“No, it’s not a rule. It’s physically impossible,” I informed him, sounding vaguely Ice Princess but Know-It-All Ice Princess this time.
His lips came to mine and he looked into my eyes.
His were warm and intense. Really warm and intense.
Oh my.
“We’ll work up to it,” he murmured right before he kissed me.
Then we did.
* * * * *
I felt the slap of cold that didn’t go away even when the covers were tucked tight around me.
When the tucking stopped, I opened my eyes and slightly lifted my head. It was still dark and I could hear Hector moving in the room.
“What’s going on?” I whispered, my voice scratchy with sleep.
I felt the bed move when Hector’s weight hit it. He sat, pulled my hair away from my neck and leaned in.
“Doorbell. I’ll take care of it. Go back to sleep,” he answered, kissed my neck right where it met my shoulder then the bed moved again as he got up. I watched his shadow walk across the room while tugging on the thermal and he disappeared into the darkness.
I rearranged the pillows (Hector was a serious pillow hog), two beneath my head, one I held tight to my belly. I settled in thinking that Gloria and her posse were back for another try at some hot tub action.
Then I thought that it might be fun to sit in Hector’s hot tub with Gloria and her posse.
Then I thought it might be more fun to sit in Hector’s hot tub with Hector.
Then I fell back to sleep.
* * * * *
The covers slid off my shoulder and I could feel the heat and soft touch of a hand taking them away.
“Sadie?” Hector called.
My eyes opened. “What?” I muttered.
“Wake up, mamita, the Zanos are here.”
I blinked in the darkness. Then I got up on an elbow, holding the covers over my chest.
I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was still half-asleep. I could have sworn he just told me the Zanos were there in the middle of the blooming, blooming night.
“What?” I asked.
“Get dressed, the Zanos are here,” he repeated. “We gotta talk.”
He did say the Zanos were there.
I sat up fully and held the covers against me with one hand, pulled my hair out of my face with the other. Hector had moved from sitting on the bed. He was bent over, gathering my clothes from the floor.
“What are the Zanos doing here?” I asked.
Hector handed me my clothes. “Just get dressed, preciosa. We’ll talk downstairs.”
The serious tone of his voice meant I should probably not take this as happy news.