Chapter 28 Elena
ELENA
Male voices wake me up from Nash’s bed. It takes me a couple of moments to orientate myself.
Last night, Nash wrapped his large arms around me and snuggled me all night, I fell asleep so quickly and deeply that I feel revitalized this morning, better than I usually do after a mission.
When I hear my name, I still. Shit. It’s Manuel, what the hell is he doing here?
And I’m in Nash’s bed wearing his shirt.
I quickly make my way to Nash’s glass doors that lead out to his balcony.
I jump down into the sand and run past the pool, which is lifted off the ground, and toward my room.
Thankfully, my balcony door is unlocked, and I slip in.
Quickly, I throw Nash’s tee off to the side, head into the bathroom, and grab a new set of contacts then get dressed into my pajamas and head out.
Nash turns when he sees me exit my room, and relief washes over his face.
“There’s my woman,” Manuel says with a smile as if the depravity from last night never happened.
He comes over and sweeps me up into his arms and nuzzles his face into my neck.
My eyes look over his shoulder, and I see the pained look on Nash’s face at seeing me in Manuel’s arms, and for the first time in my life, I feel dirty for the game that I’m playing.
Nash doesn’t deserve to watch me with another man. He’s a good guy.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”
Manuel stiffens, my tone not as pleasant as I had hoped. “Can we talk somewhere private?”
“Sure.” I nod, leading Manuel by the hand toward my room. As I shut the door behind me, I give Nash a small smile. Manuel makes himself at home on my bed, and I suck in a deep breath and take a seat.
“I came to check on you after last night,” he says. I see him looking at me with concern.
“That’s nice of you,” I say, giving him a smile.
“Are you okay?” he asks, looking at me curiously.
“Because of what happened at that party?” I question him.
“Yeah.”
“It was a little more than I thought it was going to be,” I answer quietly. Manuel looks relieved. “I’m surprised that you still want to see me after um …”
“Oh, sweetness,” he says, reaching over and pulling me into him. “You made me so proud,” he tells me.
“I didn’t want you to think any less of me because I … um …”
He shakes his head. “Never. You were so perfect.” He leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead. “But I do have some news about the gala.” I still beneath him. “You can’t go as my date anymore.” Huh. What? No. Do they suspect that I know Pearl?
“Why?”
Manuel tenses before rolling his eyes. “My wife is coming back from Europe for the event.”
“Your wife?” I gasp.
“Technically, she is. We are separated. She lives in Europe, while I live here. We don’t believe in divorce, so we live separate lives. I know she has lovers in Europe, and she knows I do here. It works.”
“Oh,” I answer.
“Yeah, so I’m sorry that you can’t be by my side at the event, but I was speaking to Nash, and I know he’s going to the event so I thought you could go with him, and we could catch up after the event.
There’s an after-party at my boss’s home, and I want you to come be my date for that,” Manuel explains.
“Is Nash invited to the after-party?”
“No.” Manuel bristles.
“Oh. Is it like last night’s party?”
“Did you tell him about last night?” Those dark eyes narrow on me.
“He wasn’t awake when I got home last night. I’ve only just woken up,” I explain to him.
He nods, seemingly pleased with that answer. “Nash is not welcome at the after-party, it is only for certain people. Is that a problem?” His voice turns stern for a second.
“No, not at all, it would be weird.” I tell him.
“Good.” He grins happily as if he's won the lottery. “Do you have any questions?”
“Only what to wear for the event because I want to look good for you. I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your boss.”
Manuel’s face softens. “You truly are perfect. I think I’m going to keep you.
” He grins, leaning in and placing a kiss on my cheek.
“Here,” he says, opening his wallet. “Go treat yourself to a beautiful dress. Nash will know where the best dress stores are. I want you to buy the most spectacular dress and wear it for me.” He passes me over handfuls of pesos.
“This is too much,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “Never too much for my woman.”
“I’m your woman now, am I? You remember I am leaving after the gala. That I was just here for a holiday.”
“I remember. But I’m hoping I can convince you to stay a little longer.
I was thinking once my wife leaves you could move in with me and stay.
You said you didn’t have a job to go back to so there’s nothing stopping you from extending your stay.
Maybe I could find you a job working for me. Would you like that?” he asks me.
“That is very generous of you, but I will have to think about it. Maybe I could go home for a week, say hi to my cat and family, and then come back for a month.”
“Maybe,” he answers through gritted teeth, unhappy with my answer. “We will discuss this later. I have to go, I have a meeting. I just wanted to see how you were.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you coming to see me,” I say, standing up, wrapping my arms around his waist, and hugging him.
“You’ll be at the gala, won’t you? You won’t leave before then?” he asks as he pats my hair.
“I’ve never been to a gala before, of course I will be there,” I say, looking up at him.
He grabs my throat and then squeezes it. “Send me pictures of the dresses you try on. I want to choose. The thought of you wearing something for me makes me hard.” He pushes his hardness against me. “If I had more time, I would fuck you right now but I’m running late.”
I try to swallow against his hand. “I’m a little sore this morning,” I confess to him.
His fingers relax against my neck. “You are?” he asks, feigning concern. I nod. “Okay, then I will let you rest. My wife arrives tomorrow from Paris. It will be hard for me to see you before the gala next week,” he explains.
Placing my hands on his chest, I let my fingers flex against his suit. “I don’t want to get you into trouble with your wife, so I understand.”
Manuel grins. “You’re such a fucking good girl, I don’t know how I got so lucky.” He leans in and kisses me. It takes everything in me not to gag as his lips press against mine. “I will see you after the gala where we can have some fun. Don’t forget I want photos.”
“I promise. I’ll send photos.”
He places a kiss on my forehead and strides out of my room. I hear him say goodbye to Nash, and then the front door shuts behind him. I reluctantly step out of my room into the living area where Nash is standing, glaring at the door Manuel exited through.
“Are you okay?” he asks, rushing toward me when he notices me standing there.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m great, actually.” Nash’s brows pull together. “He's going to leave me alone until the gala.” Nash seems surprised. “His wife is coming back from Europe, and I can’t be his date anymore.”
“He told me. Asked me to bring you as my plus one.”
I grin. “He said.”
“And this works for you?” Nash asks.
I wrap my arms around his neck. “Other than sending some photos of me in dresses, he’s going to leave me alone. Which means …” I bite my lip, nervous about what I’m going to ask. “Which means maybe you and I can spend some time together.”
Nash’s brows rise high on his face. “Like a date?” he questions me.
“Yeah. Just you and me pretending this life doesn’t exist for a while.”
“You know that Manuel has eyes and ears all over this peninsula. If we are seen together, it will get back to him,” Nash warns.
Oh. Of course it will, my face drops. “Hey,” he says, tipping my chin up to look at him.
“He doesn’t have access to my home, and I may know a couple of beaches where his tentacles don’t reach. ”
“I need to get out of here for a while,” I confess to him.
“Okay, then get changed. Grab your swimwear and I’ll take you out.”
I’m so excited as I race back into my room and get ready.
My phone buzzes and I see that Manuel is messaging someone. I haven’t checked my phone once since I got home, which was stupid of me.
Manuel: Just checked in on Carmen and she is fine. I knew she would be. That girl was born to be used.
Unknown Name: Her tight little cunt last night was heaven.
Manuel: She’s a fantastic fuck.
My stomach rolls. But I shake it away, I’m not going to let these men ruin my day.
Unknown Name: You’re lucky she helped you complete the initiation for your boys.
His boys? What initiation.
Manuel: Why do you think I blindfolded her? Make her think it was part of the kinky games we were playing. She probably thought it was my friends fucking her.
Bile rises. He let his sons fuck me.
Unknown Name: She looked like she enjoyed it the way she was moaning.
Manuel: The girl is fucking kinky.
Unknown Name: No shit. It’s fucking hot. She’s so fucking perfect. You’re one lucky bastard to have found her.
Manuel: She’s the best I’ve ever found. I’m not sure if I want to let her go in with the other girls. She’s too special.
Unknown Name: Damn right she’s special. If I found that woman first, there is no way in hell, I would let her join those whores.
She’s priceless. I’d be making her my mistress and making her serve me.
She’d be my secret weapon. Can you imagine all the favors you could procure because of her fucking mouth and cunt.
Manuel: Right? That’s exactly what I’m thinking. Except my fucking wife decided to come back from Europe for the gala disrupting my plans.
Unknown Name: Why the fuck is she coming back?
Manuel: Checking on the boys. They are men now they don’t need her anymore.
Unknown Name: Give her some money and she will soon disappear again.
Manuel: Exactly. Except Pedro likes her, otherwise, I would put my foot down.
Unknown Name: Fuck. You’ve got no choice. Is your girl coming to the after-party?