Say You Love Me Read online

  “Sexual abuse and neglectful supervision,” she answered. “There were reports of wild sex parties and drinking at Savannah Boudreau’s residence.”

  Gah! I wanted to punch her.

  “Lifestyles of the rich and famous,” Reverend Miller snickered loud enough for the entire courtroom to hear.

  The judge turned a frigid glare on the preacher. “Sir, you will not speak unless spoken to, understood?”

  He coughed into his hand, hiding a smug smirk. “Yes, Your Honor.”

  The judge turned back to my lawyer. “Counsel, how do you answer to these charges?”

  “He was removed due to a falsehood spread by a disgruntled employee, and I have witnesses to prove her story has been greatly exaggerated.” My lawyer angled his beak nose at my friends. “Also, the employee, Irma Gonzales, was working in collaboration with Jake’s grandfather, Reverend Jim Miller, a convicted felon who has served time for fraud, bribery, and tax evasion. Since Jake was removed from his aunt’s custody, Jim Miller has also tried to extort money from my client in exchange for helping her win back custody of Jake.”

  The judge clucked his tongue, wagging a disapproving finger. “Reverend Miller. Is this true?”

  The preacher’s back stiffened. “Lies, Your Honor.”

  “Counsel, do you have proof?” the judge asked.

  “I do.” Mr. Denton pulled a thick manila envelope out of his briefcase. “It should be noted that Reverend Miller has two weeks to pay back rent of $25,000 at the property where his ministry is currently located, or he has to vacate the premises.”

  The preacher gasped, having the nerve to look offended. “My financial business is private.”

  The judge looked down his nose at the preacher. “Apparently not.” He waved my lawyer forward. “Let me see.”

  Mr. Denton dropped the stack of papers on the judge’s bench with a heavy thud. “Here is the eviction notice. Here are his felony records.” He flipped through the pages, pointing at each one. “Here is the transcript of his phone conversation with Miss Boudreau when he tried to extort first $25,000, then $50,000 from her. I also have a copy of the recording.” My lawyer went back to his seat.

  The judge took several interminable minutes to look over the papers. Finally, he looked up. “And you said you have witnesses.”

  “Yes, Your Honor.” Denton nodded at my friends. “Miss Sara Alvarado and her fiancée, Angus MacDonald, were at Miss Boudreau’s house at the same time Irma Gonzales said she witnessed an orgy. Their daughter, Ariana Alvarado, was also involved. She can give the most accurate testimony as to what actually took place.”

  “All right.” The judge gave Ariana an expectant look. “Miss Ariana Alvarado, please tell us what happened.”

  Ariana gave her parents a wary look. “After Savannah went to bed, I snuck into her guesthouse with two guys, and we had a little fun.” Ariana batted her lashes several times, her face coloring while she seemed to hold the judge in a captive trance. “Savannah and her boyfriend didn’t know we were in the guesthouse. I left, but the guys were still there, and Savannah and my parents and Jake walked in on them the next day. Savannah and her boyfriend are both very, um....” She paused, as if she was searching for the right word. “Vanilla,” she added, “and they weren’t involved in my activities.”

  Vanilla, huh? I tried to force images of Cesar binding me in handcuffs out of my head. If she wanted to call me vanilla, I didn’t care, as long as I got Jake back.

  “And how do you know Miss Boudreau?” the judge asked.

  She bit her lip. “My mom raised us, but she turned out good, and I turned out not so good.”

  When the observers in the courtroom burst into laughter, the judge had to bang his gavel to calm them down. He leaned over his stand, peering down at Ariana with a look that would have made most girls squeamish. Too bad Ariana wasn’t most girls.

  “Well, I’m glad you acknowledge you’re not so good.” There was no mistaking the sarcasm in his tone. “You seemed to have caused Miss Boudreau a lot of trouble.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry.” Her lower lip trembled as she flashed me apologetic eyes. “Irma Gonzales knew Savannah wasn’t involved, but she’s a habitual liar.”

  When Ariana turned her heated glare on Irma, the old bitch had the nerve to scowl back.

  “Hmmph!” Irma said, turning up her nose.

  The judge’s bushy brows dipped beneath his thick, greying bangs. “Do you have proof that Irma Gonzales is a habitual liar?”

  My lawyer cleared his throat. “We have a character witness who can attest to the fact that Ms. Gonzales has a history of telling lies and practicing deceit.”

  “And who is your witness?” the judge asked.

  “Irma gained sympathy from Savannah Boudreau and her friends because she led them to believe her son had recently died from a drug overdose.” My lawyer, whose tone had thus far been surprisingly neutral, sounded like he’d sucked on a sour lemon. He motioned to our witness, who’d been hiding in the back of the room. “Her son is still living. I’d like to call on Javier Gonzales.”

  Irma gasped and swayed, grabbing the preacher’s elbow for support as the man in the back row walked forward and removed his hood. He looked like a thirty-something version of Irma. He had the same thick build and slight paunch, only instead of his face being draped in a perpetual scowl, he had kind eyes and a warm smile.

  The preacher’s eyes widened, and then he shook Irma off, stepping away from her as if she’d suddenly been infected by the plague.

  “Javier Gonzales?” The judge arched a brow. “You are this woman’s son?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.” He stood beside my lawyer. “I did not die of a drug overdose. I’ve never had a drug problem. I was addicted to prescription pills for a while after a bad car accident damaged my spine, but after rehabilitation I am off the pills now. My mom called me a druggie and a sloth because I was on disability for over a year. I have had three spinal surgeries since my accident. I finally had enough and kicked her out of my house. I found out from others in our community that she’d told her church friends I’d died.” He shot a disapproving look at his mother. “Don’t believe a word she says. She’s a liar and a hypocrite.”

  The judge folded his hands. “Irma Gonzales, is it true you told your friends your son died of a drug overdose?”

  She crossed her arms, defiantly turning up her chin. “He turned his back on his own mother.” She gave Javier a glare that could have melted ice. “He is dead to me.”

  Javier bowed his head, sniffling. Damn. I felt bad for him. I completely understood the crushing pain of being rejected by a parent. Didn’t matter how insane that parent was. I would be forever grateful to him for testifying, even though I knew my lawyer, and subsequently I, had probably paid him well.

  “But he’s not physically dead.” The judge’s voice rose, and his cheeks turned flame red. “He’s standing right here. Do you know the penalty for lying in a court of law? I’m going to ask you this once, and I want you to give me the truth, understand?” His words were sharper than steel, and I imagined them slicing through Irma’s false righteousness, exposing her hypocrisy.

  She had enough sense to wipe that arrogant look off her face. “Sí, Your Honor.”

  “Did Savannah Boudreau participate in wild sex and drinking parties at her house?” The judge enunciated each word slowly.

  Irma shook her head. “No, Your Honor.”

  The judge pointed at Candace, who shifted from foot to foot as all eyes in the courtroom turned on her. “Why did you tell her social worker she did?”

  Irma’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know, Your Honor.”

  Reverend Miller stuck a hand in the air like a brown-nosing schoolboy. “Your honor, if I may.”

  “No, you may not, Reverend Miller.” The judge’s angry boom rent the air, causing the entire courtroom to go eerily quiet. He turned his dark eyes on me. “Miss Savannah Boudreau, I hereby award you full custody of your nephew,
Jake Miller.” He pointed his gavel at the preacher in a threatening manner. “Reverend Jim Miller, Miss Boudreau has requested a restraining order against you. I’m granting her request. You are not to contact her or Jake or come within a hundred yards of them. Do I make myself clear?”

  Holy shit! I clutched Cesar’s arm, relief washing through me.

  The preacher hung his head. “Yes, sir.”

  “Good.” The judge waved the preacher away like he was a buzzing fly. “Now you and Miss Gonzales please get out of my courtroom.”

  ***

  I anxiously waited for Candace to bring Jake home, practically wearing a hole in the living room carpet as I paced. It was close to six in the evening when the front gate finally called. I rushed outside to meet him, so relieved when he jumped out of Candace’s car and ran into my arms.

  “Jake!” I cried, turning into a blubbery, sobbing mess as I fell to my knees and rocked him in my arms.

  “Auntie!” He buried his face against my shoulder, wrapping his arms tightly around my neck.

  When Cesar knelt beside us, I reached for him, and he completed our hug. Never in my life had I felt more whole than at that moment. I didn’t even care that gravel from the driveway was digging into my knees. Jake was home!

  “I’m so sorry, baby. So very sorry.” I kissed his forehead and his thick mop of hair before wiping his wet cheeks. “Are you okay?”

  He sniffled loudly. “I’m okay.”

  I wasn’t even grossed out by the boogers. I pulled him close for one more hug.

  The sound of Candace clearing her throat brought me back to reality. I stood, holding Jake’s hand while Cesar held the other.

  Candace pushed off from the side of her car with a shrug. “I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

  Cesar and I shared a look before I narrowed my eyes at her. “I have requested a new social worker.”

  She jerked back as if she’d been slapped. “I was just doing my job.”

  “You have been here enough times to see how much we care for Jake.” Cesar’s admonition was a low, dark rumble, causing the gooseflesh on my neck to rise. “Yet you believed the testimony of a crazy lady and a con artist.”

  “Let’s go, Jake.” We followed Cesar inside, slamming the door behind us.

  The dogs ran to Jake, their tails in full motion. He bent on one knee, laughing when Nacho plowed into him, covering his face in kisses. Macy and Gremlin yapped and tried to climb into his arms.

  “They missed you.” I pushed Nacho’s wet muzzle off Jake’s face. “I missed you.”

  We led Jake to the sofa, and I held him once more, wiping his and my tears when Cesar handed us tissues.

  When Jake looked up at me, there was no mistaking the pain in his wide eyes. “Why did I have to go?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Because of a stupid misunderstanding, but they know now they were wrong. Jake, I’m going to fight to make sure this never happens again.” I held his narrow shoulders, looking down into his luminescent eyes. “I love you, and I don’t ever want to lose you. Only a few more months, and then I get permanent custody of you, okay?”

  He blinked back more tears, and my heart ached. “Okay.”

  Cesar leaned on the armrest, ruffling Jake’s hair. “How about I grill some steaks and we watch a movie?”

  Jake straightened, a smile spreading across his face. “I want to play with the dogs, too.”

  “Of course.” I stood. “I’ll come with you.”

  We played with the dogs and then swam while Cesar grilled steaks and fresh vegetables. After dinner, I let Jake have a second bowl of ice cream, with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, and then we watched an animated movie with Jake snuggled between us.

  Halfway through the movie, Jake fell asleep in my lap, so Cesar carried him upstairs, and we tucked him in bed, leaving him with the dogs snuggled around him.

  “Goodnight, buddy.” I kissed him one last time on the forehead. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too, Auntie,” he murmured before rolling over and snuggling with Nacho.

  I stood in the hallway with Cesar while he quietly shut the door. I stood on my tiptoes, cupped his cheeks in my hands, and firmly kissed his full lips.

  He smiled. “What was that for?”

  “For being the most amazing boyfriend I could ever ask for,” I said, taking his hand and leading him to the bedroom.

  * * *

  Once Cesar shut the bedroom door behind us, I was hoping he would follow me to bed. After the past few days, I could use a few orgasms. Not to mention, I wanted to show Cesar how much I appreciated everything he’d done for me and Jake. He’d proven his love and dedication by being there when I needed him most.

  I didn’t care what Ariana said. I knew Cesar. He was smart, kind, loyal, and a wonderful companion and lover. I also knew he loved me, and I loved him.

  “I wanted to show you something.” Cesar tugged on my hand, dragging me to his closet.

  “What?” I asked, wishing he’d take me to bed.

  My jaw dropped when I saw the contraption hanging from the ceiling. It looked like a silken hammock.

  He flushed all the way to his roots. “Now, before you panic, it’s easy to take down, and it doubles as a yoga swing.”

  I gaped at it for several long moments. I had seen a few of these hanging in my yoga classroom, but they’d been reserved for the advanced students. I got the feeling the only exercise Cesar intended for this would involve my legs spread wide while he swung me onto him, repeatedly thrusting until I screamed his name and his knees buckled. The erotic image made a busted water hose soak through my panties.

  I crossed one ankle over the other. “Omigod, Cesar!”

  “If you want, I can take it back.” He quickly unhooked it, tossing it to the floor.

  I bent over and picked up a silky end of fabric. It cascaded across my hand like water. “Do I just sit in it?”

  “Let me show you.” Cesar eagerly picked up the swing and slipped the latch onto the hook in the ceiling. He turned to me with a mischievous grin. “Clothes on or off?”

  I bit my lip, smoothing a hand down his chest. “Off, please.”

  He helped me undress and quickly tore off his clothes. Then he lifted me into the swing. I gasped when the springs bounced and creaked, but the contraption seemed sturdy.

  I laughed when he spun me, pushing me back and forth. “Oh, wow!” Whooshing through the air while naked, I felt weightless and free. His hands roved my ass with each push, causing that water pipe to gush again.

  He stopped me mid-swing, holding me suspended in the air with a hand on my abdomen. “Do you like it?” he breathed in my ear, his voice dark and delicious and making me so much wetter.

  I giggled. “I’ll let you know.”

  His hands found my bare breasts, squeezing and then flicking my nipples. His mouth was on my neck, nipping and kissing. Then he spun me around and bent over me, his teeth grazing my nipples before sucking them both.

  I grabbed his hair. “Please, Cesar. Please make love to me.”

  He put fingers in his mouth, coating them with saliva, then he reached between us and stroked my sex.

  I arched back with a gasp. “Oh, God, Cesar, please give me more.”

  “You’re already so wet,” he chuckled, latching onto my ass and swinging me toward him.

  I dug my nails into his back when his cockhead grazed my clit. “Please.”

  He grabbed my hands, rocking me against him and swirling his cock around my slick entrance. “Say it.” His command was a harsh breath against my ear.

  “Please, Cesar,” I begged.

  He slipped just the head inside. I gushed again, spreading my legs wide and bucking against him, trying desperately to get him to slide in deeper.

  “No, not that.” He kissed my cheek. “Say you love me.”

  I stopped squirming, surrendering with a sigh. “I love you.”

  His lips grazed my nose and temple. “And I love you, bella.”
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  He slid in with a slow, steady thrust, sinking deeper into my heat until he pressed against my sensitive bundle of nerves. He thrust a little faster, using the swing’s momentum to smack my sweet spot harder. He fucked me faster and harder, bouncing me on his cock until my wet heat pooled around him, and my flesh swelled, squeezing him like a fist.

  I closed my eyes and shuddered as the orgasm burst through me. He grunted and convulsed, pouring his seed into me.

  He pulled me against him, showering me with kisses until his cock surged inside me again.

  He thrust into me over and over, until we were both moaning into each other’s mouths in a tangle of arms and legs, swinging, thrusting, pushing, pulling, biting, clawing, fucking, and then oh God, oh God!

  My world exploded in a fountain of stars and light as he held me suspended in the air, my orgasm sucking him in like a vortex while he clutched my back and poured himself into me.

  We tumbled to the closet floor, panting against each other’s sweat-drenched skin. That’s when I realized maybe the preacher was onto something after all, because holy heck, I think I’d found salvation in Cesar’s arms.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Sara and Angus’s wedding was perfectly sweet and romantic. They’d written their own vows, expressing their timeless love for one another with the old ranch house in the background and the stables in the foreground. Horses grazed in the nearby pasture, occasionally stopping to watch the couple pledge their love to one another as the sun set behind them. By the time the ceremony was over, Ariana and I were bawling like babies.

  The reception was held in a big tent on the lawn. When Sara threw the bouquet, Ariana caught it, fumbled it for a few seconds, and then tossed it to me like it was a live grenade. When she smiled slyly at me, I knew I’d been set up.

  A few of the ranch hands were laughing and patting Cesar on the back. He didn’t seem to be embarrassed, though. He looked straight at me, then smiled. My breath hitched, and I forced myself to look away, feeling the blush creep into my cheeks. I bit my lip and looked back at Cesar. His dark eyes were still boring into me, and he looked beyond sexy in his black dress slacks. The top buttons of his crisp white shirt were undone, revealing hard, tanned pecs and a light patch of chest hair. His jacket and tie had come off while we were dancing, and his hair was tousled from exertion. He looked good enough to eat.