A Deal with Alejandro
Page 19
She shook her head. ‘You won’t,’ she said, and her voice held a core of steel that made him want to believe her. Almost.
He dragged a hand down his face, trying desperately to calm the panicked pants heaving from him.
‘Alejandro.’
He stilled. ‘Sí?’
‘The version you’re talking about is nothing more than a twisted obsession. If your parents are okay with that, then all you can do is give them your blessing. But the love I want, the one I want to give you, is about offering you the best of myself, letting you be the best of yourself. Does that include going out of your way to hurt me?’
‘No. Never,’ he breathed.
‘Are you willing to give us a chance?’
His heart tripped, the possibilities making him dizzy. ‘I want nothing more than to treasure you, amante. Every second of every day. I know I handled this all wrong, but if you think we can do this... Dios, I’ll do it. But I admit, I’m terrified. I realised how much I loved you seconds before I saw you. It was no excuse, but from the moment we met I felt as if I stood on a ledge, the sensation of losing my footing a credible threat. But today I realised I’d been looking down, making myself dizzy with distractions when I should’ve been focusing on what was right in front of me. On you, and on the heights we could achieve together... I’m sorry, mi amor. So very sorry.’
Her face crumpled for a fleeting second, and she swallowed. ‘God, Alejandro, you ripped my heart out,’ she cried.
He lunged for her, dropped to his knees and gripped her hips. ‘Forgive me. Please, Dios mio, I’m the world’s biggest fool. I love you. Please give me another chance?’
Her hand slowly reached out. Touched his brow. His hair. When she traced his cheek, he captured it and kissed her palm. ‘I forgive you.’
His groan of relief was hoarse with unshed emotion.
‘And, Alejandro?’
‘Yes?’
‘I love you, too.’
Elise dropped to join him on the floor, her pounding heart now, thankfully, beating from love and bliss, and not the terrifying pain of losing the love of her life. Their kiss held relief, joy, passion, and above all, love. After a lifetime of kissing, he stood and carried her to their bedroom, where he showed her with word and deed how much he loved and cherished her.
As they were drifting into blissful sleep a thought popped into her head.
‘Umm, Alejandro?’
‘Sí, mi amor?’ His voice was a lazy, sexy drawl that heated her blood and flooded her with pleasure in all the right places.
‘I quit as your PR consultant. As of Thursday morning, I hope to have a new and shiny career.’
‘Damn.’ His fingers drifted over her skin, his caresses gentle and loving. ‘Can I tempt you with another offer?’
She raised her head, stared into mossy green eyes burning with pure, everlasting love. ‘That depends. Does it come with perks to die for?’
‘No, it comes with perks to live for. Perks to love and cherish, in sickness and in health, until the heavens grant us eternal life amongst the stars.’
Tears stormed her eyes. For the longest time she couldn’t breathe. Or speak. ‘Alejandro,’ she whispered.
His hands framed her face, and he stared deep into her heart. ‘Marry me, Elise.’
‘Yes. Until eternity.’
* * * * *
EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT
Dante Di Sione can’t believe the beautiful blonde who ‘accidentally’ stole his family’s tiara is blackmailing him – for a date to her sister’s wedding! If Willow wants to be his fake fiancée, she’ll have to play the part to the full. Only Willow’s confidence is fake…and she’s a virgin!
Read on for a sneak preview of
DI SIONE’S VIRGIN MISTRESS
the fifth in the unmissable new eight book Modern series
THE BILLIONAIRE’S LEGACY
“I’m sorry. I’m out of here.”
“Dante…”
“No. Listen to me, Willow.” There was a pause while he seemed to be composing himself, and when he started speaking, his words sounded very controlled. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re lovely. Very lovely. A beautiful butterfly of a woman. But I’m not going to have sex with you.”
She swallowed. “Because you don’t want me?”
His voice grew rough. “You know damned well I want you.”
She lifted her eyes to his. “Then why?”
He seemed to hesitate and Willow got the distinct feeling that he was going to say something dismissive, or tell her that he didn’t owe her any kind of explanation. But to her surprise, he didn’t. His expression took on that almost gentle look again and she found herself wanting to hurl something at him…preferably herself. To tell him not to wrap her up in cotton wool the way everyone else did. To treat her like she was made of flesh and blood instead of something fragile and breakable. To make her feel like that passionate woman he’d brought to life in his arms.
“Because I’m the kind of man who brings women pain, and you’ve probably had enough of that in your life. Don’t make yourself the willing recipient of anymore.” He met the question in her eyes. “I’m incapable of giving women what they want and I’m not talking about sex. I don’t do emotion, or love, or commitment, because I don’t really know how those things work. When people tell me that I’m cold and unfeeling, I don’t get offended—because I know it’s true. There’s nothing deep about me, Willow—and there never will be.”
DI SIONE’S VIRGIN MISTRESS by Sharon Kendrick
Available November 2016
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY
www.millsandboon.co.uk
Copyright ©2016 Mills & Boon
ISBN: 978-1-474-04432-5
A DEAL WITH ALEJANDRO
© 2016 Maya Blake
Published in Great Britain 2016
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
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