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“But, Gem?” He paused, as if he wanted to say more but was incapable because of Camilla. His green eyes appeared lost, a look that made me question everything. What was behind the wall of Parker Jones, and what was the promise he made to keep me safe?
I grew quiet, staring at him and Camilla, and honestly, they looked great together. If Parker was happy, then I could be happy for him, or at least, I’d try.
“It’s ok, Park.” My words slipped out, telling him goodnight in the best way I could, “You better shake, Rattlesnake.” I stepped back, still watching him before turning around.
“Bye, bye, Butterfly.” He mouthed back, as I made my way down the dark hall.
I opened my door, quickly stepping inside, locking it shut. Alejandro sat at my desk, looking through the sketches I drew for his suit. All he cared about was my work, even though my room was covered in the renderings from my idol, St. La Vie.
“I like what I see.” His eyes peeked toward a covered mannequin, which held his almost completed suit. He shot a curious glance at me. There were a few surprises attached to it that I didn’t want him to see.
“That’s not ready for you yet.” I kept my voice low as I dropped the blanket by my side, exposing the toned curves of my tight tummy. His knuckles tightened from his grip on the armrest, absorbing me in.
“What about you?” He asked, giving me a long once over from my stomach to my chest. “Are you ready?”
I hesitated, but only for a second, making what felt like a permanent decision. Could I end the fantasy I had with Parker and start a reality with Alejandro? Possibly, but not without its bumps, that I was sure of. Either way, I was willing to try.
“I’m ready.” My finger poked his chest. “Though you're not the one taking us out tonight,” I glanced up, giving a final grin, “I am.”
CHAPTER 23
Alejandro kicked a small latch beside the descending fire escape. The additional steps hidden below slid down with a loud clank. “Nice and slow,” his eyes peeked through the drops of mist in his hair. He was quick to move, almost swinging down, popping his hoodie over his head as he landed on the wet pavement. A small light buzzed in the rather dark alley, catching subtle rain that fell more like a haze.
I wore my leather skirt just for him, knowing he’d have a peek of my bare ass and panties as I descended down. His strong arms reached for my waist, his touch appearing almost like a sting. First, he grazed my leg, then squeezed around my thigh. I wanted the attention, not of a movie star, but of the older man who wasn’t shy about his intentions. For the first time, I felt seen.
I let go, closing the distance, allowing him to swing me down in his arms.
“And what’s your grand plan?” He asked. Even with my heeled boots, he was massively tall, my head still needed to peer up to his height.
“A secret.” I hummed, still unsure where to go, but leading Alejandro felt like a test of his patience. I liked it.
“A tease?” he asked, disappointed we weren’t staying in the dark alley. “You better take me then, good girl, before I take you myself.” How could I resist any further, as if he hadn’t weakened me enough? His words and his eyes were like a wrecking ball to my nerves. I pressed my back against the wall, tugging at my skirt.
“And if I protest?” I asked, assuming the answer.
“I’ll correct you.” He lured, his finger trailed along my thighs, raising my skirt with a flick of his wrist. The cool air pressed against my body, my panties slicked with the wetness he caused from earlier tonight.
“And if I scream?” I reminded, recalling him to repeat the warning he gave that night at The Met, when I promised to leave. Only now, I asked it with a naughty grin, still nervous with how forward he was, something I’d never experienced from a man before.
“If you scream, it’ll only be to beg for more.” His return was a seething confidence, as if he knew my resistance was on the brink of total collapse. He knew I picked this skirt for him, but what he didn’t know—and nor did I—was the uncertainty of what I’d allow. If I had a choice, I’d keep my legs held together, but maybe he had other plans. “Just a taste,” his fingertip slowly traced the line outside of my panties. He was so close, the tip of his curled pinky was right at the cusp of my wetness. He would know then, what a good girl I was, eager to please the assuring god that praised my hard work. I bit my lip, almost leaning in as bright lights blinded along the alley. It was a car, making its way towards us.
“Not yet.” I gripped his hand, laughing nervously. I wondered what the driver saw as I pulled Alejandro out of the alley and into the busy sidewalk. He ran his thumb along the back of my hand, his daring smirk unbothered whether we’d been caught or not.
“Just in time,” he warned, “god knows the sweet mess we would have made.”
I pulled myself close to his body, not realizing that I looped my arm around his, as if it were natural. Suddenly, I felt subconscious of it, like I should pull away, but before I could, Alejandro squeezed the security of my placement. I couldn’t leave now, and I didn’t think he wanted me to either. He felt safe, unlike the things I’d read about him, and considering what just happened in the alley, this seemed tame, almost romantic.
We blended amongst the crowded street, walking along the unknowing residents and bright bodegas. “Are you used to this?” I asked. “Just walking around in the open?”
“Not without these,” he pulled out a pair of thick black sunglasses. He covered his beautiful brown eyes, keeping his head slightly lowered amongst the misty air. “Can’t cause a scene, now can we?”
“Is it really that bad?” I asked, familiar enough, but ignorant on the scope. It seemed almost miserable.
“Like every moment is a risk, an opportunity for things to get crazy.” He stared ahead, “Watch.” He lowered his eyes as a group of laughing women approached. They peeked up, hitching their mini dresses, clicking their heels along the pavement. Alejandro clutched his hand over mine, leaning lower to whisper. “This, Gemma, isn’t a group of people. This is a wave, and you either sink or float.”
Sink or float? A foreign idea to me, but an articulated one I understood instantly. That night after the play, just escaping the crowds to get to our car was chaotic, a distance no further than a hundred feet. We were swallowed alive, and without the aid of security, I wasn’t sure if we would’ve made it at all. I looked towards the group, studying what Alejandro couldn’t even look at.
One girl stared for a while, wrapped up in Alejandro, whose hood fell loosely around his face. Her expression held curious wonder, almost as if asking, could that be Alex Rivers? Alejandro tightened his hand around mine, using me as an anchor not to run. The girl never said anything, and as soon as the moment came, it left. “Today we float.” He declared, his hand loosening its grip.
