Free Tempt Me (Tease Me Book 2) by Emily Goodwin Page A

act like things were okay when really, they were far from it? Since when did making others think your life was sunshine and roses trump asking for help, admitting you’re not happy, and venting to a friend?  
    Though he hadn’t revealed much, it felt like Alejandro felt the same when he confessed to me last night. He didn’t have a choice in this life. He was expected to carry on the family “tradition” whether he liked it or not. He didn’t get to do what he loved or what he wanted. He was just as stuck as I was, though in a different sense. I ate a piece of egg and started to feel bad for Alejandro.  
    Wait, what?
    I almost dropped my fork. No. No, no, no. Alejandro Calaveras was a bad, bad man. He was a cartel leader. He killed people. He sold millions of dollars’ worth of drugs and illegal weapons across borders. He didn’t give a fuck about anything or anyone but himself.
    Or did he?  
    Buying me pretty things and sending me roses with a sweet card didn’t seal our fate as a couple. I was his fuck buddy and nothing more. He had no emotion invested in me, and I shouldn’t have any in him. I shouldn’t be with him, period. That just made him even more tempting. If anyone at the police department back home found out that I romantically strolled the streets of Mexico with Alejandro fucking Calaveras and didn’t try to kill him, turn him in, or escape, they’d excommunicate me. And I didn’t think Alejandro’s men would take too kindly to knowing that he was feeding and dressing—in expensive clothes, I should add—an American cop who now had enough info to take down the entire operation.
    I set the fork down and shook my head. Fuck, this was getting complicated. I was here because Alejandro didn’t know what else to do with me. Killing me would have been easy. He could have gotten rid of my body without a trace. Hell, someone else would have done it. All Alejandro would have had to do was say the words and I’d be soaking in a bucket of acid until there was nothing left but brittle bone that could be easily ground up and scattered into the ocean.  
    I flopped back on the pillows. So why this? Why let me live a life of luxury with loose reins in his own house? It had to mean something…right?
    “You’re grasping at straws,” I said aloud to myself. “Just stop.”
    I took a steady breath and pushed myself up. I ate another bite of egg, chewing slowly. Whatever kind of salsa was on this was seriously spicy. I sipped on dark purple juice to kill the burn.
    I didn’t matter what Alejandro did or didn’t feel. And I could sort out my feelings later…with a shrink most likely. Truth was, I had no idea when this would end. And by this, I mean the erotic escape. I didn’t want life to get in the way.   I didn’t want to worry about getting hit with late fees for bills I was already behind on. My landlord didn’t care that I was living it up with one of the world’s most dangerous men. My rent was still due on the first of the month. I just wanted to drink and fuck and not have a care in the world until I just couldn’t ignore the real issues any longer.
    And dammit, I was determined to do just that.  

CHAPTER TEN
    ALEJANDRO

    I WASHED the blood off my hands, eyes flicking to my reflection in the mirror above the sink. Dammit. Blood had splattered across my face, like it did when I beat the shit out of someone. Usually I stood back and let my men handle it, but punishing someone who thought they didn’t have to pay me on time was cathartic today.  
    All day, I craved Ellie. And not just her sweet pussy. I craved all of her, every fiber of her being. I wanted to hug her, to pull her close and feel her heart beat against mine. Of course I wanted to fuck her, but I wanted more than that.
    And it freaked me the fuck out.
    I threw a few punches and broke a few bones in the name of love. Well, in the name of trying to not let that fucking little “L” word even enter my mind. I had to like