Wolves of the Pacific

by greenpeach20

In 1902, Renesmee Cullen grew tired of the tedious life of moving around with her family and decided to make the journey west as a mail order bride. Yet a chance encounter with a reddish brown wolf would change her life forever.

84. Chapter 84

Chapter 84

"Have you read the paper?" Kevin asked when Alphonse stepped into his office with the German newspaper.

"I skimmed through it," he said.

"Anything in here I need to-" Kevin started, but stopped when he opened the pages and saw a story that, when translated, listed the headline as: 'Jews for Sale – Who Wants Them? No One."

"I see you saw the story on that conference in Paris about relocating Jewish refugees?" Alphonse said.

"It's not a story, it's a mockery," Kevin said bitterly and nearly tore the newspaper but instead just put it down on his desk.

"Evidently, that conference wasn't very successful," Alphonse said.

"I gather that," Kevin said with a groan. "That fucking approval can't come through fast enough."

"They're still awaiting approval?"

"They were last I heard," Kevin said. "I already bugged Gabriella yesterday and that's all she knows."

"It won't be much longer," Alphonse reassured. "Don't let the newspaper bother you. As long as they're in Paris, they're safe."

"I'm not so sure about that anymore," Kevin said. "Germany's already annexed Austria and now their anti-Jewish propaganda and policies are getting worse and worse. Now he wants the Sudetenland in the Czech Republic. Next he'll probably want France. Germany lost some territories there after the war."

"I'm sure Amber will be alright," Alphonse said. "You've all done everything you're supposed to do and they're pending approval."

"Easy for you to say," Kevin grumbled. "This shit wasn't this difficult when you came here."

"I was here to obtain an education and, well, obtaining citizenship wasn't so hard for us. We also weren't Jewish."

"What does that fucking matter?!" Kevin lashed out, but really he knew why and it just made his blood boil more. He took a deep breath and rubbed his face while Alphonse stood there and let Kevin vent. Then there was a gentle knock at the door and they looked at Olga.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Black, but your 10 o'clock is here," Olga said meekly, having heard Kevin's outburst.

"Thank you, Olga, send them in," Kevin said with a groan. "Do you mind taking this?" Kevin asked Alphonse, handing him the German newspaper.

"I'll do one better," Alphonse said and took the paper with him. Within eyeshot of Kevin's office, Alphonse tore the newspaper and tossed it in the garbage bin. Kevin felt just a little better after that.

By September, Nathan was seeing Ada María virtually every day whether it be at her bar or on the beach on a Sunday. Scarlet wasn't warming up to Ada María though. She never let Nathan see that she didn't like her, but something was still bothering her. She just couldn't put her finger on what it was. Later in the month, Ada María went to the bar straight from Nathan's house having spent the night. She'd surprised herself and cleaned up the kitchen a little for him and left him a little note on his nightstand that she'd done so and he could 'repay the favor later'. She knew he'd get it. When the bar was opened and her employees were getting things ready, Ada María was in her dressing room getting her hair in her tight bun and a flowing blue dress. Then there was a knock on the door and she could smell the man through it.

"Come in," Ada María said and the door opened, Officer Acosta stepping in.

"Good afternoon, Miss Escada," Officer Acosta said. "As always, it's a pleasure to see you."

"The pleasure's all mine, officer," she answered. "I do hope everything's alright."

"Well, Miss Escada, I do not mean to alarm you, but we found a dead man outside an establishment just a few blocks from here. He bore the same characteristics of some other victims."

"Oh dear," Ada María feigned concern. "That is dreadful."

"Indeed," Officer Acosta said. "I came to make sure you were alright and to see if you would happen to know anything." Officer Acosta winked knowingly at her and Ada María smiled.

"Goodness, no," Ada María answered. Officer Acosta stepped in and closed the door behind him. He came around her where she was sitting at her vanity and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"You don't mind if I ask you a few questions do you, Miss Escada?" Officer Acosta asked while he started kissing her ear. She felt nothing. It was so strange, but she felt nothing. It seemed only Nathan's touch was good enough as of late.

"My apologies, Officer, but I simply must go out and dance," Ada María said. "You know how the crowd screams for me."

Officer Acosta was silent a moment before saying, "Surely you understand this is an investigation, Miss Escada. The crowd will have to wait for you to finish with my questioning."

"Now, Officer," Ada María said, "I can't leave them without me. I assure you, I've no knowledge of that poor young man's death. I do hope this is the last we'll speak of this." Ada María began applying her lipstick while Officer Acosta remained where he was for a moment before shrugging.

"I'm afraid not, Miss Escada," Officer Acosta said and finally stood. "We will continue this investigation. I do hope we do not find another such death again." Officer Acosta stood by the door and looked at her expectantly, but Ada María just smiled her own knowing smile.

"I do hope so as well, Officer," she said. "You have a nice day."

Officer Acosta said nothing and left her dressing room. Ada María finished getting ready and finished out the night as usual. Since it was Saturday, they closed early for Sunday, so Ada María went home to feed her frogs and then went up the hill to Nathan's house, knocking on the door. Thankfully, Nathan heard her and opened the door while rubbing his eyes.

"A tad early for a social call, isn't it?" Nathan said with a groggy smile.

"Perhaps a little, but I figured you still owe me for cleaning your kitchen," Ada María grinned. Nathan smiled and led her into the house and up to his room. Ada María had adjusted to being a quieter lover, at least when she was within Nathan's house. Especially after one morning when Scarlet had met Nathan in the kitchen for breakfast and asked if the 'screeching cat' had enjoyed herself the night before. After their liaison, they fell asleep in each other's arms then the next morning, Ada María woke first and went downstairs in one of Nathan's wife beater tank shirts to make some coffee.

"Morning," Scarlet mumbled to Ada María when she wandered downstairs and saw the woman in the kitchen.

"Morning, Scarlet," Ada María said.

"I didn't hear you come in," Scarlet said.

"You were probably asleep when I got here," Ada María said. "I came around 1. I'm making coffee if you want any."

"Sure," Scarlet said and sat at one of the barstools. There was an awkward silence while Ada María finished the coffee and poured herself and Scarlet a cup. "So coffee and booze are the only things you like?"

"And blood," Ada María said and smirked at Scarlet. "I am mostly vampire after all." Scarlet didn't say anything. "You have vampire in you don't you?"

"Distantly," Scarlet said.

"So I assume blood doesn't appeal to you?"

"No," Scarlet said. "Doesn't appeal to daddy or my uncles or aunt either."

"But your grandmother will only drink blood?"

"She would eat normal food when she was pregnant as I'm told," Scarlet said. "But that was it."

"Interesting," Ada María said and, after a moment of silence, changed the topic. "I was thinking of offering to take you and your father into the rainforest for a little tour."

"We've already been to the rainforest," Scarlet said.

"Yes, but not with a guide," Ada María smiled.

"Talk to daddy about it I guess," Scarlet said and sipped her coffee. Seeing as she was getting nowhere, Ada María took her mug of coffee and Nathan's and walked upstairs, leaving Scarlet alone in the kitchen. Nathan was still asleep when she walked in and placed his mug on the nightstand. She crawled into the bed and laid beside him, sipping her coffee. When he didn't wake right away, she placed the hot mug just above his skin and then touched briefly before removing, making Nathan groan.

"Morning," Ada María whispered sensually as she brought herself closer to Nathan until her breasts were just beside his face and her head hovering above him.

"Morning," Nathan grumbled and turned, bumping his head into Ada María's chest, which made her giggle. "At least they're soft," Nathan said as he got himself on his back and rubbed his face.

"I made you coffee," Ada María smiled. "It's on the nightstand for you."

"Thanks," Nathan said and sat up. "Is Scarlet up yet?"

"She's in the kitchen last I saw her," Ada María said. "I told her I was thinking of offering to take you two into the Amazon for a tour, but she didn't seem thrilled with that."

"I'm not sure why," Nathan said. "She loved the rainforest."

"I'm sure she loves the rainforest. It's me she doesn't like," Ada María said with light humor in her voice.

"I'll talk to her-"

"Oh, don't bother," Ada María said and rubbed Nathan's shoulder. "The more you nag the kid, the more she'll dislike me. Besides, I'm more interested in you anyway."

Nathan was about to say something, but changed his mind and the topic, "How was the bar? Anything interesting happen?"

"No," Ada María said. "Just another night. We did have to walk a man home after he was too drunk to walk, poor thing."

"Do you ever hunt your patrons?" Nathan asked.

"Only when I'm thirsty," Ada María said. "I prefer to be outside of the bar anyway."

"Can I ask you another question?"

"What's that?" Ada María asked.

"I don't think I've been to your house," Nathan said. "Maybe one day, Scarlet and I can come over and you can show her your aquarium."

"Maybe," Ada María said and took a sip of her coffee.

"Is something wrong with your house that we can't go?" Nathan chuckled.

"It's where I take victims sometimes," Ada María said. "Otherwise, no one's allowed in my house."

"Didn't you send an employee to your house to get your frogs?"

"The aquarium's outside," Ada María said.

"But what's wrong with your house that no one's allowed inside?"

"Nothing's wrong with it," Ada María said. "It's just my space. I don't like people being in there. If you're in my house, you'll be dead in an hour tops."

"Oh," Nathan said and shivered a little. "I guess that would apply to me too?"

"I wouldn't worry," Ada María smiled and kissed Nathan's head. "I've grown too fond of you to discard you."

"Just fond of me?" Nathan dared to ask, though he made sure he retained a playful smile.

"Very fond of you," Ada María said and gave him a kiss, the taste of the coffee strong on her lips. After a moment, Nathan pulled away and started drinking his own coffee. A moment later, Scarlet walked up the stairs and looked over the railing into Nathan's room.

"Daddy, I'm going to the beach for a while," Scarlet said.

"Hold on, Scarlet. Give me a minute and I'll get dressed and we'll go."

"No, I'd rather go myself," Scarlet said. "Don't worry, I'll carry a knife with me just in case."

"Scarlet, I would really rather you not go yourself," Nathan said more sternly. "Just give me five minutes and I'll get dressed and we'll all go." Scarlet nodded reluctantly before going into her room to get herself dressed. Nathan did the same and started getting himself dressed.

"Since you two are going to the beach, I'll get out of your hair," Ada María said.

"No," Nathan said. "We'll all go together. Scarlet probably wants to see if the neighbor kids are on the beach playing soccer. I'll need someone to talk to while I play guitar and watch the game."

Nathan looked at Ada María pleadingly and, after a moment, she shrugged and got into the sundress she'd worn to his house that morning and they went downstairs and waited for Scarlet. Once Scarlet came downstairs, they all walked to the beach, but Scarlet walked a little ahead of them. When they got to the beach, a few kids around the neighborhood were starting to gather for a game of soccer and the kids all welcomed her to the game. Nathan and Ada María sat in the sand together watching the kids play while Nathan lazily strummed his guitar.

"I really am sorry," Nathan said.

"About what? Scarlet?" Ada María said. "I told you don't worry about it. To be blunt, I'm not concerned with whether she likes me or not."

"I am," Nathan sighed. Ada María said nothing, so Nathan kept playing. A few minutes later, Ada María finally spoke.

"I'm I the first woman you've been with since your wife passed away?"

"No," Nathan answered. "There were two others."

"Oh?" Ada María said. "You and I haven't spoken of passed lovers have we?"

"It never came up," Nathan said. "Although, forgive my saying, but I doubt you know how many you've been with do you?" Nathan teased.

"I lost count years ago," Ada María said honestly. "I remember my first time, though."

"What was his name?" Nathan asked.

"Ricardo," Ada María said, but then frowned. "Wait….no that's not it." Ada María looked thoughtful while Nathan bit his lip so he wouldn't laugh. "Davíd? No, no, he wasn't my first…..maybe it was Ricardo. No, it couldn't have been Ricardo. My first time was in a café in Cusco."

"A Café?" Nathan laughed.

"Yes, a café," Ada María said. "He was one of the cooks. Ricardo wasn't a cook. I don't remember what he was, but he wasn't a cook. Maybe his name was Julio."

"If you can't remember, it's fine," Nathan chuckled.

"Do you remember the name of the first girl you slept with?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I do," Nathan said. "Her name was Zitowaye and she was part of the Hou tribe. I joined my dad to visit my dad's sisters, Zita, that was her nickname, and I met and started talking and…I guess you could say I got a little bold and asked her if she wanted to join me in the woods. So we went into the woods together with my wolf Roxanne following close behind, we found a tree and started fooling around and we had sex."

"My first time was in a kitchen," Ada María smiled. "I might not remember his name, but I do remember he was one of the cooks and we'd been flirting here and there when I'd been in the area that summer and after hours when the shop was closed, we had sex in the kitchen. In fact, I remember at one point, he had me bent over a crate of lettuce," Ada María grinned wickedly.

"And how old were you?"

"I was 4," Ada María said. "As I'm sure you're aware, that's much older in half vampire years than human years. Seeing as I'm two thirds, I grew even faster."

"I figured," Nathan smiled.

"How old were you?"

"14," Nathan said.

"A tender age," Ada María teased. "Was there anyone else before you met Tomoeh?"

"Just one," Nathan said. "She was a girl from the tribe, but we didn't really hit it off, so it didn't last. Then Tomoeh and I got married and after she died, I wasn't with anyone again until nearly a year after."

"And what was her name? The woman you were with after your wife passed away I should say."

"Tamara," Nathan said. "We still keep in touch, actually. I'll send her post cards whenever Scarlet and I stop somewhere. I slept with her friend Meg, but I always preferred Tamara. She reminded me a little of Tomoeh and it made me feel better."

"Is that it?" Ada María asked.

"Yeah," Nathan said. "Just them."

"Goodness," Ada María said. "I've been with that many women in one month."

Nathan stopped playing and looked at Ada María. "Pardon?"

"Oh," Ada María started laughing. "I guess I've never told you I've slept with both have I?"

"No, you never did mention that," Nathan said. "So what's that like?"

"You should know," Ada María teased.

"Well, yeah, I know what sex is like with a woman as a man. I've never met a woman that's done that. I have a cousin that's gay, but that's pretty self-explanatory more or less."

Ada María choked a laugh, "Well, sex with women is pretty much the same. You touch each other until you're done. Hell, we hump too. It just depends."

"Huh," Nathan said and chuckled. "You learn something new every day."

"It doesn't bother you I hope," Ada María said.

"Not really," Nathan said. "Do you remember the first woman you've ever been with?"

"Her name was Annette," Ada María said. "I met her when I first moved her and started having sex for money. I usually had male clients, but Annette came to me and told me she had peculiar tastes. By that, she meant she liked women. I told her I'd accommodate her and the rest is history. She wasn't the best looking woman I'd ever met but she more than made up for it when we had sex. After her, I was still curious and I slept with a handful of women since then. If you can believe it, I can count the number of women I've had sex with on two hands."

"More than me," Nathan joked and the two started laughing. Almost reflexively, Ada María scooted closer to Nathan and rested her head on his shoulder. Nathan returned to strumming lazily at the strings and kissed the top of her head. "Out of curiosity, do you prefer one over the other?"

"I prefer men," Ada María answered bluntly. "Women have their own charm and I'll never pass up a very attractive woman that's interested, but I prefer men." Ada María looked up at Nathan, keeping her chin on his shoulder. "Have you ever slept with a man?"

"No," Nathan said. "I've had sex in the same room as one, but not with one."

Ada María rose her brow, "Do tell."

"Well, Tamara was the first woman I'd slept with since my wife died. But her and Meg are really good friends. Tamara used to be married and she and her husband used to have sex with another couple a lot, Dan and Meg."

"They were swingers I believe is the term," Ada María said.

"Exactly," Nathan said. "But Tamara's husband died while working on Hoover Dam and Meg and Dan had been there for her after his death, so they kept up a sexual relationship. When I got to Las Vegas, Meg started flirting with me and Dan explained they have an open relationship. I'd slept with Tamara first, but after that Meg was jealous and wanted to sleep with me too, so we did. Before I left Las Vegas, all four of us just had sex in the same bed. I slept with Tamara, Dan slept with his wife Meg."

"That's a lot more boring than I thought it would be," Ada María pouted.

"I'd never done anything like that, so forgive me if I wasn't terribly adventurous," Nathan chuckled.

"That's a shame," Ada María smiled and kissed Nathan's cheek.

"Alright, hotshot, what's the most interesting thing you've done?" Nathan asked, though he regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.

"I've had sex with 4 men at once before," Ada María said and Nathan stopped playing again.

"Ambitious," Nathan said, unsure what else to say.

"It hadn't been meant to be ambitious," Ada María giggled. "It was when I sold my body. One of the men was getting married and he and his groomsmen purchased my services for one last hurrah as it were. Some rich brat and his rich friends."

"Was it at least fun?" Nathan asked.

"Eh," Ada María shrugged. "Not as much as I would have liked. They more or less just took turns. So really it was just sex with four different men in a row. Not terribly exciting."

"I shudder to think what your definition of exciting is," Nathan chuckled nervously.

Ada María grinned and nipped Nathan's ear, "I have plenty. I find you rather exciting."

"Glad to know," Nathan smiled and pressed a kiss to Ada María's lips before returning to playing. "You said you stopped being a prostitute when you had money to open the bar right?"

"Yes," Ada María nodded. "Now, I just have sex for fun. It's much nicer choosing who I get to sleep with."

"I bet," Nathan said. He almost asked if she was seeing anyone else, but he was scared to ask. So instead, he changed the topic. "So where did you learn to dance?"

"I started learning once I'd gone off on my own. There was a circus in a town I'd stopped in and they had acrobats. I remember thinking it was fascinating how they could bend their bodies in every which way and I joined them for a while to learn."

"You used to work for a circus?" Nathan almost laughed.

"I was an apprentice," Ada María said. "I only performed for the circus once and that was after I'd adequately learned how to do everything the acrobats did. They used to make me stay in a split for 20 minutes, I'd have to be bent by my back as long as I could handle, they'd make me stay in a handstand until I was getting dizzy, they wouldn't let me sleep unless I completed a test they'd assigned to me for the day. They were determined and wonderful teachers but they were rough."

"You sound like you loved it though," Nathan smiled, having heard the grin in Ada María's voice.

"I really did," Ada María smiled. "They taught me everything I know. Except how to tango. I learned that from a dance club in Colombia. Señora Día Cátia was her stage name. Her real name was Desdemona. She worked for the dance club there and took me under her wing."

"Have you spoken to her since you left?"

"She's passed I'm afraid. She died ten years ago."

"I'm sorry," Nathan said.

"Don't be," Ada María smiled. "She lived to be an old woman warm in her bed with her husband and children. I just wish I could have told her about my own dance club while she was alive."

"I'll bet she would have been proud of you," Nathan smiled. Ada María smiled back and then rested her cheek on Nathan's shoulder. She felt content in that moment. Comfortable even.

They all spent a few hours on the beach together until the kids Scarlet played with had to return home. Ada María went home with Nathan and Scarlet that day and spent the night once again. The following day when Ada María returned to the bar and got things opened for the night, she heard a knock at her dressing room door and did not get a chance to give permission for the person to come in before Officer Acosta stepped in.

"I do not believe I gave you permission to enter my dressing room, Officer," Ada María said.

"My apologies, Miss Escada, but unfortunately, we need to search the bar. I've taken the task of searching your dressing room."

"For what?" Ada María said as she stood from her vanity chair.

"We're conducting an investigation for the dead man we'd found the other day. I'd told you of it I know." Ada María stared at the man wide eyed and he smiled once he knew she realized what he was doing.

"Close the door," Ada María said. Officer Acosta did so and when he did, Ada María spoke calmly so only they would hear the conversation, but there was no mistaking the venom in her tone. "What the hell are you doing, Heraldo?"

"Performing an investigation, Miss Escada," Officer Acosta answered.

"Enough with playing coy," Ada María ordered. "We have an understanding."

"Indeed we do," Officer Acosta said. "I keep my mouth shut about your culpability in these murders and you give me sex when I ask."

"I deny you sex once and you see fit to search my bar?" Ada María asked.

Officer Acosta smiled, "Miss Escada, if I let you get away with it, who's to say what will happen? If I have your affirmation that this won't happen again, I can just as easily make this go away." There was a moment where the two of them just stared each other down. Ada María had simply lost interest in the man, but if he started actually investigating the mysterious deaths, she'd have to abandon the city and that was simply an inconvenience she didn't want to deal with. It was also something she didn't want to explain to Nathan. Before even having a chance to really allow that final thought to truly register as having crossed her mind, Ada María spread on her seductive smile and swayed to the Officer.

"Now, Officer," Ada María cooed. "I didn't realize I'd hurt your feelings so." Once before the officer, she placed her hands on his collared shirt and started to play with the flaps of the dress shirt. "How about you make those mean men go away, and you come right back and I'll make things right?"

Officer Acosta smiled, "I'd be glad to, Miss Escada. Just give me one minute."

Officer Acosta left the dressing room and removed the other cops he'd brought to his investigation while Ada María waited impatiently for him to return. She prepared herself, putting in her sponge, while she waited and eventually Officer Acosta returned to her dressing room. Ada María slapped on her most seductive smile and let the Officer do as he pleased. As last time, it was unfulfilling but if this was the game he was playing, she didn't have much other option. She didn't go to Nathan's home after that for a while. Something about doing so felt wrong to her, but she couldn't pin what. Several days passed before Nathan came to the bar. She saw him in the crowd while she danced on the stage and instantly felt much better upon seeing him, more so when she saw that it was just him. When the dance ended, she instructed her other dancers onto the stage and went right to Nathan's table. She'd not really given him a chance to say anything before grabbing his hand and led him with her to her dressing room, closing the door behind them once they were inside.

"I haven't seen you in a while," Nathan said.

"I know," Ada María said. "I've been occupied with the bar, but I'm relieved to see you. How have you and Scarlet been in my absence?"

"Working and going to the beach," Nathan said. "I think she's enjoying her weekly soccer games with the local kids."

"Pleased to know she's keeping herself occupied," Ada María said. Nathan smiled and gave Ada María a kiss before pulling away and looking into her eyes.

"Is everything alright?" Nathan asked. "You were in quite a hurry to get me back here."

"Everything is fine. I just missed you is all," Ada María lied and lifted her head back up to kiss him again.

Nathan didn't bother to argue or ask any more questions when Ada María kissed him. The truth was he'd missed her these past few days he'd not seen her. He'd feared that perhaps she was upset with him, but knowing she wasn't filled him with relief and her kisses raised his spirits, among other things. Ada María wrapped her arms around Nathan's neck and held him close and even tenderly while Nathan's hands roamed delighting in every new spot of her he touched and leaving Ada María feeling as though she may faint. Nathan's hands finally reached down and began to gently lift up the skirt of her dress so his hands could touch her bare skin. Ada María lifted her leg up to wrap it around Nathan's hip and to force him closer to her. The force made Nathan momentarily lose his balance and he leaned against her vanity. Eventually he sat on the table of her vanity comfortably and Ada María used the new freedom to straddle Nathan with her knees on the table. Nathan's hands trailed up her legs to her round hips and the flesh of her ass, loving the feel of her soft skin and Ada María adoring the rough feel of his hands upon her. As they kissed, there was a knock at the door of the dressing room and, while Nathan was prepared to stop so Ada María could address the visitor, she had far different plans and placed Nathan's head against her shoulder and neck hoping he might begin to kiss.

"Not now," Ada María said breathlessly, but enough to ensure the person on the other side had heard her. However, the person on the other side persisted and knocked again, making Ada María loose her patience and growl a little under her breath before getting off Nathan to go to the door. "This had better be fucking important," she said as she opened the door but froze when Officer Acosta was the one standing before the door.

"I would say it is so, Miss Escada," Officer Acosta said with a chuckle. Then he looked at Nathan. A moment after seeing the man, Officer Acosta chuckled a little. "I see," he finally said. "I'm terribly sorry to disrupt you Miss Escada, but I need to speak to you in reference to that investigation."

"Did you need me to wait out front?" Nathan asked, thinking nothing of the cop. Somehow, rather than be relieved by it, that made Ada María sick to her stomach.

"This may take a while," Ada María said to Nathan. "Apparently there was a murder that occurred near here and Officer Acosta here has been investigating it."

"I'd read about something to that effect," Nathan said. "I'd thought it was a closed issue according to the papers."

"It had been, but you know how families can be. They want to know what happened," Officer Acosta said, then smiled at Nathan and extended a hand. "I'm Officer Heraldo Acosta by the way. Are you a frequent patron of this establishment?"

"I'm a regular, yes," Nathan said.

"Perhaps later, I can get the chance to speak to you," he offered, but Ada María stepped in.

"There's no need for that, Officer," Ada María said kindly. "He would have no knowledge of the incident. I fear this is the first time in weeks he's been to my bar, so I highly doubt he'd have witnessed anything."

"Perhaps," Officer Acosta said. "All the same, I would at least need to ask you a few questions." Ada María was stiff with rage while Nathan stood from the vanity.

"Should I come back tomorrow or will you come to my house?" Nathan asked.

"If I don't come over tonight, you can come tomorrow unless I see you on the beach," Ada María answered uncomfortably. Nathan noticed the discomfort but assumed it was because of the cop.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait at a table for you?" Nathan asked.

"Really, that's alright," Ada María said. "In fact, you go home and I'll come over once I close the bar."

Nathan looked at Ada María a moment, but eventually smiled, "Alright, I'll see you later." Nathan gave her a quick kiss on the lips and left the bar. Once Nathan was gone, Officer Acosta stared after him as Ada María closed the door.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ada María said sternly but in a level voice.

"I just came to visit, Miss Escada," Officer Acosta said. "I hadn't realized you were entertaining a client. I hope you got to keep the money."

"He's not a client," Ada María said venomously.

Officer Acosta rose an eyebrow and chuckled, "So that's what this is about?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I must say, Miss Escada, in the five years I've known you, I've never known you as one to be smitten. It certainly explains why you've suddenly become such a cold fish."

"Don't be ridiculous; I'm not smitten. He's just a satisfying lover," Ada María said, knowing it was a lie as she said the words.

"Satisfying enough to leave you near monogamous apparently," Officer Acosta chuckled.

"Why are you here?" Ada María said. "You've already had your little 'investigation'."

"Perhaps I need another," Officer Acosta. "My wife has been in a less than favorable mood as of late and it's left me feeling rather lonely."

"Have you considered finding out the reason?"

"I know the reason," Officer Acosta said. "Her father is ill and she's worried about him. I can hardly blame her. I'll not bother her while she's occupied with more important things. Of course, that doesn't mean my needs go away."

Ada María took a deep breath to stay calm and lifted her hands to the shoulders of her dress. "Make it quick," she said.

"Make it quick?" Officer Acosta said and then laughed. "That doesn't make me feel very special Miss Escada."

"You're not special," Ada María said bluntly before the dress pulled at her feet, leaving her almost naked. She removed the last of her clothes and was a little surprised to see that Officer Acosta no longer appeared amused. "Well? Let's get on with it."

"We have an agreement, Miss Escada," Officer Acosta said.

"Indeed we do," Ada María said. "I sleep with you and you keep quiet. Not terribly complicated."

"It certainly hadn't been previously," Officer Acosta said. "I don't care if you have a boyfriend on the side, but we have an agreement and I expect you to honor it."

"I never said I wasn't," Ada María said. "I'm naked and asking you to get on with it aren't I?"

Officer Acosta smiled again and approached her, "Indeed. But I don't want you the just lay there. If I did, I'd go to a prostitute. You've always been exciting and enjoyable. I would prefer to continue having that luxury. Surely, you understand. Why should that kid get all the fun?" Ada María almost spoke, but stopped instantly as she choked on the words that formed in her mouth. Her silence, however, made Officer Acosta appear appeased. "I'm relieved we have an agreement, Miss Escada."

Officer Acosta finally kissed her proceeding as he usually would and Ada María went along with the passion and contributed as far as was within what she considered the bounds of good taste. It was enough to make Officer Acosta happy and he finally left her dressing room right after spanking her and giving her one last kiss and a wink before leaving. Ada María almost didn't go to Nathan's house after that. Something about what happened made her feel unclean somehow. She'd refused to leave the bar until she'd scrubbed every inch of her body until she was certain that she no longer smelled of the officer. Yet it still seemed like it wasn't enough. She'd dressed and left the bar and started towards her house, but then she turned and made the trip up to Nathan's house. When she arrived, she let herself in using the spare key he'd given her, but when she was inside, she just stood before the door after closing it. She wasn't sure how long she stood there before she heard footsteps from upstairs. They weren't Nathan's though, much to Ada María's chagrin. She almost left for that alone but Scarlet came down the stairs and saw her.

"You're late," Scarlet said.

"I beg pardon?" Ada María asked.

"You usually come after you close up the bar," Scarlet said.

"I did come after closing," Ada María said.

"Your bar closed an hour ago," Scarlet said. "Just decide to take a leisurely walk?" The question oozed with an insinuating tone and Ada María did not care for it. There was no way Scarlet knew anything and she was surprised with herself when the thought crossed her mind that she might kill the girl before ever letting her tell Nathan anything if she did.

"It's a lovely night," Ada María went along, figuring it was a decent enough excuse. "Or it had been just moments ago."

"I caught daddy before he went to bed," Scarlet said. "He said when he left, there was a cop there that wanted to question you about an investigation."

"As cops are known to do," Ada María said, but the suspicion in Scarlet's eyes were palpable.

"What exactly is he investigating that he would need to question you about?"

"Nothing," Ada María said.

"I don't believe you," Scarlet said.

"I don't care if you don't believe me," Ada María replied.

"You'd better," Scarlet said. "Daddy was worried about that cop questioning you, but he didn't suspect a thing. Daddy might be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and play dumb, but I sure as shit am not."

"I'm a vampire, Scarlet," Ada María whispered to her harshly and pointedly. "As such, I prefer to drink blood and, unfortunately, that frequently involves human casualties. A body was found near the bar and the Officer was asking me questions about it. I've convinced him neither myself nor my patrons or employees have any involvement or knowledge. There. Are you happy?"

"You convinced him, eh?" Scarlet said. "I bet you did."

"You listen here you little brat," Ada María said as she stalked closer to Scarlet until they were right before one another. "I don't care what you think of me and I certainly don't care if you believe me or not. But I won't lose your father to your suspiciousness and refusal to accept your father moving on with his life. Just because your mother's life ended doesn't mean your father's life has to end right alongside her. Are we perfectly fucking clear on that?" Scarlet stared at Ada María, shocked the woman would have the nerve to say such a thing. She felt tears burn her eyes at the mention of her mother, but she wouldn't let them fall.

"You will never be my mother, Ada María," Scarlet said cruelly. "I don't mean that in reference to myself. I mean for daddy. My mother was a good wife and she loved him. She didn't screw around with him. She never hurt him and she never mocked him or was disrespectful to him. You will never be her and I think, deep down, you know that. She was everything you never will be: a classy, loving woman that loved daddy with all her heart. He may have imprinted on you, but that doesn't mean a damn thing to me."

"Imprinted? What the hell are you talking about?"

"It doesn't really matter," Scarlet said with a mean smirk trying desperately not to cry, still thinking of her mother. "Even if you are his imprint, that doesn't change who you are: a manipulative whore." Rather suddenly, Ada María slapped Scarlet across the face. She started to back away, shocked just as Scarlet was as she lifted her palm to the sting on her cheek. Ada María stared at her wide eyed and kept backing away like a timid child.

"What the hell's going on?" Nathan asked, having heard the sound of a slap that woke him and came downstairs. He looked at Ada María, saw that she was shocked, and then looked at Scarlet and saw she had her hand on her cheek. "Did you hit my daughter?" Nathan asked Ada María, feeling his blood begin to boil.

"I….." she started, but she couldn't form the words. She still couldn't believe she'd actually done it. "I didn't mean….I was.."

"You were what?" Nathan asked, beginning to approach her. His stance was intimidating and, somehow, he seemed more a giant than ever. For the first time in her life, Ada María felt fear. Though she couldn't be sure if that fear was from Nathan approaching her, or fear of the aftermath of this reaction.

"Nathan, I-"

"Scarlet, go to your room," Nathan said sharply but never took his eyes off Ada María. Scarlet hesitated a moment but eventually went upstairs and closed the door to her room behind her. When they were alone, Nathan said, "You were what?" reiterating his question.

"I'm sorry," Ada María said. "Scarlet and I argued and I let myself get angry with her."

"About what?" Nathan said, doing all in his power to let her talk.

"She came upon me when I let myself into the house. I guess she'd found out from you that a cop was questioning me and she accused…she just asked about why he was questioning me. I explained why he was there and that everything would be fine, but she didn't believe me. We argued about that a moment until I told her she needed to let you move on, she told me I'd never be her mother and called me a whore and that's when I slapped her." She looked up at Nathan at last and saw he was softening, but his eyes still held a fury.

"So rather than come and wake me or step away from the argument, you saw fit to hit my daughter?" Nathan said.

"I'd not meant to," Ada María said, now getting defensive in her nervousness. "It was the heat of the moment. Frankly, I think she's intentionally trying to provoke me. I'm not Tomoeh, Nathan, and she's right: I never will be. It's about damn time that became clear and wasn't being held over my head."

"When have I ever held that over your head?" Nathan asked.

"Not you," Ada María said. "I can empathize that she misses her mother, but I won't be spoken to as though my not being her mother is some sort of crime."

A moment of silence passed before Nathan finally spoke. "You will never hit my daughter again," he said firmly.

"Then she will never speak to me that way again," Ada María said. "Either you make her back off or we'll go our separate ways."

"Don't do that," Nathan said. "Don't you dare do that."

"Do what?"

"Don't ever make me choose between you and my daughter, Ada," Nathan said. "I'll choose her."

"That's not what I asked you to do," Ada María said, now getting angry. "I said you need to stand up for me."

"I do," Nathan said. "But I'll stand up for my daughter too, and you crossed a line when you slapped her. If she spoke out of turn to you-"

"If?! What do you mean 'if'," Ada María said.

"Okay, 'seeing as' she spoke to you out of turn, I'll talk to her," Nathan said. "But don't you ever lay a hand on my daughter again. Are we clear on that?"

"Don't speak to me as though I'm a child, Nathan," Ada María said. Any fear she'd had now evaporated and all she felt was anger. "I'll not hit her again but she needs to watch her mouth with me."

"I'll talk to her," Nathan said.

"You do that," Ada María muttered and turned towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Home," Ada María said bitterly. "I'm not interested in witnessing your brand of 'talking to her'. I fear I'd see greater sternness from a butterfly upon a puppy's nose." She opened the door to leave, but Nathan's hand pressed against the door, forcing it closed right before Ada María's eyes. Her heart raced as she waited for him to speak, but he never did. She realized he hadn't known what to say, only that he didn't want her to leave. When he couldn't think of anything to say, he leaned forward and began to press her against the door. She found now that all her anger and distress was melting away. Now, all she felt was aroused.

"I said I'll talk to her," Nathan whispered in her ear. "That means I will."

"You've done that quite a bit since we've met it seems," Ada María said.

"You're both as bad as each other," Nathan said. "Strong willed and stubborn as mules." Ada María felt as though perhaps she should protest the accusation, but it seemed silly to deny something so plain. She shivered longingly when his breath caressed her neck and she licked her suddenly dry lips.

"I thought you favored that about me," Ada María said.

"Most of the time," Nathan said and kissed her neck. "I'm sure she's still awake, so I'll talk to her now."

Nathan walked away, leaving Ada María at the door. She debated whether or not she should still leave, but she decided eventually that she wouldn't and started making coffee. Nathan and Scarlet had to leave for the restaurant in two hours anyway. Nathan went upstairs and to Scarlet's room where she was tucked into bed trying to pretend she was asleep. She wasn't really in the mood to talk about what just happened now. Regardless, Nathan let himself into Scarlet's room and sat on the edge of the bed.

"So what happened?" Nathan asked gently. Scarlet stayed laying down resting on her side and staring out the window of her room.

"I asked her to explain herself about the cop, she said he was investigating murders that she admitted she was behind but had convinced the cop she wasn't responsible. I'm concerned about that."

"Alright," Nathan said. "What happened that led up to her hitting you?"

"She already told you," Scarlet said.

"I asked for your side of the story," Nathan said.

"She told me she didn't care if I believed her or liked her but that I needed to leave you alone and get over my mom being dead," Scarlet said. "She has no business bringing up mom and I told her so. I told her she'd never be the woman mom was and she hit me." Nathan sighed. Ada María had given a similar account, but of course, the way the accounts were told differed.

"Scarlet, you need to stop comparing Ada María to your mother," Nathan said. "The two of you will never come to common ground if you don't." Scarlet didn't answer, so Nathan continued. "Why are you giving Ada such a hard time?"

"Because I don't like her," Scarlet answered bluntly.

"Okay," Nathan said. "Why? You said you'd give her a chance and you two have been getting along alright since Ada and I reconciled."

"Something about her bothers me," Scarlet said.

"What?"

"I don't know," Scarlet said. "But something's not right and I don't like it. I don't care if she's your imprint. She needs to learn to show you some respect."

"How do you mean?" Nathan asked.

"Getting along with me for one," Scarlet said. "She's not really in a position to not care about what I think or say about her."

"You also need to stop abusing that," Nathan said. "I'll agree she needs to care more about you, but you also need to give her the chance to do so. You have to stop abusing your position like that."

"I'm not abusing my position," Scarlet said. "She antagonizes me."

"Can you really say you don't do the same thing to her?"

"I hold her accountable," Scarlet said. "If she takes offense to me holding her accountable, then perhaps she should not do anything that would require she be judged."

"Scarlet," Nathan said firmly, but Scarlet didn't turn to look at him, nor did she answer. He sighed and placed a hand on Scarlet's shoulder comfortingly. "She never should have hit you. I told her as much and she'll never do that again. But I need you to stop baiting her."

"Baiting her?" Scarlet muttered. "I suppose that's what she told you I do?"

"Alright, let me rephrase that," Nathan said. "You need to start treating her with respect. If you give respect, you get respect. So if you want Ada to respect you, then you need to respect her."

"I have treated her with respect and she never reciprocates," Scarlet defended.

"Then keep trying," Nathan said. "I'll tell her as much too."

Scarlet was silent a moment before saying, "I can't believe you're forgiving her that easily."

"I forgave her when I heard her side of the story," Nathan said. "And now I've heard yours, and I've come to the conclusion you both need to try harder to get along."

Scarlet clutched her blanket as she stared out the window into the sea. "I thought you said if I didn't like a woman, you'd take my side." Nathan didn't answer at first and thought a moment.

"Scarlet," Nathan started, but paused a moment before continuing. "It's easy to say when it's just us. If Ada weren't my imprint-"

"If Ada weren't your imprint, it would have never gotten this far," Scarlet said bitterly. "You'd have taken my side when she was mean to me. If she weren't your imprint, you'd have shoved her out the door without a word when you saw she hit me."

"Maybe that's true-"

"Not 'maybe' dad. It IS true," Scarlet said. She started getting watery eyed, but she fought it. Nathan on the other hand had a moment of realization. It wasn't about Tomoeh. Perhaps there was an element of that, but it was only a fraction of the issue.

"Come here," Nathan said. When Scarlet didn't move, Nathan said again more softly, "Scarlet, please. Just come here." Finally, Scarlet did as Nathan asked and sat up. When she did, Nathan took her in his arms in a hug. "I know this isn't easy for you and if I'm not handling this well, then that's my fault. I didn't want to imprint, Scarlet, but I did. I can't change that now. But you're still my daughter and you will always come first."

"It doesn't feel like it," Scarlet said, a lone tear falling despite her efforts to stop it.

"And that's my fault," Nathan said and hugged her tight. "I value your opinion, Scarlet, but I need you to make an effort with Ada, just as much as she needs to make an effort with you. You can't keep pushing her away like this."

"She hasn't even told you she loves you, has she?" Scarlet asked. "She's done nothing to warrant all this."

"Maybe not," Nathan said, "but I haven't told her I love her either. It's not the right time. Ada's not like other women."

"She doesn't deserve you," Scarlet said bitterly after a moment of silence.

"How can she try to if you don't give her a chance to?" Nathan asked and rubbed Scarlet's back, but she didn't answer. "I mean it, Scarlet. I want you to make an effort. Both of you."

"My point is she has no incentive to make an effort. All she wants is to sleep with you," Scarlet said.

"That may have been the case before, but that's changed now. I can tell," Nathan said. "You told her once that she needed to get through you before she could have me. She can't very well 'get through you' if you intentionally make the task impossible." Scarlet was quiet, so Nathan tightened his hug and kissed her head. "Just promise me you'll try getting along with her. Please?" Scarlet didn't answer, but she did hug Nathan back at last. Nathan started rocking her back and forth like he did when she was little and it made her start to feel groggy. "Sounds like Ada's making coffee if you want any."

"No," Scarlet gently shook her head. "I'd rather sleep."

"Alright," Nathan said and kissed the top of her head. "I'll wake you when it's time to get to work." Scarlet nodded and Nathan got her tucked back into bed. Before leaving, he bent down and gave her one more kiss on the head. "You'll always be my little girl, Scarlet Willow. Don't ever forget that."

Scarlet nodded, "I love you daddy."

"I love you too, Scarlet," Nathan said, gave her head one more kiss, and finally left the room and went downstairs. Ada María had a pot of coffee going on the stove and glanced his way when he reached the bottom of the stairs. "I spoke with her," he said to Ada María as he approached to island of the kitchen. "I told her I want her to be more respectful to you, but that goes for you too."

"Nathan-"

"Please don't argue with me," Nathan said. "It's not even dawn and I've argued more than I care to for one day. I told her she needs to start treating you with respect, but you have to do the same. I don't want to hear any more about you telling her you don't care what she thinks or whether or not she believe you, or any of that. I don't ever want a repeat of this morning."

"Is that supposed to be a threat?" Ada María asked irritably. She'd overheard the conversation and, as she figured she would be, she was right to compare it to a butterfly landing on a dog's nose.

"No, Ada, it's a promise," Nathan said sternly as he looked at her. Upon looking into his eyes, she felt fear again, especially having overheard ALL of the conversation, though she still had no idea what being his 'imprint' was supposed to mean. "Don't ever put me in this position again. I stood up for you both, but Scarlet's still my daughter."

"You pandered to her," Ada María said.

"I heard her side of the story, just as I did with you," Nathan said. "If listening is what you call pandering then thank God someone here indulges."

"Your daughter certainly didn't see fit to hear me out as you put it. I come into the house and she begins throwing accusations at me as though I'm a criminal."

"I already told her not to do that," Nathan said with an exasperated sigh. "You're a new person that's in a relationship with her father. It's only natural she'd be apprehensive."

"She was apprehensive when you were just a plaything," Ada María said. "Now she's insufferable."

"That's an exaggeration and you know it," Nathan said. "And don't call me a 'plaything'. I'm a man, not a toy. You may have thought that about me when we met, but that's not the case anymore. You know damn well it's not, so don't try to pretend it is."

"Nathan, I've never been with anyone long term. I've never felt a need or desire to. Now that I'm entertaining the thought, I'm being harassed by my lover's kid. How is that fair to me?"

"How is it fair to her?" Nathan said. "You're the first woman that's been in her life this way since her mother died. You need to learn to be patient with her just as much as she needs to learn to be patient with you. Neither of you are innocent in this and I'm constantly put in the middle. Frankly, I'm tired of it."

"Perhaps if you treated her like a daughter and not a friend, she might learn to speak appropriately to adults." Ada María jumped from the sound of Nathan's open palm slamming onto the table.

"I do the best I can with the hand I've been dealt," Nathan said quietly, but his voice was firm and ruthless despite its pitch. "I won't claim I'm perfect, but I do a damn good job. I won't be told I'm not a good father to my daughter, least of all from you."

"And what's that supposed to mean exactly?" Ada María replied, trying to remain strong despite his gaze scaring her whether she wanted to admit it or not.

"It means I won't be told how to raise my child by a woman with no children and a bad relationship with her father," Nathan said.

"Who said I have a bad relationship with my father? Our relationship is fine. He just treats me like his daughter and not his friend," Ada María said. "And for the record, Nathan, having a kid doesn't make you a fucking expert. It certainly doesn't make you above common sense either."

After a moment of silence and Nathan's eyes never losing their heated temper, he finally said in a deceptively calm tone, "You need to leave."

"Gladly," Ada María said and started for the door. "Don't bother coming to the bar until you've grown a fucking spine."

With that, Ada María slammed the front door closed and left. She was walking slowly, hoping Nathan would come after her and apologize or continue the argument until it was resolved, the latter being far more likely, but he didn't. She even stopped and turned to look at the house again, waiting for the door to open, but it didn't. When she realized he wasn't coming after her, Ada María felt the blood drain from her face, but she continued on. At first she felt sick but by the time she'd reached the beach and was sitting in the sand, she was angry again. Just blindly angry. As she sat in the sand, there was a young man coming up along the beach. He was clearly a tourist from what she could tell: pale as sin, blonde as a Tuesday morning and appearing to wake up from a drunk night out walking in slightly disheveled clothes. When she saw the man, Ada María smiled cruelly and went up to him.

"Are you alright, sir?" Ada María asked.

"I'm alright," the man said in a hushed voice. "I woke up on the beach. I'd gone out for a while and.." the men looked at her at last and seemed to perk up. "Well, I'll be damned. You're the dancer I saw at the bar last night. You're a wonderful dancer."

"Why thank you, kind stranger," Ada María said. "You've clearly had a long night, so how about you follow me and I'll get you somewhere comfy to rest?"

"Truly you're an angel," the man said with a weak smile. Ada María almost laughed at the irony of it, but took the man's arm in hers and led him from the beach up the road until they finally reached her house.

"Please, come in," Ada María smiled and opened the door for the man. He stepped in and plopped in one of the chairs near the door. "Shall I brew you a cup of coffee?"

"That would be lovely, thank you," the man said. "What was your name by the way?"

"You may call me Ada María," she answered. "I take it you're not from around here?"

"No," the man smiled. "I'm here from Portugal. Fleeing the war in Spain I'm afraid. We're not involved, but it causes problems nonetheless."

"I can imagine," Ada María said sympathetically as she prepared the coffee.

"I'm Hector by the way," the man said.

"Ah, yes, pardon my not asking, Hector," Ada María smiled. "My brother's middle name is Hector actually. It was my grandfather's name. My father is Portuguese."

"Is he?" Hector said with a smile. "When did he come to Brazil?"

"Years and years ago," Ada María said. "He met my mother in Cusco, Peru."

"So you're Peruvian?"

"I prefer to call myself Inca," Ada María grinned and finished up the coffee then brought over a cup for Hector. "So are you planning to stay in Brazil indefinitely?"

"Most likely," Hector said. "I haven't really thought that far honestly."

"And how long have you been here?"

"Just over two weeks," he said. "I have enough money to last me a while longer before I'll need to hunker down and actually look for a job."

"Oh dear," Ada María said. Then she sat on the arm of the chair, her legs touching his in a suggestive manner. "If it's work you're needing, I can offer you that. You see, I own that bar you saw me dancing at. If you can dance, I'd gladly hire you."

"Oh," Hector said with a small blush, "no, miss, I can't dance to save my life."

"Nonsense," Ada María smiled and held out her hand for him. "I'll show you just how well you can dance."

He hesitated a moment from nerves, but eventually put down his cup of coffee and accepted Ada María's hand. She led him in a simple sway. He was too tired for a tango. She instructed him to spin her gently and led him with her feet in a mock waltz until he looked a little dazed. He started to look at her just the way she wanted him to: with desire.

"There you go," she praised. "I said you were a good dancer."

"You are a good dancer miss. I just followed your lead."

"Now, now, you asked me my name and I gave it to you. I expect you to use it," Ada María grinned.

"I'm sorry m-, I mean Ada María," he said respectfully, but he still looked as though he wished to kiss her.

"That's more like it," Ada María praised. She got on her toes until her lips were just a breath from his. "I don't mind telling you, Hector, that you've gone and wooed me a little with your dancing."

"Oh," he said and looked away, blushing profusely. "You're too kind, Ada María."

"I return what I'm given," Ada María said before placing her lips to his. He was shy at first, but then he eventually cooperated, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her fiercely.

Nothing. She felt nothing. Ada María kissed him passionately, giving him teeth and tongue and wrapping her arms around his neck and her leg around his hip. She could feel him growing hard between her legs and he felt strong and robust. But still she felt nothing. She was getting physically aroused, but there was no excitement. No spark. When his hands started to trail, when he lifted her dress to feel her skin, she felt nothing. When they fell into her chair together, rearranged their clothes and he'd slipped inside her, she felt nothing. She kept getting more and more frustrated as the moment's passed. She faked her pleasure, but the fact she had to fake it at all was enough to make her angrier. She'd forgotten why she'd bothered attracting the man in the first place. Soon, he was approaching his release and when he was mere seconds away, Ada María pulled away and took a hold of him and swallowing everything he gave. His heart was pounding and he looked near ready to fall asleep. However, he eventually sat up a little straighter while Ada María readjusted her clothes and went to her sink to clean her face a little and pour herself a cup of coffee. She remembered what it was she'd brought him there for: to prove she could, to prove she didn't need Nathan, and to kill him. She'd proved she could, but he wasn't Nathan and now, she didn't even want to kill him.

"Thank you, Ada María," the man said with a shy smile as he readjusted himself and redressed appropriately. "That was wonderful."

"Happy to have started off your morning," Ada María said weakly as she stared out her window. She hadn't proven anything. Only Scarlet's points.

"And thank you for complimenting my dancing, but I fear my lack of talent would scare away your customers," Hector said with a kind smile.

"I have other open positions," Ada María said. "If you can clean, make drinks and serve, you've got a job."

"Wait, really?" Hector asked, a little surprised.

"Really," Ada María said. "But what happened here is to stay between you and me."

"Of course," Hector said, now feeling a little awkward. "Oh God, are you taken? Or married?"

"No," Ada María said, but then her shoulders slumped. "It's a complicated subject."

"Are you a prostitute?"

"No," Ada María said. "I just….he's….never mind. Just be at the bar tonight when we open and I'll have Paulo show you the ropes."

"Since I can't call you by your name, how should I address you?"

"Miss Escada is fine," Ada María said. There was a moment of silence before Hector spoke again.

"Miss Escada, have I said something to offend you?"

"You've not offended me," Ada María said. "I just realized something is all."

"What's that?" Hector asked.

"Something I've been denying since I met him," Ada María said.

"I don't know if I follow, Miss Escada," Hector said.

"Don't worry about it," Ada María said. "Are you staying anywhere?"

"Just a little apartment I rented a few miles away."

"Alright," Ada María said. "You can stay and finish your coffee. Then you can get yourself home and get ready for work. I don't require anything fancy, but make sure you're dressed nice."

"Yes Miss Escada," Hector said and took a big gulp of the now lukewarm coffee and walked to the kitchen to place it in the sink. He stood beside Ada María a moment and saw her solemn look. "Thank you again, Miss Escada. For everything. I admit I needed a pick-me-up, but for the job too. It means a lot."

"You're welcome, Hector," Ada María said. He stood there a moment still feeling rather awkward about the situation.

"Well, have a pleasant morning, Miss Escada. I'll see you at work," he said and walked out of the house, leaving Ada María alone. He was the first human to leave her house alive.

She ended up standing in her kitchen staring out the window for an hour just thinking, the sound of her dart frogs coming in through the window coupling with the sounds of the ocean and the sounds of Salvador. Eventually she went upstairs to clean herself off thoroughly. She wanted to remnants of that morning to linger on her. She'd set out to prove a point and only wound up feeling gross and ashamed. She thought of Nathan while she cleaned up. The way he felt and made her feel. He was so troublesome. Inconvenient even. With Scarlet added to that mix, he was more so. He demanded authority and inflicted consequences when he didn't get it, yet he was also so lenient. And he was a good father. Implying he wasn't was a low blow, hence why Ada María had said it, but she knew better. Sometimes she was even jealous of the relationship Nathan and Scarlet had. Ada María loved her father, but there wasn't much of a relationship there. He taught her how to be a lady as he saw fit, but he was always a father, never a friend or someone Ada María could look to. Always the authoritarian, never the shoulder to cry on. That had always been Yaretzi. After she was clean and returned downstairs, she went to her backyard aquarium and played with her dart frogs to relax. She was miles away while she held her frog. So much so she did not realize anyone was behind her.

"Ada María," the voice came and made Ada María jump, the frog as well, and face the voice. The man behind her, a man who appeared nearly exactly the same in face as her, caught the frog and started laughing. "You'd better be careful, Ada María. I don't know how well a poison dart frog can handle old Salvador."

"Marcelo," Ada María said and calmed down. "I didn't realize you were here."

"I noticed," Marcelo chuckled and put the frog back in the aquarium. "You alright? What's on your mind that you didn't notice me?"

"Nothing," Ada María waived dismissively and gave Marcelo a tight hug, feeling a little better. "Just a long night. So how is Laura?"

"She's well," Marcelo smiled. "I miss her already. So how's the bar?"

"It's running," Ada María said. "In fact, I have a new employee starting tonight."

"Well, that's good to hear," Marcelo smiled. "I'll have to swing by there once mom and dad get here."

"How long before they arrive?" Ada María asked.

"They were in Fortaleza last I heard, so probably another day or so," Marcelo said.

"How long are you here for?" Ada María asked.

"Just a few weeks and then I'll go back to Colombia."

"You know, Laura could just move here and you could stay," Ada María teased.

"Maybe, but she loves Colombia," Marcelo said. "So what's new with you?" Ada María almost answered, but stopped. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to talk about Nathan. "Ada María?"

Ada María was quiet a moment until she decided if she could speak to anyone, she could speak to Marcelo. "I think I have a problem and am in need of some brotherly advice."

"What kind of problem?"

"A few months ago, while I was dancing, I saw this man in the crowd in the bar. He's an American; Nathan Black is his name."

"Okay," Marcelo said. "What about him?"

"Well, we slept together and when I tried to bite him, he stopped me. He knew from the beginning what I was. After that, we'd bump into each other on the beach or he'd come to the bar. Then before I know it, I'm going to his house most days and spending the night."

"Oh," Marcelo said and then chuckled. "You're seeing someone."

"I guess," Ada María said.

"What do you mean you guess?" Marcelo chuckled a little more. "Either you are or you aren't."

"There's a matter that complicates things quite a bit," Ada María said.

"Is he married?"

"Widowed," Ada María said. "With a daughter." When she brought up the daughter, Marcelo had a feeling he knew what the problem was.

"And the daughter doesn't like you?"

"Hates me," Ada María said. "I didn't care at first. I was more concerned with having my fun. I wasn't planning to stick around that long, but…."

"Oh Ada María," Marcelo said with a smile, "have you finally found a man to settle down with?" Ada María was silent and that silence made Marcelo lose his smile and look at her strangely. "Wait, are you being serious?"

"Unfortunately," Ada María grumbled. "I think I might have burned the bridge, though. I hit his daughter this morning."

"And how did he react?"

"He said I was to never lay a hand on his daughter again. I explained that Scarlet and I, or his daughter and I, argued that morning and I'd slapped her when she began making accusations towards me. He spoke with me and then her and said to me that Scarlet and I needed to start getting along. I ended up accusing him of being a bad father and he told me to leave."

"How did you accuse him of being a bad father?"

"I told him that maybe if he treated Scarlet like his daughter and not a friend she'd know how to speak with adults."

To Ada María's surprise, Marcelo started laughing, "That's quite a big pill to swallow coming from you Ada María."

"Regardless," Ada María raised her voice a little so she had his attention again before continuing, "he didn't appreciate what I said. We bickered more until he told me to leave. I called him spineless before I left his house. I thought he'd follow after me to argue more and then we'd reconcile, but he didn't."

"Well, of course not," Marcelo said and then sighed. "Ada María, if the man has a daughter and you intend to continue a relationship with him, then you'll just have to learn some boundaries."

"She could use to learn those boundaries too," Ada María said.

"No, Ada María, you do," Marcelo said. "You're the outsider in this situation, not here. She's not the one that has to be welcomed, you do."

"I can't believe I'm having this conversation again," Ada María grumbled and rubbed her face. "I shouldn't have to put up with this shit."

"Well, Ada María, if you want to be with this guy, then I'm sorry but you have to," Marcelo said. "You said his name is Nathan?"

"Yes," Ada María nodded.

"And this all happened this morning?"

"Yes," she answered again.

"Give him a few days to cool down," Marcelo said. "I'm pretty confident he doesn't want to talk to you right now."

"I'm pretty fucking confident about that too," Ada María muttered. "I can't believe I'm going through all this for a man."

"Well, if you love him, you love him," Marcelo said with a shrug and started walking up towards the house, but Ada María didn't follow right away. She was deep in thought.

On the beach, Nathan and Scarlet finished up their day at the restaurant and then started walking down the beach together. They didn't talk much. Nathan wasn't in a talking mood and when Nathan, briefly, explained what happened that morning, Scarlet didn't wonder why. At first, she felt rather gratified, but as the day wore on, she felt far less so until she felt bad. Even if Ada María had been out of line, she had been too and she felt responsible for Nathan's distant and depressed mood. They ended up returning to the house earlier than normal and Nathan sat at the bar of their kitchen and finished off the coffee from that morning. When he was quiet for too long, Scarlet walked up to him and took a seat at the bar stool beside him.

"Are you mad at me?" Scarlet asked.

"No, I'm not mad at you," Nathan said and took a sip of his coffee. Scarlet was quiet and stayed seated unsure what else to say. Nathan eventually continued. "I owe you an apology honestly."

"Why?"

"I thought about that time when we'd arrived in Mexico City and we stayed at the Aztec ruins. I'd promised you that if you didn't love the woman I was seeing, I'd not waste my time with her. I haven't exactly held true to that. Being my imprint doesn't really change things."

"No," Scarlet said, "I should never have made you promise that. I'm not being fair. I know you love her. It doesn't really matter if I do."

"No, it does," Nathan said. "It matters to me."

Scarlet was quiet again and this time, Nathan finished his coffee and retreated upstairs. She heard the sound of the guitar start to come from upstairs and Scarlet sat at the barstool. Now she felt really guilty as she sat at the island. She knew what she had to do, she just didn't want to do it. She focused on making something for them to eat and they ate in relative silence later that night when everything was done. Nathan even went to bed early that night. She waited an hour until she heard her father snore just the slightest bit, indicating he was asleep. She changed into something slightly heavy so she wouldn't have attention drawn to her and she left the house as quietly as possible and made the trip to the bar. She kept herself alert on the way there but made sure not to look at anyone just in case and did much the same thing when she finally made it to the bar. She looked around the room but couldn't find Ada María. She decided to sit at one of the tables and just waited until she finally saw her appearing from a hallway near the back arm in arm with a man she didn't recognize. Furious at her nerve, Scarlet stood, ready to leave no longer feeling the slightest bit bad until she actually looked at the man. He looked a lot like Ada María and she suddenly remembered that Ada María had a brother. She calmed down and took a deep breath before going over to her. When Ada María noticed her coming, she stiffened a little.

"Hey," Scarlet said when she approached.

"Evening, young lady," the man smiled. "Did you need to speak with Miss Escada?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact," Scarlet said and then held out her hand to him. "My name is Scarlet Willow. I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's important." The man appeared to be momentarily surprised and then gave Ada María a knowing look.

"So this is Scarlet?"

"Yes, this is her," Ada María said. "Where's your father?"

"He's at home," Scarlet said, taking her hand back and not bothering to wait for the man to reciprocate. "I came myself."

"At this hour?" Ada María said.

"I'm not a child, Ada María. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"I beg to differ," Ada María said.

"Ada María," the man said sternly and then looked at her. "Remember what we talked about." That seemed to make Ada María silent and she just nodded. Then the man looked at Scarlet. "Forgive me, I don't know where my manners went. I'm Marcelo Escada. I'm Ada María's brother."

"I can tell," Scarlet said. "Are you twins?"

"Oh, no," Marcelo chuckled, "but we do get mistaken for twins quite often. Your father is a twin though is he not?"

"He is," Scarlet said.

After a moment of silence, Marcelo smiled kindly at Scarlet and said, "Well, you two have a lot to talk about, so I'll leave you alone." He gave Ada María a quick peck on the cheek and whispered 'good luck' to her in Portuguese before walking away and leaving the bar. Neither of them spoke initially. Ada María crossed her arms and glanced around the bar as if avoiding contact and Scarlet stared at her beginning to get irritated.

"So that's Marcelo?"

"Yes," Ada María answered.

"Is he older or younger than you?"

"Older," Ada María said. "He's my senior by 12 years."

"Wow," Scarlet said. "Why the age gap?"

"You'd have to ask my mother and father that question," Ada María said. There was another silence between them until Ada María asked, "Where's your father?"

"He's at home."

"You're here alone?" Ada María asked. "Does your father know you're here?"

"No," Scarlet said. "He was asleep when I left."

Ada María rolled her eyes, "He'll be furious if he wakes up and finds you not there. You should know better than to walk around alone at night."

"I'm not a kid, Ada. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"I beg to differ," Ada María muttered. "Let me get changed and I'll take you home."

"I came here because I need to talk to you," Scarlet said.

"Well, you can talk to me while I walk you home," Ada María said. "Stay here. I'll be back in a moment." She glanced around the room until she saw who she was looking for. "Hector!" The young man in question ran over to them.

"Como posso ajudá-la, Srta. Escada?" (how can I help you, Miss Escada) he said.

"Preciso acompanhá-la em casa," (I need to walk her home) Ada María said to Hector. "Eu vou mudar, então cuide dela enquanto eu for embora." (I'm going to change so look after her while I'm gone).

"He doesn't need to look after me, Ada," Scarlet protested.

"Just do as I say and wait here for me," Ada María said to Scarlet and then repeated her order to Hector and waited for him to nod in confirmation before leaving for the back. She returned moments later in a sundress she usually reserved for the day and dismissed Hector to return to his usual work. Ada María and Scarlet left the bar together and started the walk up to the house, but it was a while before either of them spoke. "So why did you come to the bar at this hour all alone?"

"Because I needed to talk to you," Scarlet said.

"About?"

Scarlet was quiet a moment before answering. "I realized that I owe you an apology." Scarlet finally looked up at Ada María, but she didn't appear stunned or relieved or anything. At best she looked irritated. So Scarlet continued. "I realize I haven't exactly been the easiest to interact with since we first met and I realize I may have been difficult with you."

"May have?"

"Alright, fine, have," Scarlet said meanly and then took a deep breath. "You're not exactly making this easier on me."

"Well, you never made it easy for me either," Ada María said. "Frankly, were it not for your father, I'd never put up with you."

"Likewise, bitch," Scarlet said. The two of them stopped and just stared each other down a moment. This wasn't going to way she'd hoped and she was getting nowhere, so she took another deep breath and ended the standoff. "Alright, I'm sorry. We're not getting anywhere arguing with each other."

"No, we're not," Ada María said. They stared at each other a little longer again until Scarlet broke the silence.

"Let's just try to speak cordially. Woman to woman," Scarlet said.

"Fine," Ada María said. "I assume since you're apologizing, that means you'll start treating me with respect?"

"Hold on," Scarlet said. "Before we go any further, you need to apologize to me for hitting me."

"I already did," Ada María said.

"To daddy, but not to me," Scarlet said and crossed her arms and waited expectantly. After a moment, Ada María took a deep breath and sighed.

"I'm sorry," Ada María said. "I'm in no position to administer any form of discipline to you and I apologize for slapping you. Even if it was in the heat of being thrown harsh accusations."

It was probably the best she'd get, So Scarlet released her crossed arms and said, "Alright, I'll take it. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's come to common ground. Whether I like you or not, you're daddy's imprint. You must be worth something even if I can't see it."

"You keep calling me your father's 'imprint'. What does that mean?"

"It means he loves you," Scarlet answered simply. "Daddy's shown you that he can become a wolf. Well, imprinting is something the Quileute wolves do and it's where the wolf meets his mate. He loves you and will be what you need him to be."

"If he were what I 'needed him to be' he'd be my lover and no more," Ada María grumbled.

"Okay, this is why I don't like you," Scarlet said. "This is why I keep saying you don't deserve him or that you'll never be like my mother. You seem to resent that he loves you and you're so disrespectful when he's nothing but kind and loving to you."

"Alright, let's get to brass tax," Ada María said. "I have led a particular lifestyle near my whole life and that life has never included any form of love. So yes, I'm a touch resentful that my life is being disrupted in such a manner. You forget your father pursued me. Not the other way around. I've been thrown into this just as much as you. As to your father being kind and loving, I'll have you know he's not particularly kind and loving when you give me lip and he takes your side."

"What is he supposed to do, Ada? Just sit back and let you talk to me the way you do? I'll have you know that he always stands up for you to me and it annoys the shit out of me!"

"Don't raise your voice at me," Ada María said. "Besides, it's the middle of the night."

"My point is daddy bends over backwards for you and you don't even appreciate it," Scarlet said. "You're ungrateful."

"I'm ungrateful? No more than you. Your father takes you on this trip of a lifetime, just you and him, and you have the nerve to be difficult when he starts to move on with his life."

"I wouldn't be so difficult if you'd just start being good enough for him," Scarlet said.

"And what exactly might that entail, huh? My being a helpless house wife barefoot and pregnant with his kids? I hate to break it to you, but that's not who I am. Never has been and never will be. I'm not your mother, Scarlet."

"No, you're not," Scarlet said bitterly. Then she groaned and shook her head. "Damn it, this is getting us nowhere."

"Where is it exactly that you're wanting to get? So far, it just seems like you're trying to argue with me."

"As you're doing now for the record," Scarlet muttered. "I'm trying to establish a truce of sorts. Daddy's been upset since this morning and I feel partially responsible. I want him to be happy and if you make him happy, then we both owe it to him to improve our relationship or at least be civil."

"I made a similar offer and that didn't go so well," Ada María said.

"Because you told me you only wanted my father for sex! Of course I threw the offer in your face!"

"Alright, fair enough," Ada María sighed. "You're right, I did. So now what do we do? Come to an agreement on some boundaries?"

"That sounds helpful," Scarlet said. "In fact, I'll start. You need to recognize that no matter what, I'M his daughter and you need to treat me with grace and dignity."

"Alright, and in exchange you need to realize I'm the adult and you need to speak to me respectfully. That means not jumping to accuse me of anything or compare me to your mother."

"Okay, then you need to start treating daddy with respect," Scarlet said.

"In exchange, you need to stop instigating situations like this morning," Ada María spat back. "I think if you and I can learn to coexist then we'll do just fine." The two of them shared another long stare as if contemplating the listed boundaries.

"Answer me this," Scarlet said.

"What?"

"Do you love my father?" she asked and the question took Ada María by surprise.

"Pardon?"

"You heard me," Scarlet said. "Do you love my father or not? Because if the answer is no, than we have nothing further to discuss."

"I," Ada María began but stumbled over her words. "This is hardly-"

"Just answer my question," Scarlet said. "I'm asking you to tell me how you feel about my father. Shouldn't require a paragraph."

"I don't know if I have an answer for that question," Ada María finally said.

"Then I guess we're wasting our time," Scarlet said and finally started walking up the hill. Ada María chased after her until they were walking side by side.

"I have feelings for your father that run deeper than I've felt before for anyone," Ada María said. "I don't know what else to tell you."

"You'd better come up with a better answer than that," Scarlet said.

"It's not as though your father ever told me he felt that way," Ada María defended.

"Oh, don't give me that bullshit," Scarlet said. "I know you overheard him this morning at the very least. If he's never said it to you directly, it's because he thinks you won't return the sentiment. If you're telling me you don't, then frankly we're right back where we started and you really aren't good enough for him."

"My feelings for your father are between him and me," Ada María said.

"Right now, they're between you and me," Scarlet said. "Either you love him or you don't."

"I barely know you father! We've known each other three months!"

"That's hardly relevant," Scarlet said. "You certainly thought nothing of sleeping with him not an hour after meeting him."

"I've got news for you, kid, but sex and romance are not the same thing. At least not to me. Sex is just sex. Romance is a commitment."

Scarlet contemplated Ada María's statement and didn't like the implication. "So you just sleep with people like it's nothing?"

"Yes!" Ada María blurted out. "To me, it is nothing. You're father has been a different story from the beginning and I can't say as I know how to handle it."

Scarlet's eye twitched, "Have you cheated on my daddy?"

"Excuse me?"

"Answer me, Ada!" Scarlet yelled. After a brief moment, Ada María took a deep breath.

"Yes," she answered. Scarlet felt herself shaking, desperate to do anything. Scream at her, slap her, hit her, anything. But she stood still. "Most often, I'll sleep with my victims. They don't mean anything to me."

"I suppose you think that makes it acceptable?" Scarlet asked bitterly. Ada María didn't say anything. She didn't really have an answer. Certainly not one that Scarlet would find acceptable.

"I don't know what else to tell you," Ada María finally said.

"Either that you'll stop or leave my daddy alone," Scarlet said. "Those are your options."

"Are you giving me an ultimatum?" Ada María asked firmly.

"You bet your ass I'm giving you an ultimatum. It's a two way street, Ada. If you want me to cooperate with you and give you a chance with my daddy, you had best do your part."

"I can't believe this," Ada María grumbled.

"You had better believe this, Ada. Either you stop screwing around on my daddy and start treating him seriously or you mark my words I will continue to make this as miserable for you as possible."

"What happened to apologizing to me and us coming to an agreements?"

"New developments have rendered my apology null and void," Scarlet said. "Either you promise me you'll do your part do right by my father or you can forget EVER having a relationship with him."

"That's not up to you, Scarlet. That's up to your father and I."

"That's what you think," Scarlet said. "Daddy might be willing to work harder to make us get along, but if I don't like you, that's it. He'll give up on you. Because like I said and like he said: I'm his daughter and if you ever put him in a position where he has to choose between us, he'll choose me."

"You would intentionally put your father in that position just to spite me?"

"I would put my father in that position for his own good," Scarlet said. "I told you from the beginning, Ada. If you want my daddy, you have to go through me. If you don't want to play the game, then you're wasting all our time."

"You're wasting our time by being combative with me," Ada María said.

"And I'll gladly waste more if you insist," Scarlet said pointedly. The two stared at each other again in a battle of wits, seeing who would crumble first. Though once it was clear who would lose in the end, Ada María sighed.

"I will do my part, Scarlet," Ada María said, "but you have to agree to do yours. I'm tired of arguing with you and I know for a fact your father is sick of being put in the middle. So from now on, we both do our part to get along, but if you have a problem with me, it's with me. We don't drag your father into it." Finally, Ada María extended her hand to Scarlet. "Truce?" After a moment of looking between her hand and her face, Scarlet finally accepted and they shook.

"Truce," Scarlet said. They both felt a weight lift from their shoulders, but this didn't necessarily mean they were finally friends. Ada María had a feeling she needed to fix that if they were ever going to make progress.

"Let me get you home," Ada María said. They started to walk up the hill again and Ada María decided this was as good a time as any to start. "So how have you liked traveling?"

Scarlet was a little stunned by the question, but eventually answered. "It's been exactly what daddy and I needed."

"What was your mother like if you don't mind my asking?"

"She was a kind woman," Scarlet said. "If I had a nightmare, she'd always keep me in bed with her and daddy. I used to hate thunder, so if it was storming, she'd always let me snuggle up with her until I fell asleep. We would always go to the hot springs in the mountains together too."

"She sounds a lot like my mother," Ada María said. "My father was always the disciplinarian and wasn't always one for being affectionate. My mother was the one my brother and I could turn to. Father was much more a fan of making us learn on our own."

"What was your mother's name?"

"Yaretzi," Ada María said. "My father is Rafael."

"And you were born in Cusco?"

"Yes," Ada María nodded. "My mother is a bit of a homebody and Peru is where she was raised for the most part. When she and father travel, they always spend the most amount of time in Cusco."

"And your father in from Portugal?"

"Yes. With the exception of my Uncle Nahuel, my mother and all my aunts are Inca. Their mothers were Inca and so was my grandfather. Nahuel's mother was Tacuna if I remember correctly. He travels with his aunt and they tend to stick to the rainforest."

"Do you see any of them often?"

"Rarely," Ada María said. "My parents I see every couple of years and my brother I see most often whenever he returned to Brazil. He's usually in Colombia. That's where his lover lives."

"And is she human or a vampire?"

"Vampire."

"What's her name?"

"Laura," Ada María answered.

"And do you like her?"

"I'm fond of her," Ada María said. "I don't get to see her very often save for when I visit. I'll usually stop through Colombia to see them whenever I go to Cusco."

"When was the last time you went to Cusco?"

"About 2 years ago," Ada María said. "It's a long trip, so it's a rarity. I can't leave the bar too long. So out of all the places you and your father have visited, do you have a favorite?"

"Las Vegas," Scarlet said. "That's when dad started feeling more like himself. I made good friends there too. Mina and Lida."

"Dan and Meg's kids, right?"

"You know about them?"

"Your father mentioned them, yes. He was more fond of Tamara as I recall."

"I remember him liking her more," Scarlet said. "She was always really nice to me. She used to let me play with her bearded dragons. Daddy still keeps in touch with her. He sends her letters about our travels. Now that we're settled here for a while, we might actually get a response from her. Usually we're never anywhere long enough for her to write us back."

"She doesn't have any kids right?"

"Right," Scarlet said. "She's widowed like daddy."

"I remember him mentioning that," Ada María said. "Do you ever wish he'd imprinted on her?"

"No," Scarlet said. "I didn't want daddy to imprint on anyone. He didn't want to either, but if it happens, it happens."

"So your father really wasn't planning on moving on?"

"As far as I know, he just wasn't ready to. He still loved my mom," Scarlet said.

"He still does," Ada María answered and made Scarlet look at her. "He'll tell me about her sometimes. He never stopped loving her, even if I'm in the equation."

"Daddy always promised he missed my mom."

"He does," Ada María said. "In truth, it's rather daunting a prospect to be involved with a window that still loves his late wife. I'm here, but she's a memory. Memories have a way of being more pleasant than reality it seems."

"That certainly hasn't stopped him with regards to you," Scarlet said. "Since we're speaking pleasantly, can you tell me whether or not you love my father?"

"I've never loved anyone before. At least, not other than my parents and my brother. But I feel things for your father I've never felt for anyone before."

"And are they positive feelings?"

"Most of the time," Ada María said. "Sometimes your father irritates me something awful, though it's usually when you and I have argued."

"Seeing as we're being cordial, hopefully that won't happen anymore," Scarlet said.

The two of them continued to the house talking. It was the first time the two of them had ever really spoken to one another. It was very strange for them both. Whether this was a truce or just a cease fire was yet to be seen by the time they reached the house. Scarlet went inside and Ada María ran back to the bar to finish up the remainder of the night. She debated whether or not to return once she'd finished. By the time she closed up, she decided she'd go back to Nathan's house. She hadn't felt good since that morning either, but she'd intended to remain stubborn until her and Scarlet talked. She just wanted to see him. So she returned up the hill to his house and let herself in, remaining quiet and making sure not to wake anyone and snuck to Nathan's room. The door was slightly ajar, so she pushed the door open and saw Nathan in his bed. He was sleeping peacefully with his blanket barely covering him, his naked chest in full view. She gently closed the door and started walking over to him and got into bed, crawling over to him until she was straddling him. The movement and the feel of Ada María atop him made Nathan groan and start to open his eyes to look at Ada María.

"Ada?" he said in a groggy voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Scarlet came to the bar earlier and we talked while I walked her home," Ada María said. "I wasn't sure if I should try to talk to you, but after I'd returned to the bar, I knew I wanted to."

"Scarlet went to the bar alone?" Nathan asked.

"She got there safely, but I walked her home," Ada María reminded Nathan. "Like I said, her and I talked."

"You did?"

"Yeah," Ada María said. "We apologized to each other about this morning, about everything. We both agreed we weren't doing ourselves or you any favors by our arguing. So we agreed that we would both do better about trying to get along."

"Really?" Nathan asked.

Ada María smiled and nodded, "Really." Continuing to straddle him, she leaned down so she was resting on his chest and looking at him. "I also wanted to apologize to you about this morning and what I said. You're a wonderful father. I should have never implied you weren't." After she said that, Nathan reached his hands up so he could touch her. His left hand trailed up her leg, pulling up the hem of her dress as it went, and his right hand threaded through her long black hair. Ada María leaned into his touch and closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry too," Nathan finally said. "So you and Scarlet really talked things out?" Ada María nodded with a gentle smile and opened her eyes to look at him.

"We both decided we cared more about you than about arguing with one another," Ada María said sincerely. She realized she meant it.

"You really mean that?" Nathan asked. Ada María nodded. Even in his sleepy haze, Nathan smiled at her.

Desperate to feel him, Ada María pressed her lips to Nathan's and moaned just from their touch. She hadn't realized until that moment how much she had desperately missed him. Ada María trailed her hands down between them so she could move aside the blanket and the remaining of Nathan's clothes. Nathan's other hand left her hair and planted itself on Ada María's other hip and started to squeeze and release tenderly. Ada María brought her hands back up to Nathan's chest and savored the feel of his warm muscular skin under them until she placed her hands onto the pillow on either side of Nathan's face. Continuing to kiss, Ada María began to move her hips back and forth on Nathan's pelvis encouraging his erection to grow beneath her. Nathan's hands trailed all over her legs and hips, delighting in the dress being the only article of clothing she wore and felt her core rub against his erection maddeningly. When she was wet enough, Nathan slipped inside her and she pulled her head up and moaned, sitting up and savoring the feel of him. Nathan reached up to take the shoulders of her sundress and pulled it down so her breasts were exposed to his view as she began to move up and down on him.

Ada María planted her hands on Nathan's chest for control while his hands returned to her hips to guide her movements. She kept her voice down, but Ada María moaned as she moved, taking all of him in until she felt as though it wasn't possible to go deeper. Soon she started moving faster, trying to bring herself to her first climax while her breasts bounced for Nathan's view. Nathan brought his hands to her breasts to touch them tenderly, rubbing her skin and nipples with his thumbs and pinching her nipples between his fingers. He leaned up and wrapped his arms around her bringing his face to her chest and kissed between her breasts before going to his right, kissing her breast until he reached her nipple and took it in his mouth. Ada María breathed a sharp breath and released a breathy high pitched moan while she wrapped her arms around his head, continuing to move her hips as best as this new position would allow. Nathan pulled her down on top of him never releasing his hold or stopping his tongue's loving tasting of her. Then he started to kiss his way to her other breast and treated it with the same tenderness. Ada María moaned and increased her movements bringing herself to her edge. She got faster and faster atop him until she finally felt herself reach her highest point and tremble with her release, the muscles in her belly and her core trembling almost viciously with the force of her orgasm. Nathan felt it too and pulled her tightly into his arms and kissed her shoulder while he felt her contract on his erection.

They were still a moment, but only a moment. Then Nathan rolled so Ada María was on her back and Nathan was on top of her. He was gentle at first, allowing Ada María time to recover from her first orgasm, but he soon got back into a swift groove. He lifted her legs so her calves rested on his shoulders and Nathan leaned into her, his hands keeping him balanced by resting on either side of her chest on the bed and started to thrust vigorously. Ada María appeared as though she might cry with each moan and quieted screech of enjoyment. Her hands flew above her head and grabbed firmly onto the bars of the headboard and clutched onto that while Nathan rammed into her. When she felt as though her clutch was dangerously close to breaking the headboard, she took her hands away and wrapped her arms around herself, pushing her breasts together in a view that made Nathan's gut twist with need. Testing her flexibility, Nathan leaned down onto his elbows, pressing her legs down with him all the way, so he could kiss and lick and bite at her breasts. Ada María grabbed a hold of his head and ensured her breasts remained pressed together for him and moaned perhaps a touch louder than she should have, but she realized it and kept herself quiet.

Nathan kept thrusting into her in this strange new position until he felt Ada María's body start to tighten and contract around him and, this time, she did cry. She reached another orgasm and cried out his name in a moan and seemed to turn to jelly under him. He lifted his head up to Ada María's and kissed her, earning a passionate kiss in return. They stayed still a moment again just kissing passionately. Nathan pressed his tongue against her lips and she opened for him and their tongues dueled. After a few minutes, Nathan began to gently thrust again and it made Ada María whimper with renewed need. Rather suddenly, Nathan pulled away quickly, slipping out of her. Ada María didn't have time to question him, because he grabbed her by the lips and forced her up onto her hands and knees on the bed. Ada María smiled and waited in heated anticipation of Nathan to continue. Giving her a single firm slap against her rounded flesh, Ada María giggled as Nathan leaned down and gave her core one long, savoring lick, making her shudder with pleasure and moan his name. After that, Nathan kneeled up above her and slipped back inside her from behind, going as deep as her body would allow.

They both shuddered and moaned before Nathan started to thrust again. Gently at first, but then it divulged into a form and rough thrust and required Ada María keep a firm grip of the bed sheets so she wouldn't hit her head against the headboard, moaning his name all the while. Both his hands were on her hips through this, but then she felt Nathan's right hand leave her hip only to reach up and grab a fistful of her hair and tug. It stung the roots of her hair and pulled tightly enough that her head was forced back and kept her in place while Nathan thrust into her, alleviating some of the requirement on Ada María to make sure she didn't move too far forward. This new sensation of pain mingled deliciously with her pleasure and she kept moaning and said Nathan's name over and over as though it were a chant or a prayer. Nathan reached his other hand down between her legs, never stopping his movements, and rubbed his finger over her clitoris, helping her reach another climax. Ada María released a loud high pitched moan at the feel of his fingers combined with his clutch in her hair and his strong thrusts. Nathan slowed after that and simultaneously pulled on Ada María's hair and leaning down so his lips were to her ear.

"Not too loud, Ada," Nathan whispered, then he licked her ear and she trembled. "Feel good?"

"Oh God, yes," Ada María barely managed.

Nathan bit her eat and continued rubbing her clitoris, but he didn't continue moving quite yet. "You want me to make you cum again?"

"Please," Ada María said in a desperate whimper, tears nearly coming to her eyes.

"Please what, Ada?"

"Please make me cum again," Ada María whimpered and tried taking over, forcing her hips again Nathan's. He chuckled and licked her ear again.

"You're so impatient," Nathan teased.

"Nathan, stop teasing me," Ada María begged. Nathan chuckled again and licked her ear one more time before going back up and continuing what he'd been doing before, all the while continuing to rub her and pull on her hair with a force that hurt, yet she loved it. Soon, she couldn't take anymore and she reached orgasm again.

This time, Nathan didn't waste any time with being still or letting her recover. Instead, using her hair as leverage, he forced her onto her back on the bed, releasing her and relocating on top of her. Ada María moaned and giggled in a post orgasmic haze that she wasn't entirely sure she was fully conscious through. Truly she was spent. It was his turn, now. Ada María laid back as Nathan slipped inside her again and moaned from the feel of him. She'd grown so familiar with him, yet she knew it would never be enough. He started to thrust into her again with much the same force as before. Then he came down so he was right on top of her and kissed her while he moved. He was barely able to breathe through kissing her and making love to her, but he didn't care. He only felt his blind need for release and he raced towards it like a horse running from fire. He thrust harder and harder until Ada María could feel his muscles start to tighten and contract, so she pulled her lips away so she could bring them to his ear.

"I can feel you," she moaned and whispered. "You're so close, I know it." Nathan could only groan in his response as he kept moving. "Nathan," she whimpered and licked his ear. "I want to taste you. I want to taste you hot on my tongue."

Nathan barely registered what she'd said, but he thrust impossibly harder until he was shaking and, as she asked, Nathan pulled out just as he was about to release and Ada María pushed him onto his back, climbed on top of him and took his erection into her mouth and stroked him for the last few he needed and bobbed her head up and down until she felt his hot seed release into her mouth and into her throat. She moaned when she felt it and gentled her sucking, moving up and down encouraging him to give all he could. She could hear his heart pounding and felt him shaking just a little beneath her when she licked the head of his erection and gave it one last tender kiss before forcing off her dress to toss it onto the floor and crawl up the bed to fall into Nathan's arms. He was barely conscious when she pulled the blankets atop them and rested her head onto his chest, rubbing her hand over his skin. She looked up at him and felt as though she might melt. Something warm spread through her that had nothing to do with desire or arousal and she felt her cheeks burn.

"Qanta munani," she whispered, almost too quiet to hear.

"What?" Nathan asked his a foggy haze, also barely audible and barely still awake. Ada María suddenly couldn't voice the words again, even when she tried.

"I just said good night," she lied.

"Night, Ada," Nathan replied and, with his remaining strength, leaned his head down and kissed her before laying his head against the pillow and falling asleep. Ada María, however, found she couldn't fall asleep. She kept looking up at him longingly, wondering why she couldn't just repeated the words. She touched his face, but he was already asleep. Why couldn't she just say I love you?