Escape to Paradise Read online

  Claudia buried her face into his chest to keep from screaming out. Santiago took his time loving her, giving everything he had and more. He had more moves than a stripper, and worked his hips like a Caribbean dancer.

  To keep him in place, Claudia hooked her legs around his waist. He alternated between soft strokes and fast plunges and made circular motions that kissed her G-spot. The man was a beast, taking everything she gave and more. The intensity of their lovemaking, the sheer tenacity of it, stole her breath and made her feel like she was spinning upside down on a carousel.

  Santiago’s deep, wet kiss sent Claudia into a spiritual realm, the place where euphoria and ecstasy meet. Feeling his tongue against her earlobe, then flicking against her nipple, triggered Claudia’s orgasm. Wanting to be in control of her pleasure, and craving deeper penetration, she thrust her hips and grabbed his butt. Claudia tried to stop shaking, tried to stop bucking against him like an out-of-control mare, but her body had a mind of its own.

  His slow, languid rhythm quickened, and then he uttered a loud medley of Spanish words and collapsed into the cushions.

  Claudia placed his palms on her cheeks, and he lovingly layered his hands on top of hers. “That was amazing…” Pleasure loosened her tongue, and soon her deepest, darkest feelings spilled from her mouth. “It’s never…ever…been like that for me before…”

  “You’re my dream, my destiny, and I’d love to spend the rest of my days and nights loving you.”

  Chapter 16

  “Santiago, what happened?” Claudia asked, trailing her thumb over the long, jagged scar that snaked down his chest. His arms were locked around her in a fierce hold, one that was impossible to escape, but she relished the comfort of his warm embrace. A delicious languor had settled over her, making her feel closer to him than ever before. “I didn’t mean to be insensitive. I understand if it’s something you don’t want to talk about.”

  “I was in a car accident two years ago.”

  She felt his shoulders tense, heard him draw and release a deep breath.

  “My sister and I were returning from my cousin’s wedding when…” His voice trailed off.

  “You have a sister?” Claudia frowned. “I had no idea. I thought you were an only child.”

  “I am…now…Marisol died in the accident.”

  “Oh, my goodness!” tumbled out of her mouth. It was a struggle, but she sat up and clasped his hands in her own. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through.”

  “It’s my fault Marisol isn’t here. I shouldn’t have been on the road that night… It was the first day of typhoon season, and it was raining so violently I lost control of my truck and slammed into one of the steel lampposts along the highway.” His voice cracked, filled with such anguish it pierced her heart. “The paramedics said Marisol died instantly…”

  Claudia let him talk. He was unburdening his soul, releasing his hurt and frustration, and she wanted to be there for him, the same way he’d been there for her.

  “If I had listened to my mother and stayed at the resort, Marisol would still be alive.”

  “But you had no way of knowing what was going to happen.”

  He gritted his teeth, spit out his words. “Tell that to my father. He blames me for the crash, and stopped speaking to me shortly after my sister’s funeral.”

  “Why would he hold it against you? People get in car accidents every day.”

  “I’ve won a lot of amateur racing competitions,” he explained, with a dismissive shrug of his shoulder, “and even though the accident reconstruction team cleared me of any wrongdoing, my dad is convinced I was driving recklessly and caused the crash.”

  Claudia remembered the kid who’d stumbled into their cabana, remembered how excited he was to meet Santiago. And he wasn’t the only one. Everyone in town had treated him like a celebrity, nodding, waving, greeting him warmly. “I bet you were a pretty good race car driver,” she teased, hoping to draw a smile and alleviate the tension in his voice, “and you probably had a ton of female fans.”

  “I was ranked number one in my division, but after the accident I quit driving. I suffered a herniated disk, and by the end of a grueling physio session all I wanted to do was sleep.”

  “How long were you in the hospital for?”

  “Four months,” he said, dropping his gaze to his hands, “and my father never once called or came to see me.”

  Claudia entwined her fingers with his. “Everyone processes grief differently, Santiago. Your father lost his daughter, and there was no guarantee that his son would survive. He probably couldn’t bear to see you hooked up to all those monitors and machines.”

  “I didn’t want to live without Marisol, and every time I saw the disgust in my father’s eyes, I wanted to die. The pain of losing my sister was unbearable, and knowing that my dad hated me only increased my grief. Sometimes all I could do was cry.”

  Sniffling, Claudia wiped at her eyes and fought tears of her own.

  “I tried to deaden the pain with alcohol and prescription drugs, just so I wouldn’t have to feel or think, but I couldn’t escape my grief. I felt guilty whenever something good happened to me, and I sabotaged relationships because I didn’t think I deserved to be happy.”

  His face was tight, pinched with pain and regret.

  “You’re a kind, wonderful man, Santiago, and if your sister was alive today she’d be very proud of you and what you’ve accomplished.”

  “I talk at high schools and share my story with teens, but I don’t feel I’ve done enough, so this year I’m going to establish a memorial fund in Marisol’s honor,” he told her, raising his chin and smiling bravely. “She was passionate about the arts, and I’d love to raise enough money to send a couple of kids from her old performing arts school to college.”

  “That’s a terrific idea!” Claudia pumped her fist then clapped her hands together. “I’ve worked on several charity boards, and if you need help getting the ball rolling, just ask.”

  “Thank you, baby. I just might take you up on your offer.”

  “I hope you do. I’d love to help.”

  He raised his head, scanned her face as if seeing her for the first time. “Where have you been my whole life?”

  “In Richmond, Virginia,” she quipped, leaning forward and kissing his cheek. “And now that you have a new passport you can visit my quaint little hometown any time.”

  “Maybe I should fly back with you after the celebration bash.”

  “Great! I’ll book two one-way tickets!”

  Chuckling, he folded his arms around her, bringing her closer to him, closer to his heart.

  “I was convinced that I’d never find true love,” he confessed, the truth spilling from his mouth, one unbelievable, heartfelt word at a time, “and then you strode into that airport lounge like an angel from above and set my heart on fire.”

  “I did?”

  He nodded, tightened his grasp. “I don’t know what you’re struggling with or what’s weighing you down, but you’re strong enough to overcome any adversity. You have an amazing inner strength that will see you through—”

  “You’re the strong one, Santiago, not me. I’ve faced some tough times in my life, but nothing as traumatic as losing my sister, or someone I love dearly.”

  Claudia exhaled, dragged her teeth over her lips to prevent the truth from spilling out of her mouth. Hearing Santiago’s story, of how he’d lost his beloved sister, made Claudia realize how foolish she’d been. For the last three weeks she’d been holed up in her suite like a mob boss in the witness protection program. Instead of ducking and hiding and stressing herself out about the SEC investigation, she should have faced her problems head-on.

  It’s never too late to make things right. Wasn’t that what Ana sa
id the last time they spoke? Claudia was scared of what the fallout would be, but it was time she quit running from her past and took her friend’s advice. Tomorrow, she’d get the ball rolling. She’d call Mr. Tibbs, and ask him to arrange a sit-down interview with the detectives investigating her ex-husband’s case. Revisiting her past was going to be painful, but having Santiago in her life made Claudia feel invincible, like she could do anything. If she had to pay a fine or refinance her business loan, so be it. At least the truth would be out and her conscience would be clear.

  “I’ve learned a lot from you these last few weeks. You helped me reclaim my voice, and even though I’m scared of what the future holds, I’m ready to face my problems head-on.”

  “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, Claudia, it’s the triumph over it.”

  She smiled, nodded her head. “I like that.”

  “And I like you.”

  “Even though I gave you a hard time that afternoon in the airport lounge?”

  “I wasn’t the only one you dissed. There were enough of us to start a support group!” Santiago chuckled heartedly. “I plan to be in your life for a long time, so you better get used to me being around.”

  “I love the sound of that,” Claudia said, her eyes twinkling with happiness. “I can’t wait for you to meet my sister and brother-in-law. Maybe you can come up for the holidays, and spend a week or two with us.”

  “You know, we could avoid all the craziness of a long-distance relationship by getting married in the resort chapel. It officially opens tomorrow.”

  Claudia closed her gaping mouth. “But we just met. How can you be thinking of something as serious and life-changing as marriage?”

  “Because love has no rules or time lines.”

  “You sound like my hiking partner. I told Ana all about you, and she’s convinced that you’re my soul mate.”

  “Ana?” He stared at her, wide-eyed and openmouthed. “Is she a petite Mexican woman with unruly hair, and a loud, boisterous laugh that could shatter glass?”

  “Yeah, that’s her. We’ve become really close over the last few weeks.”

  Santiago threw his head back and had a good chuckle.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Baby, you’ve been confiding in my mother!”

  “Ana’s…” Claudia stumbled over her words “…your mom?”

  “Yup. Has been for the last forty years.” Santiago chuckled some more. “It’s all good. I’m sure you didn’t say anything Mom hasn’t heard before. In case you haven’t noticed, she’s fun and witty, and she curses more than 50 Cent!”

  “That’s not it, Santiago. I told her things…” Personal things that I’m scared she’s going to tell you. Claudia gathered herself, forced air slowly in and out of her mouth. “Why didn’t Ana tell me she was your mom?”

  “Probably because she values your friendship and didn’t want to scare you off. My mom has been really lonely since Marisol died, and with my dad away on business for weeks at a time, she doesn’t really have anyone to hang out with.”

  “Oh, God, I’m so embarrassed,” she groaned, burying her face in the sofa cushions. “I told your mom about what we did in the cabana.”

  “What did you say?”

  “That I’ve been dying to make love to you ever since.”

  He dropped his gaze to her lips. “Then, why didn’t you make the first move?”

  “Because a respectable woman never does.”

  “Initiating sex doesn’t make you a freak, Claudia.”

  “I know,” she conceded, smiling sheepishly, “but I was raised in the South, and my aunt used to say, ‘The only girls who enjoy sex are those who get paid for it!’”

  Santiago stretched out flat on his back. “You’re in the driver’s seat now, and I want a repeat performance of our rendevous de cabaña.”

  “I’m still tired from round one, but your lap does look inviting…”

  “Take it easy on me this time,” he said, clutching her hips. “We’re going to my uncle’s party in a few hours and I don’t want to have to explain why I’m limping!”

  Chapter 17

  Claudia clasped Santiago’s hand and hoisted herself out of the green Volkswagen taxi. Careful not to trip on the hem of her pastel pink dress, she tucked her clutch purse under her arm and intertwined her fingers with his. After a scenic drive filled with vast deserts, vivid blue skies and stolen kisses, the last thing Claudia wanted to do was socialize with a bunch of strangers. She’d rather have been back in Santiago’s suite, stretched out on the hammock, eating fresh fruit or making love. But since she was the one who’d encouraged him to attend the party, she forced a smile onto her lips and followed him up the steep, cobblestone walkway.

  “Wow, look at this place,” she gushed, admiring the romantic, architectural design of the white estate perched up on the hill. “This isn’t a house. It’s a compound!”

  Three stories high, with a winding driveway and a fully fenced yard that bordered the immaculate grounds, the sophisticated home reeked of old-world grandeur. Potted vases overflowing with trumpet-shaped flowers stood on either side of the glass door, and their thick, odorous scent carried on the cool November breeze.

  “If you don’t mind me asking,” Claudia said, shielding her eyes from the afternoon sun, “what do your aunt and uncle do for a living?”

  “They own a catering company.”

  “Is your whole family in the hospitality business?”

  Santiago chuckled. “Pretty much.”

  Crickets chirped, and bees buzzed around the coco palms gracing the expansive estate. Shrieks of laughter, merengue music and the pungent scent of chili filled the air, rousing Claudia’s hunger. “It sounds like the party’s in full swing.”

  “Normally, I’d go inside and steal some food from the kitchen, but since we’re late, we might as well just go around the back.”

  “Do you think your aunt would mind giving me a tour of the inside of the house?”

  “I’d be happy to. They have a soundproof media room you just have to see.”

  Claudia frowned. “What’s so special about that?”

  “You can scream my name as loud as you want and no one will hear you.” The warm, forest-green color of his dress shirt drew out the golden specks in his eyes when he laughed.

  “I’m never going to be able to live that down, am I?”

  “I’ve never received complaints before about the noise coming from my room,” he joked, draping an arm around her and affectionately squeezing her waist. “From now on, I’m going to have to remember to close the windows when you come over!”

  Chuckling at the memory of resort security showing up at Santiago’s door, they strode past the lush garden and through the decorative archway. Claudia marveled at the size of the backyard. The circular pool dominated the space, but the lavishly furnished porch was the focal point of the yard. People were everywhere. Socializing at the refreshment tables, tanning on plush, chaise loungers, frolicking in the hot tub.

  “Goodness,” Claudia said, shaking her head. “If this is what your aunt calls a ‘little get-together,’ I’d love to see what she considers a party!”

  “My uncle used to be the mayor of this region, so they know a lot of people.”

  “Are your parents here?”

  Santiago shook his head. “It’s too early. My dad likes to make an entrance, and since this is just a pool party, they probably won’t be here for several more hours. I’d be surprised if they arrived before we left.”

  “Do you think your dad is going to like me?”

  “What’s not to like?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re smart, and intelligent, and ridiculously beautiful.”

  “You are so good for m
y self-esteem.”

  His touch was deliberate, meant to arouse her passion, and it was no surprise to Claudia when it did. They’d kissed and played in bed all morning, but her body obviously wasn’t satisfied. And if Santiago didn’t stop stroking her neck they were definitely going to have to make a trip to that soundproof room. “I know what you’re trying to do,” she said, as she wiggled out of his arms. “I’m on to you, Santiago, so don’t even try it.”

  “What? I can’t give the woman I love an innocent neck massage?”

  The expression on his face and his use of the L-word gave Claudia pause. Being with Santiago made her feel blissful, happier than she’d ever been. Their love was real, unconditional, everything she’d always hoped to have, but this time around Claudia was going to be smart, sensible. No gunshot wedding for her. They were going to take things slow, enjoy being a couple and plan their future together.

  At the bar, they chatted with some of Santiago’s cousins, sampled the elaborate spread of finger foods, and posed for pictures in front of the gazebo. With her blessing, Santiago joined the soccer game on the east field, and when he stripped down to his fitted white undershirt, Claudia had to remind herself to breathe. Fanning her face with her hands, she ripped her gaze away from his chest and admired the spectacular mountain view.

  Adrift in a space filled with strangers, Claudia searched the backyard for a familiar face. A smile gripped her lips when she spotted Ana standing beside the barbeque grill. Decked out in bright colors from head to toe, she looked as bubbly as ever, and when Claudia sidled up beside her, she threw her hands up in the air and squealed in delight.

  “Claudia, it’s so great to see you!” she gushed, giving her a fierce bear hug. “You look amazing, and now your energy has a warm, soft glow.”

  Claudia didn’t know what that meant, but her friend was beaming, and that was always a good thing. “Thanks, Ana. Hiking isn’t the same without you, but it’s an incredible workout and a great way to relieve stress.”