What does this man have planned up his sleeve? Where? I’ve walked these halls hundreds of times. There isn’t anywhere to hide that’s not in the camera’s view.
Am I missing something?
Evidently so because right when we all hug the corner toward laundry, Andrés tugs on my shirt for me to stop and waits until Walker’s nearly at the entry before he calls out, “Hey, Walker!”
The CO stops immediately—halting the rest of the line in the process—and pivots to acknowledge us. Most of the heads in front of me do the same, questioning glances and curious stares all honed in on me.
“Everything okay back there?” Walker returns.
“I need to take Villanueva back to the cellblock for a minute. She, um—it appears she needs to change her uniform,” Andrés explains.
“Oh shit, she got her period.”
“Damn, that fucking blows.”
“Good thing it’s laundry day, Birdy.”
Those are some of the comments that pop up after Andrés’ expert-level lie. I’m impressed honestly, mentally chuckling as Walker shushes the girls and nods in understanding. Guess he’s not all good boy, huh?
“You know the way by now, right? Just bring her down once she’s gotten it sorted.”
“Yes, sir.” Andrés tips his head dutifully. “C’mon, Villanueva, let's make this quick.” His warm hand curls around my arm like the day he was escorting me to Judge’s office.
Now it’s me who’s trying not to laugh, biting my tongue as we start back the way we came. I peer up at him through my peripheral, noting the hard lines of his handsome face as he holds his chin high, authoritatively. Personally, I think it’s the cutest thing when he calls me Villanueva. He’s so caught up in his role, the big, bad CO booming his commands at the sad little inmate.
It’s kinda hot, too. All I’m saying is I wouldn’t mind him cuffing me while he has his way.
“So, my period?” I quip once we’re out of earshot and rounding the corner. “That’s a good one. Wanna tell me where we’re going, though?”
“I don’t need to. We’re already here.”
Next thing I know, we’re stopping at the most random door. It’s old in comparison to all the other upgrades of the prison. I’ve seen it before; I just don’t know what’s behind it. Andrés surprises me all the more by swiftly pulling out his keys. And I don’t mean the card kind, either—I mean actual keys.
How the hell did he get a key? Why?
Shoving the key into the lock, he glances down both ends of the hall to ensure the coast is clear, and then he’s storming his way inside, yanking me in right behind him and quietly shutting the door. I don’t get to so much as blink before I find myself pushed up against it, the click of the lock briefly disrupting the silence of the small space. It’s an old janitorial closet from a quick scan ‘cause that’s all I get.
The look in his eyes right now… It’s that look—the one that sears me in entirety and jacks up my heart rate to a dangerous level.
Better known as trouble.
“Finally.” His hands fall flat to the dingy blue wall on either side of me, head dipping low to level with my stare. “I couldn’t wait anymore, not when I realized you were right. The time is never going to be right. I just need to do it, need to take what I want. One minute to taste those lips, that’s it. You still down with that?”
Why is this even a question? “A minute goes by pretty quick.”
Nodding, he scoops my face in his hands, licking his lips as he eyes my own. “Should I get on with it then?”
“Please,” I whisper, trying—and miserably failing—to brace myself for impact.
But nothing could have prepared me. Absolutely nothing.
There’s a tenderness to his kiss. It’s in the way he moves, how he touches me, but it’s so damned heated, brimming with deprivation and want so fierce, I feel its warmth scorch me to my core. My entire body comes to life, stomach flipping wildly at the feel of his lips on mine. I latch onto his wrists and just...melt into him, relishing the feeling of being kissed again.
So good. It feels so good.
I’ve missed this. To be wanted like this, needed like this.
The softest moan reverberates from deep within my throat, spurring Andrés to go harder, to take it up a notch. His tongue comes out to play, licking sensuously into my mouth as his palms fly to my hips, luring me closer to his hard body.
“Why do you have to be in here?” he asks between kisses.
“Because I was stupid”—kiss—“Don’t be like me, okay?”
“I just want you, that’s all, and I can’t fucking have you.” He says it like somewhere deep down inside of him it hurts.
And that’s the thing—it does. Because I can’t have him, either.
“You have me right now, don’t you?”
Another kiss, another lick into my mouth as he lifts me off my feet and digs me into the tiles, shaking his head. “Not enough. It’s not enough, Benni. I want you all the time.”
“I can’t give you that.” Not for a long time. “I wish I could.”
And that’s when it hits me, hard.
Just like Ángel was toxic for me, I’m toxic for Andrés. He shouldn’t want anything with me. At the end of the day, he is a good guy, and what am I?
A criminal—someone who’s made awful choices and only cared about the consequences when it was too late. Do I plan to come back to prison once I’ve served my time? Fuck no. I’ll be doing everything in my power to complete the reform and stay out of trouble. I can't come back here again. I’ll lose it entirely.
But even with the reform, I still won’t be what he deserves.
“Be glad it’s this way,” I add, putting everything I’ve got into this kiss
