Chapter 11
I don’t think there’s ever been a point in my life where I would have guessed I’d find myself masturbating in a plane’s restroom—like some kind of sex-crazed degenerate.
But I also never anticipated that I’d ever meet someone like Andrea, who can, with the flutter of her lashes, bring me to my fucking knees and make me beg for a taste. Or someone who holds my entire heart in the palm of her hand like she does.
So, maybe it isn’t too insane that I fucked my fist to completion in that restroom, using her scent on my fingers to fuel my fantasies. I’m a man, and there’s only so much I can take before I break. That’s what I tell myself on the drive to the hotel.
Andrea fell asleep about five minutes into the ride, her temple resting on my shoulder, a light snore filtering out with her breaths. I’m sure she’d rather be looking at the passing streets of Seoul, but it’s nearing midnight in Seattle. She’ll get to see the city soon enough. I look down at her and brush her hair off her face with a delicate graze. One could never guess, seeing her sleeping so soundly, that she’s an unpredictable hurricane when awake.
I’m not sure I understand what we’re doing anymore. I don’t think she does, either. The lines are getting blurred, and I probably shouldn’t have been allowed to get her off like I did. But she wanted it, needed it, and I’m nothing if not her devoted servant. Whatever she’ll give me, however small or big, I’ll eagerly take it. I’m surrendering myself to her will entirely.
The hired car stops in front of the hotel, and the driver steps out. I cradle Andrea’s cheek in my hand, caressing the freckled apple of it with my thumb, and whisper, “We’ve arrived, Andrea.” Her eyebrow tenses a little with discontentment, but her eyes remain closed. “Come on, sleepyhead. There’s a bed waiting for you.”
“Can you carry me to it?” she mumbles, wriggling closer.
“You really want everyone in there to see you being carried like a sleepy child? Because I’ll do it.”
She groans and forces her eyes to open, ripping her temple from my shoulder. “You actually would, wouldn’t you?”
I nod, and she rolls her eyes. “You have to stop being so perfect, Alexander. It’s getting harder and harder to keep my distance.”
“Maybe I don’t want you distant,” I counter. Since she unbuckled her seatbelt, I reach for her hip and tug her closer to me. “Maybe I want you right where you are.”
I’ll forever cherish how she turns pink whenever I take her by surprise like this. She looks up with her wide eyes, and I cannot fucking wait to be allowed to kiss her again. Until then, those pouty lips will be torture I’ll gladly endure.
The driver opens the door on her side, and she swiftly slides away from me and gets out, avoiding my gaze. This Andrea isn’t the temptress she was a few hours ago, but a more reserved and careful version. Again, I’m not sure she knows how to handle all of this, so I have to adapt to her whims.
Someone from the lobby guides us to our suite while his colleagues handle our luggage. Once we’re alone, Andrea begins exploring the rooms.
“This place is insane,” she says from a bedroom.
“It’s alright.” I shrug.
The suite is spacious, clean, and well-designed, but I’m no longer impressed by such things.
“Alright?” she asks when she returns before heading to what looks like a study. “How rich are you, exactly, to be so jaded and think this is ‘alright?’”
I’m unsure if this is a genuine question or a jab, but since I’ve been opening up about myself, I answer truthfully. “As an individual, I’m comfortable enough to never worry about money for the rest of my life. Kelex’s stock keeps increasing, and my shares are worth a lot. I also have patents and old works that keep bringing money in every month.”
“So, like, a few million?” she wonders once she’s back.
“Eighteen.”
She stops her exploration at once and turns to me. “Eighteen million ?” I nod. “Lex, that’s huge.”
“My family’s wealth is more substantial, so it doesn’t feel like it. ”
“How much more substantial?”
“The combined net worth of the Coleman clan is somewhere around thirty-nine billion.”
She’s so motionless for a moment that I wonder if she’s even breathing. Then, her gaping mouth transforms into a smile, and she snorts. “Ah-ha, you’re so funny,” she says with sarcasm, resuming her walk around the suite.
“My family owns a company that extracts fossil fuel—the fifth biggest one in North America. There’s also an agribusiness branch and a retail one. And they have various assets and investments, like any big fortune.”
Her head pops from the second bedroom, and she squints her eyes at me. “Wait, you’re being serious?”
I nod again. All of her appears, and she walks up to me, clearly shocked. “Lex, what the fuck?!”
“I’m not my family, Andrea,” I point out.
“I know, but it’s a lot to take in. I think we may have found another one of my hard limits.”
“Seriously?”
“Mh-hm.”
“I’m too… rich ? That would be a good thing for most people.”
“You’re not just too rich, Lex. You’re filthy rich. Aren’t you supposed to have a bodyguard following you or something?”
The thought is so amusing that a crooked grin bends my lips. “But I do have one. You never noticed?” She tries to think about it, and I use her confusion to step closer. I bend over and say, “She’s a lethal little thing, half-Mexican, five foot two, and will jump anyone who insults Star Wars.” She chuckles and gives a slight jab to my shoulder. Still grinning, I continue with, “I’m never alone—she even comes with me on work trips.”
“You have Kevin to thank for that.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll thank him for it.”
She’s relaxing again, not as guarded as earlier, and I’m glad to see it. In case she still feels uncomfortable about my situation, I explain, “My grandfather owns most of the assets. And his four children own the rest. My aunt is in charge of the retail branch, the other one and her husband run the food industry assets, and my uncle does his best to spend the family money on his extravagant life. My father runs the fossil fuel company—the most lucrative branch. But most of the fortune isn’t directly his. I’m not a high-profile target for many reasons.”
“Which are? ”
“My sisters and I have never been the kind to brag about it, unlike my cousins—who do need security details. Plus, Coleman is a very common name, so people don’t naturally associate me with my family. Also, in case you haven’t noticed, my life isn’t exactly about traveling the world and exposing myself to dangerous situations. I’m either at work or at home, where I don’t risk much.”
“Aren’t there pictures, though?”
“I don’t go to events as a member of the Coleman empire, so there isn’t much that ties me to them. And the few pictures of me as a kid won’t help anyone connect the dots, either.”
“Why is that?”
I hesitate for a couple of seconds, aware I’m about to open the door to a whole new line of questioning. “I was chubby.”
I’m not sure why her face turns into utter delight, but she stares up at me with a huge smile and sparkles in her eyes. “You were?!”
“I was a very picky eater, so most things I would like weren’t healthy. I also struggled with recognizing when I was full, which didn’t help.”
“Okay, I’ll need to see a picture of you as a child ASAP ,” she decides.
“It was a big complex for me until Kev and I started playing one-on-one basketball at his house. And later on at Harvard, I joined the swim team.”
“Do you still swim or play basketball?”
“I still do both. Kev and I meet once or twice a week. And I swim almost every day in my building’s indoor pool, usually when I come back from work, to help me relax.”
She nods distractedly, her head tilted to the side as she looks at my shoulders. “So that’s why they’re so broad…”
“And you? How were you as a kid?” I ask, switching to a much more interesting topic.
She grimaces. “I was a twig for the longest time, so I always felt insecure and out of place. Puberty hit me later than others, and when it finally happened, everything went to my ass, and nothing went to my boobs.”
“Thank God for that,” I say appreciatively.
She frowns, skeptical. “You’re telling me you wouldn’t want any of this to migrate up?” she asks, resting her hands over her wide hips.
“I wouldn’t want to displace a single ounce of you, Andrea. You’re perfect exactly this way.”
I can tell how much she enjoys hearing that, and something tells me she’s been waiting for it since puberty worked its magic on her. But she hides it behind a frown and a contained smile. “I’m going to think you missed my ass more than you missed me.”
“I missed everything about you,” I counter. “I missed your voice, every freckle on your face, your messy hair when you wake up, and your crooked smiles when you try to stay serious—like right now. I missed your laugh and how it resonates within me. It brings me joy to know you’re happy, and when I’m responsible for it, I feel whole. I missed how you always challenge me, even for the smallest things. I hate it when others do it, but I’d debate over the stupidest topics for hours with you.”
The lightness of the moment we were sharing is gone now. She stands there, tired and disheveled, staring at me like she’s discovering me all over again.
“So, you didn’t just miss the sex?”
“I missed everything . But I also missed being close to you. Those moments when you gave yourself to me entirely felt like you were mine.”
“I was yours, Lex. All the time—not just during those moments.”
“I realized that too late.”
She looks sad now, and I scold myself for ruining the moment. Her hands come together in front of her, and she distractedly stares at them while following the lines of her palm with a nervous finger.
“Have you… Have you seen other women since…” she asks, still fidgeting.
After all this talk, she still doesn’t see the whole picture? But she has her own insecurities, after all, so I can’t blame her for doubting.
“I haven’t been with another woman since the day I met you,” I reassure her.
She clearly didn’t expect this answer since she looks up in surprise. “Why?”
“Work was intense. I hardly had time for myself, let alone time for sex.”
“Don’t you have dozens of women lining up at your door?” she skeptically wonders with a touch of jealousy.
“I do, actually. I have a ticket dispenser so they can each get a number and—”
She shoves my chest with a weak hand, disliking the teasing. “Andrea, I didn’t sleep with anyone else for the same reason you couldn’t date Oliver.”
“You were obsessed with an asshole? ”
I chuckle. Alright, joking about past sex partners puts her in a bad mood. Noted. “I was obsessed with a temperamental Latina who likes to insult me a little too much.”
That wins her back again, and her lips twist as she tries to hide how much she enjoys hearing it. “Well, the temperamental Latina is off to bed alone ,” she explains.
“We should actually stay awake. Beating jet lag is easy in this direction. We stay up until four or five in the morning for Seattle, then get a good night’s sleep, and we’re good.”
She crosses her arms and offers me a dubious pout and a quirked eyebrow. “And how do you suggest we stay awake, Alexander?”
Oh, I have ideas. I’ve been working on them for weeks . But we’re not ready for them yet. So instead, I suggest, “Let’s go out and explore Seoul.”
“ Y es, just like that!” I proudly say.
Lex makes a few attempts at pinching his chopsticks together, so focused it’s endearing. “This is very impractical,” he complains, still not sold.
“Over a billion people use chopsticks, Lex. I’m sure you can, too.”
He quirks an eyebrow at me but doesn’t say anything. I watch as he successfully grabs a tteokbokki, but before it arrives at his mouth, the chopsticks twist, and the rice cake falls on the table. Not wanting to offend him, I hold back a laugh as he picks it up in a paper towel and wraps it into it. He’s already making progress, and I don’t want to discourage him. When he struggles to take another one, I take pity and do it for him. He complies and opens his mouth for it, but I can tell he isn’t thrilled to be getting the child treatment.
“Korean food is better than I thought,” he approves with a nod.
“It’s delicious. If there was one cuisine I could learn to cook, it would be this one. It’s so flavorful and comforting and spicy… Well, it’s supposed to be spicy, at least.”
We’re in the heart of Myeong-dong after a crazy evening of shopping, followed by scavenging for food with little-to-no chili. Needless to say, it wasn’t easy. Korean people love their red pepper. But at least most of what we found came on skewers, so Lex managed well. We shared several things, and I ended up finishing a couple by myself since Lex wasn’t too fond of the textures .
Now, after over fourteen thousand steps of avid exploration, we’re seated and enjoying a much-deserved rest. Under our table are three bags filled to the brim with skin care products. Tami, Kate, and Mason all gave me a lengthy list of everything they wanted me to get for them, and being the good friend I am, I handled it on the first evening here. I also got a few things for myself, using Tami’s list since I’m not as knowledgeable as them.
I lean back into the chair and watch as Lex endeavors to eat more tteokbokki. I found a street vendor who keeps the spice level very low, but given the long breaks Lex takes between each bite, I’d venture it’s still a lot for him. God, he’s adorable for trying so hard.
When he extends the cup to me, I shake my head. “I’m completely full, but thank you.”
I genuinely cannot eat anything else. The waistband of my jeans uncomfortably digs into my bloated stomach, and I fear that one more bite will make the button pop. Actually…
“Please, don’t judge me,” I beg with a wince. Quickly, so no one else notices, I undo my jeans’ button and cover the misdeed with my woolen sweater. I shouldn’t have changed into this after my shower, but I underestimated how much I’d want to try every single dish we’d come across.
Lex chuckles at my very unladylike technique and shakes his head. “I’ve truly never met a woman like you,” he says with appreciation.
“To be perfectly honest, I’m not even a woman anymore. I’m a stomach with legs.”
He laughs again, weirdly charmed by my manners. “What’s tomorrow’s schedule?” I ask.
“We’re expected at their HQ from ten to mid-afternoon. In the evening, they’re inviting us for dinner. The day after, we’re going out of town to visit their primary facility. And then we go straight to the airport and return to Seattle.”
Right, we only have tonight to ourselves, which makes me a little sad. And as much as I’d like to keep exploring like this, I’m exhausted. Which is fair since it’s past four in the morning in Seattle. With my elbow on the table and my chin in the crook of my palm, I watch the passers-by, fighting the drowsiness that settles in with digestion. Lex must notice I’m practically falling asleep on the table because he randomly decides, “Alright, we’ve stayed up long enough. Let’s head back.”
I nod and watch as he grabs my bags and stands up. Then, he offers me his hand to help me, and I take it. When he goes to release me, though, I intertwine my fingers with his instead. The way he looks down at me in response, with so much gratitude and tenderness, makes my heart swell and ache .
I’ve never been good at holding grudges. It’s in my nature to be forgiving and see the best in people, so I’m not good at staying mad. That’s why it takes so much conscious effort not to forgive Lex for everything and throw myself at him like I crave. But I’m not going through all that heartache again, so I have to stay strong. I have to fight how much I want to kiss him right now, how much I want to ask him to take me back to the hotel and make love to me.
This will have to be enough for now. Holding hands in the middle of this bustling street, with neon signs everywhere, music, people… Remembering Lex isn’t comfortable in such settings, I turn to him again to ask, “Are you alright?”
“Yes. But I’m eager to return to some calm.”
“Yeah, me too.”
We’re making our way out of the busy epicenter of Myeong-dong when a shop catches my eye. I gasp with excitement, then remember this will have to be for another time. Curious, Lex looks at the shop, and when he sees the dozens of socks displayed in the window, he smirks. “Alright, you didn’t let me buy any of those things for you,” he says, lifting the skin care bags, “but you’ll have to let me buy you a few pairs of socks.”
“I can buy them on my own, you know.”
“We’re on a work trip, and I’m your boss, so I’ll decide,” he insists, already pressing his hand on my back to push me inside.
We spend about half an hour browsing through the hundreds of designs they have, filling the basket they gave us when we entered. We stay for longer than I thought, but I take comfort in seeing how much fun Lex is having, too. I pick a few for him, including two pairs that are Superman-themed.
By the time we’re done, we have twenty-four pairs—six for him, eighteen for me. Compulsive sock shopping is my cross to bear, but he’s paying for it this time. I’m energized and overjoyed when we step out, which Lex seems to find very amusing.
“Thank you for the socks, baby,” I enthusiastically say, giving him a tight hug. “And for an amazing night.”
He wraps his arms around me the best he can with the bags. “That’s the first time someone’s said that to me without any sex involved.”
I push myself away with a giggle. “Alright, we should return to where the cab dropped us.”
Lex takes his phone out, stares at the map for maybe five seconds, and then shoves it back into his pocket. “Let’s go.”
“Did you just memorize the route?” I ask, stunned.
“Yes.”
“God, I wish I had your brain. I’m so bad at navigation. ”
“I noticed, yes.”
I shove his side with my elbow, and before I can slither away from him and pretend to pout, he wraps an arm around me and keeps me close, enveloped by his warmth.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed, my little stomach with legs,” he teases.
Butterflies wreak havoc in my core as I slip my arm behind him. We might be thousands of miles from Seattle, but I’ve never felt more at home than right here, tucked in his embrace.
Fuck, I think I love him even more than I did before. And I’m not sure yet if it’s a good thing or not.
Hopefully, loving this man as hard as I do will be the best thing that ever happened to me. And for real, this time.