Page 6 of Queens and Monsters

After that encounter, sleep was out of the question.

My heartbeat was erratic. Goose bumps prickled my flesh, yet I was suddenly warm. There was one place I enjoyed going when I couldn’t sleep.

A long time ago, Dario changed one of the rooms on the first floor from a sitting room to a theater room. I couldn’t begin to estimate the number of afternoons and late nights I’d spent in the comfy large recliners. Possible titles of favorite movies raced through my thoughts as I opened the door and flipped the switch.

The room filled with ambient lighting, the kind that can be illuminated while a movie or TV show played without distracting from the screen. I didn’t needbrighter lighting. I knew this room like the back of my hand.

While others enjoyed Hallmark kind of movies around this time of year, my preference was for the less traditional holiday movies such as the old titlesDie HardandLethal Weapon. As could be guessed by their titles, these movies had loud soundtracks. Instead of waking the entire apartment—Catalina’s parents were staying on the second floor and more of her family was expected soon—I placed the earbuds in my ears and hit the play button on the remote control.

Settling back with a blanket, I watched a movie I’d seen more times than I could count. The repeated gunshots reverberating in my ears could be blamed for my inability to hear the opening of the theater room door. My attention to the screen could be why I didn’t notice the movement to my side.

The intensity of the storyline might be the reason I screamed.

A handsome profile appeared in front of the screen. My fingers went to my lips, silencing my scream as my heart raced.

Has Rei found me?

As the light hit his handsome face, I recognized Catalina’s brother, Em. I didn’t expect his arrival until sometime during the coming day.

He spoke, but I couldn’t hear him.

Shaking my head I plucked the earbuds from my ears.

His deep timbre ricocheted through me. “I saw thelight beneath the door.” He shook his head. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, Jasmine.”

“I’m not frightened.” I lied. Feigning strength seemed to be my go-to story. “The movie was just really intense.”

Emiliano Ruiz turned and looked up at the screen. His smile broadened as he swiveled back toward me. “If machine guns are your holiday fare, you’re in the right family.” He stepped closer and pointed to the seat at my side. “Do you mind?”

I shook my head and gestured toward it.

He offered me his hand. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. I was hoping you’d be home for the holidays.” His long fingers encased mine. There was a spark to his touch as if energy flowed through him to me. My breathing shallowed.

There was a familiarity with Em that wasn’t the same as Rei. My tension eased.

Em bowed at the waist, lowering his face, and kissing the knuckles of the hand he was still holding. His firm lips sent more sparks through my circulation that only multiplied with the intensity in his gaze.

I retrieved my hand, still sensing his kiss. “I’m on semester break.”

Emiliano lowered himself to the seat at my side. He’d changed since the last time I saw him. His body was bulkier and impossibly more toned. His long legs folded as he leaned back, looking at the screen. A blended, intoxicating aroma of spice filled the air. “How many times have you seen this movie?”

My cheeks rose in a grin as I took in hisprofile, protruding forehead, high cheekbones, and defined jaw. My mouth grew dry as I answered. “Too many to count.”

I sat back, but as I began to place the earbuds in my ears, I realized the problem. “Um, you can’t hear without the earbuds. I didn’t want to wake the whole house.”

“Machine guns, right.”

I suddenly wished I’d remembered my Bluetooth earbuds, but they were upstairs in my room. Instead, I had a corded old pair that plugged into the arm of the chair. “We could share.” I offered him one of the earbuds and placed the other one in my ear closest to him.

Em placed the earbud in his ear.

Despite all the chaos breaking loose on the screen, I wasn’t concentrating on the movie. Leaning closer, so as not to dislodge the earbud, I found myself staring at the arm on our shared armrest. Em was wearing a dark t-shirt, leaving his biceps and forearms exposed. It took every ounce of my self-control to not run my fingers over his defined muscles. Maybe my encounter with Rei had my hormones in overdrive.

He leaned closer. “I thought you were always followed.”

“Followed?”

“Bodyguards. I’ve watched you.”

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