14. Bella
FOURTEEN
Bella
We’re driving through parts of Brooklyn I’ve never seen before. The soft hum of the engine is the only sound. The dead men at the hotel keep popping in and out of my mind. Dead because of the man sitting next to me.
I glance over at Alex, his profile sharp in the dim light from the dashboard. He’s focused but his grip is relaxed on the steering wheel, like this is a Sunday afternoon drive.
“Alex,” I finally say, breaking the heavy silence. My voice trembles slightly. “Lily’s back at the hotel. Is she in danger? Could those people come for her if they know she’s my friend?”
“Way ahead of you,” Alex replies, his tone reassuring. “I had her collected already.”
I bite my lip, trying to hold back the tears. “You knew this was going to happen, didn’t you? Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Because I took care of it.”
“What about the police? Will they be looking for us?”
“The bodies will be gone already. The cops won’t get involved in this, trust me.”
The weight of his words settles heavily on me. I lean back against the seat, the reality of our situation sinking in. The road ahead seems endless.
“Is this why you tried to stay away from me?” I ask, needing to understand his motives.
Alex sighs, his shoulders relaxing a bit. “I didn’t want to drag you into this mess.”
I nod, feeling a mix of apprehension and excitement. “I understand. But I still don’t want to marry you.”
His expression hardens slightly, a hint of frustration in his eyes. “You have no choice. It’s the only way to keep you safe.”
I search his eyes, trying to find a trace of reassurance. “Why?”
He nods. “My name will protect you. It’ll only be for a couple of weeks anyway. Once I find what I’m after, we never need to see each other again. Annulment, divorce, whatever. It’s only short-term, trust me. I don’t want a marriage any more than you do.”
The admission hangs in the air, heavy and final. I shiver, not just from fear, but from the realization of what he’s capable of. And yet, I feel a strange sense of safety with him. It’s a contradiction that leaves me more confused than ever.
He glances at me, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and something softer. “I was trying to protect you, Bella. This world I’m involved in, it’s dangerous.”
I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not some fragile flower in your classroom, Alex. I deserve to know what’s going on, especially when it involves my life.”
“It’s better you don’t know.”
“Tell me, dammit.”
His lips twitch into a small, almost reluctant smile. “You’re stubborn, you know that?”
“And you’re controlling,” I retort.
He chuckles, a low, comforting sound. “Maybe. But I’m only trying to keep you safe. The things I can’t tell you, it’s to protect you, trust me.”
I nod, feeling a weird sense of relief wash over me. “Okay. Park that. What happens next?”
“We have to stay under the radar,” he explains, his tone serious. “You mustn’t tell anyone about this, especially the police. The clock is ticking, and we can’t afford any slip-ups.”
I nod, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Alright. But what about us?” I ask hesitantly, my cheeks flushing slightly. “What does all this mean for us?”
Alex’s gaze softens, and he reaches over to take my hand. “You still want to discuss that?”
We pull into the parking lot of a small, inconspicuous hotel. The neon sign flickers weakly, casting an eerie glow over the lot.
“We’ll stay here for the rest of the night,” Alex says, turning off the engine. “Get some sleep.”
We step out of the car, the hot night air hitting me like a solid wall. Alex leads the way to the hotel’s entrance, his hand firmly on my lower back.
He pays in cash, a quick transaction that leaves no trace. He lies effortlessly, giving the clerk fake names without pausing for breath.
As we walk up to the bedroom, I can’t help but notice the dingy hallways and the faint smell of lavender. When we enter the room, I see there’s only one bed.
My heart skips a beat, and I turn to Alex, feeling a mix of apprehension and something else—something I can’t quite name.
“There’s only one bed,” I say.
Alex shrugs, a hint of a smile on his lips. “So there is.” He turns slightly, catching my eye. “I just realized something,” he adds. “We don’t have any pajamas to change into.”
I blush, suddenly very aware of the fact that I’m still wearing my clothes from earlier. “Oh, right. I guess I didn’t think about that.”
He gives a small, awkward laugh. “Yeah, neither did I.” He stands up, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it onto a nearby chair. “Oh well, au naturel it is.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. I’m not sleeping naked.”
My eyes widen slightly as I take in the sight of his toned chest and abs, the hard lines of his muscles catching the dim light. “I’ll sleep in my boxers,” he says casually. “You can take off whatever you’re comfortable with or sleep in your clothes. I don’t give a shit.”
I nod, feeling a little flustered. “I’ll, um, go to the bathroom to change.”
Gathering my things, I retreat to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. Can I do this?
Before I lose my nerve, I strip down to my underwear, taking a deep breath as I try to calm my racing heart. The reality of the situation is setting in, and I feel a mix of nervousness and excitement.
“Alex, can you turn off the light?” I call out through the door, my voice wavering slightly.
“Sure,” he replies. A moment later, the room goes dark, leaving only the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the curtains.
I open the door and step out, my bare feet padding softly on the carpet. Alex is already under the covers, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light.
As I climb into bed beside him, the warmth of his body radiates towards me, igniting a fire deep within my core.
His strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close, and I can feel the hard press of his erection against my ass. It sends a jolt of electricity through my body, making me yearn for more.
I grind against him instinctively, biting my lip as I hear him growl with desire. His breath is hot against my neck, sending shivers down my spine. I reach behind me, my fingers brushing against the hard length of his shaft. He groans, bucking his hips into my hand.
"I thought you were tired," he murmurs, his voice strained with lust.
"Too tired to pretend I don’t want this," I whisper, my voice trembling with desire. "I want you, Alex."
He shifts me in place, turning me to face him. His lips capture mine in a fierce kiss, his tongue exploring my mouth with a hunger that makes me moan. I can feel his hands roaming over my body, teasing my breasts through my thin nightgown.
I pull back slightly, panting. "I’ve never done this before."
He cups my face in his hands, his gaze intense but filled with tenderness. "I will protect you, Bella. I’ll never hurt you or rush you into anything you’re not ready for."
He kisses me again, slower this time, his lips conveying a promise of safety and pleasure. "You say stop, we stop."
His hands continue to explore my body, his touch sending waves of pleasure coursing through me. I can feel the wetness pooling between my legs, and I reach down, my fingers slipping inside my panties. I gasp as I feel how wet I am, my body aching for him.
He groans, his hips bucking into my other hand as I stroke him through his boxers. "Fuck, Bella. You feel so good."
His fingers tease my clit, sending jolts of pleasure through my body. "Oh god, Alex. Don’t stop."
He chuckles, his voice low and dirty. "You like that, don’t you? You like it when I touch you like this?"
I nod, biting my lip as I feel the pleasure building. "Yes. Yes, I do."
He slips a finger inside me, his thumb still teasing my clit. I gasp, my hips bucking into his hand as he pumps his finger in and out of me. "You’re so tight, Bella. So fucking tight."
I can feel my orgasm building, and I moan, my body writhing beneath him. "I’m going to come."
He growls, his fingers working me harder and faster. "That’s it. Come for me. Come all over my hand."
I scream as the orgasm washes over me, my body shaking with pleasure. At the same moment, I feel his release, hot and wet against my fingers. He groans, his body trembling as he rides out his own orgasm.
We lay there, panting and spent, our bodies tangled together. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. I rest my head on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my cheek.
"That was incredible," I whisper, my voice filled with contentment.
He nods, his expression softening. "Get some rest, Bella. We have a long day ahead of us."
I lie back, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions. Despite everything, I feel a sense of safety with Alex. As I close my eyes, exhaustion finally takes over, and I drift off to sleep, the sound of his steady breathing beside me a comforting reminder that I’m not alone.
I wake up to the sound of Alex's breathing beside me. The early morning light filters through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow over the room.
For a moment, I just lie still, listening to the rhythm of his breaths and feeling a strange sense of peace despite the chaos of our situation.
I turn my head to look at him. Even in sleep, he seems tense, a furrow between his brows. I wonder what kind of life he's led to bring him to this point, to be the kind of man who kills so easily.
Carefully, I slip out of bed, trying not to wake him. I head to the small bathroom to freshen up. The water is lukewarm, but it feels good against my skin, washing away some of the stress and grime.
When I emerge, he’s awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes following my every move. There's an intensity in his gaze that sends a shiver down my spine.
"Morning," he says, his voice rough with sleep.
"Morning," I reply, my heart fluttering.
“That’s a first for me. I’m never asleep past five normally.” He stands up, stretching his arms. "We should get moving soon. We can't stay here long."
I nod, feeling the weight of our situation pressing down on me again. "Okay."
As we dress, the silence between us is heavy with unspoken words. I want to ask him so many things, but I'm not sure where to start. Finally, I muster up the courage.
"Alex," I say softly, "what's our next move?"
He glances at me, his expression unreadable. "We hotel hop, places they won't think to look for us. Get some fresh clothes. And we find your father.”
As we make our way to the car, I can't help but feel a sense of dread. The world outside seems hostile, filled with threats I can't see or understand.
We get into the car, and he starts the engine. We drive out of the hotel parking lot. I watch the scenery pass by, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
"Alex," I say after a while, "do you really think getting married will keep me safe?"
He reaches over and takes my hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "I know this isn't what you wanted, but it's the only way to keep you safe. And once this is over, we can go our separate ways.
“Believe me, I would not make a good husband long term. I want this over as fast as you do. Get everything back to the way it was before we met."