I lay limp in Alexander’s strong arms, our rapid heartbeats slowly returning to a normal rhythm. During our crazed sex frenzy, we somehow made it to the bedroom and went at it another two times. The only time we paused was to grab a quick bite to eat in between rounds. Even then, Alexander was still touching me, caressing my breasts as he hand fed me bites of local artisan cheeses and a variation of seasonal fruits.

I lazily swirled my fingertip over his chest, feeling completely and utterly spent. I loved how he could make me forget everything in an instant. With his gorgeous face taut with desire and his expression filled with something much more tender, I wanted nothing more than to erase the turmoil between us and just feel. And do that, he did. Time and time again.

“How do you do that?” I murmured.

“Do what, angel?”

“Make everything go away. We went from wanting to rip each other’s throats out, to ripping each other’s clothes off. You’re awfully sneaky, Mr. Stone. Do you know that?”

“I just know how to tame that sassy mouth of yours,” he laughed.

I propped up on one elbow and stared down at him.

“My sassy mouth? I believe you were the one to have a tantrum in Dr. Tumblin’s office,” I pointed out.

Alexander didn’t say anything at first, but reached up to tuck a loose tendril of hair behind my ear.

“Shh, angel. No more fighting,” he said firmly and placed a finger over my mouth to silence the argument I was about to make. Cupping the back of my neck, he pulled me back down to rest my head against the side of his chest.

He’s right. No more fighting.

Nevertheless, there was still a very important issue that needed to be addressed. It wasn’t about today’s therapy session, as that was a dead issue. Based on his reactions in the office just a few hours before, I knew we wouldn’t be going back. It didn’t matter. Even I was failing to see any benefit from it. There were too many secrets that needed to stay hidden, and progress would be limited because of it. However, therapy or no therapy, I couldn’t ignore Alexander’s overly controlling ways as of late. He had to tone it down a bit before I snapped.

I went back to tracing small circles over his pectorals and thought about how to bring it up. I really didn’t want to argue, so I had to carefully choose my words so as not to sound confrontational.

“Alex, ever since I was released from the hospital, you’ve made all the decisions. I know it’s just your nature, so I let it go for a time. But…lately, I feel like I’m starting to lose a little bit of myself,” I said quietly.

“Krystina, you know why I have to be in control. It’s who I am.”

“Yes, and I understand that. But I worry about after we marry. Marriage is supposed to be a partnership. Certain things should be decided together, if you know what I mean,” I explained cautiously. I glanced up at his face to see his reaction. When he merely raised an eyebrow at me, I continued on. “When it comes to our house and our wedding, I want to plan them together. I don’t want you to make all the decisions for us.”

“Angel, I’ve asked for your input,” he tried to counter.

I pursed my lips and tried to suppress the building agitation. He truly didn’t see what he had been doing. Choosing a different way to approach the situation, I swung a leg over his hips and sat up so I could straddle him. He pushed his hips up against me, and I could feel his erection begin to harden, the head of his thick cock pressing against my entrance. How he was able to even think about round four was beyond me. His sexual appetite was insatiable. I for one wouldn’t be walking straight for a few days at the very least.

“No funny business,” I scolded playfully. “I’m trying to have a serious conversation here.”

“Is that why you moved to sit on top of me? Is this a power play to make you feel more in control?”

“Maybe,” I said with a guilty smile.

“Okay, angel. I’ll give you this, but only because I’m curious about what’s been bugging you. Besides, if you have something to get off your chest, I’d rather you do it when you’re naked,” he added with a cocky smile. A wicked gleam flashed in his sapphire eyes.

My stomach did a flip, stirring with renewed desire, and it was a real struggle to stay focused. The more he looked at me that way, the more I felt like round four was definitely imminent. I ran my hands up and over his chest, appreciating the hard lines of honed muscle. Not bothering to suppress a groan, I leaned down to kiss the side of his neck and breathe in his scent. He was intoxicating. As long as I lived, I would never get enough of this man.

“Maybe we should talk about this tomorrow,” I murmured into his ear.

“Oh, no you don’t, my little sex goddess. Quit paying attention to the devil on your shoulder for a minute,” he told me and I could feel the vibration of his laughter.

“Hmmm…but the devil is so much more fun,” I replied, playing along with his joke about my cartoonish self-conscious that plagued me every once in a while.

I flicked my tongue around the lobe of his ear, but Alexander wouldn’t be deterred. Pushing me up to a sitting position, he looked pointedly into my eyes.

“You wanted to talk. Let’s just do this now and be done with it. What’s bothering you?”

Knowing I shouldn’t put it off, I reluctantly placed my hands on my thighs so as not to be distracted by him.

“Well, you said that you asked for my input. You really haven’t, Alex. The conversations were always about decisions you already made.”

“Such as?”

“Take the house in Westchester for example. You and the architect worked on the plans. You’ve designed the layout of everything. We are almost ready to break ground, yet I haven’t even seen the blueprints. There is also the wedding. You decided it should be a small intimate affair, which I’m not opposed to. However, for all you knew, maybe I wanted to fly to Las Vegas to elope.”

“That’s out of the question,” he stated firmly. “Vegas is such a cliché. Not to mention, I think it’s a foul city. We would never get married there.”

His statement just further proved my point.

“Do you see what I mean?” I asked and gave him a small I-told-you-so smile.

His eyes narrowed before the comprehension dawned.

“You’ve got me there, angel. Well played. What do you propose we do?”

He flashed me a sexy, crooked smile. I knew then that I got through to him.

“I think we should start with the basic fundamentals and take things one step at a time. I’m pretty sure we are in agreement about the size of the wedding. I really don’t want to go to Vegas, and a big flashy wedding just isn’t me. So, a smaller, more intimate affair is good for me if that’s what you want.”

“Whatever works, angel. I just want to make you Mrs. Alexander Stone. To officially claim you as mine,” he said with a coy smile as he reached up to cup my breasts.

“Stay focused,” I scolded and pushed his hands away. “I’m going to have to talk to my mom about all of this too. As much as she drives me crazy, I want her to be a part of it all.”

“Wow, I didn’t realize you wanted me to stop touching you so badly. Bringing up your mom? Talk about a mood killer.”

I shook my head and chose to ignore him, continuing to talk since I finally had his attention about what I wanted.

“I was also thinking about the stylist that’s supposed to come here tomorrow. Can I cancel the appointment?”

“Why would you want to do that?”

“Well, I thought I could text Ally. I haven’t seen her in a while. If she’s free, I thought maybe she and I could go shopping tomorrow for a dress for Matteo’s grand opening. She probably needs to get one too. And…” I paused, suddenly feeling sheepish.

He looked at me quizzically.

“And what, angel?”

A slow grin spread across my face, the abashed feeling being replaced by unexpected excitement.

“We can’t have a wedding if I don’t have a dress,” I explained.

“I suppose you’re going to tell me that I can’t go with you.”

“Of course you can’t go! You’re not allowed to see the dress before the wedding!” I exclaimed, totally aghast at his suggestion. “I’ll just be trying to get ideas anyway. Who knows? I might not even find anything I like. And then there’s the issue of bridesmaids and groomsmen. If we decide to have them, I haven’t really thought about a color scheme. A shopping trip might give me a starting point at the very least.”

“You’re rambling, Krystina,” he said and began to laugh. It was a full, throaty sound that was contagious and I found myself laughing as well.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get so carried away.”

“I don’t mind at all, angel. Your enthusiasm is a welcomed change. But if you insist on shopping without me, I do have one condition.”

The sudden wave of laughter I had a moment before came to a screeching halt and I immediately sobered. I knew what he was going to say, but I asked anyway.

“What’s your condition?”

“Hale and Samuel have to accompany you.”

I knew it. So much for a girls’ day.

“Both of them?” I asked, genuinely surprised that he would think I needed two security guards.

“Yes, both. Samuel is a little wet behind the ears. While my expectations for him are clear, shadowing Hale for a day or two will be beneficial. However, I understand that having them there might seem intrusive. I’ll make sure to tell them to stay out of sight. You won’t even know they are there,” he tried to assure.

“Hmmm…we’ll see about that,” I murmured. I tried to imagine how two men, as tall and broad shouldered as Hale and Samuel were, could manage to stay hidden in a dress shop. The idea was almost laughable.

“I’m happy to see you show some eagerness for the wedding, angel,” he told me as he tenderly tucked a stray curl behind my ear. “Is this why you’ve been so distant whenever I’d bring it up? Because you want to have a say?”

“Yes,” I told him with a nod, pleading with my eyes for him to understand.

He ran his hands up and down my arms softly.

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner? I thought you were just trying to put me off.”

I closed my eyes and released a sigh. Shifting so that I could lay back down beside him, I nestled into the crook of his arm and placed my hand over his heart.

“I love you so much, Alex. I didn’t mean to seem like I was putting you off. I can’t wait for the day I become Mrs. Alexander Stone. But I know how you need to be in control. I just let it go too far this time. Before I knew it, I felt like I was suffocating. I’m sorry for not speaking up sooner.”

“I will admit, you’ve been a royal ball of sass these past few weeks. At least now I know why,” he said with a light laugh.

“Let’s not fight anymore,” I told him and snuggled in closer.

“I’m a realist, Krystina. I know with you that will never be possible.”

“Maybe,” I admitted with a yawn.

Alexander tucked the satin comforter around us, wrapping us together in a tight cocoon. My eyes grew heavy as I stared out the massive windows that covered the far wall in the bedroom. Wispy clouds moved slowly over the quarter moon, mesmerizing me into a near dreamlike state. When Alexander reached up and began to stroke the top of my head, I sighed in contentment.

“At the risk of sounding like I’m ordering you around, I’m going to tell you to go to sleep. You’ve had a long week and I don’t want you to be too tired for tomorrow night.”

“Yes, it has been a long week,” I agreed sleepily. “How do you suppose the turnout will be tomorrow?”

It was all I could do to stay awake to hear his answer.

“It’s my oldest friend’s restaurant and it’s named after my fiancée. Curiosity over that alone will draw a large crowd. The press is inevitable, but Matteo needs the publicity. All reporters that will attend have been thoroughly vetted. Still, you should be prepared for the gossip mill, Krystina.”

“People are so nosey.”

I could feel his chest vibrate as he laughed lightly again, but he never stopped rubbing my head.

“Yes, they are. But don’t worry about that now. Just go to sleep, angel.”

Not needing any further coaxing, I closed my eyes. Exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. In a matter of seconds, I felt my body slip away blissfully until all conscious thoughts ceased to exist, falling into dreamless and much needed sleep.