Alexander opened the door, leading her into the warm and cozy room where they would spend the night. Eva had already checked the king-sized bed when she had come in to keep their luggage. With the hotel being full-booked, none of the suite rooms were available. Not that she was complaining! She would get another night to cuddle with Alexander! Not to mention another mind-blowing kiss!
“The view from the balcony in the morning is the best so far. That’s why I chose this place.” Eva gazed at Alexander’s radiant face with wonder. There was an underlying excitement in him that was clearly visible. She had never seen him this happy and excited as he was on this trip. This was a totally different side to Alexander, a side she never knew existed before. Was it only because of his love for adventure? She was eager to find out.
“Have you stayed here before?” she asked him, as they stood on the balcony, watching the dark shadowy mountains ahead. The cold air made her shiver, and she plunged her hands into the coat pocket to keep warm.
“No, I rarely stay over at hotels when I’m alone. I camp or sleep in the car or maybe stay over at a ranch for their outdoor adventurous activities. It’s because of you, I’ve booked this place. It had been on my bucket list for a while now,” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his warm embrace.
“Oh, what if I hadn’t agreed to come along? Would you have come here even then?” Alexander smiled and looked down at her upturned face.
“I wouldn’t have given you a choice to opt-out. I would have forced you somehow.”
“Oh, you’re such a bully, Alexander!” she smiled, easing out of his embrace and going into the room with a smile on her face.
“Wait till I prove how much more I can be.” A shiver of anticipation coursed down her body at his threat. What exactly did he mean?
She quickly took out her clothes from her suitcase and rushed to the washroom to change just when Alexander entered the room and shut the balcony door. As she closed the door to the washroom, she noted the way his eyes glittered as he silently watched her. A tremor of need coursed through her body. She knew that look. It was a dark look that made you think of wild se*. So would he grab her the moment she emerged from the washroom?
After fifteen minutes, Eva opened the door, feeling energized after a warm, stimulating shower. All the exhaustion left her body, and she peered out to check what Alexander was up to. Was he lurking near the washroom to grab her?
“I’m here. You can come out, Eva!” laughed Alexander as he sat on the bed, shirtless, with a towel around his shoulders and the pair of jeans he was wearing before. Eva blushed at the roots of her hair at being caught.
“I was just checking how cold it is outside the washroom.” Alexander’s grin widened as he raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief.
“Sure, you were. I’m not saying that you were looking for me!” he said, his grin widening while his eyes glittered all the more. He got up and slowly walked towards her, causing her heartbeats to race as fast as lightning. What the hell was he up to now? Her nervous eyes flicked over his rippling muscles as he slowly approached her like a predator.
He stopped inches away from her, and she froze at his nearness. “Alexander, move,” she whispered, drowned in the dark depths of his stormy eyes.
“You’re in my way, Eva. I’m heading for a shower.” His raspy words brought her to her senses and her face flushed with color at the realization. God! How could she be so affected by him?
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she mumbled, moving out of his way.
“Just ten minutes before I prove my point to you.” The door to the washroom clicked shut before she could realize what he meant. What point did he want to prove?
She dried her hair and sat down in front of the dresser, slowly combing her tresses when the realization struck her. He wanted to prove how much of a bully he really was but how would he prove it?
Fixing her hair, she climbed into the bed right under the warm duvet. Thankfully, the bed was big enough to accommodate the two of them comfortably. Closing her eyes, she pretended to sleep, although she knew her heartbeats were loud enough for anyone to hear.
After ten minutes, the door opened, and Alexander emerged. She discreetly took a peek at him. Thankfully, he was fully clothed! Eva closed her eyes when she felt the bed dip beside her. For five minutes, there was no movement, no sound, and she wondered what he was up to beside her. Did he fall asleep so soon, without a cuddle, without a kiss? Disappointed, she waited for some sound to indicate that he really was asleep, but curiosity got the better of her and she opened her eyes a little to check.
“Caught you,” said Alexander with a chuckle. Eva was shocked to see him staring at her as if waiting for her to open her eyes. “I know you aren’t sleeping.” Before she could think of a fitting reply, he scooped her from under the duvet and placed her right on top of his feverishly hot body. Clamped against his chest, Eva’s entire body flushed with color while an intense need coursed through her.
“Don’t you know I can’t sleep without my kiss?” he whispered hoarsely, biting at her earlobe and trailing his mouth along the column of her neck.
“It’s not a good habit, Alexander!” she said breathlessly.
“Why not? Don’t you enjoy kissing me?” he caught her chin and forced her to meet his gaze.
“I don’t want to get addicted to something we cannot continue,” she whispered, searching his eyes. At that point, she could give up anything to hear him say that he would fight for her, that he wouldn’t let the magic they shared ever fade away, but he didn’t. He just gazed at her silently while his eyes portrayed the storm raging within him. She realized she was right. He wouldn’t fight for her! This was indeed momentary!
“Let’s not spoil our today by worrying about the future, Eva. Let’s live this moment to the fullest. I know my limitations! All I’m asking for is a kiss. Let me show you how much you mean to me.” It was a soft plea, but it took Eva’s breath away! She could never imagine, even in her wildest dreams, that Alexander could plead with her just for a kiss. So he wouldn’t go further than a kiss! She was uselessly getting worked up! He had no plans of getting into her pants! All he needed was a kiss!
She smiled at him, her eyes filling up at his desperate plea. She caught his cheek and claimed his lips as a tortured groan escaped from his mouth. The sensual, languid, and erotic kiss made him close his eyes with satisfaction. No one had ever kissed him so lovingly as she did, and he could clearly feel her love for him. Would he give this up for some business empire? Never! He would talk to his parents when he returned to New York. He would fight for her!
Happy with his decision, he grabbed the back of her head and plunged his tongue deep inside her deliciously warm mouth, dominating the kiss totally. Eva moaned as passion mounted between them, their mouths engaged in a battle with one another. She kissed him back feverishly, her fingers embedded in his hair.
“Can you feel anything, Eva? Can you feel my heart racing?” he whispered hoarsely when his lips left hers to graze along her neck, trailing to her shoulder.
“Yes,” she whispered, her desire-fogged brain unable to think of anything else to say.
“It’s beating only for you. Will you let me kiss you if I told you I’ll fight for you?” he whispered, raising his head to stare into her eyes. She gasped with surprise and stilled. Had she heard him correctly?
“You will?” she asked him, her wide eyes searching his. He nodded, holding her unwavering gaze.
“Yes. Will you give me a little time?” She nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck and embedding her face in his chest. Her heart sang with joy, unable to believe that he had finally accepted her in his life. Her dream was finally coming true! This was what she had been wanting to hear for a long time.
“I love you, Alexander! I always have, I always will!” she whispered while Alexander stilled. Of course, he knew she loved him, but hearing her say it for the first time overwhelmed him.
“I know, Eva. Your letter is still with me. I remember everything you wrote.”