Chapter 41
The whispers start up again and that makes me want to further hide.
I don’t know why Alaric chose for me to be in a cubicle with other people who watch me like a hawk but there’s nothing that can be done.
I’m not going to complain to him before he turns around and forces me to work right next to him.
While the idea of being an executive assistant isn’t the worst idea, I don’t want people to stare at me some more and come up with some other bullshit to fit the rumor mill that is churning ever since I stepped foot on this hotel’s executive floor.
“Juliana, come with me.”
There’s no mistaking his voice but I do my best to pretend to be so deep in the report reading that I don’t hear him.
Alaric clears his throat and I see him from my peripheral as he lowers himself down some more and leans in a bit closer to my body.
I take a sharp breath in as his lean, long fingers trail their way up from my knee to the middle of my thigh.
Alaric has never been this touchy and I suspect that he’s doing it because people need to think we’re a united front, kind of like at the gala.
“Baby, it’s lunch. You don’t want to come have lunch with your darling husband who missed you this morning?”
Alaric is laying it on thick and he earns a quick sideways glance before I fix my face.
“I didn’t realize it was that late in the day. Sure, anything for you, Ricky.”
I call him what Mia called him to get on his nerves but when I look into his eyes, desire flares from his irises then just as fast, it dissipates.
Alaric smirks and it isn’t as deadly as before but it doesn’t mean it’s all play. His eyes quickly lower to my lips then back up to my face.
Is he trying to kiss me again?
Alaric arches a brow as if reading my thoughts.
He shakes his head but I see amusement in his eyes as if he’s making fun of me for something I didn’t even actually do.
Instead of giving him another reason to annoy me today, I stand but in doing so, I leave Alaric still crouching.
My eyes venture to his and he looks up at me like a dangerous beast ready to devour its prey and leave nothing behind. Not even the bones to be identified by.
His hand slips into mine causing a surge of energy to travel through my entire body and it makes me realize this is the first time we’ve held hands after he kissed me twice.
“You like being up there and me down here?” He asks. I’m not sure if he’s taunting me or just asking me.
Words die on my lips as he unfolds himself coming up slowly until he’s towering over me again.
“What’s wrong, baby?” He coos. “Ricky got your tongue?” He says it in such a seductive way, I blink multiple times because there’s a foreign feeling that creeps up, I turn away from those devilish hazel eyes to force it back down. A feeling I haven’t felt in a long time, a really long time.
Without another word, I begin walking taking Alaric along with me or rather him allowing me to go with him. When we reach the elevator, there’s nothing passing by between us, no air, no space, and definitely no words. I’m not even sure if I’m breathing.
The elevator dings and we step on but before the doors can close, Alaric spins me pining one arm behind my back while he covers his body on mine. He’s so damn close, my breath hitches. Rising up and down, my breath quickens.
“Gotta make sure they know and see that you’re my wife. Especially your cubicle neighbor.”
“Who? Bra—.”
My words are cut off as Alaric slides me up the elevator wall and kisses me.
The kiss is tender, the opposite of what he is and his lips, tongue, coax me…
practically beg me to kiss him back the same.
I let out a whimper because it’s too much, I can’t concentrate like this but Alaric doesn’t back down as he continues.
My heart beats in my ears as I wrap my free arm around his neck, slipping my fingers through his hair that he hasn’t cut again at the nape of his neck. He groans as the tender kiss is gone and in comes the whirlwind kiss he planted on me at the gala.
I can’t take it anymore, it’s too much and it makes me feel something, which could be anything when it comes to me. I rip my lips away from him and Alaric kisses down my jaw and neck. He sucks on my neck pulling a surprising moan out of me.
“Alaric…” I’m calling his name so he can realize the elevator door has shut. “We’re good. They’re not looking.”
I feel Alaric’s teeth as he bites on my neck causing me to yelp then he soothes it by sucking on it again. I feel his tongue as it imprints deep into my memory and then he pulls away.
“What?” He asks, disoriented.
“The elevator door is shut, Ricky.”
Alaric chuckles. Shocking the hell out of me because there’s nothing mean he’s said before the chuckle.
“Are you trying to play with fire, baby?” His hand comes around my neck but he doesn’t squeeze, it’s just there. “I should make you walk around with an imprint of my hand as a fucking necklace so people can know who owns you.”
The words he's said before. He’s told me that he owns me and that’s all there was to it; anger. But this, the way he says it runs a shiver up and down my body.
“They already know, it’s your company.” I say trying to move away from this. “We can stop pretending, no one is watching us, baby.” I threw the term back at him.
Today, there must be something in the water. Alaric leans in again and lifts my chin with his thumb. He caresses my neck in an up and down motion.
“Keep playing, Juliana. You’ve got a death wish, anyway.
” He smiles as he stares at me before pulling away.
He presses the main floor and once the elevator goes again, he turns back and grabs the nape of my neck.
Pulling me flush to him again. “Everywhere you go, there seems to be a man ready to challenge the fuck out of me about you, baby. What is it about you that makes men stare and why do they feel the need to do it when I’m around, huh, baby? ”
Alaric asks me a question that doesn’t even make sense. He doesn’t give me another chance as he kisses me again. My fingers dig into his biceps because there’s something potent in his kisses. There’s danger in them and I fear I’m being stupid by going along with it.
No one is even watching us…