A Deal with Alejandro (Rival Brothers 1) - Page 32

She sat. He shrugged off his coat, draped it over the armchair, leaving on the bespoke dinner suit. She dragged her gaze from his intrinsically masculine form as he sat down next to her. ‘Finish.’

A knot twisted inside her as unpleasant memories flooded her. ‘He wanted to hold the launch at one of his nightclubs. I went there to take pictures for the press packets. He suggested I’d get a better sense of his style if I tried on some of his lingerie. I refused.’

She ventured a glance at Alejandro.

His face was a rigid mask of fury. ‘And?’

‘He...insisted.’

‘How?’ he rasped.

Elise shivered. ‘He...restrained me. Said he wouldn’t let me leave until I gave him what he wanted.’

Alejandro surged to his feet. ‘Madre de Dios!’ He paced her living room in a tight circle, one hand slashing through his hair. Mid-pace, he jolted to a stop. ‘Did he...?’

Elise shook her head. ‘I... It didn’t get that far.’

‘Did you report him to the authorities?’ he jerked out.

Pain lanced her. ‘Yes. But he wasn’t charged.’

Darkness clouded his eyes. ‘Why the hell not?’

‘He had cameras in his nightclub, but he knew how to position himself so his actions seemed benign. And the parts where I fought back were out of shot. Also...’ She stopped.

‘What?’

‘He encouraged my parents it would be in Jameson’s interest if they convinced me to drop the allegations.’

‘Your parents? And did they?’

‘They didn’t have to. The case fell apart on its own.’

‘Dios mio,’ he breathed.

Elise had no idea tears had slipped free until he sat back down and cradled her face in his hands.

His thumbs dried her tears as he regarded her. ‘You’re strong and intelligent. You will not let this damage you,’ he declared.

She sniffed. ‘Aren’t we all damaged in some way?’

A solemn look entered his eyes. ‘Sí, we are. But yours shouldn’t centre on this. The bastard shouldn’t even cross your thoughts, never mind reduce you to tears.’

She blinked rapidly, unwilling to show how his words affected her. ‘I told you I didn’t want to talk about it,’ she murmured.

A hint of regret washed over his face. ‘Lo siento, but you intrigue me in many ways, Elise. I couldn’t help myself.’

She didn’t have a response for that because his expression was changing, morphing from anger into something equally powerful. Something that caused her breath to shorten, then hitch in her throat.

His hand slid to her nape.

‘Elise.’ Her name was a deep intonation that drew a shudder from her.

She met his fiery green gaze. Her mouth parted on a needy little whimper. His eyes latched on her lips and the air thickened with sensual promise.

He was going to kiss her. She wasn’t going to stop him.

Because...because...

Tags: Maya Blake Rival Brothers Billionaire Romance
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