Chapter 16

The smell of freshly brewed coffee teased my nostrils as I woke up. Dolores was there, setting a tray with coffee on the office table.

"Good morning, se?orita!"

"Good morning, Dolores."

She had added three vases with a variety of Dahlia's around the room. Dolores took my hand and walked me to the table, refusing to let me do it alone.

"Dolores, do you know where my clothes are? This is not really my room—I mean, the room I was sleeping in before," I asked hesitantly.

"I put them in here, miss. Don Alejandro has lots of space."

"Thank you."

When Dolores left the room, I opened the closet door. I found myself in a large walk-in closet with oak cabinets and a good amount of light.

Alejandro had a taste for the fancy. I passed by all his suits, his jeans, his shirts, and got to the back wall, where some watches, belts, and perfume were neatly arranged. I wanted to smell them but got startled when Dolores re-entered the room. Instead, I wandered over to where my stuff was located. I went with a light, simple white dress with short sleeves, the skirt hitting just below my knees.

After selecting my outfit for the day, I walked into the bathroom. I was in need of a good and wonderfully long shower.

Alejandro's bathroom had a big walk-in shower that looked like it also could be used as a steam room. There was also a tub with jets. The vanity had two free-standing sinks and a very large mirror. This bathroom was the definition of convenience and luxury. I was discovering quite an elegant side of Alejandro that I really enjoyed. He called me spoiled, I thought with a smile, but then again, he clearly was quite particular and enjoyed his own taste of luxury.

I took a long, hot shower, feeling life slowly get back into me. I enjoyed putting some lotion on my body, appeasing my thirsty skin. I was starting to feel like myself again, despite the elevated bruise on my forehead.

When I got out of the shower, Dolores was setting food for me on a table on the balcony, and I went to join her. I wasn"t hungry but was pleased with the idea of sitting outside. I noticed that Dolores put down two table settings.

As I was about to inquire, I heard the bedroom door open. I turned around to see Alejandro walking toward me, a grave look on his face. Dolores, after she finished setting out the most perfect breakfast, left the room.

"You shouldn't be standing for too long," he said, pulling out one of the chairs for me.

I sat down and let out a sigh. Alejandro put some eggs and bacon with some avocado on my plate and went to sit in the empty chair.

"Thank you."

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did. I feel much better. I just have a bit of a headache."

"Good. Did you take the pain meds?"

"I don't really think I need them. It will go away on its own," I said guiltily.

The truth was that I had completely forgotten. Alejandro shook his head and got up. A second later, he was back with the pills, and I didn't have the patience to argue with him.

"I could get used to this," I teased.

He gave me an unexpected smile and took a bite of his food. That smile sent butterflies coursing through me.

"Thank you for the flowers." I added. "But, I'm curious, why Dahlia's?" He gave me one of those penetrating gazes that made the earth move around me.

"They remind me of you. Beautiful, elegant, bursting of life. And I noticed how much you like them."

A small smile on my lips, I looked away, feeling my cheeks flush and my pulse quicken.

"Where are you sleeping?" I asked shyly, still avoiding eye contact.

"In the connected bedroom next to this one."

I almost choked on my juice. I had noticed a door near the bed, but I assumed it was storage. He had a door connected to this room, and the door did not have a lock from what I recalled.

"Is that why you so graciously gave me your bedroom? So you could spy on me?"

"Well," he said, sitting straight, his jaw tightening, "you did try to escape again, which of course was very stupid and put your life in danger."

Anger was flashing in his eyes. The audacity of this man had no limits.

"Because Juan attacked me!" I yelled as I got up from my seat. "How do you think I got out of a locked room?!"

"Stop lying!" he shouted. He got up from his chair so fast it hit the balcony railing.

I took a step back, my eyes wide with fear. My hands started shaking. I walked in the room, livid, Alejandro on my heels. He grabbed my left arm and turned me to face him.

"You decided to run away when he came to get you, remember?"

"After he tried to choke me!"

"Why would—" Alejandro stopped talking. He frowned, shock and anger distorting his face.

"Let me go," I said, shaking myself to get out of his grip.

"Stop it" he grunted, shaking me. "Let me see." He ordered, a visible swallow going down his throat.

He pulled me close to him. I stopped moving, shocked by the electricity I felt rise all the way through my nipples as they brushed his chest. Alejandro passed his hands delicately over both sides of my neck, his gaze burning through me. I let out a slight breath, aroused by the touch of his fingers.

Alejandro suddenly let go of me and rushed out of the room like the devil was behind him. What is his problem? I wondered. I went to the bathroom to take a closer look at my neck. I gasped when I saw the bruises surrounding my collarbone where Juan had choked me. My neck was tender to the touch, but I hadn't noticed the bruises this morning after my shower.

I got startled when I heard what sounded like furniture breaking, accompanied by someone shouting. It was Alejandro. My heart skipped a beat. He had left looking like he was about to go kill someone. Juan!

I ran as fast as I could out of the room, heading in the direction of the noise. As I got to the stairs, I saw Alejandro push Juan to the floor, punching him with so much force it looked like his head was going to penetrate the tiles. Juan was fighting back, but Alejandro, blinded with anger, was not letting him go.

"Stop!" I screamed. "You're going to kill him!!"

As Alejandro turned around, I started going down the stairs.

"Stay where you are!" he shouted.

Juan took the opportunity of Alejandro's divided attention to punch him in his stomach, and he fell on his side. Juan attempted to hit him again, but Alejandro was faster and hit him back. A few men, with Dolores right behind them, finally separated the two men.

"Take him out!" ordered Alejandro, shouting at the top of his lungs, "or I am going to break every fucking bone in his body!"

Two men were carrying Juan outside. "Te vas a arrepentir, imbecil! Te juro que me las vas a pagar!" Juan screamed. "Y tu tambien," he said, looking straight at me.

Alejandro grabbed Juan by his collar while two of the men were doing their best to hold him back but failing to control him.

"Si te atreves a estar aunque sea a diez metros de ella, te juro que te mato."

Sheer terror crossed Juan's face. Alejandro had promised to kill him if he ever got remotely close to me again. When Juan was out of sight, Alejandro turned to me. I was holding the stair rail for support, my knuckles pale, feeling like I was about to collapse. Alejandro ran up the stairs in a couple seconds and grabbed me.

"You're okay. Come here."

He gently lifted me in his arms. I rested my face on his chest and closed my eyes, trying to stop the spinning. Alejandro put me down in his bed with some pillows behind my back so I could stay in a sitting position. He went to get a glass of water and brought it to me.

"Drink it slowly."

I took a few sips and gave him the glass back.

Alejandro sat next to me on the bed. He tenderly caressed my face. I closed my eyes, enjoying the heat emanating from his touch.

"Better?"

"Yes, better."

"I am so sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"For not believing you." He paused. "If Juan had hurt you, I don't…I don't know what I would do."

I searched his eyes for humor or sarcasm, but none of that was there.

Alejandro moved closer, grabbed my face with his other hand, and bent my head toward his. He leaned down and opened my lips with his. I felt his need as his tongue took and sucked, wanting to possess me. My body came alive. I pulled him closer to me, burying my hand in his hair. He groaned and intensified his kiss.

"Hmm, mi ni?a, you can't," he grunted. "You can't exert yourself too much," he muttered against my lips.

But lips still parted, I was struggling to calm down and lower my heart rate. He was right. I was enjoying the rush, but my head was still spinning.

"But I so want to," I whispered.

Alejandro groaned and grabbed my lips again passionately, aggressively, melting every inch of my body into his.

"Fuck," he said, pulling away, jaw tight, trying to exercise control, both of us panting.

I wanted to pull him to me again, but he was right. I had to close my eyes not to faint. Alejandro kissed my forehead.

"I do feel a little lightheaded," I admitted.

I snuggled my head into his neck to try to calm down and get back to a steady breathing rhythm. Alejandro ran his hand up and down my back in tender strokes. I was enjoying the warmth from his touch, the strength of his arms, focusing on that feeling of comfort. Eventually, I started to fall asleep. Alejandro slowly fixed the pillows and laid me down. Eyes half open, I held his hand and faintly smiled at him. How was I ever to fall asleep again without the feeling of him by my side?