44

ALINA

My head felt heavy when I woke up. Thinking it was because of the way I was lying, I tried to roll to the other side, only, I was unable to. Something was trapping me. Something heavy.

Instantly, I started to panic. My breaths came out in ragged pants and my eyes started to tear up. I thought of James and the time he had snuck into the tent and tried to hurt me.

My eyes snapped shut, and I tried to force myself to forget all of it.

“Hey, hey.” The weight was instantly lifted off of me.

The voice that was calling my name sounded familiar, but far away. I felt like I could try to reach out and touch it.

“You’re fine, baby. You’re okay.” The person wrapped their arms around me, repeating the same words softly until I felt my heart slow and I could finally breathe again.

The heaviness in my chest eased, and I was back to feeling normal. I breathed out and slowly opened my eyes. I found myself staring into familiar dark eyes.

Alexander’s brows were creased in worry. I immediately wanted to sink and scream in horror. I just had another panic attack in his presence. God, he must think I’m so pathetic.

“Are you okay? Are you sure you’re fine?” he asked, stroking my cheeks gently.

I nodded and looked down, still feeling embarrassed he had to witness that.

“You’re okay.” He sighed, breathing out. He pulled me closer, his body hard against mine, then kissed my forehead.

Those butterflies swarmed in my stomach wildly. It felt so good, having his arms around me like this. One of the best feelings in the world. There was this voice in my head trying to say something regarding it, but I couldn’t really make out what it was saying.

“How do you feel?” Alexander asked as he moved back.

He was studying my face, like he was searching for something. I couldn’t help feeling self-conscious. I have never had anyone look at me the way he was. With so much scrutiny it felt like he could see past the clothes I was wearing, past my skin, and even deep down to my bone marrow.

He had a way of stripping me with his eyes. So much so that I felt more than just need with him.

“You’re not feeling cold? You didn’t hurt yourself anywhere?”

I was surprised by the line of questioning before it clicked in my head why he was asking all that. The memories from last night, or was it morning already?, trickled into my head. I remembered jumping into that water and feeling so cold, my entire body just froze and I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t do anything.

My flight or fight instinct immediately disappeared, and I just froze. The cold shook me to my very core. I don’t remember Alexander jumping into the water after me, but I assumed it was him. Because the next memory I had was that of him helping me out of my clothes and then hugging me, trying to make me warm with his body.

I blushed, from my hair roots right down to my toes. Which made him chuckle.

“Well, you have more color on you now. I’ll assume you’re completely fine.” His voice was amused.

I didn’t know what to do or say, so I shook my head.

“No?” he asked, his amusement growing.

I wished the ground would open up and swallow me instead of letting me live through this reality.

“You really just jumped into the water. Without any knowledge of swimming. Why did you do that?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious.

“I thought it would come to me,” I said without thinking.

He paused for a second before he burst into laughter. The sound was deep and rich, and I couldn’t help just staring at him. When his eyes returned to me, I looked away, not wanting to get caught gawking at him like some sort of weirdo.

“Clearly, it didn’t.” He replied, shaking his head. “Don’t do that again.”

It was a warning, but it came out softly.

“The doctor will come and check how you are, then she’ll give you your morning prescription. Stay in bed and don’t do anything for the rest of the day.”

I pursed my lips, trying to stop myself from arguing. I’m fine. I don’t need pills or anything. And I am always doing nothing. If anything, I should be told to do something.

I wasn’t a brat, so of course, I kept my mouth shut like a good little girl. Even though the words were fighting inside of me, trying to get out.

There was a rebellious side of me I’m just finding out about and it only likes coming out when Alexander is close. I’ll tag it down to my inability to save myself. Really, it seems I have zero sense of self-preservation, if yesterday is anything to go by.

“I have a meeting with my brother and some associates. I’ll be back for breakfast.” I nodded again, like the perfect girl.

I wasn’t prepared for Alexander, so when he got out of bed, my mouth couldn’t hold back the gasp of surprise. He was naked. Completely naked.

How had I not noticed that when he hugged me? Well, it was a good thing I didn’t notice because I would have probably melted, or done something equally embarrassing.

I forced my eyes to not stray any lower. The first glance at his… his… hard length had me shaking in fear. That thing was huge.

The memory of it sliding in and out of me made my lower belly clench. I pressed my thigh tightly together, hoping he couldn’t see the filthy thoughts running through my mind.

He walked to the bathroom, seemingly unbothered that he was stark naked.

He was so comfortable in his skin. That was probably why he thought it was normal to watch me dress all the time.

This should be payback time. Except my cheeks were flaming as I watched his taut ass before he entered the bathroom and closed the door.

I let out a huge breath I didn’t know I was holding.

My body was on fire.

I was suddenly too hot, I looked down. I was fully dressed in a shirt I know belongs to him and his sweatpants. They looked big on me.

I felt relieved that I wasn’t naked. But the wetness between my thighs was starting to become too much. And if he took his sweatpants. He would see it.

Why did the worst things always happen to me?