Forever Summer (18 page)

Knowing if he didn’t redirect her soon, it would all be over, he reached for her and pulled her up and across his chest, eager to kiss her, but she pulled away from him and rose to her knees, swinging her leg around to straddle his hips, gripping his body tightly between her legs.  He gripped both her thighs right above her knees and slid his hands all the way up to hold her hips and keep her still.

In a hoarse voice he told her to take his wallet out of his jeans pocket and take out the protection he’d brought with him.  She did, but not until she’d made it a point to rub against him sensually, sliding her slick heat against his hard length, making him arch against her for fuller contact and hiss in his breath.  Gabe tore the packet open and nearly unseated her as he sheathed himself, making her giggle as he made a grab for her, steadying her at the last moment.

“You’re laughing at me, Summer?  Before we’re finished, I’ll make you moan.”  He smiled slowly as he lifted her up and slid into her inch by inch, never breaking eye contact, knowing exactly when passion replaced humor as she closed her eyes and threw her head back in surrender, whispering his name.  Gabe grabbed her arms and pulled her down to him, keeping one hand on her lower back and cupping the back of her neck with the other.  He reached up and released the clip holding her hair and buried his fingers in it, wrapping it around his hand and pulling her face down to his. 

Gabe bit her chin and licked his way up her jaw to trace her ear with his tongue as he pushed further into her.  Summer sat back up, bracing her hands on his chest and took control by lifting almost all the way off of him and sliding slowly back down, leaning down close enough to see his pupils dilate as she tightened around him.  She finally began to move, setting a rhythm that grew steadily faster and harder until they were both breathless and slick with sweat.

Summer gasped for air.  “Gabe, don’t wait for me.”

“Don’t make me wait any longer, then.  Let go, baby.  Forget everything and just feel.  Nobody’s keeping score here.  Come with me, and we’ll finish together.”  Summer couldn’t seem to catch her breath.  She blocked everything else out and did what he’d asked her to do, concentrating on the feelings Gabe gifted her with, moving faster, gripping his shoulders as he covered her breasts with his hands and teased the tips between her fingers.  She climaxed so hard, she thought she was going to pass out as he surged upwards and finished with her, holding her tight as she collapsed against his chest.  Before their breathing had finished slowing, Gabe lifted Summer’s face and kissed her again.  Her lips, her eyes, her cheeks, her forehead, and back to her lips kissing them at the corners, the top, the bottom, and finally sinking inside to tease her tongue out and pull her into the kiss more deeply. 

“
Diós
, Summer, I can’t get enough of you.  I just had you, and I’m already trying to figure out when I can have you again.  You’re feeling like an addiction I’m getting hooked on, but I just can’t leave you alone.  I can’t stay away.”  He kissed her deeply again.

Summer pulled back and answered him between kisses.  “I don’t want you to stay away, Gabe.  I don’t want you to leave me alone.  Don’t leave me alone, Gabe.”  Knowing instinctively that she wasn’t just talking about today or about sex, and feeling her insecurity and fear as his own, he held her against him tightly, trying to reassure her that she could trust him through his touches, his caresses, his kisses, gentle now, calming, convincing.  Calling to her to trust, to risk.  Promising her a reward worth seeking.  Tempting her to believe in him and what they shared together.

Awhile later, Summer rose above him and looked deeply into the soulful brown eyes looking back at her and traced his lips with her fingers.  Still feeling vulnerable but now determined to stay around for the duration of whatever happened between them, willing for the first time to take a chance on a future shared with someone else, deciding to trust for the first time since she’d been a child, she bent and kissed him once more.  It was a kiss to answer his unspoken questions and requests that she consider the possibilities of
them
.  Here, then, was her answer and her promise to him.  They smiled at each other, and he kissed her palm.

The rest of the afternoon was spent laughing, talking, and eating.  Somehow they’d taken it from serious to light to passionate to serious to light hearted again.  Summer thought it was a wonder they weren’t both suffering from whiplash.

“I’m impressed and officially wined and dined, thank you very much.”  Gabe had his head on her lap and gazed up at her, showing off his dimples again.

“How so?  You must tell me, so I can be sure and give you a repeat performance.  You,
cara
, are not easily impressed, so I must know what I’ve done to gain your interest.  Finally.”

She smiled down at him and stroked a curl off his forehead.  “Well, let’s have a recap of points you’ve gained today, shall we?  Take notes, this is important.” 

Gabe pressed his index finger to his temple.  “I’m taking mental notes, and you have my full attention.”

“Okay.  Let’s start with last night.  You,
Señor Rodrigo
, overcame all my objections and seduced me despite my determination to never allow it to happen.  And I’d like to add that your lovemaking was exceptional, by the way.

“Points for persistence and determination.  Continue.”

Summer smiled at him again.  “The car is a big plus.  I’ve discovered that I like convertibles even more than I do motorcycles.  My cousin will be sad, but that’s life.”

“Car trumps Harley.  Got it.  Remind me to buy a spare just in case the other breaks down, so I can be sure to entice you for another ride.  Continue.”

She shook her head and laughed.  “Then, there was taking me to find my mother’s – mine now, I guess – villa.”  Summer grew serious for a moment.  “And being there to support me and lend me some strength and understanding.  I can’t imagine absorbing all of that without you being there with me.  Thank you again.”  Gabe reached up to stroke her cheek, and she turned her head and kissed his hand.

“Anything else?”

“Yes, but I can tell by the smug look on your face that you think I’m going to bring up this afternoon’s sexual escapades, but since I hate to be redundant and predictable, I refuse to mention it, no matter how memorable it was.  Besides, in hindsight, I can only be thankful that the paparazzi weren’t around to catch us in the middle of things.  That’s one headline I would like to avoid if you don’t mind.”

Gabe grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers.  “True, and assuming there was no one out there with a telescopic lens, we’re in the clear.”  At her shocked look, he laughed.  “I’m only joking.  We have some good memories to build on, yes?”

 “Yes, Gabe, but what must your parents think of me?”  Summer lost her smile and began to gather up their things.  “I don’t know how I’ll face your mother.  I really like your parents, and I don’t want them to think …"

“Stop.”  Gabe sat up and stilled her hands.  “My parents like you, too.  And at the risk of engorging
your
ego, I’ll tell you that my mother is thrilled at the possibility of us making a match.  She’s been hinting since she met you that I need to move on with my life.  Secretly, I think it is because she wants more grandchildren.  She thinks you’re refreshing and good for me, probably because I liked you before you liked me.  Honestly, she’s picturing grandchildren with blond hair already.”

“Good God, there you go again, skipping steps and going straight for the throat.”  But this time, she smiled, if a bit nervously, as she finished gathering their trash and repacking the basket.  He helped her fold the blanket, and they walked together to the car.  He stopped by her door and turned her to face him.

“Have you tried to consider the glass half full yet?  Will you at least think of positive outcomes along with the negatives?”

“I’ll do better than that, Gabe.  I’ll see it through to whatever ending is in store for us, be it happy or sad.  Never knowing and wondering what might have been would be worse than losing at this point.  So, you see?  You are rubbing off on me.”

“
Gracias a diós
.  You realize what this means, don’t you?”

“What?”

“I’ve still got it!  I was beginning to wonder after you were so resistant to my charms.  I was starting to think that I’d lost my appeal or that I wasn’t aging well.  You had me worried,
querida
.”

“Oh brother.  I knew your head would swell if I let on that you’d scored big points.  I hope you can still fit through the front door.  By the way, why haven’t we had to worry about the press?  I haven’t seen anyone since the last concert.”

“Very few people know where I am, and even fewer know I own property here.  So far, I’ve never had problems with privacy here, at least not out here in the country.  In the city would be a different matter, but I stay clear of that area, and so far, my secret has remained my own.”

“What about tonight when you take Marisol to the fair?  Do you think you’ll be recognized there?”

“First of all, I’d like you to come with us.  I’m not ready for our day to end, but I do want to add one to our duet and make it a trio, if you’re willing to share our time with Marisol.”

“Of course I don’t mind adding Marisol, but are you sure you wouldn’t prefer some time alone with her?  More importantly, might she want some private time with you all to herself?”

“I’ll tell you what.  Let’s let her decide.  I’ll ask her alone, and I promise you I’ll not try to talk her into including you.  I’ll just pose it as a choice and go with whatever she says, alright?”

“Perfect plan, Gabe.  You’re a good father.  Truly, my feelings will not be hurt if she wants you to herself.”

“I know
, cara
.  You’re very generous where the baby is concerned.  I guess she’s not a baby anymore.”

“I hope she always is to you, Gabe.  Girls need a hero in their fathers.  Someone who will always support them and love them unconditionally.  I had that once, and I’ll never forget it.  As hard as it was to lose it, I’m glad I had it while I did.  That’s what I’ll give my own children, should I ever have any.”  For the first time since the death of her mother, Summer dared to picture her family, but instead of her as the child, she played the role of the mother, and the father in the daydream with her was the same one driving the car.

Chapter  Eleven

            Before Gabe could even ask his daughter whether or not she wanted Summer to accompany them to the fair, she ran outside when she saw them pull into the courtyard and threw herself into her father’s arms.  He lifted her up above his head, and she squealed with pleasure.

“Papá!   Are we going to the carnival still?”

“Yes, we are,
mijita
.  We’ll be leaving soon.”  Summer smiled at the scene they made, and excused herself, so he could speak to Marisol privately.

“Wait, Summer!  Aren’t you coming with us?  Please come.  Papá, will you ask her?”

“Marisol, wouldn’t you like to spend time alone with your papá?  I could stay here, and you could have him all to yourself,
Chiquita
.”

“We can all go together and have fun.  You make us smile, and we want you to come with us, right, Papá?”

“Right!  So, will you come with us, Summer?”  His eyes met hers over the head of his little girl, sparkling with ‘I told you so’ laughter.

“Alright, I’d be happy to come.  I haven’t been to a carnival in a very long time.  What do you think they will have there, Marisol?”