Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
I laugh and relax into him as we make our way upstairs, feeling lighter than ever before. When we reach the bedroom, Dix pushes the door open and tosses me onto the bed.
Then he climbs on top of me, our bodies perfectly entwined as he runs his fingers through my hair and gazes into my eyes.
At this moment, it feels like nothing can stop us from being together—like we’re made for each other.
But then reality sets in and reminds me that this is impossible. Our families will never accept any kind of relationship between us.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Dix
I watch Valentina pick up a piece of pulled pork coated in spicy barbecue sauce and savor the flavor. She’s using a pillow to hold her plate of food, and her legs are crossed at the ankle. Even naked, she has an air of royalty and class about her. “What do you do back at home?”
She looks at me and smiles, her green eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and lust. “Honestly? Mostly it’s shopping with my friends, trips to the salon, dinners out. The typical things of women in my position.” She looks away, almost ashamed.
I frown. “What position is that?”
“Oh, come on, Dix. You know.” She glares at me like I’ve offended her somehow. “This is my life. It’s ridiculous and vapid, and I want so much more.” She sighs as she falls back against the pillows propped up on the headboard. “I need more.”
I nod, feeling as if I’ve stepped on a landmine that’s going to blow any fucking second. Then, I lean forward and swipe away the sauce glistening on her bottom lip. “Tell me, Valentina, what is it that you want?”
She sighs again and rolls her eyes. “Everything,” she laughs, but there’s no joy in the sound. “I want a place in Papa’s business. I want to be in control of something, hell, anything, to have power and influence. I want to be more than just a pretty face or Arturo Rojas’ daughter.”
Her expression is serious and almost painful. “Is that not a possibility?”
She lets out another huff of laughter that lacks all the fun and joy we’ve had. “No, it’s not.”
I open my mouth to ask her why not, and she shoves a small piece of tortilla-wrapped pork inside. Damn, this food is good.
“It’s not possible because that is not how Papa does business. Women, no matter how brilliant or cunning, aren’t meant for the family business.”
Valentina pauses for a second and then looks at me, stuffing another piece of pork in my mouth.
“Do you know Papa has no female soldiers? None. He thinks a woman’s place is in the home.” She snorts and rolls her eyes. “I’ve been educated to be a good wife, but I want more than that.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Then why did he send you to Costa Rica alone?”
“I wasn’t alone. His soldiers were there as well. Papa wanted to find out who was selling arms to our enemies, and I told him I wanted to go. To be a part of the family.”
“And he trusted you to do the job? A woman?”
“Only after I threw a hussy fit and begged him to let me go.” Valentina snorts and rolls her eyes. “We didn’t give him the intel he needed, so he murdered those two men and forced me to marry Alejandro to ensure I would never do another assignment for him.”
“I think you mean hissy fit.” I smile. “And why don’t you want to stay home and have a family?”
“Dix, are you a chauvinist too?” Valentina asks, raising an eyebrow.
“No, Valentina. You do whatever your heart wants,” I reassure her.
Valentina sighs and looks away, taking her time to set the half-empty plate of food on the nightstand. She sits up tall, her gorgeous breasts on display, her smooth, honeyed skin drawing my gaze before I let my eyes meet hers. “I care about you Dix, a lot.”
I push away my food and sit up, sensing that there's more to her statement. “Good because I care about you too. But it feels like that’s not the end of your speech.”
“It’s not. We can’t ignore reality, Dix.”
I nod. “I know.”
“Do you? Because these hot trysts of ours, and they are fucking scorching hot, they can’t last forever.”
My head falls forward. “Yeah, I know that. That’s why I’m focused on today. On you. Right now.”
She shakes her head, blonde tendrils falling around her shoulders. “And tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow’s not here, baby,” I say, cupping her face in my hands. Her eyes wet with tears. God, I hate it when women cry.
“Valentina, I gotta be honest with you. I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop wanting you. Every fucking time I pick up the phone to text you, I want to smash that fucking thing to pieces because I know what you’re saying is true. This can only end badly for us.”