Page 99 of No Darker Temptation

I’m so excited. I doubt I’ll make friends right away, or any at all, but I still want to dress my best. Most of my wardrobe isn’t appropriate for campus, lots of sophisticated pieces I’d wear on vacation or on a date with Alejandro. I have to add shopping trip to my list of things to do today. In the meantime, I’ll wear the blue and yellow skirt I got in Colombia and steal another one of Alejandro’s button downs. That always helps to dress down an outfit.

I’m riffling through his drawer looking for something pastel when a pair of arms come around me from behind.

“Stealing my clothes again?”

I suppress a smile. “They’re more casual than mine.”

Alejandro laughs quietly against my neck as he kisses me. “Suits are casual?”

“The button downs are. I don’t think I have enough clothes.” I pout. “I mean, I do, but they aren’t school cute. You know?”

“I don’t know.”

I ignore him. “I need something that’s campus chic and doesn’t look like I’m about to have dinner with the president. Which is half my wardrobe. If I walk into a lecture and get mistaken for a professor I think I’ll die, hence, expanding my wardrobe to include more school cute clothes.”

“Why don’t you take a break from your campus chic dilemma and come have breakfast with me downstairs?” he kisses his way along the length of my jaw and the touch is affectionate rather than seductive. Either way, it still sends a rush of heat through me. “I want to spend time with you before I leave.”

I turn in his embrace and he holds me close. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Something I need to take care of at El Rey. If it runs too late I’ll stay the night.”

“Want me to go with you?”

He shakes his head. “I’d rather you didn’t.”

I’m not offended and understand why he wouldn’t. Something is going to happen over there he’d prefer I didn’t see, and I’m perfectly content with that. I rise to the tips of my toes and kiss him. “Did you make waffles?”

“Belgian.”

“Oof.” I blow air between my lips. “He’s rich, he’s gorgeous⁠—”

“He’s great in bed.”

“And he can cook?” I wrap a leg around his waist and brush my lips against his. “Is there anything he can’t do?”

Alejandro leans down. Whispers in my ear.

My entire body starts to burn with a blush.

He glances at the time on his watch then lifts me off my feet. “Actually, I have just enough time to test that theory out.”

Alejandro

“You’re in a remarkably good mood,” Beni says.

Dimitrio turns his head and eyes me suspiciously. Gaze flickering up and down my frame he turns and says, “He got laid last night.”

Beni’s brows shoot up to his forehead with a nod of approval. “Nice.”

“Shut up. Both of you.” I toss my suit jacket over the back of a short black chair and roll my sleeves up to my elbows. “Are they conscious?”

Beni ignores my question and turns to Dimitrio who’s opening up my leather medical bag and unwinds the tool roll up inside. “I thought they were fighting.”

Dimitrio shrugs. “I don’t know. I mind my business.”

Beni sucks his teeth and scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest as he leans against the metal table behind him. “That’s why everyone likes Pedro more; he always knows the chisme.”

“Hey.” I smack the back of his head.