“Okay, you’re right. Yes, very often you only drink water… unlike me. It’s just that—”
“Just what, Alexander?” I interrupted.
“I don’t want you to get drunk. I don’t like drunk women who don’t know where they are and what they’re doing,” he said disgustedly.
Well, this infuriated me. “When, for God’s sake, have you seen me drunk? When?” I hissed at him.
“Baby, please. I apologized to you. Let’s not fight.” He nervously ran his fingers through his hair. He always did this when he was on edge.
“And how dare you speak to me like that in front of Francesco?” I scowled.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so rude. Honest.”
I stared at him. He looked earnest. He sat on the edge of the bed and gave me his most charming of smiles. “I beg you, baby. Forgive me.”
Damn! This sex appeal of his drove me absolutely wild. Did I want us to keep on arguing? No, for God’s sake, I wanted to hold him. Yes, this was exactly how I felt right then, and I found it difficult to resist him. In the end, he realized he was wrong. I just had to be more patient with him. I was his first serious girlfriend after all.
I couldn’t take it any longer. I threw myself at his neck, knocking him back onto the bed.
“You’re impossible sometimes,” I whispered and kissed him on the neck.
“Am I too much?” Alexander tipped me over so I would lie back on the mattress.
Wrapping my legs around him, I replied, “Yes, too much.”
“You’re beautiful even when you’re furious.” He put his lips on mine.
Our sweet game was interrupted by Lily’s desperate voice, calling me over. Quickly, I got out of bed, ran to their cabin, and found her throwing up into the toilet, looking pale.
“I’m here, dear. Everything will be okay.” I tried to calm her and gently stroked her back.
She felt faint, constantly retching.
What the hell was happening to her?
After she stopped vomiting, she sat on the bathroom floor and I knelt next to her to hug her. A person in such a state feels extremely weak and needs to be comforted. She had become so frail that she didn’t have the strength to move. Tiredly, she rested her forehead on my shoulder and whispered, “I can’t stand up. My legs are shaking.”
We sat in silence for a few seconds until I finally plucked up the courage to ask her the question that had popped into my head as soon as I’d seen her.
“You’re not pregnant, are you?”
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the wall.
Say no, Lily, please. Because if my guess is right, then the baby would be Marco’s.
I looked at Alexander, who was standing with his hands folded in front of his chest. Fortunately, Francesco wasn’t here to hear our conversation.
“I’m not pregnant,” she replied after a brief silence. “I’m sure. Most likely it was the sun. Maybe I’m having a sun stroke?”
Thank you, God.
“You had me so worried, Lily. Can you stand? You need to lie down. It will make you feel better.”
“I want to brush my teeth.”
Alexander helped me pick her up from the floor and then went to get Francesco. When they returned, Francesco’s concern was written all over his face.
“Bella, are you okay?”
“Everything’s fine. Don’t worry.” She tried to calm him.
He went over to her and carefully put his palm and then his lips on her forehead. “I don’t think you’re running a fever. We should go see a doctor. Perhaps you have food poisoning?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’ll be okay. I already feel much better.”
* * *
We took the yacht back to the shore. It was quarter to six when we separated from our friends. They went back to their hotel room, whereas we decided to go for a walk along the coastline. Henry and some other bodyguard followed us at a discreet distance.
There was wind and relatively large waves, which crashed at the shore with great force. They sprayed their white foam across the entire beach and then retreated.
I heard the noise of an engine. Looking up to the sky, I instantly spotted a beautiful white helicopter. Like a massive bird, it smoothly approached and landed on the helipad at the top of Burj Al Arab. I noticed Alexander was also watching it.
“Looks like you enjoyed flying in a helicopter,” he said, and a faint smile flashed across his lips.
“It’s a great experience,” I replied, and we continued walking arm-in-arm, leaving a trail of footsteps in the sand. I had the fingers of one of my hands in the back pocket of his jeans, whereas he had his arm around my waist.
Suddenly, Alexander turned to me, cupped my face with his hands, and, with his lips touching mine, whispered, “I promise I’ll always be by your side and take care of you.”
Oh, Alexander…
My breath stopped. His words were full of so much hope for the future. His beautiful eyes watched me, full of love.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’m on a walk with the most beautiful woman on earth, and she’s only mine,” he continued and kissed me again.
“I’m also happy with you, handsome.”
“Handsome?” He raised his eyebrow in wonder, and his eyes met mine.
“You know full well you make every woman hanker after you,” I replied and flung aside the hair the wind had spilled across my face.
“I’m not interested in other women, as I have you.”
I put my palm on his chest. “I want your heart.”
“You already have it, baby. It’s yours. I’m yours.”
“I need your love, Alexander,” I barely managed to whisper. I was excited. To see and feel his love was all I needed. It was the most important thing of my life.
“I’ll never let you go, Alexia. And I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy with me.” His voice was very soft.
I held him tight. “I have no intentions of going anywhere.”
This moment was the happiest time of my life, and I was certain, whatever the future held for us, Alexander would always remain the man of my life.
God, how much I wanted us to be together. Forever! To escape all this uncertainty I felt about our relationship, to find peace for my soul, and to eliminate all threats to our love.
“Since I saw your first boyfriend, I’ve been asking myself, why didn’t I meet you earlier? Why wasn’t I your first? This way there wouldn’t have been other men in your life, and I would’ve been the only one,” he said, frowning, and tenderly swept aside a mischievous lock of hair playfully fluttering in front of my face.
“Alexander, there’s no point in talking about him. That’s how it was written.”
A wave, larger than the rest, powerfully crashed at the shore and washed over our legs. I squealed in surprise, and Alexander picked me up and carried me to a safer place. He leaned in and rested his forehead against mine.
“At least you can appreciate me this way,” he whispered.
“Nobody can measure up to you, honey. And I don’t mean just sexually. You’re the only man who has managed to make me fall in love.” I put my arms around his neck. “I’ve decided to accept your offer to move in with you.”
“Really?” He looked at me, grinning, his eyes shining.
I nodded, excited.
“God, Alexia… If only I could describe how happy you’ve made me.” He shook his head in disbelief. Alexander hadn’t expected me to give him an answer so soon.
Grabbing me by the waist, he spun me around like a small child. Then he held me tight in his arms and kissed me passionately. And I always lost myself in his kisses.
17
Alexander and I went up to our suite in Burj Al Arab, and I immediately called Lily to check whether everything was okay.
“Tsk. I really wanted to go to a club,” she complained.
“Lily, just a few hours ago I thought you were going to puke your ins
ides out. I was so worried about you, and now you’re talking about dancing. You’re definitely not right in the head.” I tried to admonish her.
“Alexia, do you realize what cool bars there are in Dubai? I simply wanted us to get our groove on for a while. What’s so bad about that?”
“Tell Francesco to give you a good seeing to tonight, so you won’t think about anything else,” I kidded her and she cackled.
“Oh, yes. I don’t know what his plans are, but I won’t leave him alone.”
“Ah, Lily. I’m glad you’ve regained your sense of humor. I was so scared.”
“I know, and I’m grateful you took care of me.”
“Perhaps I’ll manage to persuade Alexander for us to go to a bar tomorrow,” I mentioned.
“You’re the best,” she replied, sounding enthusiastic.
“We’ll see. I’m not promising anything. I don’t know if Alexander will be up for going to bars.” I thought about it. Would he agree?
“I understand.”
“Have a pleasant evening and say hi to Francesco.”
“I sure will.”
Hanging up my iPhone, I went to see what my sexy boyfriend was doing. I found him standing in front of the windows, talking on his cell. I could stay there for hours, enjoying the sight of his gorgeous, wide, muscular back, sculpted biceps, and narrow hips.
“Herzling, I’m trusting you to ensure we receive the delivery on time, and be very careful about the quality. I want the best… Yes, I’m flying with Balgani to Zurich on Saturday… I spoke to the police. I’m up to date… That’s it for now. If something else comes up, I’ll give you a call.”
Alexander turned to me, and his severe expression softened. “This look of admiration, is it aimed at me or the view?” he asked and left his phone on the desk.
“You know I was watching you. So don’t play innocent with me. You know the effect your appearance has on fragile female hearts.”
As he was coming over to embrace me, there was a knock on the door.
“Someone is always interrupting us today,” he muttered and went to see who it was.
It was our private butler, coming to serve our supper. Alexander had ordered lobster, French fries, salad, and wine. The lobster had already been broken up, just as we’d ordered. The meat was very tender.
We relaxed on the couch and enjoyed being together, just the two of us. As much as I loved Lily and liked being with her, I felt I had a greater need to be close to Alexander. I was completely captivated and dedicated to him.
“I’m glad we’re alone,” he said, as if he’d read my mind.
I wiped my lips and hands with a white linen napkin and sat up to kiss him. “Me too. In fact, I was just thinking how nice it feels being with you. But we can’t spend all our time alone. We also need friends.”
“I only need you, as I can never get enough.”
“We can’t shut ourselves in some tower, as if the world around us doesn’t exist.”
“When I’m with you, baby, I definitely have no interest in the world.”
“Yes, but you’re worried about the hotel. I heard you, after all,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, it’s true,” he admitted. “After everything that’s happened… Speaking of friends, tell me. Is Lily dating another guy at the same time?”
Being annoyed by his question, I immediately rushed to my girlfriend’s defense. “Lily isn’t like that. It’s true. She was seeing an Italian, but…” I shook my head in annoyance. I had no right to talk about her personal life. “But I’m sure there’s been nobody else since she started going out with Francesco.”
Alexander examined me carefully. “Today, you asked her whether she’s pregnant.”
“You don’t believe me.” I frowned, and he tightly pursed his lips.
“No, baby. I believe you, but I don’t know whether to believe Lily,” he said thoughtfully and had a bite of lobster.
This conversation was leading us to a dead end, so I decided to change the subject. “Let’s go dancing tomorrow night. It will be our last night in Dubai, and I’d like to see a little of the nightlife here.”
At first, he didn’t like my suggestion, but then his face relaxed and he replied, “Fine, but we’ll go to a VIP club. I don’t want us hopping the normal bars. It’s not safe.”
“Okay, but don’t mention the word club again. It makes my skin crawl,” I scolded him and lightly nudged his knee with my foot.
“You want to tussle, do you, sweetie?” He pulled my foot, and I found myself lying on my back on the couch.
“There’s no way. I can’t even move you an inch.” I laughed.
He grabbed my wrists, raised them above my head, and positioned himself between my knees so I couldn’t move.
“I’ll get lobster all over the couch.”
“I don’t care,” he said and rubbed his nose against mine.
“Well, you should.”
“Calm yourself. I’ve no intention of getting the couch dirty—just you. I want to splash your beautiful tits, but first I have to put little Alexander in the warm embrace of my little best friend.”
“I thought that was me.”
“She’s yours; you’re one and the same.” He rubbed his erect member against me. “I think we’re finished with dinner for now. Come, let’s take a bath.”
He picked me up and gave me that smile of his that made me melt inside.
What a smile… Such perfectly even white teeth… What a man, and this man wants me. I am definitely a lucky girl.
We went into the huge bathroom. Alexander turned on the tap and poured aromatic salts with a scent of exotic flowers into the bath.
“No, don’t get undressed. I want to do it,” he said and came over to me.
He stood there watching me without touching me. Then he slowly ran his fingers along the cleft between my breasts and dug his nose into my hair. “Mmm, you smell so good.” Gently, he kissed the corner of my mouth. “Everything about you is wonderful.” He ran his long fingers across my thighs and then higher, across my butt.
“Oh… Alexander.” I tilted my head back to give him better access to my neck, and he wouldn’t stop stroking me, kissing me, and gently biting my skin. He pulled off my dress and flung it at the red sofa by the wall.
“I want you to only think about me when you’re turned on,” he whispered in my ear. His hot breath made my skin tingle and stirred the blood in my veins.
“When I’m turned on, it’s only because of you.”
“That’s how it should be. When you’re thinking about sex, I want you to think only about me—nobody else.” His fingers continued to slide up and down my inner thigh, my butt, near my loins, but no… he wouldn’t touch me there.
“I want you, please,” I moaned and moved my hips in the desire to be touched at that throbbing place that yearned for him. My cheeks were flushed. I became hot, very hot, but he wouldn’t stop teasing me.
“Aren’t you going to take off my underwear?”
“You can’t wait, can you, sweetie?” He parted his lips to take a breath.
My beloved was aroused no less than me, but he was very good at controlling himself.
“I can never get enough of you.” He looked at me in awe.
“Please, get on with it.” I reached to take his boxers off, but he pulled back.
“No, no, no… Me first. All in good time, one after the other.”
The hot steam rising from the bath was making my breathing even heavier. I was going weak at the knees, and that tender place between my legs tightened, throbbing in anticipation.
I didn’t like his teasing and torturing me. It was clearly turning him on even more, but it was definitely getting on my nerves.
“Pfft, I hate it when you torment me,” I snapped at him and, to his great surprise, I wriggled out of his grip. I opened the door and, just as I headed toward the bedroom, he grabbed me and flung me over his shoulder.
I cried out in surprise and started sh
outing at him to let me go, but he couldn’t care less. He was having fun with this game. He bent down, turned off the tap, and checked the water’s temperature. Then he used his other hand to take off his sweatpants along with his boxers and kicked them aside, keeping me hanging over his shoulder like some doll the entire time.
“I said let me go. Stop playing with me,” I shouted angrily.
Alexander stepped into the bath with me and let me down to stand on my feet in the water. “Oh, baby… It’s so good seeing how impatient you are when you really want me.”
“Yes, I can’t wait and I don’t like it. When I’m too aroused… it hurts.” I scowled.
“My impatient girl.” Alexander kissed me on the neck. Then he turned me to face the mirror on the wall. Inserting his fingers in my panties, he started to massage my clit. Gently, he took my bra off with his other hand and tossed it on the couch with my dress. He cupped my breast with his palm, his fingers flicking my nipple. “I want you to come like this, in my hands, looking me in the eyes the entire time in the mirror.”
“No, I don’t want to come like that. I want you,” I protested again.
He gave up. “Fine. So be it.” He ripped off my panties with his fingers and threw them on the floor. “Bend forward, grab the edge of the bath, and spread your legs,” he ordered.
I obeyed.
“Lovely… I will now fulfill your wish, but I don’t want you to close your eyes. I want to watch you.” And while he spoke, he very slowly slid his aroused member inside me. I involuntarily closed my eyes to better savor the sensation and moaned.
“Open those beautiful eyes, my precious. I want to see them while I’m fucking you.” He pulled out of me and slowly put it back in to better spread my juices. I groaned in pleasure and squeezed him with my sex.
The steam engulfed our bodies like spreading tentacles. Huge waves of pleasure started to rise inside me. I began to melt under his slow thrusts. Alexander gently bit the soft part of my ear, watching me the entire time with his gleaming eyes. His lips were slightly parted and his breathing was shallow and fast.
“I so love being inside you,” he moaned. “Raise one of your legs and rest it on the frame of the bath.”
I positioned myself like he asked while he carefully supported me with his hands on my hips.