“Why are we going to Phoenix?” Eva asked Alexander sitting beside her with his eyes closed, ready to catch up on some sleep. “There’s a 52-minute layover time at Phoenix.” Eva waited for him to say more but he didn’t and she picked up a magazine to read. How could he sleep when she was bursting with excitement? “Buckle your seat belt for takeoff!” As the aircraft took its position on the runway, Eva struggled with her seatbelt since this was her first time on a flight. Alexander leaned forward and buckled it instead for her, his arm brushing against her curves in the process. Eva’s cheeks colored and she learned the technique so that she wouldn’t need his help the next time. The aircraft surged ahead and took off at last but apart from her ears, nothing seemed much affected. Alexander opened his eyes to give her a once-over when they were airborne. “All fine so far?” he asked with a smile, seeing her pull her ears. “Yes, but maybe I’ve become deaf,” she chuckled. “Here, chew this
Eva was shocked at the roots of her hair at what he just told her. If she had known about this before, she wouldn’t have ever agreed to accompany him on this trip. Maybe that was the exact reason he kept it from her! “I shouldn’t have come along with you.” She felt guilty that he had to travel with her when he could easily have gone on the private jet with his family. Alexander looked a little annoyed at her comment and strode towards the master bedroom. “Be ready in a few minutes. We’re going out,” he said over his shoulders before disappearing inside the room, leaving her alone to figure out where she would sleep. Eva pulled her luggage towards the smaller room that seemed to be a children’s room, but nevertheless, it would be fine for her. She could adjust. She wondered why Alexander traveled with her instead, even after knowing his parents' plans. Did he want to be with her instead of with Beatrix? Her heart sang with excitement and she quickly freshened up, eager to go out with
After a delightful lunch, Alexander led her to a car waiting for them. In twenty minutes they drove over to the iconic Sonoran Desert where they embarked on a guided tour in a 4-person ATV that Alexander had booked only for themselves. Accompanied by a guide, they traveled through giant Saguaro cacti, and deep canyons carved by flash-flooding rains while learning about the plant life, wildlife, and stories of the Native Americans who lived there. With Alexander’s arm behind her seat, cocooning her, Eva was lost in the experience of a lifetime! She could spend a lifetime in his company if only he would allow her! They soaked in the breath-taking views of the Agua Fria River and its valley, “Wow, deer!” gasped Eva, spotting a herd of deer a little further up the creek crossing. “Yes, ma’am. You can spot coyotes, bobcats, deer, rabbits, quails, and even rattlesnakes here,” informed the driver. True to his words, in the next 3 hours, they spotted almost all of them. The driver dropp
Eva took a step towards Alexander’s room but stopped in her tracks at seeing him angrily walk out with his phone stuck to his ear. “Yes, I’m in Phoenix. I’m not f*cking answerable to you about anything, Beatrix! We’re not engaged anymore and neither will we ever be,” he yelled with barely suppressed anger. Eva paled, knowing that Beatrix had found out about their whereabouts. Would she drop by here? “What will you do here? I’ll leave by tomorrow morning. Stop following me around and stay where you are. It was your choice to travel with my parents. Don’t expect me there soon.” His glance fell upon a wide-eyed and apprehensive Eva, quietly standing in one corner.“I don’t want to listen to anything. We need to talk, and I’m coming over to Phoenix tomorrow to get you. Wait for me,” said Beatrix stubbornly as she disconnected the call. Alexander scoffed at her high-handed tone, staring at his phone in disbelief. “As if I’ll wait for her! Be ready to leave by 4 o’clock in the morning, E
Alexander unlocked the cottage and just as Eva had expected, it opened into a small living area with a bedroom at the backside. “Where will I sleep?” she gasped, staring at the queen-sized double bed with concern. “I can sleep in the car if you want me to. Sorry, this was all I could get. The place is full-booked for a wedding.”“No need to sleep in the car. You’ll get cramps,” she said, walking inside to inspect the place. There was no sofa where she could sleep. “There’s a patio outside. I’ll ask Mrs. Morris for a mattress and sleep there. You can use the bed,” he said, opening the door and walking out. Eva came to her senses and caught his hand to stop him. She wouldn’t be able to sleep after throwing him out. “No, you can sleep on the bed as long as you stay on your side,” she whispered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Did she look like a desperate teenager eager to sleep with her first crush? “I’m just concerned for your health since you’ll be driving for the next coupl
Eva’s breath hitched and his lips descended on hers, locking them together for the third time. Her body involuntarily responded to his kiss, grabbing his broad, muscular shoulders and pulling him closer to her. His mouth completely enveloped hers, and all the good sense of staying away from one another evaporated into thin air. His tongue explored her lips lightly till he expertly nudged them apart and glided deep inside her. A soft moan of surrender escaped her mouth as their tongues slid and moved slowly against each other. He devoured her mouth while her heart thumped loudly in her chest as if ready to jump out. She kissed him back, pressing herself closer to him. Alexander was overwhelmed to feel her response to him for the first time in his entire twenty-eight years of life. A deep groan of satisfaction escaped him and his hand slid to the back of her neck, cupping her head and angling her well to kiss her with a renewed vigor. Eva returned every feverish kiss of his, thrustin
The sun was about to set when they drove over to the Dead Horse Ranch State Park after visiting the nearby Tuzigoot National Monument. Although Alexander had come here before, watching the awestruck look on Eva’s face satisfied his soul. It was indeed worth the effort he took of collecting their dinner from the nearest Red Rock Grille and negotiating with the staff here for an overnight stay. Eva gasped with amazement at seeing the scenic Verde River with its three lagoons gushing alongside the campsite. Were they camping here? Would she sleep in a camp with him? A million questions flashed across her head, but Alexander drove further ahead, away from the campground to the log cabin circle tucked behind trees. It was a perfect haven, far from all the chaos. Eva’s eyes widened further at seeing the tiny one-room log cabins that looked half the size of the one they stayed in last night. It only meant one thing! The bed would be smaller than the one they slept in last night! Neverthele
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been here with you, right?” said Eva breathlessly. It was the first time he had asked her about her feelings, and Eva couldn’t evade his question. “I didn’t give you the option to opt-out. If I hadn’t forced you, would you still have come away with me?” “Yes. So, why did you want me to accompany you when you could easily have gone with Beatrix and your parents?” she asked, waiting eagerly for him to admit that he liked her just as she liked him. His hand sought hers and he threaded his fingers through hers. “I wasn’t with her out of my own free will, Eva. Uncle Desmond has done a lot for me and I couldn’t decline when he had a heart attack and pleaded with me to get engaged to Beatrix and take over his business. It was what my parents wanted, too. There was pressure from all sides, and I accepted my fate. For four years, I tried my best to do justice, but Beatrix wouldn’t leave her bad habits of partying and random hook-ups. Uncle Desmond was then diag