Chapter 6

The return to consciousness was not a sweet and pleasant one. Even the feeling of Victoria burrowed into his arms, the scent of her hair, the feel of her soft warm body pressed against his, was not enough to block the incessant pounding on the door. Annoyed, Diego's eyes scanned the immediate, reachable area for something to throw at the offending piece of wood.

"Diego! Diego! Padre Benitez is here to see you and Victoria."

Diego groaned and shifted uncomfortably. He most definitely did not want to have to extricate himself from his wife's lovely embrace. Victoria lifted her head and pressed a kiss to his bare chest. The tiny, intimate gesture sent a heated shock straight to his groan and Victoria chuckled, feeling his body's response to her kiss.

"That is not funny, querida." Diego scolded but when he looked down and saw the merriment in her eyes, he could do nothing but press a slow kiss to her parted lips.

"It most certainly is, Diego." She suggestively wiggled her body against his and was rewarded with another groan.

"Now you're doing that on purpose."

"Yes." Her fingers trailed lightly over the muscled contours of his chest. "I am."

His breath hissed between clenched teeth as he covered her hand with his own in a weak attempt to stop her explorations.

"I'm sure he's here bearing papers that need signing."

"Diego!" The pounding on the door was not going to stop.

"We must get out of bed to sign them."

Victoria's eyes slid down his body to where the blanket lay draped over his waist. She snuggled closer and gasped when she suddenly found herself below her husband as he rolled her onto her back.

"Now, now," She teased but slid her hands into his hair and tugged gently. "We have to get up."

She could feel the delicious length of him pressing against her thigh and lifted her head to meet his lips in a gentle kiss before he turned his head and yelled at the door.

"Father. It will be a few moments. Please apologize to Padre Benitez for us!" The strain in his voice caused a giggle to burst from her lips. But was silenced instantly when his mouth covered hers in a delicious, tantalizingly deep kiss.

He knew she was ready for him, and while he regretted taking her so quickly and so forcefully, there was no way to avoid it. He couldn't let the padre wait indefinitely while they sated their heated passions. While the padre would probably understand, just as he understood their deep desire to be married as soon as possible last night, Diego flushed at the thought of the padre knowing just exactly why they'd kept him waiting.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as he entered her and she entwined her fingers into his hair and arched her neck. Her entire body tingled as she met and matched each one of his quick thrusts with ones of her own. She understood the desire that coursed through his blood. It was duplicated in hers and there was no way Alejandro or Padre Benitez were going to interrupt them at this moment. So, understandably, that moment had to be short.

When his hands slid under her hips and tilted them up, she gasped and gripped his shoulders. She could feel his hot breath on her shoulder and she clutched at him as the familiar tension began to rapidly coil through her body.

She gasped her release into his shoulder moments before his mouth came down on hers, effectively silencing his own. They panted heavily for a few moments, his hips languidly circling against hers, the rush from such heated lovemaking exhausting them to the point of immobility.

"If I don't get out of bed this instant, my father will break down the door." Diego whispered against her neck. His breathing had stabilized but his heart was still beating rapidly.

"Then the sooner we get up and sign those papers, the sooner we can feign exhaustion and return to bed," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

It was all the incentive he needed and she whimpered slightly at the loss of such intimate contact when he rolled off her and out of bed.

It was only a few more minutes before husband and wife walked hand in hand down the hallway and into the library where the padre sat playing a game of chess with Alejandro.

Alejandro noticed the bright look in their eyes and said nothing but simply smiled to himself and cursed the padre's timing. It was clear, after hearing his son's strained voice on the other side of the door, that he'd interrupted something. 'Kudos to Diego for not answering the door,' Alejandro thought with a hidden smile. 'I'd have ignored it too.'

"Our apologies for the delay, Padre!" Diego shook the man's hand and Alejandro marveled at the change that had come over his son in such a short amount of time.

"Quite all right, Diego. Victoria." The padre smiled kindly at the couple, clearly understanding the reason for their delay. "I've simply immersed myself in a game of chess with your father."

Diego gave the chessboard a quick once over and chuckled. "My father is a shrewd opponent. You'll find him difficult to defeat."

"You've managed on occasion, Diego." Alejandro grinned at the sight before him. Victoria's fingers were still laced through Diego's and her eyes held a contented happiness that he'd never before seen.

"But I'm sure your father didn't drag you out of bed to watch us play a game of chess!" the padre chuckled. Victoria flushed and Diego shifted uncomfortably under the older men's perceptive gaze.

"I would certainly hope not." Diego feigned incredulousness and grinned.

The padre pulled out a rolled parchment and laid it on the small table beside the chessboard. "If you will kindly sign there, Diego," The padre indicated the location as Alejandro procured a quill and ink from atop the piano. "And Victoria, below that."

Alejandro noticed the restrained desire that flashed through the couple's eyes when Diego passed the quill to his wife and their hands touched. The old caballero's heart soared. He remembered the feeling all too well. Perhaps he would once again. But until then, he would live vicariously through his son and his new wife. Why, there should be grandbabies to spoil very soon! And he'd waited a very long time to hear the pitter patter of little feet in the hacienda again.

The padre affixed his seal to the document and smiled broadly. "Congratulations, Diego, Victoria."

"Thank you for riding all the way out here today, Padre." Diego shook the man's hand. "We would have made it into town eventually."

Victoria flushed and glanced down at their entwined hands.

"Yes, well. I thought it best for you to have the proper documentation of your betrothal sooner rather than later, considering the unusual circumstances under which the ceremony took place."

"I've posted your wedding banns," The padre confirmed Diego's unspoken question with a smile. "There weeks as is customary."

Alejandro spluttered. Three weeks wouldn't be long enough to summon every friend and family member from the four corners of the world.

Diego grinned at his father. "The church is only so big, Father. You cannot fit the whole of Spain into it."

Alejandro narrowed his eyes at his son. "Three weeks. You've done this on purpose so I couldn't get messages to everyone in time."

Diego laughed and Victoria giggled into his shoulder. "Actually, no. We didn't do it with that express purpose." He glanced sidelong at his wife. "But it's turned out to be an added benefit."

Diego grinned at his father and pulled Victoria into his arms. He dropped a kiss to the corner of her lips, his eyes twinkling. "Soon, mí esposa bonita will have the wedding she's always dreamed of."

"I have the man I've always dreamed of, Diego. I don't need anything more." Her eyes were full of love and adoration as she glanced up at him and brushed his cheek with her hand.

The padre smiled at them with sad eyes. "There is a service for Alcalde de Soto this evening. I hope, given the circumstances, you will attend."

"What time?" Diego asked instantly.

"Five o'clock."

Diego hugged Victoria close and nodded. "We will be there."

"Thank you, Diego." The padre rested a soft hand on the caballero's shoulder and nodded politely before taking his leave.

The next morning, Victoria awoke, safely ensconced in her husband's warm embrace. She rubbed her cheek against his firm chest, inhaled deeply and sighed contentedly when his arms tightened around her shoulders.

"Happy, Querida?" His voice was husky, the sleep not yet having faded.

"Mmhm," She pressed a lingering kiss to his chest before looking up at him. "I've been thinking."

"Well, actually, you've been sleeping." Diego's eyes gleamed mischievously.

Victoria playfully slapped at his chest and stretched. "Yes, well, I was thinking before that!"

"Always a dangerous thing." He winked and was rewarded with another playful slap to his arm.

"Well, we're to be married 'properly' in a few weeks." She brushed her cheek against his chest, knowing the effect it had on him.

"Yes…." He wasn't sure if he was going to like where this conversation was headed.

She knew he was going to hate where this conversation was going. But, for more reasons than she thought she could explain to him now, she wanted to do this.

"And I think we should wait to . . . . share a bed again until after the ceremony."

He swallowed hard and glanced down the length of her body, covered only by a thin sheet and leaving very little of her delicious form to his imagination. He didn't have to imagine anymore. He'd tasted the delights of her body.

"You're joking?" His eyes narrowed. "Please tell me you're joking?"

A bubble of laughter escaped her lips before she could stop it. The horrified look in his eyes was too amusing for words and she glanced down at his chest and pressed another lingering kiss to the taut skin.

"Victoria . . . ."

"I think I'll ask Alejan - father, to loan me a room for the next few weeks. Just until the wedding." She murmured, snuggling further into his embrace.

She had to be joking. Dios, she had to be joking.

"Or, I could simply stay at the tavern."

"No." His tone left absolutely no room for argument.

She glanced up at him through dark eyelashes. "All right." She conceded, for the moment. "I'll go ask him now."

Diego was speechless as she slid from his embrace and walked slowly to the dressing room, tossing an inviting smile over her shoulder as she did so.

Diego growled and cursed his body's reaction. "I'll make her pay for this." He muttered as he rolled out of bed. He couldn't imagine what had come over her. And she hadn't given him an explanation either. Perhaps it was just a game to see how long he could resist the inviting temptation of her delectable body.

When Diego finally made it out of his room, he nearly walked right into his father.

"Diego!" Alejandro tossed a n amused grin at his obviously distracted son. "How good to see you." He checked his pocket watch and wink at his son. "And so early too! It's before noon!"

Diego glared at his father and Alejandro laughed heartily at his son's predicament. He had barely been able to keep a straight face when Victoria had come to him and asked him for the loan of a room for the next few weeks, until her official marriage to his son. Why bother, he'd wondered. It was very clear that the two had done nothing but spend the last day in bed. He'd barely seen them since the festival. His son had probably done something to upset her and was now getting his first taste of a woman bent on revenge.

"Yes, well, my wife isn't there to keep me warm."

Alejandro's eyes narrowed. Perhaps there were more difficulties in his son's hasty marriage to Victoria than he realized. No, Victoria's eyes had held a mischievous glint of amusement as she'd ask him for the loan of a room. But Alejandro feigned ignorance, for as long as it would last with his dangerously perceptive son. "Is something wrong?"

A few long moments of silence followed before Diego's exasperated response caused Alejandro to cover his mouth to stifle a laugh. "Need I spell it out?" Diego once again glared daggers at his father. "This is not funny."

Alejandro rested a comforting arm on his son's shoulder, hoping the man wouldn't notice it was shaking with barely suppressed amusement. "You've waited for her for five years; what's a few more weeks?"

Diego's eyes narrowed. "That's the problem, father. It's not been five years any more. It's been one day!"

Alejandro raised a curious eyebrow. He understood his son's reaction, after all, he and Victoria had waited a long time. And, unless he was sorely mistaken, they'd already consummated that long awaited relationship. But, Alejandro decided his son needed a few words of advice on marital expectations. "And you can't wait another three weeks?"

The fire instantly disappeared from Diego's eyes at his father's implication. "I know you're right." Diego said quietly then met his father's steady gaze with one of his own. "I suppose I need to get used to unexpected decisions with virtually no warning, hmm?"

"Ahh," Alejandro laughed. His son was a quick learner. "You're married now, son. You're life as you knew it has vanished."

Diego shook his head and Alejandro laughed loud and heartily. When Diego's eyes flashed with annoyance at his father's unwillingness to be sympathetic, Alejandro's laughter roared through the hacienda.

Victoria yawned and rolled over, the sleep not quite ready to lift itself from her mind. Feeling someone, or something, in the room, her eyes snapped open and she gasped when she saw Diego sitting in a chair beside her bed staring at her.

"Diego!" She sat up immediately. "What are you doing in here?"

"Watching you sleep," he said slowly.

"We discussed - "

"No, you decided. We didn't discuss anything." His voice was low, husky ,and she trembled at the tone.

"Out." She waved toward the door, which, she noted, was still closed and very much locked.

"Certainly." He stood and moved to the bed. "As soon as I'm finished."

She resisted the urge to slide over to the other side. His very presence in her room made her blood tingle. But she was proud at having lasted an entire day without so much as a kiss from him. He had to realize this forced celibacy was just as hard on her as it was on him.

He sat beside her on the bed and trailed the back of his fingers down her cheek.

"Diego . . . . "

"The temptation is hard to resist, isn't it, Querida?" His voice had deepened and an involuntary shiver raced straight down her spine.

"Yes." She finally breathed, searching his eyes. She knew he could easily shatter her vow of celibacy and she couldn't decide if she really didn't want him to try. But, she'd made a vow to God and she would keep it.

"Good." He slowly drew the sheet away from her body, revealing the simple shift she wore beneath it. "It will make this far more enjoyable."

"What are you doing?"

He leaned over and slowly drew the shift up her legs, careful to barely touch her skin as he did so. Thankfully, her curiosity allowed him this one act and soon he lifted the material over her head and deposited it on the other side of the bed.

"Diego, we can't." Her eyes searched his and the determination and . . . desire she found there both excited and frightened her.

"I will respect your wishes - mostly." He trailed his fingers down her arms, over her stomach and then around the outline of her breasts.

Her breath quickened as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it on the other side of the bed with her discarded shift. Her eyes darkened as she took in the muscled contours of his chest. Why had she insisted on waiting again?

The bed dipped as he lay on his side next to her, his lips mere inches from hers.

"I am going to show you what you're missing."

She gasped as his lips covered hers in a slow, sensual kiss. His fingers moved over her, slowly caressing every inch of her bare skin. The touch was always light, gentle, maddening. A hot rush shot through her body and she bit her lip to keep from whimpering her pleasure. She knew she should tell him to stop, but the desire to enjoy his touch warred with her resolution to keep him out of her bed until their formal ceremony.

He didn't linger in one spot for long. Instead, his lips trailed along the contours of her neck, stopping briefly to press a lingering kiss to that one sensitive spot, where her neck joined her collarbone, that he knew curled her very toes. Much to his appreciation, it did so again.

When his tongue flicked lightly over a very hard, very sensitive nipple, she arched her back and closed her eyes. She could feel him smile as his lips closed over the little nub but she didn't care, as long as he didn't stop. The tips of his fingers brushed lightly under her other breast before stopping to gently squeeze the firm tip.

Her hands slid into his hair and gripped the dark locks tightly but she still did not speak. She'd insisted on this separation of bodies and she refused to admit that, perhaps, it just might have been a very bad mistake.

He nuzzled her breasts with his cheek, still brushing his lips maddeningly slowly across the sensitive skin.

She gasped when his fingertips began to trail slow, gentle circles along the inside of her thigh. Her breath heaved in her chest and her eyes flew open. This caress continued for several maddening minutes as his fingers inched closer to the damp folds hidden beneath the short dark curls at the apex of her thighs.

She whimpered when one long finger parted the delicate folds and slowly caressed them. She couldn't quite stop her hips from arching into his caress and her body was trembling from the strain. She bit her lip when one long finger slipped within and began to stroke her slowly. When his thumb came down and began to circle the sensitive, hidden treasure, she groaned, her control slipping.

This was torture. Pure, exquisite, sweet torture. But Victoria was too proud to beg him, to admit that she was wrong to ask him to wait. Instead, she would have to endure.

Her legs fell open and she hoped that he would take the unspoken invitation to take her. She knew this was punishment for banning him from her bed. Instead, he continued to slowly rub and stroke her until her breath came in long, loud pants.

When his mouth closed around her nipple and began to tug relentlessly at the sensitive bud, she tugged at his hair frantically. Her entire body tingled with desire as she turned heated eyes on her betrothed.

Diego wore a virtually unreadable expression on his face. But his eyes were full of a wicked amusement as he slid his fingers from within her and brought them to his mouth.

Victoria swallowed hard as he slowly, teasingly, licked them clean.

Her body tingled from his touch and she watched him with curious, wide eyes as he leaned over her and pressed a soft kiss to her suddenly dry lips.

He reached over to procure his shirt from the other side of the bed, careful to let only the barest hint of skin brush against her sensitive breasts. Her sharp intake of breath proved that he had achieved what he'd come here to prove.

"Two can play at your game, mí esposa bella." He brushed his lips ever so softly against hers before walking to the door. "Never forget that."

TBC

There are 10 chapters for anyone wondering.

Misc info:

I've used wedding banns and the betrothal ceremony very liberally here. I interpreted what I researched about a betrothal ceremony one way, where others may interpret it another. After a betrothal, the couple were, for all intents and purposes, considered husband and wife - and enjoyed all the benefits of such a title. The church, however, considered a betrothal dissolvable and an official wedding insoluble - which is why I use them both in this story.