Tamed By You (Always & Forever #2)

20. Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Harry

It's Friday, and usually, I'd be at The Boardroom, but after this week and trying to figure out why we have been missing money from our accounts the past few months, my brain is fried. Jack and Ria’s rehearsal dinner and wedding are next week, so I decide I’m in need of a quiet weekend. But quiet weekends aren't really my thing and there’s only one way I want to relax.

I fire a text to the feisty blonde that seems to consume my every waking moment as well as my dreams. She runs through my mind in her six-inch heels like a movie on repeat.

Harry

My apartment, 30 minutes?

Ali

Sorry, can't tonight. Aunt Flo is visiting.

Harry

Okay, I'll come to you after she's gone.

Ali

Sorry she’s going to be here a while.

Harry

I'll meet her. Aunts love me.

Ali

This one doesn't. It’s just you and your hand tonight, baby.

I throw my phone, not liking the way she's dismissing me. I head to my custom-made closet that houses my endless collection of designer suits. The sensor lights glow as I enter, and I search the shelves for something to throw on. With only my grey sweats on, I find a white t-shirt, black hooded sweatshirt, and tennis shoes.

Once I’m dressed, I snatch my keys from the kitchen island and make my way to my car. She’s not dismissing me that easily.

I've never been to her apartment. I've dropped her off after a quick hook up in my car, but I’ve never been inside. I park up on the street outside her building and head up to her floor. I have my story ready in case Gabby is there, so she doesn’t question my motives.

I buzz and I hear movement from behind the door. When it opens, there stands Ali, baggy t-shirt, black sweatpant shorts, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head, no make-up and yellow stickers on her face, and honestly, she’s never looked more beautiful. I've never seen her like this. It takes her a second to register it's me and she closes her eyes. Letting out a low groan, her shoulders sag in defeat. “Ugh, my cheesecake.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Cheesecake? Are we doing the weird pet name thing now because you can call me your cheesecake if I can call you my sugar muffin?” I bop her on the nose with my index finger.

She shakes her head. “Excuse me. One, I was waiting for my DoorDash, and two, what the hell are you doing here?”

Ignoring the second part of her question I ask, “You DoorDashed cheesecake? Isn't that a bit weird?”

She rises on her tiptoes, looking over my head, then leaning out the doorway and looking down one end of the hallway and then the other. I laugh, “Are you looking for that opinion I just gave that you didn't ask for again?”

She straightens. “Sure am, and nope couldn't find it.”

I let out a sarcastic laugh then ask, “Are you going to invite me in?”

“N—”

“Thanks, I’d love to come in,” I say pushing past her and stepping into the apartment.

I take in my surroundings, it’s small with a cozy vibe and it’s clear women live here. Light, white-washed floors cover the open plan space. A white couch with pink cushions takes up the main space in the living area, a TV in the corner in front of a large window. Photographs cover one wall, and I make my way over to look to find images of Ali, Gabby and Ria over the years. There’s some from Lexi and Elle’s birthday parties the past year and then there's a group one of all of us in Vegas.

“Aww, you got me up on the wall, Ali Cat.”

“Don't flatter yourself. That was Gabby,” she calls as she heads for the kitchen. I walk over to the small island that’s large enough for two people to sit at and lean my forearms on the back of the bar stool.

She opens the refrigerator bending slightly and my eyes follow the movement, the curve of her ass, her toned legs flexing, making my dick hard. She closes the door, turning to face me opening a carton of milk and adding it to her mug.

“You not gonna offer me one?”

“No. Why would I when you’re leaving,” she says bluntly.

“Oooh, have you doubled up on those bitch pills again Ali Cat? You’re extra spicy tonight.”

She gives me a sarcastic smile, lifting the string of her teabag and dunking it in her mug.

“You’re starting to hurt my feelings here,” I tease holding my hand to my chest.

“I really wanna give a fuck, but I just can’t quite get there.” She says lifting her mug and blowing into it.

I laugh shaking my head . This woman.

“Look, I have a thing going on here and you are interrupting it. I’ll hook up with you Monday, okay?”

“Why Monday? Why not now? We are clearly both available.”

She places the mug of tea on the counter, steam rising from it and I note the label: English Breakfast.

“I have Aunt Flovisiting,” she stares at me, eyes bulging.

“I don't see an aunt,” I say looking round her apartment.

“It’s shark week.”

“Excuse me?” I question, screwing up my face. What the fuck is shark week?

“My period, Harry, I have my period.”

My face drops. Oh shit, of course that's what she meant, and explains the look she's got going on.

“Now I know you haven't been with a woman long enough to experience a period, but it’s a thing that happens once a month and we like to be left alone when it occurs. So please, see yourself out.” She gestures towards the front door.

“I know what a period is. I have a twin sister, remember?”

“Yes, you do. Please send her my condolences. I don't know how she managed to share a womb with you for nine months.”

“Ha ha ha, your period clearly turns you into a comedian.”

She gives me a smile and rounds the island.

“Nah, I’m always funny. I just get extra funny one week out of the month,” She grins, then takes a sip of her tea.

“So, I know what a period is, but what's with the stickers,” I say pointing to her face. “Have Lexi and Elle been round.”

She places her tea on the counter and hits my chest. “No, you ass. These are pimple patches. We get pimples when we get our period. I thought you would know that since you have a ‘twin sister’,” she says the last part in air quotations and I laugh, pulling her in for a hug, her arms down by her side, her body goes ridged.

“I’m not trying to be an ass. You still look hot as fuck, pimple patches and all.” She softens in my arms and leans into my chest. Her coconut scent invades my nostrils and I take in a deep inhale. Her scent is the most comforting smell.

The moment is broken by a knock at the door. She unwraps herself from me and heads for the door, quickly returning with a DoorDash bag. She places it on the kitchen island and pulls out a white box. She opens the lid and sniffs. “Mmmmm, perfect.”

“Let me guess, the cheesecake?”

“Yep, and not just any cheesecake. Strawberry cheesecake from that little bakery next to the New York bagel stand.”

“Oh yeah, I know the one. Bella’s Bakery.”

“That’s the one.” She takes a fork out the drawer and lifts the box and her mug of tea. “Well, if you can see yourself out, I’ve got my hands full, and I have a date with Ryan Gosling.”

She walks down a small corridor and into an open doorway. I follow her into her bedroom. White walls, white bedding, and a huge floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that covers an entire wall, lit up with fairy lights that hang at the top. I walk over to the shelves and see a mixture of books, DVDs, trinkets, photographs of her friends, but I note there isn’t anything from her pageant days displayed. I remember her telling me in Vegas she was a big pageant queen and model in her teen years. I’m about to ask her why when a pin board with various images of holiday destinations comes into view and my eye catches one picture in particular.

“Have you been?” I ask pointing to the picture of the Eiffel Tower.”

“No, not yet. It’s on my bucket list.”

Mine too, but I don’t offer up that information.

My eyes travel over the length of her impressive bookcase. It’s as if it’s a window into Ali’s soul. Little pieces of her on display. A selection of Alice in Wonderland collectibles catches my eye and my hand reaches for what looks like an early edition of the book. I then notice a large teapot and a matching teacup with a painting of Alice on it next to two framed quotes that say:

“Before Alice got to Wonderland she had to fall.” And “The secret Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. It’s then, only then you’ll find Wonderland.”

“What's with all the Alice in Wonderland stuff? Is that because of your name?”

I turn and she's sat, legs crossed on her bed, diving into her cheesecake. “Mmmhmm,” she moans around a mouthful of cheesecake. “My dad, he was an aspiring writer, he loved the story as a kid. So, he called me Alice.”

“Where's your dad now?”

She stops chewing and stills for a moment, swallowing. “He died.”

I walk over to the bed and sit on the opposite end. “Shit, I’m sorry. When?”

“It’s fine. I was really young. I don't really remember him, but I remember his voice. He would read Alice in Wonderland to me every night I got to see him, but not the Disney kind, the original story. When he died, he left me his first edition. It was the only part of him I had, when we ran out of money my mother sold it.”

I don't miss the way her tone changed at the word mother, laced with bitterness.

“That’s really shitty. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well, that's life sometimes. Shitty things happen. We have to suck it up and move on, right?” She looks down picking at the cheesecake with her fork.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” I ask hesitantly. She made the rule of no deep conversations, and this is the most open she's been with me. I don't want to ruin it by pushing her.

“Nope, I'd much rather watch Ryan, thank you.” She picks up the remote and soft music plays through the TV.

“What movie is this?” I ask.

“The Notebook.”

“The Notebook? You don't strike me as a chick flick, romance kind of girl.”

“There’s a lot you don't know about me, Harry Walker,” she says eyeing me up and down.

Yeah, don't I know it, but I’d like to know more.

I kick off my tennis shoes, remove my sweatshirt, and settle in next to her.

“What are you doing?” she mumbles, her mouth full of cheesecake.

“We're watching The Notebook and eating cheesecake.”

Two hours later, we’ve devoured the cheesecake, two mugs of tea, a bag of chips and dip, and a box of Sour Patch Kids. She started to get cramps and I know from my sister, Tori, having them that a heating pad works, so I got hers and heated it. She looked shocked that I had both the knowledge of what a heating pad was and that I offered to get it for her.

Wow, the bar really is on the floor, isn't it? No wonder most women hate men.

During the movie, Ali brought out her supplies and said I was looking a little dry and if I was going to stay, I’d be getting the full girls’ night experience. I’m secure enough to not fear a little face mask and moisturizer; I grew up with a sister after all.

She slapped on a facemask, and honestly, my skin never felt better. She snapped a photo that she said she will be using against me should she need too. I'll be deleting that before I leave. Truthfully, I've never had this much fun with a girl when it didn't involve sex.

The end credits roll, and my eyes are watering, forcing me to blink back the unshed tears away as I clear my throat. We are sat side by side on her bed leaning against her pillows and headboard.

“Are you crying?” she asks.

“No,” I reply, the word a little shaky.

“You are.” There is excitement in her tone.

“I think I’ve got some of that face shit you put on me in my eye.”

She squeezes my bicep. “You are, you're crying. Does my baby boy need a tissue?” she teases.

My baby boy.

Screw it I’m man enough to admit that the film wrecked me. “They died in each other’s arms, Alice. He wrote her three-hundred-and-sixty-five letters. How do you not find that fucking sad?” I sniff. Shit what has she done to me?

“Aww, you've been Notebooked.”

“I've been what?” My pitch is a little higher than I’d like.

“Notebooked. It’s when a girl gets a guy to cry at the movie,” she explains, looking rather pleased with herself.

“You’re evil.” I shrug her hand off my bicep, but she leans over and starts to tickle me. I haven't been tickled since I was a kid, but I am loving this softer side of Ali, the side she’s slowly letting me see.

“Aww you big softie. Are you okay? Do you need a minute to cry into my pillow?” she teases as she tickles under my arms and around my waist as laughter erupts from me. I squirm, trying to break from her assault. The laughter flowing from her is so light and airy, it’s the most beautiful sound. Hooking my legs over hers, I roll her onto her back and pin her to the bed.

She’s still giggling, and I blow the strands of hair that have fallen over her face away and press a soft kiss to her forehead. Her eyes rise to meet mine and the air shifts between us. Her icy blue eyes hypnotize me, drawing me in, making me forget where I am.

She swallows hard, and I clear my own throat. “You’re really beautiful when you laugh.”

Silence falls between us and just when I go to speak again, she says, “Thank you for giving me a reason to laugh.”

The air crackles between us. My gaze travels down to her full lips and back up to her eyes. Her breathing hitches and I loosen my hold on her arms that I have pinned either side of her head. Grasping her face with my left hand, I gently press my lips to hers.

I've never kissed her like this. I don’t think I’ve ever kissed any woman like this. It's slow and sensual, our tongues intertwining as I move to settle in between her legs. I sink into her, taking every bit that she’s giving me, never wanting it to end. Tingles travel up and down my spine as her hands slowly stroke up and down my back under my shirt. I could spend hours doing this, just getting lost in her touch, in her kiss.

We finally break free, locking eyes, searching for an answer in each other's faces. What was that?

“Erm… we should…” She starts to speak, breaking the heated silence that swirls between us.

“... watch my favorite movie. I’m glad you agree. Top Gun it is baby.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead I roll off her and reach for the remote. She shuffles away from me slightly, but I don’t let her, resting her head on my chest as I wrap an arm around her.

To my surprise, she nestles in and lays her leg over mine. The movie begins and we watch it in silence. She grows heavy against me and when I peak, I find that she's fallen asleep on me. Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead I rest my cheek against her head, loving the feel of her in my arms, a feeling of protectiveness washing over me. The need to keep her close so strong that I wrap my arms around her a little tighter.

Something changed tonight. I don't know what, or why, but I’ve realized I don't just want to spend my time tearing her clothes off. I knew there were many layers to Ali Hart and now I’ve seen some of them, I need more. I need to know all of them.