*Mild mature content ahead*

"Get in," Izan said, but I just stared at him. He was sitting in the driver's seat, holding my wrist gently and motioning for me to get from his side.

Who does he think I am? 

Superwoman?

"How can I get to my seat from here?" I was not about to go all monkey on him.

Yes, I always climb his back, but this was different.

Izan pulled me closer, waking the butterflies in my stomach. "Who said anything about your seat? You'll sit on my lap for a bit before we go to the beach," he casually explained, and my eyes widened. 

He had gotten bolder in the past couple of weeks. Heath's death made him more... dare I say it... cheerful. He still had his grumpy moments here and there, but it was bearable now.

"Why?" I asked, feeling my cheeks heat up as I climbed on his lap, straddling his sides and facing him. This position was so scandalous. I felt like I was in a mature movie scene.

You love it, Verena.

"Because I want to kiss the daylight out of you," he replied and crushed his lips on mine, taking me by surprise. 

His lips worked wonders, and I gave in and wrapped my arms around his neck to bring him closer. I needed him. I craved his touch every single day, but I wouldn't admit it. 

I didn't want to boost his already inflated ego.

He tightened his grip on my waist when I adjusted myself to sit comfortably, feeling something hard hit my thigh. I broke the kiss for a second and looked down to see his humongous friend wide awake. "You are huge," I commented in a whisper without thinking, and he literally chuckled.

Who are you, and what have you done to my mafia boss?

"Thank you for the compliment. It's all yours if you want it." He captured my lips once again and slid his tongue into my mouth when I gasped at what he said and did. He pinched my hip.

This mothertrucker.

After my body screamed at me for air, I kissed his jaw to breathe. He didn't stop and ran his palms on my back until his hands were under my shirt. I had worn a bikini under since we were going to the beach, but I had second thoughts when his fingers played with the straps. 

"Don't you dare-" Before I could finish, he undid my bikini top and laughed. "You'll tie it again."

"It will be my pleasure, but now..." he smirked as his hands cupped my breasts and gently squeezed them. I yelped at the contact and hid my face in his neck. It was the first time I felt this type of sensation, and I didn't hate it. "Can I see?" he asked, making me look at him. I was pretty sure my cheeks were crimson red. He was enjoying every second of this.

Not that I would blame him.

If I were a man, I would too.

"But don't laugh!"

He narrowed his eyebrows. "Why the fuck would I laugh? Even if you had a third nipple, I'd find you sexy."

"Oh, you smooth son of a female dog!" I playfully slapped his chest, and he smirked. "But no, I don't have a third nipple. I'm not Chandler."

"Who?"

"Never mind. It's just that my boobs are small," I admitted, feeling shy all of a sudden, which was ironic since his hands were still on my girlies.

"Amor, I don't give a fuck if they are tiny or huge. I love you with everything you have or don't have. Don't ever give me this half-assed answer again. So, can I see them?" he asked again, and I looked at our driveway, making sure no one was around. 

Gathering every bit of my courage, I finally nodded.

He kissed my nose, grabbed the hem of my shirt, and lifted it to my neck, exposing me to the world.

Izan is my world.

Ew, that's so cringy, Verena.

"Muy bonita," he whispered, and I avoided looking at him. It was embarrassing. "Just perfect, you are perfect. Can I try something?"

"What type of thing?" I narrowed my eyes, trying to read his mind.

"It'll make you feel good," he licked the side of my mouth, and I agreed. I trusted him. Maybe too much.

Without warning, though he gave me heads up, he dove down and kissed my left boob. I jumped at the contact and tugged on his hair. He left wet kisses all over my breasts until his mouth took my nipple and sucked on it. I felt weird. Down there.

Is this what they call getting wet?

To make sure, I slipped my hand between my thighs and cursed in French. I wanted to rub my core but didn't know how he would react. 

As if he heard my thoughts, he slipped one hand down and cupped my private area. I jumped, panicking. "You're so wet. It's so fucking sexy," he commented and sucked harder on my right boob. I was wearing loose shorts, so it was pretty easy to feel my juices leaking out.

Way to go, Verena.

I will never look at normal juice the same again.

"Izan," I placed my chin on his head, and he stopped touching me so erotically but kept his hands on my body. "Can we stop? I'm overwhelmed," I asked, not feeling ready for more. I was a coward, but I needed to put limits.

He immediately removed his hands. "Of course, amor," he replied with a smile and kissed my nose. "Should I tie your top?"

"Yes, please." He did as I requested. 

I decided to change my whole outfit in the house since it was obvious what we were doing. I wore a different but similar bikini, and we drove to the beach.

~~~

"What took you so long?" Camila asked the moment we joined them on the beach. It was a hot day, and people of all ages were there. I wanted to run and play. I wanted to let my inner child loose.

"They were probably doing the deed," Jose commented with a smirk, and my cheeks flushed, exposing us. "Oh my God, I was joking! No way! I'm proud of you, my children."

I shook my head. "We didn't do it. We just made out! I should really stop blurting out unnecessary information," I said, hiding my face in Izan's chest. He was still wearing his shirt, and I wanted to see his tattoos and muscles.

"Too much information," Carlos grumbled, and everyone laughed. I took off my shirt and shorts and adjusted the straps on my bikini top. I wasn't self-conscious about my scars anymore. Izan removed his shirt, and I wiggled my eyebrows at him. He chuckled and kissed me gently.

"Veve, let's build a sandcastle," Alvaro tugged on my arm and made me sit with him for an hour. We made a very huge and detailed sandcastle, and everyone complimented us. "We're artists!" Alvaro said, happy that his family was taking pictures of us. He loved being at the center of attention and I didn't blame him.

The vibes were amazing until I felt something or someone touch my butt. I yelped and jumped toward Izan, grabbing our group's attention.

A man, who looked to be in his late thirties, grinned. My eyes widened in realization. "You freaking slapped my bump!" I yelled at him, feeling violated and ready to hit his head with Alvaro's shovel.

"So what if I did?" the man replied smugly, and I saw Izan, Marco, Carlos, Zulimar, Jose, and Juan step closer to him. Their expressions were intimidating, and I hoped that the man understood the situation.

"Wrong answer, buddy," Carlos crossed his arms, looking pissed off. Zulimar had his hand in his bag, most likely holding a gun. He didn't reveal it, but I knew it.

I didn't want them to make a scene, even though I started it... or the man did. 

I stepped between them and sighed. "Let's just forget this happened, I want to enjoy this peaceful day peacefully." As I said that, I felt another slap. I finally snapped. "Oh, you have a death wish." I grabbed the plastic shovel and swung it to his face. He stumbled backward, surprised that a small woman dared hit him.

My body is off-limits. 

The ugly duckling did not touch me there, so who was he to do it?

Only Izan can.

The man was angry. His eyes were red, and his cheek bruised. The shovel was harder than I expected. 

He was about to pounce on me, but Izan grabbed him by the neck, holding him in place. "Let's go take a walk," he said calmly, and everyone agreed.

"Just don't kill him," I countered, and the man's eyes widened. He finally realized he had messed with the wrong family. 

Alvaro was playing with his toys, probably choosing to ignore the drama. Camila and Vivian sighed, used to this type of thing, so I sat beside them and waited.

~~~

"What happened to him?" I asked Izan once they returned from their probably bloody adventure. Izan smirked so savagely, and I shivered. "Wait, do I want to know?"

He shrugged. "Not really. He's still alive but will be limping for the rest of his life." Izan's reply made me imagine what they did, and I shook off the thoughts.

He sat on a beach chair and brought me to his lap. "Did you put sunscreen on?" he asked, and my eyes widened.

"Shoot, I forgot!" I wanted to get up and get it, but he tightened his grip on my waist and ordered Carlos to toss the bottle over. Everyone was busy doing their thing, and Izan rubbed sunscreen on my scarred back and arms. The world could see them for all I cared. "I can do it."

"I know you can," he remarked, flipping me over so I could face him. He finished applying it to my face and neck, and I decided to do the same for him. But just when I was about to put some on his cheeks, a woman and a man with a big camera jumped in front of us.

Izan wrapped his arms on my waist protectively, ready for anything.

"Verena Amaryllis, it is so good to see you! We have been looking for you after that live engagement," the woman said so cheerfully, and I sighed.

Here we go...

"You mean you have been stalking me," I corrected her, and she grinned.

"Well, that's what paparazzi do. Can you answer a few questions, if you don't mind?"

I knew there was no escaping this now. I expected it to happen sooner or later, so I wanted to get this over with once and for all. I nodded and rested my head on Izan's chest. My people observed the whole encounter silently. 

"Aren't you Heath Hemlock's fiancé? Why are you in another man's arms?" Straight to the point. I liked her.

It was about time the truth came out. "I never agreed to be Heath's fiancé or his girlfriend."

"How come?" the reporter asked, eyes sparkling, and the cameraman got closer to my face, earning a glare from Izan. He understood and stepped back.

"My dad, Dexter Amaryllis, forced this relationship on me to improve his social image. Dexter is not the guardian angel you all think he is, and Heath is not Prince Charming. Both are rotten to their core." It felt so easy to let the truth out. 

I should've done this years ago.

"What did they do?" the woman asked sympathetically. She surely didn't expect to get this exclusive scoop this easily. I was done hiding.

"They both abused me in their own ways." Izan tensed behind me, but I grabbed his hand and ran circles on his skin to soothe him. "Dexter verbally abused me every day since I was young, and Heath? Just look," I turned my back to face the camera, and they gasped. Vivian cursed, and Henry, Camila's husband, was shocked. He never saw what Heath did.

"Oh my God, this is..." the woman didn't know what to say. No one did. No one could. What was done was done. It was in the past, and there was no changing the past. "So, you broke things with Heath?"

I nodded. "Of course, and with Dexter. I should've done this years ago, but I guess I was too scared to do anything. It was about time I gained control over my life again."

"So you don't know where Heath is now? He's been reported missing three weeks ago."

"I don't, and I don't care." I didn't lie. Izan never told me where he buried him. "I'm just glad I got out of that toxic house and relationship. I want to live happily with my boyfriend without any more paparazzi jumping in my face without warning." I gave her a knowing look.

The woman smiled sheepishly. "We apologize, but I'm happy you're safe now. Do you mind if we hear a word or two from your boyfriend?"

"I do mind. I'm sorry. This is where I draw the line. You got your scoop. Now, can you leave us alone?" I was still being nice, even though I got irritated.

"Of course, we apologize. We wish you a happy life," she said, and they finally walked away.

"One more question, and I would have broken the camera," Izan commented as he nuzzled his nose in my neck.

"Same," everyone replied, and I laughed.

"What are you thinking, Alvaro?" I asked because I saw him staring at me with wide eyes.

"You said you fell. That's why your back is like this," he was about to cry, and I jumped from Izan's lap and scooped him in my arms. "Someone hit you," he added, and I kissed his head. He was so gentle and kind. 

My eyes teared up. "I'm okay now. I'm with you. Don't cry, buddy." I should've remembered he was here. I should've been more careful with my words.

"I will hit him with my shovel the next time I see him." He did not need to know he would not see him ever again, his kidnapper and my abuser.

~~~ 

9.02.2024

 I'm proud of Verena! 

What do you think? Did you like this chapter? 

I'll post ch.35 later today, so stay tuned :)