Alejandro rid himself of his belt next, the giant silver buckle clanking as he draped it over the arm of the chair. Ali sighed and squeezed her thighs together to ease the ache building inside her, but it was no use. Luckily, he was already unzipping his jeans, drawing them down over his hips and stepping out of them. He folded them, too, as meticulously as if he were folding clothes for sale. Her hand slid to her nipple as if by its own volition and she tweaked it impatiently as she watched him fold his pants, naked except for his boxer briefs. Come on, already, she thought. Don't tease me. Fuck me.
The sizable bulge tented its tight cotton prison, and she fought her urge to drop to her knees, crawl across the floor to him, and rub her face over the outline of his confined length. Instead she remained on the bed as he sauntered over, squeezing himself, and gave her knees a little slap until she spread them wide. "That's it," he said, his voice husky as she flattened her thighs to the bed, spread like wings. "Just like that, Baby. Let me see you." He smoothed his dark hand over the scrap of fabric covering her mound, and his thumb teased the damp, heated folds. When she sighed and arched against his touch, he chuckled and withdrew his hand.
"Patience, Baby."
"Don't tease me," she begged. Her limbs were on fire, the boiling between her thighs so intense she wanted nothing more than to rub herself off against any surface. When he climbed over her on his hands and knees, she thought, finally, I can have him inside me.
But Alejandro had no such plans. Instead he ordered her to keep her hands flat on the bed while he licked and nibbled her mouth.
"I thought about this all night," he breathed as his teeth caught her bottom lip. "You, like this. Waiting. Willing. All mine." He lowered himself to his elbows and cradled her head in one hand as he continued to kiss her. The space between their bodies filled with their collective heat and she swore she could feel his skin on hers, even though they were inches apart.
He reached down and tugged at the thong, pulling it tight and then twisting it so that the fabric rubbed torturously over her clit. She cried out from the delicious ache and he whispered, "So wet. So ready. I want to make you come until you can't stand it anymore and then I want to bury myself inside you."
All the while the fabric twisted, rubbed, slick on slick in the delta of her thighs. She tried to close her legs but he planted his knees firmly on the bed between her own. "I own this mouth," he growled, sucking her bottom lip between his teeth. "I own this cunt," he continued, tugging the fabric upward so that her back arched off the bed from the delicious abrasion.
Ali whimpered when she felt the buzz start in her womb, radiating outward, down her thighs and across her belly. Her legs began to shake as Alejandro kissed down her neck, finding the one spot guaranteed to drive her wild. His tongue danced against the sensitive spot on her throat, and with a final twist of the fabric he pushed her over the edge. Ali choked out his name as her orgasm consumed her, thrashing her head until he grabbed her hair and held her still.
"That's it, Baby. Just ride it. You're so beautiful when you come." He released his grip on her panties and the loss of pressure made her wail in frustration.
But Alejandro wasn't finished. He crawled down her quivering body, trailing soft kisses over her breasts and belly, across her hip, and down the inside of her thigh. The sensation of his beard on the delicate skin at the apex of her thighs so soon after orgasm made her grit her teeth from the overload. But it was nothing compared to the thrill of him tugging aside the lace with his thumb while dipping the tip of his tongue into the pooling nectar her panties had concealed. He made a sound deep in his throat, like a contented animal feeding, and his tongue took up a steady rhythm, swiping back and forth and then in circles until her thighs quivered again.
"No, no, no," she moaned. "It's too much-- too much--" He was really licking her, his tongue probing deep, and then he sucked her clit between his lips and eased his finger inside her. She felt herself shaking uncontrollably, the intense continuum of pleasure more than she could bear. Then she broke and it was impossible to stop the shrill cries of ecstasy coming from her throat. Alejandro kept sucking and her orgasm drew out and out, prolonged in all-consuming waves of pleasure. She had no choice but to ride those waves and struggle to breathe.
***
That moment, he thought, rubbing his mouth on the inside of her thigh as she shuddered before him. That moment belongs to me. That's what I know she's never given to any other man. It was that moment with her that always reaffirmed what they had between them. The depth of their passion, their intuitive physical connection--it was all right there when Ali gave herself to him in the ultimate act of surrender.
She curled onto her side, cupping her hand between her tightly closed thighs, protecting her hyper-sensitized sex. Spooning behind her, still swollen to bursting with his own need, Alejandro trailed tender kisses along the bumps of her spine. He wrapped his hands around the flare of her waist and smoothed over her curves until he was clutching the sweet, soft padding of her hips.
Ali murmured something unintelligible, still incoherent as she always was after orgasm, and his cock twitched to know that he had rendered her momentarily incapacitated with pleasure. She sighed and reached back for him, a lazy stretch that gave him a flash of bare tit, and he nipped at her shoulder. She recognized the signal for what it was and opened to him. With a satisfied groan against her shoulder blade, he slipped inside.
The friction was exquisite in that position, but the best part of it was that she was in his arms, pressed tight against his body as he made love to her. She was slick and hot and he had to fight himself to maintain the slow, steady pace guaranteed to drive her wild. He wanted another orgasm from her, and he was damn well determined to get it. If that meant he didn't come for hours, then so be it.
But he knew he wouldn't have to wait hours. Ali's breath caught with every deepening thrust, and he felt the sheen of perspiration forming on her heated skin. She clutched the sheets in front of her, and he could see the trembling in her arms as she chased her orgasm. "That's it, Baby," he murmured. "Give it to me, mami."
She moaned in response, squeezing her thighs even tighter around the base of his cock. He knew without looking that she was biting her lip, her eyes squeezed tightly shut the way she always did when she was close to coming. He loved knowing she was concentrating on the feeling of him rocking into her, hitting the spots deep inside her that made her body sing.
His fingers bit into her soft hips as he gripped her closer and picked up the pace a bit, pumping in and out of her, faster and faster. From the base of his spine he felt it gathering, drawing his balls up and preparing to burst forth. Ali let out a strangled whimper as he pounded her, giving her everything he had, his thighs slapping against her ass as he rocked into her welcoming depths.
When she arched and cried out his name he finally let go, giving her one final thrust before he emptied into her with a hoarse gasp of his own. He held her as she shuddered against him, silent but for her breathing. Her tangled hair tickled his nose as he buried his face in it, surrounding himself with her scent. Then he twisted it into a long rope behind her, exposing her shoulder and moist neck. He licked her throbbing artery and the delicate, salty notes of her perspiration blossomed on his tongue as he traced it over her skin.
"Ali, te quiero. Ali, te amare por siempre," he breathed against her, so quietly he didn't think she could even hear him. He had almost drifted off to sleep when she murmured, "Stay with me, Alejandro. I love you."
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
"Buenas dias," Ali heard Alejandro whisper as her eyes fluttered open. Propped on one elbow, he gazed down at her, and his fingers twined through her hair. Light streamed through the windows, bathing them both in the rosy glow of sunrise.
Her body ached, a pleasant reminder of the night before. Flashes of last night's endless lovemaking released butterflies in her belly as she nuzzled against him. "You're still here," she murmured, stretching her stiff limbs. "You're never her
e when I wake up."
"You asked me to stay." His eyes crinkled as he smiled at her. With his forefinger he traced the curve of her bottom lip and followed his feather-light touch with a tender kiss. "Ali," he whispered against her mouth.
"Alejandro," she whispered back, her eyes locking on his dark ones.
"What am I going to do with you?" He was so quiet she almost didn't hear him. "I don't think I can leave you a second time."
She didn't take her eyes from his as she kissed his knuckles. "Then don't leave me," she murmured. "Stay here in Arroyo Flats. Let me make you happy."
"You'd be sacrificing too much to be with me. I wouldn't want you to regret that someday."
Tears welled in Ali's eyes but she said nothing, just cupped Alejandro's stubbled jaw and stroked his cheek with her thumb while he spoke.
"Ten years ago, I was just a kid with no money, no life for myself. I couldn't give you anything you deserve. A beautiful house. Safety. Financial security. Healthy, happy children. Work that you love." He sighed and nuzzled face. "I want you to have all those things, Ali, whether you're with me or not. And I'd rather lose you than have you realize someday that you're disappointed in the life you share with me."
"Shhh, my love, don't..." she whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I could never--"
"You're wrong," he insisted. "You'll be disappointed if you settle for less than what you want." He kissed the tears from her eyes and the salt mingled between their lips when he covered her mouth with his own. "When you think about what you want most in life, what does that look like?"
Ali nestled against his solid chest. "I want the important things. I want to be happy, and I want to be with a man I love who loves me in return."
"Kids?" He nuzzled shyly into her neck.
She nodded. "And what about you? What do you see?"
"Kids, definitely," he began. "Lots of them. Boys and girls, all with dark hair and big, dark eyes. A beautiful, nurturing mother who never lets them feel unloved, not even for a second. A house, not huge, but big enough for all the children. It's a house full of love and joy. People visit and they leave smiling." He kissed her fingertips one by one. "I want you to be happy and loved, Ali. I don't know if I can give you more than that, but I want to try."
"I don't want you to go back to San Antonio," she whispered against his chest. "I wish you could stay right here with me."
"And what if I did stay?" His eyes were serious. "Do you know what that would mean for you? Could you give up the life you know to build a new one with me?"
"Yes." She nodded and ruffled her fingers through his chest hair. "I love you. And I know we can be happy together."
"Ali, mija..." He kissed her hair. "This is where we disagree. I know my life, and I don't think it's a life you want to be a part of."
"Try me," she dared. "Include me."
He shook his head. "No way."
"You don't even try!" she protested. "You think I'm judging you, but you're the one judging me. I don’t belong on a pedestal, Alejandro. I'm not scared of reality."
He sighed and pulled her close. "Maybe I do put you on a pedestal, but is that so wrong? I just want to keep you safe."
"The other guys have wives, girlfriends, kids. We've talked about this before. Why can't we just try?"
"I'm about to be President."
"Is that more dangerous?"
He chuckled. "It's pretty dangerous now, what we do. But yeah, I suppose it is. More dangerous for me, and more dangerous for you. And I'd go crazy if anything happened to you because of me."
"I'm perfectly safe," she whispered, running her hands down his chest.
"Until someday you're not." His eyes were serious even though he smiled gently at her. "And that's my worst fear."
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
"Are you serious about my world?" Alejandro asked later that morning.
She nodded bravely. "Yes."
He grinned and kissed her. "Then get dressed. I've got a meeting, and I'm taking you with me."
They were on the bike and halfway to the clubhouse when Alejandro felt Ali's grip around his waist tighten to the point of discomfort. He tried to get her to loosen her clutch, but her fingers dug into his jacket and refused to budge. When he glanced down at her hands, he saw that her knuckles were white. He took the next left into a parking lot and stopped the bike.
Her eyes were huge when he pulled off her helmet. "Baby, what's going on?" he asked. She was physically distressed: shaking, breathing shallowly, pale, and cold to the touch. "Talk to me," he urged.
"The black car..." she whispered, "it's following me."
"What car? Why would it be following you?"
"I don't know! All I know is, this black car has been up and down my road a bunch of times in the past month. Once two guys got out of it and went onto my property. Luckily Mr. Miller came home. But now it's back."
"Ali, this is very important. What kind of black car is it?"
"It's a Camaro. Newer. Black with a design on the hood."
"What kind of design?"
"A lime-green devil."
Alejandro breathed. "That car's not following you, it's following me. Those are the Diablos Verdes, and they're trying to move in on Arroyo Flats. We've been pushing back, but..." He trailed off and turned back to her. "Wait a minute. Why didn't you tell me about this before?"
She shrugged. "I didn't think it had anything to do with you or the club."
"But you were scared.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “You're still shaking. If you thought you were in some kind of danger, why didn't you say anything?"
"I just wanted them to go away, and I thought they had. After that day, I never saw the Camaro again. Not until today."
"Shit, Ali." He tried to hide his irritation, but he couldn't believe she'd kept that to herself. How could he be expected to keep her safe if she didn't keep him informed?
Her eyes were huge. "I really didn't think it had anything to do with you or the club," she repeated in a small voice. "Why do you think they were following me?"
He shook his head grimly. "I don't know. Maybe to find me. Maybe to deliver a message. Thank God they never got hold of you, Baby. You have no idea what kind of--" He broke off. His words were scaring her, and she was already terrified.
"Let's go to the clubhouse, okay? I want you to tell Pitbull and Popeye about this car."
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
"She's not here for the meeting, obviously," Alejandro said to the ten pairs of raised eyebrows that greeted him inside the clubhouse. "This is Ali... My Ali," he emphasized with a pointed look at Dobie, "And she's been followed for a couple weeks now by the Diablos."
The other guys exchanged glances.
"Well shit," mumbled Pitbull.
"The black Camaro has been driving by my ranch for weeks," she said. "I first saw it about three weeks ago. It drove up and down my road a few times, which is weird since I live on a dead-end road. Then I kept seeing it, always driving slowly past my driveway. The very last time I saw it before today there were two men in the car. They stopped at the edge of my property, then climbed the fence and went onto my land. I was just about to go ask them what they wanted when my neighbor came along and they took off."
"You were going to ask them what they wanted?" Alejandro asked in disbelief.
"They were on my property!" she flared. "I had my gun, don't worry."
The other looked slightly impressed. Alejandro was sure they hadn't pegged Ali for the pistol-packing type. "All right, Annie Oakley," he lectured. "Do not do that again. You pull a gun on guys like that you'll get yourself killed."
"I didn't know," Ali reminded him. "I thought they were just trespassers, not--" She stared at the men around her and fell silent.
"It's all right, Baby," he murmured. Eyebrows went up again all around the room at the endearment, and he ignored their curious stares as he kissed her. "You wait right here. We're going to be talking awhile. Watch TV, get comfortable. There'
s beer in the fridge if you want it."
Ali nodded shyly and the men filed into the back room. When they closed the door behind her and she was alone, the reality of what she was involved in hit her for the first time. Is this what it's going to be like--constantly looking over my shoulder? Worrying that everyone I see is out to do me harm? All I've done is trade one work-obsessed man for another, only this work is dangerous. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to calm the jitters that had plagued her since she saw the black car. What am I really involved in here?
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
Don’t You Dare: A Bad Boy MMA Fighter Romance Page 59