Page 39 of Game of Revenge

“Fuck!”

I shrieked at his scream, taking a couple more steps back. Before I could say anything, he was in front of me. I was breathing heavily, not sure if I was more afraid of him hitting me or kissing me, but Alejandro walked away, left the room, and closed the door violently behind him.

I hurried to the bed, feeling myself about to collapse. My chest was tight, overwhelmed with all the emotions that were currently coursing through me. This conversation had accomplished the complete opposite of clarity. Alejandro seemed torn, and whatever he was hiding was eating at him.

There was no part of me that perceived him as dangerous or evil, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to trust him, to let go. Letting go and trusting others wasn’t something I was fond of, and how could I even be considering it in my situation?

Ever since I could remember, I was alone, with no family. It was always just me and Richard—the only man in my life with any impact, a man I despised. Martha had done her best to fill some of the void for me, and I loved her like a mother. But otherwise, I had to learn to survive on my own, and I had become quite protective of my space. Any other person was an intruder.

That was why my love life was the way it was. George didn’t expect anything from me. He was nice and respectful, and he gave me all the space I wanted. Most women would mind, but not me. In any event, I always assumed that his interest in me was due to Richard, and I didn’t care. The fact that he kept some distance was the perfect situation.

Alejandro, on the other hand, I felt a deep need for, and that frightened me to my core. I felt his absence as much as I felt his proximity. I craved him, desired him more than I had ever desired any other being. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to listen to him talk, see him smile, and I had an inexplicable urge to make him happy.

But how did I explain this to a rational person? I was sure my friends would think I was crazy for lusting after my kidnapper. I could hear Chloe telling me to be strong, to not have “dick blindness.” I laughed, the imaginary conversation with my friends providing some much-needed comfort. It must just be sex, I decided. It must be that. His masculinity was intoxicating.

Alejandro looked like the kind of man a mother would warn her daughter about. He looked dangerous and seductive, like trouble often was. I sighed. I was calming down. Since all this was just lust, I could fight it. I was a strong woman after all, one who had always been able to take charge and keep unwanted distractions at bay. I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling in control again.

I spent the rest of the evening content with myself. I couldn’t resist going to Alejandro’s closet a few more times, though. I had found his cologne, Mont Blanc Legend, and had opened it to take a whiff. It smelled just like him, the most perfectly masculine scent I had ever smelled.

I hadn’t found any other useful documents or clues. When Dolores brought me some dinner, I was a little disappointed that Alejandro wasn’t there. I knew I had pushed him away and potentially hurt him, but I was in the right. It really was for the best.

Chapter 18

The next morning, I woke up startled and a bit disoriented. I had heard some noise, and it seemed like it was coming from the bathroom. I quickly got up without thinking, grabbed the lamp closest to me, and slowly walked in the bathroom to see what was happening. There he was, standing half naked, in all his glory, combing through his wet hair. My mouth turned dry as I admired the perfectly taut muscles on his stomach, tracing all the way down to…I swallowed hard, feeling like I got caught when my eyes met his burning gaze in the mirror.

“Why are you here?” I inquired, putting the lamp down on the table next to me.

“It's my bathroom,” he answered simply.

“You don’t have one in the other room?” I asked, irritated.

“Yes,” he mocked, “but all my things, including my clothes, are here, aren’t they?”

I rolled my eyes. A slow smile grazed his lips as he gaze intensified.

“Well, that was your choice, wasn’t it?” I continued, ignoring the heat I felt coursing up my body.

“I am happy to go back to the other room.”

“So you can try to escape?”

“No, but—”

“You’re not going back there.”

“Fine,” I said, exasperation taking over. “I can take the room you currently sleep in if that means you won't be barging in whenever you want to shower.”

“I’ll have Dolores transfer you there,” he said as he walked past me to go to his closet. “Now if you don’t mind…” he added as he started taking off the towel around his waist, a mocking smile on his face.

Annoyed, I quickly ran out, closing the door behind me with my eyes closed tight. I heard him laugh, mocking me. I decided to ignore him and walked to the bed. As I was about to make it, giving myself something to distract me from the need I felt to run my fingers on his chiseled chest, Dolores walked in with coffee.

“Buenos días, señorita!” she said as she put the tray down on the table.

“Buenos días, Dolores,” I answered with a smile.

“Everything okay?”

“Yes, yes, I was only talking to Alejandro half naked!”