10. Unseen Threats
Chapter ten
Unseen Threats
X ander
The second I step out onto the terrace and see her in that bikini, I’m done for. It’s small, way too fucking small—a deep red that clings to her curves like a second skin, barely covering her breasts, and those thin straps around her hips are enough to make my cock twitch in my shorts. She’s standing at the edge of the pool, water droplets sliding down her body, her hair slicked back, and I swear, I’ve never seen anything so goddamn sexy in my life.
Fuck.
I can feel myself hardening already, and I know there’s no way I’m going to make it through this without losing it. My eyes trail over her, from the dip of her waist to the curve of her ass, and all I can think about is getting her alone, tearing that bikini off her, and fucking her until we’re both too exhausted to move.
She notices me staring and bites her lip, her eyes dark with something I recognize all too well. She wants me just as badly as I want her.
I move toward her, my hands itching to touch her, but I’m trying to keep it together. We’re supposed to be relaxing, enjoying this fucking paradise, but how the hell am I supposed to relax when she looks like that?
“Alexander,” she says, her voice soft but teasing, like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. She turns around, her ass on full display, and my cock is straining against my shorts, begging for release.
“Ellie,” I growl, stepping closer until I’m right behind her. My hands grip her waist, pulling her back against me, and she gasps, her body going still as she feels how hard I am. “You’re fucking killing me.”
She tilts her head up to look at me, a smile playing on her lips. “Am I?”
“Don’t play with me, baby,” I warn, my voice rough. I press my cock against her ass, making sure she knows exactly how much I want her. “You know what you’re doing.”
She laughs softly, and it’s the sweetest fucking sound. I can’t take it anymore. I grab her hand and pull her into the pool, the cool water doing nothing to soothe the heat coursing through me. She lets out a surprised yelp, splashing water as she stumbles into my arms, and I catch her, pulling her body flush against mine.
Her hands are on my chest, and the feel of her wet skin under my palms is driving me insane. I press her up against the edge of the pool, my mouth crashing down on hers, kissing her hard and deep, my tongue sliding against hers as she moans into my mouth.
I pull away just enough to speak, my lips still brushing against hers. “I’m gonna fuck you right here if you keep looking at me like that.”
She giggles, her fingers trailing down my chest, teasing. “Maybe I want you to.”
Fuck.
I scoop her up into my arms, my patience completely gone. Her legs wrap around my waist, and I carry her out of the pool, dripping wet but not giving a damn. I’m too far gone, my mind clouded with nothing but the need to be inside her.
I take the stairs two at a time, water sloshing everywhere as I kick open the door to our suite and head straight for the bedroom. She’s laughing, her arms around my neck, but the second I lay her down on the bed, the laughter fades, replaced with something darker, more desperate.
I rip her bikini bottoms off with one tug, and she gasps, her eyes wide as she watches me, her chest rising and falling quickly. I’m on her in an instant, kissing her hard, my hands gripping her thighs as I push them apart. She’s so fucking wet, and the second I touch her, she whimpers, her hips lifting off the bed.
“I need to be inside you,” I growl, my cock so hard it’s painful. “Now.”
She nods, her lips parted, her eyes glazed with need. “Please.”
I don’t wait another second. I pull my shorts down just enough to free myself, and then I’m pushing into her, burying myself to the hilt in one hard thrust. She cries out, her nails digging into my back, and I still for a second, letting her adjust to the size of me.
“Fuck, Ellie,” I groan, my forehead resting against hers. “You feel so fucking good.”
She moans, her hips rolling up to meet mine, and that’s all the encouragement I need. I start moving, slow at first, then harder, faster, until I’m pounding into her, her breathy moans filling the room. Her body tightens around me, and I know she’s close.
I reach down between us, rubbing her clit with my thumb, and she loses it, her body trembling as she comes hard, her nails raking down my back. I follow her over the edge, my own release hitting me like a fucking freight train as I bury myself inside her one last time, groaning her name.
We collapse together, both of us breathless and spent, and I pull her into my arms, holding her close as our breathing slows. I’ve never felt so completely fucking satisfied in my life.
****
The next morning, we’re on the plane back home, and I can’t stop staring at her. She’s curled up beside me, her head resting on my shoulder, and I’m completely obsessed with how beautiful she is. Her skin is glowing, her lips still a little swollen from all the kissing, and I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.
“This trip was everything I needed,” I murmur, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “And more.”
She smiles, her eyes still closed, and I kiss the top of her head. I can’t believe how lucky I am—she’s not only the best addition to my company, but to my life. She’s it. She’s everything.
“We should go on more trips,” I say, my voice soft but serious. “Just the two of us.”
“I’d like that,” she whispers, her voice sleepy but content.
I hold her tighter, already thinking about all the places I want to take her, all the things I want to show her. She’s opened up something in me, something I didn’t even know was there, and I never want to let her go.
When the plane lands, I try to convince her to come home with me, to keep this weekend going, but she shakes her head, laughing softly.
“I need to go home and unpack,” she says, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “I can’t just move in with you after one trip.”
I pout, knowing I’m being ridiculous but not caring. “You could.”
She laughs again, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “How about tomorrow after work?”
I sigh dramatically but nod. “Okay. Tomorrow after work.”
She smiles, and I kiss her again, already dreading the next 24 hours without her. This woman is under my skin, and I know it’s only going to get worse. But fuck if I care. I’ll take every second I can get with her.
We pull up in front of her building, and the streetlights cast a soft glow over her face, highlighting the way her lips are still slightly swollen from our earlier kisses. She looks over at me, her hand resting on my thigh, and I already know what’s coming—she’s been quiet for the last few minutes, something clearly on her mind.
I shift in my seat, not ready to let her go yet. “You okay?”
She nods, but I can see the hesitation in her eyes. “Can we talk for a second?”
I turn toward her, feeling the weight of whatever she’s about to say settle between us. “Of course.”
She takes a deep breath, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her dress. “I’ve been thinking… maybe we should keep this”—she gestures between us—”just between us for now. I mean, I’m a new hire, and I don’t want people thinking I’m sleeping with the CEO for favors.”
Her words hit me, and while I understand, part of me doesn’t like it. I don’t want to hide this, but I know she’s right. Office politics are messy, and the last thing I want is for her to feel uncomfortable or like she’s being judged.
“Ellie,” I say, my voice steady, “I don’t mind keeping it quiet if that’s what you want.” I mean it, but something twists in my chest. “But I don’t want you thinking you’ve done anything wrong. You earned your position, and no one can take that from you.”
She smiles softly, but there’s a hint of relief in her eyes. “Thank you.”
I reach out, cupping her face, and pull her in for a kiss. It’s slow and deep, the kind of kiss that makes it impossible to think about anything else but the way she feels against me. She melts into me, her fingers tangling in my hair, and I groan into her mouth, not ready to let her go yet.
When we finally pull away, her lips are a little redder, her cheeks flushed. “You’re dangerous,” I whisper, brushing my thumb over her lower lip.
She laughs softly, leaning back in her seat. “You’re the one who started it.”
I chuckle, giving her one last kiss on the forehead before pulling back. “Go on, before I drag you back to my place.”
She grins and opens the car door, stepping out onto the sidewalk. She turns back to me, her hand on the door. “Tomorrow after work?”
“Tomorrow,” I confirm, my voice rougher than I intended.
She waves and heads into her building, and I watch until she’s safely inside before I pull away, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. I don’t like the thought of being away from her, not after the weekend we’ve had, but I know she needs her space. Still, the idea of waiting twenty-four hours to see her again makes my chest tighten.
I’m halfway to my place when my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen and see David’s name flashing across it. I press the button on the steering wheel to answer.
“David.”
“Hey, man,” he says, his voice familiar and easy, a reminder of how long we’ve known each other. “You back in town?”
“Just landed,” I reply, glancing out at the passing city lights. “What’s up?”
“I called earlier,” David continues. “Lena said you were off on a trip.”
I smirk. “Yeah, I was. Needed a break from all the chaos.”
“Don’t get used to it,” I joke, though I have to admit, I could get used to the kind of break I just had. “What’s going on?”
“I was actually going to see if you wanted to grab drinks,” David says, his tone light. “Catch up a bit. Been a while since we’ve had a proper conversation.”
I nod to myself, realizing it has been a while. David and I go way back—college, internships, breaking into the business world together. He’s one of the few people I trust completely, someone who’s seen every side of me, the good and the bad.
“Come over,” I say, making a quick turn toward my mansion. “We’ll have drinks at my place. I could use some company.”
“Perfect. I’ll be there in thirty.”
I hang up and drive the rest of the way in silence, my mind replaying everything that’s happened this weekend. Ellie… fuck. I can’t stop thinking about her, about the way she looks at me, the way she feels under my hands, the way she fits into my life so seamlessly. It’s terrifying and thrilling at the same time.
By the time I pull into my driveway, the gates swinging open, I’m already pouring myself a drink in my head. My mansion feels too big, too empty without her. I park the car and head inside, the familiar echo of my footsteps on the marble floor greeting me.
I grab a bottle of whiskey from the bar, pouring myself a glass just as the doorbell rings. David’s here.
“Come in,” I call, setting down the glass and walking toward the front door.
David steps inside, his dark hair a little longer than the last time I saw him, his grin as easy as ever. “Look at you,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder. “Taking trips, inviting me over for drinks. What’s gotten into you?”
I smirk, motioning for him to follow me to the living room. “Just trying to keep things interesting.”
“Interesting, huh?” David chuckles as he sits down, stretching out on the couch like he owns the place. “I’m guessing this trip wasn’t just business, was it?”
I raise an eyebrow, pouring him a drink. “What makes you say that?”
He takes the glass from me, leaning back with a grin. “Because you look… different. Relaxed. That’s not a word I’d usually use to describe you, man.”
I laugh, shaking my head as I take a sip of my own drink. “Maybe I needed to relax.”
David studies me for a second, then nods slowly. “So, who is she?”
I almost choke on my drink, coughing slightly as I set the glass down. “What makes you think there’s a ‘she’?”
“You’ve been off the grid for days, and you’re sitting here grinning like you just won the lottery,” David says, his eyes narrowing playfully. “Come on, Alexander. I’ve known you too long to buy into that ‘all business’ bullshit.”
I shake my head, but there’s no use in denying it. “Alright, fine. There’s a woman.”
David grins, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I knew it. So, what’s the deal? Is she new?”
“She works for me,” I say, my voice low. “Ellie Sanders. She’s smart, beautiful… everything.”
“Wow! And where did you meet her? Please. I need me a distraction too.”
I hate the bile that rises up my throat at that insinuation. “It is nothing like that. She is different.”
He raises his hands and smirks. “You really like her huh?”
“I do. This woman… fuck! She could turn me into a poet if she wanted.”
“Where did you guys meet?”
“She kind of works in my office.”
David whistles, taking a long sip of his drink. “That’s dangerous territory, my friend.”
“Trust me, I know,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “But it’s not like that. She earned her spot. I just… I don’t know. Something about her, man.”
David watches me, and I know he’s trying to piece it all together. He’s been there through every relationship, every misstep. He knows I don’t do feelings. At least, I didn’t. Until now.
“You really like her, don’t you?” he asks, his voice softening.
I nod, staring into my glass. “Yeah. I do.”
David clinks his glass against mine, smiling. “Well, then here’s to hoping this one doesn’t screw you over.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Anytime,” he grins. “But seriously, Alexander, if she makes you feel like this, don’t fuck it up.”
I nod, knowing he’s right. Ellie is different, and I can’t risk losing her, not to the business, not to anything.
We drink in silence for a while, and I can’t help but let my mind drift back to her. That kiss before she walked into her building. The way she fit so perfectly in my arms. The way she makes everything feel right.
David’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “So, tell me about this trip. You didn’t just spend the whole time with her, right?”
I smirk, leaning back in my chair. “Let’s just say it was a business trip with some… added perks.”
David laughs, shaking his head as he takes another sip of his drink. “I knew it.”
I smile, but in the back of my mind, all I can think about is tomorrow. About seeing her again. About how hard it’s going to be to keep this between us, when all I want to do is tell the world how fucking lucky I am to have her.