CHAPTER 83

CHAPTER 83
CARLA'S POV

I woke up in the evening. My face was swollen, and my heart was bruised. I was alone in the bedroom. The sun had set, casting a golden hue. I glanced at the beach through my window and was tugged towards it. The chances of bringing my children here are slim, but I could take pictures for them.

So, I got up and bath quickly. Then, changed into one of the sundresses Alec got me. I never asked him how he knew my exact size. Probably one of the many mysteries of Alec Russo.

I walked out of the bedroom and found Alec asleep on the couch. I came to a stop and just looked at him. He was still shirtless but had changed into shorts. I ran my gaze over his body and was hit by memories of the way he felt in me, the things he said, the way he held me, and the way he’d kissed my forehead mere hours ago.

How strange that the forehead kiss fucked me up more than hours of sex did. I was falling deeper into his web, and I had to stop before I couldn’t be saved.

Exhausted and still very much bruised, I walked to the kitchen and got water.

When I turned around, Alec was awake and watching me.

“Hi,” He frowned at me, running his hand over his face.

“Hi. Did I wake you? I didn’t mean to.” I said, avoiding his gaze, remembering how safe I’d felt in his arms.

“No. You didn’t. Are you going somewhere? You … eh … you look good.” He flustered, and I nodded slowly, ignoring the compliment, “I wanted to take a walk to the beach and take some pictures for my babies, but I can do it another time.”

“You could have taken my phone.” He remarked, gesturing at it on the table.

I was uncomfortable that he trusted me that much with his phone. I didn’t respond to that either.

“Do you still want to go to the beach? I’ll come with and take your pictures?” He asked, and I grimaced because he was trying too hard. I really hated this awkwardness between us.

“Okay, thank you,” I said, too polite.

So, we went to the beach. The sun had cast beautiful rays in the sky. He handed me his phone and I took pictures of the sky, of the cloud. Alex was fascinated by clouds. Rosa preferred the ocean, which scared me. Dutifully, I took pictures of the sea too, which reflected the beautiful sky. I loved the pictures and might just get it framed.

“Do you want pictures of yourself?” He asked, and I nodded.

I handed him the phone and wondered how to pose. I decided to be natural. He took pictures of me. I found myself looking at him. In a sea of people, he was all I saw. The realisation was painful. I couldn’t afford to have such an explosive crush like this, especially when it was more than sex. We shouldn’t have had sex. We couldn’t do that ever again.

“Hi! Do you want me to take pictures of you?” A vaguely familiar woman asked, and we looked at her. I’d seen her on the beach with her children and husband.

“I’ll consider it my good deed of the day.” She smiled when we stayed silent.

Alec and I looked at each other. His face was impassive. He was sizing her up as a threat. I rolled my eyes at him and smiled at the woman, “Yes, please.”

Alec reluctantly handed her his phone and walked to him. He stood beside me awkwardly, and I glared at him. I took his hand and pulled him closer to me. It was just a picture. He slid behind me and wrapped his arm around my stomach, pulling me to him. Butterflies filled my belly, and I exhaled shakily.

“Ooh, so sweet.” The woman cooed, but he was all I saw.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to my neck softly, then murmured, “We really need to talk, Carla.”

I ignored him and stepped away, his absence slamming into me a little too hard. I took the phone from the woman and thanked her. I scrolled through the pictures she took of us. It all looked very intimate.

When I looked at Alec, he was looking at the sunset, his arms behind his head. He was painfully beautiful. How unfair that he had all this beauty. He was practically a Greek God. I took pictures of him.

“Can we talk now, Carla?” He walked to me, slipping an arm around my waist, pulling me against him.

I stepped away from his embrace with a pounding heart. “We can’t do that again, Alec. I’m sorry, but we can’t.”

He frowned, “Can’t what? Hold you?”

I licked my dry lips. “We can’t have sex again. It was nice while it lasted, but we can’t, not anymore. I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? Why are you apologising?” Something flashed over his gaze.

I clenched my jaw, “I’m just trying to be polite.”

“Then, don’t. You are my friend, Carla. You mean too much for me to let you go. You don’t want to have sex again? Fine. I won’t make a big deal out of it. I will do whatever you want me to. I won’t touch you like that again, but you are still going to see me. I am going to stop by your home four times a week. I’m going to play with your children. I am going to harmlessly flirt with your best friend and annoy Bert. There’s no escaping me, Carla.” He proclaimed, shoulders squared in determination.

My mouth fell open, but no words came out. My brain was mush.

“No forehead kisses!” I added angrily, and he smirked, “Then no forehead kisses.”

I was about to tell him to lose the smirk when a text came in from someone. Mila – Done and dusted. You can bring your woman home now, but you owe me.

My heart beat faster.