Emma spent some time just kissing Raul, getting used to the feeling of her lips on his, of his hands on her waist. She recognized that he was allowing her to set the pace, and she appreciated it more than she could express. It wasn't long before she grew braver, and leaned in, pressing their bodies together.

Emma broke the kiss, and pulled back a little. She met Raul's cloudy eyes and smiled nervously.

"I don't…" Emma hesitated. "I don't know what I'm doing. Can you show me?"

He smiled.

"Si, Querida." His hand cupped her cheek briefly, stroking the skin carefully. She leaned into it, and turned her face a bit to place a kiss upon his palm. "If you want to stop, just tell me."

He undressed her tenderly, kissing each portion of skin as he exposed it to the firelight. And when she was bare before him, he smiled at her tenderly.

"Eres hermosa." He whispered. "You're so beautiful."

She flushed.

He was gentle with her. So tender and careful that she felt treasured. He whispered to her in Spanish. Endearments she didn't understand, though she could tell what they were by the air of reverence with which he spoke.

He lavished kisses upon her body, stroking and touching her and making her body burn with desire. And when she could bear no more, she cried out his name and climaxed.

But it wasn't enough for her. Raul was still clothed, and though she appreciated the attention, she felt that it was unfair to let him show her such pleasure without returning the favor.

Carefully she let her hands roam his body, and she slowly undressed him in turn. She gave him the same treatment, kissing his rough skin as she exposed it, appreciating every part of him. He was better than she had imagined. His body was fit with years of hard work, and though his flesh was ragged from the ghoulification, it was still beautiful to her. She touched him with reverence, and his breathing quickened.

Later, after they had exhausted themselves with each other, Raul pulled Emma close. She appreciated the warmth that radiated off his body, and the feel of him against her. It was the safest and most comfortable she could ever remember being, and it was because of Raul.

In the morning when Emma woke, she was alone. She vaguely remembered him leaving, but she wasn't sure how long it had been. It was almost disappointing. Almost. But then she smelled breakfast. She ate the food that Raul had left for her, and went to find her ghoul.

He was, predictably, outside with the horse. He sat upon its back with confidence, running it through its paces. She found a convenient perch and watched him. The pair moved as one. It was inspiring.

It wasn't long before he rode up to her.

"Come here, querida," he said, extending his hand to her. She took it, and he pulled her up onto the horse, settling her before him. His arms wrapped around her and held onto straps of rope. He'd fashioned some headgear for the horse, and he seemed to be using it to steer.

He guided the horse into a walk, and then handed her the ropes.

"Gently pull it in the direction you want the horse to walk," He said. So she had pulled carefully on one then the other as Raul guided her through the nearby scrub.

They were only at it for an hour or so, but when she finally got off the horse her legs felt like rubber.
She valiantly pretended they did not, and went about her business as though it did not matter. Raul had teased her, and she had flushed nearly crimson. That night, he had made it up to her by massaging the tender muscles. She had melted into his arms and they had made love by the fire.

It quickly became their routine. Each day as they traveled the New Mexico desert, Raul worked with her on her horse-back riding. She spent nights in his arms.

It was bliss.