Madison
I moved to the living area and sat on one of the couches, kicking off my heels with a grateful sigh. My feet ached after hours in these torture devices.
Alexander watched me with an unreadable expression. “Better?”
“Much,” I admitted, wiggling my toes. “Those shoes were killing me.”
“Why wear them, then?”
“Because they look good with this dress, and looking good is part of the job when attending galas with you.”
A hint of a smile touched his lips. “They do complement the dress nicely.”
“Thank you,” I replied, suddenly self–conscious under his intense gaze. “So what now? Should we order room service?”
“Are you hungry?” He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.
“A little.” I tried not to stare at the exposed skin of his neck.
Alexander picked up the room service menu from the coffee table and opened it. “Let’s see what they offer.” His eyes scanned the pages. “Hmm, nothing too heavy this late. The crab cakes look good. And maybe some dessert?
I nodded, trying not to stare at the way his shirt pulled across his shoulders as he leaned forward. “Dessert sounds nice.”
“They have chocolate lava cake,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “With a warm, melted center that oozes when you break into it.” His eyes flicked up to meet mine. “I’ve always enjoyed things that get wet and messy when you dig into them.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Mr. Knight-
“Or there’s crème brûlée,” he continued, a smirk playing at his lips. “Hard on the outside, but crack through the surface, and it’s all soft and creamy underneath. Reminds me of someone I know.”
I rolled my eyes despite the warmth spreading through my body. “Are you going to sexualize every dessert on
the menu?”
“Only the ones that deserve it.” He winked and reached for the phone. “I’ll order.”
While Alexander placed our order, I curled my legs underneath me on the couch. The storm continued its assault outside, lightning illuminating the cityscape in brilliant flashes.
We sat in comfortable silence after he hung up. Alexander loosened his tie further and unbuttoned his cuffs, rolling up his sleeves to reveal his forearms. Such a simple act shouldn’t have been so distracting, but I couldn’t help watching the movement of muscle beneath his skin.
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My mind drifted to Caroline and her behavior at the gala. The way she’d touched him constantly, her body language screaming possession even as Alexander maintained polite distance. The memory of her hands on him made something twist uncomfortably in my chest.
“You’re frowning,” Alexander observed, breaking into my thoughts.
“Just thinking.”
“About?”
1 hesitated, then decided to be direct. “Caroline. She seemed very… familiar with you.
Alexander’s expression remained neutral. “We have history.”
I traced a pattern on the couch fabric. “She couldn’t keep her hands off you.
“She’s always been tactile.”
“Is that what you call it?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Alexander’s lips curved into a slow smile. “Madison Harper, are you jealous?”
“No,” I said quickly. Too quickly.
“You are.” His smile widened. “Your cheeks flush when you’re lying. It’s quite telling.”
“I’m not jealous,” I insisted. “I’m just… observant. Professional curiosity.”
“Professional curiosity about a woman touching me?” He leaned forward. “That’s an interesting job requirement I don’t recall including in your contract.”
I felt my face grow hotter. “It’s not about the touching. It’s about understanding the dynamics of business relationships so I can better navigate social situations on your behalf.”
“That’s quite a mouthful of bullshit,” he said, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Fine,” I conceded. “She was annoying. The way she kept putting her hands on you like she owned you.”
“Caroline has always been forward. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“She clearly wants it to mean something.”
Alexander shrugged, “What Caroline wants isn’t my concern. We dated briefly years ago. It wasn’t serious.”
“Does she know that?” I challenged.
“I’ve made it clear multiple times.” He studied me for a moment. “You have nothing to worry about. Our arrangement is exclusive, as we agreed.”
“I’m not worried,” I said defensively.
“No?” He moved closer on the couch. “Then why the interrogation?”
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“It’s not an interrogation. I’m just curious about your past relationships.”
Alexander’s eyebrow arched with interest. “Curious? Why would my assistant be curious about my personal history?” He leaned closet, his voice dropping to a teasing murmur. “Unless it’s not my assistant asking, but my girlfriend”
“I’m both, remember?” I countered, trying to maintain my composure despite the heat crawling up my neck.” And it’s relevant to our arrangement. I should know what I’m dealing with.”
“What you’re dealing with?” He chuckled. “You make it sound like I’m a complex business problem.”
“Aren’t you?” I challenged. “The infamous Alexander Knight, with his revolving door of supermodels and socialites. Your reputation precedes you.”
His eyes darkened slightly. “And what reputation is that?”
“The playboy billionaire who never stays with one woman longer than it takes to get bored.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “I’ve scheduled enough of your breakup gifts to know the pattern.”
“So you’re worried I’ll get bored with you?” His fingers traced lazy patterns on the couch between us, inching closer to my thigh. “That our arrangement is doomed because I can’t possibly stay faithful to one woman for a whole year?”
I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. “It’s a valid concern. Old habits die hard.”
“Maybe I was just waiting for the right incentive to change my ways.” His hand found my knee, warm through the thin fabric of my dress. “I find I’m quite content with our exclusivity.”
“Really?” I couldn’t keep the skepticism from my voice.
“Really.” His thumb made small circles on my skin. “I enjoy being with you, Madison. The way you challenge me, the way your body responds to mine.” His gaze was direct, intense. “I’ve had more than my share of meaningless encounters. This is… different.”
“Different how?”
“I think about you when we’re not together,” he admitted, surprising me with his candor. “I look forward to seeing you at the office. I want to hear your thoughts on projects, watch you bite your lip when you’re concentrating.” His hand slid higher on my thigh. “And yes, I think about fucking you. Often. Vividly.”
My breath caught. “That’s just lust.”
“Perhaps.” He shrugged. “But it’s Just for you specifically. Not just any warm body.”
“How flattering,” I said dryly, though my pulse was racing.
“The point is,” he continued, “you don’t need to worry about my past. It’s irrelevant to what we have now.”
What we have now. The words echoed in my mind. What exactly did we have? An arrangement with an expiration date. In a few months, this would all be over. He’d move on to his next conquest, and I’d be left with memories and a healed mother. The thought left a hollow feeling in my chest that I wasn’t prepared to examine.
3/3
Chapter 231
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.
