Chapter 5

Two days later Ignacio felt like a fool as he rode through the park. He had arrived thirty minutes ago and although he had seen several prominent citizens, he hadn't seen her. As he walked his horse along the pathway, he decided that he would only wait another ten minutes and then he would leave. He thought about Carolina de Alvaro and knew that even if he didn't have a liaison with her, that just knowing her would place him within her circle of friends. At least he hoped it would. She was very influential and he planned to take full advantage of it. But the longer he waited in the large gracious park, the more his temper rose

Carolina was late and she was anxious, she had a feeling that Sergeant de Soto was not the type of man to be kept waiting. Her husband had decided to have a dinner party the night before without telling her. The party had gone well into the night and she had retired to her rooms later than normal. She was over an hour late when she finally made it to the park and soon she saw the Sergeant up ahead. He had stopped and was grazing his horse on the lush green shoots of the lawn beside the pathway. She smiled to herself, he had a lot to learn; one simply does not graze their horse in the park.

"Sergeant de Soto, what a pleasant surprise, I didn't know you come riding here." she smiled innocently.

Ignacio turned his head at the soft feminine voice and bowed his head slightly. "Ma'am, I thought to have a change of location to exercise my horse but somehow it's not what I expected." he replied coldly. He was angry, at her, at himself, he had stayed in the park long after he had decided to leave.

It was then, that she noticed how furious he was and it stunned her. Normally a gentleman would hide his anger from a lady especially in public but his feelings were very close to the surface and it was as though he didn't care if she saw his temper. Again she was struck by the difference in their stations in life. "Sergeant I am sorry for my lateness. I will offer no excuses as I know that you would not appreciate them."

Ignacio stared long and hard at her before he slowly raked his eyes over her curvaceous body. She was older than him by eight or nine years but she was still a beautiful but somewhat arrogant woman, her clothes was immaculate and of the latest fashion. His heart pounded faster in his chest at the thought of taming this Doña. He raised his eyes back to hers and was surprised but pleased to see a slight flush on her face and decided then that he would forgive her, this time.

"Well since we are here now, perhaps we can ride together for a time. I have to return back to the barracks by midday." he smiled at her.

Carolina chuckled lightly. "Then let me escort you part of the way Sergeant." she had felt her cheeks burn at his intense scrutiny. No man had the boldness to openly stare at her like that, considering that they only had two previous meetings.

They urged their horses into a slow pace back towards the entrance of the park.

After awhile Carolina smiled. "I notice that you are riding a mare, Sergeant."

Ignacio nodded. "I have found that mares are easier to ride, ma'am." he gave her an intense look that she couldn't mistake his meaning.

She understood perfectly. "I see, but I always preferred stallions myself. Although sometimes they can become too restless."

"That depends on the stallion doesn't it. Besides not all stallions can be broken."

Carolina chuckled at the hidden challenge in his words. "That's true Sergeant but I believe that all stallions can be broken, you just have to find the right method."

He shook his head and chuckled, he was enjoying the banter. "But you must never break the stallion's spirit otherwise he would be no use to you or to anyone else for that matter."

"Si, that's why you need to find the balance between bending him to your will or making him too wild. If that happened, he would have to be destroyed." she too was enjoying their flirting.

Ignacio snorted. "We wouldn't want that to happen, would we?"

"No, we wouldn't."

Again they gazed at each other intently, with growing admiration and desire.

Carolina cleared her throat. "Well Sergeant, this is where we must part company, but you would be most welcome to visit my hacienda anytime. We have large stables with several stallions for you to ride."

"And mares too?" he asked with a smile on his face.

She smiled back. "Of course, if that is your desire."

Ignacio grinned wickedly. "Amongst other things."

Carolina chuckled, dios he's good, she thought to herself. "Buenas dias, Sergeant."

He bowed his head slightly "Buenas dias, ma'am." he replied as he watched her ride away. He grinned as he urged his horse on and found himself looking forward to their next meeting. She could do a lot for him if he played his cards right. And as for taking her to bed, it was secondary to his ambitions but he was delighted that for once he wouldn't have to pay for the privilege.

Carolina was thrilled by the prospect of the coming liaison. She knew without a doubt that she would take him to her bed, she also knew that he would be able to take her like no other. She felt no guilt or shame just excitement. She was no longer bored.

It was almost three weeks before Ignacio could take up her offer to visit the hacienda and its stables. Not only did he have to wait to get leave but he also had to make sure that her husband would not there at the same time. It would have proved highly embarrassing for all concerned. He knew how important it was to keep it secret, his own life would be at risk if the colonel found out.

So it was on a Sunday afternoon just prior to siesta time when Sergeant Ignacio de Soto rode to the de Alvaro hacienda which was situated on the far left hand side of Montjuic. It was a large estate, with large shady trees lining the driveway up to the hacienda. It was a large wide hacienda and Ignacio appreciated the sleek lines, it was the type of home he wanted to own.

"Ah Sergeant de Soto, isn't it? I was told that you wanted to see our horses." A soft voice came from behind him.

He turned around and nodded politely at the beautiful woman. "Si, ma'am, I am interested in thoroughbreds and I might be willing to invest in a stallion."

"Or a mare, perhaps." her eyes bright with teasing and excitement.

His heart pounded hard with his own anticipation of what was to come. "Si, perhaps a mare and I was told that you and your husband have the best stables in the area to inspect."

Carolina nodded. "Gracious Sergeant. If you give your horse to Manuel here, I will show you to our stables."

Ignacio dismounted, handed the reins to an older man and followed Carolina towards the stables. They chatted about horses until they reached the long building that housed the de Alvaro horses.

When they reached the far end of the stables and he knew they were alone and away from ears of the servants, Ignacio pulled Carolina into an empty stall and kissed her forcefully. He thrust his hot tongue between her lips and plunged deep into her mouth to explore her roughly, sliding his moist tongue along her teeth, the roof of her mouth, mated with her own tongue, plunged deeper before started over again. He had wanted to do that the first time he saw her and he felt his lower body began to stir

Carolina was too stunned by his swift actions that she didn't realise what had happened until she felt his hot moist tongue inside her mouth. She pushed back and tore her mouth away and slapped him hard across the face. "How dare you! I am not one of your tavern whores that you can have your way with. You are no gentleman, Senor." she hissed angrily at him.

To her amazement he chuckled. "That is exactly why you asked me here. You want to be treated this way."

"Why you..." she fumed as she raised her hand again but Ignacio saw it and stopped her.

"You will not strike me again." he said calmly. "I know exactly why you want me, because you are bored with those fops of your own class and you need a real man to satisfy you."

Carolina was furious at him. "And you're the man to do that, I suppose."

"I know I am and so do you. That is why you chose me." he said conceitedly. He was thoroughly enjoying this power he had over her, he had seen through her ruse and he was going to use it to his advantage. Never before had such a significant opportunity for advancement come his way and he wasn't going to let it go by without a fight.

"How dare you!" she hissed again, she couldn't believe what was happening, it wasn't turning out the way she had expected.

"I dare because I can. I am willing to ease your boredom but I want something in return." he said evenly.

Carolina was too flabbergasted to open her mouth.

"I have no desire to spend my entire life in the military, I want more than that. And I believe that you can do that for me. You are well connected both with your husbands' family and your own. You know many influential people from the high ranks of the military, to large landowners, to politicians, and even to the Royal Family. I want introductions..."

Carolina finally found her voice. "Of all the selfish, self opinionated, arrogant...I would never..."

Ignacio interrupted her. "I will give you a couple of days to think about it." he turned to leave. "You know where you can find me and it wont be riding through Ciutadella Park." he started walking towards the doors of the stables, feeling very pleased with himself.

Carolina was absolutely livid, never before had any man talked to her the way he had just done. Never had a man dictate terms to her, never had a man tell her upfront what he wanted from her. She had always known that the others wanted the same thing from her connections but it had never been discussed, it wasn't a gentleman's way to be so blatantly ruthless. Then her anger disappeared as she recalled her reasons for this liaison, she was bored, just as he had surmised and she had even thought about educating him in the ways of higher society, which is what he wanted anyway. She shook her head, and chuckled loudly. His audacity, arrogance and temper matched hers and she was aroused by it.

"Sergeant, Sergeant de Soto. I don't need time to decide." she called out just as he reached the doors of the stables.

He stopped with a look of triumph on his face and turned around, saw her walking slowly towards the middle and moved back to her. "We both get want we want." he said as he reached her.

"Si, we do." she confirmed.

He pulled her into his arms once more and kissed her hard, thrusting his tongue through her parted lips but this time she was ready and their tongues battled for dominance over the other, neither one giving in until they had to come up for air. They panted softly as they gazed with growing desire, into each others eyes.

When Ignacio moved to kiss her again, Carolina pushed him away. "I think our first lesson should be how to treat a lady." she smiled warmly at him as she began walking out of the stables.

Ignacio chuckled. "Very well." as he followed her outside.

And so began the torrid love affair between Doña Carolina de Alvaro and Sergeant Ignacio de Soto.