“I have a very varied taste. I love the classical music of Johann Pachelbel, Tomaso Albinoni, Franz Schubert… I also like to listen to One Republic, Calvin Harris, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Rihanna, Pink, James Arthur, and many others.”
“I think I have a very apt song,” he said and went over to the hi-fi to put it on.
The sound of “Roses” resonated throughout the room. Alexander took my hand and we started to dance.
“Mr. Kraftberg, I think I may burn your breakfast.”
“I don’t care.” He took the pan off the hob and turned it off. “A short break,” he said and started to sing along with James Arthur. “Smells like roses to me…”
God, I love this man…
“It’s nice dancing with you.”
He was an amazing dancer, the type who could make even a woman with two left feet glide across the floor. He led with ease and skillfully made his partner follow him.
“Just the dancing?” he teased.
“No, not just that. I love being with you, laughing with you, making love with you…”
He suddenly lifted me by the butt and my feet left the floor. I held on tightly to his powerful shoulders. He picked up the chocolate spread from the kitchen worktop and sat with me on the nearest chair. He slid my dress up my body and over my head and then threw it on the couch, leaving me in just a thong with my legs apart on his lap.
“I intend to get you a bit dirty. I take it you won’t object, right?” And without waiting for my reply, he slowly spread chocolate over my breasts, massaging them with his deft fingers. “I don’t know if others have told you this, honey, but your breasts are perfect.”
I decided not to say anything.
He looked in my eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Well, have they?”
“Baby, what’s the difference?”
“Damn, I want to kill all three wretches who’ve touched you.”
I got goose bumps all over when he bent down and started to lick me lightly.
“Why did you call them wretches?” I barely managed to ask, panting.
“Because they lost you and are no longer with you. Once again, I realize I’m a very lucky guy.” Alexander scooped some more chocolate with his index finger and stuck it in my mouth. I started to suck on it hard and slide my tongue along it, which excited me even more. The sensation was so pleasant. Hot waves started to wash all over my body. And I yielded to his sweet touch.
* * *
At two o’clock, we sat in the garden of the Balgani restaurant together with Francesco, who I initially thought looked a lot like Roberto, with his wide smile and curly black hair. However, his eyes were not brown, but olive-black.
While I was eating the delicious spaghetti vongole, which literally melted in my mouth, and enjoying the aromatic Italian white wine, I observed the way Alexander and Francesco talked to each other. It seemed like they were good friends, and I was glad about that because I took an instant liking to Francesco. He seemed warm, down-to-earth, and decent. I found it funny watching him wave his hands about in the manner typical for hot-blooded Italians.
The restaurant, owned by his parents, was decorated in the classic Italian style. A pergola with vines trained on the lattice threw a shade on our table, covered with a neatly ironed red-white checkered cloth and a small candleholder in the middle. Sparrows were chirping and chasing each other in the branches of the trees and a cool breeze drifted through the air.
“Alexia, have you been to Lake Como before?” Francesco asked, running his hand through his thick curls, and then added, “Many tourists from the States come here every year and they really like it.”
“Yes, I’ve been here with my father, Melanie—his second wife—and my brother. We visited several villas. If I remember correctly, they are called Carlotta, Balbianello, and Melzi. We hired a car, as mine was too small. On the way back, we passed through Milan. We all really liked Italy,” I replied thoughtfully. “I like travelling, and since I’ve been in Switzerland, I’ve managed to visit most countries in Western Europe.”
“Which cities did you like best?” Francesco asked.
“Paris, London, and Vienna made the greatest impressions on me, with their spectacular architecture—those fairy-tale palaces and cultural monuments. Still, Zurich remains my favorite. I seem to remember in London, I stayed in the Kraftberg Hotel.
“Really?” Alexander was surprised. “Was Lily with you?”
“No.”
Why the hell do I feel so uncomfortable admitting I was there with one of my exes? It’s completely normal after all.
“I was with a friend,” I replied and looked away. I didn’t dare look him in the eyes.
“Hmm… With a friend, huh?” he repeated quietly so only I would hear him and took a sip from his glass of wine.
I knew he felt jealous and understood completely. In his place, I would feel the same way.
“I really liked Ireland too,” I continued, trying to steer the conversation away from ex-boyfriends. “It has stunning scenery. I find it really romantic with its old fortresses, green breathtaking views, and narrow roads lined with stone fences. Which is why I believe I would really like it in Edinburgh. I’ve heard it’s very beautiful.”
“I’ll arrange for us to go sometime,” Alexander promised.
“Don’t you like Rome too?” Francesco asked and looked at me searchingly in expectation of my answer.
“Rome is a lovely city, but I came away disappointed.”
“Why? What disappointed you?” Francesco asked, surprised.
“In an entire week of driving though the city center, I did not crash once and there wasn’t even a single scratch on the car. But the mayor never gave me an award in recognition of this.”
Both men burst out laughing.
“True, driving in Rome is the pits,” Alexander said, took my hand, gently kissed my fingers, and then looked at Francesco. “Today I only just managed to persuade her to come to the charity ball on Saturday.” He narrowed his lips in a slight smile. “She’s worried that afterward, her name will be plastered all over the gossip magazines.”
I looked at him. “That’s normal. Nobody knows who I am at the moment, and after the ball, that will no longer be the case.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if some paparazzo takes your picture while you’re still in Como. However, you shouldn’t worry about it, Alexia. There’s no reason for you to hide.” Francesco shrugged. “By the way, if you haven’t got a suitable evening outfit, my sister Mariella works in the Chanel store on Bahnhofstrasse. They have incredible evening dresses there. If you want, drop by after work and have a look.”
“Good idea,” said Alexander. “We’ll go tomorrow after work and choose the best one.”
On the one hand, I was happy, as it was a dream of mine to have a Chanel or Prada dress. On the other hand, I felt uneasy about Alexander buying me such expensive clothes. I decided to swallow my pride because I wanted to look stunning. When my father supported me financially, I never bought very expensive clothes even though my family had plenty of money. My father always made sure I had everything I wanted and needed, within reason, of course. He didn’t encourage throwing things away or wasting money.
If they’re going to write about you in newspapers and magazines, you should look your best, said my inner voice. This time we were also in agreement.
Alexander’s iPhone must have vibrated, because he took it out and, rising from table, said he had to answer it.
“So he managed to convince you in the end,” said Francesco.
“Rrrright, as if you don’t know how persistent he is,” I said sarcastically, and he chuckled heartily.
“Oh, yes. I’m painfully aware.” He winked at me and took a sip of his drink. I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or joking, but I didn’t want to press it any further. He’d clearly noticed my confusion, so he continued. “Don’t worry about the ball. The first time I went to such a classy social gathering, I had no idea how to
behave, what to say. I kept my hands in my pants pockets the entire time and, on the whole, said some completely idiotic things. In short, I made a complete spectacle of myself.”
I laughed. I liked his candid manner and his sense of humor.
“I highly doubt you’ll find yourself in such a situation,” he continued.
He told me about a few more ridiculous situations, which had me in stitches. This Francesco was good at telling funny stories.
When Alexander finished his call and sat back at the table, his good mood had evaporated again. Was it because of the phone call or because I was having fun with his friend? There was no way I could ask him.
13
Alexander and I spent the afternoon on a speedboat ride in Lake Como, where we enjoyed the stunning views of lovely villas and impressive terraced gardens extending before our eyes. The boat we took was the property of Kraftberg International. It had a classic elegant design, was made of light-brown wood, and its leather upholstery was vanilla-colored. Water droplets sprayed my body and face while the strong wind playfully ruffled my hair. The experience was indescribable. I felt as free as a bird.
Alexander was wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap so he wouldn’t be recognized. He looked incredible sexy even when disguised. Nothing could detract from his perfect face.
We’d stopped at a secluded place, where no houses or boats could be seen nearby. We were sunbathing and enjoying the lovely sunny day.
“Alexia, when exactly did you stay in my London hotel?” asked Alexander, lifting himself and resting on his elbows.
I knew there would be further questions on this topic. That’s what happens when you can’t keep your mouth shut. Now you have to face the music…
“Last year, around this time,” I replied. “Why do you ask?”
“And who were you with?”
“With my last boyfriend, Ralph. He’d made a booking and decided to surprise me.”
I glanced at him from under my sunglasses. He was gritting his teeth tightly. The answer clearly wasn’t to his liking. I really couldn’t understand why he had to dig into the past. “I liked your hotel—the service was first-rate.”
He shook his head. “Just thinking you’ve necked and had sex with some other man in my hotel… It doesn’t feel nice at all.”
I lifted myself, put one of my arms around his neck, and kissed him on his sculptured lips. “Honey, both of us have a past.”
Alexander inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly. The fact that he wasn’t my first tormented him, but I was nearly twenty-five after all, and what’s more, I hadn’t had many sexual partners.
I decided it was my turn to ask questions. “Now I want to ask you something.”
“Shoot.”
“Will Vanessa Gras be at the ball?”
This question had been niggling at me since the morning and wouldn’t leave me alone. I didn’t like the thought of seeing her and being introduced to her. I had a feeling he’d slept with her. She was looking at him with such affection in that picture—it was obvious they were quite close.
“Yes, she’ll be there, with her husband. Her father is an old friend of my father. He owns a luxury furniture store. What are you worried about?”
“It’s been eating at me…” I didn’t know how to say it. “What is the nature of your relationship with her?”
He scowled. “You want to know if I’ve slept with her.”
“Yes.”
“Only once, two years ago,” he admitted and looked at me to gauge my reaction.
I furrowed my eyebrows and suddenly felt awful. “I knew it,” I said quietly and lay on my back.
“Hey.” He leaned over me. “I don’t have any feelings for her. I don’t want you to agonize over this.”
“If I were to take you to some party and introduce to one of my exes, how would you feel?”
He replied quickly, “Really bad.”
“So why are you surprised it wouldn’t be pleasant for me?”
“Because I’ve never been in love with Vanessa. It was just sex. She wanted it, and I was too weak to turn her down.”
I frowned and decided to be direct with him. “Have you slept with all your female friends?”
“Of course not.” He took off his sunglasses so I could see his eyes. “For me, it was always just fucking—no feelings, no attachment. So you can’t compare my sleeping with Vanessa with your relationships.”
His confession surprised me. “I wasn’t in love with any of my exes. Fond of them, yes, but not in love.”
“With none of the three?”
“Yes, none.”
He visibly relaxed and smiled faintly.
“This doesn’t mean it’d be pleasant for me to meet the women you’ve slept with,” I clarified.
Alexander removed my sunglasses. His eyes looked straight into mine. It was as if they had the ability to read every thought in my head. “You’re jealous.”
“Yes.”
His breathtaking smile—the one that made me melt inside—appeared on his face. “So you do have feelings for me.”
“Of course I do.”
How can I tell you I’m crazy in love with you? I thought to myself, knowing I hadn’t gathered the courage to say it yet. I didn’t have even the faintest idea whether my admission would scare him away from me. Which is why I decided it would be best to hide my love for him, love that grew every day and every hour.
He leaned in and kissed me. His lips were so soft, his kisses so passionate that I grew wet down there. But this couldn’t dispel the jealousy I felt toward that woman. “Is Vanessa in love with you?”
My questions were uncomfortable for him, but my curiosity was eating at me on the inside. I wanted to know the whole truth, however bitter it would taste to me.
“I don’t care about that—it’s not my problem.” He sounded annoyed. “Do you have any more questions?”
Of course I did. There were sure to be other women at the ball he had slept with, but I couldn’t be bothered questioning him. “I think that’s everything, for now. Don’t think I didn’t notice your annoyance.”
“It’s my turn now.” He looked at me playfully. “And what feelings do you have for me?”
“I don’t intend to reveal my hand just yet,” I said and retreated into my shell.
Alexander started to tickle me under my armpits. “Why do I get the feeling you’re hiding something?”
“Oh… Stop, I can’t take it anymore. Please. Stop!” I was laughing so hard I felt breathless. Ever since I was little, I couldn’t stand to be tickled.
I tried to push his hands away, and suddenly, I fell from the boat. It happened very quickly.
“Alexia, dammit,” I heard him shout as I began sinking under the water. Seconds later, I surfaced in his arms. Coughing, I clung to his neck.
“Are you hurt?” His face had gone white.
“No, I was just startled… Everything’s fine. You know I can swim.”
“Yes, I know, but I got scared.”
We climbed back into the boat. Alexander absorbed the water drops on my skin with a soft beach towel and pulled me into his arms. He started to gently nibble at my shoulder and pulled the strap of my bikini top with his teeth. “I’ve never been so attracted to a woman as I am to you, Alexia. I want you to sleep over with me in Küssnacht, and then I’ll take you to the bank in the morning.”
“All my clean clothes are at my apartment.”
“I know, which is why I gave Mrs. Schmidt a list of everything you’ll need, and she bought it on Friday. It’s nice to fall asleep and wake up next to you. And…”
“And what?” I asked him curiously.
“And to have you at my disposal whenever I want.” He smiled devilishly.
“Pervert.” I looked at him, pretending to be offended, but felt ecstatic on the inside. “Well, I’m not virgin… I also like sleeping next you.” I pressed myself tightly against his muscular chest.
He kissed me and gently bi
t my lower lip. “Only sleeping next to me?”
I closed my eyes and moaned. “To sleep next to you, to make love with you.”
He tenderly stroked my face. “I can certainly say this is a nice surprise. I wasn’t sure if you’d agree. I never know with you. You often say no to me.”
I ran my fingers across his wet hair. “And you don’t like being told no.”
“Definitely not. I don’t accept a no either when it concerns my business, or in bed,” he said confidently, which annoyed me.
What’s that supposed to mean?
“You don’t think you could make me do something I don’t want, do you?”
“Oh yeah. I know I can. As long as I’m insistent enough.” Seeing the panic in my eyes, he explained, “I would never cause you physical pain.”
“I don’t like to be pressured or forced. That can only scare me and make me run off,” I warned him.
He dug one hand into my hair and grabbed my waist with the other so I couldn’t move. “You have nowhere to run,” he said quietly.
“Alexander.” I glared at him.
“Have I ever done something to you that you didn’t like?”
I seriously considered his question. “Sexually, no, but I know you’ll pressure me until I agree to work in your company, and that—”
He put his index finger on my lips to shush me. “This isn’t the time to discuss this problem.”
“Problem? You consider my not working for you a problem?” I didn’t like what he said, but I knew he was within his rights and was fully aware of it. Alexander had his way of ensuring, even if I opposed him, things would always go his way in the end. Dammit, why am I so powerless in his arms?
“Oh, baby. Don’t be mad. You know I’m fully devoted to you and my ultimate aim is to satisfy every wish of yours. And no other woman has held such power over me before.” I looked at him doubtfully, and he continued. “What do I have to do to make you believe me? You’ve gotten deep under my skin, can’t you tell?”
“I bet you say this to all women,” I snapped.
“Don’t make bets with me—you’ll lose. I’m not a man of empty words, Alexia.” His expression became cold and a thin line formed between his eyebrows. He didn’t like seeing me doubt him.