Taking Alexander’s hand, I led him around to the side of the bed. With a gentle nudge, I coaxed him to sit on the edge. Leaning down, I skimmed my lips lightly over his.

“It’s your turn to trust me,” I whispered.

Slowly, I returned to a standing position. Walking over to the dresser, I turned off the dark tunes Alexander had been playing. I wanted to create a different atmosphere and take him to another place, one free of the demons that plagued him throughout the day and during the black hours of the night. But most importantly, I needed him to see that he didn’t hurt me. I was familiar with that haunted look in his eyes. He had been recalling some memory. Whatever it was didn’t matter and his guilt was completely unfounded in my opinion.

After switching to the “Persuasion” playlist, I selected a song by Glades, and lit a few candles. I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing the dreamy and melodic vocals wash over me. I needed to erase the dark energy from the room and replace it with something beautiful. It wasn’t for me, but for Alexander.

Not wanting to be worried about balancing in my stilettos, I slipped the shoes off my feet and tossed them in the corner. When I turned back to Alexander, he was still seated on the bed, watching me with interest. Shadows danced over his features from the flickering candlelight. My breath caught in my throat, my adoration for this enigma of a man suddenly overwhelming me.

Stepping towards him, I bent to give him a slow and lazy kiss. Lowering to my knees, I took his thick and virile cock into my hand. His breath hissed between his teeth as I closed my lips around the lush head, flicking my tongue around leisurely before taking him further into my mouth. He was hot and silky soft. His taste ignited my senses and I greedily sucked, worshiping his manhood.

Alexander fisted his hands through my hair, encouraging me to take more. I lowered my head further until I felt him hit the back of my throat. Tightening my lips, I pulled back to swirl my tongue around his broad head, before lowering down to suck him in long, drawing pulls.

“Yes. Take it deep,” he groaned and arched upward.

My sex tightened from his pleasure as I moved over him, his thick veins throbbing against my tongue. I worked him over until his grip on my hair tightened. His thighs bunched as his shaft swelled deep in my throat. His breathing became ragged and I knew he was close.

I pulled back, not wanting him to come just yet. I wanted to feel him inside me when he did. I looked up at him. Our gazes locked, the raw hunger in his eyes mirroring my own. Slick with anticipation, I stood and moved to straddle his hips. I positioned the tip of him to my entrance and lowered onto the scorching heat of his erection with painstaking restraint. He pierced me, stretching me inch by divine inch, until he was entrenched in the recess of my core. I absorbed the pleasure and disregarded the pain that always came when he was rooted so deep.

“Oh, god,” I moaned. I needed this. I needed him.

“You’re perfect, Krystina.” He slid a finger down my cheek and over my collarbone. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Shhh. Don’t say things like that.”

With my hands braced on his shoulders, I began to move in a slow and steady rhythm, showing him with my body how much I was irrevocably his. He caught my face in his hands, brought my head down, and kissed me hard. I moaned against his lips, the intensity of his kiss sending shockwaves through my system as I continued to ride him. He broke away, his breathing ragged as his hands flexed over my hips.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I want to give you everything you need. I never want you to feel afraid, but only safe and cherished.”

The intensity of his words nearly leveled me and my heart ached from the love I felt for him. Emotion clogged in my throat and it suddenly felt like he wasn’t close enough. I needed more of him.

“More,” I breathed, wanting every sensation that only Alexander could make me feel.

He pushed up, and I tightened around him. His motions were determined, matching me thrust after thrust. I gripped at his shoulders, feeling his rippled muscles bunch beneath my palms. We moved together and a fine mist of sweat began to cover our skin. I kissed him again, our breaths mingling as we rose to new heights. Our hands roamed in tender caresses of exploration. I thought I had the lines of Alexander’s body memorized, but in that moment, it was as if we were new lovers discovering each other’s bodies for the first time.

I pushed him back against the sheets and we rolled, Alexander’s hard body covering mine. Caging me between his arms, he held me captive as he reared back. Before I could comprehend the shift in power, he shoved inside of me with a force that took my breath away. He withdrew, teasing me with his cock, before ruthlessly plunging back in. His eyes met mine. His gaze was transfixed with an almost reverent intensity. Never before had I felt so close to him. So connected.

“Play with your nipples,” he commanded.

With every inch of his length buried inside me, I couldn’t think. All I could do was focus on the beautiful man above me, his powerful commands ruling my body. I did as I was instructed without hesitation. My hardened nipples brushed against my fingertips. He watched me with a dark expression, captivated by the sight. He moaned and his jaw clenched as he rocked into me slowly. Encouraged by his reactions, I pinched the straining points and massaged the round shape of each breast. Before long, I was overflowing with arousal. I released my breasts, needing something more to hang on to. Something hard, solid, and strong before I went over the edge. I reached up and dug my nails into his shoulders to brace myself.

“Oh, god,” I breathed. I was so close.

“Fuck, Krystina. You’re so goddamn hot. I want your orgasm. I need to feel that sweet pussy tighten around me.”

Circling my clit with his thumb, he picked up his pace, never breaking the connection until I began to shake. My muscles clenched beyond my will as he brought me closer to that glorious peak. He knew exactly how to please me, how to torment me with delicious pleasure, teasing me just long enough to ensure that my climax would be cataclysmic.

“I’m almost there,” I panted and tightened my legs around him. I trembled, losing more of myself with every passing moment. I became desperate, the promise of release all consuming.

“Now, angel. Give it to me now!”

With one hard thrust, he plunged deeper. My sensitive tissues rippled until I began to spasm uncontrollably, his words sending me into a heart-pounding orgasm. Colors flashed before my eyes as the rush surged through me.

“Alex!” I cried out and unraveled around him, my body overwhelmed with the sensation of blinding white heat. I was mindless, writhing against him shamelessly as I split apart at the seams. My fingernails clawed at his back, pulling him closer. His body shuddered before he stilled. And then all at once, his cock became impossibly harder, pulsing deliciously, as his own climax poured into me.

* * *

Alexander lay next to me, mumbling in his sleep. His words were incoherent, but I knew he was dreaming again. Before long, he would begin thrashing and his skin would be covered in a cold sweat. I needed to calm him before the visions behind his eyes drove him to that point. I put my hand on the top of his head and ran my fingers through his hair. Pressing gentle kisses to his cheek, I murmured soothing words.

“Shh, Alex. You’re okay. You’re a powerful man. You’re not a boy. It’s only a dream. I’m right here with you.”

I continued to whisper soothing words to him until his breathing became soft and even. Shifting over onto my side, I pressed my back against his hard torso. Even though he was spooned up against me, the steady rhythm of his chest rising and falling assured me that he was sleeping peacefully.

Thirty minutes later, I felt like I had been lying awake for hours. After this past week, I should’ve been exhausted and sleeping too. But, for the life of me, I couldn’t get my eyes to close. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand and watched as the neon red digital numbers changed to reflect five minutes after one in the morning. I suppressed a groan.

I wish I could just shut my brain off.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen. I was too consumed with worry over Alexander. Knowing that the sandman wasn’t going to find me anytime soon, I slipped quietly from the bed, pulled on one of Alexander’s t-shirts and a pair of comfy sweatpants.

I looked back down at the bed when I heard him stir. He didn’t wake, but rolled over onto his back. The arm that was cradling my head before I got up was still draped across my pillow. His chest was bare, the hard lines of his body highlighted by the moonbeams that shot through the room. In that moment, he looked so peaceful. It was a stark contrast to how he was just a little while ago. I fought the urge to reach out and touch him, but I didn’t want to risk waking him up. Instead, I padded barefoot into the kitchen to make myself a cup of decaf tea.

As I waited for the kettle to boil, I searched my brain for some way to help the man I loved so much. This was the tenth night in a row that I woke to the sound of him mumbling and thrashing in his sleep. He never spoke about the contents of his dreams, but his cold sweat told me all I needed to know.

Thankfully, tonight I was able to settle him down before he fully woke up. If he had, neither of us would be sleeping right now, as Alexander always felt too guilty about disturbing me. If he didn’t hate the mere mention of therapy so much, I may have demanded that he go on his own, without me. Forget couples therapy. We could do without. For now. At the present moment, Alexander’s healing was so much more important.

I knew he was hurting and it was no wonder why he was having nightmares. When I considered all that had happened, I couldn’t even begin to imagine the magnitude of what he must be feeling. Betrayal, confusion, and anger probably only tapped the surface of his emotions. I was worried that he was reaching his breaking point, something that became apparent when I was strung up on the cross.

For the past five months, Alexander showed me many things from his world of BDSM, and each time we were brought to new and exhilarating heights. I had come to love his kinks. I craved them like a drug and I meant what I said to him tonight. He didn’t really hurt me with the flogger.

However, there was something unusual about the way he delivered his blows this time. He didn’t display his normal caution and precision, but rather seemed fraught and desperate. Alexander always made me feel cherished, his touches often bordering on worshipful. What happened tonight was not his usual behavior. And while we managed to connect in a way we never had before, it was hard to ignore the way it all began.

The water in the kettle began to rumble and I quickly removed it from the burner before it began to whistle. After selecting a tea bag from the canister that Vivian always kept perfectly stocked, I brought the steeping mug into Alexander’s office.

Alexander and I kept separate offices in the penthouse, so I was rarely in here. One of the spare bedrooms had been converted for me so that I could have my own space. However, my office didn’t have what I needed. If I wanted to find a way to help him, I had to read Charlie’s interview again. The only way to do that would be to access Alexander’s hard drive.

I flipped on the stereo, making sure the volume was low enough so as not to be heard from the master bedroom. Not bothering to change the station, I left Lapsley’s “Falling Short” playing and took a seat behind Alexander’s spacious desk. Sipping my tea cautiously so I didn’t burn my tongue, I took a minute to enjoy the soothing feeling on my throat. It was feeling a little sore and I half wondered if I was coming down with a head cold. I prayed I wasn’t. If I did, Alexander’s lectures about getting more rest would go from nagging to excruciatingly painful in the blink of an eye.

I groaned at the thought.

Maybe Vivian has the medicine cabinet stocked with some vitamin C pills.

Setting the mug of tea aside, I made a mental note to check as I woke the computer with a shake of the mouse. The screen came to life, but I frowned when it lit up. It was password protected.

Damn!

I should have known better. I opened the top drawer of the desk in search of a scrap piece of paper that it might be written on. I didn’t find anything, but I did find a pack of Big Red chewing gum. I chuckled to myself as I continued to search the other drawers. Two of them were locked and I had no idea where he kept the keys.

I blew out a breath in frustration, tapped my fingers on the desk, and tried to think of what the password might be. For all I knew, it was some long encryption that I would never be able to guess. But then again, this was his home office. Perhaps the computer security wouldn’t be so strict. I pulled the computer keyboard closer to me and typed the first thing that came to mind: Angel61193.

I smiled when the computer unlocked and the screen came into view. I found his choice of password to be endearing and my heart fluttered. My password was Sapphire32383. Like the word angel, my computer was also protected by a word that was shared between Alexander and me.

And here I thought combining it with his birthday was clever.

Apparently, I wasn’t all that smart. But at the very least, his predictability showed me just how close we had grown over the past few months.

Luckily for me, his inbox was still open and I was able to easily locate the article. I clicked on the email and read through it once more. The last time I read it, I barely comprehended it because I was too busy formulating questions in my head. This time, I was more careful to retain the details.

I read through its entirety and then read it again. I was looking for something, any small detail that would give me an idea of how to possibly fix this for Alexander. I didn’t want the interview to become public. With his sister’s possible deception in the mix, he didn’t need anything else on his plate. He had already suffered enough.

I stared at the article for so long that my eyes burned and my neck began to ache. I stretched my head from side to side. I couldn’t figure out what Charlie had to gain by releasing this. I tried to remember what it was that Alexander said about Charlie.

“I suspect that Charlie is going to try to use this as a bargaining tool to strike a plea deal and I only have so much leverage with the DA.”

I wasn’t sure how this could be used as a bargaining chip. A crime was a crime, regardless of the pull Alexander had. My testimony was more than enough to convict Charlie, not to mention the phone records shared between Charlie and Trevor. But…

That’s it!

A plan started to formulate in my head. I couldn’t believe I didn’t think of it before. However, I paused for a moment, contemplating my impulsive idea. The last time I tried to help Alexander, I ended up in a coma. Alexander would be furious if I attempted to do anything again.

Screw it. My husband-to-be needs me right now and I’m the one holding all the cards.

I quickly exited out of the email that contained the article and opened Alexander’s sent bin. I scrolled down and located the email he forwarded me the day before. It contained the details about the trial date. It had been moved up, and I didn’t have much time to act. After reading the information I needed, I exited out of the email and set the computer back to the way Alexander had left it.

It was after two o’clock in the morning when I quietly slipped back into the bedroom. Before climbing into bed, I made a quick stop in the master bath and was pleased to see that there was a bottle of vitamin C in the medicine cabinet. I popped a couple of tablets. There was a lot to do and a cold brought on by exhaustion was not on the itinerary. I needed to be healthy and rested if I wanted my wits about me to do what I had to do.

Moving back into the bedroom, I slipped under the sheets and settled in beside Alexander. He didn’t wake, nor did he stir. I was happy to see he was still peaceful. Resting my hand on his chest, I nestled into the crook of his arm. His body was warm against me as I placed a feather-light kiss to his pectoral.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got this,” I whispered.