Secrets and Seduction: 5 Romance Novels (101 page)

His hand shook as he dialed her number. His stomach was tied up in knots. When she answered the phone, he blurted, “Ileana, it’s Michael. Will you have dinner with me?”

“Sure. Where?”

“To tell you the truth, I bought condoms. So I’m only hungry for one thing. Can we please use them?”

Ileana laughed breathlessly. “I bought some too.”

“Great minds think alike.”

“I’ve got some enchiladas in the freezer. How about if I bring them over to your house so we’ll have something to eat later?”

Michael had to swallow to moisten his dry mouth. “Sounds good.” He gave her his address.

“Six o’clock?”

“I can’t wait.”

“You’d better plan to sleep over.”

“Okay. I’ll bring my condoms too.”

When Michael hung up he found he was smiling. He was so lucky and he was going to get luckier. How had he found a woman like Ileana?

• • •

Ileana took a deep breath and walked into her parents’ home. She could have called, but she needed her mother to be part of this conversation to give her unwitting support. Michael would be worried if he knew what she was going to do, but she could only keep so many secrets. Disappearing during a work day wasn’t one of them.

“Ileana, we missed you at church,” her mother exclaimed in Spanish. Yelina Alvarez Calderon was still a dark-haired beauty at fifty-five, despite her figure rounding with age. Her liquid brown eyes sparkled at her daughter.

Ileana and her mother exchanged kisses. “I went to mass yesterday,” Ileana told her mother truthfully, although it was a wedding mass. “I need to discuss something with you and Papá.”

Her mother ran a thumb down Ileana’s cheek. “So serious. Your father is on the patio.”

Ileana halted her mother by the kitchen island. “Mamá, you would never hide a serious health problem from me, would you? You know, for my own good?”

“
M’hija
, what is this talk? Your papá and I are healthy enough. You do not have to worry so about your papá’s blood pressure. He will retire soon and feel much better. Do not be afraid.”

“You’d tell me if you had cancer?”

“I do not have cancer. What has gotten into you? I am fine. Who has told you otherwise?”

“No one, Mamá. I needed to hear that you would tell me things even if they hurt me.” Ileana hugged her mother. “I love you.”

“I love you too,
m’hija
. Go see your father.” Her mother picked up a paring knife and a red tomato.

“Why don’t you come with me?” Ileana suggested.

Her mother peered at Ileana, then set down the knife and tomato, wiped her hands on a towel, and walked with Ileana to the patio.

Her father lay on a chaise lounge by the built-in swimming pool doing his doctor-imposed relaxation. He wore white slacks, a red shirt, and a beige straw hat.

He looked their way as they approached. “Ileana, are you staying for dinner?”

“No, Papá, I can’t. I stopped by to discuss something with you.” Ileana pulled up a lounger close to his and sat in it. Her mother sat next to her father.

“I need a few hours off tomorrow morning to go to the hospital.”

Her mother gasped, her hand flew to her mouth. “Ileana, are you ill?”

“No, Mamá, it’s not me. A friend of mine’s mother has cancer—breast cancer—and she’s having a radical mastectomy.”

Her mother gasped again and crossed herself.

“It’s her second one. Most of her children don’t know. My friend feels all alone.”

“It is good you should be with them. No one should be alone at a time like that. I do not understand the mother not telling all her children, though.”

“I don’t either, Mamá. I’m glad you agree.”

Her father looked speculative. “Who is this friend?”

Ileana looked him in the eye. “Michael Ziffkin.”

Her father stiffened.

“A male friend?” her mother asked, confusion in her voice.

“How much worse must it be for a son when his mother is ill and helpless?”

“Oh my yes,” her mother agreed.

“He didn’t want me to sit with him during the surgery. A man wants to appear brave. He doesn’t want others to see his emotions.”

“Yes, men are like that.”

“He did not ask you to do this?” her father demanded.

“No, Papá. Do you object to me going?”

“
Chica
,” her mother chided. “We do not object to you sitting with him during the surgery. Tell him our prayers are with him and his family.”

“Thank you, Mamá. I knew it was the right thing to do.” She rose.

“Ileana,” her father stopped her. “Are you defying me?”

“Defying you, Papá? By doing what the priest tells us to do? To be charitable towards others, to help your fellow man, to comfort in time of need.”

“You know that is not what I mean.”

“If I am, are you going to punish me? Are you going to punish a man whose mother lies ill? Will you punish him while he watches her hair fall out from chemotherapy, while she grows thin with nausea from radiation? While he waits and worries if she will live?” Her father had paled. Her mother gripped his arm as tears dripped down her face. Ileana felt like crying herself.

“You raised me to be a better person than that.” She hesitated. She loved her parents, despite what her father had done. He’d done it because he loved her. “Papá, thank you for telling me about your high blood pressure so that I can help you take steps to fight it. I’m glad you love me enough to want my support in your fight. And I know you love me enough to stand by me.

“I love you both.”

She’d done what she could to protect Michael while he was vulnerable. Now she’d do what she could to make their relationship strong.

Ileana had a condom in her hand when she knocked on Michael’s door. As she raised her hand, the door was jerked open and Michael yanked her inside his condo. Without releasing her wrist, he slammed the door shut and crowded her back against it. She dropped her purse and overnighter on the floor.

Michael’s face was tight with need as he pressed his body into hers, lowering his mouth for a searing kiss. Ileana wrapped her arms around him. His full erection jabbed her belly. A wild thrill ran through her.

His urgent hands burrowed under her sleeveless shirt, pushing her bra cups away from her breasts. Then his warm hands touched her aching flesh and began to create a new ache. She groaned into his mouth and pushed her breasts harder into his hands. He ground his erection into her.

Michael tasted of mint toothpaste. The scent of sinful cologne barely tickled Ileana’s nose, and beneath that he was clean, fresh male.

He broke the kiss to murmur, “I can’t wait. I have a condom.”

She held up her hand. “Me too.”

He wore navy boxers, so she simply tugged them down and he kicked out of them. He fumbled with her shorts zipper then gave a hard yank to lower them. She gave a shimmy and when they dropped, she kicked them aside.

Michael’s fingers probed between her legs and entered her. She widened her stance to give him better access.

“You’re tight. It’s been a long time for you.”

His finger moved in and out doing delicious things to her body. Her wetness soon made his movements easier and a second finger joined the first. He nibbled her neck and his free hand again found her breast to worry her nipple.

Ileana’s body began to undulate against his finger thrusts. She managed to tear open the condom and fumbled getting it on him.

“Careful,” he hissed. “I don’t want to go off in your hands.”

She felt like she might do that with his handling. His fingers thrust faster.

“There. Almost,” he murmured.

A third finger joined the others. The sense of fullness left her aching for more.

“Come for me, Ileana,” Michael urged, licking her neck.

Ileana could hardly prevent it from happening. Her vagina clenched around his thrusting fingers and then her orgasm took her to rapture. She moaned with pleasure.

Michael removed his fingers and dipped his knees. His penis pushed hard against her channel and slid into her. He drove hard. Ileana gasped at the unexpected pain, gave a little yelp, and then Michael plowed through her maidenhead and into the depths of her body.

He stilled, shaking. “Ileana, you said you’d done this before.”

“Not this.”

Michael leaned his forehead against hers. “You should have said something. I hurt you.”

“I didn’t think it would hurt.” She gave a shaky laugh. “I’m almost thirty.”

Michael began to ease out of her.

“Don’t stop.”

“I’m not.”

Slowly he thrust back inside. There was no pain this time, only wonderful fullness. With several more thrusts an aching began.

“Michael,” she begged.

“I know what you need.”

He moved more forcefully. Ileana gripped his shoulders. She lifted a leg around his waist. Ah, there. He pounded into her body. She felt herself racing to the summit.

And then she was there. She screamed her release. Michael’s shout echoed through the room. She felt his penis jerking inside her with his release.

They were both shaking. Her leg slipped from his hip to the floor. He eased from her body and leaned against her.

“That was phenomenal,” he panted.

“Is it always this wonderful?”

Michael raised his head. “It’s never been for me before. A virgin. But you had a
novio
.”

“Pre-marital sex was forbidden. But they didn’t tell us we couldn’t do the rest.”

He huffed a laugh then nuzzled into her neck. Her body still pulsed with aftershocks.

“You gave me something you never gave anyone else.”

“I wanted to.”

His body trembled. She understood. Hurt had come to the people he loved, which hurt him, making him fearful to love again. She held him and tried to give him what comfort she could. She couldn’t give him certainties because there weren’t any in life.

“How long until we can use the other condom?” she whispered.

“The time it takes to get to the bed,” he answered.

• • •

Michael and Ileana got ready together the next morning. The intimacy of the past two nights made it less strange to share a bathroom; still Michael was surprised each time he turned to find Ileana beside him. His body was pleasantly numb, his passion burned up in the excesses of the night. They’d used four condoms. They’d also barely slept. Hopefully his exhaustion would dampen his emotions as well.

“You want anything to eat?” Ileana asked.

“I don’t think I can. Maybe some coffee though.”

She hugged him from behind and kissed his cheek. It made him feel better.

“I’m sleeping over tonight,” she said.

He nodded. He didn’t want to be alone.

Her multi-colored dress looked bright and vibrant. The silver bangle bracelets on her wrists jingled a merry melody. She exuded vitality from every pore. Michael tried to draw on her positive energy as they trod the somber hospital corridor.

They were directed to the cubicle where his mom was already being prepped for surgery. She wore a flowered surgical gown and a green cap. His dad sat in the chair beside her.

“Michael, honey. And Ileana.” His mom was a little loopy from the sedative. “I’m so glad.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Honey, I like her.”

“I do too, Mom.”

“She complements you.”

Michael tried to distract her. “How are you feeling?”

“They gave me the feel good drugs. You should try it sometime. You’re so serious. Always so serious.”

His dad gave him a shrug, although his eyes were solemn.

Michael held his mom’s hand over the gurney rail. “We’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Take care of your father.”

“I will.”

“And your brothers.”

“Mom, nothing’s going to happen to you.”

She turned to his father. “I love you so much, Joe.”

His father rose and approached the gurney, swallowing before he could speak. “I love you too, Janie. We’ve done this before. It’s just like last time.”

“I don’t want to leave you, Joe. I’m going to have grandchildren. I still have things left to do.”

“Mom, you’re not going to die.” The words ripped from Michael’s soul.

“Promise me, Michael, you’ll make up with your brothers. I can’t stand to see this distance between you. It’s hurting you. Promise me.”

Michael swallowed and squeezed her hand. “I promise.”

Ileana gripped his other hand.

“Mrs. Ziffkin. I’d like to pray with you if that’s okay. Mr. Ziffkin, Michael?”

They joined hands and prayed for the surgeon’s skill, the staff who’d take care of Mrs. Ziffkin, the oncologist, and for God’s healing power.

God hadn’t done much for Michael’s family in the past few years. Michael wished he had Ileana’s faith in His love. Maybe God would listen to her.

His parents kissed and then the hospital staff wheeled his mom off to surgery. Michael put an arm around his dad, took hold of Ileana’s hand and walked them to the waiting room.

“Have you had anything to eat, Dad?” he asked.

His dad shook his head. “Couldn’t. Besides, your mom wasn’t allowed to eat. Seemed unfair for me to.”

“I couldn’t eat either. Are you hungry now?”

“Not yet. Maybe after your mother’s in recovery.” His father looked over at Ileana. “I’m glad you came with Michael.”

“So am I.”

“It’s a source of comfort to have people who love you close by.”

“My family believes so.”

“The past few years have been difficult. After William died...well, there didn’t seem to be anything Jane and I could do to bring the boys together again. It frustrated her and it hurt her. I wonder sometimes if the stress of it caused her cancer. You know they say stress lowers your immunity.”

Guilt bit at Michael. Did his dad blame him? Did his mom?

“I’m sure that didn’t cause the cancer,” Ileana objected.

“Maybe not. Jane’s been so happy since Richard and Charles came home. And now our grandchild is coming. It doesn’t seem fair that the cancer returned.”

“My father would agree with you. He has to step down from his company because of his high blood pressure. If not for it, he could have run Calderon for another fifteen or twenty years.”