Page 38 of Sombra
She bubbles likecava. She’s intoxicating likeJerez. She’s full-bodied like aRioja. I can’t get enough of her.
Seeing my timeworn home through her effusive eyes resonates deep in my core. She’s eager to explore my land as much as I’m eager to explore hers,but she’s actually come here. And I respect her immensely for it.
I’m overwhelmed with the enormity of the step she’staken, because she’s showing me it’s possible.
Tugging at my collar, I can’t stand it anymore. I must have Kim Brown. I reach down and hold her hand under the shade of an olive tree. She looks at our joined hands, and pulls slightly away, but doesn’t take her hand back.
“Tavo, this is—”
I lean in and kiss her delicately. Tenderly. Just a brush of our lips. As her yielding,pouty lips cling to mine, my heartbeat rushes as fast as if I’ve run through the entire huerta.
Off somewhere, the neighbor’s tractor engine roars to life.
Her startled eyes close. She pulls back and touches her mouth. “We can’t do this.”
“You don’t want to?”
“Idowant to. But—”
I interrupt her by kissing her again.
Her hands go up and clutch at my hair,bringing me to her tight. My tongue tastes hers, my lips suck on hers, I wrap my arms around her and give her everything in that kiss.
She is alive. She has come alive to my touch, and she is kissing me back. Hard. I deepen the kiss. More tongue, more caresses, more lips. She smells clean and fresh and new.
And as I move my hands down her back towards her ass, she reels back squeezingher eyes shut and puts her hand to her mouth.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe I did that.”
“Guapa, there’s nothing wrong with a kiss.”
“Yes, there is. There’s someone else.”
And with that, she is atorero, who has just killed me, the bull.
Her bright eyes darken, and she becomes unnaturally still and pale. With a quivering chin, she rubs her nose and looks away,drawing her shoulders up and tucking her elbows in. When her eyes come back to me they’re full of regret. I grit my teeth and pray.
