33. Roni

Ilaid on the floor with Diego holding me in his arms. The fire crackled in the woodstove and created a warm ambiance.

"So now that you've met my friends, what do you think?" he asked as he placed a kiss on the top of my head.

I took a moment to think about my answer. I didn't want to say the wrong thing, because these people were like his second family. In fact, I'd heard more about them than I had his actual family.

"I like them. They seem to really care about you. They came all the way out here to help you keep me safe. I don't know that I know anyone that would do that for me." Wasn't that sad? I wasn't sure if my parents would even risk their own lives to protect me. I felt an overwhelming wave of sadness.

His hand lifted my chin. "Hey, what's wrong?"

I shook my head, breaking the connection. "It's nothing."

He looked deep into my eyes. "Don't lie to me."

I sighed. "You have a group that rides or dies, and I guess I'm sort of jealous. Believe it or not, if someone had to ask me who my best friend is now, I'd say you." I let out a choked laugh. "We spent years hating each other, and my previous best friend is dead. What does that say about me?"

He frowned. "Hey now. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. You're in an isolated position, and you watch your own back. I get it." He gave a small smile as he dipped his head to keep our eye contact. "And I'm honored to be your best friend."

"You are?" I asked hopefully.

"Very, but even more honored to be your boyfriend," he said with a smirk.

I slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "I bet you are!"

He rolled over so he was on top of me. "Mhmm." He placed a kiss on my lips and then another.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked suddenly. I could tell by the look in his eyes we were about to talk about something deep.

I quietly nodded.

"What was your family like before your dad ran for office? Did you have some happy times at least?"

I thought back to my childhood, and it almost hurt, because things were so different then.

I nodded with a small smile. "Yes, things were good. We lived in a small town, where we knew everyone. We had a house on my grandfather's farm. He was a former politician, but he was nothing like my dad. He held office, but he didn't make it his identity, and he only held it for a short time. He didn't move from office to office once he'd exhausted his terms." My grandpa was the best, and I couldn't help but wonder what he'd think of his son now. What he'd have told him about the situation I'd been stuck in.

"My grandparents were great; they really made my childhood. But Dad got the bug for political service, and we left my grandparents' farm. I left my prized sheep behind, and our visits were few and far between."

I missed them.

"They're no longer around, are they?"

I knew my eyes had glazed over. I regretted not coming back to visit my grandmother during college breaks.

"No."

Diego placed a kiss on my lips. "I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds like you really loved them. I'm glad you had that."

Me too. It had been a while since I'd thought about them, but I needed the reminder. They were the definition of my roots and where I got my stubbornness from.

"What about your family? Tell me about them."

"Oh God, how much time do you have?" He chuckled and smiled. "My mom, she's the most loving woman I know. She and my dad worked so hard to provide for my eight brothers and sisters. They owned a small market in Puerto Rico. Looking back, it seems like they worked day and night to save up and move us to Texas." He seemed far away as he continued. "We moved with the clothes on our backs. They continued to work hard, and when I graduated I got two jobs to help support them and my six younger siblings. When I enlisted, my mom cried and cried, but I used my enlistment bonus to pay to move my grandmothers from Puerto Rico. After that, she understood."

He didn't just sacrifice for his country, but also his family. He was so noble, and I had a newfound respect for him.

"That everything you did, you did for her," I butted in.

He nodded.

"Diego, that's so sweet." I reached up and placed my lips to his. "How did your family afford the tuition?"

"A neighbor. He was older and had no kids. Worked his entire life and had nothing to show for it. He became very involved in our lives. He paid for us oldest three to go to private school so we could also help educate our younger siblings. When my oldest sister graduated, then he started paying for the next oldest who wasn't yet in private school. By the time we were all grown up, all of us had spent at least some time in private school. We graduated from prestigious private schools, which helped pave the way to a much better life."

"That's amazing, Diego. What about your parents now? Your siblings? And the neighbor?" I felt so involved in their well-being. They shaped Diego into the man he was, and I felt gratitude for them. If he hadn't been lucky enough to have his neighbor involved in his life, what would have happened to Diego?

"I didn't realize my life story was so interesting," he answered. "My parents are doing well now, thanks to me and my siblings. My oldest sister went to law school and is a big-time attorney in Texas. My older brother, he's a plastic surgeon." His fingers gently played with my hair as he continued. "I bankrolled moving my grandmothers, and my brother and sister helped pay off my parents' house. Then among the younger siblings there is a farmer, a plumber with their own business, a banker, a stay-at-home mom, an author, and a journalist."

"What about your neighbor?"

Sadness filled his eyes, and I already knew the answer before he voiced it.

"He passed away last year at the ripe age of ninety-five. He was included in every family event we ever hosted while living in the States. My parents helped take care of him in his last few years, and all of us made sure he always had everything he ever needed. I used to come home on leave and help with repairs around his home. I owe a lot to him."

"I bet he knew how much you loved him." My heart ached for Diego, just as my heart ached for my grandparents.

"Oh, he certainly did. Still does—between the nine of us, he's always got something fancy on his grave. The wealthier of my siblings always make donations to veterans foundations in his name. His legacy lives on in us, and he loved every minute of creating it."

"You're going to make me cry," I said with a sniffle.

"Hey, don't cry." He placed another kiss to my lips. "He would have loved you."

"You think so?" I asked.

He nodded. "Absolutely."

"Thank you for sharing that with me." I stared into his eyes so he could see just how sincere I was. "If I'd known how hard you had to work to help your family, maybe I wouldn't have been such a brat to you."

He scoffed. "Oh please, you still would have been a brat. Nothing would have changed that." He chuckled. "But I wouldn't change a thing about back then. You only made me work harder. You know my grades were so good that I got a scholarship to Brown University?"

"Really?"

His eyes gleamed with pride. "I did. And it was because I felt this driving need to beat you at everything. So thanks for getting me a college scholarship," he said as he placed a longer kiss to my lips, his tongue plunging past my lips.

"You're very welcome," I said as he pulled away. "But I think you should show me your appreciation."

"Oh yeah?" he asked playfully.

I nodded eagerly.

"Then your wish is my command." His lips found my jaw, placing delicate kisses down over my neck and collar bone.

I ran my fingers through his hair as his lips traveled over my cleavage and then my ribcage. "Are you going to tell me about this tattoo?" he asked as his lips kissed the ink on my right side.

"Just a little something to remember my grandparents by." The little leaf outlines were traced from leaves that fell from the large apple tree that stood like a sentinel in their front yard. Their initials rested on the inside of the dark green outline.

"Beautiful," he said and then continued to trace his lips further south.

In a blink of an eye, he pulled my panties off and flung them across the floor. He bent forward and blew hot air against my core. "Will this be sufficient thanks?"

"I'll let you know when you're done." My words were breathy, filled with anticipation.

"Clever girl," he praised, and then his lips went to work.

My back arched and my fingers fisted his hair as I bit my lip to hold back a moan. The cabin was far from sound proof with its old windows.

He added his finger to the mix, and suddenly I was shaking with pleasure as he took me higher and higher, and in no time I slammed my eyes shut as an electric current ran through my nerves. My toes curled, my breathing stopped, and I bit my lip as I covered the sound of the orgasm that ripped through me.

I turned to putty in Diego's skilled hands.

"Don't think I'm done with you. This is only the beginning." He gave me a wicked grin. "I'm very appreciative, after all."

And boy was he.