Page 97 of Till Death Do Us Part
My elbows gave out as my circulation caught aflame, singeing my insides as my body convulsed around his. Aléjandro didn’t stop, his guttural growl growing louder and the pressure of his grip on my hips growing stronger. I let out a moan as he stilled, his cock throbbed, and he filled me to overflowing.
Breaking our union, Aléjandro rolled to my side. I rolled, facing him and laid my hands on his wide chest. His heart beat strong and steady beneath my touch. I faintly recalled hearing the vibration of my phone. He surrounded me with his arms as I curled into the cocoon that was only the two of us. If anyone called, they could wait for tomorrow. I didn’t want to leave Aléjandro’s embrace.
I was almost asleep when I had a thought. Lifting my face, I looked at his eyes. His long lashes fluttered as he opened them.
“Is everything all right?”
Nodding, I smiled. “I thought of something I wanted to tell you.” He didn’t respond, waiting for me. “I wanted to tell you that I don’t regret our marriage.”
Aléjandro’s lips took mine, soft and slow, tasting and exploring. His fingers wove through my hair and his tongue tangoed with mine. The lingering kiss tingled my lips and warmed my soul in a way I’d never known.
A phrase with three words came to mind, but I couldn’t say them. My husband deserved to hear them, whether he’d ever feel the same way or not. Nevertheless, as I curled against him in the safety of his embrace, I chose to keep the phrase to myself.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Mia
When I awakened, Aléjandro’s side of the bed was cool. His lingering scent of bodywash and shampoo emanated from his pillow. Inhaling his scent, I smiled at the memory of him telling me about the apartment building. I liked seeing and hearing his happiness about something he’d done, something he used to think of as unimportant. I had no doubt that to the workers at Wanderland, this would be a monumental step.
After retrieving my nightgown from the floor and my panties lost within our sheets, I took care of business and made my way downstairs covered by a long robe. The blue sky over the ocean was mesmerizing as I stepped into the main area of our home. Viviana had the doors open to the pool, allowing a gentle breeze to fill the living area.
Viviana smiled and filled a cup with coffee and cream as I approached the breakfast bar. Even with the large new table, I preferred having breakfast sitting at the bar and talking to Viviana.
“Buenos días. Qué te gustaría para el desayuno?”
“I’m not very hungry. How about fruit and a bagel?”
“Ahora lo traigo.” She smiled. “You’re understanding more. Don’t be afraid to respond. Learning the words and accents takes practice.”
“Gracias,” I replied.
Viviana laughed.
Without me asking for assistance, Viviana had taken it upon herself to help me understand the Spanish language. My pronunciations were horrid and apparently, in some instances changed the meanings of my comments. Nevertheless, I appreciated her patience. In return, whenever she had a question, I helped her with English.
You know what they say about old dogs and new tricks.
My problem was that I didn’t think in Spanish. Every sentence was constructed in English in my head and then I spoke. I thought out the words: Have you seen Aléjandro? And then, I spoke,“Haz visto a Aléjandro?”
Viviana shook her head. “He must have left early. He was gone even before Silas and I woke.”
I wrapped my fingers around the warm coffee mug and looked out through the open glass doors toward the pool and ocean. With the summer months, the temperatures rose, but unlike in Missouri, the lack of humidity kept everything pleasant. As my focus came back indoors, I sat back contented with the way our home looked. The furnishings were quality yet not ostentatious, minimalistic yet warm and inviting.
As Viviana set a bowl of fresh fruit and a toasted bagel with cream cheese in front of me, she read my mind. “You’ve done a wonderful job. Your home is stunning.”
“A while back, I spoke to Aléjandro about a housewarming party.” I stabbed a piece of pineapple with my fork. “I think I’ve waited too long for Dario and Catalina to visit. With their baby only weeks away, I’d suspect my overprotective brother won’t allow Catalina to travel.”
“Who would you want to invite?”
I’d already given that plenty of thought. “Other members of my family. I want them to see that I’m all right, that Aléjandro and I are doing” —a smile came to my lips— “better than I could have imagined. That would include my mother, my brother Dante, my cousin Giorgia, and her husband, Antonio.”
I’d thought about my uncles; however, I decided we didn’t need their negativity. Uncle Carmine and Uncle Salvatore were still of the belief that Dario should have stepped aside, paving the way for one of them to be capo. They also didn’t hold back on their misgivings about the cartel or their concerns that the alliance would end up harming the famiglia.
Viviana nodded, leaning against the counter and holding her coffee cup. Her outfit made me grin. Today she was wearing a faded pair of blue jeans, an orange top, and white canvas loafers. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, making her appear younger than her years. After she and Silas were with us for a few weeks, I mentioned that uniforms weren’t necessary. Viviana took me at my word. She also explained that Silas’s casual attire was a suit without a tie. I didn’t expect to see him in blue jeans anytime soon. “And Jano’s family?”
I nodded. I’d given them a lot of consideration too. Some in the cartel may protest my presence, but nothing said accepted like the drug lord himself being there. “Jorge and Josefina. I hope they can make it. I’ll contact Josefina to find out when would be best for them. Rei, of course. Also, the Ruizes, all of them, Andrés’s family, Nicolas’s family, and Gerardo’s family. I’d say Felipe and Diego, but I’m certain they’ll be here in a professional capacity, as will you and Silas. Of course, Aléjandro wants to be certain everyone is safe.”
“It sounds like you need to set a date and let the men worry about the guards. We’ll have our hands full with the menu.”