“My plan is to keep you naked and in my bed for as long as possible, stopping only for food breaks.”
“And here I was, thinking you were going to wine and dine me.” I wasn’t, but I wouldn’t say no to seeing just how Emmanuel Lopez wines and dines a lady.
“You want to go out?” He looks at me curiously. “Like on dates?”
“Well, isn’t that what people do when they’re getting to know each other?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never dated anyone,” he says.
“I thought you had a teenage girlfriend.”
“We were kids, Evie. It’s not the same.” At the mention of her, Emmanuel’s whole persona changes. He looks away from me and something flickers in his eyes. Pain maybe?
Now I’m more curious about who this mystery girl is and what she did to hurt him so much. “Do you have her name on you too?” The question is out of my mouth before I can stop it.
“No, you are the only person I’ve wanted to imprint on my skin, on my soul, mi alma.”
“You don’t even know me. I still think it’s insane you did that.” I look down at his arm, and a small smile spreads across my face. “It is pretty, though.”
“It’s a reminder of what I have to lose if I fail,” he says, following my line of sight.
I don’t have it in me to tell him that he can’t fail, because I won’t be sticking around long enough for him to fuck anything up. It’s a week. What could possibly go wrong in a week?
“Are you planning on seeing your friends while we’re here?” I ask, changing the subject to something lighter.
“I’d prefer not to have to share your attention with anyone else,” he grunts.
“Okay. I haven’t told Charlotte I was coming to town. I don’t really want her to know that this is a thing. I’d rather we keep it between us.”
“You ashamed to be seen with me, mi alma?” Emmanuel quirks a brow.
“No, it’s not that. It’s just… it’s a week. We don’t need to have the world involved in what you and I do,” I explain.
Every time I mention the timeframe, Emmanuel’s jaw ticks. He doesn’t like it. But it is what it is. We live in different places.He’s a cartel boss. I’m a dress shop owner. We might be compatible in bed, but that’s where it ends.
“We will do this your way until your way doesn’t work anymore,” he says. I have no idea what he means by that. I also don’t really feel like arguing about it either, so I drop it.
I look around the plane. A girl really could get used to living in luxury. “This is a really nice jet.”
“You want one? I’ll buy you your own.” Emmanuel shrugs.
“Don’t you dare do anything stupid like that.” After seeing how generous he is with his friends and new niece, I wouldn’t put it past him. “I’m not here because you have more money than you know what to do with, E. I’m here because you have a really nice dick.” I smirk.
“My really nice dick thanks you for being here.” He laughs.
Chapter Twenty
Waking up to my girlfriend screaming out in pain isn’t a fucking walk in the park. I thought someone was actually in the room. I was ready to get my hands bloody. When I realized she was asleep, my first thought was why the fuck can’t I see into her brain? It’d make this so much easier if I could see her nightmares.
My second was… I don’t care what I have to do. I will get her to tell me what I need toknow.
I’ve been patient. I’ve been biting my damn tongue when I want to yell and scream at her for keeping this shit from me. We’ve been back in Vegas for two nights now. She hasn’t slept since, and I’m fucking drained, only catching an hour here and there myself. Because I don’t want to leave her alone longer than I need to. I’ve had to go out and deal with shit when it’s come up, but mostly I’ve been right by her side.
“Why do you look like that?” Evie is sitting across from me. We’re playing chess. Well, I’m teaching her how to play anyway.
“Like what?”
“Like you’ve already lost the game,” she says.
