Chapter 78 /79
Alexander
Her chin lifted slightly there was that spark I loved to ignite. “I can handle anything you throw at me.”
“Anything?” I raised an eyebrow, letting the word hang between us. The air in the car grew thick with tension.
“The project, Mr. Knight. I meant the project.”
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“Of course you did.” I pulled out my phone, pretending to check my emails while watching her from the corner of my eye.‘ You’ll need to familiarize yourself with commercial real estate regulations, zoning laws, and construction timelines. Think you’re up for it?”
“Yes.” Her answer came without hesitation.
“Good,” I said, setting my phone aside. “Because I need someone I can trust running this project, someone who won’t be distracted by other activities.”
A flush crept up her neck. “I’m very good at compartmentalizing.”
“Oh, I know exactly how good you are at compartmentalizing.” I let my gaze drift over her body, remembering last night’s activities. “The question is, can you keep it up while managing a multi–million dollar project?”
Madison’s eyes met mine, that familiar mix of defiance and desire dancing in them. “I can handle anything you require, Mr. Knight. Both professionally and…” She let the words trail off, her meaning clear.
“Careful.” I shifted closer, my thigh pressing against hers. “Those are dangerous words to say to me in a private car.”
“I mean it.” Her voice carried more confidence than usual. “This project could be exactly what I need to prove myself in the industry.”
I traced a finger along her knee, enjoying how her breath hitched. “It could launch your career. Most people spend years climbing the corporate ladder to reach this level of responsibility.”
“And you’re just handing it to me?” Her tone held a hint of skepticism.
“I never just hand anything to anyone.” I gripped her thigh, feeling the warmth through her skirt. “You’ve earned this opportunity. Your attention to detail, your quick thinking – like when you called Dr. Peterson that night. Not many would have handled that situation so professionally.” 1
“Thank you for trusting me with this, Mr. Knight.”
“Oh, I trust you with far more than just business matters.” I leaned in, my lips brushing her ear. “I must admit, watching you handle million–dollar negotiations might be a new kind of foreplay.”
She squirmed slightly under my touch. “Is that why you’re giving me this project? For your entertainment?”
“Partially,” I smirked, sliding my hand higher up her thigh. “But mainly because you’re the best person for the job. The entertainment is just a bonus.”
“Mr. Knight…” Her voice wavered as my fingers traced patterns on her inner thigh.
“Yes, Miss Harper?”
“The driver…”
“Can’t see a thing.” I nipped at her earlobe. “The partition is soundproot too.”
Her head fell back against the seat as my hand continued its exploration. “You really think I can handle this project?”
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“I wouldn’t risk millions of dollars just to get into your pants.” I chuckled against her neck. “I already have that privilege.”
She laughed, the sound turning into a soft gasp as my fingers found their target. “When do I start?”
“Eager to begin?” I pulled back slightly, admiring how her chest rose and fell with quickened breaths. “The paperwork will be ready soon. But right now…” I checked the car’s progress through the window. “We have about ten minutes until we reach the resort. Plenty of time to celebrate your promotion.”
Madison
I kept my composure as Alexander’s hand crept higher up my thigh, but my mind raced with doubts about my bold declaration. Handle anything? What was I thinking? The weight of managing a multi–million dollar project in Manhattan pressed against my chest. Numbers, permits, regulations – my head spun with everything I’d need to learn.
His fingers traced circles on my skin, sending shivers down my spine. “Getting lost in thought, Miss Harper?”
“Just processing the opportunity, Mr. Knight.” I bit my lip as his touch grew more insistent.
The leather seat creaked as he pulled me closer. The Vegas heat outside couldn’t compare to the warmth building between us. My body responded to his touch even as my brain cataloged all the ways I could fail spectacularly at this new role.
Construction timelines? I could barely keep track of his daily schedule sometimes. And now he wanted me to oversee an entire building project? The same woman who once ordered the wrong type of coffee beans for the office and caused a minor crisis?
His lips found that sensitive spot behind my ear. “Your pulse is racing.”
“Just excited about the promotion.” I tried to keep my voice steady as his fingers slipped under the hem of my skirt.
“Is that all?” His breath was hot against my neck.
No, that wasn’t all. I was terrified of disappointing him, of proving everyone right who might think I’d slept my way into this position. Even if, technically, I had. Sort of. Though the sleeping part came after the job…
His hand moved higher, and coherent thoughts scattered like cards in a Vegas wind. Maybe that was his plan to keep me so distracted with pleasure I couldn’t overthink things.
“Mr. Knight…” I gasped as his fingers found their target.
“Yes?” His voice held that amused tone that drove me wild.
The privacy partition suddenly seemed like the best invention ever as he worked his magic. My worries about project management dissolved into pure sensation.
Who was I kidding? This man could reduce me to a quivering mess in seconds. How could I possibly maintain professional authority while knowing what he could do to me? While remembering moments like this?
But I couldn’t tell him my doubts. Couldn’t let him see the cracks in my confident facade. He’d given me this chance – I’d figure it out somehow. Even if I had to study real estate law every night until my eyes bled.
His fingers dipped beneath the lace of my thong, pushing it aside with practiced ease. My breath hitched as he spread my legs wider, his touch igniting a fire that burned away all rational thought.
“F**k, you’re already so wet,” he growled against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
I swallowed a moan, biting my lip as his fingers slid into my pussy. The sensation was electric, jolting through me like a live wire. He captured my lips in a fierce kiss, his tongue invading my mouth with the same urgency as his fingers below.
His free hand found my breasts, kneading them over my blouse. My nipples hardened, straining against the fabric, begging for more attention. He didn’t disappoint, rolling one faut peak between his thumb and forefinger until I thought I’d scream.
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“Mr. Knight,” I gasped into his mouth, trying to keep some semblance of control. But who was I kidding? He had me right where he wanted me literally.
He added another finger, stretching me, filling me. The car hit a bump, jostling us slightly, but he didn’t miss a beat. His fingers curled inside me, hitting that sweet spot that made my toes curl. I clenched around him, trying to hold back the moans threatening to escape.
“Let me hear you, Madison,” he commanded against my lips. “Let me hear how much you love this.”
I shook my head, stubbornly clinging to my last shreds of dignity. He just chuckled, the asshole, and added a third finger. The stretch was intense, bordering on painful, but goddamn if it didn’t feel amazing.
His thumb found my clit, circling it lightly, teasingly. My hips bucked against his hand, seeking more pressure, more friction. He obliged, pressing harder, moving faster. I was so close, teetering on the edge of oblivion.
“Come for me, Madison,” he whispered. “Come all over my fingers.”
But he stopped just as I was about to tumble over the edge. F**king stopped. His fingers stilled inside me, his thumb paused on my clit. I looked up at him, panting, eyes wide with disbelief.
He smirked, the bastard. “Not yet, sweetheart,” he said, withdrawing his fingers slowly, torturously. “We’ve got all day.”
I wanted to scream, curse, and demand he finish what he started. But I knew better. This was Alexander Knight, master of control, king of orgasm denial. And I was just his plaything, his pawn in this twisted game of pleasure and pain.
So I took a deep breath, adjusted my skirt, and tried to ignore the throbbing ache between my legs. If he wanted to play, fine. I could play, too. Even if it killed me.
The car finally pulled up to our resort. Alexander’s hand squeezed my thigh one last time before he stepped out, extending his hand to help me. My legs felt like jelly as I stood, and the smirk on his face told me he knew exactly why. That cocky bastard.
We stepped into the crowded elevator, and Alexander maneuvered us to the back corner. I ended up standing in front of him, pressed against his chest. His hand slipped down to my ass, squeezing it possessively. I gasped softly but didn’t dare make a
scene.
“Mr. Knight,” I whispered through gritted teeth, “there are people around.”
His breath was hot against my ear as he chuckled softly. “Then you’d better keep quiet.”
He pressed his hips forward, and I could feel his hard cock straining against his trousers. Goddamn it, how did he manage to stay turned on constantly? His hand moved lower, slipping under my skirt to grab a handful of my bare ass cheek. He squeezed it roughly, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core.
The elevator dinged as we stopped at various floors, people shuffling in and out. I bit my lip hard to suppress any sounds that might give away what was happening behind them.
His fingers found their way between my thighs, grazing the wet fabric of my thong. “You’re soaked,” he murmured, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. He pressed two fingers against my clit through the thin lace. My knees nearly buckled from the
sensation.
Finally, we reached our floor. Alexander reluctantly withdrew his hand and guided me out of the elevator with a firm grip on my hip. We walked briskly down the hallway toward our suite room.
Just as we reached the door, my phone rang in my purse. Damn it.
I fumbled through my purse, my heart racing as Jackson’s name flashed across my screen. Of all the terrible timing…
“I should take this, Mr. Knight. It’s my mother.” The lie slipped out easier than I expected.
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Alexander’s eyes darkened with desire as he imlocked the door. “Ten minutes, Miss Harper. Don’t keep me waiting.” His voice held that commanding edge that made my insides melt.
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C
Chapter 79
Madison
I watched Alexander disappear into the suite. The phone continued buzzing in my hand as I walked down the hallway, putting some distance between me and the room. The Vegas afternoon sun streamed through the windows, making the gold–trimmed walls gleam.
“Hello?”
“Hey, is this Madison?” A familiar voice came through the line.
“Jackson? Yeah, it’s me.” I leaned against the wall, grateful for the cool surface against my heated skin.
“Thank god. I was wondering if this was still your number. It’s been forever.”
“Where did you disappear to? You basically dropped off the face of the earth.”
“Just got back from the UK yesterday, actually. Been there for work.”
“Three years without a single text or call?” I raised an eyebrow, even though he couldn’t see it. “What, they don’t have phones across the pond?”
He laughed. “Come on, Mads. You know how it is. Work was insane. Barely had time to breathe, let alone socialize.”
“Right, because hitting the ‘send‘ button on a text message takes hours.”
“Fair point. I was a terrible friend.”
“More than terrible. You were a ghost, Jackson. Completely vanished.” I traced patterns on the ornate wallpaper, the Vegas heat seeping through the hallway windows.
“Let me make it up to you. Where are you right now? We could grab a coffee and catch up properly. It’s been three years?”
“Actually, I’m in Las Vegas.”
“Vegas? Damn, you got upgraded in life! Working there now?”
I snorted. “No, just here on a business trip with my boss.”
“Your boss, huh?” His tone held a hint of curiosity that I chose to ignore. “Well, give me a call when you’re back in New York. We’ll do that coffee,”
“Sure thing.”
I ended the call, shaking my head at the bizarre timing of Jackson’s reappearance. Three years of radio silence, and he picks now to resurface? The universe had a twisted sense of humor.
The hallway stretched empty before me, golden afternoon light painting patterns across the plush carpet. I checked my phone; five minutes had passed. I needed to head back before Alexander came looking for me.
Thurried back to our suite, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The sound echoed through the empty hallway, matching my racing heartbeat. Why was I rushing? It wasn’t as if he owned my time. Well, technically, he did, at least for the next year. 1
I paused at the door, my hand hovering over the handle. When had I started organizing my thoughts around Alexander Knight? Lately, everything seemed to revolve around him: what he wanted, what he expected, and how he would react. This morning, I’d caught myself wondering if he’d like the color of my underwear. Seriously? Since when did I care about a man’s opinion on my lingerie choices?
This was just business. A mutually beneficial arrangement. Nothing more. I needed to get my head straight and stop
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overthinking every little detail about him.
Maybe I should focus on other things, such as finally finishing that stack of novels collecting dust on my nightstand. When was the last time I’d actually read for pleasure? These days, my reading consists of contracts and emails. I missed losing myself in a good story, curled up with a glass of wine and zero thoughts about certain demanding bosses with wandering hands.
Or I could take up meditation. God knows I needed something to calm my racing mind. Those wellness apps kept filling my inbox; perhaps they were onto something. Though knowing my luck, I’d probably fall asleep mid–meditation and dream about…. No. Stop it, Madison.
I shook my head, forcing my thoughts away from dangerous territory. The hallway suddenly felt too quiet, too empty. The door loomed before me like some kind of threshold between sanity and whatever waited on the other side.
Taking a deep breath, I swiped the keycard and pushed open the door. The suite was eerily silent.
“Mr. Knight?”
No response. Great. He was probably lurking somewhere, ready to pounce like some designer–suited predator. That man had a talent for appearing out of nowhere at the most unexpected moments.
I kicked off my heels by the door, padding across the plush carpet. The living room was empty, sunlight streaming through floor -to–ceiling windows that showcased the Vegas skyline. The coffee table held an open laptop and scattered papers; work never stopped for Alexander Knight, even in Sin City.
“You’re late.” His voice came from behind me, making me jump.
I spun around to find him leaning against the bedroom doorframe, his eyes dark with intent. My heart skipped; that look never meant anything innocent.
“Just checking in with my mother,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the lie.
“Is she recovering well?”
“Yes, the facility is amazing. She keeps raving about the food.” I shifted my weight, hyper–aware of the distance between us.” The nurses are taking excellent care of her.”
He pushed off from the doorframe with fluid grace. “Pack up everything.”
“We’re leaving now?” I glanced at the scattered papers on the coffee table, my mind jumping to the project details we still needed to review.
A smile played at the corners of his mouth. “I have a surprise.”
That smile spelled trouble. The good kind of trouble that usually left me unable to walk straight the next day. My pulse quickened.
“Alright. Should I pack anything specific?”
His only response was that infuriating smirk as he disappeared back into the bedroom, leaving me to wonder what exactly he had planned. With Alexander Knight, surprises could mean anything from a helicopter ride to being tied to the bed for hours.
I grabbed my suitcase and started packing, mind racing with possibilities. Alexander’s surprises felt like Russian roulette; they were thrilling yet potentially dangerous to my sanity.
“Ready?” He emerged from the bedroom, jacket slung over his shoulder.
“Just about.” I zipped up my bag, scanning the room for a final time. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Patience, Miss Harper.” His hand found the small of my back as he guided me toward the door.
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The resort’s private exit led us straight to a waiting helicopter, of course. Normal transportation was too pedestrian for Alexander.
“Seriously?” Leyed the sleek black machine. “You know normal people just take cars, right?”
“Do I strike you as normal?” His fingers traced my spine, making me shiver.
“No, Mr. Knight. Normal isn’t a word I’d use to describe you.” I climbed into the helicopter, adjusting my skirt to maintain some dignity.
He followed, settling beside me with casual grace. The pilot fired up the engine, and my stomach lurched as we lifted off. The Vegas strip stretched below us like a glittering snake in the afternoon sun.
“First helicopter ride?” Alexander’s hand found my thigh, squeezing lightly.
“That obvious?” I gripped the seat tighter as we banked left.
“Your knuckles are white.” He pried my fingers loose, threading them through his. “Relax. The view is worth it.”
He wasn’t wrong. The desert sprawled endlessly, meeting the horizon in a hazy blur. The mountains rose majestically in the distance, their peaks catching the sunlight. Below, the famous fountains of the Bellagio danced, tiny jets of water creating patterns visible even from our height.
“It’s beautiful,” I admitted, slightly loosening my death grip on his hand.
“Wait until you see where we’re going.” His thumb traced circles on my palm, a gesture that somehow felt more intimate than
our earlier activities in the car.
I watched the landscape blur beneath us, trying to focus on anything but the dizzying height. Alexander’s hand remained steady in mine, his thumb’s gentle circles oddly grounding.
The helicopter banked to the right, sending a flutter through my stomach. As I looked out the window, I caught sight of a stunning structure nestled against the Nevada mountains. It was characterized by its clean lines and floor–to–ceiling windows that mirrored the desert sun.
“That’s our destination?” I asked, eyeing the modern cabin that looked more like a luxury townhouse dropped in the middle of nowhere.
“Disappointed?” His lips curved into that knowing smirk.
“Just wondering if you own property in every corner of the country.”
“Only the interesting corners.” He squeezed my hand as we descended. “This one’s special.”
The helicopter touched down on a private pad, and Alexander helped me out, his hand lingering on my lower back. The desert air hit me like a warm blanket, carrying the scent of sage and sun–baked earth.
“Welcome to my escape,” he said as he guided me toward the entrance. “No meetings, no interruptions, no clothes required.”
I rolled my eyes. “Is that last part in the house rules?”
“It’s more of a strong suggestion.” His fingers dipped lower, grazing my ass. “One I plan to enforce thoroughly.”
The interior completely captivated me. It featured an open concept and large windows that beautifully framed the desert landscape. Modern furniture in earth tones complemented the natural stone and wood elements.
One wall was dominated by a massive fireplace, its stone facade stretching up toward the vaulted ceiling. The kitchen gleamed with stainless steel appliances and a waterfall island that easily seated eight people.
The whir of helicopter blades grew fainter until silence settled over us, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioning.
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“Mr. Knight?” I turned to face him, trying not to get distracted by how his shirt pulled across his chest as he shrugged off his jacket. “How exactly are we supposed to get back?”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
