<b>Chapter </b><b>91 </b>
You’re insufferabler
Tet, here you are as my girlfriend.”
Knowing as she wouldn’t win any at gument against Alejandro, the tuned and focused her attention out the window.
Alejandro chuckled <b>as </b>he reached out and pinched his clik. “So, are you going to thank me, or should I keep doing nice things out of the goodness of ity stone cold heart?”
“You don’t do nice things, Alejandro. You do calcted things.”
“Calctions can be kind… sometimes”
She snorted. “Not when ites to you.”
“So you think.” His voice was casual, but there <b>was </b>something underneath it. Something that tugged at her.
Nivera leaned back against the leather seat and crossed her legs.
Her heart <b>was </b>starting to beat a little too fast,
And it was all because of him. The way he looked at her. The way he never seemed bothered by anything, yet she could feel how tightly wound he was beneath that suit and smirk.
“Why do you always do that?” she asked quietly.
“Do what?”
“Go so <b>far</b>.”
*if you give people another chance, <b>you’ll </b>regret it in the end,” he stated, his voice turning cold and Nivera noticed his expression turning dark for one second before it changed back.
“Besides…” Alejandro tilted his head. “Because no one touches what’s mine and gets away with it”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not your property”
“Yes, yes, I <b>know</b>–you’ve said it multiple times. His smirk <b>faded </b>slightly. “That’s not what i said.”
You said no one
one touches what’s yours.”
And I meant ir”
There <b>was </b><b>a </b>weight in those words, something possessive and primal that made her stomach flutter even though she told herselfit shouldn’t
Nivera turned to look at him, his features bathed in the <b>soft </b>golden light streaming through the windows. There was no softness in his expression though. Just sincerity cloaked in steel
“I don’t want to owe you,” she said, quieter than before<b>. </b>
“You don’t
<b>“</b>You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.
Then why dok it feel like every time you do something for me, it gets harder to take int
Alejandro didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted again, leaned a little closer.
“Maybe you’re just not used to someone backing you up without asking for anything in return
Her throat tightened.
That was true, Painfully?ue.
She’d spent most of her life bartering for support, performing, proving, pleasing just to be taken seriously. And here was Alejandro, a man who imed to want nothing–yet gave so much, in the most twisted ways imaginable.
This was ecasitly why her defenses kicked back in..
“You’re impossible, you know that?”
“So you’ve said.”
“You scare me sometimes.”
Alejandro didn’t flinch. “Good.“”
Her brows lifted<b>. </b>
“Because I’d rather you fear me a little than doubt that I’ll always be on your
“You think that makes youforting
“Ithink it makes me honest
She looked away again, biting her bottom lip, trying to suppress the way her heart wacted to every word <b>he </b><b>said</b>.
Why did he <b>have </b>to say things like that? With such ease? Like he wasn’t aware of how tightly they wrapped around her?
ar grew again, thicker this time, <b>charged</b>. Alejandro reached into thepartment between them and pulled out a small velvet box<b>. </b>
The tension in the carp
<b>She </b>stared at it, and her mouth dropped open as her thoughts went wild.
“Before you ask–no, it’s not a ring. Calm your heartbeat,” he added with a smir
“I never said it <b>was</b>,” she cried out. “What is it?”
“Open it.”
She hesitated, then flipped the lid open.
Inside was a pair of diamond studs–small, elegant, sparkling ke fire under pressure.
“They’re beautiful,” she breathed. “But why?”
“<b>Because </b>I noticed you didn’t wear any earrings <b>today</b><b>!</b>”
“I was in a rush.”
“And I hate iplete looks,” he said. “Besides, they go with the dress.”
Nivera stared at him, speechless for a second. “You’re giving me diamonds because I forgot to essorize?”
<b>2/4 </b>
“Yep.”
“That’s…
She trailed off. Words weren’t enough especially
she didn’t know what to say.
“You’re doing it again,” she said after a moment.
“Doing what?”
“Making it impossible to think straight.”
Alejandro reached out, brushing her hand with his, “You don’t need to think straight around me. You just
“Safe isn’t the word I’d use.”
He chuckled lowly. “Terrified but fascinated?”
“That’s closer.”
The car slowed as they reached a red light, and Alejandro turned to her fully.
“You’re allowed to enjoy it, you know.”
“Enjoy what?”
“This. Me. Us. Whatever the hell this is,” he said. “You don’t have to keep fighting it”
“And if I do?”
He leaned in just a fraction. Then I’ll just keep reminding you how good it feels when you don’t.”
Her heart pounded in her chest. She hated how much that voice–low and deliberate got to her.
Nivera cleared her throat, looking away before he could read her too deeply.
“We’re not doing this in a moving vehicle.”
“Spoilsport.”
“You’re distracting me?
“<b>That’s </b>the <b>idea</b>,” he said.
“Why?“.
need to feel safe.
Alejandro smiled faintly. “Because I know what you’re like when you’re overthinking. And I needed to remind you that you crushed it <b>today</b>. You were brilliant. And anyone who <b>says </b>otherwise doesn’t get to <b>speak </b><b>again </b>
She stared at him, lips twitching
“You’re exhausting”
“And yet, you’re blushing”
She turned her face to the window, but he had <b>already </b>seen it. The slight flush on her cheeks. The way her lips curved despite herself.
“<i>You </i>th
thinks you’re clever, don’t you?” she muttered.
“Terribly,” he said. “But you like <b>it</b>.”
“I tolerate it.”
“You adore it.”
Thate y
you.”
“You wish.”
Sheughed then–real, unguarded–and that seemed to satisfy him more than anything
The car finally pulled up in front of his estate. He turned off the ignition and looked at her again, this time more softly.
“Youing in?<b>” </b>
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really,”
She rolled her eyes but followed him out.
As <b>they </b>walked toward the front door, she slipped the velvet box back into his hand,
“Hold onto it for now,” she <b>said</b>. “Too many nice things in one day might give me a heart attack”
Alejandro chuckled. “Then I space them out. One terrifying gesture at a time.”
“How generous<b>.</b><b>” </b>
He nced at her sidelong. “I’m very giving. Cabezota
That’s the problem. She thought to herself.