Page 90 of His to Bedevil

“Hitting the slopes again in the morning, and then I’m going to take Irma into town for some shopping.”

“That’s if you’re not too sore from today.” I smirk. No matter how in shape you are, the day after snowboarding for the first time is brutal.

“I think I’ll be just fine,mi amor,” he retorts proudly.

Alejo mentioned going out to the hot tub, but I’m much too exhausted for that tonight. I only started to hit the gym again a couple of weeks ago, and I haven’t been snowboarding in about two years, so I know tomorrow will be a bit painful for me as well.

Dragging my feet, we head up to our room and get into the luxurious shower together. The front of our bodies are pressed together as we share one of the sprays. I have my arms wrapped around Alejo’s middle with my head on his chest listening to his heartbeat. He’s holding me in his strong arms, and I’ve never felt so safe and secure in my life.

When I used to accuse Alejo of growing tired of me one day, my fear was that he would kill me. Now, I fear that I just won’t be able to live without him. If my words one day turn into truth, I might beg him to kill me. Because I can’t go back to my old life after living this one. I can’t be without Alejo, knowing what it’s like being with him. And to be alone again.

I hug Alejo even tighter to me. “Is something wrong, my love?”

I love the way his voice vibrates his chest and tickles my face. I shake my head. “No. Nothing’s wrong.” I pull back and grab a loofah and begin washing him. I start with his chest then move around to his back.

“You don’t have to do that,mi amor.” He tries to turn around, but I stop him.

I drop the loofah and place my lips gently on one of his scars. The skin is puckered like a severe burn looks like when it’s healed. I’ve noticed Alejo being a little self-conscious of them, and I need to assure him that I don’t find them at all unattractive. I told him I thought scars were sexy, and I meant it.

I continue peppering kisses across every tiny blemish. “Do you hate your scars?” I ask quietly.

He’s silent for a long moment before answering, “They remind me of that day is all.”

“What about my scar? Do you hate it?” My forehead is mostly healed, but it’s obvious there will be a small scar just under my hairline, and I swear every time he looks at it, he grimaces.

He turns around and cups my face with his hands. Leaning forward, he kisses my scar gently like I was kissing his. “It, too, reminds me of that day. The day that your life was in danger because of me.”

“I was in danger because of those psycho Russians,” I argue.

“Your life will always be in danger when you’re with me. I am a dangerous man, and my life is dangerous.”

His words aren’t just what puts a pit in my stomach, it’s the way he’s saying them. Like there’s regret behind his tone. “I’ve never felt so safe in my life, Alejo. Before you, I led a dangerous life as well. I put myself in very dangerous situations. If you recall, it’s how you came to possess me.” I try to lighten the mood some.

“But would you go back to that life if you had to?” I frown up at him, and he continues. “If you could start over, what would you do?”

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking me.” I try not to panic inside, but my stomach is suddenly in knots.

“If you could just forget the past, all of it, and choose your own life, what would you do with it? Would you go back to school? Get a normal job and have normal friends?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I mean, if I were to choose a normal life, I guess so. I’d first get my GED and probably work somewhere as a waitress. Then go to college or something. But that’s if I even wanted a normal life.”

“Don’t you?”

“I want a life with you, Alejo. I wasn’t ever meant to lead a normal life, I’ve told you that. No, I don’t want it.”

Alejo drops the subject and props me up against the tiled wall and enters me in one powerful thrust, stealing the air from my lungs. I want to ask him what the hell is going through his head, but it’ll have to wait. Right now, I can only concentrate on the euphoria he’s giving me. Pounding so hard and fast into me as he buries his face into my neck and mutters words in Spanish against my skin.

My fingers run all along his scars that remind me of that day. But that day doesn’t pain me like it does him. It reminds me of how I admitted to myself that I was in love with Alejo. The day that I finally set my heart free and tied myself to him forever.

Irma

You know when life feels too damn perfect and you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop? That’s what I felt like when I walked into the fancy boutique with Alejo and half the guards we brought with us. I have a gorgeous and caring husband and a new family. I’m not supposed to be this lucky. And I have this crazy gut feeling that I keep trying to ignore, but it’s making my stomach twist and turn.

That’s exactly why I should’ve seen it coming. I should’ve trusted my gut.

My stomach sinks when the woman helping me stares at me with a glazed-over look, and her hands are all shaky. “Are you okay?” I ask her, and she looks like she’s about to cry or faint. “Owe,” I hiss when I feel a sudden pinch in the side of my neck. My eyelids grow heavy, and I stare at the woman still shaking in front of me. But her eyes aren’t on me anymore. They’re focused on something over my shoulder. My drowsy eyes glance in the mirror, and a man I don’t recognize is looming over me with a sinister look on his face. My mouth falls open to scream, but nothing comes out. All I can do is succumb to the pit of darkness.

I knew life couldn’t be this good…

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