Was He Just an Illusion?

Later, you could figure that out. And as we agreed, she should always be with you."

She yelled, "She's not my servant; she's a buddy."

He laughed at her response. "That's one thing I admire about you, Izabella. Your devotion is free."

"And I have no idea why you refer to me as your wife. You're crazy," She went on to remark.

He said, "I will not pursue that matter until I speak with Shanda. Join me for lunch, please."

"No. I'm headed-"

He interrupted her as she was ready to speak, "No. It would be best if you ate before going anywhere. Come to lunch with me. Perhaps dinner, too. Pick anyone, baby. Eating or sleeping?"

The last choice made her flush. Her bag, hanging from her shoulder, fell to her feet, and his hand motioned it and flung it into his hand. What Izabella witnessed astounded her.

He motioned for her to follow him with her bag, saying, "Come, follow me before you pass out at the entrance."

No! Her intellect argued that he couldn't have her bag. I need it.

She had no choice than followed him as he walked away, gazing at his back till he was no longer in view. She then began to follow his lead.

Aleksander observed the woman with whom he was having lunch on the terrace slowly and thoughtfully. She would occasionally cast a glance his way. He was aware of her hunger. He served his food primarily to encourage her to do the same. She used to be pale, but her face was radiant now that she had finished her food.

She stared at him with considerable worry when the phone in her bag rang. He took her bag off her back and pulled her phone out. He approached her and took her hand to reach the phone's screen. It became illuminated.

When her screen unlocked, he grinned and answered the call when he saw the caller's name appear on the screen.

"Good day, Shanda," He greeted and pressed the speaker icon. "It's me," he said. He wanted Izabella to hear what they were saying. "I'm hoping this voice is still in your head."

"Please tell me who this is."

"My friend, I'll give you a clue," Aleksander smiled. "The man from Greece, eleven months ago, I wed your war freak pal."

"God, oh God! Aleksander? Is that you?"

Izabella's eyes grew gloomy. She could hear her closest friend's delight in the voice. Her mind began to wonder about the man's assertion as a result. Why is it that she had no memory of this gorgeous man? He was known to her best buddy.

"Shanda, in actual flesh and blood. Come over here so we can speak."

"Oh. I can't. I have to get her. Are you using her phone? Hold on!"

"She's with me in her fighting mood," Aleksander laughed. "What became of my wife?"

"Oh, I apologize. Aleks, it's a long story."

"Go to the location where you'll meet her. You will be led up the building by a guard.

"Okay, handsome. See you!"

When she squinted and saw the man staring down at her, she felt her body rising. She felt herself floating to realize he was carrying her in his arms.

She inhaled deeply, and as she felt like dropping, her eyes began to mist with moisture. As he placed her on the comfortable bed, the man moaned when she felt his body fall in place between her legs.

She felt him move his hand, bringing her closer even though she had closed her eyes. He drew her in by wrapping his fingers in her hair.

"Izabella..." He whispered.

She groaned when she heard that enticing rumble against her lips—the dream caller who spoke to her.

She struggled against the wave of slumber she couldn't comprehend, dragging him close to total darkness while attempting to turn to face the voice's owner.

"Izabella..." He muttered against her lips once more. He clamped his lips to hers, sending electricity through her.

She raised her hands, cupping the man's face as if they had consciousness.

His beautiful blue water-pool eyes sliced right through her and filled her with an intense feeling of yearning as she stared into their crude warmth. He then exhaled profoundly and shut his eyes.

When he finally opened them, she felt a burning desire pass through his eyes, a mixture of golden-red, and heard a primal growl rumble deep inside his chest as he lowered his head and drew nearer.

Izabella pushed against him while groaning as he put his arm beneath her back between the softness of the bed, debilitating her heart to bounce out of her chest. He grabbed her hips, slamming into her between their dresses as he took her mouth with his tongue, and she couldn't help but moan louder.

The gentle and slow-starting kiss ended as a rising mutual need overcame it. Izabella followed his lead blindly, and in an authoritarian maneuver, their tongues engaged in combat. Her hands were on his chest, perhaps trying to hold onto something solid, but soon they looped around his neck, putting her closer to his inclined body.

When Aleksander's hands retreated down her back, she let out a hushed groan that echoed to her toes. His hands cupped her bottom as they glided over the contours of her belly and hips. His firm grip on her body caused his areolas to chafe against her pullover as he drew her closer to him against his chest.

He nipped the outer shell of her ear between his lips as he ran his lips along her neck with that terrible sound.

"Izabella, I can smell your need, and I promise that as soon as you're ready to claim me, I will pleasure you until my name is inscribed on your body."

Before eventually separating himself, he gave her hair a short kiss. The agony was beyond anything she had ever known when she was finally freed.

When she turned to face the man, she saw that he was watching her just as she had been watching him. As their eyes connected, something in her was triggered, something more than desire, and she experienced her soul reaching out to him.

Aleksander gave her an achingly slow, sweet kiss while grinning but quickly pulled away.

He deliberately whispered, "Go and float in the valley of dreams and take me with you," with a sly twinkle in his eye.

He got up and carefully walked away from her, and she tossed in bed, a smile leaping at her lips. She became agitated, and her eyes jerked open when the sun's glare entered the room. Her gaze remained fixed on the photo of her holding her father.

As she came to terms with the situation, her head jerked around the room, and a frown formed.

Gosh! What an odd experience; even though it was only a dream, I could picture that man claiming me as his wife. And it seemed like his breathing was crawling across my skin as he kissed me with lips seared into my flesh.

She raised her hands and said, "Okay, I'm getting crazy." And she rolled her eyes in her square room, lying there as if she were dreaming. She shut her eyes again as if she needed to return to that fleeting dream.

I felt the man in my dream was incredibly handsome and well-off. He appeared to be in shock by the way he looked at me. However, it was simply a dream. I must feel driven to confront the reality of loneliness now that I'm awake. She told herself and let out a deep breath. Okay, enough of being in dreamland, she reasoned. I needed to get up before my stepmother entered my room.

She gingerly stood up, planted her feet on the floor, and put on her soft, fluffy house shoes. She tried to regain her composure as confusion overcame her when she looked at her outfit and saw that it was her dress during her flight for interviews.

Izabella grimaced when she came to that conclusion. The details of her dream in which she wore her outfit from those minutes suddenly came to life in her imagination.

What's going on with me? Why am I not dressed for sleep? In shock, she pondered while reaching for her hurting lips with both hands. As her heartbeat started to pound in her chest, she swallowed. Or did those sweet kisses occur in my room, or was it all just a dream?

The repeated taps on her bedroom door took her mind off her terror.

"Yes?" Through a partially open door, she questioned their servant. "Mindy, what is it?"

The maid answered, "Your dad wants to have breakfast with you in fifteen minutes."

"Ugh. Is there a problem?" She asked with a grimace.

"He is conversing with a guest who he had invited to breakfast."

"All right, I'll be there, but first, I need to shower."

"Missy, I'll let your dad know."

"Thank you, Mindy."

She shut the bedroom door and looked for the bag she had been carrying. It was perched on the bedside table, she discovered.