Second Chance

I jolt awake, covered in a cold sweat and short of breath. I was in a frantic state, I just woken up from a terrible dream and I didn't know where the twins where.

"My kids!"

"No need to worry love, Lina has them. You've been asleep for a few days now."

I take a moment to calm myself down. A few days? Had I really been asleep for that long? I shake my head then focus on Ricky. I hadn't realized the blood splattered on his clothes or the bruises on his face that seemed fairly new.

"What... Did you do?"

I sit up and let my legs hang off the side of the bed. I feel like I've been asleep for weeks, not days, and I had an unusual amount of energy.

"Ah, just a little disagreement. Nothing to worry about, honestly."

He was lying. I could tell by the small smirk that he was trying to hide that he hurt someone, or maybe worse but I didn't care enough to pry for answers.

"Why are you still here, Ricky?"

"Aye, want me gone already, mami?" He dramatically clutches his chest. "You hurt me."

He slowly walks from the far side of the room and sits on the bed next to me.

"I want you to come back to me. I want us to leave this place."

I sigh. This wasn't what I needed right now; More difficult decisions and peer pressure to find an answer. Thinking about it was already making me overwhelmed.

"To go where? To do what? I can't keep up at this back and forth thing, it's exhausting."

"Ya lo sé, cariño. Pero podemos empezar de nuevo, esta vez será mejor."

(I know, honey. But we can start again, this time it will be better.)

"Ricky please..."

I was conflicted. His promises sounded nice but I was doubtful.

"We've already been through so much pain, I just- I don't ever want to do that again. And yeah, a second chance sounds good but I don't wanna make the same mistakes."

"Your worries are understandable. I've been a horrible husband but I can do better, I will do better. Not just for us but for our kids too."

He slides closer to me and puts his arm around my shoulder.

"One more time?" I ask while lying my head on his chest.

"Una vez más..."

(One more time...)

I take a breath and let his arms hold on to me. It had some time since we've been this close.

"Kazmaria..."

His voice was near my ear. I felt as if the smell the of his intoxicating cologne grew more intense and the heat radiating from his body felt warmer.

"How long has it been since to two of us had some time alone?"

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and chills run down my spine. I would normally be furious at what he's suggesting but I desperately wanted the same thing he did.

"Ricky, what are you-"

"C'mon Kaz, tell me, when was the last time you've felt my hands touch your skin? The last time I made your legs shake or even make you c-"

"I'm taking a shower!" I stand from the bed and hurry into the bathroom in an attempt to get away from him.

"Kaz, please. Open the door."

My hand was just over the lock. I hadn't even turned it yet so why wasn't he barging in?

"I don't understand why you still run from me..."

'Because I know that I can never escape you! I know that no matter how far or how long I run, you'll always end up finding me.'

I want to scream at him. I want to hit him, make him hurt the same way he hurt me but the words just won't leave me mouth. My eyes sting as tears pool in them. I was just so tired of all of it.

"Kaz? Are you okay?"

"I... I don't know?"

The door slowly creaks open and he steps inside. My vision was blurred as I cried and I couldn't look up at him. Without saying a word, he puts his arms around me and lets me cry into his chest.

A metallic smell fills my nose and I instantly pull away from him. I had completely forgotten about the blood.

"What is it?"

He looks down at his shirt and smiles awkwardly. "Ah, I'm sorry about the mess."

I grab the hem of his shirt and ball it up in my palm. "This... Take it off." I pull on it and he steps forward.

He looks at me with his brows lowered in confusion and a nervous grin.

"What?"

"Your shirt Ricky, please take it off." I tug on his shirt harder, earring a tantalizing gaze from him as his golden eyes darken.

"Whatever you say, wife."

He shrugs off his jacket, followed by the bloodied shirt. His clothes hit the bathroom floor with a soft thud but my eyes were fixated on his chest. He was still so beautiful. His broad shoulders decorated with new tattoos, probably covering the scars he earned while fighting.

"Better?"

"Mhm..." I nod while still racking over his body. The dim light was making his tanned skin appear even more tempting.

He takes a step closer and puts his hands on either side of my waist. His eyes were so dark that they almost seemed to be black. His head lowers as his he were going to kiss me but he puts his lips near my ear.

"¿Qué estás haciendo exactamente?"

(What exactly are you doing?)

His voice had lowered and his warm breath tickled my ear. Of course there were things I wanted him to do to me but I didn't know where to start. After all, it had been months since I've been touched.

"I don't know. Just- Just shut up."

His lips make contact with my neck and in an instant, a familiar tingling feeling grows inside my stomach. As he kisses me, his hand trails to the back of my gown, pulling on the strings causing it to fall off and pool around my feet.

He lifts his head and his gaze hungrily looks over my now bare body.

"Mhm," He groans and sucks in a breath through his teeth. "You're so beautiful."

"Shut up..." I feel my face warm. I was surprised that his words still made me feel like I had butterflies.

"As tempting as this scenario is, I have to get you washed up and fed. I'd love to take you right here but when was the last time you ate, love?"

God, now that he mentioned it I felt my stomach twinge in hunger. I had lost my appetite right before I had the twins and being asleep for so long didn't help.

"Ugh, I don't like it when you're right." I rest my head on his shoulder. "Will you at least bathe with me? I don't think I can handle being alone right now."

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

I nod. "Yeah, I'm sure."

He backs away from me and begins to run a bath. I can't help but stare at his back, the way his muscles flex with every subtle move was hard not to notice.

"Alright, come here beautiful."

He faces me and holds out his hand. I don't hesitate to grab it and let him help me into the tub. I groan as the hot water soothes my aching body, it was a comforting feeling I had missed. I lean back and let my head rest on my edge of the tub. Ricky had grown quiet and his breathing increased. Even with my eyes shut, I could feel his gaze on me.

"Well? Will you just watch or will you join me?"