Page 42 of His to Bedevil

He chuckles again and gets to his feet. Closing the small gap between us, he crouches down and tucks some of my hair behind my ear. Then amorously strokes my cheek with the back of his fingers. “My love.” I turn my head to meet his eyes and realize how big of a mistake it is. He instantly has me captured. “I vow to always be faithful to you. If for a moment I didn’t think I could have a monogamous relationship with you, I wouldn’t have gone through all the trouble of keeping you. Of sharing my bedroom with you. Of marrying you. I want you and only you.”

“You’ll get bored, Alejo. You really don’t see that?” I say quietly. A man like him cannot be content in a committed relationship with someone like me. I, too, cannot stay still very long.

He sighs and pinches my chin to hold my attention. “What I see is my future.” My heart pounds. “You make me feel things I have never felt in my thirty-three years of living. You fascinate me. You magnetize me. I have not a single doubt that I will ever get bored with you or regret keeping you. You truly are a rarity.”

I search his eyes for any doubt or vacillation, but I find absolutely none. He’s dead serious and apparently dead set on marrying me. “Okay.” The word tumbles out before I can think twice. I wanted more time to think, and I have more questions I need answers to. But it’s a little too late now. I have just sealed my fate, and I am officially accursed.

His lips curl into a handsome smile. “Good. We’ll get married this weekend.”

He gets to his feet, and my mouth is agape. “This weekend?” I squeak.

He takes his seat again. “Yes. Is that a problem? Do you have plans already?” He smirks, teasing me.

I narrow my eyes and scowl at him in response. “Funny,” I snipe. “Why so soon? Can’t we, like, wait a few weeks or maybe a month or two?” I cannot marry him so soon. I’m not ready for this.

“Why do we need to wait?”

“Why do we need to rush?” I retort.

“Because I don’t want to wait.” He grins.

I cross my arms and sigh. Well, shit. This is not going according to plan at all. “When do I get to see Matches?”

The amusement on his face disappears, and he grows tense. The agitation from the mention of my friend is practically rolling off of him in waves. “Maybe if you’re good, I’ll let you see him soon.”

I hold my tongue.If I’m good? Like I’m a fucking child or something. Dammit to hell. This is a fucking nightmare.

The maids come up to gather our plates, and I manage to slip the knife under the table before they clear them. “Would you like dessert,mi amor?” I shake my head, and he dismisses the maids. I impulsively glance up to watch Alejo, to see if he follows the pretty maids with his eyes at all, and he doesn’t. He’s watching me. How long has he been watching me though? Did he see me slip the knife away?

“So, how was work today?” I ask, trying to distract him.

He lets out a breath, turning his head toward the ocean. “It was fine.” Apparently, the thought of it makes his head hurt because he automatically begins to rub his temples again.

Last night when I saw him do that, all I could think about was how I could make it better. I’ve never been the nurturing type, and it was strange that I felt the need to allay him and to somehow abate the pain. Like I want to right now. Seeing him so stressed out like this almost makes him look morehuman. Could he be the man he’s shown me? The one who is caring and attentive as well as ruthless and cold?

“So, you’re leaving for Russia tomorrow?”

He nods his head and stands to his feet. “I am. Come.” He reaches his hand out for me, and I reluctantly take it. “Let’s go to bed.” I stand and follow him inside.

He lets me go to the bathroom by myself to wash up, and I take the opportunity to stash the knife somewhere. Reaching under the sink, I feel a small hidden ledge and place it there. It gives me a sense of security to know that I’m not entirely defenseless now. That if he tries to finally force himself on me, I actually have a fighting chance.

Not only is Alejandro leaving, but he’s also going to let me out of this house, and I have a weapon. This could be it. My chance to get away, or at least to come up with a plan.

Alejandro

Drifting off to sleep easily with Irma in my arms, I’m happy and content. Even though she hasn’t exactly warmed up to me yet, she actually agreed to marry me, and she didn’t even try to barter. It could be because of how much she cares about her ex-lover, but it could also mean that the thought of being married to me isn’t the worst thing in the world.

I saw her stash the knife from dinner, and who knows what she intends to do with it. It’ll be interesting if she tries to use it on Lucas while I’m away. The thought of it makes me want to laugh and also not warn him. Lucas is more than capable of being caught off guard again since he’s had a chance to clear his head.

Something arouses me from my sleep, and I automatically tighten my arms protectively around Irma. “I need to go to the bathroom,” she moans, sounding like she’s in pain.

I’m fully alert as I look at her with concern. “What’s wrong,mi amor?”

“I’m having cramps. I must be about to get my period. Now, would you please let me up so I don’t start bleeding all over the bed?”

Ignoring her dry tone, I sit up with her and begin to scoop her up into my arms without even thinking about it. She pushes at my chest. “Don’t you dare,” she snaps. “Please, Alejo.” Her voice softens, and I grudgingly let her go.

I sit and wait for her to emerge from the bathroom to make sure she’s all right. When she does almost ten minutes later, she looks miserable. She has her arms wrapped around her stomach, and her face is tense. I instantly jump to my feet and go to her. “Mi amor.” I scoop her up into my arms and head back to bed with her. She sighs, but she doesn’t argue. As I lay her down, she groans and rolls to her side in the fetal position. “Should I get the doctor?” I rush out, beginning to panic. She looks like she’s in a lot of pain, and although I am not squeamish when it comes to female problems, I’m not entirely familiar with them.

---