Moreno's: Moreno Brother's prequel (Moreno Brothers) Read online

  “What’s wrong with that?” Isa asked. “My mom likes to broaden her horizons, and my English gets better every time we stay on the other side for a few days.”

  “Oh, so you wanna be an American now?” Cido asked, the chip on his shoulder a bit too obvious now.

  “No seas naco, Placido Ochoa.”

  “I’m not a naco,” Cido responded again, a little too defensively.

  “Nothing wrong with getting a little cultured and learning a new language,” Isa continued to argue. “One that’s so universal. Makes it easier to communicate with the tourists out here every weekend.”

  “She’s got you there,” Alej said with chuckle.

  Of the three of them, even though she was the youngest, she did know English the best, and Alej got the feeling she’d have it down in no time if she spent even a little more time on the other side.

  They pushed along toward the middle of the marketplace to their dads’ taco stand. Alej was surprised to see how busy they still were. Both he and Cido stepped in to help out once they had their cart securely tied to a light pole.

  Octavio was once again talking about pooling their money together to buy a truck they could use to get them all out here. “We’d not only have the cart, which one of them could handle alone,” Octavio said as he flipped tortillas on the grill. “But we could convert the truck into an even bigger vending truck and still rent this spot. We’d be making three times as much money as when we first started. More if we stay as busy as we’ve been today.”

  Alej’s dad nodded, but Alej was easily distracted by Cido, who was staring at Isa. She was out by the street, giggling with one of the paleta vendors, a young guy about their age who Alej didn’t recognize. The guy pulled out a paleta from his cart, handed it to her then, but shook his head and refused her money when she tried to pay him.

  “Who’s that puto?” Cido once again touched on the very thing Alej was just wondering himself.

  Only now he was wondering something else as well. He took his eyes off of Isa just to glance at Cido. “The fuck do you care?”

  Cido shrugged as if catching himself. “Just wondering.”

  Cido went back to cutting up onions as Alej continued to stare at him. He thought back to Cido’s annoyance about her spending Independence Day away and all the times Isa had laughed a little too much at his idiot friend’s jokes. Could it be that, because of that, Cido was feeling just as disappointed about her not being here to celebrate it with them as Alej had? Because of her age, and only because it was necessary to remain as respectful despite how intimate things had gotten between them, they weren’t out as a couple to anyone yet. But clearly, even her own mother had known for years Isa was his. Only now he wondered if maybe if Cido and infuriatingly even Isa needed reminders that this kind of shit, no matter how innocent, just wasn’t going to fly with him.

  “Remember way back when I told you not to ever think of Isa in any other way than just a friend?”

  Cido stopped chopping and glanced up at him. “Yeah?”

  “That stands even more now. Only reason you should care if you see another guy flirting with her, is if it’s not me.” Removing his apron, Alej handed it to Cido “I’ll be back.”

  “It was a quinceañera not a . . .”

  The rest of what Cido had started to mumble went completely under the radar as Alej stopped in his tracks and turned around, feeling his brows furrow. “What did you say?”

  For a moment, Alej thought Cido might take back whatever he’d begun to say because he didn’t even look up from the corn he was chucking. “¿Qué dijiste guey?”

  Finally looking up, Cida shrugged, and if Alej didn’t know any better, the guy was annoyed. “Just saying it wasn’t a wedding, dude. Her quinceañera. Just because—”

  “This goes way back to before her quinceañera, and you know it.” Alej started back toward his friend, feeling every muscle in his body tense, but he was getting one thing straight right now. “You gotta problem with me saying she’s off limits to you for anything else than a friend, Cido?”

  Wisely, his friend shook his head and went back to chucking. “No, I was just saying—”

  “Good ’cause she is.” Alej was standing right in front of the table where Cido was working, glaring at him with a purpose. “And if I have to remind your ass again verbally or any other way, don’t think I won’t—every time.”

  Looking up for a sec, Cido shrugged and the quick eyeroll wasn’t missed, but at least the idiot wasn’t stupid enough to keep pushing. Only because this was his good friend and Alej knew he could be a pendejo about a lot of stuff, Alej dropped it too. But he meant that last statement. Good friend or not, Alej hadn’t been willing to bend about this even before her birthday, but his feelings about this were even more fiery now.

  Feeling even more flustered now than he had the first time he nearly walked out, Alej let his dad know he’d be right back. He walked out of the small kitchen. As soon as he came around the corner where he could see her still standing there chatting with the guy, he called out for her. She turned to him. The guy followed her gaze, and Alej stared him down as he walked toward them. Obviously picking up on what Alej was walking over for, she said something to the guy and started toward Alej instead. “Where’s your mom?” he asked as soon as she was close enough.

  “Right now, she’s on the payphone. But as soon as she’s done, she’ll be sitting over in the shade with my grandma.” She glanced back to where his dad’s window was. “I can’t believe how busy you guys still are. Everybody else is wrapping it up.”

  Knowing how long the line was at their taco shack and that he’d have to get back there soon, he peered at her and got right to it. “Who’s the guy?”

  Isa turned back to Alej then back to paleta guy. “Just a vendor. I went over to buy a paleta and–”

  “He didn’t let you pay. Yeah, I saw. He flirting with you?”

  Her mouth dropped open, but she recovered quick enough bringing the damn paleta to her mouth, and she licked it before answering. “No, he was just talking to me.”

  “And laughing. Then gave you this.” He pointed at the ice cream in her hand. “That’s flirting. You flirting back, Isa?”

  She lifted her brow, licking the ice cream with what looked like a tiny smirk. “Of course not. I know that might bother you.”

  “Might? Hell, yeah it would,” he stated the obvious, not even caring if her too perceptive mom, who was now sitting with her abuela, caught the exchange. In fact, he hoped they both did. Maybe they’d talk some sense into her. He knew she sometimes got a kick out of seeing his jealous side, but she had no idea how ugly things might get some day, especially now that their relationship had reached new heights. “Next time I see something like that, if you see me coming, stay there.”

  Her big eyes lost the playfulness and went even bigger. “Why?”

  “Because if you’re not gonna tell them you’re spoken for, I sure as fuck will.” That tempting mouth of hers, despite his annoyance, fell open a bit, but she said nothing. “I’d never flirt with someone else in front of you.”

  “Oh, but you would behind my back?”

  “You know what I meant,” he clarified quickly. “There’s no one else I’d wanna flirt with. Not unless this is how you want things to be.”

  His dad calling out for him to come back and help, interrupted them. But Alej nodded and waited for her to respond. “I’ll go sit with my mother in the shade now,” she said, but was back to trying to conceal the tiny smirk.

  “Thank you,” he said with his own smirk glad he’d made this perfectly clear to both her and Cido. Starting back toward the taco shack, he was beyond relieved now that he’d been right to go with his gut and not mince words when it came to this shit.

  Even with Isa at nearly sixteen and a half now, her mother and grandmother were still so damn protective of her—more so since they were at what his dad called the most dangerous age a young couple could be in—when it came to giving in
to temptation. But Alej had been in enough brawls over the years to know just how bad he could blow up. Only when it came to Isa it wouldn’t take much to have him losing his shit on a whole other level over things of this nature. There’d be no hiding just how entitled he felt now about her and that would surely set off rumors.

  They didn’t have too much longer to wait now until he could make his courting her official. He’d seen the perfect couple’s necklace set too, right there in the city at a jewelry store: a heart with a key. She’d wear the heart with the missing key with his name engraved in it—his entire name, Alejandro—and he’d wear the key with her name on it. Then any unsuspecting paleteros, or fuckers like Negrete who might try to pretend they’re unaware she was spoken for, would have no excuse. Alej would make no apologies for his actions once that happened. It’d be more about the disrespect than any claim that might be interpreted in any other way. He just had to be cool until then.

  Isabella

  Things had progressed significantly since their intense day at the river. Each time they got the chance, things evolved even further. Alejandro had now done things to her she’d only ever heard the girls at the preparatoria whisper about. They’d graduated from just the top nudity, and he’d pleasured her with his fingers. Isabella had only heard about orgasms but never even understood what they were really. Only that it was supposed to feel really good. The first two times he’d tried with his fingers had been unsuccessful. While it was a frantic turn on and felt so damn good to feel his fingers slide gently in and out of her most private of places, and she’d felt so close, she hadn’t come undone like the girls described.

  They were back at the same place out in the river. Like the last two times, they’d brought a blanket and found an even more sheltered spot behind the trees. Only reason they got in the water to begin with was because it was still really hot out. But Isabella’s heart raced, knowing they’d be lying on that blanket again and Alejandro’s fingers would be sliding in and out of her soon.

  Not even in the water for twenty minutes, they were on the blanket, making out frantically. Alejandro devoured her mouth with such intensity she moaned against his mouth. Shamelessly, she spread her legs, nudging his hand down to her throbbing middle. Alejandro wasted no time slipping his hands into her wet shorts. Isabella arched her back when she felt his finger slide into her.

  “Oh,” she gasped.

  From the moment he’d done it the first time, she knew they’d never go back to anything less now. She wanted his fingers in her every time now. A few times, as his fingers played with her and he sucked her tongue, she thought she might reach that place, but the intensity would slow. She knew it was because Alejandro loved slowing his kisses and just devouring her mouth for extended moments, but she was so close it was almost frustrating.

  As if reading her mind, Alejandro pulled away from her lips, licking his. His eyes bore deep into hers, looking a bit unnerved. “¿Confías en mí, mi amor?

  His finger was still sliding in and out of her, and she couldn’t even speak, so she nodded, closing her eyes. Of course, she trusted him. Just look where she was and what she was doing. If this were any other guy, she’d be terrified of what he might say next, but she absolutely trusted Alejandro.

  Her eyes flew open when she felt him pull her shorts and panties down further. His smile was a nervous one, but he shook his head. “I know you’re not ready to go that far, but there’s something else I wanna try that doesn’t run the risk of you getting pregnant. Something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.”

  In the next second, he had her bottom half completely naked, and he inched his way down. With her heart nearly bursting through her chest, she reminded herself this was Alejandro. He’d never do anything to hurt her, and she could trust him with her life.

  Spreading her legs, she glanced down and saw his face lower down between her legs. She flinched when she felt him kiss her—down there.

  “Relajate, corazón,” he whispered against her privates before kissing them gently over and over again.

  Until she felt him lick her and her eyes nearly rolled to the back of her head as she arched her back sharply in reaction.

  “You taste so good, sweetheart.” Even the murmured words against her hot slit did things to her she didn’t realize her body could feel.

  What she’d begun to feel at times when he’d used his fingers, she was feeling now tenfold, and it had her body trembling in response. The more his tongue swirled around and even sucked at times had her squirming, arching her back and moaning unabashed. She felt it everywhere in her middle. Every touch awoke another current of pleasure that ran all the way up her spine at times, and he’d slow when he touched a spot that made her literally twitch in reaction and curl her toes.

  She could feel it building quickly this time even though she hadn’t all the other times he’d tried pleasuring her with his fingers. It almost scared her; the sensation was so intense it made her eyes water. There were moments it felt like she was being shocked with pleasure, and she tried to do what he’d asked her to—relax—and just enjoy. But she was beginning to understand what those girls meant when they’d called it coming undone because it’s exactly how she was beginning to feel.

  Isabella no longer had control over her body’s reaction as she squirmed, twisted, and moaned in ecstasy. She’d expected it to take long because it’d never happened before, but it built fast, and then suddenly she knew as she cried out. They hadn’t been lying or exaggerating because the electrifying orgasm was like nothing she’d ever imagined. The throbbing waves of pleasure were almost too much to take as she continued cry out in sheer pleasure, her body quivering as it’d never done before.

  As if knowing his tongue on her now was too much, he kissed her one last time before kissing her inner thighs a few times and slithered back up next to her and smiled. “You happy, amorcito?”

  “Dios mío, Alejandro,” she gasped, still barely able to even say the words. “That was perfection.”

  Too perfect and it made her wonder where the hell he’d learned to do that. But she wouldn’t ruin the moment. Maybe, like sex, it was just instinct. Maybe like the girls at the preparatoria, guys talked too and shared tips. Whatever it was, she wasn’t about to complain. Her body had yet to come down from the ultimate high. Somehow Isabella didn’t think even drugs or alcohol could make you feel the euphoria this made her feel. No wonder there were sex addicts. At the moment, she couldn’t even blame them. She’d never get enough of that incredible feeling.

  “I’ll do that as often as I get a chance to. Because trust me . . .” He leaned in and kissed her so deeply it nearly had her toes curling again. Then he pulled away, licking his lips and staring in her eyes. “You may not believe this, Isa. But I promise you I’ll be dreaming about the very next time I get to taste you down there again. Only you have to promise me something.”

  She peered at him curiously. “What?”

  “I know girls talk, Isa. I’ve heard them, and you said yourself they do. Baby, you can’t share about this with anyone.”

  She remembered his concern about this the first time and saw it in his eyes now. It surprised her that he’d still be worried about this. “I don’t want anyone to know either, Alej.”

  “Good.” He smiled, kissing her gently. “Because this is no exaggeration. I will not, will not, put up anyone disrespecting you. Don’t get me arrested, cariño.”

  Cupping his chin with her hand, she leaned in and kissed him. “Te amo.”

  “Te adoro, mi cielo.”

  Capítulo 8

  Calm Before the Storm

  Alejandro

  Anytime Isa was out of town as she was this weekend, the days just dragged. It’s the only reason why Alej agreed to have a few beers with Cido at the cantina when they got back from peddling in the city. Otherwise, no doubt he’d be by her side right that minute. Alej had always felt struck by Isa. But ever since their relationship had moved to that other level, he could n
ot get enough of her. If he thought he’d been in love with her then, he now felt utterly spellbound, and he didn’t even care if she knew it. The only ones he did his best to keep just how bewitched he was now to a minimum were her madre and abuela. They’d already been too perceptive. Last thing he needed was for them to catch wind that he’d now become Isa’s puppy dog and have them guess why.

  It was pointless to stop trying to hide it from his dad. The guy was probably on to them already anyway. There’d been just too many times Alej had been lost in thoughts about what he’d done to Isa that day or what he was planning on doing to her later. Already more than once, his dad warned him to wipe that embelesado look off his face before he went over to see Isa. He said Isa was as bad as Alej.

  “Unless you two wanna lose access to being around each other so much, you two better get it together. Because if her mother cuts you off, you will respect her wishes and stay away, or you’ll be answering to me.”

  But at least his dad wasn’t cutting him off. All he’d say, and more and more often lately, was that Alej better be careful. Isa might not have a dad that would hunt him down if he ever got wind Alej didn’t have the most honorable intentions for his little princess. But he kept reminding Alej, in Isa’s case, he had it worse. No ay nada más tóxico que una mujer encabronada. And Alej would have two to deal with.

  They’d been sitting in the cantina having a few, listening to the trio walking around with their guitars and accordion. It’d been pleasant enough until Luis and Anselmo Negrete walked in. Alej hadn’t had to worry about Luis getting any ideas about Isa since before her quinceañera. He certainly wouldn’t put up with shit from him now just months before her seventeenth birthday. It’d been nearly two years since Alej had staked his very public claim on her. But the guy had stayed away, so as far as Alej was concerned, they had no beef. Still, the guys smug smirk every time he and Alej made eye contact rubbed him the wrong way. But as long as he stayed away from Isa, Alej could ignore it.