Always Been Mine (19 page)

He pulled her too him and hugged her. Feeling her in his arms again was overwhelming. He squeezed her tight and whispered in her ear. “Whatever it takes.”

His hands caressed her back. And he leaned in to kiss her. She let him. When he felt her tongue slip in his mouth, it was all he could do to control himself. Every inch of his body yearned for her, his muscles taut with anticipation. He’d felt lust for her before, but this was entirely different.

Alex would just have to be patient. The last thing he wanted to do was push and have her think he was only anxious for one reason. Although
that
part of his anxiety had reached the frantic stages. He buried his face in her hair.

The urgency had changed. Strangely, the thought of consummating the relationship as it never had been before, in an exclusive, no qualms, everything out on the table relationship was more overwhelming than anything. It occurred to him he’d never actually had one of those relationships. She’d been the closest he’d ever gotten. All those years he’d managed to screw things up every time things were beginning to really get serious, all because of his stupid pride. He was determined now to show her that all he wanted was her and her alone. She was all he’d thought about since the shower, and he wasn’t going to blow it now.

“We’ll take it as slow as you want, Val. I just hope you believe me when I say that nothing would make me happier than to know you’ll be mine, forever. I’m just sorry it took me this long to figure that out.” The thought of making her his wife and sealing his future with her for good was beginning to sound better and better. It amazed him now that he hadn’t thought about it sooner. But then his hopes for getting her back in his life were frail at best. He pecked her lips. “If I can make you half as crazy as I am about you, I’d be the happiest man in the world.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “Alex I can’t believe all those years you didn’t see that I was. Ever since we first started seeing each other back in high school, you pretty much ruined it for every guy I went out with after that.”

Alex frowned. The last thing he wanted to think about now was her with anyone else. “I doubt that.”

It was her turn to frown. Any trace of tears was gone. Humor now danced in her eyes. She leaned in and spoke right in his face. “Alex Moreno, you knew I had a crush on you before I even met you. Sarah told you. From the moment we met you always had the upper hand, and you knew it.”

“No I didn’t.” He put his forehead against hers. “Remember from the very beginning you’re the one that made it clear you just wanted a physical relationship. No strings attached.” He clenched his jaw. “I went along with it, because I was so busy with school, and what guy in their right mind would pass that up? Then you went and let Romero kiss you.” He gnashed his teeth before going on. “Really? Romero? He was so scrawny and stupid back then. You have no idea what a blow to my ego that was. I thought for sure I’d made no impression on you at all. Sure, you may have been into me, that is until you got to know me. From then on, I never knew what to think.”

Valerie seemed more stunned now than when he’d asked her to marry him. “You still remember that?”

“Of course I do.” How could he forget? It was the first time in his life he’d ever felt real jealousy. For the longest time, he thought it was just an emotion Valerie brought out in him because he’d never felt it for anyone else. Now he knew better. Good or bad, he’d never even come close to feeling
any
of the emotions Valerie brought out in him for anyone else.

A smile finally broke across Valerie’s face. Alex stared at her plump lips as she licked them. “You’re unbelievable. You wasted all that time not knowing how hopelessly insane I was about you.”

Alex hugged her again squeezing her with a groan. He still couldn’t believe what an enormous weight had been taken off his chest tonight. Valerie was coming home with him, and she was never leaving. There was still the issue of Bruce. He’d get back to that soon enough, but at the moment he just wanted to enjoy his long-awaited reunion with his future wife. Normally he’d be filled with raw anticipation but now an overwhelming tenderness consumed him.

When they got back to the bonfire, the first to make eye contact with him was Sal, and he smiled. He saw that Alex held Valerie’s hand firmly in his. The second they stopped walking, he waited only for her to slip on her shoes before wrapping himself around her from behind. He loved that she always wore the highest heels she could find, even for the beach. Her sandals must’ve been at least three inches tall. She looked so damned sexy in them.

Valerie unwound his hands from her waist and pulled him toward their chairs. Leaning over, she said something to Isabel after sitting down. Alex took the seat next to her, never once letting go of her hand. When Valerie finished chatting with Isabel, she leaned over and whispered. “Of course she’s okay with Romero taking her home.”

Alex glanced over at Isabel and Romero. Romero pulled Isabel to him and whispered something that cracked her up. He hadn’t seen Romero so well behaved at a gathering with alcohol in… well,
ever
. He’d always been the
fun
loud and loaded guy at these kinds of gatherings. He was so distracted with Isabel now he wasn’t even drinking.

He would’ve never put those two together. They were completely different. But there was no denying they were enjoying each other. Alex just hoped Romero wasn’t toying with Valerie’s roommate. He knew how much she meant to Valerie.

They hung out for what seemed like an eternity before making their exit. As discreet as he thought they’d be, there was no hiding the looks he got from all the idiots including his own brothers. Sal bounced his eyebrows at him when Alex tossed him his keys.

He drove back to his place and even though Valerie’s car was a stick, he wasn’t able to keep his hands off her the whole way.

They barely made it through the door when clothes started flying off. Alex picked Valerie up in his arms, kicked the door shut with his foot and took her into his room.

He slowed the pace once he had her in his bed. He’d always done that. It drove her insane, but he always said he wanted to enjoy every minute. He took his shirt off, revealing his massive chest and biceps, and crawled on top of her. She kissed him deep, running her hands along his hard back. She couldn’t get enough of his lips, his tongue, the taste of him.

She kissed him as savagely as he kissed her. Then his mouth moved all over her. Her ear, her chin, her neck—he made his way down slowly, causing her to arch her back. He sucked one of her nipples just hard enough to make her cry out with pleasure.

“God, I’ve missed you, baby.”

“I missed you too,” she promised breathlessly.

There would never be another man that made her feel like Alex did, no question about it now. She pressed her body against him and moaned with anticipation. From this, his breathing grew faster and heavier. While his hands caressed and teased, Valerie ran her hands over his rock solid arms.

He continued to run his thumb against her nipple while sucking on the other one. As long as the wait had been, Valerie couldn’t believe he was taking his time. She wanted him in her
now
. She was so ready. All she could do was gasp with pleasure as his tongue tugged at her nipple.

His hand moved slowly down her stomach making her tremble. When he reached down into her panties, she felt his breathing get rougher. “Alex, please.” She could barely get the desperate plea out.

He pulled at her panties, ripping them in the process, and she moaned, spreading her legs for him, willing him onto her already. His big hand cupped her and he groaned. His finger moved slowly in between her legs. Valerie licked her lips and kissed his beautiful hard shoulder. His finger found the most pleasurable of places, and he toyed with it. “You’re so warm and wet, sweetheart.”

He lifted his face to hers. Even his breath against her lips was a torment. But he didn’t kiss her. His piercing eyes watched her as his finger played with her slowly. She wriggled and gasped squeezing her eyes shut. She was going to climax much sooner than she’d expected. She bit her lip and spread her legs wider as her arousal heightened to a place only Alex could take her.

His finger moved faster now but rhythmically. So, perfectly, she wouldn’t last much longer. She could feel the build up. Her body tingled in delight. Then just as she felt her arousal peak, he leaned over, licked her bottom lip, and whispered. “You’re
mine
, Valerie, and always have been.”

She cried out as the lightening bolt of sensation overwhelmed her entire body. The finger that devastated her senses slid into her and moved around, making her orgasm that much stronger. She closed her eyes tight. His finger never stopped as she moaned, unashamed.

Catching her breath was a struggle. When she opened her eyes, he was still staring at her. “Beautiful, baby.” Then he donned that perfect smile. “My turn.”

Valerie lay there still breathing hard and enjoying the aftershocks. All her senses were still at their peak.

She didn’t realize, that Alex had stripped down to nothing, had slipped a condom on, and was now on her. His chiseled body was beautiful. She’d only seen sculptures that even came close to his. Everything was perfect, and then she saw
it
as big and ready as she remembered and fantasized about all this time away from him.

Immediately, she was aroused again. She spread her legs in raw anticipation and he lowered himself onto her. She arched her back, letting out another moan when she felt the hot wet tip touch her. Her hips lifted eagerly.

She was still throbbing, and yet she felt so ready for more. Alex put his hand behind her waist lifting her to him and entered her. He slid in, thrusting slowly at first.

“I’m sorry, baby. I can’t hold back anymore.” He strained to speak.

“Don’t” She wrapped her legs around his big hard waist wanting him in her deeper and harder.

Alex groaned louder, and she felt another climax building. Valerie lifted her hips wanting him as deep as possible. Each time she got closer and closer and when she finally cried out in pleasure, Alex groaned loudly. He buried himself in her and held tight. She usually loved watching him come, but she was busy enjoying her own immense pleasure. It was stronger than the first time. She continued to moan softly with every throb.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing you say that, sweetheart.” He lifted himself on his elbow and kissed her. “I love you, too. Forever.”

Valerie still couldn’t believe the impossibility of this night. If she woke up in her bed and this all had been a dream, she was going to kill someone.

*

The next morning, Alex was up early, annoyed that he hadn’t anticipated last night going so well, and didn’t schedule enough people to cover him today. He wanted nothing more than to stay home and enjoy Valerie all day. Instead, he’d be at the restaurant all day.

He just poured himself a cup of coffee when Valerie walked into the kitchen. She wore one of his t-shirts and nothing else. Remembering he’d torn her panties off last night, the thought of nothing on underneath gave him an immediate erection. “I’m sorry, Val. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Valerie smiled, walking to him. “After the night we had, I thought we’d sleep for days.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. He kissed her head and frowned. “I have to go into the restaurant today. But I’m gonna try to duck out of there early.”

Valerie looked up at him. “That’s okay. Do what you have to do, just don’t disappear on me.”

“Never again.” Alex leaned down and kissed her.

She looked so beautiful even in the morning. All her makeup was gone. Not that she wore that much, but after several sweaty rounds last night they’d taken a shower together. Her face was breathtakingly fresh.

Thoughts of everything they did last night flooded his mind, and he was ready to take her again. But it would have to wait. Time wasn’t on his side this morning but there were a few things Alex wanted to get straight with her immediately.

“You want coffee.”

“Mmm, yes please.”

Valerie walked over to his breakfast nook and sat down at the table. After pouring her a cup, he brought it over to her and sat down next to her. “So, tell me about this asshole who’s harassing you?”

Her expression changed at once. This obviously was not something she’d been expecting to talk about this morning. But if she was in any kind of danger, he needed to know now.

Valerie avoided his eyes and sipped on her coffee. “He’s angry.”

“About what?”