marry me.
Leila's point of view.
I didn't hear him on time, so I didn't pull away. Alex must have because he slowed the intensity of the kiss, but he didn't stop but teased,. At me gently, and then he let my leg fall back down to the ground, kissed my neck. I opened my eyes, a little dazed and flustered, Ben stood on the balcony with us looking flushed red and annoyed. Alex pulled away from me. I straightened my skirt and swallowed thickly. I was still not online or ready to answer questions.
" What are you doing with him" he spat the word at him like a curse. As I looked at the two men I could see just how different they both were.
Alex was calm and composed, and didn't look like he'd done anything wrong as he watched me and Ben stood there like an angry bulldog looking to bite at me. It was cute that he thought Alex would let him get past him, but it also allowed me to see the type of man I had been in love with for over two years of my life, the thought that I could have been this stupid was so outrageous to me and I couldn't bring myself to understand it. Had I been so in love that it hadn't mattered what he had done to me, the snide comments, the bored looks.
Now that I had been given a second chance to see the man for what he was, I realized that I had not known him at all, or I had, and just ignored it for love.
" I asked you a question" he growled, moving towards me and Alex placed a hand on his chest.
" Woah buddy, take it easy" he mumbled. Ben shot him an acidic stare.
" I was talking to my girlfriend to stay out of this" he muttered, and looked at me.
" Leila, what the hell is going on" he asked?
"The last time we spoke, we were fine," he asked, and I sighed, he was talking about the time we had made love when he had made promises he couldn't or wouldn't have been able to keep.
I looked away from him.
" I don't want anything to do with you" I mumbled, and he scoffed.
" And you want something to do with him," he asked, pointing to Alex, and I stiffened.
" That's none of your business" I hissed, and he laughed,
" I don't know what you think you're doing but I'm not falling for it. " He stalked to me menacingly and looked at me over Alex's shoulder as he hissed
" I know adventurous sluts and you are not it. So come home "
" You are a narcissistic man" I muttered beneath my breath, he lunged at me, reaching for my hand and I hid behind Alex's back. Alex grabbed his hand and squeezed it, and he grunted.
" I believe she wants you to leave" he drawled, and I froze. I wasn't sure what happened.
" You don't get to speak for her Cross" Ben hissed. Alex laughed and infuriated him further. He folded his fist and lunged. I saw the blow coming and was frozen for a short while as he hit Alex. I heard a small gasp from the room. I turned. People were watching not a lot of people, but enough that I knew the gossip would spread throughout the room if I let it. Christ, this had not been in the plan.
" Ben, I need you to leave," I said. He turned to me.
" You can't be serious," he muttered.
" I am, "
" You have to talk to me" he pleaded, or he tried to, but it all sounded fake to me.
" I'll call you" I replied.
He hesitated as if he wasn't sure what to do.
" Please Ben, people are watching," I said, hoping to assuage his vain side. He didn't like to be seen as less than prepared. He glanced up and looked at the people in the room and cursed, ran his hands through his hair and straightened.
" I'll be waiting for you to call me", I nodded. I had no intention of calling him, not yet at least.
He wandered away to the party and his eyes looked away, but I could still feel a few of them on us.
" How did you last with that fool," he grunted, and I laughed.
" Almost the same way I'm going to last with the others" he frowned, and I grinned.
" We can't stay here any longer," I said softly, and he nodded, looking over my shoulder.
" I agree, " he drew closer to me and smiled, caressing my cheek with the tip of his finger.
" I see now why you made the offer" I smiled wryly.
I knew Ben more than I thought I had, which was both thrilling and annoying at the same time.
" He doesn't like his toys leaving him" I replied, and he laughed, pressing a soft kiss on my lips.
" I'm going to have so much fun taking you away from him", he grinned, and I smiled,
"I'll call you " I whispered, pulling away from him.
He nodded and watched me as I walked off into the crowded ballroom.
I lifted a glass of champagne from the tray and took a sip of it. My mother hobbled to my side smiling brightly.
" Who were you talking to on the balcony dear," she asked, and I shrugged.
" Someone, he was asking about my paintings", I offered and she nodded.
" Oh honey that's wonderful, " I smiled. I did paint, but I wasn't a renowned artist, I was just a lucky girl with a ton of works that managed to sell one at a time.
The event was a blast. The Donahues went home with the famous diamond rose necklace being auctioned off as a display of immense wealth, and was it any surprise that Alex had outbid Ben?
I went home and cleaned up my makeup all the while thinking of Alexander Cross, the rumored heir to the Donahue enterprises. He was more than just a ruthless businessman, he was a sensual man.
I swallowed as I thought about that kiss. Sleep took me, but that kiss played a relentless loop in my head.
Then the air in the room changed as he strode towards me, his hands reaching for me,
" I want you" he groaned, kissing me deeply. I let him pull me on the bed, craved more of his touch, and just as he was about to pull off my clothes I woke up from my dream.
Gasping awake, I glanced round my room rapidly, and saw bright morning sunlight streaming through the windows. I swallowed.
A knock sounded on my door and I walked to it and opened it. My mom stood there with a worried frown.
" Honey, are you OK " she asked, running her eyes over me.
" I'm fine, just tired" I replied. She looked suspicious and then nodded.
" Breakfast is ready" she muttered, and I nodded.
I took a shower and walked down the stairs. My aunt Mathye sat at the table barely able to hold in slight bickering.
I looked at them and sighed.
My father glanced up at me with the food on his fork.
" Sit down already" he murmured to me. I looked at him dead in
The eye as I said it
" I want to marry Alex Cross”.