THE PLANE TOUCHES down on U.S. soil without incident. We’re immediately escorted from the tarmac into a private car and are on our way to my uncle’s home within the matter of a few minutes. The drive won’t be long; I’ve made it many times before.
Aria stares out the window, and she’s practically buzzing with curiosity and nervousness. If Ignacio wasn’t seated across from me, I would pull her into my lap and have my way with her again. Even though I was inside of her less than an hour ago, I want her again. I always want her. She’s like a bad habit I just can’t kick, but, fuck, I don’t know that I want to. I could happily be addicted to her for the rest of my life with no regrets.
When we were fucking earlier, she started to say something. I think I know exactly what she was going to say — the same thing I’ve been longing to say to her, but I don’t know if either one of us is ready for that right now. Maybe when we get home.
Home?
Closing my eyes for a moment, I release a steady breath. I haven’t had a place to call home in a long time, but, yes, I suppose I do consider my compound precisely that now that Aria is part of it.
Everything I’m feeling with her needs to be put on hold; however, until we’re safely back in Mexico. When I’m at my uncle’s place, I need to wear my usual, stoic mask and be cautious of my surroundings at all times. It’s even more crucial that I’m on constant guard this time around since Aria is with me.
Once we reach my uncle’s compound and are checked in with security, I lead Aria straight to his office. I want to get the phone call with her family out of the way so that she is not thinking about it when I’m sinking my cock inside of her later. Even though this is a business trip, nothing will stop me from fucking my little captive while she’s here with me.
Moreover, I don’t want either one of us distracted about the call. I need us both to be focused, alert and on guard at all times.
I knock on the door to Domingo’s office, and he shouts for us to enter. “Buenas tardes,” he says with a huge smile on his face.
“Buenas tardes.”
“How was the trip?” he asks.
“Good. Best plane ride I’ve ever had,” I say, squeezing Aria’s hand gently in my hand.
I hear her breath hitching in the back of her throat, and I have to cough to mask a chuckle.
“I see,” my uncle says, suspiciously eyeing us both. “I had the staff make up your usual room on the second floor,” he informs me. “They should be taking your suitcases there now if you want to freshen up before our meeting later,” he offers.
“Actually, there is one thing I wanted to discuss first,” I tell him before clearing my throat. “Perhaps you have a secure line we could place a call or maybe even a video call to Aria’s family on?” I inquire.
He seems flustered by my question. He stalls for a few moments, making a big show of clipping the end off a cigar and lighting it up before answering with a stern, “No.”
Aria shifts uncomfortably next to me, and I lean towards my uncle with a discerning gaze. “She wouldn’t be long, if that’s what you’re worried about. Two minutes tops. She just wants to let them know that she’s all right.”
“We’ve been having trouble with the satellite line lately. I don’t trust it,” he says, and I can’t tell if he’s lying or not. I trust my uncle…to an extent. But over the years, that trust has been slowly waning. At one point, I trusted him with everything, even my life. But I’m no longer the naïve, little boy he found on the brink of death that horrific day.
“Maybe Ignacio could take a look at it,” I press.
“I’m assuming you obtained Aria in not so legal ways since she’s so desperate to contact her family,” he presses back. “I already have the FBI breathing down my neck. I don’t need any more reasons for them to investigate my compound.”
“Fair enough,” I concede, not wanting to further argue on the matter, especially since I can tell the whole conversation is making Aria nervous. I gently squeeze her hand reassuringly. “We’ll go to our room, and I’ll be down later for the meeting,” I tell him before leaving the room and taking Aria with me.
Once we’re in my room on the second floor, I turn to Aria and tell her, “We’ll figure out something when we’re home.”
“Home?” she questions. “Oh right. Back in Mexico,” she corrects herself.
Even she’s struggling with the prospect of my compound being our home. Maybe I could build a separate house on the land, a place for just her and me. It would have to be beautiful, something filled with books and art and all the things she likes, including a huge walk-in closet full of designer clothes. Shaking my head, I almost chide myself for being fucking pussy-whipped, but then I decide I don’t give a single fuck. I would give Aria the entire universe, all the stars and the moon if I could and not regret it for a fucking moment, because I know that she deserves it and so much more.
“It’s okay if your uncle doesn’t want me to call. I understand,” she says softly, but I can hear the sadness in her voice.
Putting my finger under her chin, I force her gaze to mine. “As soon as we’re home, I’ll work something out.” The word comes easier to me now. And while that should scare me, it doesn’t. I like considering any place Aria is in my home.
Gently, I tuck a strand of her chestnut brown hair behind her ear. A smile graces her lips then, and it causes my cold, dead heart to begin beating again. It beats for her. Only her.
