Chapter 27

His feet felt too heavy to make the next step. Diego was heading for the bedroom where, with any luck, Victoria would be there, by now.
Shortly after what his father had told, it occurred to Victoria that she wanted to discuss something with Maria. And since it was almost time for the housekeeper to go home, she had rushed over to the kitchen.
Diego had a strong suspicion Victoria had mainly done it to give father and son some private time. Felipe, too, had run away hastily shortly afterwards.

As soon as Felipe was out of sight, his father had demanded an explanation.
The don had voiced his frustrations, ending with how his son had got it into his head to swear there was an escape plan for Zorro in the vault. While it was only about getting everyone to safety but himself.

Diego had expected such a reaction and prepared.
"To protect you as good as possible. As soon as I realized Zorro wasn't a one-time thing, I knew it could end with my death. I have always known that much. It was a risk I had to take for everything Zorro stands for. After his first appearance, doing nothing was simply no longer an option.
My main goal has always been to avoid dragging someone else along should something happen to Zorro."

His father was furious. But to Diego's surprise, he was willing to listen, so he continued.

"My plan has always been never to tell you or anyone about Zorro, not until it was safe."
Diego turned away from his father and stared at the painting on the wall.
"The responsibility of you and Victoria knowing changed everything." He turned back and looked at his father. "Except that your safety would always come before everything else. I care too much for you to see you die..."

His father's voice slowly reached him. "I'm glad you told me. It gave me back my son."

"Yeah, in retrospect, I am too. It feels nice to be able, to be honest with you. The lies and deceit have always repulsed me. I knew what I was doing it for. Still, I hated having to do it."

"Diego, I'm proud of you, always have been, though I didn't always show it. You may be willing to give your life for your struggle. I don't want to lose my son. You are worth more to me than Los Angeles."

Diego swallowed away something thickening his throat. "Father."

"I love you, son. And nothing is more precious to me than you. I can understand your motivations. Like every man in Los Angeles, I've fantasized about what it would be like to be Zorro, and I've envied him."

"Father." His father wasn't planning on putting on a mask, was he?

"What happened is just as much my fault. After all the dirty tricks you've done to me over the years. I should have known better. I know I can never be Zorro, but I can empathize. And as much as I hate to admit. I think I would have done the same. I would have wanted my loved ones to get to safety first. All I ask of you is to put yourself in my position. And with that try to understand, should Zorro ever get caught, I will do everything to free him. And to make it happen, I'm willing to do it all."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Well, let's hope Zorro riding days are nearing his end. And it will never be necessary. But like you, I am willing to die if it means you will survive. Also, you have to start accepting ever since we are into the secret, Zorro is a part of us all. It's the price, son, you, have to pay for us knowing."

"It's not like Victoria left me a choice," Diego muttered in his defence. With a glimmer of bliss, he thought back to the moment she had unravelled his secret.

"You shouldn't have married her," Alejandro remarked softly.

Diego felt his cheeks start to burn.
"Maybe."

Alejandro looked at his son thoughtfully. "Zorro spoke the truth, didn't he? Things did happen in that mill that isn't acceptable? Diego, that is not how I raised you. I had expected you to behave better."|
Alejandro was stunned. Back then, he had accepted the idea to get his son and Victoria married.
He hadn't questioned what else had happened that night. He had raised his son to always behave like the proper cabellero.

"After that night, there was indeed a chance Victoria had got pregnant," Diego confessed to his father, feeling ashamed.

Alejandro had opened his mouth to give his son a piece of his mind.
It was no use getting angry over it now. It had happened a long time ago and got sorted out in the only way decent. "Then you have done the only acceptable thing."

"I had to. All I could think about was should Victoria be pregnant, and something happened to me, she would feel compelled to marry another man. That another man would call himself the father of mine child to the outside world. The thought was unbearable."

There was a look of understanding in Alejandro's eyes.

"My feelings for her made it impossible. Once I held her, I couldn't let her go." Diego ran his hand through his hair.
"I was grateful Victoria wasn't pregnant. Think how much gossip it had caused. Don't fear." Knowing how much his father wanted grandchildren. "I do hope she will be with a child soon."

Alejandro had made his daughter-in-law a promise. Her secret was not his to tell.
"It will come, son. Patience is a virtue. "

.

In the end, the conversation with his father had not gone as badly as he had feared. It was probably partly due to the positive outcome of the past day. And because there were hopeful signs that Zorro would soon be a thing of the past.
Together, the men had gone to the cave and changed the bandage around Toronado's front leg. Hopefully, the medicinal herbs did their job, and the animal would recover soon. Zorro may not have been needed for a while. Diego wanted to be able to intervene should it come to it. If there was a don seeking power for the wrong reason, things could quickly get out of hand. Though, it seemed unlikely to Diego that such a thing would happen.

Toronado stood contentedly in his stall, chewing hay. "Glad you're home, boy. I missed you." The horse pressed his nose to his armpit. Diego fished a lump of sugar from his pocket. "I agree. You have earned it. I'll come to see you again tomorrow." Diego sighed. He had to face Victoria.

Alejandro grinned briefly. "If you're still alive, by then. Chances are Victoria is less forgiving than I am."

It raised a question Diego had almost forgotten he wanted to ask. "What was it you and Victoria were fighting about? It looked like arguments were running pretty high."

"Fight? Oh, you mean that little quarrel. Diego, you know how women are, always overprotective. Now go and see her and start to sort things out. Keep in mind, Victoria is as fierce in her anger as she has it in her nature to be forgiving. You can't have a good marriage without the occasional bump in the road. Just be a little extra nice to her. Go to her, beg for forgiveness, and all will be fine. I'll give Toronado some fresh water."

"Thank you, father. I will try to keep your advice in mind."

Alejandro laughed, seeing his son despair. He joked playfully, "And try to keep the roof on the hacienda."

.

Diego stood in the doorway of their bedroom for a moment. Victoria sat on the sofa in the alcove, wearing the piece of clothing he most liked seeing her in most.
One of his nightshirts.
This was her preference since their marriage. Usually, both of them slept naked, entwined in each other.
Some nights, for example, when Zorro was out. And Victoria was alone for the night was she wearing one of the oversized white shirts. The garment looked much more seductive on her than it did on him. Diego took it as a positive sign that she had been waiting in this attire.

Victoria had heard him. She turned her head and made eye contact.

"I'm not sure if I can get in without getting hurt," Diego uttered.

"I don't have a broom near me, should you be afraid of it." A small smile played on her lips, "I've thought about it, but I changed my mind."

Hesitantly, he came closer. "I owe you an apology and explanation."

Victoria gave an indulgent nod. Diego made a few more steps in her direction.
"I just wanted to protect you. I'm constantly putting your life in danger because you are not only married to Diego. You are married to Zorro as well. I already told you once that I don't want to lose you. I can accept should I ever get arrested, my fate is sealed.
But the thought of putting your life in danger is unbearable."

"Won't you sit with me?"

Diego bridged the last few feet between him and Victoria and sat next to her on the sofa.

She crawled into his arms. "Go on."

"I don't regret me marrying you. Please, don't think so. You make me happier than I ever thought possible."

"And you make me happy. I love you, Diego." Victoria had a sorrowful smile. "Sometimes, I wish for you to love me less. So, you would choose yourself over me. Then I wouldn't have to worry so much about you, protecting me more than yourself."
Victoria lifted her chin to face him.

Her lips were glossy, moist, inviting. Victoria pressed her lips to his. God, how he had missed this. He had forgotten how he'd walked this morning in the blazing sun, only with the promise of Victoria waiting for him at home on his mind.
"I can't. I just can't love you less. It is the mere thing you can ask which I can't do, not even for you."

Victoria's voice was so soft and sweet. "Then you leave me no choice. I have to forgive you."

Diego started to feel tears burning in his eyes.

"It is who you are, who I love."
She kissed him again. There was so much love in her kiss, Diego was grateful he was sitting down. Were he to stand, his legs would have fainted from under him.

Victoria willingly let herself get pulled onto his lap. One leg on either side, she folded her arms around his neck and kissed him back passionately.
Diego pushed the shirt up a bit. He had his hands on her hips and felt her press her lower body firmly against his. Victoria moaned softly as his hands kneaded the soft curves of her buttocks. She was naked underneath the fine cotton.
Diego broke the kiss to ask, "How are you feeling?"

Victoria kissed his jawline. "Fine."
She threw herself on his mouth. Her kiss expressed the same longing as he felt his stomach bubbling.

"Are you sure?"

"Are you trying to stop me?"

"Never."

Victoria pulled the jacket over his shoulders, "Just don't touch my breasts."

Diego hastily unbuttoned his pants. Victoria pulled the nightshirt up further. The too-wide neckline revealed her breasts, which were now forbidden fruit. He would settle by stroking every other inch of her gorgeous body.
Diego pressed a hand into her knees and pulled her deeper onto his lap.
His shirt followed. Her tongue began to lick his chest.
The desire he felt for her had only grown since their marriage. The more he tasted her sweetness, the more he needed her. She was addictive, intoxicating, and everything he needed

Victoria lifted herself to her knees for a moment, rocking her hips back and forth until his top found her delightful entrance.
Once inside her, she began to move excruciatingly slowly.
Diego stroked the small of her back.

His calloused fingertips gave her an exciting kind of goosebumps.
She brushed her hair out of the way, so Diego had unobstructed access to her neck to kiss there.

Diego buried his nose by her ear and inhaled her sweet scent.
"I love you."

Victoria ruffled her fingers through his hair.
"Kiss me." She demanded, and he willingly obeyed.
She scratched his shoulders with her nails. Those muscles were tense from holding her tight.

Hungry with desire, Diego pillaged her mouth.
Victoria had opened her mouth and was willing to give him anything. And he took everything, everything she had. At the same time, he gave her his soul and everything else he had to offer to her.
And she still wanted more, so much more.

"Victoria."

"Love me, Diego. Just love me." groaned Victoria, completely surrendering to her pleasure.

It seemed impossible to get any closer to each other.
They succeeded to do so.
Not in body, only in the soul.

.

Sweaty, exhausted, Victoria hung in her husband's strong arms.
His head rested against her shoulder, Her chin rested on his neck.
She was panting and refused to loosen her arms surrounding his shoulders, holding him tight to her.

"Tomorrow, you're going to see Hernandez. Whether you like it or not," Uttered Diego firmly.

Diego couldn't see the grin on her face. She hadn't told him yet.
"I don't go to see the doctor. I have spoken to Maria, and she explained it is completely normal. In a few weeks, it should be a lot less. She also warned that I will suffer from more ailments in the near future."

Diego's head shot up. He saw teasing lights in her eyes. Something was going on, and he had to find out.

"Really, you have nothing to worry about. Well, not nothing, there is something."
Victoria had to bite her lip to hold in a burst of laughter. She embraced his face.
With her mouth close to his lips, foreheads pressed together, Victoria whispered, "I'm pregnant."

Preg-nant?

His mind went blank. His brain refused to cooperate to figure out the meaning of the word.

Pregnant?

Pregnant.

"Pregnant! Victoria, are you serious?" Diego stuttered, feeling like an idiot.
Diego looked at her searchingly for signs that he had understood her correctly, and the news slowly began to sink in.

Victoria, her eyes, sparkled like diamonds as she nodded her head frantically.
"Soon, you will be a father."

"Victoria, are you sure?"

"According to Maria, it's almost certain. And since she's also a midwife, I assume she knows what she is talking about."

"Oh, querida, this is, this is..., fantastic news."
He hugged her, and they gently rocked back and forth.

A moment later, Diego put his hand on her flat stomach. It was ridiculous, but he felt as proud as a peacock that he had managed to get his wife pregnant.
"It's hard to comprehend you are carrying our baby under your heart."
His face faded. Now, the realization of him becoming a father had dawned. Something else came to his mind. "You should have told me. Had I known, I would never have asked you to steer the cart. What if something has happened to our child?"

"Diego, there are countless women who sit for days in a bouncing stagecoach and give birth to a healthy child. For centuries, children have been born in the most bizarre circumstances.
I don't think those few minutes have done any harm. I feel fine, and our baby is doing fine."

Another thought popped up in his head.
"You've already told my father, haven't you?"
It unintentionally hurt, Victoria had confided his father before him.
Diego would have loved to be there, telling his father he to be a grandfather at last.
For years, the man had taken every opportunity to remind his son of his wish.

Victoria gave an awkward smile and twiddled her fingers. "To tell you the truth, it rather was the other way around."

Diego looked at her confused,

"Your father was the one who told me I'm pregnant."

Diego gazed in bewilderment. "How could he know that?"

"I don't know. He said he could see it on me. Something to do with me looking radiant and motherly love." She chuckled.
"Believe me, I was as surprised as you are now, if not more so."
Victoria pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Congratulations, husband. You and Toronado are to be a father at about the same time. Shall we tell your father together tomorrow it's official?"

.

Later they were in bed. Diego has given Victoria a massage, and now they are in each other's arms, enjoying being together.

"Diego, I have to admit something."

Lazy, he was stroking her back. "What's that?"

"About our child. I don't know who the actual father is."
Victoria had a teasing tone in her voice.

He decided to go along with her.
"It better not is Zorro's." He kissed her, eyes twinkling. "I can't ask you to duel him again in your condition. And everyone knows Diego doesn't stand a chance against him."

"It can be Zorro's. My concern is…," Victoria held her breath like she was trying to find the courage to continue. "Today, I discovered Salvador Guilerans might be the father."

"Salvador Guilerans?" For a second Diego was without words."You remember him?"

"How can I forget his name. It was my first actual clue on who Zorro could be."

"I see. Well, let there be no misunderstanding." Possessively, he rested his hand on her belly. "Our child is mine and mine alone," Diego snarled, seemingly angrily. "And I forbid you ever to mention that man's name again."

"Must I?" Her eyes were twinkling. Diego loved it when she was teasing him. "How many women do you know who can sleep with three different men without committing adultery?"

He growled, "Señora, you are playing with fire."

Victoria blinked her eyes seductively. "Oh, Salvador. You really must leave. My husband will be home any minute."

Suddenly, the mattress beneath her had disappeared, and she was floating through the air.
The next thing Victoria was aware of was Diego had thrown her onto her back and was half on top of her.

Seductive rosebuds begged for attention. Diego bent forward and caressed his tongue over a nipple, causing Victoria to utter a cry.
Madre de Dios, he had forgotten why he had avoided her breasts the past few days.

Victoria grabbed his face between her hands. "Go on, just be gentle." Even more tenderly, Diego let his tongue slide over her breasts.
The soft moans of pleasure Victoria emitted were like music to his ears.

Her nipples were still more sensitive than usual. The tenderness in which Diego licked was even more exciting.
She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. The warm skin felt wonderfully familiar.

Diego was kneeling between her thighs. He lifted one leg and put her ankle on his shoulder.
He had a full view of her most intimate part. With his fingers, Diego searched between her soft curls for the place where he knew his touch could make her wild. "Your husband is a fool to leave you alone at night." Her breathing ceased as his finger caressed her clit. His eyes had turned dark with desire.
"His mistake is my good fortune."

Her voice was hoarse. "He's of the jealous sort, you know.
Mmgrrah! Diego!"

Diego fondled her clit with his thumb while two fingers explored her vagina. "My name is Salvador, you minx. And, you're a feisty one."

Victoria stretched her arms, grabbed his face, and pulled it to her lips for a kiss. "Only for you, Salvador. I swear, only for you."

"You'd be better, you're so wet."

"Yes, Salvador. I need you, inside me, hard and deep."

The sex was not tender. It was rough, hot, passionate, and intense. Victoria was pressed into the mattress, feeling a little helpless now she had both her legs over his shoulders. It aroused Victoria even more. She had no choice but to surrender herself to her lover completely.
His chest pressed against her thighs.

It had started as some silly joke. To Diego's surprise, he had felt a stab of jealousy. Victoria was his, and no other man was ever to hold her.
He was on fire. His cock got massaged at a maddening, delightful, rhythmic pace by her inner muscles.
There was no other way possible, they were made for each other.
Her vagina enveloped so naturally around his penis, pressing in the exact right way to maximize his pleasure. Teasingly, she tensed her muscles as he withdrew to thrust himself even more passionately into her moist softness. She was so tight. So wet with desire for him, juices dripping out of her.

"Mine, say you're mine." Diego moaned, kissing her leg, leaving love marks on her skin.

"Always,"

That was the answer he wanted to hear.
With his hips, he stepped up the pace more and more.

The way she clung to him told him she was nearing her climax. He could explode at any moment. He had to hold back, just a few more seconds. Oh, god, she was tight. The friction of her walls, uncontrolled muscle contractions that pulled him deeper into her, was all he wanted.
"Mine. You're mine."
He pounded against her thighs.

"Ppplll-leeeeAAAhhh-seeeEHse!" This loud moan, a trembling body, and her face contorted in ecstasy was the final push to send him over the edge.

.

"I have always been yours," Victoria whispered.
Her naked curvaceous body, leaning against his. Her chin was resting on his sternum, gazing lovingly into his face, grinning from ear to ear. Her tousled hair cast partial shadows over her features.

"Just as I will always be yours."

Victoria captivated him, smiling. The same smile had held his heart hostage from the moment he had laid eyes on her. And he had fallen madly, hopelessly in love with her ever since.

"Salvador, did you enjoy yourself?" Victoria murmured, pursing her lips together, pressing funny kisses to his still glistening chest.

"You have no idea how much, mi querida." Diego hugged her and held her tightly, enjoying the knowledge that Victoria was his alone.

"I love you, Diego, Zorro, Salvador. But please, tell me you don't have any more secret identities." Victoria buried her face in his armpit.

Diego chuckled.
"I loved what we just did."

"Me too." Agreed Victoria. "I do think, however, I'll stick with these three men. One more, and I swear I'm not going to survive."

Diego swiped away some hair out of her face.
"As long as she's as passionate as you are, I'm more than satisfied with having only one woman to please me."
Diego lifted her chin with his finger, so he could stare into her eyes, thinking it was unbelievable how much love was shinning in them. "Just out of curiosity, do you have a preference? I can take it into account."

Victoria bit her lip, and Diego thought she needed way too long to think about it. Wasn't her answer plain simple?

Victoria took his face between her hands again and stroked his moustache, which was damp from the drops of sweat on his upper lip. She was merely teasing him.
"The man I long for most of all…,"
Victoria kissed him, increasing the tension even a bit further. "Is..,"

It felt silly, but all Diego could think was, let it be me. Not have a clue who he meant by it.

"You. I, most of all, want you to make love to me."

A pointless wave of relief flowed over him.
His Victoria had given the only correct answer.

.

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The story will be longer than I anticipathed. Yes, again. I know and I am sorry.
Unfortunately, I get very few reviews, exceptions aside. But I also get no complaints and I do get views. So, I will just continue on going.