Hello! Chapter 17 has been updated, so read that one first before continuing this one! I had fun with this chapter. (I do not own this novela!)

Chapter 18

After Franco's second interaction with Sarita, it seemed as though her family decided to finally solve their issues. Both Reyes and the Elizondo family gathered their lawyers to negotiate an agreement regarding the open fields. Franco was somewhat surprised to not see Sarita or her sisters with their mother and Fernando Escandon, since it was entirely her fault.

For what seemed like hours, the brothers can finally set their fences up for good now that they've received a permit. Franco hoped that this settled everything and hoped to never see Sarita or any of the Elizondos again.

As promised, the brothers arrive as the guests of honor at the Rosales' ranch, in which a very enthused Dinora couldn't keep her hands off Juan, who looked incredibly uncomfortable. Franco and Oscar, well mostly Oscar couldn't stop teasing him. Franco had to silence him whenever he made sexual comments regarding Dinora's flirtatious advances to their older brother.

Franco must admit, he was enjoying himself. The Rosales knew how to throw a party. All their guests were dancing, talking and laughing amongst themselves while Franco and Oscar sat at their own little table as Dinora danced with a disgruntled Juan.

Franco felt the eyes of Dinora's youngest cousin, Belinda. She was shooting him so many wanton looks from where she sat with her aunt and uncle. He ignored her though and paid more attention to Juan, who was trying not to crush Dinora's feet.

"That Dinora wants to eat our brother alive." laughed Franco.

Oscar agreed and smirked at Belinda's thirst for the youngest Reyes brother.

"Looks like Juan isn't the only one getting some attention", Oscar joked before turning his head to look at a disgusted Franco. "That girl is melting like chocolate batter on a hot day."

"Oh shit, Oscar!" groaned Franco, his stomach churning with revolt. "That girl is as ugly as an owl!"

Oscar's brows raised at Franco.

"Why?" he challenged, "Does every woman have to be incredibly beautiful to you? Like that Rosario tramp?"

Franco flinched at the name. Why did he have to bring that woman up? She hasn't been on his mind ever since he took hold of his new life.

The two brothers almost got into a brawl, but Oscar had to remind him that they were around other strangers. This party was in honor of them, so they didn't want to set a bad example by making a scene.

Franco calmed down, taking a sip of his drink while Oscar turned his head again to observe the rest of the guests. Franco heard Oscar suck his teeth and chuckle.

"My mind may be playing games with me but I think something strange is about to happen."

"What makes you say that-"

Franco couldn't finish his sentence once he looked up and met the startling dark gaze of none other than Sarita Elizondo...and she looked stunning.

He took another sip of his drink, his mind rattling at the sight of the woman he was so sure he wouldn't come across again.

Damn.

He honestly thought it couldn't be her. She looked so different from the other day he argued with her.

Instead of her usual Tomboyish workwear, she wore a simple but sensual black mini dress that clung to her womanly curves like second skin. All Franco could do was watch her walk with Zacarias Rosales and his wife. Franco's fingers clenched around his glass of bourbon when he saw how Zacarias' hand tried to travel down the gracious and subtle curve of the small of her back. Franco was a bit relieved that Sarita refrained from the older man's sneaky advances when she sat down at the Rosales' table.

Franco just kept staring at her and she at him. Neither of them are smiling, but he noticed how the irises of her brown eyes darken and a slight red color tinged her cheeks. He felt such a stir within him, also noting how her dark hair was pinned in a simple but elegant updo, giving Franco access to admire her slender, graceful neck. His fingers and even his lips were yearning to touch that unravaged spot of her body. He had a feeling it was sensitive, especially when she first fell off her horse and he sought to check her pulse. He won't forget her warmth and softness beneath his finger tips. He then let his eyes linger on her lips, which were plump and pouty and so ready to be tasted. He wondered how they would feel…

Wait.

This is a party in honor for him and his brothers. Why is she here? She and the rest of her family hated him. Why was she the only one here?

"What a transformation Sarita must've had!" exclaimed an amused Oscar. He too had been staring at the woman in approval. "Do you still think she's bland and smells like horses?"

Franco shrugged, his eyes never leaving the young woman's dark gaze. He licked his bottom lip at the longing embedded in Sarita's dark sultry eyes and how she slowly dragged her full bottom lip under her teeth. Franco felt a heated ache in the pit of his stomach, watching how her top pearly whites tantalizingly sunk into that plump kissable flesh. What is this woman doing to him?

Franco snapped out of it and turned his attention to Oscar.

"She may be dressed like a pretty woman." he tells Oscar, his hard gaze traveling back to Sarita. He takes a third sip of his drink when he observed her delectable freckled collar bones. "I don't trust that damn woman."

He watched her take a sip of her champagne, and he could swear he got hard when her dainty pink tongue slowly licked across her sinful pouty lips. She noticed his stare and the depths of her eyes darkened even more.

Franco let out a low but frustrated groan, feeling himself undulating with need. He remained in his seat, not daring to unveil his obvious attraction to the woman who made his life a living hell for the past couple of days.

"Your rooster is crowing for you, Franco!" laughed Oscar, seeing Belinda walking over to their table.

Franco's hard situation softened once Dinora's odd younger cousin asked him to dance. He agreed.

The time came to make a toast to the Reyes and Zacharias Rosales was more than happy to do the honors.

"As neighbors and partners, we need to have cordial relations. That's the reason for this gathering. Our friends, Juan, Oscar, and Franco Reyes are now part of our region and it's time to welcome them!"

Franco was so moved by Mr. Rosales' small speech, in which he stood up once the guests started to applaud. He began to offer his own words of gratitude.

"We appreciate the gesture, Mr. Rosales, and hope we won't disappoint you as neighbors or friends. I want to toast to you and your kindness and the good gesture you had with us. Cheers!"

Just when he thought nothing could go wrong, Sarita stood up from her seat, her eyes flashing dangerously at Franco and his brothers. Franco had a feeling she wasn't here for no reason. This damn woman, as pretty as she may look, will always be a troublemaker.

"Why don't we toast to the person that got you out of your misery?" she spat, raising her own glass.

Franco, his brothers, the Rosales, and the rest of the party guests were all bewildered. Franco could feel his anger writhing within him. Sarita continued on with her deceitful toast.

"Let's make a toast to Eduvina Trueba, the owner of the ranch and the fortune that you now enjoy."

This bitch is for real.

Franco glared at Sarita with such loathing. She only smirked cunningly at him, proud of the humiliation she had just caused him.

"I'm very sorry, Sarita", said a surprised Dinora with a nervous smile. "But what you are saying is not very nice."

"It's the truth!" Sara strongly affirmed. "And the truth hurts."

Fuming, Oscar slammed his drink on the table and shot to his feet to approach Sarita, who proudly stood where she was. She still had that damn grin painted on her beautifully pale face.

Franco held his brother back from doing anything he'd regret and narrowed his blue eyes at the horrible little woman in front of him. He then smirked, knowing how he could break her down.

"It's true and the truth hurts, Sarita Elizondo." he sneered, drawing a few steps toward her. "That's why you are venting."

Her grin began to fade but Franco was not backing down. He had to break this bitch.

"I know you don't like us and you feel offended because my brother is married to your sister, Jimena…"

He noticed her frail shoulder tense at the mention of her younger sister. He still needed more to diminish her, so he kept going.

"And my brother, Juan, is the father of your sister, Norma's son."

"Franco.." cautioned Juan, who probably noticed Sarita's sudden discomfort.

Franco cut him off. He still kept going. He needed more ammo to teach this meddling, spoiled bitch a lesson she'll never forget.

"What hurts her the most.." he continued, internally rejoicing at the slight quiver of her pouty bottom lip. "Is the bitterness she has inside…"

Franco's head turns to the confused but curious guests and his brothers while his hand gestures to where Sarita stood.

"She seems to be a very pretty girl, but she is still a bland and unpleasant woman who still smells like a horse."

Franco mimicked her cunning grin before taking a victorious sip of his bourbon while she just stood there. Her dark eyes began to glisten with unshed tears.

He did it. He broke her.

The next thing that happened was so unexpected that even Franco was in shock. It all happened so quickly.

In her anger and hurt, Sarita threw her champagne into Franco's face, dropped her glass, and rushed out of the party.

The guests were astonished but were soon told to dismiss the distasteful event by a nervous Dinora Rosales.

Without thinking, Franco went after Sarita, leaving both his brothers behind. His only mission was to force the belligerent Sarita Elizondo to finally respect him as an equal.

He hopped into his car and took off, knowing that Sara couldn't have driven so far. His heart hammered profusely when he saw the back of her black jeep speeding in front of him. He stepped harder on the gas to reach her.

"Sarita.." he muttered. "You're going to learn today…"

Just when he was beginning to get closer to her, his eyes widened in horror when her car crashed into a prickly bush. He noticed a frightened horse and its rider galloping away, both lucky and safe from Sarita's carelessness.

Franco quickly jumped out of his car and hurried to the black jeep. He pulled the passenger seat open, relieved it was unlocked, and his face faltered when he saw Sarita with her head resting on the steering wheel. She wasn't moving. Franco began to panic and had an odd sense of deja vu wash over him.

"Shit." he swore, climbing hastily in her car to observe her fragility.

Is she dead? That was quite a hard crash. It reminded him of how her father passed...but in reverse.

He shouldn't think of that. He wanted to confront her but he didn't mean for this to go too far. She was a troublemaker, but no one deserved this.

With a shaky hand, Franco touched the nape of her slender neck. He drew a breath of relief when he found her still breathing.

"Sarita?" he called her name, softly brushing the loose tendrils of her dark hair from her face.

Franco couldn't help but allow the tips of his fingers to graze her cheeks, which were slightly damp. He felt a small tug at his heart. She'd been crying, but it's her fault. She made him so angry, he wanted to finally break her down, but he didn't think his words could actually affect her this way.

The least he can do for her now is help her regain consciousness. He hoped she will finally show him more gratitude this time.

He scooted closer to her. He gingerly pulled her away from the steering wheel. He cradled the back of her neck and carefully leaned her head back on her seat, so he won't cause her anymore harm. As soon as he released her from her seat belt, Franco carefully began to drag her into his arms, scooping her up while trying to hold the passenger door open with one foot. It's a good thing she weighed like a feather.

He noticed her head tilting back and he placed it against his shoulder. He heard her moan. He felt her small but full lips graze the nape of his neck and he shuddered at the warm sensation traveling from where her lips touched him to the pit of his stomach.

Even though she's unconscious, this woman still holds some sort of effect on him.

He held her lithe form closer to him, earning another small, but pained moan from her.

He needed to get her somewhere safe, but the closest place he knew was his house. He gave a silent prayer as he lowered her onto the passenger seat of his car.

The drive back home could've been smooth, but his urgency to tend to the injured woman made the ride a bit bumpy. Franco kept getting distracted by his unconscious enemy, who kept mewling in discomfort each time his wheels hit a dent on the road. He kept stealing glances at her, and a need stirred inside him when he noticed the taut outline of her small nipples underneath her thin black dress. Letting out a frustrated groan, Franco scolded himself to pay attention to the road ahead.

He finally made it home. Like before, Eva and Quintina were aiding him. He placed Sarita softly on his bed, she still won't wake up. Quintina left to fetch a warm wet cloth while Eva left to call a doctor, leaving Franco alone with Sara.

He sat on the foot of his bed, his eyes studying her. Even though this was a serious matter, he couldn't help but grin at the irony. Sarita was clearly mistaken.

"You think there'll be a next time?" she taunted him. "Don't be stupid! I'm not some idiot who keeps passing out so that creeps like you can take advantage and carry me to your lair. I'll never step foot in that place again, Franco."

Her eyes were still closed and her chest rose and fell by her soft breathing. Franco was now convinced she was ok. Sarita was sleeping soundly. He noticed her lips parting slightly and her dainty pink tongue languidly brushing to lick her bottom lip. Franco was drawn to them as they closed, her bottom lip quivering slightly. They looked so inviting...but he couldn't do anything because of what happened last time. And it wouldn't be right.

All he can do is study her before she wakes.

As feral and annoying as she can be, Sarita looks so angelic when she sleeps. He almost lost the hatred he has for her. She was like another woman while she slept. There's no traces of the rough, unpleasant, spoiled woman he knew her to be. All he could see was an innocent and sweet young woman sleeping so soundly on his bed.

His eyes observed her face closely and his heart softened for her. Her tiny nose and cheeks were lightly freckled, and he could even make a tint of red on her porcelain cheeks. Her lips were small but they were pink and full, especially her bottom lip which bowed into a perfect pout. Her dark sooty lashes and hair contrasted so well with her pale complexion. She reminded him of one of Libia's antique china dolls when they were kids. Sarita almost resembled a doll. She was petite and dainty like a little china doll.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he felt her stir. A relieved smile formed on his lips once her eyes began to flutter open.

She gasped and sat up right at the sight of him, her hands quickly tugging at the bottom of her black dress.

Franco laughed wholeheartedly at her reaction. Same old Sarita. He remained seated, watching her discomfort as she continued to adjust the hem of her dress.

Now that she's awake and well, Franco saw no problem in just teasing her just for the hell of it.

"You do realize how completely wrong you are." he told her, really loving how the front of her hair was falling out of her once neat updo, framing her face. "You swore to me that you'll never set foot in this place."

Sarita's bottom lip quivered, her brown eyes staring straight into his amused blue ones. He was taking so much pleasure in this, finally seeing her so vulnerable before him.

"And yet here you are." he added, his eyes roaming her over. He saw her shudder and her small hands gripped the hem of her sexy black dress. "In my house."

Sarita stayed muted, watching him closely. She seemed so nervous and Franco was loving this.

"In my room", he continued, gazing down at where her hands gripped at her dress as if her life depended on it. "Laying on this nasty bed. How's that for you, huh?"

Her cheeks tinged to a darker shade of red and her hands began to tremble. His eyes lingered on the creamy skin of her thighs, wild images flooding his thoughts. What would it be like to just part them and run his lips against that forbidden flesh of hers? Will tasting her finally melt away her frigid demeanor?

She caught his eyes fixated on her thighs and she quickly bolted off the bed and backed into the wall. Franco stood up, thoroughly enjoying the effect he had on her.

"Oh, Sara, Sara, Sara.." he teased, noting her hard nipples through the front of her thin black dress as she trembled slightly against the wall.

He bit his lip and eyed her like she was going to be his meal.

"If I wanted…" he told her, his voice calm and teasing. "I would have had all the time in the world to take advantage of you."

He winked at her and smirked when he noticed her cheeks flush. Within moments, Sarita finally regained her strength and snatched anything near her and started throwing it all at him. A vase, a pillow, a picture frame, anything.

Damn, she had an arm.

"What the hell!" yelled Franco. "Leave that!"

She didn't. Franco ran out of his room and dodged a hard object.

"What is your problem?" he kept shouting. He sought an opportunity when he saw her trying to rip out his curtains. He ran back in and grabbed her from behind. She writhed, kicked and screamed when he carried her out of his room.

"Get your hands off me!" screamed Sarita. "You nasty rat!"

"Calm the fuck down!" he yelled back, beads of sweat forming on his forehead at her constant thrashing.

He let her go and Sarita turned to charge at him, calling him all sorts of horrible names. Luckily for him, Eva and Quintina heard all the commotion and both grabbed Sarita by her arms.

"Let go!" screamed Sarita, now struggling to release herself from Eva and Quintina. "I said let go!"

"Calm down and we won't let you go!" scolded Eva.

"Miss, you need to calm down." reassured a horrified Quintina. "All that aggression isn't good for you! Calm down!"

Sarita stopped thrashing but she was breathing quite hard, her eyes glaring daggers at Franco, who was also out of breath.

"What do you want, Franco Reyes?" she shouted. "Answer me! Say it!"

"I'm wondering the same thing!" snapped an exhausted Franco, his glare matching Sara's. "What do you want humiliating me in front of everyone?"

Eva and Quintina let go of Sara once she regained her composure.

"You do realize we're not the same?" he added. "Don't spit up because it'll hit you in your face, Sarita."

Much to Eva and Quintina's dismay, Sarita charged at him again and forcefully grabbed him by his collar.

Franco was too tired to even fight her off, so instead he sighed in amusement, feeling her strong little hands shaking the front of his shirt. This was oddly comical. This little woman is out of her mind.

"You will pay for everything, Franco Reyes!" she yelled, shaking him with all her might. "You fucking will!"

He's had enough. He tore her small hands off him and began to reprimand her as if she were a child.

"Stop it, Sara!" he yelled. "Just go along and tell your mother everything! Go on!"

He then held a patronizing finger in her face.

"But we'll see how it will go, huh?"

"I hate you!" she screamed. "I despise you!"

"Not more than me, Sarita!" he screamed back.

Fuming, she turned on her heel and began to run to the front door. Franco continued to yell after her with every fiber of anger in his being.

"Next time, don't expect me to help you! Why do I help ugly girls like you?"

He heard the door slam and he knew Sarita was long gone. He turned to look at Quintina and Eva. The two of them disapprovingly shook their heads at him.

"You know you're wrong for that, Franco." Eva told him, her arms folded and walking away from him. Quintina agreed before following her.

Franco was left in the hall, feeling lightheaded and exhausted. That Sarita is a piece of work.

The sexual tension though! And it gets worse... On to chapter 19! Thank you for reading!