Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Chapter 21

Cecilia was sitting on Sands' couch, a cup of coffee in her hand. It had started getting darker outside, but he as nowhere in sight yet. She shifted on the couch and let out a yelp when her back came in contact with something cold and hard. She moved forward and placed the cup on the table before she picked up the pillow. Under it a gun was resting, hidden from view. Stifling a sigh about his obsession with weapons, but not blaming him, she reached over and took it in her hand. She looked at it for a moment before she placed it on the table. She picked up her cup again and settled back down on the couch.

Half an hour later she heard the lock turning and Sands entered, cursing as he did so. She sat up and looked at him, or tried to, for his hair was getting in the way since some of it had been freed from his ponytail.

"What the hell happened to you?" She asked wide eyed as he closed the door.

"Good evening to you too." He muttered sarcastically, his body stiff.

"What happened? You're late." She asked again and he used his hand to move back the black tendrils of his hair. Cecilia gasped when she saw his face.

"What in God's name happened, Jeffrey?" she exclaimed as she stood up more quickly that it was prudent and took a few steps closer to him.

"What do you mean? Nothing happened." He spoke with a shrug as he removed his jacket which was ripped in some places.

"What do you mean nothing? Your face is bruised and you lip is cut." She tried to keep her voice calm as she looked at his face. Sands scratched the large red and purple mark on his cheek before he shrugged again.

"Nothing really. I just had a disagreement. No big deal. Get me some ice, will you, doll?" he said as he kicked his shoes and plopped down on the couch.

"Your clothes are covered in dirt and your hair is a mess. Did you have a fight?" she asked as she leaned down and with her good hand picked up the shoes he had just kicked. She placed them neatly next to the couch and looked at him expectantly.

"What?" he asked wearily as he again scratched his cheek.

"What happened?" she enunciated and he sighed.

"Whatever happened is not your concern, sugar. So, why don't you shut up and bring me some fucking ice before my face turns as purple as a fucking blueberry?" he spoke slowly as if speaking to a child, but his tone was dry and she glared at him.

"This won't make me help you." She stated as she placed her hand on her hip. Sands looked at her before he shrugged.

"I don't need your fucking help anyway." He muttered as he stood up and headed for the kitchen. A hand on his arm made him wince and stop though. He paused and looked back at Cecilia.

"Why are you being like this? I only asked because I'm worried." She murmured quietly. Sands stared at her for what seemed like and eternity before he stepped close to her and slid his hand behind her neck. He pulled her face closer to his and then captured her lips with his own. Cecilia stood surprised there for a second before she hesitantly started returning his kiss. Her good arm went around his neck and she parted her lips to let him deepen the kiss. His tongue forcefully tasted her mouth and his arm tightened his hold on her, his fingers tugging at her locks to the point of hurting her. As she kissed him she tasted the metallic taste of blood from the cut on his bottom lip, but that didn't seem to stop either of them. He broke free from the kiss to nip and lick at her lips instead. A soft moan escaped Cecilia's lips and he grinned briefly before he kissed her once again; his lips wet and hot at the same time.

"All you need to know is that I had an argument. Don't torture your sweet little head with it. Now be a good girl and bring me some ice." He said as he released her and winked at her. Cecilia looked at him for a few moments before she sighed and turned around to do as she was told. A hand slid around her waist before she had a chance to though.

"Bring some alcohol too." He said in her ear before he patted her backside gently, causing her face to flush. He moved back as she walked to the bathroom and he sat down on the couch with a Cheshire grin on his face.

"Definitely worth it. Take that Brucie…" He murmured as he stretched on the couch and sighed in contentment.

Cecilia returned with the ice and alcohol and carefully cleaned the cut on his lip. She placed the ice upon his bruised cheek and held it there while he grinned lopsidedly at her.

"With whom did you fight?" She persisted and he licked his lip, ignoring the sting.

"Like I said there is no reason for you to worry. I got everything settled." He said as he took the ice from her hand and held it to his cheek himself.

"Was it from your work?" Cecilia carried on and he placed his hand over her mouth.

"Ah! No more questions, doll. Forget about it." He breathed as he pulled her next to him on the couch. Cecilia sighed and reached over to free his hair from the ponytail. His hair fell over his shoulders and she slowly threaded her fingers into it, gently combing it. Sands had to stifle a moan as he felt her fingers gently brushing his scalp and the nape of his neck.

"I'm, ahem, not a girl you know." He said, but his voice was a little too breathless to actually coincide with his words.

"I know that…It was a mess." She said as she quickly removed her hand and let it drop on her lap. He cleared his throat and lay back on the couch, keeping the ice on his cheek, wincing at it slowly started numbing the pain.

"I made some pasta before…You didn't have anything else in the kitchen. You want some?" she asked and he nodded.

"I'm bloody starving, babe. Bring me some." He said and she nodded once before she turned to head for the kitchen. She returned shortly with a heated plate of pasta and handed it to him.

"Hold this, doll." He said as he handed her the ice which had started to melt. He started eating while she occasionally held the ice to his face.

"Did you roll around in the mud too?" she asked and he looked down at his dirty pants.

"Maybe…" he said as he chewed a mouthful of pasta. Cecilia rolled her eyes and rested her back against the pillows.

"Do ever answer without riddles?" she asked after a while as he wiped his mouth and drank some water.

"Not really. It's my charm." He said smugly and she groaned.

"What? You know it is." He pouted as he pushed back the empty plate and turned to face her.

"Do I?" She smirked as he crawled over to her and rested his head on her lap. She reached with her hand and started playing with a lock of his hair while he groaned.

"What is it with you and my fucking hair? You're always doing that." He muttered as he buried his face in her stomach.

"I don't know…"

"You could always play with something else too…Something that's in great need of your attention." He breathed as he stroked her stomach and then his hand drifted under her skirt to caress her thigh.

"No, I'm good. Besides, your hair is cleaner…" she said playfully, but he looked up at her sharply.

"Are you saying that I'm dirty?" His narrowed eyes were too intense.

"Hmm, maybe…" she said and he growled before he leaned up to kiss her as his hand slid to her side and started tickling her. Cecilia gasped and squirmed in his grip, but he only chuckled and released her a few seconds later.

"Ouch!" she hissed as his hand came in contact with her arm. Sands narrowed his eyes and then winced.

"Sorry, sugar. I forgot." He apologized as he kissed her cheek and then moved back.

"I'm going to take a shower, doll. Go to bed and I'll be there in a bit." He said as he brushed the back of his hand over her cheek twice before he walked away, removing his clothing as he did so. Cecilia picked the plate and his glass from the table and placed them in the sink before she changed into her nightclothes. She slid under the covers and stared at the ceiling as she listened to the water running from the bathroom. Minutes later the door to the bathroom opened and Sands appeared with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair dripping down his back and shoulders.

"Jesus, you're dripping all over the carpet." She said and he looked down.

"So? It'll dry, doll." He shrugged as he put on a pair of boxers and then threw the towel into the bathroom. He picked another one and dried his hair with it before he joined her on the bed.

"Men…" she muttered as he turned to his side and came to spoon behind her, one of his legs sliding between hers. She looked over her shoulder and saw him smirking at her as he leaned down to kiss her shoulder and then her neck.

"Whatever you're thinking; I don't want to know it. I'm tired and I want to sleep." She said as she closed her eyes.

"You mind if I touch then?" he husked and her eyes widened while he started laughing.

"I'm only kidding you, sugar. Now close those beepers." He murmured as he made himself comfortable behind her before he closed his eyes. He was snoring before she even closed her own eyes.

End of chapter 21

Author's note: Thank you for reading.

Edited: 8/2013