This story is a little more risque than the first one of this series. 

Disclaimer: This story is an amateur, not-for-profit publication produced solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe upon any rights by Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.
 
 

Felipe

     Felipe was resting on his bed, replaying in his head the events which had taken place earlier that day.  But the thing he kept coming back to was the fact Ana Maria had kissed him on the cheek and had called him a hero.  He smiled as he now knew her eyes were the color of a deep, rich chocolate.

     He was very glad he had been able to rescue the lovely señorita from the clutches of  Tomas Quiñones, who was widely known as a bully and a lecher.

     Felipe grinned again as he remembered asking Ana Maria if she could go for a walk with him the following afternoon.  She had a little trouble interpreting his hand gestures but with some help from Diego, his message got across.  Biting her lip nervously, Ana Maria had said she would have to check with her mother.  It seemed the two women were very busy, having a lot of orders to complete.

     Señora Ortega had reluctantly agreed to allow her daughter an hour to spend with him the next day.  Felipe was having a hard time falling asleep.  He was just too excited.  He groaned as he thought of Ana Maria and what it would be like to kiss her.  To put his arms around her and hold her tight.

     Ana Maria had a slender body but. . .   He blushed as he thought of her breasts.  They were definitely worth noticing.   Round and firm, like melons.  Felipe ached to touch them, to see them uncovered.   He had to stop thinking about them, he moaned again, as a certain part of his anatomy was starting to harden with desire.

     He didn't want to have to resort to pleasuring himself.  He had only done it a couple of times before when he had no longer been able to control his lust.  It was wrong, both Diego and Padre Benitez had told him so.  But it had felt so good.   Much better than climaxing in his sleep and waking up in a sticky pool of his own seed.

     Felipe tried to turn his attention back to the law book he had brought to his room.  Forcing himself to concentrate, he managed to clear his head of his lustful thoughts and read two chapters before finally drifting off to sleep.

     The next afternoon, Felipe led Ana Maria away from the pueblo.  They followed a well-worn path which made its way down to the river.  The trees growing along its banks were a favorite spot for courting couples to hide out from the prying eyes of the pueblo's gossips.

     He had only been there once before, with Kinona, and during the day.  Felipe had only heard of what went on at night.  A few of the young men of his age had bragged about getting this girl and that girl to fornicate with them.  Felipe suspected they were mostly lies but imagined there was a some truth mingled in with their boasting as well.

     Quite a few girls had let him know they were interested in walking out with him, especially since he had become a de la Vega.  However, Kinona had been the only one Felipe had been interested in as well.  They had gone their separate ways over two years earlier though.  She had completed her schooling and had returned to her tribe.  The spark between them had cooled even before that, Felipe acknowledged, and they had become just good friends.

     Still, she was the first (and so far the only) girl he ever kissed.  The first he had held in his arms.  Their relationship had never progressed beyond kisses and embraces, but he knew deep down, Kinona would always be special to him.

     Felipe and Ana Maria had a little trouble communicating at first.  But she was eager to learn the sign language he and Diego had developed over the years.  Most of the hour they spent together consisted of Felipe teaching Ana Maria  what the different signals meant.

     Ana Maria caught on quickly.  By the time they started walking back to the pueblo, she could understand several of the hand gestures.

     "I would love to walk with you again tomorrow," she correctly interpreted Felipe's last string of signs and she smiled.  But it disappeared when she added, "I'll have to ask Mama though."

      Felipe sensed Ana Maria was somewhat intimidated by her mother.  It was understandable, the way the woman had carried on every time a member of the opposite sex looked at her daughter.  He suspected the only reason he was allowed any where near Ana Maria was because he was one of the de la Vegas.   Everyone knew they were honorable men and it probably didn't hurt they were wealthy as well.

     He didn't care as long as he could spend time with her.  And he was still amazed she was seemingly attracted to him as well.

     Over the next two weeks, Felipe's relationship with Ana Maria had progressed, despite the fact they could not see each other every day.  Sometimes she had to run errands for her mother, delivering completed garments or mending.  Sometimes Felipe had to ride out with Diego and Don Alejandro, checking fences or rounding up cattle or sheep.

     Zorro had also been keeping busy.  He had been trying to track down a gang of cattle rustlers, with no success. Felipe got to hear of the masked man's frustrations every time he returned from riding for hours.

     It had been one such day which found Felipe down by the river with Ana Maria once again.  Diego was sleeping after spending all night in a fruitless search for the thieves.  Don Alejandro was catching up with his accounts.  Señora Ortega was working on items she was going to try to sell at the mercado.

     They had been granted two hours to take their walk. Sitting on a fallen tree, they engaged in a conversation which consisted mostly of hand signals.  Ana Maria had become quite proficient in using sign language.  Felipe wished he could tell her he could hear, hating the thought of deceiving her.  But he also wished to keep the secret because of Diego.  If it was discovered he could hear, it might lead to someone figuring out his adopted father was Zorro.  The image of Diego swinging at the end of rope was one which haunted Felipe's dreams.

     Ana Maria was telling him of all the places she had lived since she was three, after her father had died.  He had been so fascinated by her descriptions of the towns he didn't ask how her father died.   Felipe was a little envious she seemed so well-traveled.  The only journey he had ever been on was the one when Diego brought him to Los Angeles.  He could barely recall it, having been so young and frightened.  Felipe discounted the times he had been to San Pedro, as they hardly counted as travels.

    Felipe then glanced over at her.  Dios, she was beautiful, he thought.  But he knew his attraction to her was more than just physical.  She was a kind, generous person.  And he could tell what she felt for him wasn't either gratitude or pity.

     He hesitantly gestured to her.  She smiled and nodded her head.  Felipe leaned over and gently pressed his lips to hers.  Only a few seconds passed but it seemed like an eternity.

     "Oh my," whispered Ana Maria.  He started to ask her if she was all right, but she stopped him by grasping his hands and bringing her lips to his.

     After they moved apart again, they stared at each other shyly.  Certain desires were started to stir in Felipe and he wondered if she felt the same way.   It was much harder to tell if a woman was aroused.  Diego had explained to him in detail the intimate relations between men and women.  It had been four years ago, when Felipe had been sixteen and had just met Kinona.

     Diego also had told him just because he was telling him about sex, it didn't mean he was condoning any such activity on his part.  He was much too young, Diego had said.  He just wanted Felipe to know what was happening to his body and what the consequences could be.

     Diego never directly said anything, but some of the things he said now and then led Felipe to believe there had been a woman in Spain with whom he had been intimate.  But now his heart belonged to Victoria.  And Felipe knew for a fact that relationship had never been consummated. It had been over seven years since he had returned from Spain and Felipe didn't know how Diego could keep himself from making love to the lovely innkeeper.

     Felipe had been with Ana Maria for only two weeks and all he could think of was holding her in his arms, kissing her mouth, her neck, and those magnificent breasts. . .

     He pulled himself away, his face coloring slightly at his lustful thoughts.  He glanced over at Ana Maria and noticed her face was slightly pink as well.  He inquired with hand signals if she was all right.

     "Si," she replied.  Then she smiled at him.  "I liked that, Felipe.  I liked it a lot."

     Felipe nodded as he swallowed nervously.  Removing his pocket watch from his waistband, he checked the time then showed Ana Maria the dial.

     "Oh, Mama's going to be mad," she stated as she jumped to her feet.  Taking her hand, Felipe led her back to the pueblo.

     Felipe got to spend a lot of time with Ana Maria over the next several days as Diego was preoccupied by the arrival of an old friend of Victoria's.  Zorro had also remained busy, still chasing after the rustlers.

     He and Ana Maria would slip away to their special place down by the river every afternoon. Most of their time together was still spent teaching Ana Maria  sign language and how to read lips.  She really didn't need to learn that but she had insisted Felipe show her anyway.

     There had also been plenty time for their physical relationship to grow as well.  Felipe had inadvertently slipped his tongue into her mouth one day while they were kissing.  He had immediately pulled back, thinking he had frightened her as she had stiffened in his arms.  But she had been amazed instead and so was Felipe when she told him no one had ever done that to her before.

     "Have you done that before?" she had asked.  He had, with Kinona, and he reluctantly nodded.

    "Do you like it?" she inquired again.  Felipe nodded again.  "Show me what to do," she said, an eager smile on her beautiful face.

     He lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her soft, sweet lips.  He timidly thrust his tongue between those lips.  They both moaned as their tongues entwined, growing bolder with each passing moment.

    Pulling away so he could catch his breath, Felipe shifted uncomfortably.   He was rock hard and was afraid he would embarrass himself right here in front of her.

     Ana Maria  obviously had no idea what she was doing to him as she leaned toward him again, her eyes inviting him to repeat what they had just done.  Felipe shook my head.

     "Did I do it wrong?" she asked worriedly.   He shook his head again.  She glanced at him and he could see tears forming in her eyes.  "Then why don't you want to kiss me again?"

     Felipe didn't know how to answer her.   He did want to kiss her again.  But he wasn't sure if he could stop at just kisses.  Patiently, he signed to her he did want to kiss her but feared he would not be able to stop.  She looked at him in confusion.

     "There's more than just kissing?" Ana Maria inquired.  Felipe nodded, seeing the bewilderment in her lovely brown eyes.  She looked at him, frowning slightly.

     She was a complete innocent, he realized, with no idea about sexual relations at all.

     "I thought it was just kissing," she declared.  "What else is there?  Can you show me?"

     Felipe shook his head violently.  She seemed very disappointed.

     "Can you tell me?"

     He shook his head again   It wasn't his place to inform her.  It would be a burden, instructing her about what happens between a man and a woman, and to not take liberties himself.  He gestured she should asked her mother, unable to believe her mother hadn't already talked about these things with her.

     She shook her head.  "I cannot do that.  Mama. . . she told me that I would find out on my wedding night.  That I didn't need to know anything but submit to my husband and not complain."

     Felipe was appalled.   Diego had explain a great detail to him about intercourse.  It had been like a science lesson.  His father had told him the reasons behind every action and reaction caused by being intimate with a woman.

     There was no way he could explain it all to Ana Maria.  Glancing over at her, Felipe saw the tears sliding quietly down her cheeks.  He wanted to help her but did not know how he could.

     After thinking for a few moments, he thought of Victoria.  Felipe gestured to Ana Maria she should talk to the innkeeper.

     "Señorita Escalante?" inquired Ana Maria skeptically.  "I don't know, Felipe.  She is a very nice lady.  I wouldn't think she would know of such things."

     He explained Victoria's mother had been a midwife and a healer.   Señora Escalante had also been a wise woman who had passed her knowledge down to her daughter.

     "I'll think about," Ana Maria promised reluctantly.

     He looked over at her lovely face and smiled.  It was still hard for Felipe to believe she had chosen him over all the suitors she had to pick from after her arrival in Los Angeles.  All he knew that in the short time they had been together, it felt like he had known her all his life.

     Felipe put his arms around her and taking a deep breath, touched his lips hers, gently at first,  She surprised him by slipping her tongue into his mouth.  He felt a surge of desire shoot through his body as she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer.

     Her breasts were crushed against his chest and he could feel her hard buds through his linen shirt as she rubbed against him.  He groaned as he thought of kissing those nipples, sucking on them.  He had to stop this before it went too far.

     Ana Maria  seemed very disappointed when Felipe disentangled himself from her arms.   "Felipe, why do you keep pulling away from me?" she asked suddenly.  "I thought you liked me."

     He gestured  he did like her, a lot.  But he didn't want to take advantage of her.

     Her expression was one of bewilderment.  Taking a deep breath, Felipe signed  if they continued, things could happen which were not proper.  Things a man and woman should only do after they are married.

      Her eyes grew wide with astonishment.  "You really do like me then," she stated.  Felipe nodded, smiling shyly.  "I was so worried you wouldn't," she added as she took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

     Felipe was now the one who was confused.  She doubted he had feelings for her?  She noticed his puzzlement.  "I thought you might think me too young and foolish," declared Ana Maria, bowing her head.  "I wish I knew more about a lot of things.  You're so smart. Felipe.  You're going to be a lawyer.  I barely learned how to read and write and can only do a little math."

     He quickly signed she too was smart.  She could sew beautifully and she had told him she designed many of the dresses she and her mother stitched.  Everyone was intelligent in their own way, he told her.

     "I still wish I could read more," she said with a sigh.  "Mama says it is just a waste of time.  She said that I need to spend my time learning how to be proper wife.  That once I am married and have children, there would be no time for such foolishness."

     He just shook his head in amazement as he led Ana Maria back to the pueblo.  Señora Ortega was a strange woman, Felipe decided.  Imagine, denying her daughter the opportunity to read.  He might just have to do something about that, he thought with a grin. 

                                                                                         Z                                                   Z                                                   Z

Ana Maria

     Sitting in the room she and her mother had designated their sewing room; supposedly stitching a ruffle of white linen to the front of a gentleman's shirt; Ana Maria instead was thinking about the events of the previous day.  She couldn't believe she had kissed Felipe on the cheek, in front of just about everyone in the pueblo.  But she was glad she did.  And she was very grateful to Zorro and Señorita Escalante for explaining to her mother she was not a harlot.

     Her face turned red with embarrassment as she remembered the things her mother had thought of her.  Somehow, in the older woman's eyes, her daughter's attack by three drunken men in San Diego had become Ana Maria' fault.

     Tears came to her eyes as she recalled the horrifying incident; the men's sour breath as they tried to put their mouths on hers; their hands painfully groping her; the ugly things they had said.  Ana Maria didn't know what they had wanted or why they had tried to hurt her.  And she didn't know why her mother had been angry and had blamed her for the assault instead of them  None of it had made any sense.

     But now, thanks to the interference of the beautiful innkeeper and the mysterious masked man, she was going to be allowed to take a walk with Felipe de la Vega later that afternoon.  The young man she had noticed her very first day in Los Angeles and the hero who had saved her from the clutches of that disgusting Tomas Quiñones and his stupid amigos.

     It had surprised her to learn Felipe was both deaf and mute.  In her brief experience of such matters, people who couldn't hear or talk were never such handsome, intelligent fellows.  She shuddered when she remembered the deaf-mute who had lived down their street in Hermosillo, the pueblo where Ana Maria and her mother had lived after moving from Culiacán.  He had been a smelly, unkempt man who had roamed the village, begging from everyone he met.

    Well, Felipe didn't smell or drool, she thought with a smile. Which turned to a frown as she realized talking with him was going to be a problem. She wanted to learn the hand signals he and his father, Don Diego, used to communicate with each other.  Hopefully she would be able to convince the shy young man of showing her what they meant.

     Two hours later,  Ana Maria followed Felipe as he led her from the pueblo.  They walked along a well-worn path which made its way down to the river.   He pointed to a fallen log hidden behind a small stand of trees and she sat down.  Felipe sat next to her, leaving about a foot of space between them.

     At first, Ana Maria  had a little trouble understanding the signs and gestures Felipe used instead of words.  He had been eager to show her their meanings, just as she had hoped.  Most of the hour they spent together consisted of him teaching her what the different signals meant.

     Ana Maria caught on quickly.  By the time they started walking back to the pueblo, she could understand several of the hand gestures.

     "I would love to walk with you again tomorrow," she correctly interpreted Felipe's last string of signs.  "I'll have to ask Mama though."

     She thought she saw the smile on his handsome face flicker for a moment and she had to suppress a grin.  He must be a little afraid of her mother, she mused.  Well, that wasn't hard to believe.  The older woman was stern and intimidating.  Ana Maria had been more than a little scared of her herself on several occasions.

     Ana Maria was also aware she was being permitted to spend time alone with Felipe was because he was one of the de la Vegas, one of, if not the most, wealthiest families in the territory.  She had seen an expression on her mama's face, one she could only describe as greedy.  She didn't know if her mother had some sort of plan concerning the de la Vegas and their patronage of their services, but Ana Maria hoped she didn't.  She didn't want anything to interfere with her and Felipe's budding relationship.

     Over the next two weeks, Ana Maria's relationship with Felipe progressed, despite the fact they could not see each other every day.   Sometimes he had to ride out with Don Diego and Don Alejandro, rounding up livestock or checking fences.  Sometimes Ana Maria had to run errands for her mother, delivering mending or completed garments to their customers.

     They had been making their way down to their place down by the river one day when Ana Maria had sensed a restlessness in her suitor.  He seemed a little preoccupied, like he was trying to think of a solution to some kind of dilemma.  She didn't know what could cause him to feel that way.  Her mother was busy, working on items they were going to try to sell at the mercado.  He had gestured to her his father and grandfather were busy with chores at their hacienda.  They had been granted two hours to take their walk

     If it wasn't something about their respective parents, she didn't know what else it could be.  Something was weighing heavily on his mind though.

    Sitting on what had become their fallen tree, Ana Maria decided to tell him of all the places she had lived since she was three, after her father had died.  Her papa was someone she barely remembered anymore.  He had died fighting in the August Revolution, during one of its last battles.  That is what her mother had told her anyway.  Other than that, Mama had been very tight-lipped about her father.

    She noticed Felipe kept glancing over at her while she spoke.  He was so handsome, she thought.  She loved his eyes, so gentle and kind, just like he was.  Just looking at them make her stomach feel all fluttery.  Ana Maria wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

     He must have been thinking the same thing because he hesitantly gestured to her, asking her if he could.  She smiled and nodded her head.  Felipe leaned over and gently pressed his lips to hers.  It seemed like an eternity had passed but it only could have been a few seconds before they ended the kiss.

     "Oh my," whispered Ana Maria.  Her heart was pounding and there was an aching low in her stomach she had never felt before.  Felipe started to make a gesture but she grasped his hands and brought her lips to his again.

     After they moved apart, Ana Maria stared at Felipe shyly.  An odd feeling between her legs had her a little concerned.  Usually she never thought much about that area except when her monthly courses came.  She had kissed a boy once before, about three years ago, but he had never made her feel like this.

     She was also aware of strange sensations in her bosom.  Her nipples were hard and achy, but she wasn't cold.  If anything, Ana Maria felt very, very warm.  She wondered if she was getting sick.

    A part of her protested loudly as Felipe pulled himself away from her, and she noticed he looked to be overly warm as well as his face was coloring slightly.   He inquired with hand signals if she was all right.

     "Si," replied Ana Maria.  Then she smiled at him.  "I liked that, Felipe.  I liked it a lot."

     She watched as he nervously removed a pocket watch from his waistband, looked at it then showed her the dial.

     Their two hours had been over for ten minutes.  "Oh, Mama's going to be mad," she stated as she jumped to her feet.  After he got to his feet, Felipe took her hand and led her back to the pueblo.

     She and Felipe began to  slip away to their special place down by the river every afternoon after that. Most of their time together was still spent teaching Ana Maria sign language and how to read lips.  She really wanted to learn not only because it would help them communicate better but because it would help her understand what it must be like for him, not being able to hear or speak.

     Their physical relationship continued to grow as well.  Felipe surprised her one day by slipping his tongue into her mouth.  She only had a few seconds to experience the sensation before he pulled back.

     "Felipe, why did you do that?" she inquired curiously.  "I've never. . .  I mean, no one has done that to me before.  Have you done that before?"   She could tell he was reluctant to answer her question but then he finally nodded.

    "Do you like it?" she asked.  Felipe nodded again.  "Show me what to do," she said.

     She waited breathlessly as he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her lips.  Timidly, he thrust his tongue inside her mouth.  Ana Maria moaned as their tongues entwined, the tingling feeling low in her belly causing her to squirm.

     She was disappointed when he pulled away and shifted away from her.  Felipe had to be feeling the same way she was, she thought.  Didn't he?  She moved closer to him, inviting him to kiss her again.  He just shook his head.

      "Did I do it wrong?" she asked worriedly.   Felipe shook his head again.  She glanced over at him, feeling moisture well up in her eyes.  "Then why don't you want to kiss me again?"

     Felipe stared at her for a few moments and she couldn't help but notice he seemed to be struggling with something in his mind.  He started signing he did want to kiss her but was worried he would not be able to stop.

      "There's more than just kissing?" inquired Ana Maria in confusion.  He nodded.   What more could there possibly be, she wondered.  Something in the back of her brain had guessed there was something more, something else a man and a woman had to do to make babies, but she had no clue as to what it could be.

    "I thought it was just kissing," she declared when he didn't go into an explanation.  "What else is there?  Can you show me?"

     Felipe shook his head violently.  Ana Maria realized he was quite disturbed by her questions.

     "Can you tell me?"

     He shook his head again then gestured she should asked her mother.

     This time Ana Maria shook her head.  "I cannot do that.  Mama. . . she told me that I would find out on my wedding night.  That I didn't need to know anything but submit to my husband and not complain."

     She recalled vividly the day she had asked her mother about what would happen when she got married.  It had been a couple of years earlier when she was fifteen.  Ana Maria remembered the older woman had paled, and had stammered out her inadequate advice.

     It had been at that moment it dawned on Ana Maria her parents's marriage had not been a happy one.  That they probably hadn't loved each other.  She had often wondered since then why they had married in the first place.

     She could feel tears beginning to spill down her cheeks.  She never wanted to be unhappy like her mother.  She wanted to be with Felipe.  She wanted him to like her as much as she liked him.

     Felipe touched her on the shoulder, gaining her attention, then gestured she should talk with Victoria.

     "Señorita Escalante?"  Ana Maria was skeptical. The innkeeper was an unmarried woman.  How would Victoria know anymore than she did? "I don't know, Felipe.  She is a very nice lady.  I wouldn't think she would know of such things."

     He signed Victoria's mother had been a midwife and a healer who had passed her knowledge down to her daughter.

     She thought about it for a few moments.  She still didn't see what the other woman would be able to tell her.  Sighing, she promised, "I'll think about."

     He looked over at her with his dark brown eyes and smiled.  Ana Maria was thrilled when Felipe wrapped his arms around her.  He took a deep breath before gently kissing her lips.  This time, however, she slid her tongue between his lips as she snaked her arms up around his neck and pressed up against him.

    Her breasts were crushed against his hard chest and she could feel her nipples begin to stiffen.  She rubbed them against his linen shirt, hoping to relieve their aching.  Felipe groaned as if in agony before untangling himself from her arms

     Ana Maria was very frustrated when his body was no longer next to hers, although she didn't know why.  She thought it had been the most wonderful experience of her life.  True, she didn't understand what was happening with her body, but it was still exhilarating.  Didn't he feel the same way?

     "Felipe, why do you keep pulling away from me?" she asked.  "I thought you liked me."

     He gestured he did like her, a lot.  But he didn't want to take advantage of her.

     Ana Maria was bewildered.  What did he mean?  Taking a deep breath, Felipe  signed if they continued, things could happen which were not proper.  Things a man and woman should only do after they are married.

     "You really do like me then," she stated, a rush of happiness filling her.  Felipe nodded, smiling shyly.  "I was so worried you wouldn't," she added as she took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

     She noticed his look of puzzlement.  "I thought you might think me too young and foolish," she declared, looking down at their entwined hands.  "I wish I knew more about a lot of things.  You're so smart. Felipe.  You're going to be a lawyer.  I barely learned how to read and write and can only do a little math."

     He quickly signed she too was smart.  He gestured her stitches were beautiful and her dress designs were something not everyone could do.  Everyone was intelligent in their own way, he told her.

     "I still wish I could read more," she said with a sigh.  "Mama says it is just a waste of time.  She said that I need to spend my time learning how to be proper wife.  That once I am married and have children, there would be no time for such foolishness."

     She noticed Felipe shaking his head as he led her back to the pueblo.  There was a look in his eyes told her he was going to do something to improve her education.  She didn't know if she could ever be as smart as he was.  But she was eager to learn anything he wanted to teach her.  Whether it be about literature, math. . .or love.

     She smiled at her brazen thoughts.  Felipe looked over at her and arched an eyebrow, but she just shook her head, indicating it was nothing important.   He stopped in the middle of the trail and kissed her until she was out of breath before resuming on their way back to town.

    Oh, yes, Ana Maria thought, he could teach her anything and everything she wanted to learn.