Author's Note: I'm not really pacing this story a specific way. I wish I could write in chapters like the others do. This story still means a lot to me. I want it done right, but I'm struggling with the characters. It's very annoying. Once I post it, I can't go back, though, so I thought posting some more would keep me moving forward.

This is probably too repetitive or something, but I'm still without a beta. They're still sitting on the beach, not doing much. I welcome all feedback, so if you can point out something please do. I hope some of you like it, and maybe I'm learning a little about writing (good or bad, depends on your feedback!). I made some progress today … so hopefully I'll post more soon.

Zzz

Diego leaned down to place a kiss on Victoria's crusty hair as she leaned against him. The hair he loved so much wasn't so soft and silky now, and he ran a hand through his own clumpy hair. She laughed when he shook his head like a dog, and suddenly he was warm again. Victoria held such power over him, and she had no idea.

The towel fell off Victoria's shoulder, revealing her slender neck and a bit of smooth skin. The bread caught in Diego's throat. She didn't notice … no. She didn't cover herself because she didn't mind. She liked it when he kissed her neck. She wasn't hiding from him and pushing him away anymore. He couldn't really see her legs from his position, but he was almost done with his food.

He was done with his food. Diego nearly choked as he tried to swallow everything at once. He wiped his face and blushed when Victoria laughed at him. He set his plate down, then turned to take hers.

"Hey, I was eating that," Victoria complained as she held on to the plate.

So, she was still hungry. There was nothing wrong with that. They had a long night ahead of them. Diego let go of her food, deciding he could be patient and watch her eat.

Victoria blushed as he settled himself so he could watch her. She swallowed the giant lump of food which was stuck in her throat and coughed a little. "Jacqueline seems nice."

Diego's eyes glazed over as he remembered the gown Victoria had been wearing. He shook the memories out of his head. Victoria was still eating. He could manage polite conversation for a few minutes. "Yes. We met in Virginia."

Victoria stopped chewing for a moment, insecurities trying to rear their head. How many places had Diego traveled? "You've been to the United States?"

Diego shrugged.

"What was it like?"

Diego ruffled his hair as he looked back over the ocean. His trip to Virginia had not been pleasant. "I wanted to meet a doctor fellow there. I wasn't prepared… I didn't expect…" Diego stretched out his legs and looked at the sky. "Everyone has slaves there."

Victoria set her plate down and reached over to take his hand.

"I came across Jason fighting another man. There was a woman on the ground, Jacqueline, and I went to help her." Diego squeezed her hand and looked back out over the water. "That's when we met."

"What happened?"

Diego moved to the side and pointed at her legs. "If your feet are sore, I could massage them for you."

Victoria blinked at the change in subject—something Diego was quite good at doing. They'd been friends, but it always seemed Diego kept a part of himself hidden. Before, she was just the innkeeper. His friend. Now she was his wife. Shouldn't he talk to her? Was she supposed to let him change the subject? If she didn't understand what happened to put that pain in his voice, how could she take care of him?

She finally broke away from Diego's eyes to glance at her legs curled up beside her. They'd done a lot of walking today, but it was nothing compared to working in the tavern.

"My feet aren't sore." Victoria watched him frown, his hands curling and folding in his lap again. She bit her lip, unsure if she'd made another mistake. "You were telling me about the USA."

Diego stared at her legs where they were hidden from him. "There is beauty here. You are not missing anything because you haven't travelled to other countries. The world isn't always a beautiful place."

Diego saw her frown and looked up to the sky for patience. If she was going to make him talk, and wouldn't let him touch her, she could touch him. He made room, and pretended he didn't see her surprise when he fell onto his back and put his head in her lap. He continued as if he'd never stopped telling the story. "Nothing to tell. Jason wanted to marry her. I fixed her contract and brought them home with me. We left on the next ship."

She held her plate high, and she hadn't moved since he'd made himself comfortable. Diego reached up and took her hand, playing with her fingers. "I assume I can touch your hands?" He pressed a kiss to her palm. "Kiss them?" Diego didn't look up, fascinated by his mother's ring on her finger. He spread her hand against his, admiring her delicate fingers before he kissed each fingertip.

Victoria carefully relaxed her muscles as she set her plate aside, heat racing up her arm from where he kissed her wrist. She brushed her fingers through his hair, and found it easier to relax as she concentrated on combing sand out of his hair. "Fixed her contract?"

Diego closed his eyes, focused on her comforting fingers as he hugged her other arm to his chest. "She was an indentured servant. Barely above a slave. Her owner was the one who broke her arm … for loving Jason." Victoria massaged his scalp when Diego spat the word. "They're happy here."

"You probably saved her life."

Diego shrugged. "I did what I could."

Victoria continued stroking his hair. She liked seeing him like this, being able to learn his moods, his expressions. He looked peaceful with his eyes closed, but she could still see lines of stress on his face. She soothed them away, then ran her finger over his bare lip. "You did a wonderful thing. You help a great many people. Sometimes I wonder why you act as if you don't care."

"I'm also a wanted criminal in Virginia." Victoria's hand stilled, curled around his jaw.

Diego's eyes opened, and she looked away before she resumed petting him. "But you're not in Virginia. You're safe here."

Diego reached up to stroke her cheek once before taking her hand in both of his again, holding her eyes intently. "You understand that I do what I can."

Victoria's heart sank. No one noticed the improvements Diego brought to the town. Everyone, including her, only thought about Zorro. "You are the smartest man I know. People talk, you know. Your people never complain. You treat them well. You help everyone with farming, water, reading … You do more than anyone."

Diego turned on his side, glad she didn't protest as he hugged her legs. "Don't call them my people."

Victoria rested her hand on his shoulder, then leaned down to kiss his cheek and hug him awkwardly. "Your workers. You pay them well, give them power to live their own lives. I didn't mean anything by it."

Diego only knew those he hadn't helped. He liked being Zorro. Since Victoria turned Zorro away yesterday, he'd begun to feel a budding sense of shame. He was going to Monterey this week… why not last week? Last month? What lasting impact had Zorro actually achieved? Or had he just wanted to do as he pleased, without the consequences he'd had to escape in Virginia?

His fingers stroked her knee once, then fell to the blanket. How did they get on this subject? They were here to forget. Wasn't she done eating yet? "Can't I hold you?" Diego leaned up on his elbows, but didn't look at her as he poked at the blanket beneath them. "I won't do anything. I won't break your rules."

Victoria felt a tightness in her chest as she stared at the top of his head. She didn't mean to insult her husband, and now he sounded so somber. She glanced at the towel around her shoulders, but the wind was hardly blowing. She dropped it behind her and fidgeted as she tried to figure out what to do. Diego moved to the side, and Victoria didn't look at him as she scooted down on the blanket.

Diego's fingers stroked down her arm, then he took her hand and lifted it over his head, tucking it around his shoulders. For such a big man, he was incredibly gentle. He turned on his side, digging into the sand so he could tuck his giant of a body close. After a moment, she shifted under him so she could play her fingers through his hair as he settled against her, his arm wrapping around her waist.

"We can stop off and make a few visits on the way back home."

His voice felt nice, the sound vibrating into her chest.

"You're going to introduce me to your tenants?"

"You're going to be my wife, why wouldn't I?"

She let out a chuckle, and was vividly reminded of parts that jiggled beneath his head. Her fingers clenched in his hair before she continued petting him, hoping he hadn't noticed, but his arm tightened around her. Her fingers tugged at his hair to keep him still, but he wasn't as careful to avoid touching her as he leaned up on an elbow to look at her.

"What was funny?"

Victoria fidgeted, unsure what to do now that she couldn't distract herself with his hair, her arm flopping aimlessly above her head. The breeze cooled her body where he wasn't holding her, where his absence left her feeling more exposed though he kept his eyes on hers. She broke his gaze, and he didn't move out of her way as she brought her arm back to her side. She felt mean as she untangled herself from him, and her hand slipped up to her stomach to still the butterflies there when Diego's lips pressed together.

She licked her lips to gather enough moisture to answer. "Nothing."

It wasn't that she wanted to run away from him, or push him away. Maybe she just wanted a blanket … or her towel back around her shoulders. The breeze was cool. It had nothing to do with the way he scowled at her hand, or the way she felt his gaze as he took his time looking at her now. Victoria reached up to adjust her gaping collar, saw him watching, and put her arm down again. Maybe she could distract him, grab her towel when he wasn't looking.

Not a chance.

Diego's eyes darkened as they moved over her and he leaned closer, as if his arm wouldn't hold him up much longer.

"I misspoke. You are my wife. My partner. My companion." Diego saw her eyes soften as she looked up at him, and he bent to kiss her forehead. He reached up to tug at her collar himself, pulling the shirt properly up her shoulder, then running a finger down the small V left by the few open buttons on her chest.

Victoria grabbed fistfuls of the blanket beneath her, closing her eyes against the heat of his touch. The unspoken word "lover" shouted in her mind, and she waited for him to remind her about a wife's duties to her husband. She sucked in air when his hand barely lighted on her stomach, his eyes lingering a little higher. Her hands itched to push him away, so she edged her fingers beneath her hips to keep herself still.

Bit by bit, she was doing something right, she told herself. The disappointment was gone from his voice, his face no longer lost in troubled memories. She'd taken care of her husband, had changed his mood. At least, her body had. She closed her eyes to breathe as his fingers traced over her middle. She wanted to protest his easy possession of her… but he said he loved her – all of her. Everything in the last twenty-four hours had not been about sex, even if it might seem that way to her. So he wanted to touch her. That didn't hurt, and he'd already promised the pain could wait until later. So she wouldn't think about it.

"Your stomach still touchable?"

He was asking permission again. She couldn't say yes last night and change her mind now. Her fingers gripped the blanket beneath her as he settled closer, as if waiting for her to object. He pressed his lips against her stomach, and Victoria wondered where the fire was as her body heated. It was indecent to be laying out here beneath the sky so undressed, with only one layer of cotton between his hand and her stomach.

"Kissable?"

Maybe he wasn't asking for permission. He'd already kissed her, hadn't he? Then he kissed her again, and it was different. She glanced down to make sure her shirt was still in place, because the heat from his breath was spreading through her body too fast. His fingers stroked along her waist, and Victoria wondered why his touch felt so different than last night.

It wasn't her missing corset, or the chemise Rebecca had convinced her not to wear. Her breasts tingled, warming at the knowledge that this was how she slept, alone in her bedroom. Her bedroom would soon he his. The corset was supposed to make her attractive. Now she felt … inadequate … and that didn't make sense.

Diego lifted his head to look at her, and his other hand bent to stroke her hair away from her red face. "Victoria?"

Victoria blinked, because she hadn't heard the question. She'd say yes to anything he asked right now, so she nodded again. She watched as he lowered his head, and true to his word he avoided places which she'd set off limits. He kissed her stomach again, and left more trails of fire above her shirt with the gentle touch of his fingers. She tensed as his fingers grew near a place where her shirt had ridden up, caught beneath her. How had she missed that? Instead of taking, though, again he moved the shirt for her comfort. Every time he covered her, he left her feeling more exposed. Feeling that she'd done something wrong – keeping her husband from doing as he pleased.

Diego caressed her hip lightly on the way back up to her waist after smoothing out her shirt. He spoke against her stomach, teasing himself with the warm skin just beneath the single layer of dark material. "You might be a mother soon." Diego glanced up at her face, his hand still resting on her belly as if to protect it for the future life it might hold. "How do you feel about that?"

Victoria's hand came to his cheek and brushed through his hair. The hope in his eyes fed her hope to have a child, buried deep down inside her, beneath all the insecurity and fear. She smiled weakly. "Happy."

Diego returned her smile and tickled her stomach, wishing she was more enthusiastic. "Maybe a birthday present for you. Be funny to share your birthday with your child."

Victoria took a shaky breath, trying to find her voice. "My birthday is in June."

Diego kissed her stomach again then rested his head on it, capturing her gaze. "Your birthday is June 13th. It's September 20th. That's almost nine months."

Victoria smiled when his eyes closed as her fingers stroked his scalp, pleased he knew her birthday. She took a deep breath and released it slowly as she focused back on the conversation. She hadn't even let him into her bed. What about Rebecca? "You're that confident? What if…"

Diego pressed another lingering kiss against her stomach before he settled himself next to her, waiting for her to finish. His hand smoothed over her stomach, then wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. "What if…" he repeated.

Victoria traced a finger over his face, seeing the worry she'd put there. Maybe she should feel bad about that, but… this was part of what she wanted. Sharing her worries. "Rebecca told me she lost a baby. Said she hasn't been able to conceive again."

Diego experienced another moment of panic, thinking back to his conversation with Luis yesterday. He wrapped his arms around her, buried his face in her neck. Just as suddenly, he released her, falling onto his back and resting his arm over his eyes.

Victoria watched him, for the first time wondering if Diego wasn't as confident as he seemed. She turned to her side, resting her head on a fist as she looked at him. Victoria's fingers twitched against her hip briefly while she hesitated, then she lightly placed her hand on his chest. Diego's mysterious eyes met hers, but now she didn't feel like she could read him at all. His hand came up behind her to stroke over her hair, and it seemed natural for her to rest her head against his shoulder. His arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer while his fingers lightly traced her arm.

"The sunset is nice."

Diego glanced at the ocean again, the view awkward from laying flat in the sand. "We're missing it."

Diego sat up, setting her away from him and turning to grab some blankets. He spent a few silent moments building up something to lean against, then sat back against the blankets and picnic basket. How could he reassure her when he was just as afraid?

Victoria watched what he was doing, worried by his silence, then sat close to him to look out over the ocean as the setting sun stretched out over the water. She squeaked when Diego picked her up and set her between his legs, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to rest against his chest.

Diego nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent before placing a single kiss behind her ear. Victoria's head fell back against him, her neck weak from the tingling which raced to her toes. He took comfort from her softness, then settled them until her legs were straight, cradled between his own. "Any rules about your legs?" Diego's fingers pressed into her sides. "Are you comfortable?"

Victoria pointed her toes, then waved them back and forth. Diego's legs were much longer than hers. His feet were huge, his legs covered in black curly hair. She remembered it tickling her own legs as they tangled beneath the water. Her arms fell on top of his as she relaxed back against him, deciding it wasn't worth fighting when she was so comfortable.

Diego remembered all the times Zorro rode into town to find Victoria in the middle of a crowd standing up against the alcalde… or worse, standing alone. All those times he wanted to pick Victoria up and carry her away someplace safe before dealing with the soldiers. She was always right in the middle of trouble. On the other hand, Luis was right… nothing would ever happen if he lived in fear. He couldn't protect her from everything.

"Rebecca is a good woman, and I'm sorry they haven't been able to have another child." Diego hugged her tighter. He had her now, he wouldn't let anything happen to her. "There's no reason to think you won't get pregnant … or that you won't enjoy sharing my bed."

Victoria frowned as she watched a gull fly away. He sounded perfectly confident again. He also made it sound like she was insulting him with her protests. Diego's legs moved closer, and Victoria thought she should be uncomfortable sitting in damp, gritty clothes, pressed up against his damp, gritty clothes. Instead, she felt surrounded by warmth. It was becoming harder to voice those protests.

When Victoria threaded his fingers with hers, effectively removing his hands from her stomach, Diego relaxed his hold.

"We have to live our lives, Victoria. We can't waste our time worrying about all the things that could happen. We have to seize the day."

Victoria chuckled silently, looking down at her pants, at their legs so close together. She had changed a lot in one day. Diego was chipping away at the armor she'd built around herself being a single woman constantly surrounded by men. "Like marrying someone the same day you propose?"

This time Victoria wasn't surprised when his arms drew tight around her. She smiled when he nuzzled her neck, her own hand reaching up to stroke his hair as he pressed his lips against her pulse.

"I love you," he whispered against her ear. "I couldn't resist." He tucked his chin over her bare shoulder when he felt her tremble. "Is this alright?"

Victoria heard the unspoken question. She held perfectly still, because now she could feel the heat of his arm beneath her breasts. If she relaxed…

He'd promised not to touch her breasts. He wasn't… technically. Diego was a scientific man. He would probably say something like that. She'd have to be more specific in the future… but really he wasn't bothering her. He was just holding her, as he'd done often since their marriage. She'd been specific about the important things, and even now he was simply asking if she was comfortable with his hold.

Diego pressed tiny kisses along her neck, his heated breath making shivers spread and build at each touch of his lips. A hand moved up to caress her skin as he moved to kiss the other side. His lips barely touched her ear as he whispered to her. "You can touch me, too, you know."

Victoria forced her eyes open, tried to catch her breath. His legs were right there. Her hands rested on his arms because she had no other place to put them … except on him.

She remembered how she'd enjoyed wrapping herself around him this morning while they made breakfast. She was fascinated by his body, even as it scared her. He loosened his hold, and she let her hands relax on top of his thighs. He kissed her neck in encouragement, but how was she supposed to know what to do? She thought of how his hands felt on her, but his legs were hard as stone. She could feel the muscles twitching beneath her, but she couldn't feel his warmth through the fabric. Couldn't see his skin.

She wiped at the grains of sand which clung to his pants, but they didn't move. He flexed and she traced the muscle, still hard and unyielding beneath her. He could hurt her, so easily. Yet she wasn't uncomfortable sitting here. The wet fabric was warming the longer she touched him. She liked it when he held her against him, even when his fingers clenched tight around her. She stretched her hand across his thigh, and once again felt small.

Victoria felt his body respond and she faltered. She hadn't meant to make him respond. She frowned slightly as she remembered that uncomfortable conversation. Diego was so technical about something which before now had been vulgar and rude. She gave herself the lecture which was becoming familiar to her. Diego was her husband. He loved her. He showed her things, listened to her, shared everything with her. He wanted her to share his bed, and that was his right. An endless loop of reasons raced through her mind why she should never push him away or flinch from his touch.

She remembered the alcalde and his mocking words. He would be shocked, just as she was. Diego knew how to kiss a woman, knew everything about romancing a woman. She wasn't sure why Diego hid so much of himself, but he was letting her see the real man. Diego was hardly hopeless … or helpless as many believed. She felt a flutter in her chest, butterflies in her stomach. Was that love?

She shifted to the side to look at him, her mouth gaping when she caught the hungry way he was looking at her chest. Just as quickly, the look was gone. For how long?

Diego shifted away from her, and Victoria stopped him. "Stay still, you didn't do anything wrong."

Diego kissed her fingers, then bent to gently kiss her lips. "You're incredible, you know that?"

Victoria felt her face heat up again and she shook her head before turning to look over the water. What had they been talking about? "So you don't worry about anything?"

"That's not true." Diego kissed her hair, happy when she settled back against him, pulling his arms back around her … if not as close. Here, he wanted to forget. It wouldn't help Victoria to think he had no worries, though. "You know my mother died in childbirth?"

Victoria shuddered and covered his hands with hers. Then she twisted to wrap her arms around Diego's waist, seeking out his soothing heartbeat. Diego moved to cradle her close, and she didn't know who was comforting who.

"It's just as terrifying to know your mother was executed for treason."

A chill raced down Victoria's back. "How did you know that?"

"My father told me one day. I was upset. I wanted you to stay out of trouble." Diego's hands smoothed over her drying hair before hugging her. "My father said you were just like your mother. You terrify me."

"I'll stay out of trouble." Victoria squeezed her arms around him. "And I'm sure you will read every book ever written about childbirth if I get pregnant. Our baby couldn't ask for a better father."

Diego smiled down at her. "You think so?"

Victoria reached up to caress his cheek. His cheeks weren't smooth anymore, but she liked how the prickly stubble felt against her hand as she stroked his face. Arms and legs got tangled, and Diego's body certainly wasn't soft to lean against. Diego moved easily, as if he'd spent years learning how to keep her close, how to fit her body securely against his.

Diego pressed his lips against hers, barely brushing over her lips before kissing her cheek. He put a finger under her chin to kiss her more thoroughly, pulling her closer when her fingers threaded into his hair. His hand smoothed over her back, smiling against her lips when she gasped.

"Your rules," he reminded her, raising one eyebrow in challenge. He gave her an innocent kiss on the nose as his hands lifted her soft bottom.

Victoria tried to catch her breath, wondering if she'd been too hasty with her permissions. "It's different out of the water."

"Worse?" Diego smiled broadly, lifting her up for a bone-melting kiss. "Or better?"

Zzz

Author's Note 2: Thanks to all my friends on the Facebook Zorro group who keep me encouraged through hard times.

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