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  Alej turned to her, still pushing the cart along. His first thought was the fear the entire pueblo had been dealing with since the rise in murders in the city. “Like a gun?”

  She shook her head, staring at him oddly, a sudden timidness in her eyes. Then it hit him, and his own eyes widened. “You mean like . . .?”

  It felt wrong to even say it, but who was he kidding? He’d been carrying condoms ever since that first day things had progressed at the river. With everything they’d been delving into when it came to this, he didn’t trust himself not to give into her, as he did when it came to anything else her heart desired. Already he’d given into so much else when it came to this. He’d done things to her so some might argue that, even if he hadn’t deflowered her in the technical sense of the phrase, she could easily be labeled what his dad and Cido had referred to as “damaged goods.” She’d since allowed him to indulge in touching, dipping in, and even tasting every part of her body.

  Groaning, he glanced away from her when her brightening eyes confirmed what she was asking. “Yes, but, Isa—”

  “My grandmother worked it out with the landlord. But we have to be out by the end of the month so he could get the new tenants in on the first.” Her lips quivered suddenly, and her sweet face scrunched in heartache. “I’ll be gone in a week.”

  “What?” Alej’s altered heart went from anxiously elated to suffocating anguish.

  “I want you to be my first, Alejandro. I’ve always known you would be.”

  Capítulo 11

  The Promise

  Isabella

  Waiting with bated breath, even as her wrenched heart pounded, Isabella stared at Alejandro, confused by the sudden change in his demeanor. He seemed surprised then even a bit excited when he finally figured out what she was suggesting, but now his eyes had a sudden fire in them.

  “First of all,” he said, pulling the cart aside and stopping at an empty spot in the road. “Just because you’re leaving, whether I’m your first here or not, I’m your only one. Forever, Isa. Fuck this move. I’ll stop at nothing to get you back to me. You’re not moving on just because—”

  “I know. I know!” Isabella laced her hands in his. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying who knows how long it’ll be?” Her terrified lips betrayed her again as they began trembling and she brought her hand over them. “I just don’t know how long we’ll be waiting, and I don’t want you to be . . . tempted. I want you to remember everything you’re waiting to love again.” She shook her head, knowing her voice would give when she spoke again. “Everything you own because I’m yours forever. There’s no doubt in my heart about that. I love you so much, Alejandro. I don’t wanna lose you to someone else because we’re separated too long—”

  “Never!” Alejandro laced his fingers into hers then brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. We’ll stay in touch until I can get to you and make you mi mujer for the rest of my life.”

  Nodding, Isa fought the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him madly. But she was even more certain of what she’d decided. She was so ready to entregarse to him in the most sacred of ways. What difference did it make if she gave herself to him now or later? There’d never be anyone else for her anyway. She’d known it for years. Alejandro was it for her.

  They started walking again, silent for a moment. “You have to go have dinner, right?”

  “I could tell them I’ve already eaten,” Isabella offered, knowing she’d be too anxious to eat anyway.

  Alejandro turned to her suddenly, looking just as anxious as she was feeling. “I need to get this put away. You said your abuela wanted acorns for the decorations she’s making. Tell them you’re going out to the big oaks to gather some. That I’ll be meeting you in a bit to help you and then ride you home. Then meet me at Don Elias’s place.” Isabella felt her eyes go wide. “But only if you’re sure about this, mi amor.”

  She smiled because she loved hearing him call her that. She loved every term of endearment he used for her. This only made her inhale even deeper as she shook off the anguish of knowing she’d be so far away from him in a week. “I’m absolutely sure.”

  After she promised to take the back road and that she’d do everything she could to avoid being seen walking out to the old man’s house, they went their separate ways. Isa let her mother know she’d eaten one of Alejandro’s corn on the cob but grabbed a bolio and piece of cheese to go anyway. She also made sure she had a pack of peppermint chicklets in her pocket before heading out.

  As promised, she took the always scant back road. With the sun just beginning to make its descent behind the mountains, she was able to hide in the shadows when she thought someone might spot her. By the time she arrived at Don Elias’s modest little cabin, she was certain she’d managed to do so without anyone seeing her. She sat on the bench by the back door as Alejandro instructed her, petting Lobo, Don Elias’s half blind dog.

  She wasn’t there very long before she heard the galloping hoofs of Atrevido nearing. With her heart spiking she sat still, also as Alejandro had instructed, she listened as he told Atrevido to be good and that he’d be back in a while. Then she heard the front door open and close as he walked into the cabin. A few seconds later the wooden window she’d been sitting near was pushed opened and Alejandro smiled when he saw her.

  “Ven aqui, mi amor.”

  The moment she was close enough, he lifted her by the waist and helped her inside. “I stopped and fetched a bag of acorns. This way we don’t have to look in the dark on our way back.”

  Isa gulped because, while the sun had begun to descend, it’d still be a while before it was dark. Alejandro likely planned on them being out there even longer than that.

  Pulling her to him as soon as they were in the bedroom, Alejandro cradled her face and kissed her softly, sweetly, before pulling away to look at her. “You’re sure about this?”

  She nodded, smiling nervously. “More than ever.”

  Bringing his hand behind her neck, he kissed her even deeper before slipping his hand in hers and taking a seat on the bed. He set her on his lap, and they proceeded to kiss in that position for a while. As the intensity of their kisses increased, Alejandro lay back bringing her over him on the bed.

  He undid the buttons on her blouse, tracing kisses down her chin, neck, and down to her breasts. Isabella ran her fingers through his hair as they rolled over and he was suddenly on top. Feeling the weight of his entire hard body on top of her wasn’t new, but her heart pounded, knowing they’d be going much further this time than ever before.

  Slipping his hand under her skirt, he caressed her between her legs over her panties. “So warm and wet already, mi amor,” he said, groaning against her breast. “I love how you’re always so ready for me.” He easily moved the thin material of her panties aside and slipped a finger inside her. Then two as he glanced up and gazed in her eyes. “I’m not trying to rush this, Isa, but I’m not gonna lie. It makes me nervous to have you out here too long.”

  Isabella nodded, hoping he didn’t hear her gulp. Truth was she was anxious to get this over with too. While she appreciated that he’d prefer to make this last longer, Isabella wasn’t sure how much more her heart could take.

  She’d been too nervous and caught up with his kisses when they first stepped into the bedroom to notice the towels on the nightstand that he reached for. They seemed out of place now, and she realized now he’d likely brought them with him. Knowing why suddenly had her heart racing even faster.

  “Let me get this under you, cariño.”

  He unfolded both towels under her then pulled her panties off. Spreading her legs, he kissed her down there. Then his magic tongue began. Isabella’s body trembled in ecstasy as his tongue went in further than it ever had before. “You okay?” he asked as she arched her back.

  “Yes,” she gasped.

  He sat up a bit, unbuttoning his pants. As much as he’d done to her, and as often as she’d felt his erections over h
is clothes, he’d never actually pulled it out for her to see. Her eyes were glued to his fingers now as he pulled his pants down and off. Just seeing the full erection like this threatening to push through his briefs like this gave her chills. Up until now, he’d slipped as many as two fingers in her, and she’d felt the burn then. This looked so much thicker and longer than she imagined.

  She watched as he pulled down his briefs and the erection popped out, confirming just how much she’d be stretched out today.

  “Still okay?” he asked as he started to slip on the condom. Isabella nodded but couldn’t take her eyes of him now. “It’s okay to be nervous.” He smiled when she finally brought her eyes up and met his. “My first time too, Isa. So, it might make you feel better to know this is probably gonna be over faster than you may be thinking.”

  When he was done putting the condom on, he leaned in and kissed her softly before positioning himself between her legs. “I’ll go slow. You tell me if you need me to stop.”

  Spreading her with his fingers first, he slipped two in her again as her lashes fluttered; her eyes nearly closed from that alone. Then she felt him at her entrance. He pushed in slowly, and instantly she felt the burn.

  Squeezing her eyes shut, she sank her teeth into her bottom lip. “I can stop, Isa, if it’s too much for you.” She shook her head but said nothing. “Are you sure, baby? You’re already bleeding.”

  “Don’t stop now,” she grunted, eyes still closed.

  It burned a lot more before she felt him all the way inside her, and she opened her eyes. His were squeezed shut now, as he stayed there for a few moments all the way inside her as if basking in the feeling of being completely in her. Isabella did her best to make it less painful by spreading her legs more, but he was just so big she felt overwhelmingly full and stretched out.

  “How we doing?” His hoarse words made her smile, despite her discomfort.

  Clearly, he was enjoying this far more than she was. “I’m okay.”

  With that, he began sliding in and out slowly. The burn got more bearable as he stretched her with each thrust. She was just beginning to actually get some pleasure of it, at least enjoy the eroticism of what was happening, when he buried himself deep in her again with a drawn-out grunt.

  “I tried, mi vida,” he said hoarsely, still buried inside her. “But I’m surprised I held out that long.” She smiled, caressing his face when he leaned in and kissed her again. “We might have time to do it again, if you’re up for it.”

  Feeling the burn as he pulled out of her finally, even though he wasn’t nearly as big now as when he first went in, Isabella shook her head. “I don’t think I will be tonight. But tomorrow . . .” His eyes went wide as she caressed his big hard forearm. “And every day after until I leave.”

  Alejandro glanced down between her legs. “Thank God I brought towels.”

  Isabella winced. “That bad?”

  Glancing up at her, Alejandro nodded, but he smiled. “Eres completamente mia, Isa.”

  This time Isabella nodded and smiled. “All yours. Forever mi amor.”

  Alejandro

  A week after making good on his promise to make love to Isa every day until she left, Alej wasn’t sure if it’d been a mistake. He knew saying good-bye to her would be hard, but after having her naked body in his arms all week, it felt even more torturous.

  Alej along with Cido now had the bitter chore of helping Isa, her mother, and her abuela carry their luggage to the bus stop where they’d board a bus that would take them away from their pueblo forever.

  As soon as Alej had a moment alone with her before they were ready to board their bus, he took her aside, behind the bus out of her mother’s and grandmother’s sight. “I’ll write you as often as I can. And you do the same, okay?”

  “I will,” she responded immediately, as the tears welled up in her eyes and her lips began to quiver.

  Without giving it more thought before her mom or grandmother might come looking for her, he leaned in and kissed that sweet quivering lip softly, taking her mouth more profoundly. Despite the ache in his heart, he knew he’d have to adjust his crotch before walking her back, and God forbid her mother or grandmother might notice massive bulge in his crotch.

  “This isn’t forever,” he reminded her, trying to remain optimistic as he walked her back around the bus. “You can come back and visit, or I can visit you. Either way, it’s just a little over a year until you’re eighteen.”

  Isa nodded with a tiny smile as if she knew exactly what that meant. She’d mentioned more than once in the past that both her mother and grandmother had often said eighteen is the youngest any respectable señorita should begin seriously dating or even think about marriage. There were no set rules for lengths of courtships, however. But it didn’t even matter. Alej had every intention of marrying her as soon as she was of age.

  “I’ll come get you,” he said, lowering his voice, and smiled. “I promise. Just make sure you respond to my letters. Te adoro, Isa. You know I have for years and always will. Remember that.”

  Her eyes welled again but she nodded. “I’ve always adored you too, Alej. And I promise I’ll wait for you to come get me.”

  Smiling, Alej lifted the paper where she’d written her aunt’s address. Alej had already written one letter to her and asked her not to read it until she was on the bus. He’d write her another one as soon as he got the chance.

  Alej and Cido stood there and watched as the bus drove away. He refused to move until it was completely out of sight. As much as it felt like the beginning of the end for them, Alej refused to even entertain the idea. With his heart still aching, as he knew it would until she was back in his arms again, he and Cido made the walk back to their homes silently.

  Capítulo 12

  No Time or Distance

  Isabella

  Isabella querida,

  I’m not gonna lie. Thoughts of running away with you before you could leave me have crossed my mind more than once since you told me about this move. I just couldn’t do that to my dad, and I know you wouldn’t do that to your mom. But I want you to know this and remember it always. I love you and I’ll be coming to get you when you turn eighteen. I PROMISE this. Just promise me that you’ll stay in touch and wait for me until then. Please don’t cry or be sad. Go to El Paso, finish your education, and wait for me. I WILL be there no matter what.

  You and I are meant to be. We’ve always known this, and your moving away for now doesn’t change that. Believe that, now and forever. No matter what.

  Have a safe trip and write me as soon as you can. I’ll be anxiously waiting to hear from you. Enjoy the other side and all the new experiences you’ll get from this. Just stay true to me as I’ll stay true to you.

  I’ve known it since day one, Isa.

  Yo naci para adorarte.

  Alej

  Isa kept all of Alej’s letters safely tucked away. But this one she carried with her in her billetera everywhere she went. It was the one he’d given her to read on the bus drive out to El Paso, the one where he first promised her that he’d come for her. He’d repeated that in every letter since, and she’d believed him. But just five months after she’d moved, everything changed. She’d done as promised and responded eagerly to every one of his letters. And as promised he said he was staying true to her.

  Then all their plans began to fall apart. A few months after she’d left Pueblo De Oro, Alejandro wrote her to tell her about Cido. His dad Octavio left to try his luck in Tijuana, another border town on the west coast. Cido and his other uncles and their families stayed behind and waited. Weeks later he was back, raving about how the city of Tijuana was a gold mine just crawling with tourists and much safer than Juarez.

  Alejandro said that, despite Octavio urging his dad to make the move with him, his father still wasn’t sure. He said it was still on that side of the border, and he was determined to live out his ultimate dream and move them to the other side.

  Then, just a
few weeks ago, Alejandro sent two letters back to back. One was his usual responding to the last one she’d sent him, but before she could write back, she’d received another to tell her they were making the move. Only unlike he’d thought before, that they would move to the closest city over the border to El Paso where he’d be near her, they were moving to San Ysidro, a city in southern California. As he had in all his letters, he assured her it didn’t matter. No matter where he moved to, he’d come get her as soon as she was eighteen. He said it might be weeks before they were settled anywhere where he could give her a permanent address to write to, but in the meantime, he’d continue to write to her and update her.

  Then it happened. Her uncles had an ugly falling out. Isabella’s abuela sided with one sister’s husband, and next thing Isabella knew, they all moved out of the aunt’s home in El Paso. Her other aunt and uncle moved back to Mexico to live with her brother-in-law’s family. Her aunt and uncle couldn’t afford to rent the house on their own anymore. But Isa’s mom wanted to stay in El Paso. Only at first Isabella, her mother, and her grandma didn’t have a set place to live. They stayed at a hotel for a while then decided to move to Las Cruces, New Mexico to stay at the home of a cousin of her grandmother’s, until they were finally able to get their own place months later.

  Alejandro had yet to send her a good address where he could be reached in San Ysidro, so there was no way she could get word to him about her move. It was devastating. Just like that, their constant correspondence came to a screeching halt.

  At first, Isabella was inconsolable, even though her grandmother assured her that, if it was meant to be, they’d one day be together. Isabella had no idea how that would ever happen with him living in California and her in New Mexico. But worst of all, neither had a clue where the other lived now. How in the world would Alejandro find her without any trace of her in the last place he knew her to be?