The Stranger

Chapter 25 - Cassandra

The shower after breakfast felt like an indulgence, a ritual as intimate as it was simple. Alex's hands glided over my skin, gently tracing the bruises on my wrists before lathering the soap along my back. He washed my hair with care, his fingers massaging my scalp with a tenderness that made me want to melt into him. Standing there, under the warm spray, cocooned by his presence, I felt at once vulnerable and protected.

"Come out when you're ready," he said, stepping out of the bathroom. He was already dressed, leaving me alone to linger, to piece myself together.

"Where are we going?" I called after him, pulling on my jeans.

"Surprise," came his teasing reply. "Wear something comfortable."

I finished getting ready, pairing my jeans with a loose white top, a brown leather jacket, and white trainers. Just a touch of eyeliner and a spritz of Coco Chanel completed the look. When I stepped outside, there he was, straddling a sleek black motorcycle, holding two helmets like some modern knight.

"Come," he said, offering one of the helmets with a lopsided smile. "Hop on."

I hesitated—not from fear, but from something deeper, a quiet awe at how easily he commanded me. I'd never been on a motorcycle before, and yet as I slid the helmet over my head and climbed onto the seat behind him, there wasn't a shred of doubt. My arms wrapped around his waist as though they belonged there.

"Ready?" His voice crackled through the helmet's speaker, a touch of humour colouring the word.

"Yes," I said, my hands clutching him tighter as the bike roared to life. "You're making it hard not to see you as a stereotypical dominant from... mummy porn," I teased, laughing as he did.

We took off, the world around us becoming a blur of green fields and rustic charm, like a painting come to life. The air was crisp, the scenery idyllic, and I didn't care where we were going as long as it was with him.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, my voice light. "And more importantly, are you planning to take advantage of me?"

"I'm taking you to see a bit of Aranjuez," he said, his chuckle vibrating through my body where it pressed against his back. "and I am definitely going to take advantage of you, but all in due course."

The bike wove through narrow streets, past the royal palace and lush gardens that seemed untouched by time. Alex pointed out places of interest as we rode, but I barely heard him, too wrapped up in the feel of the wind on my face and the strength of his body beneath my hands.

We parked near the palace, and as Alex paid for parking through his phone, I felt a pang of amusement at the mundane act.

"I like your bike," I said, circling it. "Is it a Yamaha 500?" I laughed "I know nothing about bikes".

He threw his head back, laughing. "Clearly. It's a Triumph Thruxton 900."

"Right," I said, pretending to nod sagely. "Sounds fancy. Now take off my clothes."

He grinned, pulling me to him by the waist. "What are you doing to me, Cassandra?"

"Absolutely nothing," I said with mock innocence, though my breath caught as he kissed me.

We strolled through the palace gardens, their beauty rivalled only by the history etched into every corner. Inside, the cool air of the palace provided a welcome break from the sun. As the tour guide spoke, my mind wandered, circling back to a thought I couldn't quite shake.

"Alex," I whispered, tugging gently at his sleeve.

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry I asked you to come to Berlin. And for... everything. You should be with your father right now, not—"

"Cassandra." He stopped, turning me to face him, his hands firm on my shoulders. "You didn't force me to do anything. I wanted to go to Berlin. I wanted to bring you here. And I want to spend time with you." His voice was steady, certain, leaving no room for doubt.

He kissed my forehead, then gave my backside a light smack. "Now, move that cute ass and catch up with the group."

The ride back to his father's house was a blur of sun-dappled fields and the hum of the engine beneath us. My mind was clear, free of the usual overthinking that plagued me. There was only the moment, only Alex.

But the peace shattered the moment we arrived. Soledad greeted us at the door, her expression unreadable.

"Alejandrito, Miss Cassandra, you're back," she said, her voice colder than before.

"Sí, mi Soledad. ¿Todo bien?" Alex's gaze followed hers towards the terrace, where his father sat, smiling warmly. Next to him, a woman—stunning, poised, and unmistakably familiar—turned her head at the sound of Alex's voice.

"Valeria," Alex said, his tone clipped.

The woman rose, her movements languid, deliberate. She was exquisite, her red sundress hugging her figure in all the right places. Her dark hair fell in soft waves, and her eyes—big, brown, and knowing—locked onto Alex with unsettling confidence.

"Hola, guapo," she said, her voice dripping with charm as she kissed him on both cheeks.

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked, his jaw tight.

"Are you not going to introduce me to your friend?" she asked, her gaze flicking to me with disarming ease.

"Valeria, this is Cassandra. Cassandra, Valeria. My ex-wife."

Her words were warm, her kiss on my cheeks polite, but there was an edge to her, a sharpness beneath the veneer of civility.

"She's a pretty one, isn't she?" Valeria said, her gaze lingering on Alex.

"Yes, she is," Alex replied, his voice softening only when he looked at me. "What are you doing here, Valeria?"

"I came to see your father, of course. You know how much I love him."

As Alex moved to speak with his father, Valeria stayed behind with me. She smiled, but her words carried a weight I wasn't prepared for.

"How is he treating you? Is he a good boyfriend?"

"He is not... we haven't defined our relationship yet. Early days" I said, "He has been wonderful though."

"Good. Just be careful. Behind all that charm, there's a darkness to him. Don't let it consume you."

"What do you mean?"

"¡Valeria! Ven" Rodrigo called for Valeria to go there.

"There is a reason we are not together anymore. I can see by your wrists that he has already hurt you" she said and walked away. I looked at my wrists and the small bruises on them. What had been a reminder of an amazing night, now was making me feel uncomfortable. Suddenly, something came back to my mind that I had been ignoring since Berlin and it gave me the shivers. It was John's words to Alex.

"I know who you are".