Page 75 of Isabel and the Rogue

Eventually, he pulled free of her body, causing Isabel to hiss between her teeth at the slow drag. Sirius quickly climbed to his feet and found a wet strip of cloth on a water basin in her dressing room. Returning to the bed, he gently applied the cool cloth to the sensitive valley between her thighs, taking all due care to tend to her, for Sirius knew he had been more rough with her than he had intended.

With his ministrations complete, he climbed into bed next to her, drawing her into the circle of his arms. Isabel fit against him like a missing puzzle piece, her curves and dips nestling perfectly against the long line of his body. Sirius inhaled a great breath, soaking her vanilla scent into his blood, before he released it in a whoosh of air.

“Content, are you?” she drawled lowly by his side.

“How could I not be?” he answered, kissing her head. “That was marvelous.”

Isabel nestled her head on his chest with a sigh.

“Did you enjoy it, too?” Sirius couldn’t help but ask.

“You quoted Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s poetry.” He could feel her swallow. “It was the most beautiful thing anyone has ever done for me.”

“That’s a crime,” he murmured, warmth pulsing under his ribs. “Or perhaps my deplorable Spanish was.”

“Claro que no,” Isabel said, running a hand up his chest and resting it right over his heart. “It was perfect.”

He snorted. “Now I know you’re being untruthful.” A smile stole over his mouth when she swatted him. “I am but a servant to your pleasure. I quite like the role.”

“That’s a good thing, as you are quite apt at it.”

They were quiet for a time, a silly, lighthearted bubble surrounding them. Sirius indulged in the moment, deciding that his post-release bliss was more enjoyable when he could spend it with Isabel in his arms.

But all good things eventually had to come to an end, and when Isabel rotated until she could look up at his face, Sirius knew he could no longer put off the inevitable.

“So do you now intend to return to Mexico?”

Sirius had not meant to ask so bluntly. There were a dozen other things he wanted to say to Isabel—questions he wanted to ask—but his mouth shaped the words before his mind had even conjured them.

Isabel went still against him, and dread tumbled about like ore in his gut.

“I hope to. At some point.”

It was a direct answer with no embellishments, and Sirius was not surprised by it. It was so like his Isabel to respond in such a way.

“And when do you think that point will come?”

Her hand on his chest curled into a fist. “I don’t know. Perhaps when I receive word from my parents that they are well.”

“So soon, then.” When she opened her mouth to argue, Sirius silenced her with a kiss. “I have every expectation that they will receive the warning in time.”

Isabel released a long sigh. “I hope you’re right.”

“I hope I am, too.” He smoothed damp strands of hair back from her face. “So my time with you is coming to an end.”

“I suppose it is.” She grasped his hand then, bringing it up to press against where her heart pounded in her chest. “I wish it wasn’t. I have loved our time together.”

“Have you, darling?”

“Of course I have.” Isabel smacked him lightly. “How can you ask that?”

Sirius aimed for his next words to be insouciant. Perhaps even playful. But he was certain they came off as petulant instead. “Because you’re still leaving.”

“I am.” Her voice dropped to the lowest of whispers, and Sirius had to lean close to hear her words. “I’ve never felt like I belonged here.”

He ran his nose along her jaw. “I’m sorry you’ve felt that way. I’m sure there are many in your life who would argue that point.”

She snorted. “If you mean my sisters, yes.”