Chapter 67: Mariana's Pov

"I will search thoroughly, and if I'm unable to sniff out the rats, I'll kill them all."

Alejandro suddenly stops, his eyes snapping up to mine, surprise glistening in them. I smile down at him, my brow twitching as my fingers tighten in his hair. "I didn't tell you to stop. . ." I whisper.

Smirking he rises to his feet, kissing up my thighs as he stands. Then his forehead places to rest on mine, a low growl tumbling in his throat.

"You sure do enjoy ordering me around, don't you?" he asks, his lips ghosting over mine, our breaths mingling.

"And you enjoy taking them, don't you?" I retort, my teeth sinking gently into his bottom lip, nibbling.

"You're still in pain. It'll hurt. . ."

I know what he means.

"I want it to hurt, Alejandro. . ."

A growl rumbles in his throat again, his fingers gliding over my thighs, the warmth of each digit teasing me, the firmness of his palms igniting a fire everywhere they touch. His fingers linger just below my hips, gripping me with enough force to remind me who I'm dealing with, but I don't shy away. Instead, I tilt my head, my lips curving into a wicked smile.

"Hurting you isn't something I'll ever enjoy," he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly, a sound that sends a shiver down my spine.

"And yet, here you are, straining, ready to cause as much pain as you can. . ." I whisper on a teasing tone, the tips of my tongue darting out to swipe across his bottom lip, my fingers grazing his straining cock.

He grunts, his tone warning when he bites out my name in warning. "Mariana. . ."

"Alejandro," I whisper back, my fingers brushing his jawline, pulling him closer.

His growl vibrates against my skin as his hands roam higher, skimming over my waist and up my sides. He pauses at my ribs, his thumbs brushing the sensitive skin there, careful not to hurt me. Too careful, as though scared he'll break me.

"Tell me if it's too much," he says, his breath hot against my lips.

"It won't be," I promise, my voice breathy, daring. Our eyes are dancing to the intense music of the soul.

I offer him a single nod and that's all the encouragement he needs. His lips crash into mine, the movement of his lips on mine frantic. Consuming, stealing the air from my lungs. The sensation sends a series of moans flying from my throat.

I grip his shoulders as he presses me backward, guiding me until the backs of my knees hit the edge of the bed.

He lowers me slowly, his body following mine until I'm sprawled beneath him. The weight of him is intoxicating, grounding me as his lips leave mine to blaze a trail down my neck. He kisses my skin, his teeth nipping at where he kisses like a man starved.

And then there's me who has craved his touch and his lips for months. Every sensation pulls a gasp from me as my fingers tangle in his hair, urging him to go on.

Although I know he doesn't need to be urged.

Alejandro doesn't stop. His mouth moves lower. He kisses every inch of me like a man worshipping-he kisses my skin like he's worshipping it.

And then he reaches my collarbone and his kisses turn rougher, his teeth grazing my skin before his tongue soothes the sting.

"Alejandro," I breathe, arching into him as his hands cup my waist, holding me firmly in place.

"You're perfect," he growls, his voice thick with reverence. "You're so perfect, Mariana. So beautiful."

He continues his descent, his lips brushing over the swell of my breasts before his tongue flicks over one sensitive peak. My back arches, a desperate sound slipping from my throat as his hand teases the other.

"Oh fuck, Alejandro. . ." I cry out as his tongue continues to flick.

A hum rumbles in his throat, vibrating against me. "Stay still for me, baby. . . stay still for me. . ."

My core softens with a pulse, the heat pooling between my legs becoming unbearable.  Alejandro kisses lower, his lips trailing over my stomach, lingering over every scar, every mark, like he's memorizing me.

He pauses just above where I want him most, his dark eyes flicking up to meet mine, a question lingering in them.

"Don't stop," I whisper, my voice trembling with anticipation.

A wicked smirk tugs at his lips as he presses a kiss to the inside of my thigh. His hands part my legs gently, his touch firm, slow, teasing.

When his mouth finally finds my pulsing bud, I gasp, my head falling back against the mattress. The first stroke of his tongue sends a bolt of pleasure through me, and I grip the sheets tightly, my body trembling beneath him.

"Alejandro," I mewl, my thighs tightening.

God, it's been so long.

He doesn't hold back. His tongue moves with precision, teasing and tasting as his hands grip my hips, locking me to the bed. Every flick, every swirl pulls a moan from me, each sound spurring him on as he buries his face deeper.

"Alejandro," I gasp, my fingers finding his hair, holding him to me. The euphoric pleasure sends a haze of dark spots blurring my vision.

He groans against me, the vibrations adding another layer of intensity that pushes me closer to the edge. He's relentless, his lips and tongue working together to unravel me completely, to make me forget everything but him.

And I do.

My body is vigorously trembling beneath him, the tension coiling tighter with every deliberate stroke of his tongue, with every hungry groan that escapes his lips. Alejandro grips my hips firmly, keeping me steady.

I writhe, crying out his name in desperation.

What am I desperate for? Everything. Him, his mouth, his tongue, his fucking cock.

But for now, I'll take the mouth.

His mouth works magic.

He's alternating between slow, torturous strokes to quick, fervent flicks that have me crying out his name. My hands tug at his hair, my thighs quivering around his head, keeping him trapped.

Heat spreads like wildfire through my veins.

"Don't stop," I plead, my voice barely a whisper, trembling with want.

Alejandro growls in response, his hands tightening on my hips as he pulls me closer, deeper into his mouth. He devours me like a man starved, his movements unrelenting, his focus singular.

Every sound I make seems to encourage him to continue. His tongue is moving faster, more determined.

My breaths come in shallow gasps, my chest heaving. I arch myself into a curve that almost breaks my back. Pain threatens to shoot through me but the pleasure is more overwhelming.

I claw at the sheets, my head thrashing against the pillows as the tension inside me reaches its breaking point. "I'm almost there. . ." I moan out, the wave building up and threatening to consume me entirely.

"Alejandro. . . oh god, yes!" I cry out, my voice raw.

He moans against me and the vibrations send me over the edge.

My body convulses, every nerve coming alive as pleasure crashes over me in wave after dizzying wave. I clutch his hair tightly, holding him painfully hard and steady as he rides out my climax, his tongue slowing but never stopping, coaxing every last tremor from me.

When I finally go limp beneath him, my chest rising and falling in ragged breaths, he presses one last lingering kiss against my inner thigh before moving up my body. His hands glide over my trembling form, still holding in place as he presses his weight against me, his forehead resting against mine.

"You're exquisite," he murmurs, his voice rough with desire, his breath hot against my lips.

I open my eyes, meeting his dark gaze, still burning with hunger. My hands slide up his chest, feeling the firm muscles beneath my fingertips. I want to feel his scars, to touch them, run my fingers over them and tell him that it'll all be okay. That I'll never let him go through this again.

But what does that tell him? What good will it do us if we rekindle what should be left dead?

So instead of providing him comfort, I run my fingers through his hair, my lips forming into a teasing smirk. "That was. . . adequate," I tease, my voice still shaky, earning a deep, rumbling laugh from him.

"Oh, adequate, is it?" He asks, his lips brushing over mine in a whisper. "I'll have to do better, then."

"Much better," I whisper back, my voice dripping with challenge. "And you could start by fucking me."