Chapter 218

Alexander had just stepped out of the shower, water droplets still glistening on his skin.

A single white towel hung low on his hips, revealing the hard planes of his sculpted abdomen.

Evelyn froze in the doorway, her breath catching in her throat.

Her gaze involuntarily trailed down before she snapped her eyes shut, pressing a hand over them.

But temptation was too strong. She peeked through her fingers, heat rising to her cheeks.

Every inch of him was carved to perfection—broad shoulders, defined chest, the kind of body that made her pulse quicken.

Noticing her stolen glances, Alexander leaned lazily against the doorframe, water still dripping from his hair.

A slow, knowing smirk curved his lips, his voice a low, teasing rumble.

"Don’t just stand there. Come closer."

Before she could protest, his fingers wrapped around her wrist, pulling her inside.

In one fluid motion, he spun her around, pressing her flush against him as the door clicked shut behind them.

The presidential suite stretched before them, its grandeur making the standard rooms seem like closets in comparison.

In the gilded entryway mirror, their reflection burned with passion—Alexander's strong arms wrapped possessively around Evelyn as his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss.

His fingers tangled in her silken hair, twisting a dark strand around his index finger while his other hand tilted her chin up, demanding more.

God, he was intoxicating. Every touch set her nerves on fire.

Evelyn's skin burned beneath his fingertips. When she tried to turn away, his lips only trailed lower, brushing featherlight kisses along her collarbone.

Her knees buckled. If not for his iron grip, she would have melted to the floor.

"Did you have fondue with them tonight?" His voice was rough against her skin.

"Yes."

Earlier, in the executive group chat, Natalie had suggested the team dinner.

Nearly everyone had agreed—except Alexander and Simon.

With an international conference overlapping, Alexander had ended up with a takeout box Simon delivered.

Now Evelyn understood why rumors swirled about Alexander and Simon being more than just business partners...

The salty ocean breeze drifted through the open balcony doors as Evelyn stretched lazily in bed.

"I was really craving fondue tonight," she murmured, tracing idle patterns on Alexander's chest.

His lips curved into that knowing smirk she adored. "After tomorrow's annual meeting, I'll take you to that new steakhouse by the pier."

Alexander suddenly rolled over, burying his face in the crook of her neck. His lips trailed featherlight kisses along her sensitive skin, each touch sending electric sparks down her spine.

Evelyn's breath hitched.

She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as her body instinctively arched toward him. The way his mouth explored her neck with such deliberate tenderness made her pulse race wildly.

Noticing her reaction, Alexander chuckled darkly against her skin.

"If just this makes you tremble," he whispered, his voice dripping with sinful promise, "how will you handle what comes next?"

Evelyn's entire face burned crimson at his implication.

"Alexander—"

"Hmm?"

"You're impossible," she breathed, her fingers tangling in his hair.

His answering laugh was rich and warm before he effortlessly scooped her into his arms. In three strides, they reached the king-sized bed where he laid her down with reverent care, his golden eyes burning with undisguised desire.

The first light of dawn painted the room in hues of coral and gold as waves crashed rhythmically against the shore below.

The world narrowed to just the two of them as Alexander took his time, his lips tracing slow, deliberate paths over Evelyn’s skin. She clutched the silk sheets beneath her, her body arching into his touch, every nerve alight with sensation.

Her breath hitched, lashes fluttering as unshed tears glistened in the dim light. The flush of pleasure painted her cheeks, her lips parted in silent surrender.

Before she could form a coherent thought, Alexander captured her mouth again, swallowing her gasp as his hands mapped the curves he knew so well.

Desire crested between them like a wave, and Evelyn’s fingers twisted into his dark hair, anchoring herself as pleasure threatened to sweep her away.

Alexander, ever the relentless strategist, spent the night reclaiming every stolen moment, every second Evelyn had been absent from his arms. He was thorough, exacting—leaving no inch of her untouched, no whisper of longing unanswered.

By the time dawn crept over the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of gold and pink, Evelyn lay boneless against the sheets, her body humming with exhaustion.

True to his nature, Alexander had already prepared for this. The bathwater steamed invitingly, the scent of lavender and vanilla curling through the air. He tested the temperature with his wrist before lifting her effortlessly, cradling her against his chest as he lowered her into the warmth.

When they emerged, the floor-to-ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view—the first light of morning spilling over the ocean, turning the waves to liquid gold. Evelyn’s breath caught.

Alexander’s arms wrapped around her from behind, his lips brushing her shoulder. "Worth staying awake for?"

She leaned back into him, too spent to answer. But the way her fingers laced with his said everything.

The first light of dawn painted the horizon in molten gold, setting the ocean ablaze with shimmering reflections.

Waves lapped gently against the shore, their rhythmic whispers blending with the crisp morning air.

Evelyn stood motionless, her breath catching at the breathtaking display before her.

The sky transformed from indigo to soft pastels, clouds edged with fire as the sun climbed higher.

She had never imagined the seaside could look like this—so alive, so radiant, as if the world had been reborn in this single moment.

The salt-kissed breeze tousled her hair, carrying with it the faint scent of seaweed and distant adventures.

She wrapped her arms around herself, not from cold, but from the sheer overwhelming beauty of it all.

It felt like a secret, stolen moment—one meant only for her.

A seagull cried overhead, its wings outstretched as it rode the morning currents.

Evelyn smiled, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to simply be.

No past regrets. No future uncertainties.

Just this—the sun, the sea, and the quiet joy of witnessing something so pure.

She closed her eyes, imprinting the scene into memory.

When she opened them again, the world seemed brighter.

More hopeful.