A/N - sorry at the delay with this chapter, been ultra busy and as radically rewriting too. Hope you enjoy!

8

Katie started in Jaen and Granada, two beautiful towns secluded in the mountains, only the more determined tourist ventured this far off the beaten track, and the Andalusian countryside, food and hospitality were wonderful. The first two hotels were functional and clean, but missed out on the opportunity to reflect the location adequately. This part of Spain had a lot of Arabian and African links, and she envisaged exploiting the spices and colours of Morocco and Algeria to personalize the pale brick buildings. The towns were so beautiful, thriving and bustling in such a special way. Moorish influenced architecture, and classic Spanish tradition, was a great combination. Jaen was a City built deep in the hills of the region. A castle sat on the hill, there was a huge cathedral...so much culture and a magnet for the history craving North Americans.

Then she hit Granada, and immediately she fell in love with the Alhambra palace. Katie felt she could write for hours on its beauty and attraction. The rest of the town was equally stunning and appreciated so greatly that she was being paid to merely visit the area. She was so lucky.

Each night in her room she made pages of notes, drawings, ideas running into each other, thinking of how tourists would lap up tours of these beautiful places. Her emails to Pablo were equally enthusiastic, and his replies echoed that. He repeatedly told her how glad he was that she was so keen on his plan.

On the third night she arrived in Seville - another beautiful City, steeped in culture. She called her father as she sat near a market drinking strong black coffee and watching the world go by. She explained enthusiastically the sights, the smells, the vibrancy that had captured her imagination. They hadn't spoken much from the mountains as the reception on her phone had been poor. So she filled him in on the places and things she'd seen.

He’d never travelled as much as he’d intended and he encouraged her stories, loving to hear her enthusiasm and vivid descriptions of sights he’d only heard about or seen on TV. She imagined him sat beside the fire, the TV turned to silent as in return he told her about his days, improving his fitness, getting back into his life. Neither mentioned his wife, but with this form of truce they could make the most of a happy relationship.

Katie hung up, and sat back with a sigh. Despite the trauma of the end of her marriage, her life was looking good, and she honestly felt optimistic. This was proving to be cathartic, she was happy, enthusiastic, and with this new project had so much to look forward to. Another night in Seville and then a further two in Malaga before flying back to the UK it was a lot to be enthusiastic about.

She woke with a smile, and dressed early. She'd spent the previous evening exploring the hotel in Seville, now she wanted to explore the City fully. After the hotel breakfast, fruit, cereal, and tortilla espanola, and lots of dark, strong coffee, she booked a taxi from a leaflet she found at reception. It promised her a tour guide for her journey, and Pedro, a small swarthy man delivered. She knew she’d never have found half of the things that he’d shown her in the two hour quick guide, the cathedral, Alcazar, the City walls, and a few other sights as well as beautiful homes, terraced gardens, more than any tourist guide book would cover.  She scribbled notes, took pictures, and frantically tried to absorb every inch of the City, loving every part of it, as he explained everything in his lilting Spanish voice. Katie’d missed the language that had been her first choice for so many years, and Pedro obviously was far more confident in it than English.

Back at the hotel, jumping out of the taxi, she thanked him profusely, she’d had a wonderful experience, and walking into the reception of the hotel she felt both shattered and excited at the thought of more exploring that evening. She’d marked at least five places that she wanted to witness in the dark of night.

As she rifled through her bag for her key she heard a voice and froze.

            "I don't know her room number, and I don't know her last name!"

Turning slowly to her right, she confirmed her suspicions, stood there talking to the receptionist looking tired, frustrated, but so very familiar and friendly, was Dan.

Almost telepathically he turned and saw her. His face lit up behind the glaze of worry, walking towards her his face broke into a beam of a smile, "I know you don't want me here.....it seemed like a good idea at the time! I missed you!"

Half of her wanted to shout at him, shake him, but the other half loved the fact that she could share her new discoveries with someone. So she laughed, "you are nothing if not persistent. How did you know where....my Dad!" she answered her own questions. "There was me thinking that he wasn't that interested on the phone."

Dan shrugged, "I dived on him the second you hung up. As soon as he mentioned Seville, I casually asked which hotel...then I got a flight...But then I realized I didn't know your married name, or your room number...Blame it on my youthful exuberance?"

She looked up at him for an age, still unsure of how to deal with him, then with a sigh added. "Albasos......and room 312! I was going to go to the plaza Santa Cruz for some lunch and a beer. I suppose I'll look less conspicuous if you're there!" She realized that Dan's company was what she craved, but anything else she was unsure of, it was too soon, and far too complicated.

He smiled, "I'd love to join you."

         "Have you booked a room here?"

He shook his head, "contrary to what you may believe, I do not have everything I ask for. The flight cleaned me out. I'm glad I actually found you, it was a bit of a risk! I don’t know how well the homeless are cared for in this town?"

She chuckled, "well, lucky I've got an expense account and a sofa in my room! I can save you from hell on the streets!"

He hugged her, "you are too good to me!"

Dumping his bag in her room, he quickly changed and they headed out into the warm Spring afternoon. It was a short walk to the Plaza that was described as a 'must see', el corazon - the heart of Seville. She picked a table on the pavement, overlooking the colourful and busy street. A waiter was at their side immediately, and in confident and rapid Spanish she ordered drinks and asked for the menu.

When the tall, narrow ice-cold beers arrived he sipped his looking at her with a suspicious gaze. He was trying to look angry, or serious, she couldn’t quite work it out, and it amused her.

           "What?" she put her glass down and leaned forward, elbows propped on her knees. “What’s bugging you?”

Shrugging, he offered nervously, "You! I've never heard you speak Spanish before. It sounds strange!"

Katie laughed, he’d never seen her outside of their small family world, he was now seeing the real adult, independent Katie Albasos, and she wondered if that scared him, "Until I came home a couple of months ago I'd not spoken English for I don't know how long, and it feels more strange to me these days! But not as strange as being sat here with you, in Spain. I can’t believe you came here. You are crazy!"

Grinning he dropped his head, and silence prevailed as they both perused the menu.

When she looked up she saw a confused look on his face and then started to laugh again, "You don't understand a word, do you?"

He shook his head, "after your legacy I didn't touch languages, my mother thought they were the devils' skills! So I’m WAY out of my depth!"

Katie laughed then explained the intricacies on the menu. And it pleased her that he was adventurous, choosing risky untried delicacies over simpler and safer options.

They spent several hours moving between bars, watching the people of Seville end their working day and descend on the local bars. They talked about his university course, exams and friends, she told him about her boss, the Vasquez family, Acapulco, everything  that was safe, not Xavier and the marriage he had no idea was falling apart at the seams, or the feelings and attraction that seemed to be growing between them every second they were together.

It was dark when they finally decided to head back, they'd moved inside one of the bars as it had got cooler and had chatted to lots of locals as the bar filled. It had been a wonderful night, Dan was interesting, and interested, charming and friendly, the perfect companion.

“We should turn in, I suppose, my train is booked for early in the morning!”

Offering a hand he heaved her from the chair, and despite his pledge of poverty earlier, he threw a wad of Euros on to the table to cover their bill. When she looked at him questioningly he grinned.

            “I can’t stretch to a hotel room, but I can afford a few beers and some food. I can’t let you pay for me!”

Katie laughed, “what’s this the chauvinist in you coming out?”

Chuckling a warm happy sound that made her toes curl, he shook his head, “not at all, it’s just my insistence on not being a kept man!”

Hands still linked he tugged her out to the street and started to walk. He’d obviously not really thought this trip through but Katie was happy to let him stay with her, and she’d pay his rail fairs, Pablo’s expense budget was healthy so there was no real issue over finances, she knew he’d be happier if the trip was on business expenses rather than out of her own pocket.

It was a cool evening but not cold, and Katie tried to ignore the heat that was raging through her hand and arm from its contact with his. She’d never felt so aware acutely of contact with anyone as she did with Dan, here, now. When she glanced up she met his eyes, he was watching her intently, and her heart started to race. Moving her eyes back to the front, she maintained the brisk pace not wanting to think about the bolts of electricity that bounced between them. She couldn’t’ let this get out of hand, she was still married, he was her step brother...how many wrongs could one relationship risk?

Less than a hundred metres further along the road, Dan suddenly stopped.

"What's up?" She turned to look back at him and instantly saw the change in his expression. He was losing that struggle, and the heat, the passion, the desire were more than evident in his eyes, with a groan, he tugged her hand and she catapulted into his body.

            “We can’t...” she offered, “it’s wrong!”

Shaking his head, his eyes never leaving hers, he cupped her cheek, his long fingers splayed out into a warm caress. The last of her reserves melted as he stroked her skin gently with all the seduction skills of a man, this was no boy.

Glancing around, he realised it was too busy, too public, so with another pull, he led her towards a dark lane between two closed shops.

"No!" it was a weak protest even to her own ears, and met with the smoothest of confident smiles.

It was pitch black and she stumbled, catching her he pushed back against the wall with a sigh of "oh yes."

Dan's lips flew to hers, and after a moment of their mouths meeting, his tongue became an instant invasion. Her resistance was short lived, and within seconds she had thrust her own into his mouth reciprocating the tease, and he moaned - a satisfying sound to her ears. Hands pulled her close to him, his body hard and aggressive in the darkness of the lane, pressing her hips into his. 

With a sigh, his lips left hers, nibbling their way across her jaw to nip at the lobe of her ear, then down to the curve of her neck. He nuzzled the soft skin as instinctively she threw her head back exposing more of herself to him. As his hands secured around her waist, hers wrapped around his neck. Then he skimmed his hands erotically up her ribs to cup her breasts between his out stretched index fingers and thumbs. It was her turn to groan and he smiled against her lips as he lifted his hands to fully support her breasts and felt her nipples harden against the wool of her jumper. Despite everything she felt her body thrust, forcing herself further into his hands, bolts of excitement twirled within her pelvis making her legs feel weak.

The voice of reason was silenced by the pounding of her heart in her chest, the blood pumping like storm water through her veins, and the hot swirling heat that filled her pelvis and zapped her energy. This was like nothing she’d ever known. Xavi was a generous lover, always eager to please, always trying new things, but he’d never elicited this response to just a kiss.

Freeing one hand, Dan slid it under the hem of her jumper, to the soft skin of her abdomen, reaching the lace of her bra he lifted his head to look down at her, just making out her features now that he was accustomed to the dark. 

Shaking his head he readjusted her clothing, "Not here! Let's go!"

Katie was confused at the sudden change of direction, a bucket of cold water couldn't have been more of a surprise. Just as she’d started to acquiesce, he was running away.

Seeing the confusion, he cupped her face in his hands and swept his lips across hers, "I haven't changed my mind Katie, I want you more than I've ever wanted anyone or anything else in my life...." he leaned to breathe into her ear, "I just want us to take our time, to watch you, really see you, look in your eyes when you come!"

She gasped at his brazenness, her voice was hoarse, "how do you know I won't change my mind?"

He laughed, "you want this as much as me...." he dropped his tone to a suggestive whisper, "I know you're wet,” he wriggled the thigh that had somehow become secured between hers, she’d not known she was gripping it so hard, pushing herse4lf into him until that moment. “If I touch you it'd take seconds to make it happen, like it would for me." He laid one of her hands across his groin, and she gasped at the feel of him hard and excited. She flexed her fingers and was rewarded with what she could only describe as a shout, an acknowledgment that he was losing control.

The corners of her mouth raised into a smile of pleasure that he was teetering on the brink just as she was, desire controlled every inch of her body and mind, made her think that this could work, that there could be a future for them.

In a trance she allowed him to lead her the short distance to the hotel. It was all a blur, reaching the hotel, retrieving the key from reception. In the lift his hand was a constant reminder in the small of her back, keeping her desire ticking over.

Katie unlocked the door and he marched past her, she fell back against the door as it closed and watched him fill the small room.
           

            "Come here!" he crooked a finger at her, and in that instant she knew she’d lost the battle with her willpower, but she wanted things her way, she'd never been shy or reserved, and loved being in control in the bedroom, she had no intention of changing that now.

Shaking her head she stepped into the room. Keeping out of his reach she slipped out of her coat and folded it neatly over a chair. Still watching him, never dropping eye contact she raised each foot to pull off her uber-comfortable Ugg boots.

Seeing her bare feet Dan gasped, that unexpected glimpse of flesh seemed to push him over the edge. Stomping across the room he pulled her into his arms, his lips ravaging hers, teeth biting, tongues clashing, all the time hands roaming to cover shoulders, arms, backs. As one sneaked its way to her breast he groaned again, she was the right size to fill his hand her nipple firm against the centre of his palm. Perfection.

As he tried to lift her top, she batted his hand away and stepped back, "You first! Take your sweater off." She was glad that her voice sounded strong, and watched as he smiled doing as she asked, revealing his broad shoulders and slim waist, a light covering of dark hair tried to disguise his flat nipples before snaking down to his beltline. Oh no, Dan may only be twenty one, but he was no boy, this was a man of the finest proportions. Sighing at the perfect body, she reached out grinning at the instant puckering response as her fingers grazed his nipple. Leaning she bit it firmly and he almost fell apart. In her hands, he turned for her inspection, struggling to tolerate her fingers stroking and touching every inch of him. When she finally turned him back to face her she was laughing, knowing what she was doing to him. As he reached for her, she twisted away from his hands, then standing free of him she pulled her tight rib sweater over her head.

His eyes skimmed down over her still tanned shoulders, and ample breasts battling to be contained by a black lacy bra. She felt her body burn, wanting him to touch and please her so much. He stroked from her shoulders his thumbs running down to trace over the contour of her breast to her belly button. She slowly turned allowing him to reciprocate both look and touch. When she eventually turned to face him they were both panting with anticipation and excitement.

"Katie," he rasped reaching for her.

She shook her head, "jeans!"

Shaking his head, Dan kicked off his shoes and socks, then unbuckled and lowered his jeans. As he straightened up, he met Katie’s eyes with his intense gaze, grinning as she was unable to resist lowering hers to look at him. He wore tight black boxer shorts and she gasped at the magnitude of his arousal. 

Still laughing he growled, "jeans.....now!"

Very slowly she unbuckled her belt and even slower unzipped them. Sliding her fingers inside Katie slowly and deliberately peeled them down her legs, never taking her eyes from his. Like her he was unable to resist lowering his sight, to check out the final parts of her. When she kicked them off and stood to face him there was palpable tension. He reached for her, pulling her into his arms, his mouth seeking hers, his fingers finding the clasp of her bra. He felt the weight of her against his chest increase as he released the garment. His lips were like a drug, absorbing every ounce of her thought until he pulled back and slid her bra down her arms. 

He was mesmerized, "You are perfect Katie!" he whispered. 

She looked down to see herself as he did, large pale breasts topped with pink nipples, puckered into a hardness in his gaze. His thumbs slid to rub over them and he groaned, "so perfect!"

Suddenly the attempts to take control were over, they looked at each other and saw the same desire and want reflected.

Nudging her backwards he pushed her down on to the bed, and kneeled over her.

"God," he looked down at her admiring her beauty. Then he lowered his head, sucking each nipple into his mouth in turn, nibbling then biting, until she was writhing uncontrollably under him.

He was desperate to hold back, but once he'd slid off her knickers and her legs locked around him, he was sliding out of his own shorts rapidly. Propped on his elbows either side of her shoulders he met her eyes for a brief second, before he buried himself in her, as far as he could. She sighed with each move, raising her body to meet his every thrust. 

Katie was overwhelmed, but she wanted that control again, so she rolled them, stopping when she was sat astride him. Taking his hands, she interlaced their fingers, then lifted them both above his head, pinning him to the bed. She set the pace now lifting and lowering herself over him. Each slide brought a moan, but she kept on, a wry smile driving him mad. Her upturned breasts were inches from his mouth, so with the next slide, he latched onto one nipple, digging his teeth in until she squealed. Chuckling she released his hands and sat back, watching him through half closed eyes. He managed to twist onto his knees whilst staying inside her, and with a pant of victory, he held her still, then drove into her until they both saw stars. Katie let out a few gasps, feeling her body shudder, molten heat sweeping out from her pelvis to her extremities, that gave way to tumultuous feelings as an intense and satisfying orgasm washed over her.

"Look at me!" he rasped as he continued to pound into her, his own climax only seconds away. "I want you to see me, and me to see you."

She obliged watching and then she saw it, that darkening of his pupils, the sigh of exquisite pleasure, and then the feeling as his body convulsed inside hers.