For the Love of Alex by J.E. Hopkins Page A

was not his mother’s son and in trying to escape her, he ended up following her lead.
    Leah wished she could get him to see that this was not about Rebecca. She didn’t control him or his life, but she did control a part of his mind. He was obsessed with her and, until he dealt with her one way or the other, she would always be this constant negative presence dragging him down. Why couldn’t he just let her go? Because she was his mother and as much as he hated her, he still loved her.
    “You need to forget about her, Alex. You’ve survived her. She’s the one rotting away in prison.” Leah caressed his face, focusing his attention on her and not the memories that would forever haunt him. “She can’t hurt you anymore. She can’t hurt us unless you let her. You’re free of her.” Despite her words, she could see in his eyes he was as imprisoned by his memories of her as the bars that kept her locked away from society. Alex had also been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole—a life of haunting memories of the mother who scarred him to his soul.
    They spent several more hours talking and making plans. Alex had more energy than he had shown in years. Leah couldn’t help but feel his excitement, his enthusiasm, but unlike him she was completely exhausted. Her bed was beckoning her, and her body gave her no choice but to heed its call. Alex was too wired to sleep, so she went to bed alone but he joined her a few hours later awakening her from her glorious slumber.
    There were worse ways to wake up than to be kissed all over until her heated body overflowed with desire for the only man who could ever ignite the sexual flame inside her. Just like that, her exhaustion was replaced with passion as she tried to rip off Alex’s shirt. Frustrated with her own weakness, she nearly cried from disappointment as she was unable to free him of his clothes.
    “For now on, you only wear button-down shirts, or rather you should just stop wearing shirts.”
    Alex chuckled as he sat up and slowly removed his shirt. “What about pants? Should I throw them all away?” He stood on the bed and slowly slid his jeans and briefs off.
    “We could give them to charity. Not everyone is equipped to walk around naked,” she suggested as she licked her lips and stared at his body bathed in the moonlight.
    “You don’t mind other women seeing me naked?”
    “They can look, but they can’t touch. I kind of like the idea of every woman ogling you and being jealous because you’re mine, all mine. Always.”
    “I am yours always Leah, as long as you will have me.”
    He looked so serious suddenly, and she just wanted to erase the worry in his eyes. As much as they had been through, he should feel more secure—she would never leave—but there was so much doubt in his face. Her words were not enough. Maybe she could show him. Allow her love for him to demonstrate her commitment to him.
    “Sounds like we have a date with eternity, then.” She reached for him and he collapsed on top of her. She pushed him on his back and straddled him. He let her take control, completely surrendering himself to her.
    She rode him until they both exploded from the passion that had built up from the weeks apart. She crumbled into his arms, sprawled out on his chest like a blanket. He held her tight as she buried herself in the safety of his warmth.
    “Forgive me,” he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.
    “There’s nothing to forgive.” He sighed and Leah lifted her head up and tilted his chin so that his eyes were forced to meet hers. “There’s nothing to forgive, Alex” she repeated. “It’s time we bury the pain of the past and only remember the good times that brought us together and that have kept us together since we were babies. It’s time we move on and I want nothing more than to move on with you.”
    She kissed him tenderly, pouring all her love for him into that kiss. Finally he surrendered and kissed her back.