Chapter 89 Wanting only you
I find Valentina in the small herb garden, and I'm again reminded that this is a warm home, filled with love.
She's looking better than earlier, watering the herbs and humming something with a smile on her face.
"Are you okay?" I ask hesitantly.
She looks up and smiles at me, but her eyes remain sad. " Okay yes. Benedict make me sad."
I refrain from telling her that it seems like both Benedicts make people sad.
I took a long shower after Miguel fucked me in the bathroom, and when I came out, T.J. told me he left with his father.
I once again wonder if he will tell his other son that he found me here.
"Wait here." Valentina smiles at me, and hurriedly goes back into the house, returning with a tray of freshly brewed coffee and chocolate chip cookies.
"Colombian coffee." She states proudly before pouring me a cup. "I make nice cookies."
"Do you miss home? Colombia?" I ask curiously.
The West Coast is beautiful, and if my whole family wasn't in New York, I could see myself living here. But they're there, and even though they can be overwhelming at times, I wouldn't want to stay too far away from them.
"No. Was hard life." The sadness in her eyes intensifies, and I feel bad for even asking. "Family is dead. I come here for better life, but life not good here."
"I'm so sorry." I take her hand in mine, thinking of my own mother and father who didn't have the best lives growing up either, but who managed to find each other and have a great life now.
"Grandkids will make all better." She winks at me, making me chuckle.
There are so many hurdles that Miguel and I have to overcome, I can't even think of the possibility of children in our future.
"Miguel love you so much." Valentina squeezes my hand.
I smile forcibly. If only love was enough in this fucked up world. Even my own family has their reservations about us. I know my family is not telling me I should stop seeing him, but I can feel the concerns radiating off them.
I spend the day with her, and I help her cook. I don't cook aside from grilling chicken breasts, but I let her show me how to make a mushroom sauce, even though I know I probably won't remember how.
I almost keel over and die when Miguel walks through the front door, wearing a uniform. It should be downright illegal.
He pauses when he sees us in the kitchen, and he just stands there looking at us, making me blush.
"Mi hijito!" Valentina exclaims. "I make steaks tonight and Madison salad."
"That's the only thing I know how to make." I shrug, embarrassed. "And grilled vegetables."
"Can I talk to you?" Miguel nods his head towards the bedroom, and I quickly toss the tomatoes I've been cutting in the bowl and wash my hands to follow him.
I close the bedroom door behind me, and I don't miss the wince on his expression when he starts unbuttoning his shirt.
"Are you in pain?" I ask, scared that him picking me up this morning might have done damage.
"I'll live." He peels the shirt from his body, and I've now seen him naked numerous times, but my mouth still waters at the sight of him.
He's wearing a white undershirt, looking hot in even that.
"I'm sorry about my father, he's not allowed to come here." He takes the undershirt off too, and I notice he's wearing fresh plasters. "My mother gets upset every time she sees him."
"I saw that." I bite my bottom lip. "Do you think he will tell Ben I'm here?"
Miguel pauses in his undressing, and narrows his eyes at me. "Do you care that Ben knows about you and me?"
"Yes." I tell him honestly. "Ben is fucking dangerous, and he's coming after people in my life. I'm scared of what he'll do if he finds out I've been sleeping with you."
"Is that what this is to you?" He tilts his head slightly while examining my expression. "We're just sleeping with each other? Didn't I already warn you this morning?"
"Miguel." I close my eyes briefly. "Please tell me how we are going to work then?"
I feel him walking up to me before his hands land on my hips, and my eyes flutter open.
"I told you I will handle my family, didn't I?" He kisses me softly on the lips like I'm his most treasured possession. "But first, I just resigned, and I will be moving to New York full time."
"You what?" I ask, shocked. "Why would you do that?"
"It was always my plan." He pulls me completely into him. "Me getting shot was just the catalyst to do it sooner."
"What about your mother? I thought you said you're not moving her back."
"And I won't. She loves it here, and she can stay if she wants to." He tucks my hair behind my ear before stroking the exposed skin of my neck. "But I want to be where you are, and I know you want to be close to your family."
"What if she's sad without you?" I can't get her face out of my mind when she spoke of Mr.Cargill.
"We'll visit her often, then." He lowers his head and kisses the side of my neck. "I think it's time we stopped hiding, and let everyone know you're mine, and I am yours."
"You're making it sound so easy." I throw my head back to give him better access.
"It is so easy. I want you and you only. I don't care what the rest of the world says." His lips travel to my mouth to whisper against it. "Say yes."
What else was I going to say? I'm willing to throw all caution to the wind and see where this goes, even if I get burnt in the end.
"Yes."