Page 56 of Forbidden Hearts

We clean up and head inside just as the sky begins to darken. Still naked, we climb into bed and embrace each other. Alonzo can’t seem to keep his hands off me.

As much as I enjoy spending time with him, I know I’m just a blip in his existence. He is a player who knows how to sweet talk girls. I shouldn’t let it get to my head.

Still, just like he can’t keep his hands off me, I can’t keep mine off him. I rake my fingers into his dark, curly hair. His hair is thick and lush and smells of sweet sandalwood.

“That feels nice,” he says in a sleepy voice. We’re lying on our sides, facing each other. Alonzo’s eyes are closed, but he caresses my hip. His hand is warm on my soft skin, awakening a flutter in my stomach again.

Even with the lights off, I can see the muscles around his eyes and forehead relaxing.

“Midterms are coming up,” I say. “I won’t be able to stop by your office or here for a while.”

“You can study here,” he says without opening his eyes. His voice is soft, like he’s dozing off.

“I think you might betoomuch of a distraction,” I tease.

“You can use my study,” he says softly. “I promise not to distract you too much.”

“Your study?”

No response. His hand rests on my hip, no longer moving. Alonzo is fast asleep.

I slowly withdraw my fingers from his hair. This isn’t the first time I caress his hair until he falls asleep. He often tosses and turns in bed. Last week, I got the urge to play with his hair and before I knew it, he had fallen asleep. It’s now something I do regularly to help him fall asleep quicker.

It’s hard to believe that such a handsome man can be so dangerous. Alonzo looks so peaceful in his sleep, like he isn’tcarrying the weight of a terrible memory on his shoulders. Something horrible must have happened to Esmeralda, but I don’t dare ask him about it.

Is this why you sleep around with so many college girls?I wonder.Are you trying to distract yourself from that terrible memory, even if it’s for a brief moment?

Gently, I lift his arm from my hip and slide out under it, placing his hand on the bed next to me. I lie on my back and stare at the ceiling, thinking about what to do next. After long, passionate nights of sex and after Alonzo has gone to sleep, I usually climb out of bed and roam the cabin in search of a hidden room or location where he stashes his money.

So far, I haven’t found anything that seems out of the ordinary. The only room I haven’t searched yet is his private study. That room is always locked. Maybe that’s where he keeps the money.

That’s why I’m surprised Alonzo suggested I use the room to study for midterms. Somehow, I managed to convince this dangerous man to trust me. Even though I have never seen him do anything I would consider dangerous, I know exactly who he is.

There is a beast hidden inside him that he has learned to tame. But the beast is all too alive and waiting for orders to destroy anything in its path.

I have to be careful with my next move.

Still, looking at the ceiling, I can’t help but wonder how Alonzo is going to react when he realizes his money is gone. He’ll probably be pissed. I’ll have to play it cool after I take his money. I can’t afford to look suspicious.

As quietly as possible, I slide out of bed to search for the money. There are a few rooms I have yet to search. If the money isn’t in those rooms, I’ll know for sure it’s in his study.

Chapter 27

Alonzo

“Where is she?” I ask.

Gustavo puts his hands on my shoulders and grips me tightly. “She’s in the other room. But don’t go in there. Don’t look.”

My jaw tightens, as do my fists. I know it’ll hurt, but I have to see for myself. What happened to her is my fault. The least I can do is own up to my fuck up.

“Move,” I tell Gustavo.

He turns to Santiago, who stands behind him by the door. His eyes are on the floor, so I know it’s bad.

Gustavo’s eyes land on mine again. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I say. “Please, get out of my way.”

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