My voice is husky with need. “Me? Did you pass a mirror before you came here? It’s taking all of my control not to throw you over my shoulder and leave this place.”
That beautiful flush crawls up her light skin, and I can’t help but brush my fingers against her arm, causing her to shiver and lean into my touch. Her eyes flutter closed as she almost whispers, “If that’s true, then why did you leave without saying anything, again?” Her big brown eyes plead at me, and it makes my heart feel like it’s breaking.
I cup her cheek. “Baby, that had nothing to do with you.”
She leans into my touch and puts her hand on my chest. “Then what was it?”
I look down at her delicate hand. This woman would never do anything to hurt me, I feel it deep in my core. “I had meetings set up to ensure Taylor wasn’t able to poach clients for Collins and Sons. Apparently the woman he cheated on you with is Collins’s granddaughter. She isn’t involved in the business, but she thought she would have a shot if she could get Taylor to take clients from my company. One of which was a client who my dad had the idea of partnering with.” She watches me with an understanding I didn’t believe another person could give me and that I’m not sure I deserve. “I couldn’t let another part of him get pulled away from me, so I left without thinking at the cabin. Then this morning you just looked too adorable to wake.” I press my forehead to hers. “I’m sorry, I should have woken you.”
Alex threads her fingers behind my neck, pulling me closer to her and pressing her lips to mine. It’s a gentle caress at first, but once I have a taste, I can’t stop. I slip my tongue between her lips, her vanilla taste taking over all of my brain power, and then she moans.Fuck. I’m not strong enough for this.
Someone coughs, and I’m barely able to pull myself away from Alex’s delicious mouth. Her eyes slowly open to me like she’s caught in the same haze. “It’s okay,” she finally says.
She presses her entire body against me, and a growl rumbles up my throat. I look down at her. “If you keep pressing against me like this, I’m going to have to carry you out of here. Now.”
That blush returns to her cheeks as she takes a micro-step backwards. “We can’t have that. I promised my mom I’d make an appearance. Thank God you’re here. Now I won’t have to be set up with all the men I’m sure she has lined up.”
My anger rushes to the surface, thinking of someone else touching what’s mine. I pull her back against me. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
She smiles up at me. “I thought you said I couldn’t be this close?” She starts batting those damn eyes at me again.
I shrug. “I’ll just walk around with my dick hard and everyone can have a nice show.” She laughs and wiggles her hips against me. I take her chin in my hand, making her go still. I move my mouth a breath away from her lush lips. “Don’t tempt me, Alex. I will lift that gorgeous dress and show everyone that I belong to you. I don’t give a damn. Everyonewillknow you’re mine.”
I watch her pupils dilate. She presses her perfect breasts against my chest, letting me feel the quickening pace of her heart. A soft whimper slips past her lips, and I smile before taking her mouth against mine. She’s perfection, and I can’t imagine my life without her in it.
I’m about to drag her out of here and go home when a throat clears from behind her. Alex panics and pulls away from me, smoothing her hair back over her shoulder and wiping around her mouth like she’s worried her makeup is messed up.
“You’re beautiful, don’t worry.” I tip her chin upwith my fingers and place a soft kiss on her lips, so she relaxes.
The throat clears again. “Alexandra, seriously? I invited you to this ball so you could meet someone respectable. Not so you could make out with some man right before the auction.” The woman scoffs. “Just a disappointment. Come now. We will go to the restroom and get you cleaned up.”
The woman reaches for Alex’s arm, but I slide in front of Alex effectively blocking the woman’s hand unless she wanted to grab my abs. “Alex is right where she belongs, thank you,” I say as I intertwine my fingers through Alex’s hand. I glance down, and she looks like a deer in headlights with her eyes glued open darting back and forth from me to the woman. She obviously knows her, but at this point I don’t care. No one needs to talk to Alex like that.
The woman huffs and raises her voice. “Excuse me, who do you think you are?”
Alex grimaces. “Mom. Stop.”
I look between them now, trying to see the resemblance, but I can’t see anything that screams Alex in this woman. It’s obvious from her tone and Alex’s posture folding in on herself that they don’t have a great relationship, and that’s all I need to know.
I put my hand out for her to shake, always the businessman. “I’m James, Alex’s boyfriend.” Alex gawks at me, but I feign ignorance. “What’d I say? Would you rather, lover? Hot side piece? Boo thing forever? Or arewe jumping right to it and calling me your husband? Because, let’s be honest, that’s where …”
Alex throws her hand over my mouth, and I have to resist the urge to lick it.
“Jesus, James. We can talk about your crazy labels later.”
I nod. She waits a minute, not trusting me to keep my mouth shut.Fair.Then she removes her hand, turning to her mother. “Mom, this is James. James, this is my mom.”
Her mom lifts her nose in the air. “You may call me Mrs. Lewis. I wasn’t aware you had a new boyfriend, Alexandra.”
“It just sort of happened.” Alex responds. Everything about Alex is now short and to the point. Not the brave, artistic woman I got to know at the cabin.
Before her mom can chew her ass for whatever she believes is her job within Alex’s love life, I interject. “I’m terribly sorry, but I have a lot of business I need to tend to tonight, and I’d like Alex to meet everyone.”
I give Mrs. Lewis the small smile I use in difficult business meetings and lace Alex’s hand through my arm, walking away.
CHAPTER 23
Alexandra
