Chapter 74: CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

ELENA

"But on my conditions," I broke in. "I'll see your dad, but I won't be interrogated like a suspect, as if I'm under arrest. I'll have you with me every step of the way and if I've had enough at any time, we're leaving together. No argument."

Alexander nodded in confirmation. "I concur."

"And nothing." I took a step toward him, looking at his face. "I mean it, Alexander. Nothing about Margaret or your father or any part about me should be hidden from me. We are either doing it together or not at all."

"Partners," he uttered. The word hung between us, charged with connotations that extended far beyond our immediate situation.

My head spun a little and I fell onto the bed's edge, suddenly exhausted.

"Hey." Alexander's tone was now soft and concerned. "Are you alright?"

"No," I admitted, surprised at my own honesty. "I'm afraid, Alexander. Afraid to meet your dad, afraid of doing all the things I'm expected to do, afraid of things I don't even realize I know."

He sat next to me on the bed without making any contact.

"I did it so you would be protected from my dad," he whispered softly. "I did not want him to take you away from me."

"What do you mean?" I raised my head to look at him.

"My dad can make individuals turn on each other or at least identify and take advantage of their vulnerabilities. He has already done so in the past on individuals I care about and they would always side with him over me."

"I'm not leaving you," I declared firmly.

"You do understand that, don't you?" He stared at me intensely. "I've never been so vulnerable to any person I've ever known. I've never stood to lose so much."

My heart skipped a beat in my chest. "Alexander—"

“I'm falling in love with you, Elena." The words were torn from some part of him. "Faster and harder than I ever thought possible, and it's terrifying me."

I put my hand on his cheek and stroked the soft edge of his beard.

"Don't you think I'm afraid? I'm falling for a billionaire art collector who also battles secret societies. This isn't in my life plan."

"Falling for me?"

Did I just utter those words? Out loud? "I...Maybe? Possibly? Shit, I don't even know. This is like emotional whiplash"

Alexander laughed—laughter out loud—and his expression changed completely. "Only you would confess your feelings and swear."

"It's a gift," I said cynically, my pulse beating against the limits of my ribcage.

Alexander's hand raised to cover mine, which I had put on his cheek. "For what it's worth," he said to me, "I appreciate your gift of bad timing."

"Among other things?" I inquired shamelessly.

"Among other things." He leaned forward, his tone dropping to a softer pitch.

The atmosphere between us had changed, charged with a tension not at all anger and very much the building tension of our argument. Alexander's thumb stroked my knuckles, a soft movement but one that ran warmth through me.

"We should talk more," I said to him, even as I drew close to him.

"We should," he agreed, his gaze dropping to my lips.

"Then make our Chicago plan"

"Absolutely." He placed his free hand on my waist, radiating heat through the fabric of my shirt.

"Create lists. Prepare contingencies"

"Very important," Alexander whispered, bending close so that his breath sent shivers down my ear. "Even critical."

"I'm so glad we see eye to eye on—" He kissed me, interrupting any meaningless remarks I was about to say.

I sank into him, my hands knotted in his shirt, and returned his kiss with equal ferocity. All of the grief, anger, and anxiety I'd managed to elicit throughout our disagreement merged and transformed into something altogether different—need, want, and frantic need to be near to him and know we'd be fine.

"Elena," he breathed against my lips.

"I know," I replied softly, realizing perfectly what he meant.

We collapsed onto the bed in a tangled mass of arms and grasping touches. Alexander's hands were worshipful as they mapped my form as if he were memorizing every curve and indentation on me.

His eyes got heavy with desire when he saw what was covered under my t-shirt, which made me wiggle my feet.

"You're perfect," he said matter-of-factly and I truly believed him.

This time our sex was slower and deliberate. Alexander adored my body with a patience that left me breathless, his hands and mouth discovering places on me that had me crying out his name. And when he finally had his cock inside of me, we moved together as though we'd had years of practice doing it and not days.

Afterwards, we lay down together, my head on his chest, and I listened as his slowly beating heart restored itself to a normal rhythm. His fingers drew lazy patterns on my back and I relaxed more than expected.

"I must call Sofia," I finally said, although I did not move from my very comfortable position.

"Now?" Alexander answered lightly.

"I'll worry if I don't call her and, honestly, I can use a bit of objectivity from someone who's not involved emotionally."

Alexander laughed, the rumble of his amusement vibrating through his chest. "Be my guest. I should warn you though, I have no intentions of moving."

I retrieved my phone from the nightstand and held it against Alexander's side as I made the call.

Sofia answered on the second ring. "We had just finished speaking seconds ago and you were all pissed about our rich boy toy. Have you reconciled? Still having issues?."

"Just having some relationship moments", smiling at Alexander's face.

"Oh, did you guys make up and have makeup sex? Tell me you already did make-up sex. I'm stuck living through someone's love life."

"Sofia!" I chuckled, Alexander's chest shaking beneath me from the silent laughter.

"I'll take that as yes. Was it good? On the scale of mediocre to mind-blowing level?"

"I am hanging up," I informed her threateningly but still smiling.

"Hold on a minute. Seriously, are you okay? Few minutes ago, you were about to throw him off a cliff or something."

I glanced at Alexander, who stared back at me with an expression I could not decipher.

"I'm okay. All has been talked about."

"And by 'talked' you mean—"

"Sofia!"

"Ok, ok. But Elena, if this man makes you happy, don't overcomplicate it. The best things in life tend to be the things that frighten us the most."

After I'd hung up the phone, Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Relationship advice from Sofia?"

"She just told me I must stop overthinking and let myself fall," I whispered into his chest, "But I think I already have—and that terrifies me more than your father ever could."