Chapter 7 Hide #2
Mia sucked in a shaky breath, humiliation burning through her panic. “Please… do something,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “How can you stand the thought of getting caught? It’s embarrassing…”
Her words fractured as her breathing refused to steady.
Alexander paused.
Then he leaned in, his lips brushing her skin once more before he whispered, “Call me Alexander.”
She froze.
Her breath stuttered as she blinked up at him. “W-what?”
“Call me Alexander.” He lifted his face fully now, locking eyes with her. His gaze was dark, intent, burning. His fingers tightened briefly at her waist, making her shiver.
“What is wrong with you?” she snapped weakly, frowning even as her body trembled. “Why are you so obsessed with me calling your name?”
“Say it,” Alexander commanded calmly.
Then his eyes flicked past her, toward the window behind her shoulder. “You don’t have much time.”
Confused, Mia turned her head to look—
—and her eyes widened in alarm.
Outside, Gavin was now speaking urgently to a security guard, pointing straight at the SUV.
“I think someone’s locked inside,” Gavin said urgently. “Can we get someone to unlock it or find the owner? If not… maybe we should break the window. No one’s answering!”
The security guard nodded, and the two of them began struggling with the doors, trying to peer inside.
Alexander, utterly unbothered, was already back at Mia’s neck, kissing and sucking at her skin as if the outside world didn’t exist. Then he slid lower.
With one hand, he pushed her dress down, exposing her chest, lifting the soft weight in his palm before lowering his mouth to her sensitive tip, sucking hard.
“Mr. Graves!” Mia’s voice broke into a choked gasp, panic and pleasure tangling until her whole body trembled. “Are you insane? Stop, I’m serious! They’re going to break the window!”
Alexander ignored her completely, only pushing down the other side of her dress and lifting her softness again, taking it into his mouth as his tongue circled her sensitive bud hungrily.
Mia’s breath caught sharply, a soft, broken sound slipping past her lips before she could stop it.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders, torn between shoving him away and clinging to him, her thoughts spiraling as her body betrayed her.
Heat rushed through her, panic and sensation colliding.
Her head tipped back as she struggled to stay quiet, painfully aware of where they were and how little control she had left.
Then she heard the security guard outside. “I think I may be able to arrange the keys. Let me see—”
Panic slammed into her.
With a desperate twist, Mia finally wrenched her wrists free. She shoved Alexander hard with both hands. He fell back against the seat with a low grunt.
Before he could move again, she climbed onto him, knees braced on either side of his thighs. Her hands clutched his shoulders as she glared down at him, chest heaving.
“Alexander, stop it!”
His eyes locked onto hers—dark, sharp, dangerously amused. A slow smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as his gaze dragged over her face, lingering far too long, as if memorizing every flushed inch of her.
Outside, a voice suddenly called out.
“Hi, are you looking for Miss Mia?”
Allen stepped up to Gavin. “She told me to tell you she’s already gone home. You should go back too.”
Gavin froze. “Is that so?” he asked quietly, disappointment heavy in his voice.
After a moment, he finally stepped away from the car. His shoulders slumped as he walked off, disappearing into the parking lot until the night swallowed him whole.
Inside the SUV, silence settled.
Mia turned sharply back to Alexander. “You fooled me?!”
Alexander lifted his hand and cupped her face, his palm warm as his thumb brushed her cheek. He tilted her head up, forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes flicked briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.
“I really did want to show him,” he murmured, his voice low, rough with something dark and territorial. His fingers slid slowly along her jaw, thumb pressing beneath her chin as if forcing her to stay still. “But this face…” His touch lingered, possessive, claiming. “Only I get to see it.”
His gaze lifted to hers, eyes darkening, hardening with certainty. “You’re never meeting that man again.”
Mia’s brows knitted together, anger flashing through her tired eyes. “Mr. Graves, you don’t have the right to decide that,” she snapped. “We’re not together anymore. You don’t get to control who I see.”
The air between them shifted instantly.
Alexander’s grip tightened, fingers digging into her jaw as he yanked her closer until their breaths tangled, his presence overwhelming. His other hand slid from her waist upward, pinching her bud in clear punishment and drawing a sharp wince from her.
A sharp jolt of sensation tore through her, and she sucked in a breath, her fingers curling against the seat as heat flooded her body.
“You want to be punished again?” he growled, the words vibrating against her lips.
Mia scowled and twisted her face out of his grip, her pulse racing.
He didn’t give her even a second.
Alexander grabbed the back of her head and crushed his mouth to hers, as if pouring every restrained emotion into the kiss.
Then—suddenly—he pulled away.
The abrupt absence left her dizzy.
The abrupt absence left her dizzy. His hands closed around her firmly, one gripping her arm while the other slid to her side, lifting and guiding her off his lap with restrained force before setting her back into her seat. The motion was brisk—like he was forcing himself to stop.
Without looking at her, Alexander turned forward and started the car, his jaw clenched tight. The engine hummed to life, filling the thick, suffocating silence between them.
At first, Mia barely registered the movement of the car. Her chest rose and fell unevenly as she stared ahead, the city lights sliding past the window in a blur. Gradually, the tension drained from her limbs, exhaustion settling in as the steady rhythm of the drive lulled her senses.
Her breaths slowly evened out. Her eyelids fluttered, fighting it for a while before finally giving in. By the time the car had gone a few blocks, her body had gone slack against the seat, sleep quietly claiming her as Alexander drove on in silence.
By the time the car stopped, she was sound asleep.
Alexander moved quietly. He opened her door and paused, looking down at her softened features. Carefully, he slid one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back, lifting her into his arms. She stirred faintly, her head falling against his chest, fingers curling weakly into his shirt.
He carried her upstairs with slow, measured steps, holding her close. When he reached the bedroom, he lowered her onto the bed with care, easing her down and pulling the covers over her.
Moments later, he disappeared into the bathroom.
When he returned, his hair still wet from the shower and a pair of trousers hanging low on his hips, Mia was still asleep.
He climbed onto the mattress and leaned over her, his movements careful. He lowered his head and brushed his lips along her neck, feather-light at first. His mouth lingered, then moved again, tracing the warmth of her skin.
The sight of his marks—dark, red, scattered across her skin—made a satisfied shiver run through him.
He pressed his lips to one mark.
Then another.
As he lifted his head, Mia shifted softly in her sleep. Her brows drew together for a fleeting second before her face turned toward him. Without waking, her lips brushed against his neck—an absentminded, lingering touch—before pressing there again in a faint, unconscious kiss.
Then her hand moved, sliding upward as if searching for something familiar. Her fingers curled around the back of his neck, tugging him closer with careless trust.
Alexander froze.
His breath caught sharply in his chest. His hands tightened in the sheets, knuckles whitening as control splintered.
Slowly—carefully, as if afraid even a breath might wake her—he lifted one hand and cupped her face.
His thumb traced the curve of her cheek, feather-light, memorizing the warmth of her skin.
Gently, he guided her lips upward and pressed a restrained kiss to her mouth, soft enough to be nothing more than a whisper.
Still asleep, her lips moved against his. A faint sound slipped from her throat, and her grip tightened, anchoring him there.
He gathered her closer, arms tightening around her as the last of his restraint gave way.
His kiss deepened, no longer cautious, driven by a longing he had buried too long.
He let his mouth trail down to her throat, lingering there, every movement heavy with possession, desperation, and an ache he couldn’t bury anymore.
In her sleep, Mia’s lips trailed up to Alexander’s neck, planting soft, wandering kisses along his collarbone and jawline.
Alexander was already struggling to control himself, his hands gripping her waist to hold her down.
But when she moved like this, touching him, kissing him so freely, his restraint shattered.
The desire for her burned too hot, too fierce, and it became impossible to breathe.
His teeth grazed over her neck and collarbone as his hands slid lower, tracing her waist. He lifted her dress carefully, pulling it over her head and tossing it aside. She lay beneath him, clad only in her underwear, her naked body thrilling his eyes.
Each attempt at controlled breathing only made his hunger grow. He lowered his mouth to her neck, biting and licking her skin over and over.
“Mmmhmm…” Mia stirred in her sleep, her hands reaching up to tug him closer.
He slowed, pressing kisses across her chest, grazing her peaks before she turned slightly in her sleep, presenting herself fully to him. He took one mound in his hand, his lips wrapping around the tip, his tongue flicking over it relentlessly.
“Ah…” Her fingers tangled in his hair, moaning quietly, holding him close.