Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for reading! You all are amazing! And omg! I can't wait to see the second installment of Pasion! But kind of disappointed Mr. Brown won't return...but I hope the producers and writers can make it work!

Anyways...

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

(I do not own this Novela!)

Chapter 36

Franco was sure of his love for Sarita.

He knew he did. Even after the entire fiasco, he knew that he had it bad for the strong little woman who risked her life, not once, but twice for him.

Never mind his worries and troubles, Sarita proved to be so much more than he could ever imagine.

He galloped back home, his thoughts plagued with his carnal desires and how much he would have risked it all if he'd carried on to consume her for all she was worth.

He felt a nagging voice in the back of his head whenever he thought of her soft touches and how unbelievably tantalizing her lithe and supple body felt against him. The familiar heat stirred in the pit of his stomach, his fingertips still praising that undiscovered taut yet tender flesh beneath her blouse. He smiled to himself, not able to forget how incredible she looked earlier in that pale yellow blouse. He had never seen her wear something so revealing yet so modest at the same time. That blouse was slightly unbuttoned and the hemming stopped midway, revealing a sliver of her creamy toned stomach.

How he yearned to graze that sliver of skin with his lips and feel her tremble at his gentle caresses.

Franco stopped himself from going any further into more titillating thoughts. He respected her.

It was Sarita. The toughest and the most reserved of the Elizondo sisters. Based on what he knew and what others have said, Sarita was no nonsense and demanded respect. As far as respect goes, Franco knew he could do a lot better. What he had almost done with her was strictly out of bounds, especially with a woman who had no experience with men.

But he couldn't help it.

He needed to show her how much he wanted her. How much he needed her.

Most importantly, how much she clearly meant to him.

It still kills him to know how overwhelmed she still was with his past love affair with Rosario Montes. That will forever plague him for he had started to gain Sarita's trust. That's something he doesn't intend to lose. As troubling as they have been towards each other in the past, Franco knew Sarita was everything he could ever wish for. She was warm, loyal, brave, and even pure.

He knew he needed to control himself with Sarita. She wasn't ready and he will be willing to respect that.

Franco reached his house and his thoughts were then replaced with the looks of Juan, Oscar, and Eva's concerned faces towards Ruth. Franco learned that his brothers and Eva were truly bothered that Ruth only wanted to help Quintina in the kitchen. Because of this help, his male employees were smitten with Ruth's beauty and even had filthy thoughts about her. Franco frowned, for he was having such thoughts of Sarita, who like Ruth, deserved the upmost respect.

Franco sided with his brothers and Eva. Although Ruth may not be a blood relative, she was seen as their little sister and forbade her to submit herself to lowly work since she was an educated young woman with so much class. She argued that she was only trying to be hospitable, but respected the brothers' wishes nonetheless.

Soon after their brief discussion with Ruth, the Reyes received a very surprising visit from Jimena and a very badly beaten Olegario, the Elizondo horse trainer. It was great seeing Jimena, especially for Oscar who couldn't hold on to his hat at the sight of her. Franco wished Sarita would've accompanied her younger sister and their most loyal worker, even though he had just seen her that very morning. Franco distilled himself from remembering his pleasant encounter with Sarita and listened to Jimena explain her reason for her abrupt visit.

Jimena explained that Olegario had just been fired after a horrible dispute with Fernando Escandon, and practically begged Franco and his brothers to grant him a position at his ranch.

Franco and his brothers had doubts about taking in Olegario because he remembered how brutal he had behaved with them in the past. Eva spoke on his behalf, informing the brothers that Olegario was an exceptional worker and how much she owed him for everything he had done for her when she was let go from Gabriela Elizondo. Eva even added that if Olegario was hired, the Reyes brothers will not regret it.

As the days went by, the Reyes didn't regret hiring Olegario, for he had proved to be an honorable and highly responsible worker. Franco and Oscar smirked ruefully at how their gain was now Gabriela's loss.

His smirk faltered when he realized Olegario's faithful and professional relationship with Sarita. He could imagine how that could affect her. Olegario had been at her side whenever they ran through their open fields. He knew Sarita always confided in that employee and felt his gut crumble at the thought of her lamenting over that loss. In truth, what was sending him off was Fernando Escandon.

Because of that horrible man, the Elizondo had just lost one of their most valuable horse trainers. That man was capable of doing the worst and Franco found himself growing even more worried for Sarita. He hoped nothing bad was going on at the Elizondo Estate.

Later in the day, Franco and Oscar decided to drive to an important business meeting, which didn't last long. But what did last long was their shock once they returned home to see Juan and the rest of their employees hovering over three hay-covered women in the back of a pick up truck. It turns out, the three women were accompanying the elderly and equally soiled Raquel Uribe on retrieving Ruth. Much to the old woman's dismay, Ruth still remained with Franco and his brothers.

The Reyes received more visitors that very day. This time it was a very pleasant visit. Leandro and Benito Santos have arrived with their mother, Melissa Santos, a very blunt and charismatic woman who took great interest in Franco, Juan, and Oscar. Leandro and Melissa seemed to very pleased to be reunited with Ruth, especially Leandro. Melissa Santos, as flamboyant as her eldest son, managed to swoon in the Reyes' presence, embarrassing both her sons. As she spoke, she took one look at an uneasy Ruth Uribe and apologized for distancing Ruth from her adoptive mother, to which shook Leandro and even Benito. Franco and his brothers gave Ruth a worried glance at her sudden discomfort when she informed her cousins about her dire familial lineage and current situation. Benito, as gluttonous and rude as he was, was not surprised by Ruth's confession and instead taunted her with spiteful words with a mouth full of food. Franco wanted so much to deck his fat ass off his chair, but refused, so instead he made a toast for the great company.

After that beautiful dinner, the brothers were growing immensely anxious, particularly Juan. It had nearly escaped Franco's mind that his brother was soon to be married to Norma Elizondo. That day was approaching. It was approaching rather quickly. Thankfully, they all had time to prepare for the wedding. Franco swore he had never seen Juan so joyful. He was going to finally tie the knot with Norma, the woman he truly loved and bore him his first son.

They were to be wed for another two days. Oscar and Franco found it quite amusing that Juan wanted to take Norma out to dinner to celebrate. Juan's date moved Franco entirely, for he had to see Sarita. Their families were about to be even more entwined and he knew for a fact that Sarita was just as moved as he was.

Much to his bliss, he was with her by their usual spot in the fields behind their boulder, that hid them from other prying eyes.

He gathered her petite form in his awaiting arms. He held back the undulating desire firing within him as he held her against him, feeling his heart strum as he inhaled her sweet scent and mentally swooned at her radiant smile.

She did that thing she would do with her cheeks when she looked up at him and he couldn't help but crush his lips to hers.

He bit back a guttural moan when their kiss deepened, feeling her arms wrap around him and he allowed his hands to wander down the small of her back, pulling her slightly more to him. Her lush small breasts pressed against his chest as his hands began to travel lower until they grasped the thin material of her white blouse.

If he could die right now, he'd die a very happy man.

She kissed him hungrily and he gladly obliged to her, pulling her incredibly closer to him, ignoring that nagging voice in the back of his head to disrupt any unwanted caresses.

He was getting hard like before as he nibbled on her full pouty lips, urging her to part them so his tongue could tease and taste more of her.

She was incredibly tempting for her own good and her body reacted deliciously to his soft touches. She unknowingly was sending him off the edge. She was so damn warm and so soft...he couldn't stand it.

He was fully aroused but that voice in his head finally discouraged him from going any further.

He so badly wanted to make love to her, to prove to her how much she meant to him and even how she affected him. Keeping his promise, with all the strength he could muster, he regretfully pulled away from their kiss and stared into her dazed brown eyes. Her cheeks were practically glowing in that pinkish hue he'd already grown so fond of, and he couldn't help but lean forward to graze them with his lips. She giggled softly at his teasing and he allowed the sweet sounds of her giggles cloud his impure thoughts. His hands toyed with the hem of her blouse as he peppered her tinted cheeks with chaste, but languorous kisses.

He felt her tremble against him, her small hands sliding from his shoulders to rest on his forearms.

His heart strummed softly in his chest when he stopped his teasing and stared straight into her eyes, which gleamed like two precious fireflies.

If only she knew how beautiful and utterly remarkable she was to him.

There's no other woman who could ever compare to Sarita.

He did love her.

"Every day…" he began to say, staring intently into her eyes. "I'm more in love with you."

She blushed harder and he smiled at her in endearment. She smiled back and averted her eyes from his. He pulled her tightly to him and she gasped at his evident arousal.

"I don't know how long I could wait until marriage." he admitted to her, watching the color on her cheeks deepening.

He knew he was drawing a line, but he couldn't help it. Sarita was so tempting, and even her innocence was driving him mad with longing.

"Don't rush this, Franco." she managed to say, noting his obvious attraction to her as she looked back at him. "It's better to slow things down."

He smiled cheekily at her, observing how her caresses grew slower and tender on his arms before wrapping them back around his shoulders. He also noticed how she didn't pull away from him as he held her tightly. He grinned when she curiously looked down at where he demonstrated his obvious desire. She grinned back, finally meeting his questioning gaze. He quirked an eyebrow at her, indulged at how her pupils suddenly darkened. Could it be possible she was just as aroused as he was?

Franco smirked. Perhaps the reserved Sarita Elizondo isn't as innocent as he thought…

"Why wait?" he teased, his hands gently grasping the back of her blouse. "Don't you feel the same way? Aren't you in love with me too?"

Her smile widened brilliantly and he felt the wheels in his head turning when her lips reached for his. He gladly captured them, having the sudden urge to nip and tease them, but groaned when she pulled away.

"Of course I am." She responded.

"Yes?" he teased, willing her to kiss him again.

He stilled her, yearning to taste her just a little bit more. She stopped him before he could savor her bottom lip. He chuckled, still not willing to let her go from his embrace.

"But I think the most important thing now is to make sure that Juan and Norma's wedding goes well…" she uttered, nearly losing her sentence when Franco's fingers began to trace little patterns on her cheeks and chin.

"That's how it will be." Franco agreed, reveling in Sara's softness and how her eyes lit up so beautifully at the mention of her sister and his brother's upcoming wedding. "There's no reason for it to go bad, especially now that there's only two days left for the wedding."

"Yes, either way we should not stop helping them by giving them the wedding they deserve."

In the midst of her speaking, Franco couldn't help but run a gentle finger on her full lips, which curled up so delicately into that radiant smile that made his heart soar.

"I was able to talk to my stubborn brother.." Franco added, longing to recapture Sara's inciting lips with his own. "And I convinced him to behave himself with Norma. He invited her out on a date tonight and I know he'll be a gentleman."

Sarita smiled at him and Franco couldn't think of anything else. She was breathtaking.

"A true gentleman…" he said to her, leaning his head down to hers. "Just like this…look..."

She giggled in amusement. He swooned at the sweet sound and reclaimed her lips.

From that moment on, Franco knew that nothing could go wrong. Despite their problems and struggles, things were finally looking up.

Wink wink! Bad Sarita... just kidding. You know, from the first moment Sarita made her debut, she left a bad taste in my mouth. I was just wondering why she gotta be so stuck up? She's a very.. VERY pretty girl to be acting so darn strict! Even before she finally got with Franco, I was rooting for someone to just whisk her away and give her some good loving. That girl needed a stiff one... but then it all changed when I noticed her character development. It was pure genius! She just grew to be one of my favorites. Who doesn't love a woman who can hold her ground and a shotgun? Anywho... Stay tuned for 37! We're getting there and it will be very very STEAMY and DESCRIPTIVE! Yay! Muah!