Page 120 of His to Bedevil

That gives me enough time to get her to come around to the idea of starting a family together. “Okay. I’ll take care of it.”

She smiles and relaxes some. I lie down next to her and pull her into my side and kiss her on the lips. She tosses a leg over mine, and all I can concentrate on is the heat coming from between her creamy white thighs and radiating against my thigh. Will I ever get enough of this woman? I pray to God I won’t.

I thought I was ready to talk to Irma about her mother, but now I’m having second thoughts. I don’t want Irma to be upset with me again. Not when we just made up. It’s best if I wait it out for a while first. On our first vacation alone together, I don’t want to fight with her. I’d like to enjoy my time with my wife in paradise instead.

Irma

The past couple of months have flown by, and I could not be happier. My relationship with my husband isn’t the only one that is thriving. My relationships with both my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law couldn’t be better as well. I actually feel like I am a part of the family, and I never realized how important that was to me until it was taken from me. Now, it’s the most important thing.

It’s August now, and in Cuba, it is like hell on earth some days. Luckily for me, my husband is a very rich man, and we not only have a luxurious pool to cool off in, but we also have a private beach.

Today, I’m lounging in the pool as Benita sits in the shade. We just shared a nice lunch together, and now I’m enjoying a frozen cocktail. Life here is like always being on vacation. The man loves to spoil me, and I happen to love being spoiled by him. Trying to steal from Alejandro Martinez might have been the best thing I’ve ever done.

Alejo comes out to find us, and I cringe when I see sweat already forming on his forehead. I asked him once why he always wore a suit when he barely had to leave the house for business, and he told me it was because his father always did. It’s inveterate for him. I get it though. Alejandro in a suit is formidable.

As he nears us, I can’t help but grin at him. I love it when he comes to find me throughout the day. He returns my smile and peels off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves, revealing the corded muscles on his forearms. “Buenos días, mijo,” Benita greets him.

Alejandro heads over to his mother first and bends down to give her a kiss on her cheek. “Hola, Mamá.”

Then he heads over to me as I swim over to the edge of the pool. He crouches down and hooks a finger to run down my cheek. “I need to talk to you about something, my love,” he says in a low voice.

For some reason, I don’t really like those words, and my smile fades. I feel like every time I’m content with my life, the rug is swept right out from under me. “Okay… What about?” Instantly, my heart rate picks up a notch.

“I’d rather not do it here. Let’s head inside and get out of the heat.”

Swallowing down the lump forming in my throat, I nod my head and let him help me out of the pool. He wraps a towel around me, and I let out a girlish squeal when he scoops me up into his arms. He grins down at me, and I relax a little in his arms. Whatever he wants to talk to me about can’t be that bad if he’s being playful… Right?

I say goodbye to Benita as Alejo carries me away. As soon as we walk through the doors, the cold air from the AC hits my skin, and I feel my nipples instantly pebble.

When we get to our room, Alejo insists we shower before sitting down to talk. We’re both pretty quiet until then. Alejo pours himself a glass of whiskey, and I ask for one as well. If he needs it, then I’m guessing I do too.

“Okay, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.” I curl up on one of the love seats in the sitting area.

Alejo joins me but leaves a little space in between us. “It’s not so bad, my love.” He gives me sort of a sad smile, which really doesn’t reassure me.

“Then spit it out because the suspense is killing me.” I sip on the whiskey and feel the burn all the way down my throat, relishing it.

He takes a sip of his then sets his glass down in front of him. Turning his body slightly, he faces me. My heart is pounding, and my palms are sweaty. “So, over a year ago, I did something.” He pauses, and I can’t move or speak. “I found your mother.” He pauses again and waits for my reaction, but I give him none. It’s not at all what I thought he was going to say. For a second there, I thought he was going to tell me that he knocked someone up or cheated on me and needed to confess. I did not at all predict that this would have anything to do with my mother. “I made a deal with her. I put her in rehab, and she had to stay there for an entire year. I paid for it and took her to California myself. I also set her up with an apartment and started her out with everything she might need post rehab, which was a few months ago. I told her that she had to get a job and keep it, as well as staying sober. I thought I’d give her a few months to prove herself and then I would tell you about it. But I didn’t promise her that she’d ever get to see or speak to you because that was up to you.Isup to you. If she has a single slipup, she’ll be back out on her ass and never again have the opportunity to see you.”

I don’t know what to say. I don’t even know how I’m feeling right now. My mother is sober. She wants to see me. Alejo did all of this. For me. Over a year ago. I’m not sure if my brain even has the capability of processing any of this. It’s all too much. Too overwhelming to even begin to comprehend. I had come to a point in my life where I was okay without her. I never planned on seeing her again. I honestly assumed that she was dead, or at least would be sooner rather than later. Do I even want to entertain this?

“Irma, are you all right?” Alejo is solicitous as he takes me into his arms. “Are you angry with me? I didn’t want to tell you until she had at least completed the year in rehab. I wouldn’t ever want you to put your faith in her only to have her let you down. She still might, but it’s up to you to make the decision to give her the chance to be your mother or not. To take the chance in hopes that she might succeed and stay sober.”

I marvel up at my wonderful husband, and I’m in a complete state of wonderment. I am absolutely floored. Mystified. Where did this fascinating man come from? How can he do such awful things and be such an amazing man at the same time? It’s just not natural. And how did I end up being his wife? “Why? Why would you do this?” I ask, feeling like I’m under a spell.

He knits his eyebrows. “Because I love you. That’s why,” he says, matter-of-fact, or almost as if he’s offended that I would ask. “If there’s anything I can do to bring you complete and utter happiness, there’s no lengths I wouldn’t go to make it happen.”

I climb into his lap, and my lips hover over his, my body trembling in his arms from being so fraught with overwhelming emotions. “You still kept her in rehab even when you sent me away. What would you have done when she got out?”

He sighs and pushes my hair off my shoulder. Both his hands settle on my lower back. “I would have let her reach out to you by phone and left it up to you. I still would’ve paid for everything like I originally planned to. Just like with you.”

“I was going to leave,” I whisper as I recall the day I packed my bags to give up everything he was trying to provide me with. “I couldn’t be anywhere that had anything tied to you anymore.”

“I know, my love. It’s what finally made me come to my senses. I couldn’t ever completely let you go. I thought I had the determination to, but fuck, Irma, you captivated me with one single glance. I was doomed from the start.”

“The night you came and got me, I thought it was a dream. It took me a few days to realize it wasn’t. I wanted to be pissed at you for that too, but I couldn’t lie to you.”

He takes a deep breath and lets it out, blowing it against my lips. “I’m sorry,mi amor.”

---