“What if we search some of the Cubanas’ social media pages? Lots of their family members left the pages up, so people can still share their condolences.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to try. Let’s load up on cookies. The chocolate will renew our energy.”
Two hours later, Roslyn and I have found an actual butterfly in the background image of one of the victim’s profile pictures. Another had visited the butterfly sanctuary, and three more had tattoos. We’re winding down again when Dominic’s face pops up on my phone.
Since it’s past eleven at night, my eyebrows furrow. “Hey, baby. What’s going on?”
“Dario and I are headed to Havana.”
“You sound . . . Is everything okay?”
“No. Papi was unconscious for who knows how long. He had an allergic reaction. We’re leaving for the airport now.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “Call me if there’s anything I can do for you while you’re away.”
“No, mami. I’ll be back in a couple of days, hopefully with my stubborn Papi. Okay?”
“Alright, I’ll pray for him. Call me when you arrive.”
Once we hang up, Roslyn asks, “What was that about?”
“Dom’s father is in the hospital. He and his brother are going to visit. Must be bad. I haven’t told you, but his older brother is more of a homebody than me. The car accident that killed the girl left him paralyzed. Now, he’s depressed and—hostile.”
A little after three in the morning, I’m awoken by my cellphone. Usually, I turn it off, but I’d fallen asleep waiting for Dominic to update me on his dad’s status.
I hear a faint ping of the elevator when I reach over to grab it. Damn, Miranda usually doesn’t return before first light. It must have been a slow night.
“Dom?” I yawn. “Did you make it to Havana?”
He seems dejected, saying, “Papi didn’t want us to waste money on a flight.”
I strain to keep my eyes open. “Oh, no. But he’s your dad. If mine were . . .” I trail off, catching myself before old feelings tumble out. “I know he sounds stubborn, but I’m sure once you arrived—”
“No, chula. I’m here.”
“Here?” I mumble, sitting up against the headboard to clear the fog from my brain. Right outside the door to my room is a dark silhouette.
Trepidation stirs in the pit of my stomach until Dominic reassures me that it is him. His attractive accent soothes the anxiety in my soul. He hangs up. His handsome features come to fruition as he climbs into the bed and on top of me. I stroke his jaw. The bristles prickle at my palm. Perplexed, I wonder why would I ever fear the man I love?
Chapter Sixty-Five
El Santo
The strings binding LeAnna and Dominic are coming undone at the seams. The ones fastening her to me are lacing tighter together. She and her friend had discussed mariposas. Her musings made me smile for the first time since I held her in my arms.
“No, chula. I’m here.” I mouth into the phone, sauntering down the hall. My other hand feels for the knife in the back of my belt. Curling my fist around the handle, I curse myself for not leaving the knife in the car.
“Here?” is Aria’s groggy reply.
She settles back against the headboard. Removing my hand from my knife, I reach into my pocket and press the button of a small cell phone blocker—no more Dominic.
I climb into the bed and on top of her. “It’s been a busy night. Arguing with Dario to go. Then to have Papi complaining. So, I’m gonna fuck you now.”
“Hmmm,” she whispers, a smile blooming across her face. “Sounds like you plan to screw me hard.”
“By all means, scream at the top of your lungs—break your fucking tonsils if you like.”
In the darkness, LeAnna’s eyes spark in delight. She grips my ass. “While shouting your name?”
“No.” I press a vicious kiss against her mouth and grind my cock against her lace panties. “Scream how much you love me, Aria.”
She hitches a breath. “Dom—”
I clasp her throat with one hand. “And I will let you know how much I love this wet pussy. How much I. Love. You. Mami.”
Her heart pounds against my fingertips and palm. “It’d be foolish of me not to love you. You make me a better man, LeAnna.”
Chapter Sixty-Six
Aria
Dominic’s lips touch down on my tingled, oxygen-deprived mouth. He climbed down, still holding my voice hostage to kiss the apex of my sex through my lace underwear. I clamor for air.
He called me LeAnna again. I can’t fault him. I can’t be mad when fireworks are launching in my brain, and my heart swells. Dominic tears my panties from my body with his teeth then settles between my thighs. As if this were some ritual, his fingers cease their hold on my throat.
I suck in air.
His cock funnels into me, my sex stretching and drenching around him on key. Ecstasy sends all thought straight from my mind, replacing it with a million fiery stars.
“I love you. I love you,” I rasp out.
Shivers fly down my spine as Dominic laces my fingers above my head, pinning me beneath him.
He drives deep. With each force, my ocean sinks his dick like a submarine.
“Oh, my . . . oh, shit.” My fingers curl under, nails chewing into my soft flesh as Dominic pistons in and out of me. Struggling to regulate my breathing, I succumb to a torpedo of consistent orgasms.
“I love you, mami. You are mi amor.” Dominic’s Spanish groanings drive his cock deeper into my ocean. His mouth descends on mine. He unhooks my thighs. He pulls out, climbing down, and slurps up my juices until my pussy convulses on his tongue. I bite mine to stop the dramatic words, ready to exit my mouth.
When it’s too unbearable, I shout, “I wanna have your baby!”
Dominic’s pussy-drenched lips slide across mine. I drink the taste of my sex as he dives in.
I gulp in air as he enters me again. He thrusts harder, and I let out a guttural moan. Sometime later, our heartbeats slam against each other as Dominic falls into me.
He leans up.
“Stay.” My thighs attempt to hold him hostage.
“Can you breathe, chula?”
“You said you love me. No going back to chula, which I must assume is a community name.”
“Can you breathe, mi amor?” He drops a kiss on my nose.
“Is chula a community name? And no, I can’t breathe, nor do I want to.” I stop myself from telling him I can die at this very moment in his arms.
Dominic’s chuckle is a low rumble from his chest to mine.
My smile uncontainable, I reply, “So, chula is a community name for all the women—”
A nibble at my nipple causes me to suck in air. I touch his face. The bristles from his strong jaw tease my fingertips. All of him teases and tingles all of me. My sex glides against Dominic. I groan. “I’m so glad you’re here, Dom.”
Thunder flashes in Dominic’s eyes for the faintest of seconds. Then he’s smiling again. I have to wonder if he thought of the argument he had with Dario and his father. But whatever had him momentarily annoyed passes. A copious amount of banter follows Dominic and me until morning light. Lids heavy, we fall asleep.