Chapter 142
"We didn't celebrate properly when we got married, so I wanted to make it special," Alexander murmured, his voice low and intimate.
Evelyn had insisted on keeping things simple—no grand ceremony, no extravagant reception. He had respected her wishes, but tonight was different. Tonight, he wanted her to remember.
She pushed open the door and froze.
The room was bathed in the warm glow of candlelight, casting flickering shadows across the king-sized bed strewn with deep crimson roses. Their petals shimmered like rubies against the ivory sheets, the rich scent enveloping her.
Before she could speak, she heard the door click shut behind her.
Alexander was already there, his presence overwhelming the space between them.
In one swift motion, he closed the distance, his arms encircling her waist, pulling her flush against him. The heat of his body seared through the thin fabric of her dress as he pinned her against the door.
His lips claimed hers with a hunger that stole her breath.
The intoxicating blend of his cologne and the faint hint of whiskey on his tongue made her head spin. The cool wood pressed into her back, a stark contrast to the fire coursing through her veins.
His fingers tangled with hers, lifting her arms above her head, trapping her in place. The position sent a flush creeping up her neck, her pulse hammering wildly.
Outside, night had fallen completely, the room illuminated only by the flickering candles.
Evelyn swallowed hard, meeting Alexander’s gaze. His eyes burned with raw intensity, dark with need.
"Mrs. Whitmore." His thumb traced the delicate curve of her jaw before drifting lower, skimming the hollow of her throat. "Has anyone ever told you how breathtaking you look in that dress?"
Her breath hitched. Compliments from him were rare—so rare that they always caught her off guard.
She ducked her head, but he caught her chin, tilting her face back up.
This time, his kiss was rougher, more demanding. When she instinctively turned away, he chuckled darkly.
"Running from me now?" His voice was a velvet growl. "You weren’t so shy when you teased me in the car earlier."
His fingers tangled in her hair, angling her head back as his lips trailed down her neck, nipping and tasting.
Evelyn gasped, her knees giving way beneath her.
The world spun as Evelyn's knees gave way, only to be caught against Alexander's solid chest.
His strong arm encircled her waist effortlessly, guiding her backward until the mattress met her legs.
Before she could protest, his weight pressed her into the sheets, the shift in position igniting a new intensity between them.
Her thoughts blurred, the air thick with unspoken desire.
Their breaths tangled as her fingers suddenly wrapped around his wrist, halting his descent. "Wait—Alexander, we haven't eaten yet."
He lifted his head, his darkened gaze pinning her beneath him. "Dinner?"
She couldn't hold his stare, her focus dropping to the tantalizing curve of his throat. "Yes, dinner. I'm hungry."
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. The hunger in his eyes wasn't just for food. "Is this your way of teasing me?"
"I—I'm not!" Her teeth sank into her lower lip.
Alexander braced himself above her, studying her with unnerving focus. "No? Then prove it." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Kiss me."
Evelyn's pulse stuttered. "You can't be serious."
Her pulse stuttered. The sudden realization that she'd stepped into a carefully laid snare made her breath catch.
But retreating now would only confirm his suspicions. She'd already taken the bait—there was no turning back.
Evelyn's heartbeat thundered in her ears.
After a weighted pause, she curled her fingers into Alexander's tie, tugging him down with deliberate slowness.
Her lashes dipped as she brushed her lips against the vulnerable hollow of his throat—a featherlight press that sent electricity crackling between them.
Alexander's entire body tensed. "Who," he rasped, fingers digging into her waist, "taught you to aim there?"