“I want us to be together, but this feeling scares me,” I admitted. “We’re so different, Alexander.” I sighed.
“Don’t torture your beautiful head with such thoughts, Alexia. I’ve never wanted to be in a serious relationship before, but I really want to try to make a go of it with you. There can be no certainty. Nobody knows how things will turn out when they start a relationship, whether they will stay together or not.”
He pulled the condom off his penis, tied its end, and dropped it on the floor. “I hate condoms. I doubt there’s any man who likes them. I had a blood test recently and I know I’m clean. What do you think about going on the pill? The sex is sure to be even more amazing this way.”
“I actually bought some Monday morning.” I turned to him and smiled. “To be honest, I’ve never done it without a condom.”
“Me too, baby. Given my lifestyle, I couldn’t afford to.” He put his hand on my thigh. “So there’s something neither of us has tried before.”
He took hold of my chin, bit my lower lip, and then said, “Let’s take a bath together.” He put me down on the couch and stood.
His eyes fell on the pictures on the shelf. “Are they your parents?”
“Yes.”
“Your mother was a very beautiful woman.” He got closer and peered at the photo. “She really looks like the famous violinist Claudia… something. I can’t remember her surname.”
“You mean Claudia Engel Welson?”
“Yeah.”
“She is my mother. How did you hear about her anyway? You must have been only fifteen when she died.”
“As a teenager, I used to play the guitar.” He shrugged casually. “Do you play the violin?”
“I did, for five years, but stopped after she died. I was depressed. Later, my aunt, my father’s sister, got me into the piano.”
“So you have a musical family,” he concluded.
“You could say that. Still, my father doesn’t know much about music. He’s passionate about other things, like hedge funds, for instance.” I attempted to smile. I stood next to him and he hugged me, his warm arms wrapped around my shoulders.
“You really do look very similar to your mother.”
“My father claims, over the years, the resemblance has become stronger.” I rested my head on his chest. The thought of her saddened me, so I decided to do something to distract myself and added, “I’m going to take a bath.”
Alexander squeezed me even tighter to him. “I’m sure you miss her, baby. I can imagine how difficult it must be to grow up without a mother.” He dug his nose into my hair.
It was strange, but I had the feeling for the short time we’d known each other, he had managed to gain very good insight into my character, into my nature. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same about him. Alexander was an enigma to me, and I had no idea how deep his feelings for me actually were.
* * *
The bath water was nicely hot. I was relaxing on Alexander’s chest. With eyes closed, I gently stroked his powerful arms, which were wrapped around me.
“Alexia, do you get on with your father’s second wife?” he asked out of the blue.
“Yes. I’m happy to say we have a very good relationship. What I most appreciate about her is she really loves my father and doesn’t get angry when he spends a lot of time with my brother and me. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” he said and kissed me on the cheek.
It was clear to me that Alexander wanted to get to know me better, to find out more about my family and our mutual relationships. Right then, an idea popped into my head.
“Let’s go on a bike ride this weekend,” I suggested enthusiastically.
Switzerland is an incredibly beautiful country whose landscapes could provide any painter with enough material for a lifetime. Bike lanes cover the entire country. You can ride and enjoy the breathtaking view—green meadows, high mountains, and wonderful lakes. Pure joy for the soul. I’d ridden a bike many times, and now I wanted us to do it together. We could combine exercise with fun.
“Bikes?” He looked at me, surprised.
“Yeah, bikes. Don’t tell me you don’t have a bike.”
Alexander brushed aside a lock of hair hanging in front of my face. “We’ll do it another time. I guess you didn’t take a week off work like we talked.”
“No, but I’ll ask my boss tomorrow.”
“That’s my girl.” He gently kissed my shoulder. The foam lightly stroked our bodies. We lay in an embrace for a while, each lost in our own thoughts.
“Tell me, what is your relationship with that man from yesterday night? The one in whose arms I found you?” He deliberately emphasized arms.
I pretended not to know who he meant. “Who are you talking about? Oh, yesterday, when we met in the street?”
“Yes,” he replied, not showing his jealousy. However, I was certain it was eating him on the inside. I smiled faintly.
“I saw that smile. Don’t torture me. Tell me!” Alexander spun me around so I could see him, but his icy stare didn’t scare me. “Don’t play with me, Alexia. I don’t like to share what’s mine with anyone else.”
“I won’t tell you,” I replied stubbornly. “I always tell you everything.”
“I want to know. How close are you two?” All of a sudden, his voice was too serious, frightening even.
Yes… He’s definitely showing a sense of ownership toward me. So he can meet up with that brunette, but I can’t. Is that how it is? We’ll see…
I looked at him with a scowl. “First…” I put my index finger up and continued. “I wasn’t in his arms. The heel of my shoe got stuck in some hole, so I stumbled and he was nice enough to catch me. His quick reaction stopped me from falling flat on my face and protected me from potential injury. I wasn’t hugging him. Second…” Now I raised my thumb. “Roberto is not close to me in the sexual sense—he’s just a close coworker. And, as I well remember, I’ve already told you all this. Don’t dig any further in an attempt to find something that doesn’t exist. I told you he’s just a good friend.”
Alexander grabbed my hand and softly bit my index finger.
“Ow, is this some form of revenge?” I pretended to be cross.
He gently put his lips on the spot where he’d left white teeth marks. Then he held my face and kissed me. My protestations melted in his mouth, and I opened my lips to meet his aggressive tongue, which he twisted passionately around my mouth, leaving me breathless.
“How will I deal with your know-it-all mouth? I don’t know. You should have been a lawyer. You have the talent for it.” He pulled me toward him, hugged me, dug his nose into my neck, and kissed me softly.
We stayed like that for a long time, so long the water started to get cold. I turned around and lay prone on top of him. Then I kissed his chest. “Let’s get out. I’m cold now. And if we stay here”—I shook my hips—“we won’t be able to get out for a while.”
“Hmm…” A faint devilish smile appeared on his face.
* * *
We snuggled under covers, and I asked myself, What is he planning to do? Will he want to stay over in my bed or will he decide to leave? No… I really don’t want him to go.
“Alexander, do you want to stay over tonight… with me?
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes,” I replied, completely honest.
“I want to stay too. I was apart from you long enough.”
I slid my fingers across his powerful biceps. We were spooning, with my back resting against his chest. “I’m glad you’re here, baby,” I whispered.
He turned my face to his, so I would look at him. His beautiful blue eyes peered into mine.
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re no longer mad at me for not calling?”
“On the contrary. I’m still pissed at you. What you did was awful. You made me suffer—I thought you were no longer interested in me.”
“I’m so
rry, baby.” He leaned toward me and ran his nose across my neck, behind my ear. “Your scent is divine.”
“Yours is too.” I smiled and shifted to get more comfortable. My butt came in contact with his member, which immediately became hard. I was happy I had such a powerful effect on his body.
Alexander ran his tongue across my neck. “Hmm… I can’t control myself. You’re simply irresistible. What was I going to say…? Oh yeah, I want us to go away for the weekend, to Lake Como.”
“Sounds good. When do you want to leave?”
“How about tomorrow afternoon. I’ll pick you up from work. Get your luggage ready but don’t bring it with you. We’ll stop by here to pick it up.”
“Okay. Am I to assume you’ve already arranged everything?”
“Absolutely.”
Dear God…
“But how did you know I would agree?”
“I can be very convincing,” he teased and gently nibbled at my chin.
“It’s not fair.” I pouted.
“What?” he asked, but I sensed his self-satisfied smile on my neck.
“The fact that you were one hundred percent certain I would forgive you and agree to come with you to Como.”
“Well, not one hundred percent, ninety-nine at best. There was one percent of doubt,” he replied smugly.
“Do you think it’s fair to play such games with me?” It annoyed me that he was so self-confident. He had me wrapped around his little finger and I didn’t like it. But I was too weak to say no, as I wanted to be with him.
“I’ve never played games with you, baby. Never. I can just tell you feel the same for me as I do for you, and you want us to be together.”
“Yes, I definitely do.”
“And as you’ve noticed, I don’t give up easily.”
“I noticed.” A smile lit up my face.
“I see difficulties as a challenge,” he mused and, after a brief pause, continued. “Yesterday, however, you completely crushed me.”
“How?” I was surprised. Me, crush him?
“By walking out on me at the bar without giving me a chance to explain myself.”
I felt better knowing he’d also suffered, even if not as much as I—or at least that’s the impression I got.
“I was hurt and offended. Don’t you get it?”
“I understand and I’m sorry for hurting you.” He kissed me. “I won’t make the same mistake again.”
I ran my fingers through his brown hair, our kiss became more intense, and we surrendered to our carnal desires.
10
The alarm clock woke us. I was lying next to Alexander with my head on his bare chest and one leg over his. I moved my palm down his belly and found his erect member.
“Always ready for you, baby.” He smiled and wrapped his arms around me. He gently pressed his lips against mine. “Good morning, honey. What’s the time?”
“Morning.” I looked up at the clock. “It should be seven. I always get up at the same time for work. It’s a minute after,” I said and then snuggled up to him again. I felt so happy and relaxed.
“Alexia, what exactly do you do at the bank?”
“I do financial analysis, prepare reports for senior management, and so on.” I stretched. I needed more sleep. We didn’t get much sleep last night, but I couldn’t complain. Quite the opposite—I was in seventh heaven.
“Why don’t you come work for me?” he said and swept aside a strand of hair from my face.
“I’m sure working in your company would be very interesting—being involved in such grandiose projects, all these hotels and magnificent houses worth millions…”
“But…” He raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
“I don’t want to leave my job.”
“Why?”
“Because I like it.” I lay back on the pillow.
Alexander lifted himself on his elbow and looked at me seductively. “I want all of you just for myself.”
Well, he can’t force me… Or can he? I scowled at the thought.
“I don’t want to. Please don’t insist.” I got out of the bed. “I’m going to make some coffee. Do you want a croissant or a bread roll with butter, jam, salami, or cheese for breakfast?”
“Mmm… Sounds delicious.” Alexander stood and walked past me. He patted my butt and said warningly, “We’re not finished talking about the job issue.”
“Issue?” I echoed and looked at him through narrowed eyes.
He turned around, gave me a serious look, and disappeared into the bathroom. I slipped on my silk dressing gown and walked over to bathroom doorway. I stood there and crossed my arms in front of me, and he pretended not to notice my anger.
“Alexander, please don’t blackmail me. This is madness.”
“Don’t pout, honey. I just like to control everything I hold dear. I want you just for me.” He stretched a hand toward me and gave me his panty-dropping smile. “Come. Let’s take a shower together.”
“No chance. I’d be late for work. I’ll shower after you.”
Alexander roared with laughter. “You don’t trust yourself?”
“I trust neither myself nor you.” I slammed the door of the shower and exited.
* * *
After we had breakfast together, Alexander gave me a lift to the bank in his Rolls Royce, or his chauffeur did to be exact.
“Let’s have lunch in my office. I’ll send Henry over to pick you up in the car.” His thumb gently stroked my knuckles.
“I can’t. Did you forget today I have an appointment with Sebastian Romer?”
He scowled and looked through the window.
“What’s up?” I asked him.
“There’s always some man sniffing around you, trying to get into your knickers.”
I looked at him, stunned. “Nobody can get into—as you so colorfully described—my knickers. I drop them whenever I decide and for whomever I want. So…”
“Don’t you get it? I don’t like you seeing him.” He turned to me and made a fist.
“What have you got against him?”
“I know Romer well enough to dislike him. He’s a weak-willed, spoiled good-for-nothing who thinks just because his father has money, he can do whatever he wants, which includes him behaving like a complete asshole at the party.”
I put one hand on his shoulder and the other on his face. I wanted to reduce the distance between us. “Look, I know Sebastian behaved awfully last time. Most likely, he was drunk or stoned.”
“Stoned?” He looked at me angrily and narrowed his eyes.
“I probably shouldn’t have said that.” I bit my lower lip.
“Are you telling me Romer smokes weed?”
I nodded.
“Do you?” His look penetrated me to the heart.
I instinctively pulled away from him, but he grabbed me by the waist and pressed me against his body.
“Of course not,” I snapped back.
“Good. Very good.” He held my chin and raised my head so I would look him in the eyes. “Don’t be mad. I want to know everything about you, and I don’t want you to keep any secrets from me.”
“Look, I don’t want us to fight, but he really has always behaved completely normally and never taken any liberties with me… He may have problems with drinking and smoking, but he’s not a bad guy overall.”
“Why are you so certain?” He looked at me suspiciously.
He definitely doesn’t believe me. Does he think I’m slow? I felt annoyed with him.
“What did I tell you? I’ve known him for years. Yes, he’s weak-willed and spoiled, but he’s not a bad person.”
Alexander took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.
“I’m going to have lunch with him at some restaurant, and I’ll tell him I’m with you.” I smiled at him sweetly.
“You’ll tell him about me?” His eyes locked on mine.
“I won’t tell him if you don’t want me to.”
A satisfied smile appeared on
his lips and his eyes sparkled. “Oh, on the contrary. I do. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
“Yes, yours.” I stroked his handsome face.
Henry pulled up near the bank.
“Have a nice and successful day.” I pressed my lips against his.
“You too, honey.” He kissed me so passionately I didn’t want to tear myself away from him.
* * *
Roberto sat in front of his computer and, naturally, noticed my huge grin as soon as I walked in. “I guess the reason for your good mood is your great friend Kraftberg.”
“You guessed right.” The smile wouldn’t leave my face. “Roberto, is the boss in yet?”
“Yes, I saw him. Why?”
“I have to meet him for my annual appraisal.”
My boss, Tobias Brauner, and I had to discuss my performance throughout the year. The targets I’d set myself and whether I’d met them. Every employee had to go through it, and the result determined whether they would be promoted and get a raise.
It was clear from the talk we had that Brauner was satisfied with my work on the whole, and I was very happy when he informed me I was getting a raise. I immediately texted Alexander to show off. He replied he was proud of me and would wait for me in front of the bank at six.
I sat at my desk and was just about to start working on my urgent tasks when my coworker from accounting, Lena Eklund, walked in. She’d been working in the bank for around two months after transferring here from our Stockholm branch.
“Hi, Alexia. Do you have plans for lunch?” she asked, running her thin fingers through her long blond hair. She was wearing a dark-blue silk dress, which emphasized her slim waist very nicely.
“Hi, Lena. Unfortunately, I do, but I’d be very glad if we had lunch together in the next few days.” I turned to Roberto. “Are you free?”
I made a point of asking him because I’d noticed Lena really liked him. And Roberto was mainly into blondes anyway. I thought she was a very beautiful woman who knew how to take care of herself—she looked much younger than her thirty years. She had incredibly beautiful blue eyes, which gleamed with excitement whenever Roberto spoke to her.
Limits of Destiny (Volume 1) Page 9
