Perhaps if she hadn't waited for another for so long, hadn't given so much of herself so freely, Valencia might've taken his teasing in stride. Twice now she'd told him and twice he'd reacted without offering it back. There wouldn't be a third time, she immediately decided. Not before he said and meant it in return, not before she felt less vulnerable.

It amazed her how quickly the bliss faded around the edges of her vision in light of her sudden irritability. The sleepiness continued to tug at the corners of her eyes, her limbs still felt obscenely heavy, but her thoughts were turning at a mile a minute. He hadn't told her he loved her. Not that day on the hillside. Not now when her wetness glistened on his face and she could feel his desire pressed between them.

They couldn't conclude this evening without the final act. The sheets would be inspected in the morning and Don Juan could leave her if there was no proof of their joining. He could claim some sort of annulment and she would be destroyed. Her gaze drifted downwards then, her genuine grin shifting into an expression of duty. Valencia had never been well versed in keeping her emotions from her face, and with him so close she doubted that he wouldn't question the sudden shift in it. The final act. They had to complete the final act.

"No more waiting, Don Juan." Valencia insisted in English. Then, a second later, she added, "please."

---

  

Well, that had gone sour. It was easy to pinpoint what had changed her mood, at least in hindsight. Honestly he hadn't considered it at the time; it seemed transparent to him that the vow of love exchanged in the immediate aftermath of an orgasm meant nothing. But he had experience with such things and she didn't — to her, this was important.

He could play along, he decided. Nothing about tonight would matter tomorrow morning. "Hey," he said, lifting her chin so that she would have to meet his eye, then offering her a boyish smile. "I joke. I love you."

He kissed her — lightly, only a brush of the lips — then leaned back and gave her a beseeching look. "Touch me?"

---

  

---

MJ made this <3

It was no grand love proclamation, and Valencia still didn't believe him entirely. However, the smile on his face soothed something within her, reassured her somehow, and she nodded her acceptance once. Tomorrow morning she would consider it more, for now -

She made sure her nails lightly scraped his skin as she edged his trousers down. With him still poised above her she could only maneuver so much, so when she could no longer reach she settled for kissing, licking, and lightly biting along his chest as he finished removing them. From there, all doubts of his love and questions over the validity of their marriage were eased.

In the end, Valencia didn't manage to stay silent. Her whimpers, moans and groans echoed throughout the room of her childhood bedroom until she was certain everyone in town had heard her. When they finally fell asleep, it was with their limbs entangled and her head resting on his chest.

It was the best rest of her young life.

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