My thanks to PamZ. Her transcripts contribute significantly to the creation of this story.
Every word you recognize from the series isn't mine.
This chapter is the T-rated version. The M-rated version of this chapter is posted separately on the M-rated part of the site.
Chapter 30
Victoria woke up carrying a smile on her face. She hadn't slept this well in ages. Diego was lying next to her, his arm possessively wrapped around her waist.
Diego had stayed with her.
They had talked late into the night, expressing things that should have been said months ago.
Around five o'clock, they had both woken up and quietly sneaked into the kitchen, both feeling hungry. Victoria insisted that Diego show her the cave, despite the early hour. They had breakfast there, as Diego gave her a tour. Afterwards, he suggested going back to bed. Although she protested because it was past seven, and she would normally be up by then, Diego didn't listen. "Doctor Hernandez prescribed bed rest for both of us," he had said.
"I feel fine," she answered, laughing as Diego pulled her into her room. For the first time, the large bed seemed to invite her to relax and enjoy the soft pillows and luxurious bedding.
Diego had written a note to Felipe, requesting not to be disturbed, and then, she had seemingly fallen back asleep.
Diego wasn't sleeping. His eyes were open and focused on her. "What time is it?" she asked in a sleepy voice.
"It's time for a siesta," Diego replied, gently stroking Victoria's upper arm. For the past hour, he had relished the privilege of watching his sleeping wife.
Victoria turned her head enough to see the clock. "Eleven o'clock is not siesta time," she reprimanded him.
"It almost is." He planted a kiss on her shoulder and said, to distract her, "You're beautiful."
Diego brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, cupping her head. Encouraged by the tender caresses, Victoria kissed Diego.
He stopped Victoria as she tried to leave the bed.
"Diego, come on. We're already behaving scandalously by staying in bed til this late" she weakly protested.
"Maybe you are. I never do anything else, ask my father. Besides, the doctor prescribed bed rest for the both of us," he replied with a mischievous grin.
"Rest, yes, you've got that right. Diego, tell me, of all those times you stayed in bed past noon, how often were you actually even in the bedroom?" she wanted to know.
"Less often than I should have. So I have some catching up to do," Diego teased her, patting the mattress. "Starting today." A mischievous spark glimmered in his eyes as he slowly untied the ribbons of her nightgown. "Besides, my noble wife accused me of grossly neglecting my marital obligations."
"Consider it forgiven,"
"Oh no, I shouldn't get off that easy. It is the duty of a proper husband, prudish or not, to satisfy his wife in the marital bed. It was instructed on me at our wedding ceremony." Diego proclaimed with feigned seriousness.
"You're lying," Victoria said, laughing at his remark.
"No, not at all. Look it up in the etiquette rules. A don of high standing as mine should treat his wife like a goddess," He kissed her temples. "Worship her body," his hand glided over her spine. "And prioritize her pleasure above his own," he declared, tenderly kissing her shoulder. "And above all... ensure that she harbours no sexual feelings for any other man. And on that, I failed you tremendously."
Victoria raised her eyebrows at him. "I wonder which book you found that?"
Diego shrugged nonchalantly. " Oh, possible I gave it a liberal interpretation. But you heard what the padre said. The Lord installed the union between man and woman by marriage as a remedy against sin and to avoid infidelity. I made you think about kissing an other man. But I am willing to dedicate myself to the task of you having these thoughts ever again."
A smile played on Victoria's lips. He was teasing her. Well, she could do the same. "I like the gesture. I doubt you can live up to it."
"What?"
She winked at him. "Zorro is exceptionally attractive, charming, and exciting. It won't be easy for me to forget him. Prove that an ordinary don like you can be just as passionate as he might be."
Diego grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. "Ordinary don, huh? You are mistaken. I will show you how much I value good etiquette."
With a playful smile, she said, "Well, señor Etiquette Expert, I think it's high time you fulfil your marital responsibilities according to your own unique interpretation."
Diego grinned and leaned toward her. "As you wish, doña Victoria."
Victoria forgot all her attempts to object as Diego rolled her towards him. She got overwhelmed by his touches as he took his time exploring every inch of her body. Her resistance melted away, and she revelled in finally experiencing what she had missed.
.
Afterwards, Diego could only agree with the expression of their lovemaking, Victoria had just given. Wow! Despite all the stories he had heard, he had never suspected that making love to the one you loved could be so intense. This time, he had fully given himself, without fearing to show the part of himself that Victoria couldn't love. The passion had ignited so high that it had literally set them on fire. He felt a warm glow in his heart as Victoria conveyed in one word that she had also experienced it. Diego tried to move but noticed that she tightened her muscles to prevent him from rolling off of her. He smelled the subtle scent of her perfume mixed with the sweet aroma of their union.
"Victoria, I'm too heavy for you."
"I don't care," she replied, her arms tightening around his shoulders.
"But I do."
Diego grabbed her and turned, positioning her on top of his hips. "I like it better this way. I want to care for you, especially now that you carry our child." He placed his hand on her belly and thought about what the future would bring.
"Victoria, I'm sorry. I never even realized that by keeping silent about Zorro, I denied you this," Diego apologized.
Victoria smiled mischievously and planted a kiss on his chest, her lips soft and warm against his skin. "You mean us. It was partly my fault as well. I should have been honest with you." She could taste the salty flavour of their mingled sweat on her lips, a tangible reminder of their intense exertion. "I was actually quite satisfied with our, what did you like to call it? Marital obligations? But after we just did..." She laughed, her eyes twinkling.
Diego shamelessly confessed, "I never saw it as an obligation. I had to say something."
"It's not like I had anything to compare it to. You more than made up for it just now, my love. I'm very pleased you're less prudish than I thought."
.
"Imagine what would have happened if I had flirted with Zorro," Victoria mused much later, playfully running her fingers through Diego's chest hair. Her touch sent pleasant tingles through his body. "Would he have responded to my attempts to catch his attention?" she wondered, her voice filled with playful curiosity.
Diego laughed heartily and slowly shook his head. "I sure hope not," he whispered as his fingers danced feather-light over her side. "No, mi querida. That would have meant I deprived us of any chance at a shared future. Zorro will never be free to reveal himself to the outside world. So, no, Diego had never allowed Zorro to express his feelings for you."
Victoria gazed lovingly at Diego, her eyes filled with affection. She let her hand glide along his chest, feeling his strength beneath her fingertips. "What a relief," she whispered softly. "I don't know if I could have resisted the temptation if he had. When I heard of his death, it felt like a part of myself died with him. To me, Zorro is merely a tool for justice. Give me the man of flesh and blood. The man I hold here and now."
The air between them became charged with sensuality and desire. Their eyes met. Without using words, they spoke a language of passion and intimacy. Time seemed to stand still as they drew closer, their lips meeting in a fervent kiss. The fire that reignited immediately revealed an untamable passion.
.
After countless times of making love, talking, and laughing, they finally fell asleep in each other's arms, exhausted. They were both unaware of the consequences of engaging in sincere, passionate love. They didn't know the following morning, they would wake up tangled in crumpled sheets, naked with their limbs intertwined. Both were still unaware that Victoria would have a few red marks on her neck. That she would bear a bruise on her left hip in the shape of Diego's fingers, and her breasts would feel more sensitive than usual.
Victoria was still oblivious that she would blush with embarrassment upon seeing Diego's back adorned with long vertical lines caused by her nails during the most intense moments of passion. Likewise, Diego had no idea that his back would be more painful and sensitive, no longer due to his fall.
They still had to discover the joy of waking up exhausted in the morning, knowing they had shared something special.
Neither of them knew how it felt to awaken with muscle soreness in unfamiliar places, knowing it was caused by countless, breathtaking expressions of passion, longing for more.
.
Doctor Hernandez could be satisfied. In the following days, his patients only left the bed for the minimal necessary tasks.
.
Four days after the air between Diego and Victoria had cleared, Don Alejandro was startled when he saw it was the doctor's carriage parked near the hacienda. He rushes inside and finds his son Diego, the doctor, Felipe and Victoria in his son's bedroom.
Diego sees the door open and, upon seeing who enters, calls out happily,
"Father! How was the journey?"
Don Alejandro walks towards the bed. It is well past noon, and even for his son, it is an unusual time to still be in bed.
"With Zorro's help, it was very successful."
Diego is particularly curious about what the governor said.
"What did they say in Monterey?"
Don Alejandro taps the blankets twice before speaking.
"A territorial commission is coming to investigate the actions of the Alcalde." He looks concernedly at Diego. But what's wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?"
Diego shakes his head with a grin on his face.
"No, father. It's a long story. I... uh..."
Victoria blissfully laughs and interrupts him.
"The old mare didn't like having him on her back."
Don Alejandro chuckles.
"The old mare threw you off? " He laughs heartily. "Really, Diego, don't tell me you need riding lessons."
The doctor closes his bag.
"Doña Victoria, I'm glad to see you look so much better."
Don Alejandro looks concernedly at his daughter-in-law.
"Victoria, what does the doctor mean?"
Victoria turns to don Alejandro.
"I'm pregnant!"
Don Alejandro's eyes widen in surprise, and he embraces Victoria to express his joy.
"My child, that is fantastic news! A grandchild, what a blessing. Congratulations to both of you!" He turns to Diego. "You make me very happy."
Diego utters. "Thank you, father. We are incredibly pleased by it as well."
The doctor smiles contentedly and packs his bag. In a few minutes, it has become evident to him that the relationship between Victoria and Diego has significantly improved in the past few days.
"I'll leave you now to enjoy this wonderful news. But don't forget, doña Victoria, rest is crucial during pregnancy. I want to see you for an examination next week. And beware, I don't catch you working." The doctor warned her.
"Don't worry, I will," Victoria promised him.
"Well, I'll be off. Take good care of each other." After doctor Hernandez had said goodbye, he left.
Alejandro proudly looks at his son and daughter-in-law.
"I'm becoming a grandfather. Let's celebrate this joyous occasion! Felipe, fetch the finest bottle of wine from the cellar!"
.
They laugh and raise their glasses to toast to a future full of happiness and hope. A new life was on the way, and the de la Vega family was ready to welcome it with open arms.
.
An hour later, Victoria closes the bedroom door and turns the key in the lock.
"Finally," she sighs.
Diego watches as she seductively sways her hips towards the bed.
He looks at her questioningly. "Did you have any plans for today?"
Meanwhile, Victoria is undressing. Diego throws the blankets aside.
Victoria has bared her upper body. "Based on the doctor's advice, I want to persuade my husband to stay in bed for at least one more day."
He grins and watches as she pushes her skirts down her hips and climbs onto the bed through the foot end. "And how did you plan to achieve that?"
She comes crawling towards him and gives him a wet kiss, removing the ribbons from her hair.
Diego gasps at the prospect of what she seems to have in mind.
Her mouth was hovering way too near a body part she had kissed yesterday not to think of it.
Black curls cascaded over her shoulders.
Victoria looks at him, extremely innocent and coquettish.
"By doing exactly as is expected of me, being a proper wife of my social class."
.
.
End of the first eleven episodes in an alternative form. I would love to hear your feedback on what you think of it.
I've had an epilogue ready for a while, consisting of four chapters based on two episodes from the second season that I think will fit here nicely. Actually, the idea and the initial draft for the epilogue were completed around the time the third chapter was posted. I'm looking forward to finally being able to share it. A new story is bubbling in my head. Just need to think of how to solve a few loose ends.
See you soon, and don't hesitate to leave me a review.
