Page 71 of Hate That Blooms

By the time I’m done with the phone call and everything is brought into the house, it’s late in the evening. I’m tired. The kind of tiredness that settles into your bones after a long day at work, a long day of packing up your life and putting it into someone else’s home. I want to take my time and savor this moment, but I can feel myself dragging a little, the exhaustion creeping in.

I head back to Gabriela’s place, backing the truck into the driveway. When I get on the porch, I don’t hear any noise from inside. I’m guessing Cora and Nat are gone for the night. Her friends are good people—Cora is still getting used to us being together and I don’t blame her. And Natalie still throws some pretty wicked looks my way, but they see how much I love them. I was such a piece of shit in the past, but I think they can see that I am making up for it now. Gabriela and I have spent so much time together in the past month that it almost feels like everything is just the three of us in our own little world. I’m glad she is still finding time for them.

When I walk in the door, I’m surprised to find the house quiet. The lights dimmed low. The living room has a few empty wine glasses and takeout containers scattered across the coffee table. There are signs that people have been here, but no one is around.

That’s when I see her—Gabriela, passed out on the couch.

She’s curled up, looking peaceful but also completely out of it, her legs thrown carelessly over the armrest, her head tilted to the side. A small smile flickers on my face at the sight of her. She’s wearing jeans and a flowy top, and I can tell she had a good night, at least. The scattered evidence of their girls’ night is a good sign.

I pause for a second, not sure what to do. I could let her sleep here, but she doesn’t look comfortable. I know from experience that sleeping in this position won’t do her back any favors, and as much as she’d insist she’s fine, she’s going to wake up stiff and sore.

The decision is made in an instant.

I walk over to her quietly, kneeling down next to the couch. She stirs slightly, mumbling something under her breath, but doesn’t wake. I’m careful, my hands slipping under her as I lift her.

Her body feels light in my arms, and even though she’s asleep, I’m aware of the way she fits against me. The warmth of her. The way her body relaxes against mine instinctively. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to carry her to bed, but every time it feels a little more real. A little more like this is my home, too.

Gabriela shifts in her sleep as I make my way down the hallway. She mumbles my name as if she knows it’s me, but she doesn’t fully wake up. It’s easy to carry her to the bedroom, where I gently lay her down on our bed. I strip her clothes off and pull the covers up over her, careful not to disturb her. I lean down and kiss her forehead softly, smiling at the way she’s already settling into the softness of the sheets.

I step out of the room for a moment, checking on Mireya. She’s already asleep, curled up in her bed, clutching her favorite stuffed bear. There’s a quiet peace to the room as I peek in and make sure she’s tucked in, her hair falling messily around her face. I let her be, closing the door with the lightest touch.

There’s something about these moments—the quiet ones, the ones that happen when everyone else is asleep—that makes everything feel settled. This is what it’s all been building toward, even if it’s taken me a while to realize it. Gabriela, Mireya, this house, this life... It feels like I’m home.

I’ve always said that I associated this house, her, with home, and now I finally am.

* * *

After I bring in my stuff, I head to the bathroom and take a quick shower. The hot water feels good against my skin, the steam rising around me as I close my eyes and let my mind wander. My life has completely changed, and when I soap up my body, my thoughts go straight to my girl in our bed. Instantly, I’m hard.

She’s passed out, Quín.

That didn’t stop me before, and she said she enjoyed it. Maybe this time I will wake her up and let her ride my face.

When I finish, I dry off and pull on a pair of shorts. I take a deep breath as I look at myself in the mirror.Let's do this.

I crawl onto the bed, slipping under the covers and crawling up in between her legs. She shifts slightly in her sleep but doesn’t wake up. Spreading her thighs apart, I pull her underwear to the side and let my tongue give a firm lick from her entrance to her clit. I groan as the taste of her floods my senses, and I devour her. Gabriela arches her back and I feel her arousal against my chin as I suck on her clit. “Wake up,Reina. Come ride your king’s face. Just like you wanted to.”

“Joaquín?” Her voice is soft, muffled with sleep.

I kiss her clit and pull the comforter up so she can see me. “I’m here.”

She hums, “That feels so good.” Her fingers tangle into my hair, pulling me right back to where she wants me.

“Ride my face,Reina. Use me to make yourself come.” I scoot to the center of the bed, lying on my back and pull her body on top of me. “Come on, I want this perfect pussy on my face. Wake up,amor. You know you want to look down at me, buried between your thighs, worshiping you.”

Her eyes flutter open as she moves up my body. I adjust so that she hovers right over my face and, fuck, if this isn’t the best sight in the world. “Grab onto the headboard. We don’t need it hitting the wall and waking Mireya up.”

Lowering herself to a comfortable position, I let my tongue do all the work.

“Joaquín. Oh, Dios.“ Her hips rock back and forth, my face so wet from her arousal dripping all over my face. My hands cup the globes of her ass, spreading her apart, letting me get every inch of her.

Every single part of her.

My tongue drifts lower and teases at her back hole. She flinches and even though I don’t look up to her—I know she’s staring at me. I know we’ve never explored the idea of anal but someday…maybe she’ll let me.”

Let it happen, baby—I want all of you.

Every part of her is amazing, and I’m taking full advantage of her on top of me like this. I use a finger to trace circles around her ass, not penetrating her, just getting her used to the feeling of being touched there. She doesn’t seem to mind it as her moans grow breathier and she moves her hips faster. Chasing the orgasm building.

---