Page 52 of His to Bedevil

Her smile is very contagious sometimes. I find myself smiling back and suddenly not as angry. Until Diego speaks up. “Irma!Qué bola?”

As I pull Irma into my side, she smiles at him. It’s not as warm as the ones she gives Lucas or even me at rare times, but I still don’t like it. Diego is a lady’s man. “Hey,” she casually responds.

“Señor Martinez,” he addresses me, and nods his head. Berto, who is standing back a little just observing, is the only non-family member that ever addresses me by my first name. As Diego turns his attention back to Irma, I find myself holding her even tighter. “You here to kick my ass again?” he asks playfully.

Irma giggles next to me and digs her elbow into my side. “I’m pretty sure this brute won’t let me get inside the ring with anyone but him.” She isn’t wrong.

“Oh, come on, brother. Send in one of these guys with her.” Lucas gestures to some of the guys hanging around, and they all try to avoid eye contact. They all know what would happen if Irma even accidentally got hurt in the ring with them. “I’m telling you, she can hold her own.”

“Not going to happen,” I say through clenched teeth.

“Will you boys excuse us, please?” Irma says in an irritable but demanding tone. Everyone around us scatters, and it gives me a sense of pride hearing her give out orders and my men taking them.

She was made to be my queen.

Irma

Once everyone around us has left, I spin in his hold to face him. “Everyone gets it, okay? I’m yours, and you don’t like to share. They’re all very aware of that,” I hiss, and he does the most obnoxious thing ever. He grins. “I’m glad you find this funny, but you seriously need to cool it, Alejo. If anything, it’s making you look insecure.” It’s a low blow, but I don’t know how else to get through to him. It’s as if he’s terrified to let any other man around me. Like he’s one step away from making me wear a bag on my head when I step out in public.

His grin drops, and he wraps his other arm around my waist, yanking me into him. My hands land flat on his chest so that my face doesn’t smash into it. He stares down at me for a long moment before speaking. “I’ll try tocool it, but I can’t promise you anything. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. It’s kind of all new to me. I’m sorry if I’m not handling it well, but I don’t know how else to.”

I know I’m staring at him as if I’m looking at a ghost, but I can’t seem to move a muscle. Every time he manages to really piss me off and push me away, he pulls me back in even closer by saying something likethat. Clearing my throat, I nod my head. “Please, try.” I pause, trying to think straight. “If you keep trying to keep me inside of a protective bubble, you’ll end up making me resent you.”

“I only want to keep you safe,mi amor. And the thought of another man’s hands on you makes me murderous.” He states this as if it’s a fact. He isn’t bothered at all by feeling so crazy about me. Just honest about it.

“Look. You promised me that you would remain faithful to me, and I thought it goes without saying that it would be the same for me. Not that I would even have an opportunity to be unfaithful to you. I’m either locked up inside your bedroom or I’m being chaperoned by your brute of a brother. But even so, I promise you that I will remain faithful to you as long as you are to me.”

“It’s not you that I’m worried about, my love.” He reaches up and moves some hair off the side of my face, and I can’t help but sag against him slightly. “I’m worried about another man putting his hands where they don’t belong. Then I’ll have to go on a murderous rampage.” This should upset me. Like, it shouldreallyupset me. Instead, it makes all the blood rush to a certain area, and when he glances down at my breasts and grins, I know he can see that my nipples have hardened to the point where they might pierce holes through my sports bra and tank top.

“You said you like the fighter in me.” My words make him focus back on my face. Ignoring the heated look in his gaze, I continue. “If that’s true, then why are you trying to kill her?”

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he lets out a deep breath. “Fine. You can spar, but if I see anyone touching you more than they need to—”

I cut him off. “I know, I know. You’ll kill them. I got it.” Rolling my eyes, I push at his chest, and he gives me some space.

Alejo lets me spar with a young guy named Jorge, but it’s next to pointless. With Alejo hovering, giving the guy the death stare the entire time, the dude lets me get in way too many hits and doesn’t fight back at all. It’s no challenge at all, and Alejo ruined it for me. I love sparring, and he took the fun out of it. Maybe I can convince Lucas to bring me here when Alejo is busy with work, so that I might actually get to fight and even learn some new things.

Walking back, I try not to sulk, but it’s impossible to hide the way I’m feeling. “What’s wrong,mi amor?”

I look over at him and glare. “You. You are what’s wrong,” I snap. “I was so excited to go there and get in the ring with someone, but you ruined it for me. The poor boy was afraid to even block any of my hits!” Alejo just stares at me as if he isn’t hearing a word I say. Stopping in my tracks, I face him with my hands on my hips. “If you wanted a wife who is weak and defenseless, then you chose the wrong woman!” I shout. “Look,” I say more calmly, “I’m about to be your wife and inherit your last name, automatically putting a target on my back. Correct?” He doesn’t answer, so I take that as a yes. “So, wouldn’t it make you feel a little better knowing that I can defend myself if I need to?”

“You won’t need to,mi amor. I will always protect you.” Butterflies flutter in my stomach when he says that.

Throwing my head back, I groan in exasperation. “Please, Lord, give me strength,” I cry out to the sky. Looking back at Alejo, I pray for patience. “Let’s say while you were in Russia, your home was invaded. Lucas was shot down because they came out of nowhere, and they wanted to take me alive to use me as a bargaining chip. And they wanted to really piss you off, so they were going to torture and rape me.” I see his fists clenching at his sides and his jaw ticking. Good, I might actually be getting through to him now. “Now, if my wonderful husband-to-be were to let me train and continue to learn how to defend myself, I might be able to fight them off so they wouldn’t be able to take me at all. Or… my insanely jealous husband-to-be held me back and I am easily taken and beaten and raped. Do you see what I’m saying here?” By the time I’m done with my little speech, he’s practically shaking with anger. Stepping forward, I place a hand on his chest, and it just so happens to be right over his heart. “Do you want me strong or weak, Alejo?” I ask quietly, and before I can take another breath, he’s on me.

His lips come crashing down on mine, and our bodies mold together. I arch my back to get closer, and he crushes me against his body. When his tongue sweeps into my mouth, I let out a moan. Usually it’s him that deepens the kiss, but this time it’s me that quickens the pace and nips at his bottom lip. I don’t know what it is that has me so into this right now, but I am. Maybe the way he wants so badly to keep me safe and protected. How the thought of someone bringing me any harm makes him go into a fit of rage.

He breaks away from the kiss, and I almost let out a whimper. If it wasn’t for his possessive hold on me, I would be stumbling back on wobbly legs. “If you don’t stop kissing me like that, I will end up taking you straight to our bed and I won’t stop, Irma.” He breathes heavily against my lips.

His words shock me out of my little bubble of lust and desire. He leans down and kisses me one more time on the lips then takes my hand. We walk back to the house quietly hand in hand. It’s as if I’m on autopilot because before I know it, we’re inside our bedroom. “Change into your swimsuit,mi amor. We’re going to the beach.”

He doesn’t have to tell me twice. Thankfully, he gives me some privacy in the bathroom so I can change into my bathing suit. When I come out of the bathroom, I freeze right there. Alejo is standing there in a pair of black swim trunks that fit a little snuggly, not leaving much to the imagination. His thighs thick and muscular and that damn V muscle that dips into the waistband. Reaching up, I check my chin for drool. I’ve seen him naked every time he’s insisted on “bathing me,” but seeing him standing there so casually looking down at his phone just seems so different. Almost more intimate.

His gaze snaps up, and he tucks his phone away. “Mi amor,” he murmurs as he closes the distance between us and snakes his hands around my back, resting them on my ass. “You are so sexy, I could just eat you up.”

A giggle bursts out of me, and I find myself relaxing against him again. I stop instantly as he keeps on staring at me with that salacious gaze. I don’t know when I started to raise up on my toes, but my lips are almost to his. “Si me besas, terminamos hechando un palo.”If you kiss me, we’ll end up fucking.“And I don’t think you’re ready for that,mi amor.” The words break me from my trance, and I back out of his arms. He looks disappointed but not upset with me. “Let’s go to the beach.” He takes my hand in his, and we walk outside and head toward an ATV. Hopping on behind him, I wrap my arms around his torso and tell myself it’s just for my safety and that his muscles do not feel insanely sexy under my hands.

The ride there is only a couple of minutes, and when we hop off, we head straight for the water. I only threw on some shorts over my swimsuit, and I strip them off and dive in. The water is crystal clear and so warm. Man, I love the ocean. I could not live without it.

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