A/N - This chapter is rated M for sex. Nothing too explicit but just to be on the safe side.

Chapter 11

Several hours pass and Diego was anxious to take Victoria home. He wanted to make the most of the short time they had together before he had to leave in the morning. He saw her slip through the curtain and into the kitchen and he saw his chance. He slipped through the curtain without being noticed and pulled Victoria into a passionate kiss, which left them breathless.

"Oh Dios, I've wanted to do that all afternoon." Diego panted.

She snuggled into his arms. "Me too." she whispered.

He reluctantly pulled away from her soft body. "Let's go querida." he started pulling her towards the back door.

"Diego, what about the guests? We can't leave them like this." She protested but he already had the door open.

"I don't think they will even notice we are gone. Besides I don't want to share you with anyone else tonight."

She blushed at his words but followed him. "But...But I don't have my clothes down here."

He chuckled as they walked outside. "I don't think you will need any, Victoria."

"Diego." her blush deepened. "But what will I wear tomorrow? Wait, I have some clothes just inside the kitchen but they need washing."

"Get them." Diego whispered. "They can be washed at the hacienda."

Victoria rushed back inside, grabbed her clothes into a bundle. When she rejoined Diego, she stopped short at the sight of Toronado.

Diego chuckled at the stunned expression on her face. "What do you say to one last ride on Toronado?"

"Oh yes please Diego." she said with happiness.

Diego lifted Victoria up into the saddle and climbed up behind her. She leant back into Diego's broad chest and enjoyed the all too quick ride back to the hacienda. He rode up to the front door of the hacienda and dismounted, helped Victoria down to her feet and gave Toronado a slap on the rump. "Back to the cave, boy." he said as they watched the black stallion race away.

He opened the door and then picked up Victoria and the bundle of clothes in his arms.

"What are you doing Diego?" she giggled.

"Its tradition." he planted a kiss on her neck as he carried her to his bedroom. He put her down on her feet, took the bundle of clothes, kissed her lips quickly. "I'll get these seen to." he said before leaving the room.

While Diego was gone, Victoria looked around his bedroom. She had been in here once before, when he had been ill. But she hadn't taken much notice before. It was definitely a man's room, dark drapes on the windows, plenty of books and writing paper on the desk. She turned and blushed at the sight of his bed. It was a big bed. She wished that she had taken up Margarite's offer to discuss more about lovemaking.

Diego watched her from the doorway and noticed her anxious look towards his bed. He promised himself that he would go slowly tonight, to ease her anxiety, to give her pleasure.

She felt Diego's arms slip around her waist. "Querida, I love you." he whispered, his warm breath on her skin. He carefully brushed her hair aside so he could leave a trail of hot kisses along the back of her neck. Dios, her skin is so soft, he thought, he just wanted to kiss her all over.

She leant back into his firm chest, eyes closed, marvelling at his light touch. She shivered at the feel of his hardness pressed against her lower back, she wasn't sure if it was in nervousness or in excitement or both.

"Are you nervous Querida." Diego whispered as he kissed the tip of her ear before moving in front of her, keeping his arms around her waist.

"I...it's...I haven't...done this before." she blushed.

He kissed her forehead lightly. "Its okay mi preciosa. I promise it will be magical." he whispered.

She sighed and felt a hot ache shoot through her body as his warm lips pressed tenderly to her eyes, the tip of her nose, her cheeks and lastly a soft touch to her lips. "I love you Dona Victoria."

Victoria shivered a little at hearing her new title. It will take some time to get used to it, she thought. "I love you Don Diego."

He leant down and gently pressed his lips against hers and then slowly, sensuously moved his lips along hers, letting her feel the love he has for her. Victoria sighed in pleasure as she gave herself over to the amazing sensations that her husband was giving her. He shivered in delight as he felt his bride start to kiss him back, moving her soft warm lips over his. Diego parted his lips and darted his tongue along her lips, waiting. She opened her lips without hesitation and they both moaned as their tongues gently entwined together, caressed lovingly.

He pulled her tighter against him as he deepened the kiss and she felt his growing hardness pressing into her stomach, which sent a surge of hot desire through her body and she instinctively moved against him. Diego moaned as gently slid his tongue further inside, to explore all of her, to taste her, to consume her with his need. She was surprised by his passion but she soon felt her own growing desire matched his and she kissed him back.

They came up for air, both breathing heavily. "Dios." Victoria panted, her head resting against his chest, they felt each others heart pounding. "You...you've...never kissed me like that before."

"I never dared querida." his breathing laboured, gently rested his chin on the top of her head.

She moved her hands down to his chest and with hands that shook slightly, slowly unbuttoned his shirt. "I've always wanted to do this." she whispered, her voice unsteady.

She heard and felt Diego's chuckle. "So I have noticed."

Victoria giggled. "And now I can." she replied.

"And not just my shirt either." Diego said, his voice deep and husky. He stood still, allowing Victoria to set the pace, he wouldn't rush her. She felt a hot flush come over her neck as she pulled his shirt from his trousers, and tried not to notice the bulge in his tight caballero pants. She slipped his shirt from his shoulders and let it fall onto the floor. Her eyes widen and she gasped at the sight of his well built torso. She had known of his strength but she never imagined how muscular he was.

Diego felt a hot thrill at her look of admiration as she slowly ran her hands over his broad, well-built chest, felt his warmth radiating from him. She heard his indrawn breath and she saw the desire in his blue eyes as she gently brushed her fingertips over his nipples. "Dios." he breathed, loving the feel of her warm soft hands caressing him. When he felt her soft warm lips press against his chest, he trembled and ached to be released from his tight pants.

He felt her hands hesitate at the waistband of his trousers. She was overcome by a sudden unexpected shyness. "Here, let me." He panted as he first kicked off his shoes and socks, then unfasten his trousers and saw the uncertain look on his bride's face, he lowered them down, and kicked them free, leaving him standing in his underdrawers. His arousal was more obvious now, but Victoria couldn't quite bring herself to look down. Not yet.

He noticed her nervousness again so he smiled tenderly as he caressed her face with his hand, before kissing her lips gently. "I think you are a little over dressed querida." He stepped behind her and slowly unbuttoned her dress, then carefully slid the dress from her shoulders, and lowered it until she stepped out of it. Next he gently removed her petticoats until she was standing only in her corset and underdrawers.

"You are so beautiful." he whispered as he began kissing her bare shoulders, making her shiver. The feel on his hot lips on her neck, made Victoria ache with a hot burning need. He moved in front of her again, he saw the burning desire in her eyes as he unlaced her corset and dropped it to the floor.

"Dios." he whispered awed as he gazed upon her soft breasts for the first time. They were more beautiful then he had ever imagined, so round and full, the dusky rosy colour of her nipples, which had hardened into tight little buds. He gently reached out and cupped her, groaned as her softness filled his hands like he knew they would. She fought the urge to cover herself as she felt another wave of burning need surge through her body at Diego's touch. She moaned softly as his thumbs gently touched her harden buds, never thought that his touch would be so incredible, she felt like she was on fire. Before she knew it, he had picked her up in his strong arms and crossed the room before he gently lowered them down onto his bed.

Victoria woke with a start, she didn't know where she was. The light from the single candle which was still burning on the desk, showed her the surrounding room was not hers. Then she remembered as she felt the warm heat of her husband pressed against her side. She felt a blush rose over her face, remembering the amazing almost breathtaking pleasure they both had. She glanced at Diego and noticed that his eyes were still closed, so she took this time to gaze at his superbly built body, wanting to touch him, to give him pleasure. She raised herself up and slowly ran her hungry eyes over his taut body.

"Enjoying yourself." Diego's amused voice floated over the quiet room and his hand skimmed over her warm bare skin.

"Dios, you're awake!" Victoria almost jumped at being caught out and buried her burning face on his broad chest. As she did so, she missed the mischievous glint in her husband's eyes.

She was unexpectedly rolled onto her back and before she knew it, Diego was tickling her ribs. She gasped in surprise. "Diego...stop." she pleaded between giggles.

"I don't think I will." he grinned down at her, and tickled her some more.

She couldn't stop laughing, she tried to roll away but he was too strong so she dug her own fingers into his side and began to tickle him back. At first he squirmed, trying to hold back his laughter but in the end Victoria knew he would have to give in. And she was right. Soon both were giggling and rolling around on the sheets as they tickled each other like a couple of children. But their playfulness quickly turned into desire once again as they kissed passionately, deeply, their tongues entwined in a slow sensous dance that showed their deep love for each other as he eased her back down onto the mattress.

A short time later, they kissed lovingly as Diego laid on his back, with Victoria in his arms. "Dios." he moaned, panting, his eyes closed, feeling sated, overjoyed that he had married such a passionate woman, his hand slowly made circles on her arm as their breathing slowly returned to normal.

Victoria laid her head on his bare chest, her hand on his stomach and felt wonderfully contented. She knew she was lucky to have such a gentle and caring husband like Diego, but there was something nagging her. Diego must have had experience in lovemaking, otherwise how did he know what to do. Curiosity burned in her mind, who was it?

Diego felt Victoria tense in his arms. "What's wrong querida." he whispered sleepily, kissing her head.

"I...I." she stopped.

"You know you can tell me anything Victoria." he said.

"It's...just...I mean...you have...done this before, haven't you?" she said in one quick breath.

"What makes you think that." he asked softly.

"It's that...you know what to do." she blushed, embarrassed, she wished now that she had never asked such a personal question.

Diego sighed softly, realised that they were about to have a serious conversation. Why did women want to talk afterwards, he asked himself, he just wanted to sleep. "Yes, I have, mi preciosa, but it was long time ago while I was in Spain. There's been no-one since my return."

Victoria didn't dare look at him and before she could stop herself. "Was it Zafira?" she blurted out.

"No, it wasn't Zafira." he confirmed, waiting for her next obvious question, hoping that she wouldn't ask. He felt a little uncomfortable talking about his past. However the question didn't come but he knew that he wouldn't get any peace until she did. He kissed her hair again. "Ask your question."

Victoria sighed, not sure to ask or not but she knew that it would drive her crazy thinking about it. "Did...did you have a mistress?" she asked softly, almost too softly, but Diego heard her and couldn't help stiffening. "Why would you say that?"

She felt him tense. "When Miguel gave that dinner for your graduation, he said something had distracted you from your studies." she paused, shifted to a more comfortable position, she was sleepy but wanted to know. "Then I was speaking with Margarite and it came up in conversation."

Diego chucked. "I don't think I want to know what the two of you talked about. What did she say?"

"Well she didn't say anything and that..."

"That got you thinking." he chuckled again.

"Yes."

Diego sighed again. What is it about women and their curiosity? "Yes, I did have a mistress but it was only for a short time." He lifted her head and gazed deeply into her eyes. "From that time on there has been no-one else in my bed, until today querida. There will never be anyone in my bed but you." He gently kissed her lips. "I love you Victoria."

"I love you too Diego." she whispered, holding him tight as they drifted off to sleep.