Page 6 of Alejandro's Prey

“You will stop,” she whispered back, her breath feathering across his throat. She saw the shiver of tiny goosebumps where the air touched him. She felt the stiffness of his frame where he held the savage back from tearing her apart. She knew. Because she knew her Alejandro. She’d spent a year learning everything she could about him.

“I will?” he asked, a dangerous edge to his tone.

“You will,” she said with confidence and tilted her head to look up at him, searching the darkness of his features for the truth in her words. “You’ll kiss me with the feelings I know you have for me and then you’ll let me go and tell me what you have planned for tonight.”

His eyes narrowed. She waited, her heart pounding. She’d never given him an order before. He was used to his sweet little mouse simply nodding her head in agreement, smiling pretty and maintaining her silence. They would have to find new footing if he wanted her to become his bride. She just hoped she survived the experience.

He didn’t wait for another invitation. He swooped, his lips covering hers in a kiss that could only be called devastating. It was indeed abite. Not a nip or a pinch but the soul-searing, devouring seizing of her mouth. He swept in, his lips warm, his tongue scorching and he took over, stealing every bit of her breath and sanity on a single kiss that lasted mere seconds but punched a hole in her sanity. He finished by biting all along her bottom lip until she was moaning in his arms and tilting her head back so he could kiss a path along her cheek to her ear.

“If I put you on that bed right now and fucked you, you wouldn’t stop me,” he growled against her throat.

She blinked, annoyance flashing through her grey eyes. She shoved a hand between them and stiffened her legs, which had gone weak under the intensity of his kisses. “Maybe,” she agreed huskily. “But my answer to your proposal, if you get around to asking, would be a lot less positive than it was a few minutes ago.”

She found herself set quickly back on her feet, his hands falling away from her as he put distance between them. Rather than relief she felt disappointment when cool air touched her skin. She told herself it was because it had been years since she’d felt the touch of a man. It was no wonder her body craved such hedonism. Yet, she knew better. Alejandro was not just a man. He wastheman for her.

“Tread carefully,mi amor,” he said and though his voice was light, his eyes spoke volumes of the dark, delicious torments he would like to enact once he got his hands on her. “This reprieve is self-imposed and will not last. As you know, I am not a moralistic man. Waiting until after we are married… it is a gift for you alone,cariña. Out of respect.”

Sudden tears filled her eyes and she turned away so he wouldn’t see them. She didn’t need him to know that she was vulnerable. But it touched her that he would care enough about her feelings to give her time, even just a day or two, to adjust to the idea of marriage to him. She tilted her head down, her blond hair falling in a sheet around her face.

“Gracias, Alejandro,” she thanked him softly.

At first, he said nothing. She could feel his eyes on her. Then, “You are very welcome, Gina.” His deep voice took on an edge of command as he strode to the closet and turned on a light in the rapidly fading daylight. “There are several dresses in here. You will choose one to wear this evening. There should be shoes and purses to match in the boxes. I will collect you in an hour.”

He turned and strode to their connecting doors without another word, closing it firmly behind him.

As soon as he was gone, Gina reached for the bed, her knees folding and her body collapsing weakly beneath her. She fell back on the fluffy blanket with a sigh, her hair flaring out and her arms falling to her sides. She closed her eyes. “Dear god…” she whispered and traced shaking fingers over slightly swollen lips. “That was… incredible.”

She couldn’t help the grin that slowly lit up her face. She rolled onto her side and hugged herself tightly for a moment before reaching for the phone. As soon as her fingers landed, she hesitated and chewed on her bottom lip. It was an easy bet that Alejandro would know if she made a call as soon as she dialed out. And moments later he would know exactly who she was calling. She could use her cell phone. Thanks to a permanent satellite, their valley home was able to send and receive calls any time.

But did she really want Alejandro to know that she was discussing their business? He was smart enough to guess that she would call her cousin for a good gossip session. They told each other everything, whether the men liked it or not. Reyes had learned to live with it, would Alejandro? Or would he create yet another stupid rule and forbid her from talking to her cousin. At least until the dust had settled on their new marriage. It seemed like something the controlling enforcer might do, especially if Casey decided to get overly involved.

Gina dropped her hand and sat up on the side of the bed straightening her shoulders. No, now wasn’t the time. She and Alejandro had some things to sort through and Casey had a tendency to voice her opinions quite stridently when family or friends were involved. They would talk when Gina got back to the compound… when she was safely married to Alejandro.

Chapter Six

In the hour since he’d left Gina to prepare for their evening out darkness had fallen and the city of La Paz was beginning to come alive. Alejandro stood on the balcony of his hotel suite leaning against the railing and watching the street five stories below as lamps twinkled to life and people waved down their rides to wherever they were going; restaurants perhaps, clubs, bars, wherever the evening took them.

He squinted against the pungent smoke of his cigar, inhaled and then tapped it against the railing, watching disinterestedly as the ash drifted lazily. He wondered if this particular habit bothered Gina. He’d tried quitting many times. It never worked for long and his men always bore the brunt of his bad temper with each attempt. He shook his head and smiled sardonically. If the lovely blond asked, he’d quit in a heartbeat and he had no doubt he’d be successful this time. He took another quick puff before knocking the cherry off on the iron railing and tossing what was left of the cigar in a nearby ashtray. He’d finish later, a last smoke before bed.

He heard the moment she turned the knob on the door between their adjoining rooms, the soft sounds of her heels against the carpet as she slipped through and then closed the door behind her. He waited, tension running up and down his back, the predator in him screaming to turn around and pounce. He didn’t. It wasn’t easy to keep his back on a room with another human being in it. It went against every instinct, every training he had. But this woman would become his wife; his everything. She would have his trust.

He felt her approach his back and stop within inches of him. So close he could almost feel her soft breath against his neck. Once more he was surprised by her. In a year of knowing Gina she hadn’t often surprised him. Yet over and over she’d managed to unbalance him since he’d declared his intentions. He’d expected emotions ranging from resistance to tears, begging, pleading, fear. Perhaps even quiet acquiescence as the best-case scenario; after all, Gina was his sweet little mouse. He had not expected assertive, demanding, annoyed and angry. All emotions she’d thrown at him from the moment he’d forced her back on the helicopter.

Alejandro didn’t like surprises. He killed surprises and then sorted them out later. Yet, there was something about these new facets of Gina that he was enjoying. Which is why he hadn’t shut her down with a few decisive words and actions. He didn’t want to start off his marriage with a wife who was terrified of him. So, he would practice patience and see where Gina was leading him.

“I love the way you smell,” she said, her voice just above a husky whisper but still low enough that he could barely hear her over the noise from the street below.

He lifted an amused brow, straightened to his full height and turned to look at her. She backed up quickly, covering her mouth in embarrassment, her face flushing a beautiful shade of pink. He slashed a quick grin and reached for her before she could get away from him. He swung her into his arms and dipped his face into the curve of her neck where the graceful column met her shoulder. Inhaling deeply, he murmured, “You smell like heaven yourself,mi amor.” He sniffed again and then licked her skin enjoying the shiver that swept her body and made her legs quiver. “Like an angel, you smell like baby powder and flowers.”

He lifted his head in time to catch the soft, pleased smile that lit her face. It made his chest ache. He pushed her away a little, knowing if he continued to touch her, kiss her, he would end up throwing her on the bed and fucking her instead of wooing her the way he’d planned, the way she deserved.

“Come Gina, we have reservations at Gustu.”

“Really? We get to eat at Gustu?” she asked, excitedly matching his strides as he took her hand and pulled her along beside him.

“Si,” he smiled indulgently and lifted her hand to his lips. “We have reservations.”

He guided her into the hall after checking for clearance and led her toward the bank of elevators, his men falling into step around them. Now that they were in the brightly lit hall and Gina was at his side instead of wrapped tight in his arms, Alejandro allowed his gaze to caress her figure, running his eyes over each sleek curve as she moved.

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