Hi! I know! I know! I'm so bad for not having been writing! I'm so sorry! Things have been so hectic! But I hope you lovely readers enjoy this chapter! It's short, sexy, but sweet!

(I do not own this novela!)

Chapter 31

Franco slept well that very night after his first date with Sarita. It was impossible for anyone, even his brothers, to wipe off the foolish smile plastered on his face. He went straight into his bedroom, ignoring Juan and Oscar's concerned calls for him coming back home so late. They didn't have to know anything. Not yet. They've been so involved and overprotective of his past love life, so he knew that it'll stir up another argument if he admits he's been seeing his formal arch rival.

Rival.

Franco smirked at that term, knowing very well it was no longer needed. From all that hate the two had for each other, another feeling was beginning to grow into something more potent. As he managed to get himself ready for bed, Franco couldn't find the urge to sleep. All he could think about was Sara and how wonderful their first date had gone. He regretfully thought back on those other dates before her. He remembered how numb, anxious, and miserable those dates had left him. Jimena had left him anxious, the late Eduvina Trueba left him numb, and the dreaded Rosario left him completely miserable.

His smile faltered a bit, remembering how Sarita sadly pointed out his past mistakes and instantly felt like a complete asshole for never discovering her as nothing more than a nuisance. He was deeply blinded by the idea of love, beauty, and grandeur when he truly needed tranquility, support, and devotion.

Sarita proved to be all that he needed and he cursed at himself for never setting his sights on her.

When they dined and spoke about their upbringings, no matter how silly it was, she gave him tranquility. When he admitted to wanting to go back to living humbly, she gave him support instead of judgement. Finally, when he listened to her speak in regards to her family's well being, he felt her devotion.

The memories of his past mistakes dimmed once Juan's words began to play in his head.

"You could find someone else who is worthy of you! You can't let your life be destroyed by that affair you had with that bad woman. Not all women are like that. There are relationships that stay with you. That hurt and poison you. But that can't happen to you, Franco."

Franco smiled sadly to himself, remembering how deeply affected he was that day before buying the open fields from the Morales family. He really thought he could just be on guard after suffering from that horrendous heartbreak Rosario had given him. He really had no intention of seeing anyone else in fear that he would go through another possible selfish relationship, until…

Sarita.

That tornado of a woman, stormed into his path, and dismantled his guard.

Franco surrendered his heart to her.

With Juan's words still playing in his head, Franco now knew that love wasn't supposed to be selfish and obsessive as he once knew it to be. Love was supposed to be selfless, warm, and peaceful. Being with Sarita, he felt all those things.

Juan was right. There are relationships that stay, and what he had with Sarita, Franco was damn sure he was going to let that stay for as long he can. With her, life was sweeter and calmer. He finally found a love that won't harm or poison him but nourish and nurture him with tranquility, support, and devotion.

Sleep finally washed over him, a dreamy smile playing on his lips, which were still silently praising Sarita's tender and amorous kisses.

As promised, Franco met Sara back on their spot by the giant boulder.

He waited patiently for her, staring out into the distance until he spotted her riding on her horse towards him. Once she finally arrived closer, Franco jumped to his feet and climbed down from the boulder to greet her. He caught her giggling to herself, obviously amused by seeing him react so enthusiastically by her arrival.

He grinned at her, grabbing her horse by its reins to hold it steady. She smiled sweetly at him as she accepted his help to dismount her off her horse. He placed his hands on her waist so she could lean closer to him, placing her own tentative hands on his shoulders. By doing so, his hands slid up from her waist to her ribs, where his thumbs accidentally brushed the sides of her small breasts when he brought her down from the horse. He disregarded the instant burning in the pit of his stomach at the accidental feel of her firm breasts, and quickly slid his hands back down to her waist. He held her there, his fingers now kneading the intrusive suede material of her light jacket.

"How's your day going?" he asked her, watching her take off her tan hat.

"Same as always." she answered, pouting adorably at him while she swung her hat at her side.

"It's that bad at the ranch?"

He eyed her curiously, hoping Fernando Escandon hadn't done anything else to her. He gripped his hold on her and pulled her closer to him. He allowed his hands to settle on the delicate curve of her lower back. He mentally moaned in contentment, knowing that he was the only one allowed to have her so close like this.

Her free hand rested on his forearm when he felt her tense at how he was embracing her. He hoped she wouldn't pull away.

She only sighed and he felt her fingers kneading his forearm with care.

"I'm just happy I get to take a small break." she said, staring into his piercing blue eyes. "I needed to."

He smiled at her, feeling her relax in his arms as his fingers caressed her lower back. He leaned his head forward so that his lips could linger by her ear. She shivered delicately when he placed a gentle kiss on the soft skin below her ear.

"I'm just happy I get to see you." he whispered to her, his lips brushing another kiss by her jawline. "I needed to see you."

"Franco.." she gasped, her hand grasping his forearm as his lips worshipped the soft porcelain flesh of her delicate neck.

Her other hand dropped her hat at her side when his lips finally captured hers. This time, he let out a guttural moan, feeling her responding to him. She felt incredible against him as his fingers gripped the thin fabric of her cream-colored tank just under her suede jacket, pulling her more to him. She felt so warm and pliant in his arms as he lavished her soft full lips, which corresponded to his so willfully.

"Sara…" he moaned and deepened the kiss.

He felt her small hands slowly sliding up his back. Franco grinned against her lips, wondering if he would dare tease her with his tongue. Would it be too much for her, knowing her inexperience to more intimacy?

"Sarita?" he rasped, tearing his lips from hers, which were so plump and perfectly ravaged by him. He couldn't help himself and placed a couple of soft pecks on them before staring into her dazed brown eyes.

"Sara?" he repeated, bringing his hands up to caress her reddened cheeks. "May I try something with you?"

She furrowed her brows in confusion and bit her bottom lip. Franco felt himself growing hard, but tried to calm his excitement. Sarita was incredibly sexy without even trying, especially as innocent as she appears.

"Try what?" she asked, her eyes still dazed but curious.

He grinned at her curiosity and allowed his thumbs to graze her full lips, which parted slowly at his soft touch. He stopped grinning, longing to claim them again.

His hands cradled her face and his head bowed down to hers, brushing his lips slightly against hers, without adding any pressure. He needed to do this right so that he may not frighten her.

"Don't move," he whispered, his lips never leaving hers as they placed several soft pecks. "Let me show you something."

She obeyed, but he felt her hands slightly quivering as her fingers gripped the back of his jacket.

"If you don't like it…" he told her, gently nipping at her bottom lip causing her to gasp softly. "Tell me to stop."

He felt her nod her head slowly as he continued with his slow ministrations. He nipped her bottom lip once more before running his tongue over where he bit her. She gripped him again, shivering at this new experience.

"Need me to stop?" he asked, still teasing her lips as his fingers caressed her cheeks, which were growing hotter beneath his fingertips.

"No…" she answered, her breath hitching in her throat.

Franco could practically feel her melting against him as he continued on with his teasing.

"Tell me when." he reminded her.

He placed several more chaste kisses on her lips before parting them open. He felt her mewl in surprise when he gently dragged the tip of his tongue across her bottom lip, and he bit back a moan of his own as his tongue found hers, tentatively waiting for him to taste her. He could already feel a fire surging through him, yearning to taste more of her.

Sarita didn't pull away.

Franco sighed against her mouth, and proceeded to tempt her, by carefully persuading the tip of her tongue to meet his. He applied just a little more pressure as he kissed her, and moaned blissfully when she granted his tongue permission to stroke hers. He felt her shiver and gave a small moan of her own, her hands relaxing and sliding down to rest at his sides.

He was already feeling a stir in the front of his jeans as he continued to kiss her. Having her this close and to be able to touch her this way, was a privilege. But this privilege couldn't go too far. He deeply cared for Sarita, so he couldn't go any further with her, knowing that she's a woman of higher class and still too inexperienced to be rushed into his bed. At least not yet…

"Sara…" he rasped, pulling away from their heated embrace.

She looked back at him in a daze, a smitten smile playing on her lips.

He chuckled at her, pleased to know that she had enjoyed that new experience as much as he did. He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her back against him. She giggled when he leaned forward to place an adoring kiss on her cheek.

"I was thinking…" he began to say, kissing her again. "That we can go on another date?"

He felt her small hands coming up to stroke his face and she kissed him in return.

"Is that a yes?" he asked her, his eyes capturing her dazed expression after she pulled away.

She bit her bottom lip and nodded, her cheeks glowing in a pinkish hue.

Franco smiled at her and offered her one last kiss before parting ways.

He watched her leave, grinning to himself. When she was no longer in his view, he gathered himself back on to his horse and galloped home, his heart on his sleeves with more thoughts of his promising romance with Sarita Elizondo.

Down, Franco! He's a horndog, but at least he's learning. Tehehe! Chapter 32...coming right up!