12. Emily

Chapter 12

Emily

For the next three days and nights, we shut the world out and lock ourselves in the penthouse exploring each other's bodies, sharing stories of our lives, and having the most outrageous mind-blowing sex ever. This morning, I'm still basking in the afterglow of spectacular shower sex. Instead of hitting the hotel gift shop like I planned, I linger by the pool and sip a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice.

"Good morning, mi vida . How did you sleep?" Alejandro pokes his head outside, smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

"Like the dead."

"I have a surprise for you, mi vida . Come inside." He hooks his finger my way.

"I think you should come out here." I bite down on my bottom lip and start to untie the top of my bathing suit. "Let's go skinny dipping."

He sighs and shakes his head. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"I'm trying to tempt you." I drop my top, freeing my breasts. "Is it working?"

"It is indeed working." He licks his lips. "However, there are plans in place that cannot be undone. We can skinny dip tonight if you like."

"I like." I stand and start to put my top back on then decide against it as Alejandro's eyes blaze a hot trail down my body. I walk slowly, my breasts bouncing and swaying in time with my hips. I lean up on my toes, cup his face, and kiss him hard and deep. The moan he lets out sends shivers across my skin. "Do we have five minutes?" I slide my hands down his chest, over his rock-hard abs, until I find what I want. I stroke his hard length before dropping to my knees to take him into my mouth.

He stares down at me and strokes my hair. "Emily…" He groans.

My heart pounds as I please him. I open my eyes to find my wolf gazing at me with fierce passion burning in his eyes. It makes me want to please him endlessly. Sadly, his release is too swift.

I crawl back up his body, smiling. "That is just a preview of what is to come for tonight."

"What are you doing to me, mi vida ?"

"I'm only giving back what you have given to me, mi rey . You allow me to be free. To enjoy sex in a way I never thought possible."

His nostrils flare and he growls as he latches his palm onto the back of my head and drags me to his chest. "You are truly a gift, my sweet Emily." He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.

"I don't want you to let me go," I mumble into his skin. Our time is running out and I don't want to waste a second of it. I'm falling in love with him, and my heart is going to break. But I know I'm not going to regret a minute of my time with this man. The memories we've made will be with me for the rest of my life.

Alejandro steps back. He gifts me a soft kiss. "I'm always here." He touches my heart. "And here." He touches my forehead. "Always. Now, go get dressed. We are late."

I float down the hall, slip into a sundress, and wrap my hair in a messy bun. When I get back to the living room, Alejandro is waiting for me at the elevator.

"Where are we going?" I playfully wiggle my hips. "Are you taking me on another helicopter ride?"

"No helicopter."

"Wait. I'll be right back. I forgot my purse."

"You do not need money, mi vida . All has been taken care of for you." An adorable half-smile crosses his handsome face, causing my insides to flutter.

Excited, I climb into the elevator and tuck into his side. When the doors open, we are greeted by a man and a woman with bright, beaming smiles.

" Hola, se?orita . I'm Maya and this is my brother, Juan. We will take you for your day of beauty and your fitting."

"Wait…what? A day of beauty? And a fitting? A fitting for what?"

"If I'm to be your king tomorrow, mi vida , you are to be treated as my queen. Maya and Juan will take you shopping, to get your hair done, your nails done, whatever you wish. And when you are ready, they will take you to the bridal salon for your dress fitting."

"My dress fitting?" I blink. "I have a dress?"

" Sí . If you do not like it, worry not. We shall get you a new one."

"But how? Why?"

Alejandro kisses my forehead and spins me around to face the mirror. "Because you are you. Now, go. I will be waiting for you here."

Too startled to object, in a flurry, I let Maya and Juan whisk me across the marble floor and out into the startling July heat.

"He cares for you." Juan holds open a car door. "Deeply."

Juan doesn't know how desperately I want his words to be true. He has no idea that our wedding is nothing but a fantasy. I'm living out a glorious fairy tale that is tragically not going to have a happy ending. For half a second, I think about calling an end to the charade. But then an image of my handsome wolf flashes through my mind.

My wolf has done all of this for me.

He makes me feel safe, protected, special…but most of all alive. He allows me to unfurl like a rose blossoming in spring. I will never be able to repay him. But for now, I'm going to keep on pretending. For him…and for me. Because my life is never going to be this beautiful again.

Maya opens a laptop to show me pictures of elaborate hairdos, along with a thousand different ways I can have my makeup done. When the car stops, my head is spinning.

"I don't have any idea what to choose."

Juan jumps out and holds open the door. "May I make a suggestion?"

"Oh, yes. Please do."

"Your fiancé hired us because, well, we are the very best at what we do. If you would allow us the opportunity to choose for you, I know you will not be disappointed."

"Done." I grin at him.

"I have just one question for you." Maya hitches her bag onto her shoulder. "Traditional or modern?"

I think for a moment. "What do you think Alejandro would like?"

"Mr. Garcia wants you to have what makes you happy. His directions were crystal clear. He said that we are to give you anything and everything that makes you smile brighter than the sun."

Tears sting my eyes. "He is such an amazing man."

"Who has chosen an amazing woman." Maya winks. "Come, we shall sparkle and shimmer you like never before."

After a manicure, a pedicure, a full body waxing, an hour in the makeup chair, and my hair being swept up in an updo I haven't seen yet, Juan places a blindfold over my eyes. I haven't just been pampered…I've been waited on hand and foot. We've sipped on champagne, snacked on empanadas, and indulged in churros. No matter how this look turns out, tonight I'm definitely going to show my wolf how grateful I'm for this day of pampering.

"We shall put you in your dress and then you can see our creation." Juan leads me across the floor. "If there is something you do not like, let us know and we shall fix it."

"Okay." Butterflies flutter in my belly. "I've never done anything like this before."

"Every girl should be catered to at least once in their life." Maya takes my hand. "Hold onto my shoulder and step into your dress, Emily. You are going to love it."

"Please tell me you and Juan will come to our wedding." Tingles of excitement skitter down my spine.

"We wouldn't miss it," Maya sighs. "You are stunning."

My heart races as the cool satin slides along my skin. Our wedding might be a sham but I want to stand before Alejandro and take his breath away.

"Are you ready?" Juan lets out a low whistle. "Mr. Garcia will be pleased."

"Pleased?" Maya laughs. "He will be bewitched. Close your eyes, Emily. Count to three."

"One…two…three…" The blindfold is removed and I freeze. Stunned by my reflection, I start to cry.

"No, no, no." Juan runs over with a handkerchief dabbing at my eyes. "No crying."

"You are exquisite." Maya beams.

"This dress…it makes me look amazing."

"That is because you have an amazing hourglass figure. The mermaid gown is the perfect silhouette for you. It hugs you in all the right places. And that fitted corset?" Maya's eyes twinkle. "Divine."

"I don't know what to say."

"Do you love it?" Juan claps his hands.

"I do." I sniffle.

"All right. There is one last thing." Maya holds up a cathedral-length veil of intricate lace embellished with delicate crystals. "Veil or no veil?"

"Veil," I gush. "It's perfect."

"Good. We will arrive at the penthouse tomorrow at four o'clock sharp with everything you need. You will be the most gorgeous bride Madrid has ever seen."

Tears roll down my cheeks. My stomach churns and my chest aches as a thousand-ton boulder sits on my heart. Tomorrow will be the best day of my life.

And the worst.