bChapter /bb63 /b

Nivera stood in the closet, staring at the intimidating number of dresses sprawled across the low velvet bench and dangling from bgolden /bhooks. She huffed as she tore open the first shopping bag. “You did this to yourself,” she muttered under her breath “Spend his money like ba /bbspot /bherk? now

Goodness, she would have never envisioned that Alejandra would make her try all the dresses as punishment.

She expected a scolding, but definitely not this.

The first dress was a bold red satin plece, hugging her curves in all the ces that would make a nun cry. She hesitated for a beat, then put it on and stepped out

The moment she opened the closet door and stepped out, Alejandro’s head turned.

His gaze dragged up her frame slowly–painfully slowly–from her legs to her hips, up her waist, resting on her chest for just a breath longer than polite, Then his eyes finally met hers

Heat. That was what ran through her body, all thanks to Alejandro’s intense gaze.

His expression had shifted. Gone was the teasing smirk. In its ce was something darker, quieter. Intense

And Nivera? She forgot how to breathe.

It was like he was seeing her for the first time, and if she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was mesmerized by her.

“Well?” she asked, shifting awkwardly under his scrutiny. “Say something,” she urged him.

Alejandro stood, slow and deliberate, smoothing out the creases in his shirt, which showed he was disoriented, as there were no creases in his crisply bironed /bshirt.

“Come bhere/b,” he ordered.

She blinked. “What-”

“said, “Come here“:”

It wasn’t a demand. It i

It wasn’t even a suggestion.

It was simply a statement, confident in the knowledge that she would.

And she did.

As she stepped forward, bAlejandro /bmoved around her like a bpredator /bclicing bprey/b. His fingers skimmed lightly over her shoulder, badjusting /bba /bmisced strap. He didn’t say anything yet. Didn’t have to. His touch was enough

Her breath hitched bas /bhe reached around to tug the zip a little higher.

The ghost of his fingers bbrushing /bher spine sent a shockwave through her bbody/b, and she went stock–still.

“You didn’t close it bproperly/bb,/b” he murmured behind her, his breath grazing her nape. “Or did you want me to notice?”

Her jaw clenched bas /bshe took a deep breath to gather herself. “You’re so full of yoursel

“And yet here you are trying bon /bbdress /bin fry room. On my bed. With my card.”

“It’s my room and my bed, and because you asked me to,” she stated.

20-47 Wed, 2330150 3

“Don’t forget, Caberta, this house belongs to me along with everything in II,” he whispered into her ear, which sent shivers down her 3pin

He then walked in front of her again, hands in his pockets now, eyes low and hungry. “Turn”

She did.

She groaned, hall annoyed, hall flustered, and twirled again

When she faced him once more, he gave a small nod. “Nice,”

“Just nice?” she asked, arching a brow.

“I’m trying not to say what I’m actually thinking,” he replied, eyes dropping briefly to her lips.

“And what are you thinking?” bNivera /bdared to ask.

“That I might need ba /bcage. And a lock. For you, so only I can get to see you in that dress.”

Nivera’s mouth parted, a thousand reactions bubbling at once, bnone /bof them appropriate.

Before she could respond, he gestured to the closet. “Next.”

The process continued–dress after dress, each more dangerous than thest.

A sleek emerald piece, ba /bck velvet gown with ba /bslit that revealed nearly all of her thigh, and a broyal /bblue backless dress that made Alejandro stop mid- sip of water and visibly swallow.

Atone point, she stepped out bin /bba /bsoft champagne dress, delicate straps sliding down her shoulders. His eyes pinned her in ce

“You’re not wearing that one.”

She blinked. “Why not?”

“Because if you do, I’ll have to kill someone. Probably ba /bfew people. That colour makes your skin glow.” He tilted his head. “And you’re not allowed to glow for anyone but me.

She stared at him. “That’s… possessive,”

He didn’t flinch. “I know. That should have been well established.”

The teasing tone was gone again. That intensity had returned. It filled the space like smoke, curling around her, making her feel bare even fully dressed.

She cleased her throat “There are three more. Want to keep going, or are you ready to choose your favourite now?”

Alejandro said nothing. He stepped forward again, eyes dropping to the zipper on her current gown.

bShe /braised a brow. “Problem?”

“Not a problem. Just.” His fingers reached out and undid the zipper hallway, pulling the gown slightly off her shoulder. “This one’s twisted. You didn’t

“I was in a rush,” she said bquickly/b, pulse hammering

He didn’t move.

Instead, he looked up at her, still crouched slightly behind her shoulder. “You should have called me.”

20:47 Wed, 23 Jul ????G

*I didn’t know ‘ripping gowns‘ was in your skill set,

“Oh, Nivera,” he murmured, “you have no idea what’s in my skill set,”

His voice dropped into something wicked. Her knees nearly gave out as she understand the innuenda behind his words, and a part of her wanted to rile him up so he’d let her experience it

He fixed the ripper again, brushing her skin once more, then backed away. “Put on thest one

She nodded, retreating like her life depended on it.

The final dress was sleek, sculpted, and dangerous. ck, floor–length, with a sit that ran all the way up one thigh and a plunging neckline that made her almost reconsider it.

She almost t reconsidered—almost. But the hunger to see Alejando’s reaction burned hotter.

She had saved this dress forst, and she’d be damned if she didn’t show him

When she stepped out, Alejandro stood waiting

He didn’t speak. His eyes simply moved–slowly, reverently–like she wasn’t even real

She watched as his jawy tightened, hands sliding into his pockets as if he needed to keep them there, or he’d do something he’d regret

He walked up to her and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

“This one,” bhe /bsaid softly. “This is the one you’ll wear tonight.”

Nivera swallowed. “Why?”

“Because you

look like a secret no one deserves to know,” he replied. “And I like watching men suffer.”

Sheughed, despite herself “You’re evil”

“No,” he murmured. “I’m focused. Don’t let any man get too close, Cabezota, or someone will lose their life.”

Nivera gulpedb, /bas she know Alejandro wasn’t joking.

He stepped back, giving her one bfinal /blook, “We leave in two hours. The beauty team should be here soon.”

Then he turned, calm as ever, and walked out.

Nivera stood frozen for a long moment, her heart in knots, her stomach still fluttering

bShe /bblooked /bat herself in the mirror and realized he was right.

She did look like a bsecret/b.

But more importantly?

She kind of wanted to be his secret.

What was happening to her

She should be furious, bresistant/b, and running. But all she could think of was how he looked bat /bher like she was something priceless. And how, deep down,

liked it.-

pter 64