Her head snapped toward him, eyes wide with shock and horror.
She lunged for the phone, panic flashing across her face, but he caught both her wrists in one hand and slammed them against the car door, pinning her in place.
“Mia? Where are you?” Gavin’s voice spilled from the speakers, breathless and anxious. “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean it like that. You have to believe me—”
Before she could even gasp, Alexander leaned in, so close she felt his breath spill across her lips, and claimed her mouth in a deep, angry, possessive kiss, swallowing every word she tried to speak.
His body boxed her in completely—one knee braced between her thighs, one arm locked around her waist, holding her there.
Gavin continued speaking on the call, completely unaware.
“I’m sorry,” Gavin said urgently. “I shouldn’t have talked about your husband like that. I didn’t think about your feelings. You’re right. I shouldn’t have questioned your decision.”
Alexander tore his mouth away, breath coming rough and uneven. His lips brushed her cheek as he leaned in, voice low, sharp, and burning with jealousy as he growled against her ear, “Get him the fuck out of here.”
Gavin kept talking.
“I just want to talk to you. Don’t run away like this. I was just so shocked, that’s why I said what I did. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Gavin, you should leave,” Mia blurted out immediately, the words tumbling over each other the moment Alexander demanded it. Her heart pounded violently, panic written all over her face. “Just… just leave for now.”
Alexander didn’t give her time to recover.
He was already on her again—his mouth relentless, kisses hot and heavy as they dragged down her neck. Mia’s breath snagged sharply in her throat, a soft, broken sound she tried desperately to swallow. She turned her face slightly, fighting to steady her breathing, terrified Gavin would hear the way her chest rose and fell… or the traitorous tremble in her voice.
Her fingers twisted weakly in Alexander’s grip, a futile attempt to pull free. Instead of releasing her, his hold tightened, fingers locking around her wrists. He kissed and bit along her neck over and over, slow and punishing, until it became impossible for her to stay composed.
“Mmhmm…” Mia clamped her teeth down on her lower lip, pain blooming as she fought to suppress the sounds threatening to escape. Alexander seemed to feel it. His kisses grew rougher, more demanding, as though he were deliberately testing how much control she had left—determined to strip it away.
On the call, Gavin’s voice shifted, edged with concern. “Mia, are you still upset? I was just worried about you. Maybe you misunderstood. I didn’t have any bad intentions—I just wanted to have dinner with you.”
Alexander’s breath brushed her ear as a low, furious growl vibrated through his chest. “Get him the fuck out of here, Mia.”
There was a pause on the line. Gavin hesitated before asking, confused, “Mia… why are you breathing so heavily? Is something wrong? Are you crying?”
Alexander didn’t give her the chance to answer.
His mouth crashed onto hers again, hard and consuming, cutting off every word before it could leave her lips. The kiss was unyielding, possessive, stealing her voice entirely.
“Mia? Hello?” Gavin’s worry spiked. “Do you need help? Don’t cry—I’m sorry. I’m really sorry—”
Alexander refused to let her speak. He kissed her breathlessly, again and again, as though determined to drown out the call itself. When he finally pulled back, it was only to lower his head to her neck, scattering heated kisses and sharp nips along her skin, claiming every inch he could reach.
Mia’s control shattered. Her voice broke when she finally managed to speak, shaky and uneven.
“G-Gavin… you should leave,” she whispered, forcing the words out between breaths. “You don’t need to worry. I’m fine…”
Gavin exhaled, sounding faintly relieved. “Mia, where are you? I can drop you off at your apartment. Just tell me where you are—I’ll bring my car.”
Something inside Alexander snapped.
Jealousy slammed through him, fierce and suffocating. His jaw clenched, anger burning so hot it made his chest ache. ‘This bastard even wants to take her home?’
He seized both her wrists tightly, and then crushed his mouth to hers again—harder this time. The kiss was wild, almost feral, his lips ravaging hers in hungry, repeated claims, as if he were daring anyone else to even think of touching her.
“Mia… I’m worried about you,” Gavin continued helplessly. “You don’t sound okay. Just tell me where you are and I’ll—”
Alexander abruptly released one of her hands only to snatch the phone from her grasp. Without even glancing at the screen—without breaking the kiss—he ended the call and tossed the phone onto the dashboard.
