“She’s a headstrong and stubborn girl.Much like her abuela.”
I laugh softly.Grandma isn’t lying.Bianca has both those qualities, but I couldn’t imagine her any other way.A weak woman isn’t what I’m after.I want someone who’s going to challenge me, and so far, Bianca’s done that at every turn.
“She will need a firm hand and caring heart to watch over her.”
“I can do that.”
“Mi amorwas my rock, holding me in place and keeping me tethered to this earth.You must be that for Bianca.”
But for some odd reason, which is totally fucked up, my mind goes straight to sex.Holding Bianca in place as she rides my cock from above.And the firm hand part?Yeah, I’m totally thinking about smacking that ass.
I shake my head when Bianca smacks my shoulder like she can read my damn mind.“Vinnie,” she whispers.“Don’t go there.”
Yeah.She totally read my mind.Of course, she would.She writes the dirtiest words about women being controlled and sexually dominated.There’s no way her mind didn’t shift a little with the firm hand comment.
“Yes,” her grandmother says and touches my face again, bringing my attention back to her and away from my dirty thoughts.“You will make a fine father to my great-grandchildren.”
“Will we have a lot?”I’m totally buying into her ancestor talk, and I’m also indulging the woman.
Bianca’s foot starts to tap like she’s dancing behind me.I reach back, wrapping my hand around her ankle to stop her.She grunts, and her shadow looms a little large over me.“Ridiculous,” she whispers, knowing her abuela can’t hear her, but I totally can.
“Many children.Many, many children.”Her lips turn up into a satisfied smile.“The family legacy will continue through you,” she says with a tight squeeze of my shoulders.
“Abuela.”Bianca leans over and kisses her grandmother’s cheek.“We’re being summoned by Luis.We’ll be back, though.”
I glance around the room, and Luis’s not even looking in our direction.I guess the conversation about children and a future has Bianca on edge and looking for an escape route.
Abuela stares at Bianca.“Don’t lie, dear.It’s not very nice.”
I laugh quietly as I climb to my feet, and Bianca looks like a deer in headlights.Even though her grandmother can’t see well, she knows when someone’s bullshitting her, especially her granddaughter.
“I…” Bianca starts to say, but I figure I’ll rescue her from this situation.
“Abuela, do you mind if I take Bianca to get a drink?”I ask, trying to get her the exit she wants and save face with her grandmother.
“I don’t mind.”She eases back into her chair and toys with the wedding ring she still wears on her finger.“Bring this old lady a tequila when you come back.”
Bianca slides her hand into mine and pulls me toward the bar before I can say another word to her grandmother.“She’s not totally with it,” she tells me when we’re only a few feet away.
“She’s fine.”
“No.”Bianca shakes her head.“She’s not.Didn’t you hear the things she was saying?”
I stop walking and tug on her hand, making her body lurch backward and collide with my chest.“Baby.”I wrap an arm around her middle, gazing at this beautiful and exasperating creature.“Sometimes, the oldest people among us speak the most truth.”
She gawks at me, blinking repeatedly as she stills in my arms.“You don’t honestly believe anything she just said, do you?”
I lean forward, burying my face in her neck.“About the ancestors or the babies?”
She tips her head back as my lips press into her skin.“Both,” she says breathlessly, and I know I’ve got her.
I nibble the spot right near her shoulder blade because I know she makes the hottest sound when I touch her there.“I very much believe her words.”My hand slides to her stomach, splaying across her dress.“I’d love nothing more than to see your belly big and carrying my babies.”
As the words come out of my mouth, I regret them.There’re no takebacks.No turning back time.I’ve never said those words.
Fuck, I’ve never even thought them about anyone.
Never.
