Chapter 154
Chapter 154
Olivia
55 vouchers
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the pool’s edge. The moonlight cast a silvery glow across Alexander’s damp hair, and his skin almost glowed in the dim lighting. I pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them.
“So,” I ventured, “about these mysterious weekend plans you mentioned…”
Alexander’s lips curved into a smile. “Curious, are we?”
“Can you blame me? You drop hints about ‘something special‘ and expect me not to ask questions?”
“I’ve rented a place in Malibu for the weekend. Private beach access, chef on call, the works.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Malibu? That sounds amazing.”
“I figured we could both use a break from the city. You’ve been working non–stop on the Thompson account, and I’ve been dealing with board meetings all week. Sometimes you need to disconnect to recharge.”
“That’s… surprisingly thoughtful.”
Alexander feigned offense. “I’m capable of thoughtfulness, you know. It’s not all corporate takeovers and ruthless business tactics.”
I laughed. “Could’ve fooled me. The way Michelle talks about board meetings with think you eat junior executives for breakfast.”
you,
I’d
“Only on Tuesdays,” he replied with a straight face.
We shared a smile, and I found myself actually looking forward to the weekend getaway. The Thompson project had been consuming all my mental energy, and the idea of escaping to a beach house sounded perfect.
“So this Malibu house,” I started, “any chance it has a hot tub?”
Alexander pushed himself to his feet in one fluid motion, extending his hand to help me up. “Hot tub, infinity pool, private beach access, and a view that makes you forget Los Angeles exists.”
“You had me at hot tub,” I admitted, letting him pull me to my feet.
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Our fingers remained intertwined as we walked back toward the house, the night air cool against my skin. The estate’s grounds were beautiful at night, with subtle landscape lighting. illuminating the path and casting soft shadows across the manicured lawn.
“Should I pack anything special?” I asked as we entered through the back doors.
“Just the basics. And maybe that black bikini you wore on the island.”
“Of course you’d remember that one,” I laughed, nudging him with my shoulder.
“I have an excellent memory for important details,” he replied, his voice dropping lower as he pulled me closer.
His lips found mine in a kiss that started gentle but quickly intensified. His hands slid from my waist to my back, pressing me against him until I could feel every hard plane of his body. I sighed into his mouth, my own hands finding their way to his shoulders.
“Shower?” he murmured against my lips.
“Mmm,” I nodded, not trusting myself to form actual words.
Alexander took my hand and led me upstairs to our bedroom suite.
In the bathroom, Alexander turned on the rainfall shower, steam quickly filling the glass enclosure. He turned to me, his eyes dark with desire, and slowly began unbuttoning my blouse. I shivered as his fingers brushed against my skin, leaving trails of heat in their wake.
“Cold?” he asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
“Not exactly,” I admitted.
Once my blouse was open, Alexander pushed it off my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. His eyes dropped to my breasts, barely contained in a lacy black bra.
“I like this,” he said, tracing the edge of the fabric with his finger.
“I know you do,” I replied, reaching for the buttons of his shirt. “It’s why I wore it.”
His eyebrows rose. “Planning ahead, Mrs. Carter?”
“Always,” I grinned, pushing his shirt off to reveal his muscled chest and abs.
We finished undressing each other, our movements becoming more urgent with each discarded piece of clothing. When we were both naked, Alexander pulled me against him, capturing my mouth in a hungry kiss. His hands roamed my body, cupping my breasts and squeezing gently, making me gasp.
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Chapter 154
“Shower’s getting cold,” I whispered against his lips.
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“Can’t have that,” he murmured, walking me backward toward the steaming enclosure.
The hot water cascaded over us as we stepped inside, plastering my hair to my scalp and running in rivulets down our bodies. Alexander pressed me against the cool tile wall, his mouth hot on my neck as his hands explored every inch of me.
“Turn around,” he commanded softly.
I complied, facing the wall as his body pressed against my back. He gathered my wet hair, moving it aside to expose my neck. His lips traced a path from my shoulder to my ear while his hands slid around to cup my breasts.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
I pushed back against him, feeling his hard length press against my ass. His hands tightened on my hips, holding me still.
“Easy,” he warned, voice husky. “We have all weekend.”
His hands reached for the shampoo, working it into a lather before massaging it into my hair. His strong fingers worked magic on my scalp, making me practically purr with pleasure.
“That feels amazing,” I sighed, leaning into his touch.
“Just wait until later,” he promised, guiding me under the water to rinse.
We finished our shower quickly after that, the promise of “later” hanging between us. Alexander wrapped me in a fluffy towel, taking a moment to dry my hair with surprising gentleness before seeing to himself.
Dinner was served in the formal dining room, a spread that would have impressed even the pickiest food critic. The chef had outdone himself, as usual, with perfectly cooked steaks, roasted vegetables, and a bottle of red wine.
“To the upcoming weekend,” Alexander said, raising his glass.
“To forgetting about work for forty–eight hours,” I added, clinking my glass against his.
“Is that even possible for you?” he teased,
I took a sip of wine before answering. “I’m going to try very hard. No emails, no calls, no strategizing.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Alexander laughed. “You’re as bad as I am.”
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“I am not!” I protested, but my smile gave me away. “Okay, maybe I’ve been a little obsessed.”
“A little?” Alexander raised an eyebrow. “You fell asleep mumbling about ‘brand positioning‘ last night.”
I felt my cheeks warm. “I did not.”
“You absolutely did,” he insisted, cutting into his steak. “It was adorable.”
We finished dinner discussing lighter topics: a new restaurant Alexander wanted to try, a movie I’d been wanting to see, and plans for the upcoming holiday season that seemed to be approaching far too quickly.
After dinner, Alexander retreated to his home office, explaining he needed to finish reviewing some documents. I changed into comfortable loungewear and curled up on the couch in our bedroom with a DaisyNovel I’d been neglecting for weeks.
The peace was lovely, just the soft turning of pages and distant sounds of Alexander working in his office. I sank deeper into the cushions, realizing how much I needed this quiet moment.
C
ΙΔΑΙ
8:24 Wed, Sep
Chapter 155
Chapter 155
Olivia