CHAPTER 4
As smoke poured into the stairwell, Alex grabbed me around the waist and swung me into his arms.
"Put me down, we can move faster if youre not carrying me."
Not listening, Alex leapt over the side of the railing. I tightened the grip I had around his neck and found I couldnt scream because the air left my lungs. I was sure I was going to die.
Closing my eyes, I waited for the impact, wondering if I would linger or if death would come quickly for me.
"What the hell?" I said when Alex landed with an unusual grace.
"Hold on tight baby and dont let go."
Like I would let go? Was the man crazy?
I was holding on like my life depended on it, and I was sure it did. I wanted to see what was going on, so I looked around and saw the stairwell was forty flights down on a zigzag pattern. Alex had probably jumped about thirty feet onto the next landing.
Okay, thirty feet was amazing, but probably not impossible with a great big rush of adrenaline after nearly being blown to smithereens, I thought.
I saw Roberto, with an unconscious Janel in his arms, land next to us with all of the grace of a jungle cat. His eyes went to mine, dark with a warning not to question anything right now. Then we were on the move again, this time with Roberto leaping first over the railing and Alex and following. We continued like that until we came to a door, which Alex pushed open and we were outside in the warm night with the sound of sirens in the distance. I judged it had probably been about five minutes since the explosion; ten at the most.
"Put me down."
23 Alex complied though he looked reluctant to do so. I went over to Roberto.
"Is Janel okay?"
"Yes, she is fine. She just fainted."
"Alexander, you stay here and deal with the authorities, and I will take the women back to my hotel."
A black SUV rounded the corner and came barreling down on us. I jumped and Roberto said, "Do not worry little one, they are with me."
Alex narrowed his eyes on Roberto and took a step forward.
"We do not have time for your foolishness Alexander. You know what must be done. We must protect this one. That is what has become important here tonight. Take care of the authorities, and then return to the Platza. I will need your help with these two. Come straight up to the penthouse, they just got a room upgrade."
Alex didnt say a word, but with a defiant look at Roberto, walked over to me and pulled me into his arms and pressed his mouth to mine. Instantly, a white-hot heat blossomed low in my body. I was not a virgin by any means, but in all my life Ive never had a reaction to a mans touch like I was having right now.
My mouth, without conscious thought, parted to let him deepen the kiss. I pressed my body into his and felt the hardness of his thighs brushing against my bare legs. I felt a rush of wetness between my thighs and Alex growled. I found myself trying to rub against him to relieve the aching need growing inside me. Alexs growl became a low moan as I ran my hands down his back and felt his tight ass under my hands. I could feel the muscles there flexing and... "Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, never let me go," I sang in my head.
All of a sudden we were drenched with what felt like ice water.
"What did you do that for?" I asked as I brushed
24 wet hair from my eyes.
"Someone has to act with a little decorum here. We are after all in the middle of a crime scene and are more than likely still in danger."
I looked at Roberto standing beside a tall man dressed in black. He was holding an empty Evian bottle of water. They both had smirks on their faces that I didnt like at all. I stepped back from Alex and saw a bulge in his pants and felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.
"Oh my God, what was I doing?"
I was so embarrassed I couldnt look at anyone. I hung my head with the knowledge I had just acted like a bitch in heat in front of an audience of strangers.
Alex gave Roberto a dirty look.
"Dont be embarrassed baby. Go with Roberto, and I will see you later and explain everything to you."
"Alexander, you need to go. Now!"
With a scowl aimed at Roberto, Alex walked away.
We got into the SUV and only then did Roberto turn to me and say, "I apologize Piccolina, there is much you do not understand this night. I ask you to trust me. I mean you and your friend no harm."
Not quite trusting my voice I just nodded to him because for some strange reason I did trust him. We rode the rest of the way in silence. I tried to make sense of everything that happened and couldnt. Janel and I are just two average women, pushing thirty, living life the best we could. My mind raced with all of the details from tonight, and one thought kept coming into my head, and it scared the hell out of me. I wasnt one prone to dramatics, but without a doubt, my life had somehow become altered tonight and would never be the same.
By the time we arrived back at the Platza, Janel had come awake with a groggy, "What happened?"
"Im not really sure," I replied. "But were
25 apparently going to get an explanation soon." I turned towards Roberto to give him a look that said we damn well better be getting an explanation. He just stared back at me with those dark disturbing eyes.
"How are you feeling?"
"Sort of like Ive been sleeping a long time and cant clear my head of the cobwebs."
"Well, when we get back to the hotel you can shower first and lie down for a bit." I replied.
"There is no reason you both cant shower" Roberto said slightly amused. "The penthouse suite has four full bathrooms in it."
"Penthouse??" Janel started to look like she was feeling better.
"I think its for the best that you ladies stay with me for a while, considering what happened tonight."
"Stay with you? What do you mean stay with you? Are you staying in the penthouse suite too?"
"Of course I am in the penthouse suite. I live there."
I wasnt sure I was comfortable with that. I mean I know its a penthouse, and it has to be big enough not to intrude on each other, but it made me uncomfortable to stay with a strange man.
You cant trust some gorgeous man you met a few hours ago. At least I couldnt, it looked like Janel was all right with everything as she started asking Roberto all kinds of questions about his penthouse and what its like living in a casino. I tried to hide a smile as I caught Robertos eye as he answered every question with what appeared to be great patience, but I saw slight tic start in his jaw.