“Lind!” I called out as she looked over with a frown on her face. I knew that she wouldn’t want to leave but when she saw Alex, Lindsay smiled and ran over. “Let’s go home, okay?”
Alex took one look at the window and walked back out into the living room. “Pack a bag. We’re going to my place.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked as I looked at him from the couch.
“Rosie is already gone. We need to get you out of here now until that’s fixed, and I tell Carly she’s getting an alarm put in here.” I looked down the hall where I knew Li
ndsay was playing with a frown.
“Alex, don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit?” I demanded in a hiss as he stared at me.
“I don’t think you are responding to this like you need to be. Come to my apartment for the weekend and we’ll figure it out from there. Please.” He wasn’t asking, and I stood to tell Lindsay that we were going to Alex’s house for a couple of nights. I made it sound like an adventure. I headed into my room and packed a small bag with some clothes and toiletries after she was done but my heart was racing.
Lindsay asked me if everything was okay as I worked, and I assured her that it was. We hadn’t been to Alex’s loft together yet and I knew she’d love it. I just wished it was under better circumstances. When we were done, I took Lindsay to the living room to see Alex on his phone. He was hunched over, and something ached inside of me as I watched him before glancing down at Lindsay. I cleared my throat and he glanced up at us.
Alex ended the call and carried Lindsay to the car where we agreed that I’d ride with him. He wanted Rosie to have the car since I told her that we were leaving as well. I had to tell her about the window and the calls, scaring her. I’d never told her about Keith in detail like everyone else in my life. It was coming to a head now and I felt my head throbbing as we walked into the loft.
Under any other circumstances, I’d be excited to take Lindsay here. I’d know that it was a step towards our future that had been so bright until now. Lindsay tore across the open living room to the windows that offered their beautiful view as I smiled, and Alexander followed with our bags. I looked at him and noted the way his jaw was set with determination, arousing me with his protective nature. “What do you think?” He asked Lindsay as she turned away from the glass to run over to him to throw herself into his arms.
“Your house is so pretty. I can see everything.” She declared as I laughed. The way he was with her melted me on a daily basis. Alex took care of her like he did me and she looked at him like a father figure given that she’d never had one. He was filling every part of that role right now and I had to walk away to look outside.
Alex got her settled in front of the huge TV with some popcorn before he pulled me back to his room. ‘Are you okay?”
“This is happening fast.” I told him as he pulled me against him.
“It would be faster if you would have told me about this earlier. I’m scrambling now.” His tone lightly reprimanded me, and I pressed my face into his chest.
“It was nothing. Just some calls until the window. I am on the third floor and breaking it wouldn’t give them any entrance. It was probably just some kids messing around.” I told him as I breathed in his outdoor scent.
“Or it wasn’t.” He shot back as I sighed. “How bad was he, Soledad? I’ve seen the fear in your eyes sometimes. It’s this flash and I see your wheels turning to calm down.” His voice was gentle as he stroked my back. “You can talk to me.”
I pulled back and kissed him hard, needing his mouth. I was having issues transitioning from that to what we were becoming, as much as I loved watching him take care of us. Alex returned the kiss for a moment before pulling away. “He’s never met Lindsay. He doesn’t know her. This is about me for whatever reason.” I told him as Alex pressed his forehead against mine.
“I will do everything it takes to protect you. I am finding out everything I can about this guy.” Alex assured me before he brushed his lips against mine. We returned to Lindsay and made her spaghetti for dinner and made it like a sleepover. Once she was tucked into the large guest bedroom, I walked out into the living room to see him sipping a beer. It was Saturday and we could do this off the cuff tonight, but tomorrow was Sunday. Rosie watched Lindsay for me, so I could work. I wasn’t going to disappear on everyone months into my employment, particularly since I hadn’t told any of them too much about Keith.
Even Millie.
She knew that we didn’t see Lindsay’s dad. I told her what I told everyone about him abandoning us and left it at that.
“I am going to try to find you another place to live. That complex isn’t gated, and I need you secure.” He told me as I sat next to him. “Carly has several properties.”
“I like my apartment, Alex. It’s home to us. We’re on the highest floor and it would take some doing to get in without the key. You made sure of that.” I reminded him as I reached for his bottle.
“I didn’t know that there was this threat,” he murmured as I wondered if there even was. We were fine in Mendocino and I managed to avoid him. He knew that Michael hated him and didn’t come to our office. Michael knew everything about it and thinking about him made me sad. He was the one that told me Keith left after I did, heading for LA. He listened to everything in town.
“It might not be. I’ve avoided him in the past.” I said as he stared at me for a long moment. “I’m here because of him. Keith was settling in too well in Mendocino and I came here to start over. I didn’t want Lindsay to have to deal with it.”
“Did he hurt you then?” Alex asked as I shook my head. He didn’t. Keith just liked watching me scramble to avoid him and the stress it caused me.
“No. I just wanted my own life.” I was talking to Michael about helping him online if he branched out, but no plans were made yet. I was busy at work and loved my job. I was starting to love everything about my life right now and Keith was not going to ruin that for me. “Mendocino was small. I loved it, but it was small and somewhat remote. This is a city with people everywhere. I love it here.”
“You’re going to stay here, Soledad. I’ll see to that because I can’t imagine my life without the both of you now.” Alex stared into my eyes and I saw the feelings there. He didn’t tell me that he loved me, but the words spoken were the same thing for me. Alex was a part of my life and my daughter’s now and it broke my heart to picture leaving him. I watched as he leaned in to kiss me, first softly and then harder. I pressed into it, craving him as my nipples strained in my shirt.
His tongue danced with mine as he slipped a hand between my legs to find me hot and wet for him. I was wearing leggings and his finger grazed my clit as I held in a moan. His loft was large, but we still had a child here.
We stood and moved to his room, closing the door before he carried me to the bed. I was comfortable doing this now, knowing how well Lindsay slept. We also both accepted that interruptions happened even though they were difficult. Tonight, he pressed me back against the bed to kiss me hard. I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull him closer to me, needing him deep inside of me.
We stripped quickly before he slipped inside of me. We’d stopped using condoms since I was protected. He knew that he was clean and tested himself to prove it once we decided to be exclusive. I loved the feeling of his bare cock inside of me, knowing that Alex could feel everything. Alex slid deep, pausing to enjoy it before drawing back. He moved hard, and I sensed it helped with the tension inside of both of us as I rocked with him. I needed it as fast as he did, and we moved together, my hands sliding down his back.