“I’m just glad we didn’t get caught.” He turns on to his side, holding me close. “I still have a lot of work to do in order to get these reports written, but I’ll do as much as I can while you’re in the language school.”
“I’m excited to visit Florence with you; the galleries, gardens, and the small cafés. There is so much to see.”
“I’m looking forward to that too, but I’m also looking forward to seeing your face when you catch your first glimpse of the beautiful apartment I’ve rented for us.”
“Hmm,” I mumble. “You were so sneaky cancelling the apartment I had rented belonging to the University, and paying the cancellation fees.”
“As though you mind.” He grins and pinches me on the bottom. “I want you away from the other students, so they don’t go getting any ideas about you.” Alexander brushes the hair back from my face. “I know I’m being possessive, Rachel. I can’t help how much I want the world to know you’re taken.”
My fingers slide along his hand and when he captures it we intertwine our fingers. “I honestly don’t mind that you’re possessive of me. I like it.” Resting my head on his chest, I add, “I’ve wanted to be with you like this for a long time, and if I’m honest with myself, I feel just as possessive over you. So it’s a two way street Mister.”
As silence settles around us once more my mind wanders to my sister. I so wanted to speak to her about this trip and about my plans to live with Alexander once I’m back in the states. But I couldn’t say any of that to her because of how she’s been with me. Something Ramon said is stuck in my mind. About whether or not something else is actually bothering Paige and she’s taking it out on me.
I should have made the time to find out if that was the case, and for that I feel guilty.
23
Alexander
I sit on the small balcony of the one-bedroom apartment I’ve hired for the month that we’re here. If I turn to my right, then I can enjoy the view of the ocean and of the cobbled stone street that leads down to it. The balcony from our bedroom has a direct view, and it’s Rachel’s favorite place to relax.
She should be relaxing now but as I watch her talk to her sister back in the states her shoulders are tense, and tears fall from her eyes. It’s difficult for me to sit here and wait it out, but I promised her I wouldn’t interfere with the call and I’m going to keep that promise.
Hearing Italian shouted rapidly three stories below, I glance down and watch a young couple dashing toward the ocean. There are a lot of arm motions while they seem to be shouting. I think they’re just enjoying themselves as opposed to arguing though.
My gaze follows them until they’re out of sight and then I turn and locate Rachel who is sitting on the sofa with her head and shoulders drooped.
She lifts her face and her eyes hold mine while she makes her way slowly toward me. I bring her onto my lap and hold her close allowing her the time she needs.
When she’s ready, she’ll talk to me and I’m just happy that I’m here to comfort her even if a small part of me realizes the problem here is me. It shouldn’t be. I love both of them. My heart belongs to Rachel, and Paige I’ve always considered a sister.
The situation is a mess and I want to be able to make it all go away because I hate seeing how upset Rachel is. Maybe when we get back I need to be the one to go and talk to Paige. Make her see how much I love and need Rachel.
“I don’t know what to say to her anymore,” Rachel says. “She was happy to hear my voice until I told her that you were here with me for the month. I asked her to talk to me instead of shouting and stating her opinion. I told her I really wanted to know what she had against us.”
Rachel sniffles into a tissue and sits up, her hands fisting in my shirt. “She told me she had nothing to say to me until I came crying to her … why would she think our relationship will fail? I know she loves you. Her attitude at the moment just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
I cradle Rachel in my arms and carry her into our apartment. It’s small and rustic, which is what I know Rachel was looking forward to. It’s probably more upscale than the average place in Florence, but I need some room to spread out my papers and pull the reports together.
We settle on the flowered sofa and enjoy the silence until I feel Rachel starting to relax in my arms. “Don’t let her ruin our trip to Italy okay? You’ve looked forward to this for so long.”
She nods. “I know. It just hurts.”
“I love you Rachel, and we’ll somehow get through to her when we get home.” I push her slightly away from me, which earns a frown. I grin. “I have an idea.” I quickly kiss her on the lips. “Why don’t we send her a postcard from here on a daily basis. We can just say ‘I love you’.”
“That’s a good idea,” she says excitedly, bouncing up from my lap. “I hope they all don’t arrive at the same time.”
“Some will probably arrive together, but not a month’s worth.” I grab her hand and tug her down and under me on the sofa.
She wiggles. “What are you after Mr. McKenzie?” Her grin is mischievous and then I feel her hands slip down the back of my gym shorts. Delicate fingers spread over the cheeks of my ass and squeeze.
I hiss. “You’re asking for the dirty kind of trouble,” I warn.
A dirty laugh bursts from between her lips as she rocks her pelvis against my hard on. “I’ve never done it in the ocean before.” A trail of heat follows her tongue along my neck and to my jaw. “I think it would be fun.”
I drop my forehead to her shoulder while moving my hips away from her. Trying to inhale when her hands are doing everything they can to encourage me to continue is killing me.
“Get your swimsuit on.” I hiss when her knee rubs my cock.