~Viviana~
“Roman asked permission for your weekend with him,” Mom mumbled in a teasing tone. The mischievous glint in my mother’s eyes was telling.
“He told me, mom,” I groaned, remembering how embarrassed I was when Roman told me what she did. Especially that part about not getting me pregnant. “Why would you do that?”
Mom giggled, nudging my shoulders playfully. “You should’ve seen his face,” she barked out, sprinkling the board with flour, rolling out the portion of the dough she set aside earlier. She was making her second batch of fried donuts, one of the Sweet Bits’ best sellers.
I shook my head, measuring the vanilla extract before tossing it on the bowl of milk, oil, and eggs. “You’re s
~Viviana~Time and time again, I reminded myself that my heart is the last thing I’ll put on the line in this ‘thing’ I have with Roman. Our chemistry, when we first met, had been explosive and undeniable. Now I’m questioning myself if the boundaries I caged my heart into are still intact.It was loud, the pounding of my heart, louder than the dominating guitar strums of the new Spanish song playing in the background. The alluring voice of the lead vocal did nothing to get my mind off of the clenching sensation in my chest.Gray shadows tunneled my vision, zoning away everyone and everything apart from Roman and Celestina, whose lips collided in one swift motion.It felt like hours had gone by. My hold on the box of cupcakes tightened to a python-
~Viviana~Now that Roman was holding my hand, I visibly relaxed as we stepped inside the mansion again. I was able to take in the gold, silver, and dark and light blue ornaments that adorned the spacious room. There were white linen tables flanked around the sides, occupied with men dressed in crisp tailored suits and women in designer dresses.Wedged on the other side of the ballroom, a long table with white and blue intricately designed linen holds about fifty to a hundred birthday cakes and pastries of unique designs. The number twenty-three was the only thing they had in common. Each one outshines what’s next to it, aiming to impress the birthday celebrant.Overhead the table was Roman’s name with the words happy birthday and welcome home arched above it in the same theme of blue, silver, and gold.
~Roman~This day started perfectly, with Viviana in my arms, receiving a gift from her, a cuddle... If I thought that Celestina kissing me was the worst that could happen, damn, was I fucking wrong.“This is for your own good,” Don Castillo said when Mateo and I walked up to him.If only that were true, I would’ve considered his concern, but no. That’s total bullshit. He only cares about his business, and he’s using me to ensure that Severino wouldn’t turn against him as he did before. Severino is a living, walking leech. He would suck everyone’s ass if he could guarantee his safety. Treachery pumps in his veins, and greed for power blinded my father.The moment my father stood on that stage, blabbering stupid shit about his prec
~Viviana~ An ear piercing silence stretched between us where only the loud pounding of my heart echoed through my ears. I want Roman so much but my conscience would never let me rest. Sleeping with someone already engaged and about to marry another woman is not in my bucket list, even if that man is Roman. The pause that followed my query made me question my decision to be here with him. I might have ruined this night, but I’m willing to go home if he is indeed going to marry Celestina. “Amor,” Roman spoke, his eyes searching mine, treading over my face with intent while his thumb drew small circles on my jaw. “Let’s lie down?” I pressed my tongue on the insides of my cheeks. That wasn’t exactly the answer I was looking for.
~Viviana~If I thought that waking up to mom’s cooking was the best way to start my day, damn, I was wrong. A repeat performance of Roman’s expert mouth, tongue, and fingers last night was better. I was sure that my arousal dampened his bedsheets. Thinking of everything dirty he did and said to me, the image of his face trapped between my legs was enough to soak my underwear...We’re driving through an unfamiliar viridescent field of uphill and downhill roads. Apart from the times he’d had to shift gears, our fingers remained locked together above his thigh.Road signs indicate that we’re still in Las Mencía. I closed my eyes, leaning my elbow on the open window panel, relishing the fresh air caressing my face. My hair, a mess of locks constantly swept over my face, made me smile
~Viviana~In the afternoon, when the sun was just about to set, everyone gathered in Señora Teresa’s expansive garden.From what Sylvia told me, it was their tradition to play parlor games whenever they gathered, especially when it was a birthday celebration. They usually play mind and word games while Señora Teresa stands as the lone judge in every game and no one is allowed to back out. Even Emilio, who’s the buffiest of the guys, couldn’t escape the watchful eyes of the game master.There’s a gruesome punishment waiting for anyone who loses. They are betting money, cars, and as for now, the punishment is to finish the juice made by Anita and Claudia. The liquid inside the tall glass, a cross between brown and green, looks inedible. Only those two know what they put in there,
~Viviana~Knuckles turning white. My grip on the grab handle tightened as Roman’s Tesla took each curve on the freeway. This is not a road trip. It’s the fastest roller coaster ride I’ve ever been on. My breaths came in rapid huffs and I was sure my heart moved permanently in my throat.Just like last night, he was driving over the speed limit, but I wasn’t afraid. I’m feeling a different kind of rush.The resolve on Roman’s face gave me comfort that he was in his zone. His face was so focused on what he was doing that the small conversation we had barely registered in my head.It took about forty-five minutes to reach his grandmother’s place. He chopped off a good twenty minutes in that time while breaking numerous traffic rules
~Viviana~ “I understand what you’re going through. When my mother died, it’s like she took a piece of me with her and until now, there’s still that void in my chest. It will remain there forever. I learned to live with it, but that doesn’t mean I will forget her. She lives in my heart, all memories of her.” A gentle touch was caressing my heart with every word he spoke. I don’t go back on my words, but I realized Roman had always been an exception to my rule book. I said I wouldn’t let him kiss me, but I kissed him. After what he said, it was really hard to land a punch in his throat now. How is this even possible? This connection between us is so surreal that I find it hard to believe. “You’re really making it hard for