Limits of Destiny (Volume 2)

by Sharlyn G. Branson

  4

  It was getting dark when we went for dinner at the Al Mahara restaurant at 8:00 p.m. As soon as we entered, we were immersed in a magical underwater world that filled the space around us.

  The restaurant’s entrance looked like a golden seashell and the tables, with their starched white cotton cloths, were stylishly decorated with small statues of fish. Napkins, skillfully folded in the shape of the hotel’s logo, were placed on classy light-blue glass plates.

  Alexander had made sure to book a table for two right next to the giant aquarium. This gave me a chance to take a good look at the numerous small and large colorful fish swimming inside. They were very pretty, with their bright colors and calmingly smooth and graceful movements.

  I carefully read through the menu and decided to order an octopus salad as a starter and a shellfish mix with rice and vegetable as a main. The choice of wine I left to Alexander. He ordered a bottle of white Château Guiraud. While he was selecting the wine, I gazed at his handsome face and couldn’t believe how lucky I was. Alexander Kraftberg was the most eligible bachelor in Switzerland. And why wouldn’t he be? Not only was he as rich as a king, but he was also incredibly beautiful, smart, and intelligent. And to top it all off, he radiated great masculinity and sex appeal, which made all women hanker after him.

  Yet he wanted me—an ordinary girl from Boston, who, in his eyes, was a beautiful woman.

  “I have to admit you know how to impress a woman. I’m sure the women you’ve brought here were properly charmed,” I said and examined the interior again.

  He took my hand in his and gently ran his thumb across it. “Alexia, how many times do I have to tell you you’re the first woman with whom I’ve shared my life? I haven’t brought any other woman here.”

  “Didn’t you fall in love in college?”

  “No, never.” He paused to think and continued. “I went out with various catwalk and glamour models but didn’t stay with them long. To me, they were like transparent glass I could see right through… They couldn’t impress me, which is why I replaced them quickly.”

  “You couldn’t have gone out just with shallow women,” I objected.

  Looking into my eyes, he admitted, “I was interested in only one thing then—sex—and as much as possible.” He stared at me and, naturally, read in my face that I wasn’t exactly comfortable hearing this. “Are you sure you want to know all this?”

  As hard as I found hearing about all these women, I needed him to tell me more about himself. So I quickly replied, “Yes, I’m curious… Even though everything you’ve just told me suggests you acted like a nasty womanizer.” I took a bite of my salad.

  He stared at me, wide-eyed.

  “Alexander, you can’t use women only for sex and then dump them.” I continued.

  “I know and I’m not proud of it, but back then, I didn’t think this way. I believed, having satisfied them sexually, it wouldn’t be a problem. After all, there are easy women too who are also looking just for a one-night stand.”

  “Yes, you’re right, though not all of them… Please, continue.”

  “After I became serious about running my business, it took the prime position in my life. I worked a lot, sometimes round the clock, and continued to entertain myself with sex. I didn’t want a serious relationship.”

  “So you didn’t give any woman a chance to show you her love?”

  “As egotistic as it sounds, I didn’t need any woman’s love. In fact, I used to run away from it like a vampire from holy water.” He laughed and flashed me his charming smile.

  “Hmm… like a vampire from holy water.” This amused me.

  He shrugged apologetically. “I ended my sexual relationships whenever I sensed the woman was starting to have feelings for me.”

  I tried to imagine how he must have looked ten years ago—a carefree, handsome young man, enjoying life, who was irresistible to women even then. I was certain if I’d met him then, I would have fallen for him just as deeply as I had now.

  “I also revealed my feelings for you, but you didn’t run away from me.”

  Alexander took a sip of his wine. “I told you, Alexia. It’s different with you. Nobody had made me feel like that before. It feels right with you. Not only are you very beautiful, but also intelligent, witty, and extremely devoted. I knew I had to have you the very first time I saw you.”

  “And you did. Though, to be fair, I wanted it too.”

  He raised my hand to his lips and tenderly kissed my fingers.

  “You must have been in two minds after that, which is why you didn’t call me,” I whispered.

  It was unpleasant remembering how he had tormented me by making me think he wasn’t interested in me.

  “I was busy and, as I told you, I wasn’t in Zurich. But I thought about us and I just couldn’t get you out of my head. I wanted you, but not just sexually. I simply wanted to be with you.”

  “So much that you didn’t call me,” I reminded him and raised my eyebrows.

  Alexander leaned forward, reached out, and then lightly touched the skin of my forearm with his fingers. “Alexia, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

  Thinking about his secrets, I took a deep breath and sighed. “There’s something you don’t want to share with me, Alexander. Don’t think I haven’t realized. But I’m not going to pressure you into telling me. I just want you to know you can trust me, just as I trust you. You know everything about me. I don’t have, and don’t want to, keep any secrets from you—”

  “Baby, I trust you.” He interrupted me. “If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have told you about the bomb.”

  “Yeah, yeah… And I’m supposed to take the bait.” I wiped my lips with the napkin and left it on the table.

  “Stop talking like that,” he chided me and gave me a warning look.

  “I’ve stopped.” I was silent for a while. “And now I’m deliberately changing the subject. Did you know Henry wants to get married?”

  Alexander didn’t hide his surprise. “No, he hasn’t mentioned it. I knew he was in a long-term relationship, but…”

  “But surely you know he was in the war in Iraq?”

  “Yes, I knew that,” he replied and leaned back in his chair.

  “Just thinking what he must have experienced there…”

  The waiter cleared away our empty plates and soon after served our mains.

  Alexander bent forward and looked into my eyes. “Don’t think about that. Henry’s mind is made of steel. Whatever he saw there only made him stronger, and now nothing scares him.”

  I didn’t want to think about the war, so I decided to tell him about my girlfriend and Francesco. “Lily called me today. She’s very happy I introduced her to Francesco.” I bit my lip to hide my self-satisfied smile.

  “Aha… Your expression tells me they’ve already had a roll in the hay.”

  “Don’t be so vulgar.” I feigned shock but couldn’t keep up the charade and giggled like a schoolgirl.

  “That means your plan worked,” he said and, looking amused, scratched his eyebrow.

  The soft blue light radiating from the aquarium highlighted his beautiful blue eyes even more. God, how handsome he is, I thought, and shivers ran down my spine. Feeling the tingle of arousal, I speared a shrimp to put it out of my mind. Then I chewed and swallowed it.

  “Yes, you could say that. You know my family doesn’t live in Zurich and Lily has always been the one person I can rely on. I love her like a sister.”

  “I want to be the one you trust and depend on,” he said softly and kissed the tips of my fingers.

  We continued to converse about life. I told him about my childhood, and he told me about his. I was glad he let me get to know him better. He gave me a chance to peek into his world. Listening to his funny teenager stories, I enjoyed every second spent with him. His deep, manly voice and infectious laughter charged me with energy. As I learned more about him, I realized Alexander was an extraordinary m
an who knew how to achieve his goals in life. And secretly, I caught myself envying him, while at the same time, I admired his strong character and powerful spirit.

  “Do you want to order dessert?” he asked.

  “Yes, but something small.”

  We chose a piece of chocolate cake sprinkled with hazelnut and almond bits. It was very tasty, melting in my mouth.

  Alexander reached over and used his finger to wipe the chocolate stuck to the corner of my mouth. Then he licked it, leaned toward me, and whispered, “Let’s finish off the dessert more quickly. I can’t control myself any longer. I can’t wait to…” Tenderly he caressed my palm, and I briefly closed my eyes.

  Our bodies wanted each other; there could be no doubt about that.

  “Let’s go.” I’d lost my appetite for the cake. Now I wanted him.

  We headed toward our suite. Alexander impatiently opened the door and, after he’d shut it behind me, he pressed me against the wall and started to kiss me passionately. His warm body rubbed against mine. His hot lips touched mine and his tongue started to explore its territory. I sensed the taste of wine mixed with his taste and moaned, digging my fingers into his lovely hair. My breath quickened. I was burning with desire. All I wanted was for us to merge into one, to give myself to him as I did whenever we made love.

  He impatiently ran his palm across my thigh. “Oh, baby,” he moaned. “You’re wearing a garter… I want to see you.”

  His fingers trembling, he undid the zipper of my dress and it fell to the floor. Bending down, he picked it up and threw it on the nearby small table. He took a step back and looked from head to toe, as if he were taking off my underwear with his eyes. Slowly, he licked his lower lip.

  “God, Alexia, you have no idea how sexy you are.” He grabbed me in his arms again. “I want you, baby.”

  Alexander put his palms on my neck and our lips touched again in a passionate and all-absorbing kiss. I was wet and thirsty for him, crazed with passion.

  He undid my bra and threw it on my dress. Then he bent down and his lips started to gently caress the skin of my breasts. When he started to suck strongly on one of my nipples, it hardened as if by order. I gasped for breath and moaned, impatiently ruffling his hair.

  Alexander knelt and started to shower my belly with kisses. I moaned. I couldn’t take it any longer; I was more than ready.

  “Put your leg over my shoulder,” he ordered me softly.

  I obeyed. He pulled my panties to the side, opened my vulva with his thumbs, and I felt his tongue on my throbbing clitoris.

  “My little pearl,” he whispered and started to outline circles, sucking hard on the pulsing area. His tongue knew no rest, moving rhythmically nonstop… until I came. My entire body shook and surrendered far too quickly.

  When I calmed down, he stood, put his arm around my waist, and inserted two fingers. He was gasping like me, his lips slightly parted, glistening with my juices. He pressed them against mine, and I tasted myself.

  “Can you taste how delicious you are? Scrumptious,” he said, panting, his lips still touching mine.

  Quickly, he started to move his index and middle fingers in and out of my pussy. I melted in his hands. He pressed himself tightly against me, and I felt his hard member on my thigh. Clinging to him, I started to kiss him passionately, insatiably grinding my hips, and then the orgasm washed over me for the second time. My mind couldn’t comprehend how he always managed to feel his way to my G-spot so skillfully… I had no idea.

  Tiredly, I rested my head on his shoulder, and when my breathing returned to normal, he picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. He flung aside the quilt and put me down on the sheets. As quick as a flash, he undressed himself. Last came off his tight boxers, and his huge, tumescent cock shone in all its glory. I bit my lower lip to suppress my desire.

  Alexander leaned over me, his eyes frenzied. He ripped my panties off with his fingers and smiled faintly. “I’ll buy you new ones… but the garter and stockings stay on. I want to fuck you in them.”

  My fingers ran across his back and I lifted my head to kiss the smooth skin of his chest. “I want you,” I whispered and spread my hips wide. I shuddered in expectation of his penis inside me, filling me up.

  Forcefully, he penetrated my wet vagina and moaned. “I’m crazy about you, Alexia.”

  His teeth sank in the soft part of my ear, and I screamed in pleasure. Every fiber of my being was as excited as it could get. He started to slowly insert and pull out his cock while our bodies writhed, limbs intertwined.

  I kept raising my hips to meet his thrusts. “Faster… It feels so good.”

  “Oh, baby,” he moaned and started to thrust quickly inside me—in and out, filling me up, driving me wild. And then the next astounding orgasm shook me.

  Alexander shouted my name. I felt his hot release and the convulsions of his huge member inside me. The sensation was out of this world.

  Alexander relaxed on top of me, and I held him tight against my body. His face was flushed and his eyes dark with passion. When his breathing gradually calmed, he carefully pulled out of me and turned me over in a position where my knees and elbows rested on the mattress and my butt was raised.

  “We’re not done yet, baby.” He gave me a hard slap on the butt.

  I yelped in pleasure. My body wept for his. With ease, Alexander penetrated me deeply and filled me up once more.

  “You’re mine, just mine.” His words came out as a wheeze. He fucked me like only he could, and the sensation was magical. And this enchantment lifted me high and whisked me away to a fairytale world until I was left with no breath.

  We came again together. The warm waves washed over us.

  I collapsed on the mattress facedown and murmured, “I can’t keep going.”

  Alexander bent and kissed my hair. “You’re gorgeous. I adore your body and simply can’t get enough of it.”

  He adjusted his embrace so I could lie on his chest. “I would be devastated if you left me. It would destroy me. As it would if you cheated on me.”

  Raising my head, I gazed into his azure eyes. All I felt was love—pure, devoted love, which protected me.

  “You’re all I need,” I murmured.

  He dug his fingers into my hair. “I want you just for myself.”

  “Hold me tight and don’t let go.”

  And he did. He held me tight in his muscular arms and it felt like I’d been carried off to heaven. I just knew my place was beside him.

  “My heart belongs to you, Alexander. I belong to you. All of me. I love you, baby,” I said quietly.

  “Me too,” he whispered and raised his head to kiss me on the nose.

  I thought I’d misheard him. “What did you say?”

  Alexander put his palms on my face and repeated, “I love you, Alexia Welson. I love you so much.”

  I felt like a surge of electricity had passed through me. I couldn’t believe the words I’d just heard. Alexander Kraftberg loves me. God… he loves me. And he doesn’t want us to ever split up. He wants us to be together.

  Tears of joy started to stream down my face. I’d really wanted to hear these words and finally, my wish had come true.

  Alexander stood over me and I lay supine on the mattress.

  “I was really hoping you would say that.”

  “Oh, baby, couldn’t you feel it? Can you not sense the powerful magical bond between us?” His expression was earnest and his eyes shone.

  “Yes, but I wanted to hear you say it out loud.” I wiped the tears with my fingers.

  Alexander grabbed my wrists and, his lips brushing against mine, whispered, “I… love… you, I love you, I love you.”

  * * *

  Just as I got dressed, I heard voices from the other room. Quickly, I brushed my hair and applied perfume to my skin. I put on face cream, some mascara, pink lip-gloss, and the earrings my beloved had given me yesterday.

  Opening the door, I found Alexander talking to some man who lo
oked around forty and had black hair going grey in places.

  Alexander noticed me and said, “Herzling, meet my girlfriend, Miss Alexia Welson.”

  “Nice to meet you,” the man said while we shook hands.

  We sat down to breakfast, and they continued to discuss the repairs to the hotel. The bomb had caused some serious damage, and now they had to arrange a complete overhaul of the lobby.

  Our personal butler had covered the table with heaps of treats—various types of breads, jams, chocolate spread, cold cuts, cheese, butter, and a variety of exotic fruits.

  I really needed a caffeine hit, so I immediately poured myself some coffee. I noticed the cups were very classy—exquisite fine china.

  “The cameras captured him a little before the workers arrived. They saw him holding a rucksack, which he left at the reception, but security mistook him for one of the workers, which is why they weren’t suspicious of his actions,” said Herzling, smoothing his hair. His grey eyes held a thoughtful look.

  “How did he manage to enter the building?” I asked. “It probably wasn’t open. Most likely he had an accomplice, somebody who gave him a key and the alarm code.”

  Alexander tilted his head and gave me a searching look. “You’re absolutely right, Alexia,” he replied and continued. “But we still have no clue who else is involved.”

  “Does this mean you know the perpetrator’s name?”

  “Yes, Ali Najam, a Pakistani. The police have searched his home. They found many explosive devices. It seems he is actively involved in such activities. Unfortunately, they still haven’t found him. He’s hiding somewhere, but they’ll get him eventually,” said Alexander, sipping his coffee.

  The blood drained from my face. If this Ali were to decide to attack Alexander again, I could die.

  Will they actually manage to find where he’s hiding? And what if he has absconded to Pakistan? How will they catch him then? How? All these questions caused me so much distress I felt sick.

  “Alexia, are you okay? You’re so pale,” asked Alexander, concerned. He moved his chair closer to mine, put his arm around my shoulders, and looked me in the eyes.