Free Alexandr's Cherished Submissive by Ann Mayburn Page B

almost empty except for the cleaning people who were watching them curiously, he brushed her hair back again. “Come, is time to go home.”
    “Yeah, home,” she said in a wistful voice.
    Their trip back to their apartment was silent, her gait a little unsteady from the alcohol, and he missed her normal, happy chatter.
    When they reached the hallway separating their apartments, she looked up at him. “Can I ask you a favor?”
    “What is it?”
    “Will you come up to the roof with me?”
    “Why?”
    “I have something I have to do, and I’d rather not be alone while I do it, if that’s okay with you.”
    He needed to take the wounded look out of her eyes. “Anything you need, Jessica, I will do.”
    Her voice thickened as she whispered, “Thanks. Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
    When she came out into the hallway, he frowned at the sight of a big, white, helium-filled balloon with what appeared to be a bunch of writing on it in black marker.
    “What is that?”
    She flushed, closed her door, and started toward the stairway at the end of the hall that led to the roof. “It’s…well, it’s a way of grieving.”
    “I do not understand.”
    As they made their way up the stairs, she explained. “My friend told me about this, and the idea kinda stuck with me. Her younger brother died of cancer, and every year on the anniversary of his death, she writes him a letter on a balloon then sets it free. She said it was her way of communicating with him. At first, I thought it was kind of a silly idea, but like I said, the more I thought about it the more sense it made. So...I...uh went and got a balloon today and wrote a letter on it to my mom. When something hurts this bad, you’ll do anything to relieve the agony, even send up a balloon with the hopes of it reaching heaven.”
    The ambient light from the city dimly illuminated her face as she opened the door to the rooftop, the chilly breeze making her hair flair about her. When she looked over at him with the balloon in her hand, he was struck dumb by her beauty, his breath literally taken away. He didn’t know if it was the lighting or the grief blanketing her, but he had a glimpse of the woman she would one day become. He reached out without thought and brushed a tear from her cheek, relishing the feel of her soft, damp skin.
    “I do not think is silly.”
    Her weak smile made him want to gather her into his arms, but instead, he led her a little farther out onto the roof. The night was cloudy, and the wind was brisk enough that it cut through his thick coat and gloves. Jessica didn’t seem to be bothered by it, but he didn’t know if that was because of the alcohol or her emotions. Reaching out, she grasped his hand and held it tight enough that it hurt, but he didn’t pull away. She could jerk his arm off if it would make her feel better, and he would gladly let her do it.
    For a long moment, she stared up at the balloon whipping back and forth in the wind. Then slowly, with great reluctance, she raised her hand and let it go. Together, they watched the balloon rise into the sky, flying over the rooftops as it continued to climb until they lost sight of it. She shivered, and he drew her into his arms then gently pressed her head against his chest. He held her while she cried, her muffled sobs tearing through him.
    His chest hurt, and he struggled to reign in his emotions, but she’d totally overwhelmed him. When she pulled back, her gaze fastened on his lips. “I’m so tired of hurting, Alex,” she whispered. “I don’t want to feel this terrible loss anymore. Kiss me and make it go away.”
    A hard tremor went through him that had nothing to do with the cold. He was dying to kiss her, to take her hard, to bury himself in her and give her nothing but pleasure, which was exactly the reason he could not indulge in any type of physical intimacy with her. One kiss and there would be no going back. Plus, she was drunk and grieving right now. She had no