Chapter 166
Olivia
10 vouchers
Alexander was in pajama bottoms, his chest bare. I tried not to stare at the defined muscles of his torso as he moved around the room.
“So,” he said, running a hand through his hair, “I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”
“Hmm?” I was busy collecting my dress from the floor and hanging it up properly.
“I need to go to Europe next week. London, Paris, and Milan. Meetings with international investors and a potential acquisition.”
I turned to face him, my interest piqued. “Oh? For how long?”
“Ten days,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “And I want you to come with me.”
“Me?” I asked, surprised by the invitation. “Won’t you be working most of the time?”
Alexander nodded. “During the days, yes. But evenings would be ours.”
The prospect of exploring European cities with Alexander was undeniably appealing. “What about my work? The Thompson account just launched.”
“Already cleared it with Michelle. You can work remotely when needed, but mostly it would be time for us. You deserve a break.”
I walked over to the bed and sat beside him. “Ten days in Europe does sound amazing.”
“So that’s a yes?” His eyes held a hopeful gleam that made my heart do a little flip.
“Yes,” I decided. “Let’s go to Europe. I’ve never been to Milan.”
Alexander’s smile widened. “Perfect. I’ll have Jessica make all the arrangements.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “You’ll love it. The food, the shopping, the architecture…”
“The food again,” I teased. “You’re really selling me on that part.”
“Wait until you try real Italian pasta. It will ruin you for American Italian food forever.”
I laughed and flopped back on the bed. “Sounds dangerous. I might never want to come back.”
“That would be a shame,” Alexander said, lying down beside me. “I’d have to hunt you down and drag you
home.”
“Oh really?” I turned to face him. “You’d miss me that much?”
“The paperwork involved in losing a wife would be astronomical. Much easier to track you down.”
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Chapter 166
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I swatted his arm playfully. “Ever the romantic.”
Alexander caught my hand and brought it to his lips, his eyes suddenly serious. “I would miss you, actually.”
The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. “I’d miss you too,” I admitted, surprising myself with how true it felt.
We lay there for a moment, the confession hanging between us. Alexander broke the silence first.
“So, Europe. Any specific requests for our itinerary?”
I rolled onto my back, considering the question. “The Louvre in Paris, definitely. And I’ve always wanted to see the Duomo in Milan.”
“Consider it done. We can do all the touristy things if you want. I’ve been to these cities dozens of times for business, but rarely visit the tourist attractions.”
“You’re telling me you’ve been to Paris multiple times and never visited the Eiffel Tower?”
Alexander shrugged. “Seen it from a distance. Never felt the need to go up.”
I sat up, staring at him in disbelief. “That’s criminal. It’s like going to New York and not seeing the Empire State Building.”
“Which I’ve also never done,” he admitted.
“What? How is that possible?”
“I go where the meetings are. Hotels, restaurants, office buildings. Not a lot of time for sightseeing when you’re closing million–dollar deals.”
I shook my head. “That’s just sad. All work and no play makes Alexander a dull boy.”
“I’m dull, am I?” he asked, one eyebrow raised in challenge.
“In your sightseeing habits? Absolutely. The most boring tourist ever.”
Alexander lunged suddenly, pinning me to the bed with a playful growl. “Take it back.”
I laughed, struggling half–heartedly against his hold. “Never. It’s the truth. You probably have spreadsheets instead of vacation photos.”
“I’ve been to some amazing vacation spots,” Alexander protested, his grip on my wrists tightening just enough to send a thrill down my spine.
“Oh, really? Name three vacation activities that didn’t involve a conference room.”
“Scuba diving in the Maldives. Hiking in New Zealand. Skiing in the Alps.”
“Bullshit,” I challenged, raising an eyebrow. “You’re making that up.”
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Chapter 166
“I have photographic evidence.”
“Show me then.”
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Alexander released me and reached for his phone on the nightstand. He scrolled through his gallery before holding up a photo of himself in scuba gear, the crystal blue waters of what could plausibly be the Maldives
behind him.
“Okay, one point for you,” I conceded. “But I bet you were there for a business meeting and just took a quick dive between conference calls.”
His silence confirmed my suspicion, and I burst out laughing.
“Going somewhere beautiful just to fuck some random woman in your hotel room doesn’t count as a
vacation.”
His eyes darkened at my words. “Is that what you think I do?”
“Am I wrong?” I challenged.
“Not entirely,” he admitted with a shameless grin. “But this time will be different. We’ll actually see the sights, enjoy the culture, eat amazing food… and yes, there will be plenty of fucking too. But the enjoyment will come first.”
“Hmm,” I pretended to consider his words. “Let’s see if you can actually enjoy a vacation without turning it into either a business trip or a sex marathon.”
“Is that a challenge, Mrs. Carter?”
“Absolutely. I’m betting you can’t go four hours without either checking your email or trying to get in my pants.”
“Four hours?” He looked genuinely offended. “Give me some credit.”
“Fine. Six hours. And that includes sleep time.”
“You drive a hard bargain. What do I get if I win this challenge?”
“The satisfaction of proving me wrong?” I offered innocently.
“Not good enough.” His eyes raked over me, taking in my thin silk nightgown. “I want something more tangible.”
“Of course you do. What did you have in mind?”
“If I win,” he said, tracing a finger along my collarbone, “you agree to try something new in bed. My choice.”
My pulse quickened at his suggestion. “Define ‘something new.”
“Nothing that crosses your hard limits,” he assured me. “But something that pushes your boundaries.”
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I swallowed, both nervous and intrigued. “And if I win?”
“Name your prize.”
A
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I thought for a moment. “If I win, you have to take a full day off work. No calls, no emails, no meetings. Just whatever I want to do all day.”
“That’s it?” Alexander asked, clearly expecting something more salacious.
“That’s it,” I confirmed. “Watching you try to function without working will be entertainment enough.”
He extended his hand. “Deal.”
I shook it firmly, trying to ignore the way his touch sent electricity racing up my arm.
“Now,” Alexander said, his voice shifting to something darker, hungrier, “about tonight…”
Before I could respond, he pulled me to him, his mouth capturing mine in a kiss that stole my breath. His hands tangled in my hair, tugging just hard enough to make me gasp against his lips.
“You’ve been teasing me all evening,” he murmured, trailing kisses down my neck. “First in that dress at dinner, then with all that talk about bedroom activities…”
“I don’t recall mentioning bedroom activities,” I breathed, tilting my head to give him better access.
“It was implied,” he growled, nipping at my earlobe. “And now I can’t think about anything except fucking you.”
“Is that so?”
“Mmm,” he hummed against my skin. “I’ve been half–hard since we left the restaurant, thinking about all the ways I want to take you tonight.”
AD