“She played it for the entire restaurant to hear.”A tear slips down her cheek.“Her friends were laughing.And she said—she said you’d tire of me, too.”
“How did you destroy the phone?”My voice comes out rougher than I intend.
“I dunked it in the fancy fish tank.”A defiant smile tugs at her lips.“At the restaurant.The koi looked confused.”
“Good.”I finish unlacing her boots and set them aside carefully.“I’ll deal with Amber.”
“I already dealt with her.”She wipes at her face.“But she’s not going to take this lying down.She asked me if that’s how I got my job, actually.By spreading my legs.”
I can hardly contain my anger any longer.I lean forward, my hands bracing on either side of her thighs, my face inches from hers.“What do you want to do?”My voice is deadly quiet.“If you want me to deal with Amber, I’ll tank her father’s entire business.I’ll set up a competitive car showroom and drive him out of business.”
Her eyes widen.“You’d really go that far for me?”
I take her hand, bringing it to my lips.I press a kiss to her palm.She sucks in a sharp breath, her fingers curling slightly against my mouth.I see her pupils dilate, the flush on her cheeks deepening.
I hold her hand against my cheek, my eyes never leaving hers.“There’s nothing I won’t do for you.”
“Why?”The word is barely a whisper, breathless.
“Do you really not know?”I search her face, willing her to see what I’ve been trying to show her all week.Her cheeks flush deeper, and she looks away briefly before meeting my eyes again.Her breathing has quickened, and I can feel her pulse racing where my fingers rest against her wrist.
“What will it be?”I ask, slowly getting to my feet.
“I can take my own revenge.”Her jaw sets with determination, though her voice has gone slightly husky.“But nothing in that voicemail was true.I’m not bad in bed.I’m not all those things Chase said.”
Before I can respond, she grabs my shirt and pulls.Hard.She’s perched on the edge of the bed, and the sudden force sends her tipping backward.I fall forward with her, catching myself at the last second with my hands planted on either side of her head.The muscles in my arms tense with the effort of not touching her, of maintaining that torturous sliver of space between us.
She’s breathing hard beneath me, her chest rising and falling rapidly.Her hair fans out across the pale purple comforter, dark waves that frame her flushed face.Those hazel eyes are wide, pupils blown, staring up at me with determination and something that looks dangerously like want.
“Of all the people to believe Amber, I don’t want you to be one of them.”Her gaze is direct, challenging.
I smile despite the desire flooding my veins, despite the fact that I’m hovering over her, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her body but not close enough to touch.“I don’t.”
Her gaze drops to my lips, lingering there before meeting my eyes again.Her hands slide up my chest.“I want to prove her wrong.”
All the blood in my body rushes south.I force myself to speak, to be rational, even as my eyes keep wandering to her soft pink lips.“You’ve been drinking.”
“You didn’t have any problem kissing me when I was drunk at the airport,” she counters, her voice husky but clear.Her arms slide around my neck.
The memory hits me.Her soft and pliant in my arms at that bar, tasting like whiskey and need.“This time I won’t be able to settle for just a kiss,” I warn her.
“So?”Her chin lifts defiantly.
“So I’m not taking advantage of you when you’re drunk.”I start to push myself up, to put distance between us before I lose what little control I have left.
Her arms tighten around my neck, and she declares, “Fine.Then I’m taking advantage of you.”Before I can react, she arches up and captures my mouth with hers.
And every rational thought flies out of my brain.
Alexander’s mouth tastes like coffee and mint—clean, familiar, dangerously addictive.And I shouldn’t be doing this.I spent half the morning talking myself into coming back and setting some hard boundaries before my heart gets too entangled.But now that same heart is hurting, and my pride is bruised.Chase, that bastard.Of all the cruel things he could have done, for him to actually?—
Alexander pulls back slightly, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down my spine.“I’m the only one you should be concerned with right now, Olivia.When I’ve got my hands on you, you shouldn’t be thinking of anyone else.”
Before I can respond, before I can even process his words, his mouth is on mine again.This time it’s not gentle.It’s consuming, possessive, like he’s trying to brand himself into my memory and erase everyone who came before.
His hands slide under my sweater, palms hot against my ribs, and I gasp against his lips.The alcohol has made everything feel sharper somehow—every touch electric, every sensation magnified.But I’m sobering up fast, clarity rushing back with each thundering beat of my heart, and I don’t want it to stop.God, I don’t want it to stop.
“Alexander,” I breathe against his mouth, my fingers tangling in his hair.
