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ALEXANDER. "Oh, you look handsome." I remove my hand from the collar of my shirt, my eyes sliding across the room to the doorway, and Kaleb is perched against it with his arms crossed over his chest and a small smile masking his lips. "I’m not dressing to look good." I tear my eyes away from him to grab the dark blue suit jacket that sits on my bed, and I hear him chuckle as I throw the jacket over my shoulder. "So, when are you getting back tonight?" He asks as I fix the two buttons, and I let out an exasperated sigh. "I don’t know. And I’d rather prefer not to leave at all." "It’s not a good business deal?" He queries from his side, and I don’t respond as I pull out the bedside drawer and grab my phone. Another one of her pictures sits on it; she isn’t smiling in this one, which is perfect for the situation I’ve gotten myself into. I reluctantly close the drawer and throw my phone into my front pocket before I head toward the door. "You might want to lose a few steams if it’s an
ARABELLA. My heart pounds in my chest, and my hands won’t stop shaking, tears filling the corners of my eyes as I continue to gape at the name across my screen. "Stop," I whisper to Dex before he drives out of his place without removing my eyes from the phone. "Did you say something?" I hear him mutter beside me, and I give a small bob of my head, a tear dropping to my screen and rolling across the first two letters of his name. He’s calling me. He’s actually reaching out after weeks of no contact from him, and why am I just glaring at my phone, watching it buzz without hurriedly picking up the way I’ve always practiced? "Arabella?" Dex calls at the same time the ringing ends, and I let out a shaky breath, swiping my hand across my cheek before I drop my phone in my hand and turn my head sideways to him. "I can’t leave with you," I state simply, my heart still racing so fast even after the call ended, and Dex raises his brow. "I thought we—" I push my phone in his face without let
ALEXANDER. "So, how was the date?" Arabella asks as I shift on the bed, lifting the phone in the air so she gets a good view of my face. I slip a hand beneath my head as I stare at the small image of her in the corner of my screen. She looks so fucking breathtaking in the silk white blouse she’s wearing. The first two buttons are opened and the way she’s positioned gives me a small peek of the fresh skin that lies underneath. My heart squeezes, a warm sensation floating through me at the sight of her. After two fucking long weeks—I’m not sure how I survived those two weeks in the first place. But seeing her now, everything seems alright in the world again. Everything seems alright in my world again and the fact that she’s in my house, hugging my pillow and on my couch warms my heart. "Alex? Did you hear me?" She speaks again, breaking me out of my calm thoughts, and I lift a brow. "What?" "The business date. I asked how it was." As the words leave her mouth, a frown spills onto my f
ARABELLA. My cheeks feel hot from how hard I’m grinning as I make my way back to my house. My lip pulled between my teeth as the last few hours run through my mind. I don’t think I’ve smiled so much in such a long time. "Arabella?" Ashley turns her back as I close the front door behind me and I throw her a smile. "Hey." She furrows her brows. "You saw Dex? I’m guessing he managed to change your mood if you’re smiling like that?" "Oh. Right. Dex." I mutter as I step closer to her, my hands slipping into the back pockets and Ashley’s eyes follow the movements, her gaze zeroing in on my legs and I know the question even before she opens her mouth. "Whose pants are those?" "Alexander’s," I reply with a tuck of my hair behind my ear. "I was at his place. I saw Dex, but didn’t go with him." "Oh. Something happened?" She asks, and I grin as I shift on my feet. "Ara?" She chuckles when I don’t give a response and I feel my cheeks redden as I move forward, going in the direction of the ki
ARABELLA. We finally arrived in Florida and I don’t think I’ve ever felt this needy. It’s as though I wouldn’t be able to breathe if I didn’t see Alexander the next second. We barely stayed five minutes at the hotel before I bugged Sinclair to bring me here, and I was willing to come myself, despite knowing nowhere around. I had Sinclair wait down at the receptionist floor because I wanted to come alone. I hardly saw anyone around as I make my way down here after several tries and remembering a little of Clair’s guide, and here I am. I’m standing by the door, my brows furrowed as I watch Alexander and the woman who stand before him. The first thing I planned to do when I see him was jump into his arms, hoping he’s just as surprised and happy to see me. I’ve tried so hard to not tell him so many times during our texts over the days, but now my heart is in my throat as I stand before him. His eyes are on me, but my eyes are on the woman. She looks gorgeous and well older than me in her
ALEXANDER. I can’t believe she’s here. In my office. Her eyes on me, her hands in my hair, and mine around her back. I’m breathing in her scent, looking into those gorgeous brown eyes of hers, feeling her skin, and invading her space. She looks so freaking breathtaking in the mini white dress she’s wearing, it actually took me a minute to take in her presence and when I finally did— I realized what I’ve been seeing on my screen does no justice to the girl who stands before me. In white, she’s like an angel. Pure and ethereal. It makes my heart constrict in my chest, the feeling of the days and weeks I’ve spent missing her and craving the touch of my skin to hers almost bringing me to my knees. And now she’s on my desk, her lust-filled eyes staring back at me as she once again reminds me that there are many sides to her—all of which drive me entirely insane. "You’ve turned naughtier than I remember." I hiss as I push my face to her neck, sniffing in her scent again. I shut my eyes an
ARABELLA. I walk out of the company with a big smile on my face and stride in the direction where Sinclair is parked. He huffs as I open the door and climb in. "I knew I made the right decision staying here." "I asked you to." I chuckle as I fix my seatbelt, and he shakes his head. "Only because I wanted to. Satisfied?" "Yeah," I mutter happily, and he smiles softly. "How was the meeting? Did he act any different?" At his question, my mind goes back to my few minutes with Alex and I feel blood rush to my cheeks as an entirely different image flashes through my mind. I discreetly press my thighs together and swallow, hoping Sinclair doesn’t catch onto that reaction. "He did?" When I look back at him, his brows are furrowed, two lines forming over them, and I’m quick to oppose the thought I know he’s having. "No, that’s not it. He didn’t. Everything was great, but he had to leave for some business." And though we were only able to spend a short time together, it felt like the best t
ALEXANDER. I push the door open, my heart pounding against my valves as I enter the living room and make my way up the stairs, taking two at a time before I arrive in front of the room. Kaleb is standing before it, pacing to and fro, and he halts when he sees me. "The doctor’s been there for a few minutes." He rushes to me, eyes full of tears that threaten to drop any second from now, and I wrap a hand around his arm. "She’ll be fine. Calm down. Was she doing anything before it happened?" "No, she was…" He shuts his eyes as his chest heaves rapidly. When he opens them and gains better control of his voice, he completes the words. "We were in the living room, and she said she was going to go to her room. The next thing was just her collapsing." "And that’s never happened before?" "Never." He shakes his head and I swallow the big lump in my throat as I rub his arm. "She’ll be fine. I’m sure. Let’s just wait for whatever the doctor has to say." "What if she doesn’t wake up?" His lip