I stepped out of the taxi cab and pressed the intercom at the main gate. I’d lied and told Alejandro that I was on the later flight. I didn’t want Jacob waiting for me at the airport. I just wanted to get into a cab like a normal twenty-five year old woman. Because that’s what I was now – that’s what I would be.
Jacob’s voice crackled over the intercom. I knew he could see me on the camera, but I felt the need to announce myself anyway.
‘Hi, Jacob, it’s me,’ I said.
‘Alana,’ he stammered. ‘We weren’t expecting you this early. I was supposed to pick you up.’
‘I know,’ I replied.
I wanted to walk into this house under my own steam, and of my own free will. I had to get this over with before I changed my mind. ‘But I’m here now. Can you let me in?’
‘Of course,’ he replied and then the electronic gates slowly opened.
I walked through the courtyard and to the front door which had already been opened by Magda who was waiting for me. ‘It’s good to have you back, Alana,’ she said with a smile.
I nodded at her as I passed. I’d been gone for less than a day but even to me it felt like longer. ‘Where is he?’ I asked her.
‘In the master suite,’ she replied.
A moment later, I walked into the master bedroom and saw him standing with his back to me, looking out of the doors leading to the balcony. He was dressed in only a pair of black sweatpants and I took a moment to admire him. He had a body that looked like it had been sculpted by Michelangelo himself.
He must have sensed me in the room because he turned and looked at me. ‘Alana?’
‘Hi,’ I said quietly.
‘You’re back?’
I nodded. ‘I spoke to my father. He confirmed everything.’
‘I know. Paulo told me what happened. Are you okay?’
I nodded and unconsciously rubbed my fingertips over my cheek. ‘I told him I never want to see him again, and I meant it. I know you’ll be angry with him, but I need you to promise me that you won’t go after him, Alejandro.’
He stared at me for a few moments, looking at the bruise on my cheek but then he nodded. ‘Okay. If that’s what you want?’
‘It is. He’s not worth it. I’d rather leave him and my mother to rot in their own little web of deceit they’ve woven around themselves.’
‘Is that why you came back? To plead for your father’s life?’
‘No. I came here to tell you that I want out of this ridiculous contract between the two of us.’ I watched his face fall and my heart almost broke in two, but this had to be said.
‘My father will never return that three million dollars, but you don’t get to buy me, Alejandro. I was never his to sell. You don’t get to buy love. Besides, mine is worth a hell of a lot more than that.’
‘I know that, Alana,’ he said as he stared at me with what I could have sworn were tears in his eyes.
I walked towards him until our bodies were just inches apart. I reached my hand to his face and brushed his jaw with my fingertips. ‘I want out of this contract, but I don’t want out of this marriage.’
He looked at me, his eyes searching my face. ‘What?’
‘You can’t buy my love, but you have earned it. I want to be your wife, Alex. But only for real. Not because it’s good for business, but because you can’t bear to wake up one more day without me by your side. Because the thought of living without me would be like living without air.’
He lifted his hand and gently tucked my hair behind my ear. ‘Then you already are my wife – for real,’ he growled.
I smiled at him. ‘Good. Because I love you, Alejandro Montoya.’
He didn’t answer me. He sealed his mouth over mine with a kiss so intense that it almost took my breath away. Then he was scooping me into his arms and carrying me to the bed. I giggled as he pulled off my skinny jeans and tossed them onto the floor.
‘You know that I love you more than anything in the world, don’t you, princess?’ he growled.
‘Yes, but I think you might have to stop calling me princess, now that you know I’m really not one.’
He crawled over me, holding himself up on his forearms. ‘You’ll always be my princesa, Alana, even when I fuck you like a puta.’
I knew what that word meant! I closed my eyes as his words washed over me. I loved his filthy mouth.
‘But never forget, that in my heart, and to everyone the outside world, eres mi reina.’
‘What does that mean?’ I blinked at him.
‘You are my queen,’ he whispered.
‘Hmm, Alana Montoya – Queen of L.A. I could get used to that.’
‘You’d better,’ he growled and then he kissed me again and I wondered what I had ever done to deserve the love of this incredible man.
