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She pulls back on a snort, her eyes finding and holding mine as their willing captive before she shakes her head. “That wasdark, pretty boy.”
I shrug, closing the distance to press a chaste but slightly overly long kiss to her cheek, then I drop my chin to her shoulder, whispering against her earlobe. “That’s not even the half of it.”
Pulling back, my gaze locks with hers. “Tonight is about getting to know one another on another level.” I heave a sigh, my throat mildly burning, and I shoot a hateful glance at the arancini on the tiles beside me.
Go fuck yourself, cheesy goodness!
When I bring my eyes back to Rey, she’s pink-cheeked, wide-eyed, and slightly open-mouthed. “Another level, Alex? Umm…the rules…umm…say that…”
I cut her off with a chuckle. “Oh, Sunshine. I know the rules. Sex with my hand for my foreseeable. I would never fuck with this…this…”
I trail off, uncertain of the word that I’m searching for, but she hits the nail on the head. “Bond?”
“Yes!” I grin. “I would never,evermess up this bond we have formed so effortlessly, Reyna. I don’tdorelationships. Or even friendships, to be fully honest. I rely solely, and happily, on myself. It’s been like that since—”
I abruptly cut myself off, pushing my back against the wall behind me and using it to help me to rise. I hold my hand out to Reyna as I stand over her, which she takes with a furrowed brow.
“Let’s eat some pasta before we dive off the deep end, okay?”
I grab the plated arancini from the countertop and, with a deep scowl, toss them right into the garbage disposal. “These wankers can fuck right off!”
CHAPTER11
REYNA
I relaxinto in my chair, expelling a sigh of contentment. “That was entirelytoodelicious!”
Alex swirls his glass of Sauvignon Blanc, tipping his head in thanks before he takes a sip.
Pushing to stand, I reach for our plates, only for Alex to place a firm but gentle hand on mine. “I got this. Sit back, enjoy your Sauv, and I’ll be back in two.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he arches a mischievous brow. “Drink the damn wine, and let me look after you, Sunshine.”
My lips twitch when I hold my hands up in surrender. “Fine, but ononecondition.”
He narrows his mirth-filled eyes. “Depends on the condition.”
“Let me make lunch for everyone tomorrow. I really want to keep my hands busy…” I tilt my head to the side, trying to find the right words. “I guess I’m feeling a little anxious about playing a role in front of your loved ones.”
Our gazes hold for a beat before he shrugs. “Sounds like a win-win. You’ve got yourself a deal.”
I sit back again, mentally running through what groceries I need to order for delivery so that I can make some of Lita’s traditional Costa Rican recipes. By the time Alex has everything cleared away, I have a solid menu already formed inside my head, and I’m rearing to get down and dirty in the state-of-the-art kitchen I’ve been surreptitiously admiring since arriving yesterday.
Alex tops up both of our wineglasses before depositing them on the coffee table in the center of the open living area. “Come on, Rey. Let’s get comfortable.”
By the time I make my way over, he has settled into the oversized deep purple L-shaped sofa with his left hand draped along the back.
I pluck our wineglasses from the table, passing one into his right hand before I sink down on his left side.
He reaches out with the index finger of his left hand to tuck my hair behind my ear, and I tamp down on the urge to look at him when a slew of goosebumps arises in the wake of that barest of touches.
Stop. It. Now!
The foolish heart of a foolish girl beats rapidly in my chest, and I take a large gulp of my wine in an attempt to distract myself from my newly discovered weakness: Alex DeMarco.
It’s an arrangement between…friends? Get that into your head, Marquez!
“I was hoping we could play a game, Rey.”
