Page 51 of Filthy Dirty Dom

Um, the systems in place were pretty obvious, Leslie was tempted to say.

"I would," Alex replied. "But first, we need to settle in." His gaze shifted to the packed bags that had been delivered to their room along with the clothes and toiletries Alex had requested. "Come on," he said softly. "I know you must be hungry."

With a final nod to Damien, Alex led Leslie toward the main building, their luggage following behind them in the hands of what appeared house staff. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, which told Leslie he’d been here before.

She felt a sense of unease creep into her heart. Because as composed and confident as Alex seemed as he walked toward the house, Leslie could swear she felt a tremble run through him and a single hitch in his step.

As much as he trusted this place to provide them safety, Alex didn’t want to be here.

22

As Alex and Leslie stepped into the house, the air-conditioned coolness was a welcome respite from the humid island air. An older woman with gray hair and wearing a livery uniform greeted them. Her smile was warm and welcoming.

"Welcome, Mr. Alex, Ms. Leslie," she greeted. "My name is Rosa. I’m the housekeeper and will be looking after you during your stay."

Rosa. It was the same name as the woman who Alex brought as his date to the Duke Foundation’s Masquerade Ball so many months ago. A twinge of the hurt she’d felt that night at seeing Alex with the other woman called to Leslie, but she quickly dismissed it. Now wasn’t the time for petty jealousy. Besides, that memory had been replaced with so many others, each a reassuring testament to how intensely Alex felt about her.

“Hello, Rosa,” Leslie said. “Thank you so much for having us.”

“Yes, Rosa, thank you,” Alex added.

“Of course. My pleasure. Let me show you to your room.”

Rosa led them through grand hallways lined with artwork and tasteful decor, all designed to accentuate the house's modern architecture. They climbed stairs to the second level and eventually, they reached a suite that was as grand as it was comforting. Soft lighting cast a warm glow over the spacious room with its couches, king-sized bed draped in plush linens and a panoramic view of the island's picturesque beauty from the balcony.

Despite the obvious quality of the linens and architecture, the place was far from cold. Rather, it radiated a warm elegance that felt welcoming and personal.

"We started preparing soon after Mr. Luca called," Rosa explained, gesturing around the suite. "We've made sure the room has full amenities. Is everything to your satisfaction?"

Alex looked at her and Leslie quickly nodded and smiled. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.” She was being polite, but her mind had latched onto the name Rosa had spoken.

Luca.

It wasn’t much information, but it was enough to humanize the compound’s owner, and that helped Leslie feel more settled.

"I’m glad,” Rosa said. “You may wish to freshen up before we serve dinner," she suggested.

As she turned to leave, Rosa paused, "At the moment, it's just Luca's men, myself, Renee, our chef, and her two granddaughters whom she’s raising here on the island. You will be welcomed by all. Oh, let me turn down the bed.”

As Leslie and Alex stood awkwardly, Rosa folded down the sheets and duvet on the bed. The action brought one thought to Leslie’s head.

Was there any chance that she and Alex would—

She immediately shut down the thought.

After all that had happened, all the death she’d seen…after the long journey here and after walking past all those arms guards, Leslie was thinking about that? It seemed obscene, somehow, and for the first time ever, she felt shame with respect to her sexual thoughts about Alex.

With a final smile, Rosa left the room.

Immediately, Alex took her by the arms, pulling her gently towards him. His dark eyes studied her, concern etched deeply in their depths. "How are you doing?" he asked yet again, his voice a low rumble that resonated through her.

She sighed, letting herself lean into his broad chest. The past hours had been nothing short of a whirlwind, a mix of fear, excitement, and uncertainty. Yet, Alex was here. Even if they never touched each other sexually again, they were together, and for now, that was enough.

"I'm okay," she admitted, lifting her eyes to meet his. His strong arms tightened around her, offering silent reassurance. "It's been... scary, but I'm okay."

"Good," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Her heart expanded at his gentle care and affection. “So,” she said. “We’ll be safe here.”