Chapter 15
Alice
Ijerked awake, my heart beating that familiar rhythm. The last remnants of my dream faded like water between fingers. My mind fought against the loss, desperately attempting to grasp onto the lingering pictures.
As always, I couldn't remember my dream. But I knew it had been intense. My panties were wet, and the warm hand of arousal still had its grasp on me. I buried my face in my hands, noting how they shook. I couldn’t do this anymore.
It wasn't a coincidence that my dreams were becoming more frequent and explicit the more time I spent in Acheron Angelou's presence.
I couldn't deny the effect he had on me.
The project was wrapping up this week, but I just couldn’t be near him anymore. It was bad enough that he was invading my waking thoughts, but now, I surely had him encroaching on my sleeping ones.
David was also rapidly losing patience with me.
"You need to see someone," he'd told me, his jaw clenched. He could barely look me in the eye.
"Your nightmares are becoming more frequent. Are you sure you're taking your medication?"
I couldn't keep lying to him.
So, in a fit of desperation, I sent an urgent message to Acheron to meet me at his penthouse.
"I need to pass this project onto another member of my team," I told him. I was proud of how steady I kept my voice, even though my heart was beating wildly and my palms were sweaty with nerves.
"No." His gaze glittered in anger as he stared me down.
A throaty growl rose from me, and I almost stamped my foot in frustration. "That's not a suggestion. This is me telling you that—"
"I will allow you to quit if you can admit that you want me."
The rebuttal died on my lips. I stared at him, slack-jawed. "Wha-what?"
"Admit that you want me, and I will allow you to resign your services."
"You-you’re being ridiculous."
"That is not an answer."
I snorted in disbelief, the pulse at my neck beating oddly. I brushed my fingers against the tingle, and his eyes followed the movement, flaring in interest.
My hand dropped, and I lifted my chin in one last defiance. "I don't need to justify my reasons to you."
"Actually, you do. Need I remind you that you will be in breach of contract? My terms stipulate that I will only work with you."
I met his words with seething silence because he was right. His contract did stipulate that he would only work with me, unless there were good reasons not to. I should have prepared in advance, but desperation had me acting out of character.
"Give me one valid reason why you wish to quit, and I shall release you from your contract."
"B-because I have other projects that—"
"Try again."
He moved closer.
"Our contract is almost up, so—"
"Again."
The words died in my throat as his hand cupped my cheek, sliding up into my hair.
"Because—b-because…"
His lips crashed down onto mine, and my mouth opened to welcome him.
My hands found themselves around his neck as we frantically kissed each other.
Our tongues tangled, and his groan of pleasure vibrated through my body until an explosion of taste washed over me.
I whimpered against his invasive mouth as his scent intoxicated my brain, and I scrambled to devour more of his addictive taste.
He grabbed my ass, easily lifting me in one swift movement.
My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and I held on as he carried me to the tall glass window.
The cool panel touched my back, and it should have woken me up from the vows I was betraying.
Instead, the contrast of coldness felt good against my burning arousal.
Even when his hips ground against mine and I felt the unmistakable dig of his hard cock, I still couldn't stop kissing him. I was greedy, horny, and so very far gone.
Weeks of pent-up sexual tension finally uncoiled like a tight spring, and the results shot my repressed need into the stratosphere. I'd never felt such a strong reaction to another person.
"My Queen."
The endearment was groaned between desperate kisses on my collarbone. My eyes flew open, and I reared back in shock, causing my head to knock against the glass. He made a tsking noise before his large hand smoothed the back of my head.
My Queen.
"Wha-what did you say?"
Vivid blue eyes bored into mine. "I did not say anything."
The silence stretched between us as we stared at each other, frenzied need and lust still sizzling in the fraught air.
"Oh."
I shook my head as the phantom words faded. It was then, with a dawning horror, that I realized where I was and what I was doing.
And with whom.
His arms were still cupping me, my legs still wrapped around his waist. Panic and disgust seized my gut. "Oh my god. Oh my god. Put me down!"
Immediately, my feet touched the ground, and I whirled away from him, wiping at my mouth and frantically smoothing down my hair.
"Nothing happened. Nothing happened." My hands were shaking in anxious dread.
"Your ass cheek is showing."
I gasped before angrily jerking my skirt down. "You—you—"
"Before you accuse me of anything, I do not recall you resisting me."
No, I couldn't deny that. That's what made me so sick. "I'm married." My voice wobbled as wetness clung to my lashes. "I love my husband."
He shrugged one shoulder, uncaring. Tatiana's words repeated through my head.
"I'm a married woman."
"Like that’s stopped him."
"Then why did you return my kiss? And why do these beautiful eyes flash with fire at the mere thought of me with another woman?"
"That’s not true!"
"No? So it does not bother you that I have fucked Tatiana? Because I have. More than once."
"Stop it."
"Ask me why I am harder by just kissing you than I ever was when Tatiana used to join me in a foursome."
A foursome? He had three at the same time? My nose flared.
"Ah…there is that fire." His rich voice was heavy with male satisfaction.
I grabbed my bag and jerked it over my shoulder. I felt sick. I’d betrayed my husband, and it made me want to throw up. "We only have a week left," I shakily confirmed. "Stay away from me."
I made it all the way to the lift before he spoke.
"And then there's the party."
I spun around. "What?"
He was leaning casually against the doorjamb, hand in one pocket. "My housewarming party, next Saturday. You and your staff are the special guests. I wish to…thank you properly for your hard work."
Christ, I'd forgotten about that. It was going to serve as good exposure for us. There were a lot of potential clients we could collect by networking. Von had suggested as much.
I rubbed my temple. "I'll be there. With my husband," I emphasized. I turned to walk away again.
"Alice."
I closed my eyes and stopped in my steps but refused to turn around.
"I look forward to meeting him."
His words followed me like an ominous warning.