Page 22 of Wanted
“She’s not your enemy,” Alex told Fylox. “She’s hurting. She’s had a fucked up life.”
Kamila, you have everything you’ve ever wanted! Stop being such a spoiled brat! What’s got into you? I don’t recognize you anymore!
“I’m right here, you know,” I exclaimed, sounding like I was whining, which I technically was. My sobs were slowly emerging from the back of my throat. A hit. At this point, I’d take a physical blow. Anything. I’d let Fylox hit me just to forget the numbing voices in my head.
“Of course, baby.” Alex’s hand wrapped around mine gently, and I felt my knees melt to butter. It was hot outside. I wore clothes that Alex brought me, loose but thick because winter was approaching. I sweated like a motherfucker. My body temperature was acting as if I was on my period 24/7 every day. “Of course, you’re here. I’m trying to make him see you instead of the façade everyone else sees.”
“There’s no façade,” I blurted out. I gestured at myself.A real princess never shows her true colors.“This is me. I’m stuck. My father fucked with my head. It’s not a façade. It’s the truth. I don’t deserve your protection. I deserve to be punished for the shit I’ve allowed to happen around me.”
“Watch your language,” Fylox ordered, raising his voice.
“Stop talking to me like I’m some little girl you get to control. I’m not. I might be stuck in the past, but I’m a grown woman. I’m trying to be better. I want to change…” My blood boiled, bubbling beneath the surface of my porcelain skin. I went from upset to uncontrollably sobbing in front of the two. Fylox took more steps to distance himself while Alex wrapped me into a hug. I let it all out against his warm skin. “Why is it so hard to change?”
Alex’s hand grasped the back of my head. His fingers moved rhythmically, soothing me.
“I wish I could go back and make my country better.” My chest heaved.You are embarrassing your family. I can’t believe it. I taught you better! This is the final straw, Kamila. You’ll pay for what you’ve done.“I wish I could stop being so fucking sentimental all the time. Ever since I left Katantia, I’m always crying or stressing about something.”
“That’s normal, baby.” I snuggled my head against his broad chest. It was a new position I’d never tried. Hugs with men other than my brother were a no-go. Hugs were platonic back home.
Alex’s hug felt everything but platonic.
“We’ll put you back together,” Alex assured me. I couldn’t see his face, but I knew his contagious smile was back. It warmed me up. It made me feel at ease. “I’ll give you everything you desire.”
“What you said about him?” I cleared my throat, drowning out my mom, who was repeatedly reminding me of the fact that I already had it all. “That goes for me too. I don’t know what the fuck he’s been through. But I know I’m broken beyond repair. I can’t be put together. I’m just here to collect the pieces and keep myself as sane as possible while the world around me crumbles.”
“Then you’ve never had an Alex Winters or a Fylox Castro in your life, baby.” He kissed the top of my head, and I shuddered. I wasn’t used to gestures of kindness.Stoic. Cold. Prepared. You don’t bow to anyone. You don’t let anyone close.“We’re resourceful motherfuckers.”
“You know, I don’t intend to annoy Fylox. I’m sorry for cursing,” I said, feeling guilty. Another kiss. This time, I didn’t flinch. I processed it. I liked it.
“He left. He doesn’t like it when I bring up his past.”
The knot in my stomach twisted uncomfortably. My chest felt hollow. “I know we’re not the best of friends, but if I could ever find out what the fuck happened to him, I’d finally be able not to walk on eggshells around him.”
“Even if you knew, you’d still be careful.” Alex’s thumb trailed my collarbone. My arms wrapped around him, not wanting this moment to end. “You know how it is. You don’t ever fully leave your past behind.”
“What happened to him? Why can’t we be friends? He’s the only person I see except for you. I’m getting the impression that I’m not a very likable person anymore. I grew up being admired by everyone I knew.” Except for my father.Your father loves you. He couldn’t be at your birthday today because he had an important meeting on the East’s rising tensions, sweetie. He sends you kisses and hugs. Look at the pretty bracelet that we bought you!
“Trust me, you’re very likable,” Alex guaranteed.
“For real? Even if I didn’t have a body that you’d like to fuck?”
“See, your confidence is making it exceptionally hard to hate you.” I could hear his smile. I could fucking feel it in my bones, and I needed that positivity. I latched onto it.
“Hard. Hm. Yeah, I understand that language.” I smirked. There was a lot of hardness on his side of this hug. I wouldn’t mind if he put it to use. I would actually get something out of it. I was dying to experience American sex. Was it different? Was it so different that it made my brother fall in love with our new American friend? Would I feel like a changed woman as well? I would love to find out.
“Let’s go inside,” Alex suggested, giving the top of my head one last kiss. It felt intimate, as if he genuinely cared. I wondered if he did or if he was also on his dad’s mission.
“Baby?” I let the word roll out on my tongue, tasting and savoring it.
“Yes, baby. Let’s go inside.” He chuckled, and it sounded like spring, warm, and wholesome. “Do you like it when I call you baby? Is that something the princess approves of?”
“She approves a lot of things. Being called baby is only one of them.” The hug fell apart, but his hand was still wrapped around mine like this was something we were actually doing. “I’ve never been called baby before. It’s usually slut, whore, or cumdump. That’s how Katantians express admiration.”
“That’s more Fylox’s department,” Alex responded, and my interest was piqued.
“But I thought he didn’t curse?”
“He doesn’t like cursing. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t think about it. Or that he doesn’t use it when he gets his dick wet,” Alex explained. We drifted back inside the house, and it felt much colder than before.
