Chapter 16 ۵ Warmth

YARA'S POV

The first thing I felt when I woke was the steady rise and fall of a chest beneath me. For a brief, drowsy moment, the warmth lulled me into a sense of comfort, almost making me forget where I was. Then it hit me hard. I was lying on his chest.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized I was tangled up in Alejandro's embrace, his arm draped possessively around my waist. My head rested against his bare chest, his warmth seeping into me, far more intimate than it had any right to be. I swallowed hard, trying to calm the racing pulse in my throat.

How could I have let this happen?

Panic surged through me, and I carefully tried to shift out of his grip, moving inch by inch so I wouldn't wake him. His skin felt like fire against mine, and every slight movement made me more aware of just how close we were.

But as soon as I made the slightest attempt to slip free, his arm tightened around me, and he pushed my head back flush against his chest.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice, low and gravelly with sleep, sent a shiver down my spine.

"I- I need to get up" I whispered, barely able to look at him as my cheeks flushed with heat.

"No" what does he mean no.....?

"Besides, you're the one who shifted to my chest" his voice barely above a whisper as his thumb brushed dangerously close to the bare skin beneath my shirt "Maybe you're not as immune to me as you think"

I felt my face heat up, mortified at the thought I willingly switched positions to lay on his chest at night "you hate me, so just let go of me!" After my failed attempts I started digging my nails into his skin but that failed miserably too when he had no reaction to it.

"You like scratching, Hm?" His tone was as teasing as ever. The way his eyes lingered on me, on my lips, made something tighten in my chest. For a moment I couldn't help but admire his face, as much as I wanted to disagree he was extremely handsome "Maybe you like this more than you're willing to admit, no?"

His words sent a flush of anger and something else, something I didn't want to acknowledge, rushing through me. I was furious at myself for being so vulnerable, for allowing him to get this close. But even more than that, I hated how my body betrayed me, the heat that pooled in my stomach at his proximity.

"Get off of me" I demanded, but my voice lacked conviction. He could probably hear how unsteady it was, how affected I was by the feel of him against me.

But instead of moving, Alejandro's hand slid slowly up the hem of my shirt, sending sparks of heat through me. He leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear "You don't get to tell me what the fuck to do, Yara" he whispered, his lips grazing the side of my neck, igniting a wave of warmth that I hated myself for feeling.

I clenched my fists, torn between anger and the strange pull I felt toward him "why's that, does it hurt your shitty little ego?" Something in him twisted and that teasing expression he once had was long gone. He let go of my waist and without a word or a glance he walked away to the bathroom. It was crazy how quickly something could change his mood. I almost felt......bad? Bad for disappointing him, bad for making him angry when it could've easily been prevented.

🎀🎀🎀

Spain was beyond beautiful. Me, Alejandro and Elena visited a bunch of different places and expensive stores early in the morning. We came back at 10am, me and Elena both exhausted. Alejandro on the other hand was being very distant. I think he only spoke two words me since we woke up.

Then suddenly after sitting down in my room which I still had to share with Alejandro, a painful cramp hit me suddenly.

Oh no.....was I? No surely not.....

I quietly padded to the bathroom, my stomach knotting as I confirmed my worst fears. I was on my period, which for some reason started earlier than usual. I stared at myself in the mirror, biting my lip, trying to think of a solution. But there wasn't one. I was stuck here, and the only person I could ask for help was the last person I wanted to involve. I looked through all of the bathrooms but there were no sanitary products anywhere.

My heart pounded as I walked back into the room, wringing my hands nervously. I know I had no other choice but to go downstairs. Slowly, I made my way downstairs quit and I stood at the edge of the living room sofa where Alejandro was sitting with his laptop.

Alejandro, sensing my hesitation, looked up from the work he was doing, his gaze cold and piercing.

"What Yara?" he asked, his voice sharp, already annoyed that I'd interrupted whatever he was doing.

I swallowed hard.....how do I put this? "I.....um, I need something, can you like drive to the store or something" I mumbled, my voice barely audible.

His expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly "I don't have fucking time for that Yara"

I flinched at the harshness in his tone "I-I'm on my....um my period. There's no sanitary products anywhere" I finally forced out, my face burning with humiliation.

Alejandro's eyes flickered for a second, but his expression remained icy.

"You didn't think of packing any in your suitcase?" His voice was laced with irritation "Of course you didn't"

I could feel the blood drain from my face, the embarrassment now mixed with a sting of shame "I-I'm sorry" I stammered, wishing I could just disappear into the floor.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated "Do I need to start packing your bags for you too? Hm?" I could barely meet his gaze. My stomach twisted painfully, not just from the cramps but from the sharp humiliation of needing to ask him for something so personal.

Alejandro sighed again, running a hand through his pitch black, sleek hair before walking to the door "Wait here" he muttered, his voice flat. He didn't even look at me as he left the room, leaving me standing there like an idiot.

I stood frozen in place, my hands shaking slightly as I tried to calm myself. I shouldn't have expected anything less. This was Alejandro, after all. He didn't care about my discomfort or how awkward this was for me. To him, I was just an inconvenience.

Minutes later, he returned, a small pharmacy bag in hand. He tossed it onto the bed without looking at me, his face devoid of any warmth.

He crossed his arms, his eyes hard. "I'm not your personal assistant. Next time, be better prepared" his tone lacking any empathy. He was nothing like this last night. I guess I was just lucky he wasn't in a bad mood.

I blinked, staring at the bag before looking back at him. The coldness in his voice, in his entire demeanor, made my stomach clench even tighter.

"Thank you" I mumbled, feeling more embarrassed than ever.

Alejandro shrugged dismissively, his gaze hard and unyielding.

His coldness, the way he treated me like a burden, it shouldn't have affected me this much, but it did. I stood there, staring at his retreating figure, fists clenched, feeling anger bubble beneath the surface.

He stopped just before leaving the room, as if sensing my frustration. Slowly, he turned his head, his sharp gaze locking onto mine.

"What's your problem now?" His voice was deep, rough, like a low growl that sent shivers down my spine.

I hated how much his voice alone could get to me. "Why do you always have to be like this?" The words slipped out before I could stop them. I knew talking back would only make things worse, but I couldn't help it.

He raised an eyebrow, his lips twisting into a smirk that wasn't friendly "Like what?" His tone was mocking. He stepped closer, and I instinctively took a step back "You think I'm rough, huh?"

Before I could respond, he moved swiftly, his hand grabbing a fistful of my hair. Hard enough to hurt, firm enough to make me stop in my tracks, freezing the words on my lips. His eyes darkened as he pulled me closer, his grip tightening.

"You want rough?" he whispered, his lips brushing dangerously close to my ear, sending a hot wave of tension through me. I tried to pull away, but he held me in place, his other hand coming up to tilt my chin so that I was forced to look into his eyes. The intensity in his gaze made my heart race, anger and something else simmering beneath the surface.

"You think you can mouth off to me and just walk away?" His voice was low, dripping with something that made my knees weak despite the fury that built in my chest "What did I tell you about punishments Yara?"

I tried to hold my ground, glaring up at him "well it's not my fault you're a complete dick!" I spat, though the tremor in my voice betrayed how unsteady I felt.

Alejandro's grip tightened in my hair, his fingers tugging enough to make my breath hitch and me wince. "Don't push me, Yara" His voice was pure dominance now, filled with a dangerous edge that made my stomach twist in knots. The closeness between us was suffocating, the tension thick in the air. My pulse quickened, the anger and the strange pull I felt toward him mixing into a chaotic storm inside me. His fingers curled tighter into my hair, at this rate it felt like my hair was going to rip out of my scalp.his

"You act so fucking innocent" His breath was hot against my neck, his tone filled with roughness "but I can see it all over your face"

"I can see it in your eyes," he murmured, his grip in my hair loosening, his thumb now brushing along my jawline, his touch igniting a fire beneath my skin "You're drawn to me, Yara"

I clenched my jaw, fighting the overwhelming pull he had on me. "Let me go" I demanded, my voice shaky, betraying my internal battle. Alejandro's lips quirked into that infuriating smirk again. He finally released his hold on me, stepping back but keeping his gaze locked on mine, like he could see right through me.

I stood frozen, my body tense, heart pounding as Alejandro took a step back. His smirk was still there, taunting me, like he knew exactly how much his words and touch had affected me. I hated it, hated him, but most of all, I hated the way I couldn't shake this strange pull between us......did I really hate him? My skin still burned where his fingers had brushed against it, and my scalp tingled from where he'd grabbed my hair. I felt raw, exposed.

"You're impossible," I croaked out, my voice sounding far weaker than I intended. I took a step back, needing to put distance between us, but he just stood there, arms crossed.

"Am I?" His voice was deep, smooth, but filled with that same arrogance I had come to associate with him "I'd say you're more impossible than me, no?"

"What because I have a life and don't listen to every single thing you tell me to do?" I snapped back, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and something else I couldn't quite identify "I don't want to do this anymore. I want to be a normal student again because you're infuriating Alejandro"

His eyes darkened at that, the smirk faltering for just a moment. It was a fleeting expression, but I saw it. I hit a nerve.

Good.

"Fine after we get back, you can attend all of your lectures as you wish" he said, his voice low, before turning on his heel and walking away from me. I watched him leave, feeling an overwhelming mix of emotions crash over me, anger, frustration, embarrassment, and something deeper, something I didn't want to name.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, I collapsed onto the edge of the bed, my hands shaking as I gripped the fabric of the blanket. My heart wouldn't slow down, and I couldn't stop replaying everything that had just happened. The way his touch had made my skin burn, the way he looked at me like he could see right through me.

I hated him.

I hated that he had this kind of power over me, this ability to make me feel things I didn't want to feel. Alejandro was toxic. He was controlling, cold, and arrogant. I couldn't let him get under my skin like this.

I stood abruptly, determined to shake off the suffocating weight of the encounter. I needed space, air, anything that would help clear my head. Grabbing my jacket, I threw it on and headed for the door. Maybe a walk would help calm my nerves. The fresh air outside had to be better than the suffocating tension that lingered between these walls.

As I made my way down the hallway, I heard the sound of faint laughter coming from one of the rooms. Elena. Her light voice was a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. For a second, I debated joining her, letting her carefree energy wash over me, but I wasn't in the mood to explain myself. Not after what just happened.

Instead, I slipped out the front door into the crisp morning air. The streets were almost empty at night. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, hoping the cold would numb the chaotic mess inside my head.

As I walked, my mind raced. I tried to focus on the beauty around me, the narrow streets, the charming balconies, the smell of fresh coffee still lingering in the air, but no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept drifting back to Alejandro. To the way his eyes had darkened when I'd challenged him, to the way his touch had ignited something deep inside me, something I didn't want to admit.

I stopped at a corner, leaning against the stone wall of a building, and let out a shaky breath. What the hell was happening to me?

I couldn't let myself fall into whatever this was. I had to keep reminding myself of who Alejandro really was, a cold, manipulative jerk who only cared about control. I wasn't going to be another pawn in his game. I couldn't afford to be.

But as much as I tried to rationalize it, my body didn't seem to get the memo. Every time I thought about him, a rush of heat filled my chest, and I hated myself for it.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. Before I could turn, a voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Running away amor (love)?"

That voice. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Alejandro.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, steadying myself before I turned to face him. "What do you want?" My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn't care. I was done with this.

Alejandro's eyes scanned my face, his expression unreadable, but the intensity in his gaze made me shiver "You" he said simply, as if the word alone carried the weight of everything unspoken between us.

I blinked, caught off guard by the bluntness of his response. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me" he said, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. "I can see the way your body reacts to me Yara. You want me" he said tracing his middle fingers over my cheek.

I felt my heart slam against my chest, my pulse quickening. "You're delusional."

He didn't reply but his amused smirk already told me what he was thinking, stepping even closer. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the magnetic pull that I hated myself for feeling.

"You have no idea what you're talking about" I shot back, trying to sound confident, but my voice betrayed me.

His eyes locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, I saw something flicker in them, something raw, something almost vulnerable. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that same arrogant smirk.

"You're scared" he said softly, almost tauntingly.

I opened my mouth to protest, but the words wouldn't come. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him he was wrong, that I didn't want anything to do with him. But the truth was, I was scared. Scared of how my body responded to him. Scared of how he got under my skin so easily.

Alejandro's gaze softened for a brief moment, and for the first time, I saw something behind that cold, hard exterior. "I'm not the villain you've made me out to be, Yara" he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper "And you're not as immune to me as you think"

Before I could respond, he turned and started walking away, my heart racing, my mind spinning "be back in a hour" he spoke, lighting a cigarette.

I wanted to scream, to run after him and demand answers. But instead, I stood frozen in place, the weight of his words settling over me like a heavy blanket.

I wasn't sure what scared me more, the fact that Alejandro was right, or the fact that I didn't know how to stop it.

"A-Alejandro" I called out.

"Hm?" He turned around, his cigarette dangling from his lips.

I paused for a second.

"I.....I don't know the way back" I spoke mentally face palming myself. A small smirk settled on his perfect lips.

He let out a breathless chuckle "come" he ushered me to walk back with him. Although I didn't want to I had no choice but to. He threw out his cigarette.

The walk back was silent, well for the most part.

"You're cold" he stated looking down at my shivering body. I was confused as to how he was walking perfectly fine and not freezing.

"I'm fine" I spoke rolling my eyes.

He quickly advanced in front of me "you don't look fine Yara, anything but that actually" he smirked.

I crossed my arms "wow thanks" I spoke sarcastically.

Then unexpectedly, in one swift motion he lifted me up into his arms, my legs forcefully dangling on either side of his torso.

"You can't just do that" I spat, hitting his shoulder, attempting to push away from him but his tight grip wouldn't let me. After a few protests I just gave up. My hands were too cold to even move.

I slowly moved closer to his chest, the warmth of his body wrapping around me. My head rested on his shoulder. I hated myself for this but I couldn't resist. He caressed my head "I hate you" I mumbled.

A/n

Enjoy!!