“I’m sorry, baby. Forgive me, but—”
“And enough with this ‘baby.’ I’m not your baby,” I snapped, and he let go of me, recoiling as if I’d slapped him.
“You want him? The one who was trying it on with you at the bar.” He was looking at me tensely, his eyes burning through me. It was as if sparks were flying out of them. He was absolutely livid.
“He’s also in the past.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s an ex. I don’t want to be with him. I can’t. It’s not fair to him.” I sighed and looked to the side. Thank God there weren’t many people around. A few couples were snuggled up to each other in the booths, but they were necking and not paying us any attention.
Alexander nervously ran his fingers through his hair. “Because he loves you and you don’t love him back. Is that it?”
“Yes, he deserves a woman who feels the same.”
“I want us to talk for a while.” He grabbed my elbow.
“And I want to go home. I’m tired.”
“You must hear me out.” His voice sounded commanding.
“Must I?” I replied mockingly.
“Yes, and you will, goddammit!” he said and nervously ran his fingers through his hair again.
“Well, I won’t.” I only just managed to keep myself from crying, but at the moment, the rage inside me was prevailing and holding down my tears. “Go and find yourself some pathetic girl who will be grateful for the few scraps you throw at her. Someone who will agree with everything you say and will just reply, ‘Yes, dear. Of course, dear.’ And you will be able to control her and lord over her with all your might. But know this, Alexander, I am
not
that woman.” I pulled away from him and started to walk toward the stairs.
I heard him say, “We’re not done yet,” while I was walking down to the lower floor.
I found Lily and René and told them I was going home. Lily looked at me worriedly, but after I’d reassured her I was okay, we said our good-byes, and I went outside. I hailed down a taxi, and when I sat down inside, the tears were already streaming down my cheeks and blurring my vision.
* * *
In the morning,
the ringing of the intercom woke me. I got out of bed to check who it was.
“Package for Miss Welson,” said a man’s voice.
I pressed the button to open the front door. The courier handed me a huge bouquet of roses. There were probably fifty, maybe even more. I was surprised, but at the same time felt happy, although I knew full well who had sent them.
There was a small card that read:
To the most beautiful rose on this earth.
Forgive me. I beg you.
—Alexander Kraftberg
My heart rate picked up. Even though he wasn’t in front of me, he had control over me and could make my body quiver. I had no power over myself. Slowly, I ran my fingers across the card and held it tightly against my breasts. I closed my eyes, and now he was in front me, all masculine.
Yesterday, while the taxi was driving me home, my iPhone wouldn’t stop ringing. Alexander wouldn’t give up, but I managed to resist the temptation of picking up. After he’d called me five times and left three messages, in which he begged me to forgive him, said he was sorry, and wanted to know whether I’d managed to get home okay, I decided to text him back to say,
I’m home. Stop worrying about me. I can take care of myself.
I took my large green vase by Leonardo and arranged the flowers in it.
When I got to work, I found Roberto viewing some web article on his computer.
“Ciao, Bella,” he greeted.
“Ciao, Roberto. What are you reading?”
“About your boyfriend, Alexander Kraftberg. Did you know he’s the president and CEO of
Kraftberg International
—a global company dealing in luxury real estate, hotels, and resorts? And he also runs the child protection organization
Berg for Children
. Impressive, right? He’s created an entire empire while at the same time graduating from the Technical University of Zurich with a degree in architecture, and he’s just twenty-nine years old. Look, there’s picture of him with his parents and brother.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands behind his neck.
I bent forward to have a better look and my eyes stopped at his mother—blond, bottle-blond to be more precise, blue-eyed. Alexander looked a lot like her. His brother was clearly much younger than him and the spitting image of his father—brown hair and brown eyes.
How did they manage to split their features between them like that?
“Alexander,” he continued, “took over the company’s leadership from his father, Thomas Kraftberg, and changed its focus from general real estate to only luxury properties. Each house costs at least a million. His mother, Carmen Kraftberg, works together with him in the organization for support of children without parents—Berg for Children. It says nothing about his brother.” He leaned toward me, unable to contain his curiosity. “So tell me, then. Where and how did you two meet?”
“At the birthday party of my friend Lily’s uncle,” I replied.
“Hmm, congratulations… And you already have him wrapped around your little finger.” He grinned. “I found numerous pictures of him with various glamour and fashion models, but not a single word about exes. I’m not sure he’s even had a serious girlfriend, ever. You, however, have definitely put him under a spell.”
“Ha, that’s exactly what he said, and then he didn’t call for three days, even though he promised. To top it all off, on the day he was supposed to call and meet me for lunch, he got photographed with some brunette under his arm,” I muttered sullenly.
“Alexia, she was probably the latest girl throwing herself at him, but he wants you.” He stared at me. “Do you never compromise?”
“Whose side are you on anyway?” I raised my voice angrily.
“Yours, of course.”
“Alexander just wants to get me into his bed one more time, nothing more.”
“Damn, I would be so lucky…” He grinned.
“Roberto!”
“Yeah, yeah, okay. I was just daydreaming. There’s no way a man could see you and not dream a little about getting into your panties. He’d have to be gay. Well, it’s true. You’re really hot.”
“You know, this morning I received by courier a huge bouquet of red roses and a card written by him.” I gave him a sweet smile.
“Oh dear. Just seeing how your eyes are gleaming… You’re in deep. Damn, how I envy him! I can feel myself turning green.”
His words made me giggle loudly. “Roberto, quiet. Someone will hear. Let’s get on with work. Talking won’t get us anywhere.”
* * *
I came home
and put the groceries I’d bought in the fridge. I just wanted to relax after the busy day, so I decided to put on some music. I started to trawl for the Spanish CD—a memento from my last holiday to Fuerteventura with Lily. I recalled the great time we had in the Playitas sports facility, where we rode bikes around the island, swam in an Olympic-sized pool, and went to pilates, yoga, balance, and power step lessons. We rented a car and drove around the island, which is famous for having the best beaches in the Canaries, in particular, Playa de Sotavento. I smiled at the memory of our adventure in Oasis Park—a camelback safari. How carefree we both felt.
My eyes paused at a classical music CD—Johann Pachelbel: “Canon in D major”—which was quite relaxing as well. So in the end, I decided to put it on instead. The music had just started playing when the doorbell rang. I picked up the intercom handset to see who it was, but nobody responded.
Strange. Who was that? Mostly likely a mistake.
I headed toward the bedroom, but the bell rang again. I looked through the peephole—it was Alexander Kraftberg.
M
y heart started
to beat furiously. I bit my lower lip to stop it from trembling. I didn’t know whether I should open the door. On one hand, I wanted to do it. Oh… I so wanted to throw myself into Alexander’s arms, but my voice of reason said no.
“Please, Alexia. I know you’re in there. Let me in,” he shouted.
I unlocked the door and saw him standing there in all his glory. As always, he looked divine in his black suit with light-grey stripes and dark-grey shirt. His sapphire eyes shone and looked like they could see right through me. I felt myself trembling and going weak at the knees.
It took all my strength to say, “Alexander, please. I don’t want to see you.”
“Nonsense.” His voice was raspy and full of pain.
Alexander quickly walked over to me and pushed me against the wall, as if he could not contain himself for even a second longer. He put his hands on my face and pressed his forehead against mine. Then he looked up and fixed his gaze on me, thirstily waiting for my reaction. He gently pressed his lips against mine.
“Please.” My voice was barely a whisper.
“Are you asking me to stop or keep going? Because you want me, just as I want you?”
“Stop. I don’t want to be hurt again. Listen to me. This is tearing me up inside, slowly and painfully. It’s killing me,” I implored him.
“If you think I’ve cheated on you, you’re wrong, Alexia. I haven’t. I only want you, baby. You have to believe me.”
“I can’t… Don’t.” I tried to suppress the emotions rising up in me.
“I thought about us a lot. My head was really confused, but I’ve come to realize I can’t live without you. I just can’t. I’ve lost my mind over you. Don’t you see?” he whispered, his lips touching mine.
“You didn’t keep your promise.”
“I know and I’m sorry. I had major problems. I’ve hardly slept these last few days. Please, baby. It won’t happen again. Forgive me.” His breath gently caressed my sensitive skin.
“I can’t trust you. Don’t you understand?”
His eyes betrayed a pain, a huge, heartbreaking pain. His reaction made me feel confused.
What does he want from me? Is he really sorry for what he did or is it all about the sex?
“Please, Alexia. Let me be with you so I can win back your trust.”
I closed my eyes—his scent was divine. He was here with me and asking for my forgiveness. He wanted me.
God, I love him. What should I do?
“If I let you be with me again… that would be a big mistake,” I whispered.
“It won’t. I give you my word.”
Still kissing me, Alexander took me in his arms and easily carried me over to the couch in the living room. He sat down next to me and ran the back of his hand across my cheek. A shower of desire drenched me, and my groin muscles contracted. I knew my body was my worst traitor, but I was powerless. I needed his touch. I yielded to the sweet sensation. He was the only man capable of lifting me to the highest level of pleasure, pleasure to which I was now an addict. The scent of his skin was truly intoxicating.
“If you do it again. If you break your promise…” I whispered, and he put his index finger on my lips.
“I know. It won’t happen. I don’t want to lose you.” He leaned toward me and pressed his lips against mine. His tongue slowly slid across the outline of my lower lip. He gently bit it and then let out a moan. “I missed you. In the last few days, it was only the thought of you that kept me from going mad. Your image kept me grounded and gave me strength.”
I had no idea what had happened, but he clearly didn’t want to share it with me.
His words filled me with love. I kissed him back and slid my tongue into his mouth. Just at this moment, I needed him and he needed me. I wanted to taste him—the divine and unique taste of Alexander. I pulled the hem of his shirt out of his pants but didn’t have the strength to unbutton it—my hands were shaking. I ran my nails across his back. Our kiss became more intense, our tongues dancing together. His hands gently stroked my hips under the dress, and when he touched my wet panties, I moaned.
He slowly slid his finger inside me and murmured, “You’re so wet… for me.” He smiled faintly and bit the soft part of my earlobe.
I was his, under his control, and he could do whatever he wanted to me.
The gentle sounds of violins lightly floating through the apartment sharpened my senses even more and shook me up emotionally, sending tears streaming down my cheeks. I desperately needed Alexander and every fiber of my body wanted him and yearned for him.
“I want you,” I moaned, arching my back in response to his touch.
“You don’t want us to ruin your nice dress, do you, honey?”
“I can’t think about that right now. Please, I want you so badly it hurts.”
Quick as a flash, Alexander slipped off my dress and underwear. He took off his shoes and socks, then his jacket, shirt, pants, and boxers. I shivered in anticipation. Alexander pulled a condom out of his pocket and deftly unrolled it over his fully erect penis. He knelt, leaned toward me, and carefully inserted himself into my moist vagina. We both groaned—the sensation was so nice. He started to slowly move inside me and my desire grew with each thrust. He took out his cock and slid it back into my pussy.
“Oh… God,” I moaned. My clit was throbbing and quivering from the intense arousal.
“I want all of you inside me.” I convulsed under his skillful thrusts.
He sucked on one of my nipples, which was driving me wild. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I want every last inch of you inside me, please.” Moaning, I dug my fingers around his waist and wrapped my legs around him.
Alexander carefully pulled out, lifted me, and sat on the couch. “You’re on top, baby. Do to me whatever you want.”
I spread my hips over him and slid myself onto his huge member, taking it in to the hilt. In this position, he was fully inside me. I held on to his shoulders, arched my back, and started to move up and down. Alexander grabbed my butt and increased the tempo with his hips. God, I could feel him so deep inside me—the sensation was wonderful.
“Oh, baby, what are you doing to me? This feels great,” he growled through gritted teeth and cupped my breasts with his palms.
I leaned over him—his highly dilated pupils made his eyes appear darker. Slowly, I ran my thumb across his stubble and pressed my lips against his. I kissed him passionately, searchingly, and his hot, constantly moving tongue felt like it was burning the inside of my mouth. I rode him furiously. I rose up and then took him back in, deep inside me. The muscles of my vagina contracted around his constantly moving cock. Alexander placed his thumb on my clit, which further enflamed my passion. He knew my body better than me, every last inch of it.