Ignacio's Kisses

Ignacio was awake and feeling much stronger, quickly aware that Gushing Stream slept on his bed. She had fallen forward to lay her head on top of her arms, resting on his blankets. Her hand still held his firmly, so she wasn't too deeply asleep. She looked to be sleeping from pure exhaustion.

The Alcalde could smell the tea from where he sat. He tried not to disturb her. He didn't want any more of that stuff. He wanted to watch her sleep.

"Ignacio," a soft voice murmured. He turned his head, and saw Diego de la Vega leaning lightly in the door frame. "Good, you are awake."

He crossed over to the chair, and stood next to the lady's sleeping form.

"She loves you. She would have given anything to see you open your eyes and recognise her," he murmured.

"Love is not enough, sometimes. I proposed, she refused me."

Diego sighed, and glanced down at her. "I know she loves you."

"I can't force her to change her mind, Diego. I love her too much."

"Why would she refuse you?"

"I am too good for her. She can't destroy my reputation."

Diego smirked a little. "I would never have expected that from any woman."

"Nevertheless…she may make a fine nun. Diego, if she truly wants it, you can use your influence to find her somewhere safe. You know more about world affairs than you let on…"

"I asked Felipe about you. He was keeping things from me," Diego said softly. "I am wondering why you haven't confronted me about being Zorro, Ignacio."

"It's not my business, Diego. Why would I discourage any help at the moment? The bandits are too much for the soldiers right now. They are badly trained. I can't make headway; I've let them fall behind to long. They are the men I have."

"Loyalty from you, Alcalde?" Diego whispered. "You could always request new troops, fresh men from Monterey."

"They all have family in the area, Diego. It would cause so much upheaval for so many. We cope, but not well."

Diego smiled.

"I owe Sergeant Mendoza my life. There is some loyalty in that, Diego," Ignacio said with a yawn. "As I owe you my life. As I owe Zorro my life. Zorro has nothing to fear from me. Armand has the pardon signed by the governor, lying on the Alcalde's desk. Go and ask him for it."

Diego nodded. "Oh, you missed the latest news, Alcalde. Your sister has a new baby girl, and they are doing well. The baby is already a couple of weeks old now."

Dread settled in the other man's heart. "I see." No joy bubbled, he was happy for his sister. He was devastated for himself. He had to be strong, and he had to let his perfect woman leave him – with a smile on his face.

"Ignacio?"

"She is leaving the pueblo. Gushing Stream is leaving me behind. How can I rejoice in that?"

Diego nodded, and Ignacio watched as he crossed over to the cooling cactus tea.

"No. I am much better. Leave me alone." Ignacio said with a threat in his voice, just enough to make Diego laugh softly and put the cup down.

"She needs to go to bed," Diego murmured, glancing down at the small figure. "I should wake her."

"Please, just leave her for a moment. It's as close as I've ever come to holding her in my arms, Diego."

Diego nodded. "I'll check on you again after lunch. You had everyone worried, Alcalde. You seem to be doing well, but its early days."

The tall man left him. It was peaceful and the silence in the room was soothing. He could almost hear her soft breath as she slept. He wriggled slowly upwards, and tried to keep the hand she held still. It didn't work and she opened her eyes. Moving slowly, she ended up with her eyes fixed on his face.

"Ignacio. There is colour in your cheeks," she said with relief. "I was worried. I thought I'd lose you…"

"You will never lose me, Gushing Stream."

She came closer, and sat on the bed, level with his hips. If he had the strength, he could embrace her, and hold her close to his heart – where she truly belonged. His arms were not strong enough to move too much, and he was tired from the sitting up already.

He sighed, and glanced down. Gushing Stream leant across, and her lips were on his. Her kiss was hesitant and gentle, with an innocence that sparked something inside him. He was startled, but he wasn't going to let the opportunity to kiss her disappear forever. He deepened the kiss, and felt her arms go around him. Somehow his hands had the strength after all to respond to her embrace, and he could hold her. His fingers expertly released a hair pin and hair spilled out from captivity. Raven streams of silken hair cascaded around them. He stroked it, and taking half a breath as she broke off the kiss to try to straighten herself again, and smiled.

"I love you, Gushing Stream. Please. Let's just do this, and then worry about what comes next," he murmured. He stroked her cheek, before his mouth claimed hers again. She didn't move away from him, and she responded perfectly in the kiss. He stroked the hair away from her eyes, and traced a finger down her neck, playing with the lace at her neckline.

He was going to lose her, he knew that. She had started the kiss, and he was going to go as far as he could before she pulled away.

"Please, my love, please," he whispered, taking another breath. He released another hair pin, and he went back again with his lips. His mouth traced a line down her neck this time, and she sighed, moving closer to him, not away. His fingers gently tugged at the front lacing in her dress, trying to remember how it worked. A lady with no servants had front lacing in their dress, and with the right movement he could at least loosen it. His mouth travelled down to where her moderate neckline began, kissing as close to her bosom as he dared. Her whole body responded to his kiss, and made him wonder for a moment.

"Ignacio…please…I…" Her voice came in tiny gasps, but she was caught up in the moment just as he was.

"Tell me to stop, and I will," he murmured softly. He was slowly, gently tugging at the bodice of her dress. He waited for soft hands to push him away, her soft voice to complain heatedly about the improprieties he was taking. "Tell me to stop, my love…tell me."

She sighed again, and guided his hand towards her cheek again. She reached her own bodice, and gently undid it, letting the dress open. "Don't…please don't stop, Ignacio," she breathed. He gently touched what lay there just waiting to be touched. He could feel her heart racing, her breath making her chest rise and fall rapidly. He kissed her lightly between her breasts, before letting kisses travel all over the exposed areas.

He almost made himself stop. It was wrong; she would not like it afterwards. She was going to leave him anyway, and she was almost begging for him to move further, to take his touch to forbidden areas. His hand touched the tiny rosebud of a nipple through the thin fabric, and gently applied pressure. She moaned with pent up desire. He put more pressure on it, and reached for the other one.

"Don't stop," she moaned softly. He yanked at the thin fabric, tearing it in his desire for more. She was lovely. Soft skin, untouched by the sun melted at his touch. He put his lips around the tiny rosebud under his fingers, and teased it into full awareness.

He was strong enough to lean forward and ease her onto the blankets behind her. He found a way to move the cotton skirt up high enough to investigate other areas of her body. Running his hand up and down her thigh, he waited for her to stop him. He wondered why she didn't stop him. He had exposed her nakedness enough for an untouched woman to panic and scream. His hand travelled a little further, and found what he was searching for. Her hair was soft there too, and damp with desire. She flinched for a moment, and he paused.

"Don't stop," she urged, and guided his hand again. He sighed, and realised she was offering him all of herself. He gratefully accepted the invitation.

Zzzz

He would never have another time with her, he thought, embracing her later. He would pay for the intensity of their lovemaking. It had been too perfect. His recovering body was still weak, and he probably did some damage to something. He was naked, and so was she and they lay beneath the blankets quietly. She looked content and happy, even in her sleep. His arms held her close, and she was so relaxed.

He kissed her raven hair, and smoothed it away from her eyes. He stared at her face. She seemed younger in sleep. Such an old soul in such a young body.

He knew something about her, something she would never tell him. She was not a virgin, and her body had marks on it that should never have been there. He had felt scars on her back, probably made by a whip. Just as he did. She hated the way men treated women, the injustice of the laws of the land. Perhaps she had been molested long ago, betrayed by someone that should have protected her. Punished for being what she was. Taught to be silent under persecution, she would have stiffened her body and taken whatever came at her. Refusing to be broken, however, she had never given up striving for a better life.

"Oh, I love you, Gushing Stream." His whisper came with anguish, because he realised what she had done. She had given herself to him. But it was a farewell present.