Alex frowned. The last thing he wanted to think about now was her with anyone else. “I doubt that.”

It was her turn to frown. Any trace of tears was gone. Humor now danced in her eyes. She leaned in and spoke right in his face. “Alex Moreno, you knew I had a crush on you before I even met you. Sarah told you. From the moment we met you always had the upper hand, and you knew it.”

“No I didn’t.” He put his forehead against hers. “Remember from the very beginning you’re the one that made it clear you just wanted a physical relationship. No strings attached.” He clenched his jaw. “I went along with it, because I was so busy with school, and what guy in their right mind would pass that up? Then you went and let Romero kiss you.” He gnashed his teeth before going on. “Really? Romero? He was so scrawny and stupid back then. You have no idea what a blow to my ego that was. I thought for sure I’d made no impression on you at all. Sure, you may have been into me, that is until you got to know me. From then on, I never knew what to think.”

Valerie seemed more stunned now than when he’d asked her to marry him. “You still remember that?”

“Of course I do.” How could he forget? It was the first time in his life he’d ever felt real jealousy. For the longest time, he thought it was just an emotion Valerie brought out in him because he’d never felt it for anyone else. Now he knew better. Good or bad, he’d never even come close to feeling any of the emotions Valerie brought out in him for anyone else.

A smile finally broke across Valerie’s face. Alex stared at her plump lips as she licked them. “You’re unbelievable. You wasted all that time not knowing how hopelessly insane I was about you.”

Alex kissed her and then stood up. “Too much time. Let’s go.”

He pulled her up and immediately picked her up in his arms, squeezing and kissing her, wanting to eat her up.

She laughed when he finally put her down. “Let’s blow this party, Valerie.”

They started back toward the bonfire. “We can’t. Sarah might be hurt.”

Alex frowned then looked at her, hopeful. “So, we hang out for a little bit then we go back to my place and… catch up?”

“If that’s what you want to call it.” She giggled.

Alex hugged her again squeezing her with a groan. He still couldn’t believe what an enormous weight had been taken off his chest tonight. Valerie was coming home with him, and she was never leaving. There was still the issue of Bruce. He’d get back to that soon enough, but at the moment he just wanted to enjoy his long-awaited reunion with his future wife. Normally he’d be filled with raw anticipation but now an overwhelming tenderness consumed him.

When they got back to the bonfire, the first to make eye contact with him was Sal, and he smiled. He saw that Alex held Valerie’s hand firmly in his. The second they stopped walking, he waited only for her to slip on her shoes before wrapping himself around her from behind. He loved that she always wore the highest heels she could find, even for the beach. Her sandals must’ve been at least three inches tall. She looked so damned sexy in them.

Valerie unwound his hands from her waist and pulled him toward their chairs. Leaning over, she said something to Isabel after sitting down. Alex took the seat next to her, never once letting go of her hand. When Valerie finished chatting with Isabel, she leaned over and whispered. “Of course she’s okay with Romero taking her home.”

Alex glanced over at Isabel and Romero. Romero pulled Isabel to him and whispered something that cracked her up. He hadn’t seen Romero so well behaved at a gathering with alcohol in… well, ever. He’d always been the fun loud and loaded guy at these kinds of gatherings. He was so distracted with Isabel now he wasn’t even drinking.

He would’ve never put those two together. They were completely different. But there was no denying they were enjoying each other. Alex just hoped Romero wasn’t toying with Valerie’s roommate. He knew how much she meant to Valerie.

They hung out for what seemed like an eternity before making their exit. As discreet as he thought they’d be, there was no hiding the looks he got from all the idiots including his own brothers. Sal bounced his eyebrows at him when Alex tossed him his keys.

He drove back to his place and even though Valerie’s car was a stick, he wasn’t able to keep his hands off her the whole way.

CHAPTER 15

They barely made it through the door when clothes started flying off. Alex picked Valerie up in his arms, kicked the door shut with his foot and took her into his room.

He slowed the pace once he had her in his bed. He’d always done that. It drove her insane, but he always said he wanted to enjoy every minute. He took his shirt off, revealing his massive chest and biceps, and crawled on top of her. She kissed him deep, running her hands along his hard back. She couldn’t get enough of his lips, his tongue, the taste of him.

She kissed him as savagely as he kissed her. Then his mouth moved all over her. Her ear, her chin, her neck—he made his way down slowly, causing her to arch her back. He sucked one of her ni**les just hard enough to make her cry out with pleasure.

“God, I’ve missed you, baby.”

“I missed you too,” she promised breathlessly.

There would never be another man that made her feel like Alex did, no question about it now. She pressed her body against him and moaned with anticipation. From this, his breathing grew faster and heavier. While his hands caressed and teased, Valerie ran her hands over his rock solid arms.