Page 91 of Sombra
“Amor.”
She’s tighter around me. Will she go again? I hope, I hope.
“Fuck, hang on.” I pull out, and I get her bereft whimper again. Reaching over into the bedside table, I grab a condom, rip it open, and slide it on. “I’m so sorry.”
Her mouth parted,panting, reaching for me, she says, “All good now.”
My lips against her forehead, her body bending into mine. I continue, but this time, I’m doing slow moves, pulling almost all the way out and then going back in indulgently. Out, slow, slow, slow. In, slow, slow, slow. And each shift in position is ecstasy. I’m savoring this. I’m making love to her. I’m smelling her vanilla-scented hair,her sweat, her perfection.
But now I want her feet around me. I again pull out, but this time I loosen the ribbons on her ankles and arrange her legs around my waist.
“This is better,” I say.
“Yes.”
With her wrapped around me like Velcro, I proceed to be her attentive lover in as many ways as I can. From kissing her neck to holding her up under her ass, to reachingdown and rubbing her clit until she comes again.
Once she does, she implores me. “Tavo. Please.”
It’s time to let go. With a few more thrusts, my brain becomes white noise, all of time stops, and I release into her, pumping out my passion. All my fantasies. All my feelings.
I collapse on top of her, spent and empty, and so in love with her I can’t stand it.
Bubbles frotharound her hands as she swishes in the bathwater. I’m sitting behind her, water up to my armpits, using a sea sponge to clean her off. She’s settled into my front, and I’m singing softly to her as I tend to her. I draw the sponge over her shoulders, and let the suds streamdown.
“Olive oil is good for your skin, you know,” I say. The ends of her hair are damp, but I don’t have anything to put them up, so I lift them up with one hand and put the sponge up behind her neck with the other.
“It’s good inside and out. Like you.” As she turns to kiss me, she splashes. This tub isn’t quite big enough for the two of us.
I shake my head. “I’m not good.I’m just trying to be good.”
Concern registers on her face. “You’re very good, Gustavo, and I don’t just mean in bed. You care about people. You put other people’s needs above your own. You’ve got integrity and kindness unlike anyone else I’ve known.”
Although I want to brush off the compliment, I think about it. “These are qualities in you, too, mi amor. But more? You are so brave.The bravest woman I know. Who else, with the experience you had, realizes that there’s more out there and actually acts on it? You inspire me, Kim. You’re changing so much as you’re here, but it’s not just change for change’s sake. I think you’re changing to become who you really are.”
“Tavo,” she whispers, “I—”
I interrupt her. “But you haven’t lost your willingness to try new things.You are—what’s the word—intrepid. You haven’t lost your love and respect for other people. This is why you are so attractive to me.”
“You’re piling it on.”
“I apologize, I’ll stop,” I say, and pull back the sponge.
“No, not the suds. You’re piling on the compliments. Thepiropos.”
“I could never compliment you enough.”
She sits up straight and faces me as squarelyas she can in the bath. Body wash drips between her beautiful breasts. “Tavo. I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes, and I’m sure I’ll make more.” She looks off to the side. “I still have some loose ends I have to tie up.”
I grin despite myself, thinking of ties.
Giving me a shove, she says, “I’m serious.” Her face falls. “We’re meant to be together. But what happens when I go home?My heart will break.”
My heart stands still. “Don’t talk like that.”
“Maybe you can come with me?”
Running my hands through my wet hair, I lean back against the cold tile. “Ojalá.” Because I’m dreaming of the rest of my life with her.
