Don't go cold on me

"Were you lying, then?" He seethed, stepping closer into my space.
"Was I lying about what?" I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling suddenly exposed to the elements and Aleksander's burning gaze.

"You said that you wanted me to fuck you. It seemed genuine. Was it a lie?", His brow furrowed as he questioned me, getting closer until he was towering over me.
The sound of screeching car tire on the street outside drifted in through the open doors. The sudden noise startled me, and I jerked back even more. My breath quickened as I locked eyes with Aleksander and drew away from him.

"It wasn't a lie. I did.... I do."
"Don't fucking lie to me, Rhea." He rose his fist, one finger up, warning me. "I have been honest with you from the beginning that I wanted you. "Fucking hell, I do want you."

"I'm not lying, Aleksander!", I shouted back. A single tear slipped free and down my cheek. He saw it and drew away from me as if I had slapped him. "I'm not lying."
"Shit, Rhea." He exhaled, running his hand through his hair and looking at the ceiling. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's okay," I sniffled, turning my head to look at the wall and wiping that stray tear. His favor had surprised me more than anything.
"I don't want you to treat this like some transaction afterwards", From the corner of my eye, I could see his shoulders sagging.
"But it is a transaction, Aleksander. You paid for me", I hissed out.

"Well, how else was I supposed to have you?", My eyes snapped back up to him as he raised his voice. "You told me yourself that you wouldn't have fallen for me if I had found you that night when I went to look for you at the after party."
"It can't be anything else." I whimpered, holding in more tears trying to break free.

"I want you, and you want me. What more is there, Rhea?", Aleksander took a shuddering breath. Throwing his hands up before before letting them fall to his sides.
"There is a lot, Aleksander!. Not everyone is free to give in to their base desire", My words came out in a choked whisper.
"Is that all this is?" His eyes narrowed at me.

"You're paying to fuck me. That seems pretty base to me", I snapped back. I wasn't sure where my anger was coming from. It seemed he was making this time between us more than just fucking. "I am a live in fuck toy." Spitting out Luke's words made me feel like a bitch as soon as they were out.

"I don't want a fuck toy. I want fucking Rhea Martinez. The goddamn prima Ballerina of New York City."
He bent down until I could feel his breath fanning my face. "You're more than what's between your legs!"

That stopped me dead. My hands covered my face as I was unable to look at him. And I didn't want him to see the tears in my eyes. But Aleksander heard me the moment a sob slipped through my lips.
"I'm sorry." When his warm, powerful arms circled around me, all the ice in my veins melted like he was the sun warming me on the coldest day.

"Rhea," He hugged me tight against his chest and I inhaled the smell of him. "What we just did was really intense. It can get blood pumping and emotions rolling. I need you to let me care of you now.
"What do you mean?" I sniffed against his chest, only partially feeling bad for my tears staining the dress shirt he'd never removed.

"Aftercare, baby", Aleksander ran his fingers through my hair, and my tears stopped falling. "Just don't go cold now. Let me take care of you.
~~~~~~~
|ALEKSANDER'S POV|

With no more talking, I led Rhea upstairs to her bathroom. She gasped when I picked her up and set her on the counter before turning on the shower. As I set the temperature, I knew I was doing far more than I had for any woman before her, no matter how hard I pushed them.

But Rhea was different. After the way I bound and fucked her downstairs, she needed to be treated gently. Like porcelain. Beautiful, but I was afraid it would be easy for me to break her.
She watched me, warily as I took her hand and guided her under the steaming water. When I got in the shower with her; her face scrunched up in an adorable way, but I kept my expression placid instead of reacting to her.

Through the first half of the shower Rhes was incredibly intense. Unmoving unless I was guiding her, washing her. I ran my fingers through her hair and scrubbed her delicate skin until it was pink.
As the surrounding heat aided in calming the turmoil around us she began to relax.

My fingers ran over her skin and the hint of a sigh would leave her lips. If I massaged her shoulders or hips, she would utter a brief moan. It only encouraged me to drag the shower out and continue touching her lovely frame in every way I could.
This time she didn't go cold on me. She stayed and let me take of her in silence. It was late, and we were both tired, but she didn't try to stop me. Not when I brushed her golden hair or rubbed lotion into her smooth skin.

Curious blue eyes followed my motions as I worked on her, but she said nothing. The way her lashes fluttered, and her lips parted as I pampered her let me know that she was enjoying it.

"Are you feeling alright?" I finally asked after she grabbed her pink silk robe hanging behind the bathroom door and wrapped it around her body. I watched her shoulders rise and fall before, she stayed facing the mirror for a moment before turning to face me again.
"Yeah, I'm okay."