Page 4 of Love Without Demands

He groaned and swiped a hand through his deliciously messy hair. “One day, you’ll live with me and won’t have to leave.” His thumb traced a lazy line against my cheekbone. “Is that still what you want?”

I was surprised the thudding inside my chest didn’t wake the children. “I think so,” I teased. “You were pretty impressive last night, Mr. Bouvier.”

A grin full of mischief curled his lips up at the corners. “Glad you approved, Ms. Acosta. Why don’t you pack a bag so you can stay with me again tonight?”

“I can’t,” I told him, sweeping a lock of hair from his forehead. “I have to leave right after work to help my sister with her immigration papers. I was born here, but she’s a few years older than me and was born in Cuba. We’re trying to get her citizenship.”

He pulls me to him for a soft kiss. “Okay, but I’m going to miss having you in my arms all night. I think I’m addicted to you, Star.”

I loved that nickname, which was my name in English. “I’m addicted to you too,” I admit.

“I love you, baby,” he said, and my breath caught in my chest, exactly how it had every time he’d told me that last night. “Make plans to stay with me on Friday night. I haven’t had nearly enough of you.”

Heat flushed my face and then seeped down my body as I caressed his handsome face. “I love you too.”

As soon as I walked into my tiny apartment, I found my sister sitting on the couch with her arms crossed over her chest.Oh shit.

“Maya, hi!” I said, way too chirpily, which only deepened the frown on her face.

“Where. Have. You. Been?”

“I, uh, stayed over at the Bouvier house. I’m so sorry I didn’t call, but I got… distracted.”

Her eyebrows pinched so close together, they were at risk of becoming a unibrow. “By your boss’s penis?”

Dammit. Maya can read me like a book. I never should have told her about our love confessions.

“That’s none of your business,” I said airily, heading to my bedroom, but my sister followed.

“So that’s a yes. What are you thinking, Estrella, sleeping with a married man?”

“He’s getting a divorce, and we’re going to be together.”

Maya scoffed in disbelief. “Honey, there’s no way that man is going to leave his wife. That’s just something rich men say to get in your panties.”

“You don’t understand,” I snapped. “Paul really loves me.”

“Billionaires don’t marry women like us,” she shot back, and my stomach dropped to the floor.

She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

My voice softened. “Look, Maya, I need to shower and get back to work. I appreciate your concern, but we know what we’re doing.”

She stepped forward and ran her slim fingers through my hair. “Honey, you are so sweet and naive. He’s eight years older than you, and I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know,” I murmured, “but trust me on this. He’s already sent her the divorce papers.”

“Did he show them to you?”

No.

“I need to get to work in time to take Auburn to school,” I deflected. “I’ll be home this evening to help you with your paperwork.”

Maya’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Just be careful, okay? I love you and I worry about you.”

“I love you too,” I told her, giving her a hard hug before making a shooing motion with my hands. “Now let me get ready.” I needed her out of here so she didn’t see the love marks Paul’s mouth left all over my body.

With a reluctant nod, she left the room, and I headed to the small bathroom. Removing my shirt, I traced my fingers over the hickeys my man had sucked onto me each time he’d proclaimed me ashis.

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