Chapter 32

**ALINA**

He wanted me—and my traitorous body was responding in kind.

His gaze held mine, those pale, piercing blue eyes locking me in place as his hand trailed to the side of my breast. I was so mesmerized by his stare that I didn’t even notice when he tugged the cup of my bra downward. But the moment cool air kissed my bare skin, my breath hitched. My eyes darted down, widening in shock as my right breast was exposed.

A strangled gasp left my lips when his thumb brushed over my peaked nipple, the sensation sending a shiver down my spine. 

"What the hell... How dare you?" I seethed, fury bubbling up as I shot him a glare, my chest rising and falling with the mix of anger and disbelief.

He wasn’t looking at my body—he was watching me, studying every reaction like he was unravelling a mystery.

My body trembled. 

I yanked the strap back into place and stumbled back, only to be caught in his firm grip. His hands closed around my waist, pulling me against him in a swift, unyielding motion.

His breath fanned across my neck as he inhaled deeply, the scent of my skin making his grip tighten. Without a word, his lips brushed against my neck, placing a soft, lingering kiss that sent an involuntary shiver through me.

A gasp tore from my throat and a whimper escaped before I could swallow it down.

Oh God. What was happening to me?

Heat pooled low in my belly, traitorous and undeniable.

Alexander’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear as he murmured,

"Shhh… relax, Alina. I’m not here to hurt you."

He leaned in until his lips hovered just beside my ear, his breath warm as it fanned over my skin. The anticipation alone sent a shiver racing down my spine. Then, without warning, he exhaled softly before biting down on my earlobe—a sharp, teasing nip that sent heat flooding through my veins.

"Not unless you want me to, of course," he murmured, his voice dark and edged with amusement. 

A tremor ran through me. My throat tightened, my mind scrambled for words, but all I could manage was a stammering, 

"What… what are you doing?" My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Alexander chuckled, low and deep, the sound vibrating against my skin as he pulled back just enough to look at me. 

"What do you think I’m doing?" He smirked. 

"From your reaction, I think it’s pretty obvious."

No. It wasn’t obvious. Or maybe I just refused to accept it.

He was toying with me, testing me, watching me squirm like I was nothing more than something he owned. He was checking his merchandise and the worst part? My body was betraying me, responding to his touch in ways I despised.

I forced myself to move, to break away, but the moment I tried to pull back, his arms locked around my waist, holding me in place.

I sucked in a sharp breath as he yanked me flush against him again, my body colliding with his. My soft curves pressed into his hard frame, and my breasts crushed against the solid heat of his chest. The rough fabric of his shirt scraped against my sensitive nipples, sending an unexpected jolt of sensation through me.

A gasp escaped before I could stop it.

His grip tightened. 

His smirk deepened.

And I hated that I had reacted to him at all.

Keep it together, Alina, I scolded myself, but my body wasn’t listening.

Swallowing hard, I pressed a hand against his chest, firm beneath my touch. I pushed, not enough to break free completely, but enough to put space between us—to remind both of us that I wasn’t his to toy with.

"Keep your distance, Alexander," I bit out, my voice laced with disgust. 

"I know exactly where you were twenty minutes ago, and I have no interest in catching whatever diseases you’re spreading."

With a swift motion, I grabbed a shirt from the chair nearby, quickly pulling it over my head, feeling an overwhelming sense of exposure. It was ridiculous, but I couldn't stop the feeling that I was standing bare in front of him, even with the fabric now covering my body.

He arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips, his expression unfazed.

"And where was I?"

"I heard you with her in the next room, and now you’re here, touching me like that."

He chuckled softly, his tone dripping with amusement. "Oh, sweetheart, don’t tell me you’re jealous."

I let out a dry, humourless laugh, her lips curling in disdain.

"First of all, don’t call me sweetheart," she snapped, folding her arms over her chest as if that could shield her from his presence. 

"And jealous? Please. I just have no interest in being someone's seconds."

Alexander arched a brow, his smirk deepening. 

"Seconds?"

"Yeah," I huffed. 

"I mean, you weren’t exactly quiet with your little rendezvous earlier. Listening to you with another woman was just such a treat. I’m heartbroken I wasn’t first in line. But hey, congrats on your stamina. Must be exhausting, keeping up with so many women."

His laugh was slow, rich with amusement. He took a step closer, eyes gleaming with something far more dangerous than humour. 

"Sweetheart, if you wanted to be at the front of the line, all you had to do was say so." His voice dropped lower, silk laced with steel. 

"And trust me, when I’m done with you, you won’t remember anyone else ever existed."

His lips slowly ghosted over my jaw. “Oh, and don't worry”, he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. 

“She was just a trailer. You, on the other hand…” His hand slid down my waist, fingers pressing possessively into my hip. 

“…you are the main event.”

Before I could snap back, his tongue flicked out, dragging a slow, deliberate line down my neck. My body stiffened, my breath hitched—betrayed, once again, by my own stupid, traitorous nerves.

His hand trailed down my back, slow and deliberate, until his fingers grazed over the curve of my ass.

My entire body was locked up. Then the panic hit. A wild, desperate surge of resistance.

"Keep your hands to yourself!" 

I thrashed against him, shoving at his chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps. 

He was a monster. 

The kind that took what he wanted and left destruction in his wake. He would ruin me, break me, and walk away without a second thought.

"Stop struggling," he ordered his voice like steel.

"No!" I shook my head violently, shoving harder, but it was like trying to move a mountain. 

"You're a sick monster!"

His patience snapped. "Enough!"

I flinched, the force of his voice slamming into me like a physical blow. He let go abruptly, and I stumbled back, nearly collapsing against the wall. My hands pressed against the cold surface as I tried to steady my shaking body. The room felt too small, too suffocating. My breaths came fast and uneven, and my legs felt like they could give out at any second.

Alexander stared at me, his face unreadable.

He stepped forward, and I let out a small, broken sound before I could stop myself. He froze.

"You can pretend all you want," he said, his tone dark and certain, as if he could see right through me.

"But deep down, you liked it. You liked my body pressing up against yours, my hands on you," he murmured, his voice dropping to a near-whisper, seductive and dangerous all at once. 

"Don't try to deny it, Alina. You're reacting to me whether you want to or not."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. 

What was I supposed to say? 

Deny it? 

Lie? 

He already saw through me. He knew that, beneath my sharp words and defiance, I was unravelling.

My entire body stiffened. "No! That’s not true I—" I shook my head fiercely, but the words wouldn’t come.

His eyes darkened, satisfaction flickering in their depths. "Liar."

He took another step toward me.

And I had nowhere left to run.