Chapter 11

"Estephania, querida." Soft kisses were tickling my shoulder.

I blinked my eyes, coming awake slowly. I raised my head and looked into the most gorgeous brown eyes ever. I was sprawled across Hector's chest and he was grinning at me.

"G'morning," I mumbled and pushed my hair out of my face.

"I need to get up," he said.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I rolled off of him and tried to sit up. He reached over and pulled my head to his and kissed me thoroughly before he slid out of the bed.

I stared as his naked ass disappeared into the bathroom. I licked my lips and closed my eyes. Holy crap! I was in love with Hector. I told him I loved him and it didn't scare me at all. I couldn't say it to Joe and I was afraid to say it to Ranger. Joe had loved me but Joe's love was controlling. Ranger said he loved me but his love was fueled by passion.

But with Hector, it was so easy to just say it and mean it. And he said he loved me. Tears sprang into my eyes. He was right. He is the right man for me.

Hector came back into the bedroom and slid into the bed next to me. I gulped and slid out from under the covers.

"I need to go," I whispered and crawled out of bed.

Once in the bathroom, I took care of things. I almost shrieked when I looked in the mirror. My hair was a mass of tangles. But my cheeks were definitely pinker than usual. Yup, I look mighty satisfied. I ran my fingers through my hair to try to tame it.

I tried to smother my grin when I padded back to the bed. I crawled under the covers and snuggled into Hector's arms.

He sat up pulling me with him. "Estephania, querida. I think we should talk about last night. When I said I love you, I meant every word. I have loved you from the moment I met you. I always kept to myself before you started coming around. Then you came into my life and made me want to be with you. I need to know if you meant it when you said you love me. I need to know if you are ready to move on, with me, and let go of Ranger. If you need more time, I will understand."

I took a deep breath and tried to sort out all the thoughts flying through my head. "Hector, I did mean it. I have been so afraid of really loving anyone. I used every excuse I could think of with Morelli to not say it. We were such good friends for so long but I wasn't in love with him."

"What about Ranger?" he asked. His voice was low and soft and he was rubbing my shoulder absently.

I took another deep breath. "I think I was in love with the idea of being in love with him. I fell for everything about him. He was the man of mystery, he was Batman. You know how he is. Always so in control of everything. He took care of me and gave me everything I wanted. Except himself. There was always that piece missing. That is what hurt the most."

I turned and straddled Hector. He placed his hands on my hips and I put my hands on his shoulders. I looked into his dark eyes. "There are no pieces missing with you, Hector. I never realized it but all the time we have spent together the last couple of years, you have shown me that you love me. You are the most dangerous man I know but you have been so kind and gentle with me. You have always been there for me and protected me. When I've made a mess of things and want to fall apart, you know just how to calm me down."

I moved my hand and caressed his face, tracing the teardrop tattoos. "I never knew how much I needed you in my life. I never knew how much I cared about you. I never knew how much I loved you."

I leaned forward and kissed him, softly at first then I teased his lips with my tongue. He wrapped his arms tightly around me and returned my kiss, his tongue playing with mine. I became aware of just how much I was teasing him when I felt his cock throb against my ass.

"Querida, you need to get off my lap or I cannot be responsible for what I want to do to you," Hector growled, his lips were pressed against mine. "I have held my love for you for a long time. I have never wanted anything more than I want you right now."

I sucked in a breath. "As much as I want to do whatever it is that you are thinking about, I think we need to wait. I need to get used to this boyfriend thing," I grinned at him. I kissed him again and slowly slid off his lap.

He rolled onto his stomach and let out a groan. I began to rub his shoulders. He groaned again. God, I loved touching this man.

"That feels so good, querida. I could lay here forever and have you rub my back."

I leaned over and kissed his shoulder. I continued to stroke his back and found myself concentrating on his tattoo. Those eyes were watching me again. Hector was making little moaning sounds.

"It sounds like you are purring," I said as I kneaded his shoulders and down his back to where it narrowed at his waist.

"Maybe I am", he replied lazily.

I leaned over and kissed his tattoo and let my hands wander up and down his body. I laid my head down on his back and murmured, "Mmmmm, you're a good kitty." My head started bouncing as Hector laughed.

He rolled over and pulled me onto his chest.

"Querida, I would like for you to meet my mother. I need to upgrade the software in her alarm system. Will you go with me today?"

For a brief second, I panicked. Meet his mother? By Burg standards, meeting his mother meant we were engaged.

I tipped my head back and looked at him. "Yes, I would like to go with you." Again, I shocked myself. With anyone else, I would have run in the opposite direction.

Hector kissed me and said, "Take your shower and I will call mama and let her know we are coming."

I rolled off of him and headed for the bathroom. Once I was squeaky clean and securely wrapped in towels, I padded back into the bedroom.

Hector was standing by the dresser, naked. He turned to me and grinned. "Is there someplace I can put my stuff so I am not making a mess on the dresser?"

I blushed from the fact that he was just standing there and acting like having a conversation, while stark ass naked, was a normal thing.

My eyes immediately went to his crotch. Shit! Stop that! I bit my lip and sucked in a breath. "Um, yeah." I pulled my eyes from his body and opened the top drawer on the right. It was almost empty. I had cleaned out some old jeans and sweats a few weeks ago. The only thing in it was an old sweatshirt from college that I couldn't bear to toss out. I took it out and stuffed into the bottom drawer.

"There," I said. "All yours." I was trying desperately not to look down at him again. Hector grinned at me.

He stepped toward me and wrapped his arms around me. "I love you, querida."

I slipped my arms around his waist and looked up into his face. "I love you, too." I grinned at him, "I mean I just gave you your own drawer!"

Hector kissed my forehead. "I might need some room in the closet, too."