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While I knew there was truth in his words, I couldn’t help but zero in the mention of his parents.
“What happened to your mother and father, Alex?”
He tilted his head up to the ceiling and closed his eyes. When he looked at me again, his expression was pleading.
“Angel, please don’t ask me that. I’m sorry, especially after all you have told me about yourself tonight. But I…I can’t tell you.”
It hurt that he wouldn’t open up to me. Only the torment written on his face stopped me from pushing him further, despite the fact I was dying to know the truth. Alexander had his own demons he was battling. It wouldn’t be fair for me to pressure him if he wasn’t ready. Because if there was one thing I’d learned tonight, revealing the deepest and darkest parts of your soul was a decision one had to make on their own.
“It’s okay,” I told him. “When you’re ready to tell me, you’ll know it.”
He looked doubtful, but he didn’t truly understand. For me, I felt the truth had quite literally set me free. And as I stood in the penthouse with Alexander, the remarkable, alluring, and captivating man he was, I realized something else. Our time together thus far may have been short, but it felt like we had known each other for a millennium. He wasn’t really the stranger I thought he was, but familiar to me in ways rooted deep and unexplainable.
There was a silent understanding between us as I took hold of Alexander’s hand and led him to the bedroom. There would be no barriers between us tonight, as the past was finally behind me, and there would be no looking back.
Chapter Forty
Krystina
Itightened the belt of the plush robe I wore and followed a petite Asian woman down the main corridor of the Mandarin Day Spa. Allyson and I had only made it halfway through the day, and I was already feeling like a pampered princess. My face felt revitalized after an herbal facial, and my bones were like liquid after the therapeutic oil massage. Next up was a hot stone pedicure, and I could hardly wait.
“This is our Serenity Suite, Miss Cole,” the woman said once we reached our destination. “Please, take a moment to relax here while you wait for your friend. Miss Ramsey should be joining you momentarily. There is bottled water for you on the buffet, both sparkling and still. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you’d like.”
“Thank you,” I graciously accepted.
After getting a bottle of mineral water, I made myself comfortable on a sprawling chaise lounge. I lay back and closed my eyes, taking note of the soft music playing from a hidden source within the suite. It sounded like a bamboo flute, the melody almost hypnotic.
I could go to sleep right here.
“Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so good!” I heard Allyson exclaim through the tranquility of the room.
Or not.
I opened one eye to peer at her.
“Good massage, I take it?”
“That masseuse was gifted the hands of a God!” she swooned. She tossed a wicked smile at me. “And he kind of looked like one too.”
“You’re bad,” I laughed, shaking my head. I sat up and gave in to a good stretch. “Things not going well with Jeremy?”
“Oh, Jeremy is fine,” she said offhandedly. “However, we’re not til’ death do us part or anything. I’m still allowed to look.”
The Asian woman who brought me into the room came in quietly behind Allyson. Her peaceful demeanor versus Allyson’s boisterous entrance was almost comical.
“Would you like to relax here for a bit? Or are you ladies ready for your pedicures now?” she asked us.
“It’s up to Krys. I’m up for whatever.”
“We could go now,” I said.
“Then please, come this way,” she said, motioning for us to follow her.
“This place is amazing,” Allyson said, taking in every detail of our surroundings as we walked.
“I agree. It’s just what I needed. It’s been a complicated couple of weeks.”
We took our seats in the cushy chairs that would serve as our personal thrones during the pedicure. I relaxed back, trying to find that quiet place I had in the Serenity Suite, while I enjoyed the feel of various oils and stones being rubbed over my feet and legs.
