"It’s you," I say as my eyes widen in astonishment. I see Carttal give a half-smile, enjoying my surprise. "That’s right, Palomita. I told you I’d come for you — or were you waiting for someone else?" he says, emphasizing the last words.

"No, not at all. It’s just that I’m surprised you took the time to rescue me — honestly, I didn’t expect you to," I tell him, my eyes shining under the lights. I watch him close the door behind him and walk toward me with slow steps. When he reaches me he raises one hand and begins to caress my face. "I told you, Palomita, that you are only mine from now on. I will not let you drift away from me," he says with a note of possessiveness and authority in his tone, which makes me swallow hard and feel my cheeks flush.

I didn’t know why this man provoked these feelings in me; I felt my heart leap with just the sound of his manly voice. This feeling I was experiencing was new to me — something I had never felt before.

I feel his face drawing closer to mine