Page 7 of Alejandro's Prey

He stopped abruptly, pulling her to a halt beside him. “What the fuck are you wearing?” he growled.

She glanced down at herself. “You don’t like it?” she asked, confusion in her voice. “I thought you picked the dresses.”

“Gina, you look stunning, motherfuckingcaliente,” he snarled, startling her and earning a sharp look from Fredo, one of the more senior men. He tried to soften his voice. “But I can assure you,cariña, I would not pick a dress like this for you to wear in public.” He swept her with another look and lifted a hand to encompass the length of her body, which was draped in a shimmering black and silver halter dress that clung provocatively to every generous curve of her body. The plunging halter showed exactly how gifted she was in the cleavage department and the high split in the side of the bias-cut skirt revealed her thigh nearly to her hip. “Is there nothing more conservative you can change into?” he asked as gently as he could.

He knew he missed the mark when tears filled her cloudy grey eyes and she crossed her arms protectively across her chest. “Yes,” she snapped and then gulped back a tiny catch in her voice. “I can change back into the dress I wore here. It was plenty conservative. Those other dresses are even worse than this one.” She turned her face away and looked as though she wanted to bolt back to the room.

He’d fucked up.

He turned his head and barked at Fredo, “Take the stairs.”

“But…” Fredo replied, his brows lowering. Reyes would have Fredo’s head if he allowed Alejandro and Gina out of his sight while the couple were in public. But an order from Alejandro was as good as an order from the boss.

“Now,” Alejandro snarled.

“Right,” Fredo agreed and jerked his head toward the stairs, telling his men wordlessly to follow.

Alejandro took Gina’s arm and punched the button for the elevator. They stood in tense silent until it arrived. As soon as the doors opened, he swept her inside, hit the button for the lobby and pulled Gina into his arms. He wrapped one arm around her neck, pushing his chest against hers and tilting her head back so he could access her lips as they parted in surprise. He groaned at the feel of her silky soft curls that spilled over his wrist and hand.

“You are so fucking gorgeous, Gina. You’re always beautiful, but tonight you are more than I could have hoped for. You are my bride,” he told her. “I’m sorry for hurting you. I just can’t abide the touch of another man’s eyes on your skin. It belongs to me, all of it, every single inch. Mine.”

He lowered his head to hers and kissed her, soft at first but then with growing urgency as her lips parted eagerly beneath his and her arms circled his waist. He pushed her back against the wall and slid his hand into her hair, tangling his fingers against her scalp and tilting her head so he could access her mouth more deeply. He thrust his tongue deep, swallowing her gasp and then taking each moan and shiver she quickly offered. He growled and pressed hard against her, stealing her breath, her space, everything she had when she tugged him closer and offered herself with abandon.

He forced himself to release her lips, trailing kisses along her cheek and hairline before straightening. He pulled her up against his side and watched with satisfaction as she ran shaking hands down her skirt and up her halter to ensure everything was in place. She shook her hair back from her face and smoothed a hand over her thick riotous curls.

“Do you forgive me?” he asked as the elevator arrived in the lobby.

“Forgive you?” she asked breathlessly when they stepped off into the path of Fredo and his men. They must have hurtled down the stairs to arrive first.

“Forgive me for not telling you exactly how beautiful you look in that dress the moment I saw you,mi amor,” he explained. “My tardiness was unforgiveable.”

She tucked her hand against the elbow of his jacket. “I’ll forgive you this time since you’re taking me to my favourite restaurant. But don’t let it happen again, Alejandro.”

“Ah, you have made me a very happy man,” he told her, picking up her hand from his arm and bringing her fingers to his lips.

She smiled shyly at him and followed him out into the cool mountain evening where he helped her into the back of one their vehicles. The restaurant was easily one of the best Bolivia had to offer. Alejandro enjoyed the way Gina’s eyes lit up as he escorted her from the car, up the concrete steps and into the building, modern and rustic elements twining together in perfect balance. It occurred to him, as he was unable to tear his eyes from her while they were being led to their table, that Reyes had made a good decision in sending men with the couple. Though there was no question about Alejandro’s ability to defend himself, he was undeniably distracted.

He nodded at the hostess when she smiled deferentially and took them to a private corner next to a large window that faced the night-shrouded mountains and the glittering valley of La Paz. Gina’s gasp of appreciation and quick grin told him he’d chosen well. He slipped a bill into the hostess’s hand before waving her away and seating Gina himself, making sure her view of the valley was unobstructed.

“This is incredible,” Gina said excitedly after they were both sitting.

He nodded, watching her animated features, tracing the slight flush of her cheeks with his eyes. He’d always thought Gina lovely, but tonight she was more. She was radiant. Perhaps because she was about to become his? He didn’t know, and he didn’t care, he was beyond questioning the pull she had on him.

“I want to make you happy, Gina,” he told her, his voice dropping in volume. Though their corner was private he didn’t need his men, who were seated in twos at two separate tables flanking theirs, to hear any part of their conversation. This weekend was private, between him and his new bride.

She nodded happily, distracted, still looking around. Alejandro leaned forward and captured her hand pulling it across the table toward him. He gave it a squeeze, feeling the fine bones beneath the skin. So small, so fragile compared to him.

“You need to listen for a moment,mi amor,” he told her, his tone serious.

Her eyelashes fluttered and she focused on him, tilting her head a little. Her blond hair spilled across one bare shoulder in a shiny fall drawing his gaze toward her cleavage, reminding him that she was bared to the eyes of others. He shifted in his seat and swallowed his annoyance. This evening was about Gina and himself; it was about establishing their future, their relationship.

“I’m listening, Alejandro,” she said softly.

A slight shiver rocked his frame at the way those gorgeous lips shaped his name. Blatantly sexual images flashed through his brain. Gina on her knees in front of him, her lips wrapped tightly around his cock, those sweet grey eyes turned up to him as she willingly took him into her mouth and throat, licking, sucking, worshipping. Fuck. He nearly groaned out loud and had to shift in his seat to find a more comfortable position.

He squeezed her hand again and closed his eyes in an attempt to remember what he’d planned on saying. He replaced the sex with blood and violence. His job, his life. Her life with him. He hardened his heart and opened his eyes. “I am in love with you, Gina,” he said matter-of-factly, ignoring the tiny gasp that escaped her lips. “But you need to know that I will not always make you happy. I’m sure there will be times in our marriage that my actions will make you very unhappy. And you will have to learn to live with that. Because once my ring is on your finger, I won’t let you go.”

He watched, still holding her hand in his, feeling a slight tremor run down her arm and through her fingers as she struggled to process his words. He noted the rapidly beating pulse in her throat and the paleness of her features as the blood drained from her cheeks. He hadn’t planned on frightening her, hadn’t wanted to cast an unpleasant shadow over their evening, but he needed truth between them on the eve of their wedding.

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