TWENTY ONE

Last night was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride from which I never wanted to get off. No workout could ever match the natural endorphins coursing through my veins. I eventually fell asleep, falling into the deepest and most peaceful sleep I'd had in years.

The sun greets me first because I'm closest to the side of the room with the window. I open my eyes and turn to face Aliyah. She's still sleeping peacefully on her back, her long blonde strands splayed out in a halo around her beautiful face. It's cliche to say she looks angelic, but that's all I can think of when I look down at her resting.

In her sleep, she fidgets and breathes softly. I wish I could wake up every morning like this, with her by my side. This fiery young woman entered my life and turned it upside down in the best way possible. She helps me get through the long days at work and takes my mind off the everyday stress I face on a daily basis. While I initially thought her reason for approaching me in the alley was ridiculous, I'm now grateful she thought I was such a creep. There's no way our paths would have crossed otherwise.

Even without the sex, our relationship is fulfilling, but with the new addition, our chemistry is off the charts. I can't help but lean over and kiss her on the cheek.

Her eyes flutter open for a brief moment. Her eyes are drawn to me, and a smile spreads across her face.

She says, "Morning."

I brush a stray hair away from her face and kiss her again, this time on the lips. "I didn't mean to wake you," I apologize. "You were simply too lovely to pass up."

She stretches and shakes her head, raising her arms above her head. "It's all right. I'm sure it's past time for me to get up and move. I'm not sure when Romina and Andrew will return home, and I have some chores and errands to run first."

"No," I say as I rest my head on the pillow. "You're not allowed to leave. I'll pay you twice as much as she does to be my nanny."

I watch her now-bare breasts bounce freely as her body shakes with laughter.

"Do you realize you're a character?" I know you're itching to get back to work. There's a contract that needs to be signed or a meeting that needs to be held."

I shake my head and wrap a few of her hair strands around my finger. "You are the only thing on my calendar today, tomorrow, and every day in the near future."

"You say all the right things at all the right times," she says as she turns to face me and places a hand on my cheek before kissing me.

"I simply tell the truth," I explain. "I don't want to spend a single second apart from you unless absolutely necessary."

She lets go of her hand and kicks the rest of the sheets off. "Well, I'm afraid you'll have to spend some time away from me today." You're aware that you must share me with Andrew, but I promise to get back to you as soon as possible."

"All right," I say as I sit up in bed, my back against the leather headboard. "But at the very least, let's take a bath together before you leave."

She stands up and kisses me on the cheek. "A relaxing hot bath sounds ideal."

I get out of bed, naked, and go to the bathroom. "Wait right there while I gather everything."

She nods and winds her hair around her head, tying it into a knot on top of her head. As I walk into the newly remodeled bathroom, I begin pressing buttons on the Jacuzzi tub control panel that I had installed.

Hot water shoots from the jets, quickly filling the deep soaker tub. I pour in a scoop of my favorite muscle-relaxing bath salt before grabbing two large bath towels for us to use afterwards.

"I'm ready for you," I say, poking my head out the bathroom door.

Aliyah saunters out of bed and over to me, effortlessly sexy. She walks into the bathroom and points to the wall panel. "Last night, I noticed that thing flashing and wondered what it was for."

I walk over to the control panel and press a few buttons to show off all the bells and whistles. "I enjoy having things automated and ready to go at the touch of a button." My house in the Hills is wired in a similar manner. It takes all of the guesswork out of things, and I like the sleek look it gives a room."

She nods and reaches down to dip her toes in the water. "It feels just right," she says.

"Go ahead and get in," I say, holding her hand as she steps into the tub and takes a seat. She bites her bottom lip and cranes her neck to see me creep in behind her.

"Did you see something you like? " I inquire.

She quickly turns and closes the gap between us before pressing her lips against mine. "I certainly do," she says. "But first, let's clean up."

She grabs the soap and a loofah sponge and begins to work up a soapy lather. "Turn around first so I can wash your back."

I turn around and let her wash my body gently. Part of me wants to keep her scent on my skin, but another part of me longs to feel her soft touch all over my body. I'm not sure what made me ask her to bathe together. In fact, I do. It was a desperate move. I'd do and say anything to keep her from leaving. What exactly am I?

Aliyah uses the loofah to cover every inch of me in suds before gathering several handfuls of water and splashing it on me to help rinse away the soap.

"All right, Ms. Delos Reyes," I say, "it's your turn."

She turns around, and I take my time cleaning her body.

"Do you always act like this?" she inquires.

"Like, like what?"

She sighs and shrugs her shoulders. "I'm not sure exactly. Are you always so... alert?”

I pause for a moment, skimming through my most recent relationships. "I try to give women what I believe they want, but I don't believe women would describe me as attentive." Is it normal for you to be this perfect? ”

She shakes her head and gives me what sounds like a snort and a laugh. "I'm not perfect," she admits.

"You're perfect for me, and that's all that matters," I say as I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my body. As we soak in the tub, her head rests on my chest.

"This feels too good to be true," she says, sighing. "It's as if I'm living in a fairy tale, and something has to go wrong to bring me back to reality." I hate to be pessimistic, but it's as if I'm waiting for everything to crumble around me when I least expect it."

"No," I say as I run my hands down her body. "I don't want you to think that way. Why can't this be your Cinderella story? This can be anything you want it to be. "Trust me."

The final sentence is a plea, because I know she doesn't know everything about me. Things that, in an instant, could change her opinion of me. I can't think of a way to tell her what I don't want her to know, and I'm hoping I never have to. I want to be the man she thinks I am, so if I can put off what her intuition is warning her about for a few more moments in her fairy tale, I'm all for it.

"I believe you," she declares. "I truly do."

When she leans into my touch, a wave of guilt washes over me as quickly as the suds. We sit in the tub for over an hour, laughing and talking. I reheat the water several times with the press of a button to ensure our comfort. I make it a point to keep Aliyah with me for as long as I possibly can in this moment. When she doesn't object, I know she, like me, doesn't want the moment to end. It's by far the most intimate moment of my adult life, but it's not uncomfortable. Aliyah makes everything look easy.