Just a Kiss (5 page)

“Hi, I was looking for Kimberly. Have you seen her?” She looked at both of them with a look of,
I'm better than you
.

“Yes, she’s running around with a bunch of little monsters. I told her, they needed to go outside because they almost knocked over my parent’s cake and two other little brats were jumping on mom’s sofas.” She remembered the ordeal in her head and released the anger.

She smiled with numbness and rolled her eyes. “Sorry,” she replied, and left.

“Do you guys get along?” asked Celina with a giggle, watching Ana Laura rock her flat butt away in a pair of white jeans.

“Not really, and that's why I don’t care if you fuck my brother,” she said, and then took a long drink of the Corona beer. “So do him good, Celina.” She retorted, looking right at her with eyebrows arched high.

“Valeria, what's wrong with you girl! Has this Texas heat gotten to you?” Her face blushed with the comment.

“I don't know, maybe I myself need to find a man, and get a good fuck too!” She paused for a moment, to take another long slip of the ice-cold beer. “I really don’t care for her, because she doesn’t even watch that kid. Do you know, the other day when I came to visit mom, she and Kimberly were in the kitchen, and my mom was teaching her how to make a sandwich. They made different ones. I asked mom, why all the different sandwiches, and she said, ‘So Kimberly can eat different ones and not get tired of the same one.’ Can you believe it?”

“Why would your mom do that? I don't get it.”

“Because, Ana Laura doesn’t cook, and mom worries that Kimberly isn’t eating. My brother eats out all the time while on the job, and the little girl eats nothing but fast food from McDonald’s. The only good food she eats is when she comes here and at her other grandma’s house. And, I don’t think that Ana Laura even likes my brother, she treats him like crap. I mean… she can’t even iron a shirt for the poor guy, so he takes his own clothes to the cleaners himself. Celina, you know he has to look presentable. Shit, he’s a U.S. Marshal, around lots of judges and all.”

“What a bummer.” Celina kept her eye on Ana Laura until she couldn't see her anymore.

“
Valeria
, sweetie, come give me a hug,” called an old lady from a distance.

Valeria turned around to see an older lady coming their way very slowly. “Shit, let me go and meet her, before she falls and breaks a hip or something. I’ll be back.”

Giggling, Celina said, “Don’t worry about me. I'm fine right here.” She kept her seat in the patio area and watched Valeria from a distance hug and kiss an entire group of old ladies, one by one. They held her hostage for a while, touching her face and clothes, while they asked her all sorts of questions. Celina giggled to herself as she watched, but then stopped her giggling when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder and a strong scent of cologne. She sucked in air and rotated her eyes.

Chapter
8

Doomsday wish list- A big guy

Celina's eyes widened and her heart paused when she felt that heavy hand on her shoulder. Her heart beat hard and fast, as she quickly thought about Homer being out on the loose. Her mind raced a hundred miles an hour, thinking of the things he did and could do to her again. She held her breath for what seemed like forever, afraid to turn around.

“Hey there, beautiful!”

The voice was familiar, but it wasn't Homer's.

Xavier walked around from behind her. He stood in front of her and gazed at her long hair, grinning a big smile.

Celina released her breath and threw her head back in the chair.
             

He continued, as if he didn’t notice. “Yeah, I already did the ‘hello’ and kissed all the old ladies in that group.” He looked over where his sister was.

“Hey, you startled me,” she said, then took a long sip of her beer, as her heartbeat tried to regulate itself.

He took a step forward. “Do you want another one?” he asked, as his eyes scanned her body from head to toe with his rich brown eyes.

Weakness overcame her, when she saw his eyes staring at her hair. She ran her hand down the side of her blue jean skirt. “Yes, I’ll take another.”
I feel as if he could see right through my clothes. Who knows, it may be possible, with all the government training?

She was going to need another, and many more, to get over the embarrassment she felt, and in that moment, she was regretting the favor she had asked.

“Okay, let me go and get one, but how can you and Valeria drink that nasty stuff?” He looked down at her beer and gave her a quick nod.

She picked up the Corona Beer bottle in the air. “It tastes all the same to me, so it doesn’t matter what you bring me.” She closed her eyes, and took a deep hard breath, before turning to look at him.

“Okay, I’ll get you a Budweiser.” He left and came back quickly with two beers. He opened Celina’s and gave it to her.

“Xavier…” she paused, “Valeria told me about Homer escaping from prison.”

“Yes, sweetie, it's true. I also don't think we should talk about it, because I don't want you to worry, or get yourself upset. Just be on the alert, that's all.”

“But...”

“No buts.” He cut her off. “He won't last long in Juarez, and I believe that what you talk about, and what you put out there,” he pointed with his beer to the sky, “is what you get back. So, if we give this guy importance in our lives, then he just might show up here. Now we wouldn’t want that. Would we?” He gave his head a quick jerk.

“Of course, I don't.” She flustered and her chest heaved.

Xavier stared out into the blue evening sky, and Celina wondered what he was thinking of. She couldn’t help but remember how hard he had worked searching for her when she had gone missing. He was the one who found her tied up in Homer's apartment the day she was rescued. She was completely nude, badly beaten, covered in blood, and dehydrated. Xavier had told Valeria how happy he was that her father wasn't alive, to see his only daughter in that condition, that day. She remembered when he kicked out the other law enforcement agents, so they wouldn't see her. It had been a sad sight to see, and he didn't want anyone talking about her like that. She remembered when Xavier beat Homer and broke five of his ribs and his jaw, right before putting the handcuffs on Homer. It took four agents to get Xavier off Homer that day, but no one said a word against him, and Xavier made sure they had enough evidence to put him away, for a long time.

“Let’s take a walk,” requested Xavier, pointing to the barn.

Celina stood up and looked around, feeling a bit uncomfortable that people might see them, especially a particular woman in a pair of white jeans.

“So, I see you and Valeria have a doomsday list going before December 2012 comes around.” His shadow from his tall, slender body and cowboy hat had cast over her, easing away the sunlight that was setting in the west.

“Yes, we do,” she responded, taking another long sip of her beer.
Oh my God, what am I doing? Are we going to do it now? Or is he just talking to me? I'm so nervous, I can't remember anymore which underwear I put on. It was a toss-up between the black ones with red lace and the leopard print ones with black lace.

“You know, I really don’t know if the world is going to come to an end, on the twenty-first of December, or what is going to happen. What do you think? You really believe it?” He asked, with much curiosity.

“I’m not really sure, but I don’t want to take any chances, so I’d like to do as much as I can, before that date does arrive.” She took a deep breath. “I think… again, I’m not sure, but I believe that it will be the beginning of the end.” She was starting to feel wetness under her armpits. “All I do know is that scientifically, the planets are going to be realigning themselves. And maybe that's what they,” she lifted two fingers in the air, referring to quoting, “you know, the history people, are referring to.”

They got to the barn and walked around the horse stables, slowing their pace down. “Well, I’m not sure if Valeria told you… that she talked to me earlier today about helping you out with one of your wishes?” A big grin came over his face, one that could stop traffic.

Celina thought she was going to start to hyperventilate. She lifted her hand up and shook her head. “You know, I’m so embarrassed, Xavier. Please excuse me. I don’t think I knew what I was thinking.” She turned quickly on her boot heel.

“
Hey
, just a minute.” He grabbed her arm and said, “Don’t worry,” he chuckled. “I’m okay with your wish. We all have wishes. Actually, I was flattered that you’d pick me,” he said, leaning into her, trying to get her attention with his piercing stare.

He was so close. She could smell his masculine scent mixed in with his cologne. Celina’s face completely flushed, and she had a hard time bringing her face to see his.

“Did you have a particular place?” The end of his mouth lifted to one side, with a sexy look.

Oh God, I think I'm going to pass out! But I still want to jump his bones… or should I say his bull dick.
She cleared her throat, glancing down at his fitted jeans that molded into his thighs. “No,” she said faintly.
I think I can see it bulging through his jeans. Is it pulsing or am I seeing things. Oh shit, it must be a whopper like they said.
             

“What do you think of doing it in the barn?” His gaze narrowed glancing toward a small room in the barn.

“Are you serious? Today…with all of these people here at the party?” Her mouth hung agape.

“They are
way
over there, and we are
way
over here.” He moved his hand motioning the distance. “I was thinking of doing it in the saddle room. What do you think?” A breeze blew, blowing the fabric to his western shirt open, exposing a wee bit of his chest.

Ay
papi
.
She fought herself from staring.

“Or we could go back to your place. It's your call.” He inclined his head in agreement.

Celina bit her bottom lip. She stood for a few seconds, weighing her thoughts, since she had never had casual sex before. The fact that she had just seen his wife and daughter gave her second thoughts.

“You know, I’m thinking I’m doing something so wrong here.” She moved her head to one side, bringing her long hair to one side, fighting the breeze that was blowing her hair into her face.

“I don’t understand?” A somber gaze came over his face. He was already conjuring what he wanted to do with her in the barn.
Come on, Celina, don't change your mind. I've always had a thing for you and you never saw it.

“I’m sorry Xavier, I don’t know what I was thinking… you’re married and I’m asking you to break your vows. I should leave,” she said, starting to walk away.

“Wait… what? Hold on a minute.” He quickly grabbed her hand and yanked her in towards him, inches away from his lips. “Don’t worry about me. Besides, my wife doesn’t care about me.
Yes
, I’ve never cheated on her, so this would be the first. But things are not going how they’re supposed to, between a man and a woman. You know, like a married couple.” He released a sigh. “It's been that way for the last nine months. Anyway, it’s a long story.” He cleared his throat. “Do you want to take a look at the saddle room?” He tilted his head, his gaze flashing deeply into hers as he pulled on her hand.

So the suspicions that she and Valeria had about him and his wife were correct. She couldn't resist his stare any longer, his eyes burning into hers. It was obvious that he wanted her, as much as she wanted him. She melted down and nodded. “I’ll follow you,” her reply was a soft one.

“It’s just right over here.” He held on to her hand tightly, with no intention of releasing it.

They walked a short way, into a room filled with nothing but saddles, and a few bales of hay. He shut the door behind them, locked it, and said, “Nobody will see us here.”

“I can’t believe we’re doing this. Or should I say that I’m doing this.” She stood still.

“I can,” he said, walking to her with a smile. “Celina, can I kiss you? I mean, it might help break the awkwardness between us.” He took her hand in his, and squeezed it, waiting for her reply.

She stood motionless. Her stomach fluttered when she looked into his eyes, and muttered, “Okay.”

He released her hand, took off his cowboy hat, and put it on a saddle horn. Xavier set his beer down, then took her beer and set it down too. Wasting no time, he walked back to her, looked at her, and lowered his head to kiss her gently. He pulled back a few inches from her face, smiled, and asked, “Are you okay?”

She bit down on her lip, as a morsel of panic stirred. She hadn't been with a man since the ordeal with Homer.

Xavier placed two fingers over her trembling lips and then placed her hand on his chest. He leaned into her and kissed her lips softly.

She pulled back just a bit, and said, “Yes, I’m okay.”

He grinned, “Damn, you taste good.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up against him, as his mouth slanted over hers. The kiss was soft, until her mouth opened under his, allowing his tongue to sweep inside hers.