Chapter 37

When I woke up again from my slumber, Alejandro was putting his pants on. He came to the bed when he realized I was awake, and I held him by his arm before he got up again.

"We need to talk," I said.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his eyebrows scrunched.

I sat myself straight on the bed, holding the sheets on top of me. Between the best orgasms of my entire existence, I had made a decision. Alejandro got closer, caressing my anxious face.

"Tell me," he insisted.

"I know where Richard has the diamonds, and I want to help you get them." I clenched my jaw.

He paused, searching my eyes for something I couldn't give him. I was telling the truth.

"We searched both of his safes."

"There is a third one."

Alejandro suddenly got up from the bed. He seemed furious, and I didn't understand why he was reacting so aggressively. He looked like he had gotten stabbed.

"That"s not possible. We searched every inch of that office."

"It"s very well hidden, but it's there. He thinks no one knows about it."

I wrapped the bedsheet around myself fully and got up after him.

"I don't want you involved in this," he said as he turned to face me.

"I don't understand…"

"Forget you said anything," he said as he grabbed my arm to force me to look at him.

"Well, what do you want exactly? Richard is not going to hand you the diamonds, Alejandro, and I want to help you avenge your brother."

Alejandro looked confused for a bit, but then his features softened. He understood. He grabbed my head and kissed me.

"I'll find another way."

"What other way? You told me that it's impossible to break into his house now, and I am telling you I know where they are in his office, and I can get them for you." He shut his eyes for a second, as if in pain, trying to keep his composure.

"I said no! That fucking asshole clearly will stop at nothing to satisfy his greed, including killing YOU! I will NOT put you in danger like that!"

"But—"

"This is not up for discussion, Amelia," he declared coldly.

I was frustrated, but I didn't know what to say. I didn't think I would be able to convince him—not right now. He wanted to protect me, which made my heart swell, but he was being overly protective. There was no other alternative. This wasn't over.

Seemingly satisfied by my silence, Alejandro left me alone. Dolores must have been waiting for an appropriate moment, because as soon as he left, she knocked. I rushed to put my nightgown on before letting her in, but by the smile on Dolores's face and her slightly red cheeks, I knew she knew Alejandro had spent the night, and frankly, I was too happy to hide it.

I quickly showered, put on a nice white, long, airy dress, which accentuated my breasts, with an audaciously low back. I felt the right amount of naked. My body was already in dire need of Alejandro's touch again, and I wanted to feel attractive, to entice his desire for me and feel his need burn through me again and again and again. I resisted any attempt of my brain to try to reason with me, to urge caution. I didn't want to.

I spent my entire life being cautious, tiptoeing around what made others happy, including losing part of who I was. I wanted this for me, for once, even if it would eventually end. I detangled my bouncy curls and let them loose, enjoying the slight highlights the sun had added.

I went straight to his room, but he wasn't there, so I went downstairs. I found him on the phone, pacing and shouting in Spanish. When he saw me, he hung up. He clearly didn't want me to listen to his conversation.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes, yes, it was just Mathias."

"That didn't sound like a very friendly conversation," I noted.

"He's getting impatient. Our arrangement doesn't really serve him anymore at this point."

"So he won"t give you the video?"

"We"ll see," answered Alejandro coldly, clearly choosing unilaterally to end the conversation.

I rolled my eyes but resisted the urge to say anything.

"Anything from Richard's end of things?" I insisted.

"No. As of this morning, he passed on the negotiations to George," said Alejandro with a hard voice.

"George? Oh God, he must be so worried."

I realized I hadn't given much thought to how he must have been feeling this whole time.

"Do you care?" asked Alejandro, lips pursed.

"Well, he is not responsible for Richard"s sins," I explained. "And he's always been good to me," I admitted.

"Good to you?" said Alejandro with a cold laugh. "That's hardly a reason to date someone. And you dated him for, what, about two years?"

What was his problem?

"I don't have to explain my choices to you," I answered, my voice slightly elevated.

"You're right. You don't," he said menacingly, getting closer to me, "but I am asking you anyway."

I swallowed hard, a bit scared by the fire I saw on his face.

"He is a good man, that's all. Richard thought he was a perfect match for me, and frankly, it didn't matter much. He was a nice man and respected my space. That was all I needed. What do you want to hear exactly? That I was in love? What for? Why would anyone ever give another person such control over their life, their emotions?"

I felt a pinch in my heart that I didn't quite understand.

"I see."

He didn't seem satisfied by my answer, his face more serious than before.

"Do you still plan on marrying him?" Why did it sound like a threat?

I didn't know how to answer. That was always the plan. It made sense, but now clearly a lot had changed.

"It was part of the plan," I admitted. "George and I make sense."

"I thought you were stronger than to play it safe, Amelia. I"ve seen you—the real you—and you don't strike me as the kind of woman who would be satisfied with a placid relationship."

"How dare you!"

I was getting more and more frustrated by his comments. What did he want from me exactly? Was there even a perfect answer to those questions? My plans had been laid out for me, and I had accepted them out of convenience.

Then, Alejandro had thrown all my safeguards away and turned my life upside down in just a few months. I didn't know what I wanted.

I knew I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anything in my life. But all those questions, they were scaring me.

I found myself wanting the comfort and predictability I had found in my relationship with George. Not this all-consuming need for someone that I didn't even know how long I really had them for. And now what? He wanted my doubts exposed, my sorrows palpable? Why?

"What do you think is better?" I shouted, trying to deny my pain. "Someone like you? Someone who sleeps around without caring about the feelings of others? Why would I ever put myself at the mercy of someone else like that?"

Alejandro gave me a death stare that almost sent me running, but I held his gaze. This wasn't the time to show weakness. I didn't mean what I said, but I didn't know how to take it back. So, I panicked and doubled down.

"Is that really what you think of me?" His eyes flashed with anger, as his jaw ticked.

"Isn't it the truth?"

"Amelia," he said, cornering me at his office door, "not every man is Richard. You don't have to settle for someone just because they feel like the safe choice, the easy choice."

Those words hit me hard. I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. How could he, with just one sentence, threaten to shatter years of self-preservation? How could I have been so transparent? I quickly moved away from him, walking as fast as I could, but he was right there on my heels, grabbing me, turning me around, forcing me to face him.

"Why are you doing this to me?!" I screamed, unable to stop the tears. "What do you want from me?"

"I am not saying I haven't slept around. But why wouldn't I, as long as I make things clear and am honest?"

He looked at me with eagerness in his eyes. "But with you…you…" He let out a frustrated sigh. "I want you, just you. I fucking need you more than I have ever needed anyone. Don't you get that?" he said, grabbing my face. I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head.

"I want you to be mine, all mine, body and soul, and I want you to let me in."

My knees started to weaken, but I remained stiff as I considered him dangerously close to making me lose my sanity, but he had no pity.

He kissed me, prying my lips open, plunging his tongue into my mouth, demanding that I let him in. I was pushing my arms against his chest, but a rush of desire and helplessness had already invaded my body.

Alejandro held me so close, possessively, while he cupped my face to kiss me. I was out of breath, his hunger quickly becoming mine, until I forgot all the objections I had. His rhythm slowed as his tongue reminded me of what was to come.

He lifted me from the floor and wrapped my legs around him. He grabbed my lips again as he carried me up the stairs to his room. My alarmed brain was still trying to tell me to stop it, to let go of him and lock myself in my bedroom, where I would be safe. But time had , and all I was aware of was him and his fingers leaving trails of fire on my skin.

Alejandro put me down and locked the door behind us. I stood there, my parted lips shaking, anticipating, waiting to feel alive again. Alejandro came back to me, holding my gaze in a trance.

His gaze never leaving mine, he grabbed a condom from his nightstand and put it on. He grabbed my face and kissed me slowly but passionately, torturing every inch of my body with his touch. He pushed me gently onto the bed as he proceeded to take his clothes off. I lifted my hands over my head, inviting him to get me naked. I groaned as I felt his girth against me, hot and firm. Alejandro slowly slid himself inside of me, and I moaned as he grunted.

He was going deep inside of me, but with a slow torturous rhythm that made me want to beg for more. He was sliding in and out of me, and yet, I already craved more of this, more of him.

"You are all I want, mi ni?a. You. Only you."

I wanted to say it back, but I couldn't, no matter how much my heart bled at my silence. I couldn't. Still, his words sent a shiver spreading all over my body, and his deep thrusting into me intensified, he was going faster and faster, the pressure in my belly growing.

Finally, he sent me to oblivion faster than I could process what his words were awakening in my soul.