Chapter 18

Consciousness returned to find me thirsty, groggy, and with a piercing headache. A deep nostalgia gripped me then, as the mind fog dissipated and I realized that I was in bed with a woman in my arms. It was followed by melancholy as I remembered that I wasn’t in Texas and the woman wasn’t Jessica.

It was twelve years later, Jessica was gone, and I had fled to a foreign country to try to get away from the memories. The flight had been a bust, of course. It had never had any chance of succeeding. As luck would have it, though, I somehow found something better...

I squeezed Paz against me—the feel of her curvy figure alone enough to betray her identity—and she sighed in response. Last night was something of a blur, but I’d never forget our first time together.

“Siii—uuuuuuuh—rrrr...” she said, yawning. “Are you feeling well...? There’s some water on the nightstand, if you need it...”

“I’m a bit tired still,” I said. “Bit of a headache too.” I opened my eyes to search for the promised glass in the twilit room. Finding it, I carefully brought it to my lips and drained it in seconds.

“I’m so sorry, Sir...” she said, caressing my chest as she kissed my cheek. “I didn’t realize what those two were up to...”

“And what were they up to?” I asked, returning the now empty glass to where I’d found it.

“Luz brought you something to drink,” Paz explained. “They thought it would be fun to lace it with Viagra. And, I think, something else as well ... they stole the pills from Luz’s father, and Filipe Gallardo isn’t known for his sobriety.”

That would explain why I didn’t feel so great. And my performance last night.

“Well, my heart didn’t explode and we enjoyed ourselves,” I said. “No harm done ... I think I’ll be getting those hooks you mentioned, though. The ceiling ones. I’ve suddenly realized that I do actually need them.”

Paz giggled, then kissed my lips. “They woke up early to clean the apartment. They hope you’ll show mercy if you see how ... penitent and dutiful they are.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure they’ll enjoy their punishments. They always do ... unless...” A smile crept into my face. “What time is it, anyway?”

“Oh, that’s a scary grin...” Paz said, smiling back at me. “And it’s almost noon. The girls should be finishing lunch preparations. I was supposed to wake you up in fifteen minutes if you hadn’t gotten up by yourself.”

I hummed. “Well, time to get up, then...” I sat up and turned my body, planting my feet on the floor. “Shower first, I think.”

“I need one too,” Paz said, sitting up herself and then pressing her bare breasts against my back. “Could I perhaps join you, Sir?”

“I have a feeling that if you did, we’d come out dirtier than before,” I snickered.

“I’ll wash you twice, then,” she whispered sweetly, her chin resting on my shoulder. “Once for fun and once for real...”

“Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad,” I said, turning my head to kiss her. “Let’s not take too long, though. There’s punishment to be meted out.”