Chapter 13 Choose A Dress
It was late afternoon—well past lunchtime—when the doorbell rang.
Mia had slipped into a soft, flowing dress from her cupboard.
Everything in the room looked exactly as she had left it—except for the subtle changes Alexander had made.
He’d moved more of her things into his bedroom, shifted the cupboard that held his car models to the other side, replacing it with her belongings.
The room smelled faintly of polished wood and her favorite lavender-scented candle, though it hadn’t been lit.
She tugged her hair into a ponytail, feeling the familiar tug at her scalp, and let her gaze sweep across the room. Though it hadn’t been long, it felt as though months had passed since she last stepped inside.
Then Alexander appeared.
She felt the sudden warmth of his body as his arms slid around her waist, pulling her close against his chest. Instinctively, she turned her head, glancing upward to meet his face. He lowered his head, brushing her cheek with his lips in a soft kiss.
Mia gasped, a tiny shiver running through her.
Her hand flew to her face, only for him to capture it gently in his own, fingers intertwining.
He tugged her lightly, guiding her out of the room and down the stairs.
She felt the warmth of his hand, the subtle pressure of his thumb brushing hers as they moved together.
At the doorway, he paused briefly, pressing her hand against his chest, just for a moment. Then he opened the door.
Allen stood there, effortlessly balancing several shopping bags.
“Mr. Graves,” Allen said professionally, handing over the bags. His gaze shifted to Mia, and he quickly gave her a polite smile. “Good to see you back, Mrs. Graves.”
“I’m not back,” Mia clipped at once.
Alexander simply smiled and closed the door again. He leaned slightly toward her, eyes meeting hers as he held out the bags.
“These are for you,” he said gently. “Wear them. Then we will go out.”
Mia peeked inside, catching the glint of jewelry boxes. Her eyes widened, a flutter of surprise warming her chest.
She lifted a delicate diamond bracelet and slid it around her wrist, adding a few rings to her fingers. The cool metal pressed lightly against her skin, each piece sparkling as it caught the sunlight. She handed the rest back, and Alexander set the bag on the table.
Then, his hands found hers again. He turned her fingers over in his, brushing his thumbs along her knuckles before lowering his head to press a soft, lingering kiss to the back of her hand.
“My wife has the most beautiful hands in the world,” he murmured, lifting his gaze to hers with a faint, almost smug smile.
Mia’s cheeks warmed, and she instinctively twisted her fingers in his.
He tugged her toward the door. “Come with me.”
Her hand never left his as they stepped outside, the cool air brushing against her skin. He guided her across the driveway, as if he were quietly steering her where he wanted her to be. When they reached the car, Alexander moved ahead of her, opening the door before she could even slow her steps.
He held it open, one hand still gripping hers, the other braced against the door frame. Only after she stepped inside did he follow, settling in beside her so close his knee brushed against hers.
Allen slid into the driver’s seat, and with a soft click, the partition rose, sealing them off from the front and leaving them alone in the quiet, enclosed space.
The moment the car pulled away, Alexander’s arm slid around her waist, drawing her closer. Before Mia could even register what he was doing, he lifted her with practiced ease and settled her onto his lap.
“Ahh…” Mia gasped. Her body went rigid for a brief second, but then his face dipped to her neck, his tongue tracing slowly over her skin before his lips followed, leaving hungry, lingering kisses in its wake.
“Hahh…” The warmth and wetness of his mouth moved over her soft skin, his lips pressing, dragging, then parting as his tongue swept again.
He was burning, his hunger increasing as the faint redness from his kisses bloomed across her skin, clearly pleasing him.
He grew more shameless, licking and kissing more hungrily, his mouth lingering longer each time.
“Mmhmmm…” Pleasure burned through her, her legs trembling as heat pooled low in her body. Mia shifted instinctively. “Alexander… stop.”
“If you don’t stay still,” he murmured, breath warm against her throat as his lips skimmed her pulse, “I’ll lose control—and your neck won’t be the only thing I lick.”
She stilled at once and frowned.
Alexander licked a slow path from her collarbone to behind her ear, his mouth closing briefly there before trailing back down again.
Mia remained in his lap, her gaze drifting to the window as the city blurred past. Behind her calm exterior, his lips continued their quiet torment—tracing her neck, lingering, pressing soft, possessive kisses along her skin as though he couldn’t stop himself.
The past few days had been torture for him, worse than any sleepless night, and it showed in the way he held her, arms locked around her as if loosening his grip even slightly might make her vanish.
After a while, Mia shifted again, tired of sitting upright. She slowly eased back against his shoulder, her body relaxing for the first time in weeks. His arm adjusted around her instinctively, pulling her closer as her eyes slid shut.
His lips never stopped. They continued moving over her neck and throat, his mouth pressing, releasing, then returning again as his tongue traced wet paths along her skin. Each kiss followed the last, unhurried but hungry.
His hands slid along her waist, thumbs pressing lightly before his palms moved higher, enclosing her mounds, squeezing and releasing again and again.
When the car finally came to a stop half an hour later, Alexander still couldn’t bring himself to let her go.
“Mr. Graves, we should get out,” Mia said after several minutes passed, his arms still locked around her.
“Wait,” he replied quietly, tightening his hold instead.
His lips roamed her neck more insistently now. His mouth lingered longer, his tongue sweeping over sensitive skin before his lips followed, sealing each kiss with quiet urgency. His breath grew uneven, warm against her throat, and each kiss pulled a shaky breath from her in return.
Just when she felt like she might break, he finally pulled away.
His gaze lingered on her neck, dark and heated.
“We’ll continue later,” he said hoarsely. “Let’s make this quick.”
She frowned at him, but he ignored it, smiling faintly instead. He leaned down, brushed a brief kiss over her lips, then pulled back. A moment later, he opened the car door and stepped out, turning to extend his hand toward her.
Mia hesitated for a brief second before placing her hand in his. His fingers closed around hers immediately as he helped her step out of the car. The moment her feet touched the ground, his hand shifted to her lower back, guiding her forward. Together, they walked toward the store in front of them.
Mia’s steps slowed as she looked up, surprise flickering across her face. The storefront was dressed in soft pastel walls, adorned with delicate flowers and lace decorations. It looked almost dreamy. Above the glass entrance, an elegant board read Adore.
She glanced through the glass, her brows knitting slightly. Inside were plush couches and a glittering chandelier, but nothing that clearly revealed what kind of shop it was. The place felt more like a refined lounge than a store.
Before she could ask, Alexander didn’t stop at the seating area, nor did he slow his stride. His grip on her hand remained firm as he led her straight past the couches.
An assistant approached them immediately, bowing slightly. “Mr. Graves,” she greeted with a polite smile. She was blonde and pretty, her expression warm yet professional.
Without pause, she led them down a short corridor and into a private room.
The moment Mia stepped inside, her pace faltered. Her fingers tightened reflexively at her side as her eyes widened.
The room was luxurious yet intimate—chairs and a table arranged neatly in the center, racks of dresses lining the walls. Mannequins stood nearby, each displaying an elegant white gown that looked too beautiful to touch.
Alexander turned toward the assistant and lifted a hand in a silent, dismissive gesture. She immediately understood. Without a word, she bowed again and slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
The quiet that followed felt heavy.
Mia turned to him sharply, confusion tightening her features. Her brows drew together, and her fingers curled unconsciously at her sides. “Mr. Graves… where are we?”
Alexander met her gaze without hesitation. “Didn’t you keep saying we don’t have a proper marriage?” he said calmly. “So we’re going to have one now.”
Her breath caught mid-inhale, sharp and involuntary. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
“Choose a dress,” he continued, his tone even, almost businesslike. “We’ll be getting married soon.”
Panic flashed across her face. She yanked her hand free and took a step back, her head shaking. “What—no—”
Alexander moved immediately. In two strides, he closed the distance between them, his hands settling firmly on her shoulders, stopping her retreat. One hand slid up, his fingers lifting her chin, forcing her trembling gaze back to his.
“Mia,” he said softly, his thumb brushing beneath her jaw. “Don’t refuse.”
His voice wavered—just enough for her to feel it—and that slight crack made her chest tighten.
“The only thing I ever wanted was you,” he continued, his eyes locked onto hers. “I’ve never wanted anything as much as I wanted you.” His grip tightened slightly. “I did everything I could to keep you… because I couldn’t bear to lose you again.”
Her chest tightened, breath shallow.