Chapter 80

Evelyn jerked away from Alexander's embrace, scrambling off him in a flurry of movement.

But before she could put distance between them, his arm shot out, yanking her back against his chest with effortless strength.

"Where's that boldness from earlier?" His voice was a low, teasing murmur against her ear. "Losing your nerve now?"

Her cheek pressed against the exposed planes of his chest, skin to skin where she'd torn his shirt open in her earlier desperation. The heat of him seared through her.

Alexander's grip tightened around her waist—right where she was most sensitive.

A shiver raced down her spine, and she instinctively squirmed, her soft skin rubbing against the hard contours of his torso.

He let out a rough sound, fingers digging in possessively. "Call me honey," he demanded, voice thick with amusement. "Do it right, and maybe I'll let you go."

Evelyn's lips parted in disbelief.

Silence stretched between them until he nudged her again, the words a velvet challenge. "Go on. Say it."

Trapped against him like this—her body molded to his, his arms an unyielding cage—she had no leverage to fight.

She shifted carefully, trying to ease away without aggravating the tension coiled in her neck.

The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, every breath a reminder of how little space separated them now.

And how much she suddenly wanted to close it again.

Evelyn felt utterly trapped. She called out Alexander's name several times, but his grip only tightened.

Frustration bubbled inside her. Without thinking, she sank her teeth into his shoulder—hard.

Alexander's eyes darkened with amusement. This little wildcat actually bites?

A sharp jolt of pain shot through him, igniting twin flames of irritation and desire.

Her resistance only amused him further. A wicked chuckle rumbled in his chest.

"Mrs. Whitmore," he murmured, voice dripping with dark promise, "you do remember you still owe me a wedding night, don’t you?"

Evelyn didn’t release him. Alexander didn’t force her to, simply sitting there on the couch, letting her teeth dig in.

But her resolve wavered. His words left her torn—should she keep fighting, or surrender?

In that moment of hesitation, his hand slid lower, tracing a deliberate path down her waist.

His heated gaze locked onto hers before he turned his head, lips brushing her earlobe. His breath hitched, rougher now.

This wasn’t like before.

This time, he wasn’t playing.

A shiver ran down Evelyn's spine, making her thoughts scatter like leaves in the wind.

Alexander's lips curved into a knowing smirk as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin.

Lost in the heat of the moment, Evelyn barely registered her phone buzzing insistently in her pocket.

She reached for it instinctively, but Alexander's grip on her waist tightened, pulling her back against him.

Maybe it's nothing important, she thought hazily, surrendering to the dizzying sensation of his touch.

The ringing stopped, only to start again—sharp, persistent, shattering the fragile tension between them.

Nothing killed the mood faster than an untimely interruption.

What had been an electric connection moments ago now felt fractured, the spell broken.

With a reluctant sigh, Alexander released her.

He could always tell when her mind wasn't fully present.

Evelyn's attention had shifted to the call, and he wouldn't push her when she wasn't completely his.

She answered the phone, and Alexander stepped away, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

The bathroom door slammed shut behind Evelyn.

Margaret's sharp voice cut through the air like a knife. "Evelyn Carter! Do you have any idea how much effort I put into arranging this match for you? And this is how you repay me?" Her tone turned accusatory. "I checked with Ethan myself. Titan Capital Group has no policy against workplace relationships!"

Evelyn froze, water dripping from her fingertips. "What are you talking about? Who said Titan Capital employees can't date?"

"Isn't that the excuse you gave last night?" Margaret's voice rose dangerously. "That ridiculous rule about coworkers not dating? Were you lying to me?"

The accusation hung between them like a guillotine.

Margaret's next words came out in a venomous whisper. "Or is this still about Alexander Whitmore? Are you clinging to some pathetic fantasy of marrying him?"

The mirror reflected Evelyn's pale face as the truth settled in her stomach like lead.