Page 93 of She Belongs to Me

When I let go, allowing the third climax to grab ahold of me, I knew I was free.

A little flower turning into a bird.

We collapsed against each other, the man holding me so close I was warm and comfy. There was nothing like being in his arms. He was solid, hard as a brick wall. I tried to control my breathing as he rubbed my back. From where I was, I could see the water. It was crystal clear and bubbling. I loved how the shoreline was sloped, grassy knolls on either side. I did love the estate.

More so than I’d ever thought I would.

“Is this something magical?” I asked him. “Am I the one?” I leaned back and knew he wasn’t going to answer.

The odd combination of sadness and guilt returned, but there was such a different powerful emotion that I couldn’t read him at all. We’d just made love and I prayed he wasn’t shutting down all over again.

I wasn’t certain if I could take that.

He was always so possessive when he cupped the side of my face, his fingers just digging into my skin. I wasn’t certain I could admit how much I loved being held that way.

“Yes, Alexandra. You are.”

Four words.

Four little words after all the hot and cold, and I was floored. But there were still far too many complications and concerns. Love, if that’s where we were headed, didn’t always win.

Sometimes the evil spirits did.

It was a nagging feeling that I couldn’t lose. Not even after such a joyous moment.

He didn’t change his expression even as he stood, forcing me to straddle his waist. But he did as he walked toward the water.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I pushed hard against his shoulders.

“Just cooling you off.”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” It might be a warm day, but I had no doubt the water was freezing. He wouldn’t really do that to me. Would he?

When he walked into the water, I had my answer. Oh, God, no.

I pummeled his back, but it was no use.

He prepared to toss me in the water, swinging my body several times.

But I one-upped him, gripping his shoulders when he finally decided to throw a pitch.

And down the two of us went into the frigid water.

CHAPTER 27

Nico

“Two more powerful men are dead,” Luca said. Enzo was on his way over, refusing to tell me why over the phone,

Luca had been checking and rechecking the internet on an hourly basis.

“Who?”

“Another member of the pipeline committee. He mysteriously drowned while swimming alone.” Luca laughed. “Right.”

As I’d suspected, things were heating up.

“And?”