I am no one, I'm nothing

Capitulo Diecisiete

"I need a drink," Aldonza murmured to Pedro that evening as she snuck into his room with quiet, sneaky footsteps.

Pedro let out a loose guffaw as he appraised her slumped over figure of fatigue. "That's why I was surprised when you said you wanted to be... what was it, a 'woman of God?'" He asked, cocking a goofy eyebrow. "For you know women of God can't indulge in something as foul and sinful as alcohol."

Aldonza choked out a laugh as she made her way to his bureau, pouring herself a glass of wine and him a mug of ale. "It's Jesus' blood, mi amor." She stated, turning to face him before slowly, seductively shimmying towards him. "What's wrong with engaging in religious activity? I don't think that's sinful." She purred as she sat on his lap, handing him the mug before placing her lips on her glass and sipping with quiet, intimate slurps.

"You're sinful, Aldonza." Pedro murmured as he took a swig of his own drink.

"Oh?" Aldonza questioned with mock innocence, staring at her lover across the rim of her glass. "How so?"

"How so!" Pedro repeated with stupid grin. "How about I name all the reasons you aren't sinful... Is that alright with you, mi gato?" He waited until she nodded with a good-natured laugh before raising his left hand in the air, counting on fingers silently the reasons she wasn't. He seemed puzzled, after a moment or two of counting, and suddenly put down all of his fingers. "These are the reasons, woman." He murmured, staring up at her through thick black lashes as he took another drink.

"But there are none." Aldonza stated simply, setting her drink next to her and grabbing his hand.

"Exactly. You're sinful in every way." A full smile graced his lips as he finished his mug and sat it next to his bed.

Aldonza pushed him backwards and stood from the bed, watching his surprised form hit the mattress and slightly bounce. "You take that back." She exclaimed with more passion than she had intended. Grabbing her glass, Aldonza stalked to the bureau and examined her appearance in the mirror, adjusting a few locks behind her ears and wiping away smeared lines of dirty sweat.

"What?" Pedro questioned, leaning up on his elbows and fixing his lover with a penetrating stare. "What's got my kitty all feisty?"

"It's nothing." Aldonza murmured, turning in his favor and sitting on top of the wooden chest of drawers. "Nothing worth talking about with a sinner like me."

"Aldonza!" Pedro exclaimed, sitting up and crossing over to her. He held out his arms and waited a few moments before leaning fully into her, palms pressed flat against the mirror behind her. She sunk into his arms and placed her hands around his shoulders and neck, until he was carrying her bridal style to his large bed. Pedro placed her softly on it and was soon joining her, feeling her hands and body and person nestle against his lean muscles, his stretched out body.

"This isn't very sexy." Aldonza muttered, toying with the hem of his ripped shirt, a sign of their dangerous past. "Especially not for a sinner."

"A couple of sinners." Pedro corrected, stroking her forehead with the pad of his thumb.

"Fine, a couple of sinners." Aldonza repeated, tangling their ankles together as she pushed herself more completely against him. The air was alive, with flies buzzing and a few candles emitting light from various nooks and crannies around the room. A light, nighttime breeze blew the linen curtain into the room, tickling the tops of their heads like a teasing kiss. "Pedro?" Aldonza questioned in an uncommonly tiny voice.