Chapter 37 An Indecent Proposal
His question had Alyssa dumbfounded. Was he seriously wanting to leave his posh penthouse and move into this apartment with her? No, he was just teasing her!
“I don’t think the loneliness will kill me. If it does, I’ll definitely call you,” she said in a sugary sweet tone that could make one fall for her, hook, line, and sinker, but Nicholas had already fallen, so it didn’t make a difference to him. He laughed, his body alive with excitement.
“Call me before you die. I could give you a kiss to bring you to life.” Alyssa groaned and walked away towards the closet to check, but her mind was on the topic of discussion. Did he really want to kiss her again? Was that his motive? Was he going out of his way just for a kiss?
“You didn’t answer me, Alyssa.” He followed her to the closet.
“No, thanks. I’d rather die,” she laughed, although deep in her heart, she knew she was dying to have his lips on hers.
“Liar! I know you’re dying to kiss me.” He stood, leaning against the door, watching her unpack the suitcase that contained the things she needed immediately. She looked up at him with surprise. How the hell did he know that?
“Well, can you please step out so that I can unpack in privacy?” she asked, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Couldn’t he see she couldn’t arrange her undergarments because of him? He looked amused, but didn’t leave her alone.
“As if I’ve never seen lingerie before!” he rolled his eyes but continued to gaze at her. “I’ll help you arrange everything.” Before Alyssa could protest, he was at her side, picking her clothes and arranging them on the shelves. He was about to pick up the bunch that contained her lingerie sets when Alyssa grabbed his wrist.
“Thanks. I can manage from here, Nicholas.” Nicholas left the pile, and it tumbled back to the suitcase, scattering all its lacy contents all over while Alyssa stared at the mess with horror. It was exactly what she was dreading. Nicholas’s eyes widened as he gazed at the hot, seductive, lacy sheers that would now keep him awake all night. His mind immediately visualized her wearing them and writhing underneath him, begging him to take her.
The doorbell rang, and he jumped up as if scorched and rushed towards the door. “Should be our dinner,” he said, eager to escape lest he made a fool of himself and devoured her instead. Alyssa gaped at his behavior. Did the sight of her undergarments repulse him? Then why did he run like he had seen a ghost? Frowning with confusion, she arranged the rest of the clothing in a rush and closed the suitcase and the closet.
Hungry, Alyssa went out of the room to find Nicholas talking to someone over the phone. He hurriedly disconnected the call and grinned at her. “That was mom calling us to have dinner with them. I’ve postponed it until tomorrow since we’ve ordered already,” he said with a wink. Alyssa’s mouth hung open as she tried to grasp what he was trying to tell her.
“Us?” she squeaked.
“Yeah, you and me. We’re going to granny’s house for dinner.”
“Oh, good. Then I will clear this misunderstanding once and for all,” said Alyssa decisively, but Nicholas looked angry. He stormed towards her suddenly and, grabbing her by the elbow, pulled her roughly against his chest.
A gasp escaped Alyssa’s mouth, and her wide eyes searched his. What was there to get upset about? “Don’t you dare say a word to anyone about this! Let them think we are in a relationship. If you make any attempt to clarify, I won’t be nice at all, Alyssa. I’ll take away all the privileges that you’re enjoying right now and force you to repay the advance as well as vacate this apartment.” Alyssa’s eyes widened further with panic as she stared wordlessly at Nicholas’s furious face. Did he really mean that? Would he go to such lengths to punish her?
“Why? Why do you want to portray a fake relationship to the world? What will you gain out of it?” she demanded, noting his angry clenched jaws as he gazed back at her.
“You must be the dumbest woman on earth to not have figured out what I want from you,” he seethed with a wild fury. Alyssa was too stunned to answer, and he continued relentlessly. “I want you. Maybe you’ve forgotten it, but I’ve never hidden the fact. No, not just a kiss. I want all of you.”
“I still can’t understand what you’re asking for. Do you want me to be in an actual relationship with you? Do you want me to be your actual girlfriend?” she asked in a confused whisper. However tough she might be, she really was inexperienced with the ways of men, and Nicholas’s admission confused her immensely. She knew he desired her. In fact, she too desired him, although she would never admit that to him. So, what about it? If he wanted a relationship, he could have proposed to her and tried to woo her. His weird behavior really had her alerted.
He gazed at her for a while, and then slowly shook his head. “I don’t have time for relationships. I just want a few nights of no strings on attached se with you for everything that I’ve done for you.” His demand rendered Alyssa speechless. She had expected him to propose to her, but not this. His words made her feel dirty, and she pushed him away with all her strength.
“Then go to a whoe, Nicholas. My body is not for sale. I will repay you for everything that you’ve ever done for me. Just tell me the price in terms of money. I will vacate your apartment and go back to my stepdad’s place and live respectfully, but I will never bow down to your dirty proposal.” She stormed angrily towards her bedroom to place her belongings back into her suitcase and get out of his apartment. Her face was flushed with humiliation and she chided herself for coming here, for taking up Nicholas’s job. Alexander was right. Nicholas was evil. He was playing with her.
She was about to lock the door when he stepped in and pulled her into his hard chest. “Don’t behave as if you’re immune to me, Alyssa. I know you want me as much as I do. So what’s stopping you from giving in to what your heart desires?” he demanded, her denial driving him to his wit’s end. He saw nothing wrong in giving in to their needs, and he was sure that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. They both were adults and free to give in to their desires. So what was stopping her?
“I don’t do casual sx, Nicholas. I’m saving myself for the one I would fall in love with. Please go away and leave me alone. If that’s the condition you have, I’ll not stay here a minute longer,” she spat out at him, struggling to break free of his hold. Nicholas scoffed at her words, feeling quite frustrated at not getting his way. After craving her since the day he saw her, all he received was her denial. Why did she have to be so stubborn and difficult about everything? Any other girl would have jumped into the bed with him, but sadly, he didn’t want anyone else. He wanted the impossible Alyssa Van Every.
“You don’t need to go anywhere. Just be ready to go to granny’s house for dinner tomorrow. If you create any problems for me there, I’ll take my revenge in the worst way possible,” he released her abruptly and stormed out of the apartment, leaving her gaping after him.
What was wrong with him? What sort of revenge did he plan for her? Sighing, she went towards the kitchen to get a bottle of water to moisten her parched throat. Her glance fell on the dinner Nicholas had ordered for them and she felt a little guilty that they had to fight and he went home without his dinner. Having declined his mom, maybe he would go to sleep on an empty stomach. Although she should have been angry at him, it was strange that she wasn’t. She knew she wanted him but she didn’t want a no strings attached physical relationship with anyone. She was a die-hard romantic at heart and was waiting eagerly to meet her prince Charming.
Unable to control the hunger pangs in her stomach, she opened the parcel and served herself the food. Sitting in the kitchen, she ate it, but it didn’t taste as good as it should have. She gazed out of the kitchen at the huge empty apartment and felt really lonely, just as Nicholas had predicted. All her life, she had lived alone, sometimes with Eva or her brother, but she had never felt this lonely ever. Nicholas’s proposal echoed in her head and confused her totally. Why did he put forward such a weird proposal in front of her? Why did he just need a few nights with her? Would he forget her after he got into her pants? Was this all for se?