Chapter 34 #3
She shook her head, her voice dropping into a small, humiliated whisper. "No, Carrie... it’s too much. Please."
"Don't be tedious, Alex. It's a tool for your studies. If you're going to be difficult about the device, I'll at least let you choose the aesthetics." I held the phone back out, displaying the various leather cover options.
Before Alex could take it, Mia’s hand darted across the table, snatching my phone right out of the air.
"Oh, let me look! If Dr. Carter is buying, Lex, you are legally required to get the sleek cognac leather. Look at it, it’s ridiculously fancy—it practically screams that you live in a mansion now. "
"Mia, stop! Hand it back!" Alex groaned, making a desperate swipe, but Mia dodged her with effortless, wine-fuelled agility.
Alex shot me a panicked glance, clearly waiting for me to vaporise her friend for touching my personal belongings. Instead, I sank deeper into the sofa cushion, highly entertained by the spectacle. "Feel free to pick one out for yourself as well, Mia," I offered smoothly. "Consider it a gift."
Mia’s eyes went wide. "Shut up! For real? Adrian, look! Dr. Vixen is officially my favourite person in the world. I'm taking the metallic jade."
"Mia, you don't even read!" Alex hissed, burying her face in her hands.
"I'll start!" she shot back, winking at me. "For a hundred quid, I'll learn to read Latin if I have to."
I let out a low, rich laugh that vibrated against Alex's side, pulling her closer by the waist. "See, Alex? Your friend understands the value of a gift. Perhaps you should take notes."
Mia added the matching rose gold cover and handed the phone back. I didn't even look at the total; I tapped the screen once, the confirmation chime echoing through the quiet lounge.
"I am going to kill you, Mia. Slowly. In your sleep," Alex muttered, rubbing her temples.
Adrian chuckled, pulling Mia back into his side. "She’s a menace. But she’s your menace, Lex."
I tangled my fingers back into the hair at the nape of Alex's neck, tilting her face up toward mine.
"Don't be so grumpy, darling. It’s becoming a bit tedious.
" I looked over at Mia with a sharp, knowing glint.
"In fact, I might just hand Mia my credit card next.
She seems to be the only one in this room who truly appreciates how much I want to spoil you. "
Mia raised her glass in triumph. "See? Dr. Carter knows what’s up."
"I'm not stubborn," Alex muttered, though the fight had completely left her. "I just... I'm not used to this."
"I know," I whispered, my lips ghosting over the shell of her ear so only she could hear. "But you’ll learn. By the time I’m done with you, you won't remember how to want for anything else."
When the night finally drew to a close, I refused to let Adrian call a taxi. After a brief, quiet phone call to my usual private taxi, I simply announced that my personal driver was waiting on the driveway.
Mia looked as though she was physically straining to hold back a comment on the sheer absurdity of my lifestyle. She lunged in for one of her trademark, suffocating hugs, practically burying Alex before pulling back to plant a loud, wine-flavoured kiss right on my girl's lips.
Alex shoved her away, laughing while simultaneously panicking about my reaction. "Mia! You just spent all night convinced Carrie is in the mafia, and now you’re kissing me? Are you actually trying to die?"
I stepped directly into Alex's space, wrapping my hands around her waist from behind and pulling her spine flush against my front. "Don’t blame Mia, princess," I smirked, my eyes dark with absolute certainty. "Not when you look like this. I can hardly blame her for wanting a taste."
I was entirely secure in my ownership; Mia’s antics were nothing more than a harmless, entertaining distraction. I exchanged a polite, brief hug with Adrian, approving of his steady nature, before Mia threw herself entirely at me, completely disregarding professional boundaries.
"Oof," I exhaled as her full weight hit my chest.
"Dr. Vixen!" Mia chirped into my shoulder. "Call me if Alex ever wimps out! I’m a much better sub, I promise!"
Alex looked as though she wanted the earth to swallow her whole. I caught Mia by the arms to steady her, a low, melodic chuckle escaping my throat as I looked past her straight at my wide-eyed fiancée.
"I’ll keep that in mind, Mia," I said, my eyes flashing with a wicked, meaningful promise. "But I think Alex is finally starting to realise that 'wimping out' isn't an option in this house."
The front door finally clicked shut, the hum of the sedan fading into the midnight silence.
The house was suddenly heavy, thick with anticipation.
I didn't move my hands from Alex's waist. I simply spun her around, driving her backward until she was pinned entirely between the solid wood of the door and the heat of my body.
I leaned down, my voice stripping away every ounce of the hostess warmth, replaced by something sharp, demanding, and utterly dominant.
"Now," I whispered, my eyes locking onto her frantic gaze. "About your language tonight..."