Prologue

Matías Moreno

Playa Blanca, Colombia

June, Four Years Ago.

The buzz of the alcohol running through my veins keeps me happy, inhibited, and aroused. I've been eyeing Cattleya all night long; she's by far the prettiest girl at the party. Hell, who am I kidding? The prettiest girl I've seen in my life.

She's dancing, a halter dress tight to her upper body with a flowy skirt; it's a flower print of some sort, but it looks like she' s floating whenever she moves. I'm hypnotized by her beauty and charisma—her girlfriends surrounding her. There's Sofi, her sister, and Karina, who's engaged to my friend Luca. Daniela is out there, too. She's the one who just married my friend Marco.

The sway of Cattleya's hips and her luscious ass call to me like a mermaid chant lures sailors to bed. I know I shouldn't ogle her; she's sweet and pure, innocence oozing from her pores. The complete opposite of me and my fucked up life.

But I can't stop thinking about her. Last night, when she knocked on the door of my bungalow, asking if I wanted to have dinner with her, I was in shock. I didn't think she had noticed me at all this week. I almost said no, but when I looked at those warm amber eyes, I couldn't resist—I saw hope and glee—something I have rarely experienced in my life.

We ended up chatting until the morning, sitting by the ocean and sharing a bottle of champagne. We watched the most spectacular sunrise together. I wish I could have frozen that moment and stayed there forever; for some reason, I felt complete. But we had a wedding to prepare for, so here we are.

"Hey, boludo , are you going to keep ogling her, or are you going to man up and ask her to dance?" Luca asks, sitting beside me and making me jump off my chair. The asshole laughs at me, but since I get lost in thought often, he likes to take the chance to scare the shit out of me.

"What are you talking about? You almost made me have a heart attack," I say, trying to save face in front of the most fachero of our group. Luca could be a snake charmer if he wanted.

"Nah, don't play dumb with me. We all have seen how you look at Sofi's sister. You've been like a lost puppy all week, hanging around her. Trying to stay on the edge of her radar."

"Dude, stop. I'm not into anyone," I say with more force than necessary, but I don't want him to meddle in my life. What if I go there, and she thinks I'm a perv? What if she has caught me looking at her this week? No. No way.

"He's right. You know?" Marco says as he sits on my other side.

"What the fuck is wrong with you all? Look, I'm thrilled you both found love and all that shit, but you know love is not for me," I say as I go for a shot of aguardiente , trying to put an end to this conversation by enjoying the intense anise flavor of the Colombian drink.

"Who's talking about love? All I'm saying is you should go dance with her. If you don't, Juan Carlos will," Luca says with a shit-eating grin.

I turn my head toward the dance floor, to see Juan Carlos dancing with Alicia and Sara, the twin sisters Luca and Karina invited from Chile to help with the flowers and the wine at the wedding.

"Nah, his hands are full. Plus, Cattleya is only eighteen. I'm sure he wouldn't go there," I say as I go for a handful of nuts.

"Ah, so that's what the issue is. You think she's too young? I mean, I haven't spoken much with her, but she seems like a girl who's wise beyond her years," Marco says as he eyefucks his bride.

"Shouldn't you be consummating your marriage or something like that?" I ask him, causing both him and Luca to explode in a fit of laughter.

"I will consummate my marriage. You don't need to worry about that. I have a lifetime with her. You, on the other hand, you need to get your head out of the gutter and go dance with the mina who is driving you crazy," Marco says as he gives me a pat on my back and stands up, making his way to his bride. The way they're looking at each other, I hope they leave the party soon; otherwise they'll be consummating right in front of all the guests.

"Fine, so long as you both leave me alone," I say as I stand up from my chair and take one more shot of aguardiente. I readjust my shirt, ruffle my hair, and straighten my shoulders. After one deep breath, I head toward the dance floor.

"That's what I'm talking about, boludo . Let's go," Luca says as he falls into step with me.

The moment Karina sees him, she screeches and makes a run for him. She's shit-faced, but Luca is ready to grab her in his arms and spin her on the dance floor.

" Hola ," I say as I reach Cattleya, who's suddenly alone since Sofi, Karina, and Dani are dancing with their men.

"Hey," she says, a small chuckle escaping her lips. She smiles at me as she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear, and I'm entranced. It happens every single time I'm near her; it's like my neurons freeze. Being alone with her is something I thought wouldn't make a difference, but she's different—the feeling is different.

" A bailar, a bailar . (Dance, dance.)" Someone shouts, and Cattleya closes the space between us, placing her forearms on my shoulders.

"Suavemente" by Elvis Crespo plays, and although I've danced before, I've never danced with a mina I'm so fucking into. There's a nice breeze coming from the ocean, but I'm sweating like a motherfucker. She has me on edge; it's like I don't know how to act when I'm around her. I'm constantly thinking that I'm going to fuck it up or that she's going to dismiss me after she sees how much I suck.

"It's okay, we don't have to do any crazy steps. You know? We can just dance on the spot, swaying our hips," Cattleya says in that accent of hers, and my dick gets harder .

Blowing out a breath, I place my hands on her waist and start swaying my hips, just like she told me to. She makes it look so easy, but the truth is, I have no rhythm.

"What the fuck is that? Dance like you mean it, chamo ," Juan Carlos slurs as he gets closer to us on the dance floor, and Cattleya chuckles.

"Hey, don't spook my dance partner. It took him long enough to finally come dance with me."

When I realize what she just said, I look at her, and her eyes are already on me. Heat runs down through me, firing me up. Fuck, she was waiting for me? Damn, I better up my game then.

We ended up dancing for over an hour without taking a break. Cattleya is a great teacher. She showed me how to dance bachata and even the basic steps of salsa, Colombian style.

"I'm so tired. I think I need a gallon of water," Cattleya says as she holds my hand and leads me to the table where we sat earlier.

I let her pull me like a lost puppy—I would never admit it, but the boys were right—following someone who had just given him a treat.

Once she has had some water, I ask, "Do you want to go to the beach again? Last night was nice." Last night, we found a small cove about twenty minutes from the resort. I add a shrug for good measure, trying to act calm and collected—the complete opposite of how I feel.

Her eyes immediately brighten while a beautiful smile spreads across her lips. "Yes! Let's go." This time, I'm the one who reaches for her hand.

We walk slowly, silently enjoying each others' company, swaying our entangled hands as the breeze graces them like a sweet caress. The noise from the party drifts away the farther we get from the resort.

I look ahead, but I can tell in the corner of my eye that she's smiling. When I turn to face her, Cattleya looks at me with those big doe eyes, and I see it— she's smiling with her eyes. It is such a beautiful sight that it takes my breath away.

I want to kiss her, but what if she rejects me? What if I've misread the situation all along? Fuck it, the worst thing that can happen is that she says no, and I'll just have to avoid her like the plague for a couple more days until I go back to my life in Argentina. Something I'm quite used to, if I'm being honest, avoiding people is my jam.

We're ten feet away from the cove, but I can't wait any longer. I stop walking and turn my body so I face her fully. Her breath catches, anticipation in her gaze. I lower myself, getting closer and closer to her as her hands land on my waist.

Cattleya stretches to her tiptoes and presses her lips to mine. Her touch is soft, almost timid. A raging fire erupts inside me, and I take control of the kiss, placing one hand on the back of her neck and the other one on her ass. A little moan escapes her mouth, and I deepen the kiss, hungry for this woman who has had my head spinning ever since I laid eyes on her.

"Cattleya, wait," I say, breaking the kiss way too soon.

"What's wrong?" she asks, confusion marring her pretty face.

"If we continue like this, I won't be able to stop," I say as I bite my lip. I really want to be with her tonight, but I want to make sure she wants this, too.

"I don't want you to stop," Cattleya says as she tugs my shirt, pulling me flush against her.

"Fuck," I whisper, and Cattleya starts kissing my neck. This woman will be my ruin. Or my salvation. She's leaving a trail of goosebumps on my skin as she continues her exploration. I've never been so aroused by a woman before. It's like every single touch, every single kiss Cattleya gives me sets me on fire.

"But what if someone sees us?" I ask, trying to give her an out. I need to remember she's only eighteen and Sofi's sister, who will likely marry Franco sooner rather than later. The boludo has been carrying an engagement ring with him all over the place this week.

"Let's just go to the cove we went to last night. No one saw us there."

Cattleya hasn't even finished her sentence, and I'm already reaching for her hand and leading her toward the cove. So much for being older and more mature than her; I'm letting my dick do all the thinking. A little chuckle comes out of her lips as she rushes to pick up her pace.

Once we get to the cove, I take off my shirt and place it on the sand so Cattleya can lie down. I've never liked sweet sex. I like it rough—feral—but for some reason, I don't want to have a quick fuck with her. I want to take my time and explore every single inch of her glorious tan skin. Learn her curves, her soft spots, what gives her pleasure, and what makes her scream. I want her to forget her name while chanting mine.

"Matías, is everything okay?" Cattleya asks quietly, and I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry, I tend to get lost in my thoughts a lot."

She simply smiles at me and brings me down with her to the sand, and I follow her like a moth following the flame.

"Please let me know if there's something you don't like or what I can do to make you feel better," I say as I start kissing her temple, moving to her cheek and her jaw.

When my lips are about to kiss hers, she says, "That's sweet, but I want the real Matías tonight. Don't hold back."

Her words stun me, but we did talk about a lot of things last night; she's a great listener, and after a little too much wine, we ended up talking about sex. I might have shared that I like it rough. And I'm glad she wants this as much as I do because tonight, it's all about her.

I continue to explore her curves. I nibble and lick. She tastes like flowers and the ocean, sweet and salty in equal measure. She moves under me, trying to find the zipper of my pants, and my predatory instincts kick in.

" No, mi ángel (no, my angel). I'll be the one exploring tonight."

She huffs a sigh in frustration but stops trying to open my zipper.

"Such a good girl," I whisper in her ear, and she moans. She fucking moans. "Do you like that? Do you want to be my good girl tonight?" I ask with clenched teeth because I'm about to self-combust here. I need to taste her cunt.

"Yes, please. I want to be your good girl, Matías," Cattleya says, lust dripping from her tone, and that's all the fuel I need to unleash my desire for her.

In one swift move, I lift us from the ground and turn her until she's on all fours. Her dress is flowy, with many layers on the bottom. Once I unzip it, the dress falls, putting her gorgeous, toned ass on full display. It's big and round, too perfect to be real, but she's an athlete, so I know she's worked hard to have this body.

When she turns her head to look at me and catches me ogling her, she shakes her ass, and I can't help myself; I bite her. She hisses in pain, but instead of recoiling from me, she shakes it again. So I do the only thing that seems logical: I spank her. Her eyes shine with desire. Fuck, she's getting a kick out of this. And so am I.

I spank her other ass cheek for good measure, and then I immediately rub it gently, making circles with my hand. She sighs in appreciation, and I praise her for it.

"What a good girl."

I grab her ass cheeks and massage them, just to make sure she's not in pain anymore—never in my life have I given so much attention to my partner's pleasure. I'm usually an asshole in bed; maybe it's my way of keeping women from having any ideas of a potential relationship, but Cattleya is different.

I want her to enjoy this. I want her to remember me. Remember every single place of her body my fingers traced, the way my touch left a trail of goosebumps as I explored her curves, her soft spots, and her toned muscles. Removing her thong, I finally get to lick her pussy. Fuck, it tastes just like I imagined; sweet as frutilla (strawberry) on a hot summer day.

"Damn, baby. You're soaked," I say as I lick all over her again. I look at her and see hesitation in her gaze. Fuck. If she wants to stop, I will, but it'll be hard as hell. I want her so bad. "What's wrong? Do you want to stop?" I need to make sure she still wants this.

"No, not at all. It's just I've never done this before. I hope this doesn't change our plans for the night." Her words hit me full force, like I got slapped by the wind. When I don't reply immediately, I see her starting to recoil.

"Wait." I hold her by her waist. "If you're sure you want to be with me tonight, I have no problem. I want to be with you," I say calmly. I hope she sees I'm being honest. A chuckle escapes her beautiful lips.

"Oh, I'm so ready. I really want to be with you, too." She smirks, and relief washes over me. This mina drives me wild. I'm determined to make her first time a memorable one .

I slip my fingers back down, touching her pussy again, making sure she's still wet for me after the conversation we just had. I know my cock is still at full mast. "Hmm, so fucking wet," I say as I lick my fingers, tasting her sweetness.

"Is that a bad thing?" she asks. A cheeky smile forms on her face, and my dick twitches in appreciation.

"Not at all. It just means you're ready to take my cock," I say as I spank her ass, and she moans in pleasure. Fuck, if I don't get inside her soon, I'm going to come in my pants. Making quick work of lowering my pants, I take my cock out and slap her pussy with it.

"Enough with the teasing. I need you inside me. Now," Cattleya says with a firm tone.

I make a tsk sound and then say, "I thought you were a good girl. You have to wait until I say so."

She harrumphs but doesn't say anything, so I praise her. "Such a good girl, ready to take my cock."

Once I sheath myself, I tease her entrance, and her whimpers mix with the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks that form our little hidden spot. I push in and feel Cattleya tense, so I give her a moment to adjust to my size. I'm not one to brag, but I'm packing.

She pushes back against me, and my cock slides all the way inside her. The moan that escapes my mouth is something I've never heard before. It's a mix of lust, ecstasy, and fulfillment. It's the weirdest shit ever, but for some reason, I feel whole being connected to her.

When I feel her relax, I start moving, and it's incredible how well her tight, little pussy takes my cock. She meets me thrust for thrust, and as I pick up speed, I wrap her long and soft hair in my fist.

Cattleya hisses and moans, and I swear I cannot take it anymore. I'm feeling too much; all I want is to jump off the cliff with her. I yank her hair, which makes her moan louder, and after two more thrusts, we both come.

Cattleya shouts my name over and over while I thrust into her until all of my cum fills the condom. Once I take care of it, I help her get in her dress, and we lay down in the sand. I quickly put my briefs on and cuddle with her until our breaths even out, entangling our legs. We fall asleep under the stars, and I don't know how I'm going to go back to Argentina after this. I feel like I've found my match.

We wake up startled by a loud sound and what looks like the first rays of sunlight. After a couple of seconds, I realize the loud sound is sirens. What the fuck is going on? Cattleya slowly gets up, stretching her arms as she turns her core. "What's happening?" she asks with a beautiful smile as she rubs her eyes. Adorable.

"I don't know but it sounds like police sirens. I think we better head back to the resort," I say as I grab my shirt off the ground and shake the sand off before I put it back on.

We make our way back, holding hands and communicating without words. We're just happy to be in each other's presence. It's a strange feeling to be so in sync with someone. I've always been quiet and a loner, only feeling comfortable with very few people who I've known for ages, namely my family and the boys. But Cattleya, I'm not sure how she's able to make me feel so much in such a short period of time.

I'm lost in my thoughts when we reach the beach by the resort. There's a huge commotion; all the guests are out and about, and then we see our friends circling Franco and a crying Sofi. The moment Cattleya sees her sister, she releases my hand and sprints toward her. I let her go and keep my pace slow. Maybe it's best that we don't arrive together since it's clear we were the only people missing.

When I reach my friends, Luca gives me a pat on the back. "Dude, where have you been?" he asks, even though I'm one hundred percent sure he knows I was with Cattleya. I give him an eye roll instead of an actual answer, but when Luca doesn't laugh or give me shit, my spine straightens, and a cool feeling runs through me.

"Sofi got kidnapped by Alma, boludo , and was almost killed!" My brain stops working, and I look at Luca, stunned.

"Fuck. So that crazy bitch followed Franco all the way to Playa Blanca? How did she know he was going to be here? And why did she take Sofi and not Franco? After all, he's the one she wanted to pretend was her baby daddy." It's all my stupid ass can come up with after such shocking news. My eyes immediately go to Cattleya, hugging her family and visibly crying. What if something worse had happened to Sofi while Cattleya was with me? I'm sure she will resent me for life. She's incredibly close to her family, and she must be hating my guts right now, knowing she wasn't with her parents when they thought they had lost Sofi.

And it's all my fault. Greedy, loser, asshole me. This is it. She'll never forgive me, and it's clear I need to do what I do best: vanish.

Franco decided to propose to Sofi the moment he knew she was safe and sound. He was losing his mind while she was held captive in a cave on the rocky side of the island. Even though I wanted to dig a hole and get back to Argentina as soon as possible. But when one of my best friends decided to marry right then and there, I couldn't say no. So I stayed as a groomsman. I tried to be as present as possible for one of my best friends on what was probably the happiest day of his life.

Right after Franco and Sofi's impromptu wedding ceremony, I make up a bullshit excuse and tell the boys I have to go back to La Plata immediately. I'm ready to pack my shit and leave when Sofi stops me from fleeing by holding my hand.

"Are you sure you have to leave? You know how important you are to Franco." Her pleading eyes hit me like a dagger in my heart. What a mess.

"Yeah, Sofi. I wish I could stay for longer, but I can't. He knows how much I love him too, but I can't stay."

Defeat in her gaze, Sofi gives me a sweet, understanding smile. "Okay, I understand. I mean, this wedding was on no one's radar." She laughs, and I join, trying to breathe a little deeper to calm myself. I don't want to stay for so long that I have to face Cattleya and tell her why I am running away like a fucking coward.

"Do you at least have time for one last picture? I would love to have a memory of this incredible day with all our friends and family." I'm unable to deny the bride her simple request, so I nod. I just hope I'm strong enough to ignore Cattleya for the next couple of excruciating minutes; it's best if she thinks I'm an asshole, anyway.