Dee's POV...

Its now been three days since Cara and her party had arrived and the akward dinner. Three excruciating days of an even more intense atmosphere in the house. Just as I had predicted, things haven't gotten better in terms of interactions between Cara and her party and the rest of the Rodriguez family. If anything, the wedding preparations seem to have made the whole situation even worse.
The next day after dinner, the wedding planner had flown in and the wedding preparations got underway. More of the guests had started arriving despite how short notice this whole thing was and I realized how big the Rodriguez community and their friends were which made me nervous but luck seemed to be on my side as everyone seemed to like me. In fact a few had joked around that I was an angel sent from above because they never thought Alex would settle down after his last marriage had ended badly. Not that we were settling down but they didn't need to know that piece of information.
Alex and his male cousins had been busy coming up with a back up plan just in case Stephen tried anything fishy once his marriage to Cara was finalized and I only got to see him later in the night when he came back to our room. I always waited up for him because it seems that I couldn't fall asleep without him by my side, something he had been teasing me about and of course I bluntly denied even though he could tell I was lying.

In fact I couldn't help but think that we had gotten closer these past few days. My attraction towards him seems to have intensified and I had caught myself more than once fantasizing about us fucking. Something I tried to tell myself was wrong because I believed he was only with me because I was carrying his children. But even that reason didn't deter my attraction towards him and I was starting to think that maybe its my pregnancy hormones affecting my brain.

Luckily for me, my best friends Hamida and Liz were flying in today so at least I would have people to keep my mind occupied. Not that the Rodriguez ladies weren't great company, don't get me wrong, they were amazing but their constant teasing was clouding my mind with fantasies that I shouldn't entertain. And plus I had missed my best friends to bits.

Stephen's friend, who I had come to know was called Marcus had cornered me twice since the last time we talked and every time I expected my warning bells to go on high alert but my gut seemed to trust him which was weird as he was on the enemy camp. The last time we talked he only wanted to take my number as he claimed it would make our interactions less suspicious plus our communication easier. The only reason I gave it to him*don't shake your head guys* was because he told me that indeed Stephen had something sinister planned and that even he didn't know what his plans were but that he would let me know once he confirmed what they were. I was reluctant to believe him on our second meeting and the only reason he gave me to trust him was that Stephen had in the past hurt his family and he befriended him only so he could exert his revenge, the whole keep your enemies closer saying. The wedding between Stephen and Cara just happened to come into the picture and although its not a part of his plan, he saw it fit to help us defeat  Stephen and in the process exert his revenge because he believed Alex had the capabilities to destroy Stephen completely. To him this situation was like killing two birds with one stone. When I asked why he would come to me and not go to Alex directly he said," Let's be realistic. Do you think Alex would even let me ten feet near him knowing am Stephen's suppposed best friend? Since you seem pretty neutral and are close to the Rodriguez, I figured I would include you into my plans. Whether you decide to tell Alex is up to you but I would advice against it until I have solid evidence of what he wants to execute." And against my better judgment, I took his word for it. Although am still keeping him at arms length. He's hoping that he can get something before the wedding as by then it will be too late.

Stephen hasn't cornered me again and I try to not be in the same room as him except when we are forced to with everyone else there.

Cara has made it clear she dislikes me, if by not including me into her bridal party or even involving me with the preparations are anything to go by. And she makes it her mission to send me an evil glare every time we are in the same room together, something Lessa and the other girls told me to ignore.
Miranda has tried to attack me verbally more than once and tried to embarrass me but I ignore her letting Alex, Lessa and the rest of the Rodriguez family apart from Cara put her in her place. Don't get me wrong, its not that I can't stand up for myself when she attacks me but I figured the smart thing would be to ignore her because her mission is to rile me up and I have too much going on that her jabs are irrelevant to me. Besides, I have the support of someone she wants the most so I have nothing to worry about.

I was currently busy talking to my aunt on skype, who as I had explained earlier became mine and my eleven year old brother's  guardian when our parents passed away so she was like our mother. I had filled her in on my situation and although she was disappointed that I got myself pregnant, she's been very supportive of me. And although she is yet to meet Alex officially, she seems to have warmed up to him, especially since she found out that he was taking care of us and had accepted to take full responsibility of the twins.

She however was very fond of Zoe and Zack, since everytime I was with them, they would join me for our Skype sessions. And with my situation with Alex, she was especially pleased that they would be a part of our family even though it wouldn't be officially.

"Can't wait for you to come back home dear. When are you coming back?" She asks.
"I'll probably be able to make it out there after the wedding here is over. I'll talk to Alex so that him and the kids can join me and you can get to meet them officially." I told her.
"Yes. I can't wait to meet Alex and especially those adorable kids. Utaniambia ukiwa sure mnakuja ndio nijitayarishe."( You will let me know in advance when you will be coming so I can prepare in advance.)
"Sawa sawa. Ntakuambia. Salimia Dean na Makena everyone else. Next time ntapiga kama wako around ndio niwaongeleshe." I replied.( Okay. I'll let you know. Say hi to Dean*my small brother* and Makena *my six year old niece* and everyone else. Next time I'll call when they are around so I can talk to them.)
"Sawa sawa my dear. Na next time make sure Zoe and Zack are there so I can see them too." She said with a smile.
After saying our goodbyes, I logged off, feeling much better after that call. Talking to the people close to you when you are miles apart always has a way to calm you down and although you get homesick, seeing their faces and hearing their stories makes being away from them a bit bareable.
Immediately after placing the laptop aside, Waridi, my aunt's daughter and Makena's mom, who I referred to as my older sister called me via WhatsApp. I got comfortable, leaning on the bed's headrest then accepted the video call.
"Madam! Sasa juu umeenda vacation huwezi pigia watu sindio?" Was the first thing she said, playfully scolding me.(Madam! Now because you've gone on vacation, you can't even call?)
I laughed out loud,before I replied," Its not like that, a lot has been going on here I don't even know where to begin. Besides I rarely get time alone to even make phone calls. This is the first time since we came here that I've managed to get time to myself."
Waridi, or Ridy as she likes to be called and I have always been close and our playful banter always make us look like we are best of friends rather than cousins with a six year age gap between them. Our crazy personalities although she's crazier*don't tell her I said so* always compliment each other and I've always felt that she understood me more than anyone else I knew.  Since we didn't keep secrets between us, apart from my best friends, she was the second person to know about my situation with Alex. Even as far as when Alex and I had blurred lines in the beginning of our relationship, she knew and she was even encouraging me to jump his bones as life was too short to live cautiously.
She was currently in Spain doing her PHD in Archeology, the first in our family to get to that level and also the first at her age to have accomplished so much. Although she was a joker, she was actually a genius with an IQ level of 180.

We talked some.more, with her telling me how her thesis was coming along and her latest dating escapades since she's never been in a serious relationship since she broke up with Makena's dad. Though she claims she's focusing on school first and building her career so she doesn't have time for anything serious I feel like she's just scared to be heart broken again and she's put up an iron wall around her heart.
I was filling her in on what was happening on my end and I had just finished telling her about Miranda when Alex walked into the room looking yummy as hell and I felt my hormones awakening with renewed energy.
"Am guessing Alex has just walked in.." She said with a knowing smirk on her face, her voice breaking my concentration from Alex back to her.
"What?" I asked confused and a bit dazed.
"Alex!" She called out loud making me widen my eyes in panic and despite trying to warn her to not call him with my eyes , she got his attention and he diverted his path from the closet to where I was sitting, coming to sit beside me and I was forced to put my phone between us so he could see her.
"Hey Ridy. Long time no see. How have you been?" Alex asked politely and his deep voice sent pleasurable shivers down my spine.
"Am great. How about you? Dee has been telling me you've been busy. Don't you know the meaning of a vacation?"
"I had every intention of spending my fee time relaxing but you know when you run an empire you can't exactly stay away from work." He replied and they both laughed as if that was funny.
"True. True though I wouldn't know anything about that as I don't have an empire of my own to run. Though I wouldn't mind a vacation too."
"Well, you could always join us if you aren't so busy. We will be here for a couple more weeks. Hamida and Liz are flying out but am sure Dee would love your company." Alex said looking at me with a smile though am pretty sure my mouth was wide in shock as I stared back at him. My heart felt like it was about to burst out my chest from swelling with so much happiness as tears sprung in my eyes, some of them spilling despite my efforts to keep them at bay. This man surprised me more and more and his actions only intensified how much more attracted I was to him. In fact my feelings towards him were more than just attraction and hormones and I was scared to find out what they were exactly. I was scared that I was the only one feeling this way and our relationship was already complicated. The last thing I needed was to blur the lines even more by making a move. Now if only my heart could listen to this reason.
"Oh my God!! Alex you are an angel I swear. Dee is definitely lucky to have jumped you of all men walking this earth." She exclaimed in happiness.
"I'll take that as a yes." Said Alex.
"Hell yeah it is."
"Just let me know when you want to come and I'll make the arrangements for your trip." He told her smiling at her.
"Will do. You know Alex, i like you more and more everytime we talk. Am glad you were the one to knock my small sister up." She said making me glare playfully at her as they both erupted in laughter.
"I'll take that as a compliment. Though to be honest, am the lucky one." He replied and I blushed.
"Well take care of her. She might act tough but she's really as fragile as glass."
"You two know that am here right?" I interrupted them.
"Which makes it all the better cause we ain't saying it behind your back." Replied Ridy with a wink and I rolled my eyes at her.
"I'll always take care of her. Just as she does me." Replied Alex putting his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side and my body went into overdrive at the contact.
Ridy had to get back to her research, so we had to hang up but not before she confirmed that she would be available from the coming Friday and would take a two weeks vacation break to join us.

"You didn't have to do that you know." I told Alex once we had hung up. He moved out of the bed to stand so he could head to the closet and I followed him close behind.
"She's family and she makes you happy. And you need everyone you care about around you especially now with the twins." He replied as he started unbuttoning his shirt.
I turned around, not sure I could make seeing him half naked with my emotions everywhere, continuing with our conversation to try and distract my mind.
"Don't get me wrong. Am not complaining or anything. Its just that you've done so much for me already ..."i was interrupted when i felt his bare arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back into his, my back leaning into his bare chest and i could feel every single muscle on his upper body. My breath caught in my throat and i felt dizzy, his body heat messing with my mind and making my heart beat super fast i was surprised i hadn't collapsed yet.
"Its not nearly close to what you have done to me since coming into my life." He whispered in my ear, his hot breath on my skin making me close my eyes in ecstasy and i fought the urge to moan out loud, my hormones confused between enjoying this or being embarrassed by the fact his breath could do this to me.
As if he could feel what was happening to me, he placed his lips behind my ear, lightly kissing the place there and i bit my lip to stop the moan that was threatening to come out.
"What do you mean?" I asked my voice coming out husky and laced with need clutching on to the remaining sanity in the hopes that it would clear the lustful haze in the room but I doubted whether it could be enough to erase the thick tension in the room.
"Ever since you walked into our lives, its like a light has been lit into our dark paths. You brought joy and happiness that i thought had died with my ex wife..." He replied huskily, tracing light torturous kisses from my ear to my collar bone, paying more attention to a spot there that had now become my weak spot, something only he had the power to envoke. His arms tightened around me, pulling me even closer to him and I grabbed onto him, my nails digging into his flesh, making him groan and I felt my pussy clench deliciously, wetting my panties.
"God, you drive me nuts Dee. These past few weeks have been torture, not being able to hold you in my arms, to feel your soft body in my arms, to kiss you...fuck..." His words were slowly crumbling my resolve and it was then that i knew i was a goner. I was probably going to regret my actions but in that moment, nothing else mattered other than the need i felt for him. The need i knew only he had the power to quench. And although his words weren't exactly a declaration of love, they were enough to make the burning desire in me blaze up.
Turning my face to face him, i looked straight into his eyes and whispered huskily," Then don't hold back anymore."