The cabin is a bit dingy and overheated from the roaring fire in the open fireplace. Despite the warmth, Miguel's grandmother is wrapped tightly in a blanket. She rocks gently in a rocking chair, her head turning as the cooler air drifts in from the outside before Miguel can close the door. Despite his warning I recoil. Even the deep wrinkles etched in her face can't hide the scarring around her eyes. The milky white of blindness covers her irises but still manages to penetrate my heart.

"Miguel, eres tú?"

"Sí, Nana."

"Quién está contigo?"

He doesn't respond as he kneels down next to her chair, allowing her fingers to glide over his face.

"No te afeitaste."

"Lo sé y lo siento." He reaches out for me. "Nana, esta es mi amiga, Stacy."

The old woman's lips purse. "Ese es un nombre Americano."

"Stacy no es como el resto de ellos." He smiles. "Ella me gusta."

My return smile is awkward; I wish I knew what they were saying since they are apparently talking about me.

"Quiero sentir su cara." The old woman stretches out her hand for me.

Miguel scooches over to the side. "She wants to feel your face. It's kind of her way of introduction."

Not wanting to be rude, despite not really feeling comfortable with the prospect of her touching me all in my face, I hunker down. Cold fingertips glide over my skin, first along my jaw and then up my cheekbones. She avoids my lips as she finishes off with my forehead.

"Ella tiene características fuertes."

Miguel nods. "Stacy es una mujer fuerte."

"What did she say?" My cheeks prickle as he caresses me with his warm eyes.

"She said you have strong features and I agreed that you are a strong woman."

My face burns under the compliment. No one has ever considered me strong; in my family's eyes, I'm the runt of the litter.

"Do you mind if I read to Nana? The only other person who visits her is a girl from town who cooks for her, but she doesn't know how to read and my grandma likes it so much."

"No, of course I don't mind."

He grabs a book off the table and sits down in front of the fire with his back resting against the wall. "Here." He pats the ground in between his legs. "Sit."

I lean against him with my elbows resting loosely on his knees, the back of my head nestling against his shoulder. As he begins to read, his strong voice fills the room and I get lost in the melodic murmur of the foreign language. I tilt my head back a little to watch his full lips move and a hot flash shoots through my lower body. I touch my mouth. Even though the kiss was brief, it was amazing.

Nana rocks gently back and forth, her lips curled in a mesmerized smile. Only the occasional crackle of the fire interrupts the soothing rhythm of Miguel's voice and time slips away. Nothing is left of the tension that had clawed into my shoulders since Felipe's betrayal. It has been ages since I was this content.

As Miguel's words fade away, he carefully closes the book. "We should go."

I gaze at Nana. Judging from the even rising and falling of her chest, she must have fallen asleep.

He kisses my hair and the heat of his body peels away. Stretching out his hand, he heaves me off the floor. "Let me just take Nana to bed."

When he scoops her up in his strong arms, her frail body almost appears like that of a child. He carries her to a small room next door. With utmost care, he lays her down on the bed and covers her with the blanket, She stirs, a low whimper escaping her.

Miguel kisses her forehead."Cuídate. Volveré en unos días."

Her mumble is inaudible to me but makes her grandson smile.

He strokes her cheek. "Te amo también."

Tiptoeing away, he holds my hand until we find ourselves back in front of the cabin. A few tears roll down his cheeks; before I can take another breath, his lips are on mine. His tongue pushes gently past my lips. As we connect in a sweet rhythm, desperation seeps into my mouth. Only after salt stings my lips do we break, and he wipes his face dry on his arm.

"I'm sorry. Seeing my nana always gets me going. After my grandpa died, she raised my mom and my aunt on her own—nothing could get her down until they were brutally murdered. It broke her apart and I hate seeing her like this."

"I can't even imagine how hard this must be for you." Knowing that the US soldiers could have stopped this injustice leaves a stale taste in my mouth. "I'm so sorry, Miguel. Something like this should've never happened to your family."

"It wasn't your fault. Thanks for being patient. Juana hated coming here." He traces his fingers along my jaw, his eyes cutting into me as if he's seeing me for the very first time. "I'm so glad you came to Malaguay."

Just this morning, I was full of regret, but he has found a way for me to breathe again without a constant sting. "Yes, me too."

Driving back to the compound, I don't mind the silence between us. My skin hums whenever he takes his eyes off the road to glance at me with a smile. The burning need, stirring in my abdomen, is totally new to me. And confusing. Should I feel this way? After all, I barely know him. How can I already feel so close to him that I let him kiss me, especially after what happened?

I drop my head against the seat. Just keep pushing. The rest will fall into place.

~~~~

From then on out, I spend every moment with Miguel. During the morning, we usually do something fun, be it swimming at the mansion when his dad is not around or a picnic by the lake. After lunch, I continue with my weapons training, getting more and more used to shooting a gun. Every bullet that finds its mark gives me strength. For the first time in my life, I feel on top of the world. There's no doubt that this whole experience has empowered me. The admiring—and often jealous—gazes of the other foreign girls give me an additional boost. I've never had anyone look up to me.

Miguel is simply amazing and dazzling, and on our third night, we share another kiss under the stars. His breath is sweet, tinged with the light caramel taste from the cheesecake dessert, and his soft lips kill my last reservations. Even though he's a bit rougher than Felipe and fully takes the lead, his boldness adds to his attractiveness. He will always protect me, no matter what, and his dominance is intoxicating. Not every man is scum like Felipe and Charo, and I should give love another chance.

Deciding to be truthful from the start, I confess that I want to wait to have sex until marriage. My request falls on open ears.

"I love the idea."

I snuggle against him, relieved that he isn't trying to pressure me. "And you're sure it's okay?"

"Yes. That's part of being you. It adds to your strength because you don't give in to the heat of the moment."

Once again, his compliment catches me off guard and warmth flushes my cheeks. He's just so awesome.

"Besides, I could never forgive myself if I took advantage of you. My parents had an arranged marriage and were incredibly unhappy, and I've never wanted that in a relationship. Though I'm hoping we can keep in touch once you leave, there are never any guarantees. I don't want you to ever regret the time we spent together."

"I'm really glad you feel that way."

"You are special, Stacy. Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise." He squeezes my hand. "I have something else planned for tonight. Hope you're going to like it."

Without waiting for my response, he pulls me behind him. We get to a four-wheeler and he helps me with the helmet. Lifting me up by my hips, he sets me down on the seat. "Hold on tight." His warm lips peck the tip of my nose, a mischievous sparkle glowing in his eyes. He climbs in front of me and the engine roars to life.

With a squeal, I rest one side of my face against his broad back and wrap my arms tightly around his waist. The four-wheeler jerks forward. We race through the night, the cool airflow stinging my lungs with every breath. I nuzzle my nose deeper into his sweater and relish the warmth of his body. My mom would have a fit if she knew I was riding a bike resembling a motorcycle. The thrill of doing something else so forbidden boils the blood in my veins.

When Miguel makes a sharp turn to tackle a bend, dirt flies up. The four-wheeler briefly hovers in the air before plunging down a small path. My stomach jumps and flips, my scream a mix of anxious excitement. The decline is steep, the air filled with the sweet scent of flowers. Trees race by until the four-wheeler comes to a stop. When Miguel cuts the engine, the gurgling of a stream is the only sound that breaks through the still night.

I fumble with the strap of the helmet until he comes to my rescue.

"Look at the stars."

I tilt my head backward, an ocean of stars greeting me from above. There must be millions. They rest on a dark blanket dipping around us, their sparkles absolutely stunning.

"I've never seen that many stars."

"You have to be out in the country to really see them. The darker it is, the clearer they get."

"They are beautiful."

"I agree, but that's not what I wanted to show you." The strong beam of his flashlight cuts like a lightsaber through the darkness. "This way."

The gurgle of the stream grows louder as he leads me through low shrubbery. His flashlight guides the way and is so bright that even klutzy me doesn't stumble. I hold onto his arm, and his flexing muscles give me a sense of security. He can protect me if something lunges at me from out of the dark.

We end up at the stream's embankment. The beam of the flashlight stops on a piece of board dangling over the rushing water's shiny surface. It hangs from a thick branch of a tree.

My brows knit together. "What's that?"

"It's a board swing. My mom used to bring me here when I was little. Best memories. I used to swing here for hours and jump into the river from time to time to cool off."

My nose wrinkles as I regard the thick rope. It looks pretty sturdy. "You think it'll hold?"

"We're about to find out." He shakes off his shirt with a boisterous chuckle.

"I don't know, Miguel."

"Hey, what's the worst that can happen? We'll fall. The river is deep enough in this spot and these aren't dangerous rapids."

"But I didn't bring my bathing suit."

"It's just us. You can swim in your underwear." He nudges me playfully in my shoulder. "Unless you're chicken."

The boyish spark in his eyes is catching. "Okay, let's give it a try."

He drops his pants but leaves his boxers on. My mind strays to the night we met in the shower, when he was in nothing but his birthday suit. Closing my eyes, I scold myself for those impure thoughts. I still can't help staring at his bare torso as the harsh truth sobers me up.

I'm going to be as good as naked.

My chest tightens. Is this really a good idea? In an attempt not to be overdramatic, I turn around and unhook the buttons of my blouse with trembling fingers. No more hiding those extra pounds around my waistline or those awful wide hips. Compared to Juana whom he must have seen naked, I'll never measure up.

Taking a few deep breaths, I relax a little. Miguel has never judged me and won't care. The scent of grass and wildflowers hangs in the air, and despite the late hour, a soft breeze engulfs me with warmth. It's a perfect night for a swim.

It's not a big deal, Stacy.

Miguel stretches to his full height and then some as he jams the flashlight between a few branches of the tree. His grin is nothing but audacious.

"Let's do this." He reaches for my hand. "I'll help you."

Careful not to slip on the wet rocks, I edge forward. When he lifts me onto the board, his grip spans easily around my waist. Before I can get a good grip on the rope, he gives it a push, and my adventure ends as soon as the board swings toward the other embankment. With a squeal, I fall off, the dark rapids swallowing me up. The chill in the water robs me of my breath; by the time my head pops above the surface, Miguel's strong arms enfold me.

His kiss is gentle, his tongue teasingly parting my lips. When he gains access, something hard presses in between my legs, drawing out a shudder. I've never felt a man's arousal, the experience befuddling. Is this already a sin? Before I can contemplate the thought further, a sudden surge of heat sets my skin on fire. He traces small kisses along my jawline and I can't suppress a moan. Only my tightening nipples brings me to my senses. I'm about to push him away when he loosens his embrace.

"I'm sorry, I got carried away." He clears the hoarseness from his voice with a cough.

"It's fine, but we should stop."

I close the gap to the embankment with a few strokes, well aware of Miguel's hands on my thighs as he pushes me up. My teeth chatter as soon as the cool air hits me, and I'm grateful when Miguel wraps his jacket around me.

After slipping on my clothes, we are back on the four-wheeler, heading toward the compound. Miguel's jacket and his body keep me halfway warm, though my fingers are frozen by the time we arrive. His lips are cool as they brush over mine.

"Good night, Stacy."

"Good night and thanks. I had a wonderful evening."

"So did I."

I cross the courtyard with light steps. When Miguel holds the door open for me, his gaze is soft. Walking up the stairs in perfect unison, he slips his hand under my blouse. The warmth, radiating off his skin, is like a heating patch on my small back. We reach my dorm room way too soon. His soft lips are as tender that I get lost in his heated kiss. The moment ends too soon.

"Good night, Stacy."

"Good night."

Holding fingers crossed that he'll offer to spend the night in Raine's bed, I'm disappointed when he remains quiet, but I wouldn't dare ask him flat out. It's a decision I regret as soon as the door to the stairwell closes behind him. I miss him with every piece of my soul and the prospect of having to leave him soon drives moisture to my eyes.

You won't lose him, Stacy.

When I close my eyes in bed a few minutes later, it's the one thing I hold onto to keep the tears from falling.

~~~~

© Sal Mason 2017

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