Chapter 45 Lead Me
Chapter forty-five
Lead Me
I nod, rolling my lips together and feeling my face flush from his words. I stay silent as he leaves the room, hearing the door shut with a click. Now alone, I jump in the shower and take my time scrubbing, thinking about the attraction between us.
How safe I feel around him.
Getting out of the shower I put on some makeup and carefully slide into a form-fitting strapless dress that hugs my curves and accentuates my breasts.
I pull my hair over one shoulder and apply hair oil, making the long tresses shiny.
I take a second to put my bracelets back on, seeing he'd put those by my travel bags in the bathroom, and clasp my necklace back on.
I pause for a second, feeling so bad that I'd ripped off his present.
Though I'm horrified that he saw me this way, I'm glad it was him that I had a panic attack with.
I just hate that he seems to be privy to all my worst moments, for some reason.
So, I take a little extra care with my appearance, desiring to give him something good to look at for once instead of the crazy, discombobulated person I seem to have morphed into.
Finished, I turn and eye myself in the mirror, pleased at what I see. Giving my lips a little smack, I exit the bathroom and glance around.
"Alex? Are you back?" I call out, looking at my phone as I turn the corner into the room.
Picking up my phone, I tap out a quick text to Vanessa, asking to meet up when I get back into town.
Suddenly a chill races through my body, and the hair on the back of my neck stands.
I sense his gaze on me before I see him.
My heart begins to pitter-patter, and my face warms as I look up.
Alexander is standing across the room, eyeing me with the same hungry look that he had when we woke up in bed together.
I swallow thickly when heady, red-hot desire slams into me once again.
But it's brighter this time. Deeper.
My breathing turns fast and shallow at the way his eyes drag down my body, stopping at the short hemline of my dress.
"Hm-hm. I'm right here," Alexander says softly, in the middle of switching out his watch for another one.
His eyes flick back to mine, and he gives me a sly smile.
One that lets me know he's in control despite the almost suffocating tension between us.
"That dress is... sensual." He stares for another achingly slow heartbeat before turning his attention back to his watch.
Wanting to be brave, I approach him and take his wrist into my hands.
"Let me help." My fingers snap the clasp gently before smoothing over the band of the watch.
Though he's tilted his head to try to meet my eyes, I keep my gaze averted and step away, turning back to the bedroom door.
Desperately in search of liquid courage because I think I need to tell this man how I feel.
What I want. "Hey," I say teasingly, "how bad would the tab be if we broke into the mini bar?
I think I'd like a shot before we go out. "
Alexander chuckles, causing me to grin. His face breaks out into a wide, handsome smile before winking at me. "Sweetness, you can break into whatever you want. Don't worry about it."
I giggle, clapping my hands excitedly before exiting the bedroom and going into the mini-kitchen.
I open the little refrigerator, perusing the many options.
"Aleeexaannddeerrr," I call, still bending down into the fridge, "do you want whiskey, vodka, or gin?
" I think for a second before reaching forward to grab two shots of vodka for myself.
He approaches from behind, and I stay bent over, waiting patiently. "Whiskey, please. Two as well," he answers.
"Whiskey it is!" Grabbing his drinks, I stand, awkwardly tugging on my dress. It's ridden up so high it's a wonder he didn't get a load of my panties.
Alexander leans a hip against the counter, giving me a rather sexy once over as he takes his sweet time settling in.
He grins as I toss him a shot, forcing him to catch it midair.
I twist the top off mine and walk slowly to him before setting my shots down on the counter.
Turning my back to the counter, I haul myself rather ungracefully up to sit on the marble surface, wincing when my heel bangs against the lower cabinet. So much for trying to be sexy.
I cross my legs and glance through my lashes at him.
His blue eyes are twin pools of searing intensity, burning my skin everywhere he looks.
I flush when his eyes lower even more, silently watching my breasts bounce as I wiggle around on the counter trying to adjust myself into a more comfortable position.
Thrilled with his attention, I probably exagerate my motions further in order to keep him enthralled.
My dress slips down rather dangerously low on my cleavage, but I ignore it, wanting to see his reaction.
His eyes slide slowly up to mine. He wets his lips, and I can't help but wonder what he's thinking.
I know I'm thinking about him sucking on my breasts.
He twirls the shot, looking at me rather darkly, and I feign nonchalantness, crossing my legs and making the dress ride up all the way to my hips.
My heel bangs rather hard against the cabinet, and he grins another wicked smile at me as his eyes lower to the skin of my legs.
Heat fills me as his eyes snap to meet mine.
Holding eye contact, he steps forward and reaches for my chest, grabbing the neckline.
His fingertips caress the tender skin of my breasts, causing my lips to part and a ragged breath to rush out. "Oh."
Even though he's staring at me, I keep my eyes averted as he jerks my dress up firmly over my cleavage. I laugh, feeling my breasts jiggle slightly with his efforts.
"It seems like you need a lot of help with your clothes, ma'am," he teases. Removing his hands, he untwists the lid to his shot and tosses it carelessly to the counter next to my hip.
"It's just ‘cause I'm curvy." Sticking my tongue out playfully, I snatch up my second shot and hold it out between us.
Alexander rests a hand on the countertop next to my hip and raises his shot to press against mine.
"To our exes. May they stay in their place, and may we be thankful for the harsh, yet lifelong lessons they've taught us," I say, tossing my hair to the front of my body and smoothing it down.
I go to take my shot, but his hand flies up and stops me before I can put it to my lips.
"Nu-uh. Not yet," he says, his lips tilted in a half-smile. "May we also not let the damage they've given us go into the next relationship."
At his words my heart beats rather uncomfortably, and we stare each other down for a couple of tense seconds before he lets go of my wrist when I nod my head in agreement.
My eyes are wide, and I avert them bashfully.
Intimidated by the intense, handsome blue.
We slam our shots and open the other ones, holding them up again.
I raise my brow haughtily, and give him a sly grin. "You first," I say softly, licking my lips.
Alexander tilts his head, regarding me for a moment.
"May we never let our professional rivalry get in the way of our new friendship.
" His eyes lower to my bottom lip, which is caught between my teeth.
"May you never stop challenging me and being a smartass—" He fake ducks and belts out a laugh when I gasp in offense and push his shoulder.
He inches closer, his eyes smoldering as he stares me down, his voice darkening. "I'm serious. Promise me, Sarah."
He pins me with a hard stare, placing his shot once again between us.
I tilt my head with a teasing look. "Oh, Alex… we don't even need to toast to this," I laugh huskily. He clears his throat; his gaze roaming my face quietly. "I won't ever stop challenging you. That's a threat and a promise all rolled into one, handsome." I wink at him and suck my second shot down.
He drinks his shot much more slowly as we regard each other, feeling something shift between us. Something that started during my panic attack that I don't think either one of us can explain even if we tried. I know I can't explain it.
His phone dings, signaling the driver has arrived.
"You ready to go?" Alex asks, holding his hand out to me and helping me off the counter. He throws our empty bottles away as he pulls me out the door behind him. Tingles erupt on my arm and make my pussy clench with desire when he doesn't let our grip go.
"Am I ever! I can't wait to try this Jamaican place you found for us!" I gush, squeezing his hand.
Alex pulls me in close, tucking me in under his arm and placing a kiss on the top of my head.
I stiffen with shock and keep my eyes straight ahead, too scared to look up at him.
"We're going to eat with our fingers, and it's going to be sloppy.
" He laughs, making my heart warm because this man is so much more than the icy persona he's developed over the years. So much more.
We joke and laugh the entire way to the restaurant, and I mimic my best Jamaican accent the whole ride there, making him laugh hilariously.
"Yah, man," he teases back.
I'm glad to feel comfortable enough to be free with him. Happy to see that he can be free with me as well.
We order way too much food at the restaurant and eat sitting in a booth across from each other.
Fun multi-colored neon lights, masks, and plants hang on the walls and from the ceiling, lending a fun vibe and perfect ambience.
Especially for us two professionals. Alex is looser than normal, too, eating across from me with his sleeves rolled up.
I can't stop staring at his forearms. Man, he has to know he's built like a god.
The muscles flexing keep my attention and cause me to be more careless with my eating.