4. Alec
Chapter four
Alec
My mood lifts when a black car stops a few feet away. There’s no one else here, so it must be Jasmine’s Uber.
“She’s here.” I unhook the seat belt and glance at Damien. “I told you not to come with me; you’ll have to stay in the car while we go to the lake.”
His expression is disapproving and has been this way since he heard about my date with Jasmine. I do not answer to him, but I understand his reservations. Yet, I cannot stay away from Jasmine. It feels like there’s a magnetic pull tugging me towards her, and I’m powerless to stop it.
Jasmine steps out from the black vehicle, and I whistle. She’s wearing a jacket over a body-tight dress that displays her figure. I immediately take my mind off her body before it gives me an erection. That will be hard to hide since I’m wearing fitted pants .
I descend from my car and walk towards Jasmine. When she sees me coming, a beautiful smile lights up her face, and I almost fall to her feet. “Alec, hello.” She hugs me briefly before pulling away and sliding a glance towards the busy path beside us. I lead her towards it.
“Where is this place, Alec?” She has. “It looks deserted.”
“Are you afraid?” I tease, parting the shrubs with my body so she can walk through.
“No,” she says quickly. “But I’m very curious. I’ve never been on a date like this.”
My mood dips, and I grunt, thinking of all the other dates she’s been with random men, and my blood boils. Thinking about Jasmine in another man’s arms doesn’t sit right with me, and I force myself to concentrate on her voice behind me. I’m taking her to Azure Oasis, one of my most spontaneous and remarkable purchases.
I was in college when it happened. I’d just had one of the numerous arguments with my mother and was a little tipsy after drinking when I went online and saw a private lake being advertised. It was located in the heart of SoHo, surrounded by a beautiful garden and a unique view of a mountain. I immediately bought it without confirming whether it was real or a fake ad. To my shock, however, I went there the next day, and it was a real lake. Pretty as a picture. I always come here whenever I need a break from reality.
“Hold on,” Jasmine says behind me. “I can hear the rippling of water. Is there a beach around here?”
Laughing, I pull back the last section of shrubs and step onto the sand. “Even better. Can I hold your hands? ”
“Sure.” She stands beside me, a pink blush on her cheeks. She’s so angelic; I won’t be surprised if she sprouts wings all of a sudden.
“Come on. I want to show you something.” I twine our fingers gently and lead her through the sand towards the back, where the lake is located with the colorful garden beside it. On seeing it, Jasmine stops in her tracks. “What?” She sucks in a breath. “Alec!”
The look on Jasmine’s face makes me appreciate the fact that I have never brought another woman here. The sight of her, superimposed with the lake and the garden, is breathtaking. I bring out my phone and take a picture.
“Ugh,” Jasmine groans. “Alec, delete that.”
“Nah.” I stare at the shot. “It’s beautiful.”
She walks towards the lake, and when she’s close enough, she notices the picnic carpet I’d set up hours ago. On it were different assortments of fruits, snacks, and wine bottles. She freezes momentarily and then glances at me with a giggle.
“You’re so full of surprises,” she says, and it’s one of the best compliments I’ve ever heard. I lead her towards the mat, and we sit together.
“This is so beautiful,” she says. “It’s like a slice of heaven.”
“Yeah. I always come here to clear my head, and it works.” I pluck a grape and hold it to her mouth. She sucks it in with a smile.
“How did you find this place?”
Funny story,” I chuckle. “I saw it being advertised online and bought it.”
Her brows dip in a frown. “What do you mean? You bought what? A lake?”
“Yes.”
Jasmine sucks in a breath and reaches for a banana. I watch, transfixed, as she peels the skin and takes a bite. “That’s a lot of money, Alec.”
Sometimes, I forget that I’m a billionaire, and my actions may shock people. Our definitions for “a lot of money” differ. I’m unsure how much Jasmine knows about me, but it can’t be more than what Riley knows. I don’t feature in the mainstream news in the US, so it’s impossible that they ever find out who I am until I tell them. I’m not quite ready to tell them yet.
Since Riley and I are pretty close, he knows I’m a billionaire. I led him to believe my grandparents left me all that wealth, and since he was never interested in my money, Riley never probed.
“But it’s beautiful, isn’t it? It’s called Azure Oasis.”
She glances toward the lake again. “That’s a beautiful name. Did you coin it yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Brilliant.” She nods, taking another bite of the banana. “Alec, what do you do?”
“I’m a businessman.”
She narrows her eyes, and I almost laugh at the worry in them. Money has never been an issue for me, but I’ve got to remember that neither Riley nor Jasmine know exactly who I am. “I know you do business,” she says. “But what kind of business?”
“You know I do business,” I tease, also leaning forward so we’re only inches apart. “What else do you know about me?”
I expect Jasmine to draw back. Instead, her gaze drops to my lips in a seductive move that causes blood to pool into my shaft. Thankfully, there’s a fruit basket between us, so she can’t see the effect she has on me.
“Riley and I don’t talk about you a lot,” she says. “I know you’re a millionaire and can afford to buy an entire lake—”
“Billionaire.”
Jasmine pauses: her eyes are as wide as saucers. “What?”
“I’m a billionaire.”
She bursts into laughter, which makes me laugh, too. Everything she does is a novelty, and I’m aware that the lines are blurring for me, and I’m slipping.
“So, Alec,” Jasmine eats the rest of the banana. “How many women have you brought here?”
I open the cooler and take out the wine. “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”
“I will.” She shrugs.
“You’re the only woman I’ve ever brought here.” I pour her a drink and hand her the glass. Our gazes meet, and I see contemplation in hers before she nods. “That’s wonderful.”
“Shall we eat?”
“Yes. I’m famished.”
There’s a lot of food, and Jasmine plates deviled eggs, pasta salad, fried chicken, and sausage rolls. “I want to have a little bit of everything,” she says.
I’m thankful that she doesn’t press further on my finances because it’ll lead down a rabbit hole of lies and deceit. We eat silently, and I wonder what she thinks of me. I’ve never had to impress a woman, so this beats me. When I can’t take the suspense anymore, I ask, “Jasmine…what do you think of me?”
She pauses with food midway to her mouth, her gaze roaming my face silently. I almost wither beneath her stare. I like Jasmine a lot; that much is obvious. I realize I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. My feelings for Jasmine are a lot deeper than I thought.
She licks her lips. “You know we hardly speak to each other,” she says. “Until two days ago, I don’t think we’ve had a full-fledged conversation.”
“I’ve always wanted more from you.” The confession is out before I can stop it. Jasmine looks shocked.
“Really? ”
“Yes.” I want to stop talking, but I can’t. I wish Damien were here to clip my mouth shut. “But I had to pretend like you’re my little sister.”
Jasmine giggles. “After what happened, I guess that’s out the window.”
“Don’t remind me of what happened.” I grab another bottle of wine and uncork it, desperate for something stronger. What is it about Jasmine that messes up my system?
“Why?”
“Because I already have an erection just thinking about it.” I pour myself a glass. “You want some?”
“No.”
“Okay.” I gulp down mine and pour myself another glass.
“What do you want from me, Alec?”
Her question hits me straight in the gut, and I laugh darkly. “Everything.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“You should take that,” I tell her. “Because the truth may be tougher than you can handle.”
“Try me.”
“Jasmine…”
“I want to know,” she insists.
I move the basket aside and shift toward her, staring into her face. She has light freckles on the bridge of her nose, but you wouldn’t see them unless you’re close.
“I feel terrible for this because you’re Riley’s little sister, but I want you.”
Her mouth slightly falls open, and I touch her bottom lip gently before running a light finger down the side of her face. “I’ve wanted you since the first day I saw you.”
“I didn’t know that…”
“Of course. I made sure you didn’t.”
“So why now?” She asks. “Why are you telling me now?”
“Because I’ve tasted you.” I kneel before her. “And I cannot fucking stop.”
I push her dress up her legs, and her breaths grow heavy. “Alec, what are you doing?”
“Stay quiet.”
“Someone may see us.” She parts her legs, and my fingers crawl up to touch her through her panties. She gasps.
“Do you want me to stop?” I move the crotch to the side and lightly tease her. “Hmm?”
“No. ”
“You don’t care if someone sees us like this?” I flick my finger over her hardened bud again, and she fists the mat so tight her knuckles turn white.
“No.”
“Good girl,” I chuckle. “But I’ll be damned if I let anyone see you like this. No one will come. This is a private spot.” I push her legs further apart, baring her open. “I want to taste you.”
“Okay.”
I touch my tongue to her pleasure center, and she moans, delving her fingers into my hair. I have half a mind to take her right here, but I want to take things slow, giving her time to open up slowly to me.
Moments later, Jasmine cums all over my tongue, and I lick every drop before rising to my feet. I adjust her dress and kiss her forehead before returning to my spot. “More wine?”
This time, she nods, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “Yes.”
It was ten p.m. before I let Jasmine go. We talked about anything and everything until I’m sure she knew me better than Riley. She asked many questions, and I answered each as honestly as possible without giving too much away. She won’t let me take her home because of Riley, so I put her in an Uber and drive behind her to ensure she gets home safely.
“This is weird,” Damien says as we follow Jasmine’s vehicle into her street. “Does she know you’re doing this?”
“No. ”
The Uber stops in front of her house, and I watch Jasmine get out of the car and walk into the house. When she’s inside safely, I nod at Damien. “Let’s go.”
He turns the car around, driving silently for a while before clearing his throat. “Master Alec…” he sighs. “I think you should be careful with Jasmine. I’ve never seen you like this with a woman before. I don’t want you to get into another problem with your mother, especially where Eve is concerned.”
Anger flares at the mention of Eve, and I glare at Damien, who instantly cowers. “You’re crossing the line, Damien,” I tell him. “Stay in your place.”
“Yes, sir.” He nods and concentrates on driving.
Damien may be a little overzealous, but he’s right about one thing. I’ve never been this way with another woman. Jasmine has started something in me that is becoming impossible to control.