11. Torn Between Desire and Danger
Chapter eleven
Torn Between Desire and Danger
E llie
I wake up late, my body sore in the best possible way. My muscles ache in places I didn’t even know could hurt, but it’s not exactly a complaint. I glance at the clock and bolt upright. Shit. I’m going to be late.
Scrambling out of bed, I rush through my morning routine, pulling on the first outfit I find—a pencil skirt and a blouse that I barely have time to button up. My mind is still foggy from last night, from the way Alexander’s hands felt on my skin, from the way he made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.
I grab my purse and practically throw myself into the back of an Uber, tapping my fingers nervously against my leg as we drive toward the office. My phone buzzes, and I absentmindedly check it, expecting a reminder for a meeting or maybe a text from Jenna. But it’s neither.
It’s from an anonymous number.
Stay away from Alexander or you’re going to pay.
My heart stops. I blink at the screen, rereading the message over and over, hoping it’ll disappear. But it doesn’t. The words are still there, mocking me, sending ice-cold panic through my veins. Who the hell would send this?
I swallow hard, my throat dry as I try to keep my breathing steady. I don’t even know who this is. How do they know about me and Alexander? We’ve barely been together a week, and already someone’s trying to sabotage us. I stare out the window, the city blurring past me, but my mind is racing. What if it’s someone at the office? What if it’s one of his exes?
By the time I reach the building, I’m a nervous wreck, my thoughts spinning in a hundred different directions. I thank the driver and practically run inside, my heels clicking against the marble floors as I make my way to Alexander’s office. I don’t even care that I’m late—I need to talk to him.
I step off the elevator and immediately feel the tension in the air. Lena is sitting at her desk, her eyes flicking up from her computer screen, and the look she gives me is anything but friendly.
“Morning, Lena,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
She doesn’t bother to respond. She just looks at me, her lips pursed in that way that makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong. I force myself to ignore it, my heart pounding as I walk past her toward Alexander’s office.
“He is in a meeting,” she says.
Before I can knock, the door swings open, and there he is. Alexander. He looks as gorgeous as ever in a perfectly tailored suit, his eyes lighting up the second he sees me. His smile is like a shot of warmth straight to my chest, but the panic from the text is still gnawing at me.
“Ellie,” he says, his voice smooth and low.
“Sorry. I didn’t know you were busy. I heard you were in a meeting.”
He turns to Lena and adds, “Ellie can walk into my office anytime she wants.”
I blink, surprised. Lena’s expression sours even more, but she says nothing, going back to her work.
“Come on,” Alexander says, gesturing for me to follow him inside.
I step into his office, the door closing behind me, and I’m immediately hit with the scent of him—clean, masculine, intoxicating. But something on the table catches my eye. There’s a small gift bag sitting there, and my stomach churns.
“What’s that?” I ask, nodding toward the bag.
He glances at it, then waves it off like it’s nothing. “It’s not important. It’s from an ex. I’m handling it.”
“An ex?” I echo, feeling a sinking sensation in my gut. “Which one?”
He turns to me, frowning slightly. “What’s going on, Ellie?”
I take a deep breath, pulling out my phone and showing him the text. His eyes narrow as he reads it, his jaw tightening. I can practically feel the anger radiating off him.
“Whoever this is, I’ll handle it,” he says, his voice cold and dangerous. “You don’t need to worry.”
“But I do worry,” I say, my voice a little shaky. “I don’t want my career being damaged because of… this. Because of us.”
He steps forward, his hands gentle as he cups my face, forcing me to look up at him. “Ellie, listen to me. No one is going to touch your career. I won’t let that happen. You earned your position, and no one can take that away from you.”
I swallow hard, the panic still bubbling just beneath the surface. “But what if—”
“Shh,” he murmurs, pulling me into his arms, holding me tight. His chest is solid and warm against mine, and for a moment, I let myself sink into him, let myself believe that everything will be okay. “I promise you; I’ll take care of this. Okay?”
I nod, even though I’m still scared. “Okay.”
He pulls back just enough to press a soft kiss to my forehead. “Now, let me worry about this. You just focus on work, alright?”
I nod again, feeling a little more grounded, though the fear still lingers in the back of my mind. I don’t know who’s behind that text, but I trust Alexander. He’s powerful, and if anyone can handle this, it’s him.
But part of me still wonders… what if this is just the beginning?
I glance back at the gift bag, my mind racing with questions. But before I can ask more, Alexander gently guides me to the couch, sitting beside me, his arm draped protectively over my shoulders.
“You’re safe, Ellie,” he says softly, his eyes searching mine. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I want to believe him. God, I want to. But as I sit there, wrapped in his arms, the weight of that anonymous threat lingers in the back of my mind, refusing to let go.
For now, though, I have to trust him. I have to trust that he can handle this, that whatever is coming, we can face it together
Alexander’s fingers are tracing down my arm, sending shivers through my skin. He’s so close, his touch electric, as if he can’t help himself. My body reacts instantly, leaning into him, craving more.
“Come here,” he whispers, his voice low and thick with desire.
Before I can respond, he’s lifting me into his lap, pulling me closer until I’m straddling him, my skirt bunching up around my thighs. His hands slide up my legs, pushing the fabric higher, and I can feel how hard he is beneath me. Heat floods through me as I settle against him, the friction making my head spin.
“Alexander,” I breathe, my voice barely audible, “someone could hear us.”
He smirks, his hand gripping my ass, pulling me down harder against him. “No one’s going to hear anything, Ellie,” he murmurs, his mouth brushing against my neck. “It’s just us. Now let me make you feel better.”
His words send a fresh wave of arousal through me, and I can’t help the way my body responds. My hips move of their own accord, grinding down against him, and his breath hitches, his grip tightening. He kisses me, deep and demanding, and my heart races as I feel him shift beneath me, adjusting just enough to line himself up.
I gasp as he pushes into me, slow at first, the stretch making my body tremble. He holds me steady, his hands gripping my hips as he thrusts up into me, filling me completely. It’s too much, too good, and I bite down on my lip to keep from moaning too loud.
“Fuck,” he groans, his head tipping back as he starts moving faster, his hands guiding my movements. “You’re so tight, baby.”
I dig my nails into his shoulders, my body moving with his, the intensity of it all consuming me. Every thrust pushes me closer to the edge, the pressure building between us, and I have to bite my lip harder to keep from crying out.
“Someone’s going to hear,” I whimper, but the words are lost as he covers my mouth with his hand, muffling any sound I might make.
“Shh,” he whispers, his voice dark and full of promise. “No one can hear us. Just take it, baby. Take it all.”
His words push me over the edge, and I gasp against his hand, my body tensing as pleasure crashes over me in waves. He follows right after, his grip tightening as he buries himself inside me one last time, groaning into my neck as he comes.
For a moment, we stay like that, our bodies pressed together, both of us catching our breath. I can feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath my hand, and I lean against him, my body still trembling from the intensity of it all.
“You okay?” he murmurs after a moment, his lips brushing against my ear.
I nod, pulling back slightly to look at him. “I feel better now,” I admit, smiling softly.
He grins, his hands trailing down my sides, gentle now, as if he’s savoring the moment. “Good. Because I hate seeing you upset.”
I pause, biting my lip before asking, “Can I ask you something?”
He nods, his eyes curious. “Anything.”
I take a deep breath, my fingers idly playing with the collar of his shirt. “Who was that ex? The one who sent the gift?”
His expression darkens slightly, but he doesn’t hesitate. “Vanessa. We were on and off for a while, but it’s been over for a long time.”
“What did she get you?”
“Just a watch. I am sending it back today.”
“Do you think she’s the one who sent that text?” I ask, my voice quieter now.
He frowns, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “I can check the IP address…”
I nod, though something still nags at me. “You don’t have to check. It’s… it’s fine. I don’t care.”
He chuckles, that low, deep laugh that sends a shiver down my spine. “My cock’s that good, huh?”
I smack him playfully on the chest, rolling my eyes. “You’re insufferable.”
He grabs my hand, pulling me closer again. “But you love it.”
I can’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”
He leans in, kissing me softly, and I melt into him, the lingering tension from earlier fading away completely. When he pulls back, there’s a teasing glint in his eyes. “Can we still do dinner tonight?”
I nod, my fingers tracing the lines of his jaw. “Yeah. Dinner sounds good.”
“Perfect.” He kisses the top of my head, his voice softening as he adds, “I’ll send you some emails later—contractors and architects for the project. Do some research on them when you get a chance.”
“Okay,” I murmur, already thinking about the work ahead.
He cups my face, his thumb brushing over my lips. “Sorry I ruined your lipstick.”
I smirk, leaning into his touch. “Are you really sorry?”
“Not even a little,” he grins, his eyes darkening with mischief. “
I laugh, leaning in to kiss him one last time before sliding off his lap and straightening my skirt. As I smooth down my blouse, he watches me, his eyes still filled with that dangerous hunger, and I know it’s only a matter of time before we find ourselves tangled up in each other again.
Lena’s stare feels like daggers on my back as I leave Alexander’s office. I don’t even bother acknowledging her; I’ve had enough for one day. My mind is racing from everything that’s happened, and the last thing I need is more attitude. I walk to my desk and try to turn on my computer, but the damn thing won’t even start.
“Come on,” I mutter, hitting the power button repeatedly. Still nothing. I look over at Lena, who’s pretending to be busy with something on her screen.
“Hey, Lena,” I call out, already feeling the irritation bubbling up inside me. “What the hell happened to my computer?”
She glances up, her expression indifferent. “No idea.”
I grit my teeth, trying to keep my cool. “Great. Just great.”
With a frustrated sigh, I grab my things and head down to the IT department, silently praying that they can fix this mess. The rest of my day is spent running back and forth, trying to get someone to look at my computer. I finally manage to flag down the IT guy, Marcus, but even he’s stumped.
“I’m gonna need a few hours,” Marcus tells me, his fingers flying over the keyboard. “Your system is fried.”
“Perfect,” I mutter under my breath, rubbing my temples. “Just let me know when it’s done.”
It’s already past three when my phone rings. I glance at the screen and see Alexander’s name flash across it. My heart does a little flip, but I’m too exhausted to feel excited about it right now.
“Hey,” I answer, trying to sound more upbeat than I feel.
“Where are you?” His voice is smooth but firm, and I can hear the underlying concern. “I haven’t seen you at your desk all day.”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “My computer had an issue. I’ve been stuck in the IT department trying to get it fixed.”
“So, you haven’t seen my emails?” he asks.
“No,” I say, suddenly realizing just how behind I must be. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen anything. Marcus is working on it now, but—”
“I’m coming down,” he cuts in.
“No, please don’t,” I say quickly, feeling the panic rise. “Marcus is handling it. I’ll be able to work later, but I’m not sure if we can still do dinner tonight.”
There’s a pause on the other end, and I can practically hear the disappointment in his voice when he responds. “Call me as soon as you’re done with the IT guy, okay?”
“Okay,” I nod, even though he can’t see me. “I will.”
The rest of the afternoon drags on, and by the time Marcus finally fixes my laptop, it’s six. I’m tired, cranky, and starving. When I make it back upstairs, Lena’s already gone for the day. Good riddance.
I pull out my phone to call Alexander, but before I can dial, his office door opens, and there he is, looking as put together and handsome as ever. The sight of him makes my heart skip a beat, and I can’t help but smile up at him.
He walks over, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “What happened?”
I groan, leaning into him for a second. “I lost most of my files. And like all the emails from last week. I’m going to have to reach out to all the clients and get everything back in order.”
He frowns, his hand resting on my lower back. “That’s frustrating.”
“Tell me about it,” I sigh. “I’m already behind.”
He smirks, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “How about this—you set up in my office, and we can burn the midnight oil together?”
I blink up at him, surprised. “I just got my computer fixed. I wouldn’t know how to assemble it again.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You forget I’m basically an IT specialist? I could’ve fixed that thing in half the time.”
I laugh, the tension in my body easing just a little. “Alright, Mr. IT Specialist. Work your magic.”
We walk into his office, and I flop down on the couch, too tired to even pretend to be productive right now. I watch him as he starts setting up my computer at his desk, his brow furrowed in concentration, and I can’t help but smile. There’s something incredibly sexy about the way he’s so focused, so competent.
“You know,” he says, glancing over at me with a smirk, “I could just get you a new computer. Would probably save us both some trouble.”
“No preferential treatment, babe,” I reply, the word slipping out before I can stop it.
He freezes for a second, then grins wider. “Babe, huh? I like that.”
I blush, burying my face in the pillow for a moment before looking back at him. “Don’t get used to it.”
He chuckles, finishing up with my computer and walking over to the couch. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood. I ordered Chipotle for us. Should be here any minute.”
I sit up, feeling my stomach growl at the mention of food. “You’re a lifesaver.”
He sits down beside me, his arm draped over the back of the couch as he leans in. “I know.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the day slowly lifting off my shoulders as I relax into him. I catch him glancing over at me a few times, and I can’t help but think about how easy it is to be with him. How natural it feels. I’ve never had that before.
The door buzzes, and Alexander stands up to grab our food. When he returns, we dig into our burritos, laughing and talking about everything but work. It’s easy, being with him like this, and I find myself thinking something I never thought I would.
I could fall in love with this man.
The thought scares me, but it’s also thrilling. Being with him is like walking a tightrope, and I can’t help but wonder when I’ll fall—and if he’ll be there to catch me.