<b>Chapter 85 </b>
About an hour after Marceline left his room, Alejandro finally rose from his bed.
He hadn’t meant to go back downstairs. He figured he’d just try to sleep the rest of the right away. But his stomach had other ns.
It rumbled in protest, reminding him that he hadn’t had a proper meal all day.
The mansion was quiet, lights dimmed in the hallways, it waste, toote for any of the helpers to still be around.
So when he heard voices–two, to be exact he stopped mid step.
He checked the time. It was past eleven. The help would’ve left hours ago.
His brows furrowed as he followed the sound to the kitchen.
The overhead lights were dimmed, reced with the soft warm glow from under cab lighting. He paused just outside the archway.
One voice belonged to his mother.
The other, unmistakably, was Nivera.
Oh, so they were the ones?!
this before?” Mar
“You’re kidding me. <b>You’ve </b>never made this before?” Marceline sounded amused.
Niveraughed. “Not once, I’m a horrible cook. It’s embarrassing. I used to burn water.”
“Burn
water? How?”
“I forgot about it, and by the time I got back, it had evaporated?!” Nivera cried out.
-So, how did you
survive?”
Back when I lived alone, it was either takeout or starving And sometimes… starving <b>won</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“You seriously starved?” Marceline <b>asked </b>with genuine disbelief,ughter in her tone.
“I did!” Nivera responded dramatically. “Well, not starved starved. More like I just waited until absolutely had to eat. Or ordered something questionable at midnight.”
“And you survived like that alone for over a year?!
never said I thrived”
Marceline chuckled again, the so, melodic sound Alejandro hadn’t heard from her in ages. “Well, we’ll have to change that.”
Alejandro crept closer, careful not to make noise. Through the sliver between the wall and cab, he saw them
His mother was at the stove, stirring something in a deep pot, and Nivera stood beside her, an apron somehow tied over her ck nightshirt, sleeves rolled up, holding a wooden spoon like it was a foreign object.
“This…. is one of Alejandro’s favourites,” Marceline said warmly, tapping the spoon on the edge.
“My son pretends like he hates homey <b>things</b>, but this dish used to make him shot up at the table. <b>I </b><b>knew </b>it was good when he stoppedining about the world for a whole five minutes.”
Nivera grinned, “<b>Well</b><b>, </b>I’m honoured to be part of this culinary adventure. But fair warning if anything goes wrong with the dish, it’s not my fault.”
Marceline let out another softugh.
Alejandro’s <b>chest </b>tightened, but not painfully. It was strange, hearing her like this. Like the woman she used to be hot trembling hot wociating haunted. Just… alive. He knew it wouldn’tst, not forever. But damn, it was good to see. Even if just for one right
And Nivera
She was helping his mother to cook one of his favourite meals. That knowledge stirred something beneath his skin. An unspoken gratitude. <b>And </b><b>desire</b>.
He stepped into the light and cleared his throat
Both women turned at the same time.
<b>“</b>You’re up,” Nivera said, eyes lighting briefly before she tucked it away. “Figured you’d be starving”
He raised a brow, “What’s going on here?”
“Ate–night kitchen takeover, Nivera responded, lifting the spoon like a weapon. “And before you ask, yes, I am allowed to be here.”
“She was more than willing,” Marceline added with a smile. “You must be starving, we were just finishing up. Give us five more minutes.”
Alejandro nodded and nced at the counter. Everything smelt incredible.
He noticed two things in particr,
His
mother hadn’t touched a knife. And Nivera was the one doing all the chopping.
It was subtle but intentional. However, he said nothing.
“Let me set the table,” he said, wanting to assist.
Minutes Later, the meal was done. Dinner was quiet at first. Peaceful Marceline asionally shared stories from Alejandro’s childhood, and Nivera <b>soaked </b>it all up,ughing more freely than he’d seen in days.
For once<b>, </b>his mother looked like herself. And for once, he didn’t feel <b>like </b><b>a </b>storm waiting to happen.
Alejandro didn’t say much at first, too busy devouring what he hadn’t realized he’d been craving for months.
When they finished, Marceline rose and began stacking tes.
“Let me help” Nivera said quickly, standing
<b>“</b>No,
o, no,” Marceline waved her off with a smile. “Spend time with my son. I’ll take care of it.”
“No, no,” Marceline waved her off gently. “Stay. Talk with him. I’ve got it.
<b>And </b>before either could argue, she <b>was </b>already turning toward the sink
Nivera shifted to stand.
Alejandro watched her from the corner of his <b>eye</b>. Sic
<b>She </b>paused. “Why?”
He turned fully toward her now, his eyeszy and <b>smiling </b><b>slowly</b>. “<b>Because </b>I said so<b>.” </b>
ed to gather a few items, but <b>the </b>moment she turned her back, she felt him behind her.
“No.” She refused as she moved to
And he was too close.
He stepped into her space, and instinctively, the cat back down, but instead of the chair,
He leaned over her, hands i
chiared on either
Her breath caught. “W
What are you doing?”
Tal, trapping her fathas
His voice dropped. “What I want!
She nced toward the kitchen, whispering. “Your mother’s
C’s right there?
“And? Does that matter to you?”
“Yes, it does.” Nivera narrowed he
her eyes. “Now move back before thees out ”
“You’re a bad cook,” he murmured, eyes twinkling. “But here you are. In my kitchen. Making my favourite dish”
She looked away, heat rushing to her cheeks.
“Are you falling in love with me, Niveta??
Her head snapped back to him. “No.”
“No?” he echoed, amused.
Remember, you don’t do love. And neither do I
“That’s true,” he said softly.
But something in her chest pinched. Something sharp. She hated that it hurt, She hated that she felt anything at all
Alejandro caught the flicker in her gaze.
“But just because I don’t do love” – he leaned closer, lips nearly brushing hers-“doesn’t mean I don’t do other things”
Her breath hitched as her body came <b>alive</b><b>. </b>“What things!”
He didn’t answer. He just smiled, wickedly and slowly.
“I still remember the taste of you.”
Her body tensed as she understood what he was saying
“The closet,” he said, voice like silk. “That night. You remember too
Her mind betrayed her. The memory of that night shed <b>vividly</b>–trapped in the closet, his mouth on her, the way she’de undone from the heat of his tongue, his fingers in her core and the low growl of her name.
“Tell me you haven’t thought about it since<b>.” </b>
She turned her <b>head </b><b>away</b>. “I haven’t”
“No,” he murmured. “Pretending you don’t want, what you want.”
She hated that he was right.
wed how her b
body betrayed her.
Hated!
He dipped his head, his lips a breath from her ear, which caused her breath to hitch.
“Say the word, Nirvera. And I’ll remind you how good it feels to forget”
A te clinked in the kitchen, which made Nivers jerk back to her senses. Alejandro chuckled low, stepping back but out of her personal space.
“Go on,” he said softly “Pretend you don’t want it.”
She didn’t answer. Because she wasn’t sure if she could be convincingly this time.