestina could feel the simmering rage beneath his controlled exterior. She pushed against him, finally breaking free of his hold.

"Stop it, Alejandro!" she gasped, her voice trembling.

"It doesn't change anything. I ran away because you will be reminded of us every day and it will only cause you pain. You will hate the Garcia name even more than you already do. Every day."

His eyes transformed and he looked stunned. She knew he couldn't deny the truth. Consumed with love for him she waited for his heartbreaking words.

But they were not what she expected.

He closed the distance between them and said, "Us?" His eyes travelled down to her growing belly and she froze. With eyes wide, she realized she had just revealed her secret. Fear coiled in her, a cold knot twisting in her gut.

Removing the laced fabric, his warm palm gently ran over her bump. She thought for a moment that he would be furious again.

Inches from her, he rested his forehead against hers and let out a long breath,"You are finally mine, completely."

"F... Finally?" she muttered.

"Mi corazon." With that, Alejandro kissed her again, this time, it was tender, a silent promise between them. The past, the anger, and the misunderstandings seemed to fade as their lips met, and Selestina finally gave in to him.

His hands roamed over her body, claiming her in a way that made her knees weak. She clung to him, her fingers tangling in his hair as he deepened the kiss.

She swallowed hard, her heart hammering in her chest. His words were a balm and a torment all at once. She'd tried to leave for his sake, to protect him from the scandal, but now, standing here in his arms, she couldn't remember why she'd thought leaving was the answer.

When he finally broke away, his eyes were dark with desire. "I am going to keep you in this bed until I've heard what I want to hear." His voice left no room for her to argue with him. Alejandro wrapped his arm around her waist and coaxed her onto the bed.

She opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her with another kiss, his hands already working to undo whatever clothing she had left. She could feel the heat of his skin through the thin fabric, the urgency in his touch both exhilarating and overwhelming.

"Alejandro," she gasped as his lips trailed down her neck, his hands slipping down to cup her breasts.

"I don't know what I would have done if Miguel hadn't found Isabella this morning," he said and closed his eyes.

"Isabella?" Selestina was relieved. "Yes, I would never have found you if it wasn't for her," he swallowed hard.

"No more running," he murmured against her skin, his voice a promise and a threat all at once.

"You're mine, Stina. And I'm never letting you go. You both belong right here." He held his hand where their child was growing.

She shivered as his hands moved lower, his fingers teasing the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, sending a wave of pleasure crashing through her. Her breath hitched, her body responding to him in ways she couldn't control. It was her home, in his arms, a mystical power pulling them to belong. "Tell me," he demanded, his voice low and husky. "Tell me what I want to hear."

His skilled fingers found her wet crevice. She moaned, her hips arching into his touch. "I'm yours," she whispered, her voice trembling with need.

"No, mi amor," he growled, his fingers moving faster.

"Alejandro," she gasped, her hands gripping his shoulders.

He didn't give her a chance to say more. With a groan, he parted her legs.

"You're beautiful," he murmured, his hands roaming over her body. "So beautiful."

She shivered under his touch, her skin tingling as he leaned down to kiss her again. This time, his kiss was slow as if he were savoring every second. She melted into him, gently tasting his lips with hers. She could feel the weight of his body pressing against her, the hard evidence of how much he wanted her.

"Alejandro," she whispered, her hands tangling in his hair.

"Tell me," he said again, his voice a low rumble. "Tell me what I want to hear."

"Tu eres mio," she breathed, her body arching into his.

"Si, mi esposa."

With a breath, they united. It was a silent declaration of ownership and surrender.

This was just the beginning of their new chapter, a chapter filled with uncertainty, passion and life.

The hacienda was a silent witness to a drama that had unfolded within its walls, the fate of Alejandro and Selestina and their children to come, inextricably intertwined, bound together for a lifetime.

The revenge had given them something neither meant to find; forgiveness and love.