I hesitated, then took a seat on one of the sleek stools. The eggs were perfect, like everything else in Alex Thorne's carefully controlled world.
"I have a spare set of clothes you can borrow," he said, refilling my coffee. "Someone left things here for when they visit. They might be a bit loose, but better than putting that dress back on."
"Someone?" I raised an eyebrow, curiosity warring with the desire not to pry.
Alex's expression remained neutral. "A houseguest. The clothes should fit well enough."
I had a hundred questions about whose clothes I was about to wear, but I swallowed them with another sip of coffee. Not my business. Not relevant. "Thanks. I appreciate it."
"The Cartwright designs are coming along well," he
Alex stepped out of the bathroom, completely naked and completely unbothered by it. Steam curled around him, highlighting the defined muscles of his chest, the sharp cut of his hipbones. Water droplets clung to his skin, catching light as they slid down."You're not planning to face Sarah smelling like sex, are you?" He sniffed the air dramatically, his lips quirking up in that half-smile that always made something in my stomach flip."I don't smell like—" I started, then caught myself. We'd been all over each other this morning—of course I smelled like sex. Twice-interrupted, sweaty, clothes-half-on sex. I probably reeked of it."Come on." He stepped toward me, closing the distance between us in one clean stride. "Let me help you."Help me? With what?Before I could even process what was happening, Alex's hands were at the buttons of my blouse, deftly undoing each one like it was something he did every day."What are you—""You need a shower." His fingers brushed against my skin as h
I watched Alex disappear into the bathroom, his ass flexing as he walked. The sound of the shower running snapped me back to reality. I was still sitting on the edge of his bed, half-aroused, totally embarrassed, and completely lost on what to do next.I sighed, shaking my head to clear the Alex-shaped fog from my brain. This—whatever this was between us—was getting comfortable. Too comfortable, maybe. The way he just stripped naked in front of me without hesitation. The casual intimacy of watching him rub product on his face. The fact that I was still sitting in his bedroom instead of hiding under the covers or making a run for it.Was it okay to get used to this? This new normal where I woke up in his bed, where he touched me like he knew exactly what my body needed, where he could just exist naked in my presence without it being a whole production.I rubbed my eyes hard, trying to ease the tension that had settled at the base of my skull. What time was it even? My phone wasn't in m
Maya"I can't—" My voice caught in my throat. "Not after all that. I can't face her yet."Alex just stood there, staring at me. What the hell was he thinking, looking at me like that?He was still in just his boxers. Black ones that hung low on his hips. The light filtering through the blinds hit him at an angle, making his skin shine in strips across his chest. Every muscle was defined—not in that gross, veiny gym-rat way, but like someone who actually used their body. The ridges of his abs caught shadows. A trail of dark hair started below his navel and disappeared beneath the waistband of his boxers. His shoulders were broader than I remembered, the curve where they met his neck perfect for biting.Shit. I needed to stop.Alex final
Time froze. The door swung open before I could react, revealing Sarah standing in the doorway, hair mussed from travel, still in the same clothes she'd worn yesterday when I'd video called her from Paris."Alex? Did you put someone in my... Oh!"Her mouth dropped open, eyes going wide as she took in the scene—Maya and me, half-dressed, frozen mid-thrust, the obvious sounds and smells of sex still hanging in the air. The shock on her face might have been comical if it weren't happening to me.Maya made a small, strangled sound and tried to pull away, but my dick was still buried deep inside her, though rapidly going soft. Her pussy clenched around me in panic rather than pleasure, her whole body tensing like she'd been electrocuted."Jesus Christ, Sarah!" I grabbed
Maya's hand wrapped around my cock, squeezing with surprising strength for someone who appeared to be completely out. A jolt of electricity shot up my spine, my breath catching in my throat. My dick responded instantly, hardening in her grip."Maya?" I whispered, pulse racing. Nothing. Not even a flutter of eyelids.She was still in yesterday's clothes, makeup smudged, hair a mess against my pillow. The Armani suit she'd worn to her board meeting was wrinkled beyond salvation, her silk blouse half-untucked. Yet her hand moved with purpose, stroking me slowly from base to tip.Drunk. Possibly sleep-touching me. I should stop this.I didn't.Her thumb swept over the head of my cock, already wet with precum, and my hips bucked involuntarily. The sensation was so intense I had to bite my lip to keep from groaning. Heat coursed through me, pooling low in my stomach, making my thighs tense.What the fuck was happening? Was she dreaming about me? About someone else? The thought bothered me m
The buzz of my phone dragged me from sleep like being pulled from deep water—disorienting, unwelcome. I fumbled for it in the darkness, squinting at the screen. Marcus. The brightness made me wince. "Yeah?" My voice came out rough with sleep. Maya stirred beside me but didn't wake. "Hope I didn't wake you, boss." Marcus didn't sound sorry at all. I checked the time: 4:23 AM. Christ. "Why won't you let me sleep?" I groaned, shifting to sit up without disturbing Maya. "It's the middle of the night." "I'll be sure to check your schedule next time," Marcus replied, the eye-roll audible in his voice. "Want me to call back at a more convenient hour?" I dragged a hand down my face, feeling the stubble that had grown since yesterday morning. "You took your time." "Target wasn't exactly easy. Careful guy, your friend Julian." That got my attention. I was fully awake now, slipping out of bed and padding toward the bathroom. "But you got something?" "I managed." There was a hint of pride
AlexGetting two drunk women up to my apartment was exactly the nightmare I'd anticipated. "Mr. Thorne, do you need assistance?" Eduardo, the night doorman, came out from behind his desk the moment I dragged myself through the front door with Maya half-stumbling beside me, Olivia practically deadweight against my other side."That would be... yes. Please."Eduardo—bless him—didn't ask questions. He simply took Olivia's weight from me, supporting her with efficiency that made me wonder how many inebriated residents he'd helped over the years."This one's out cold," he observed."Yeah." I readjusted my grip on Maya, who was at least semi-conscious, though her head kept dropping against my shoulder.We made it to the elevator, Eduardo swiping his master key card to override the need for mine. In the confined space, the smell of alcohol and perfume and club smoke hung around us like a cloud. Maya mumbled something against my neck, her breath warm and distracting."What floor again, Mr.
Troy"Where's Maya?" Fiona asked, her voice tight.The question hung in the air, and all the pieces suddenly started clicking together in my head. Fiona luring Maya and Olivia here, disappearing for hours, now showing up looking like hell—none of it made sense unless she was up to something."What, you two best friends now?" I asked, straightening my shirt as casually as I could manage. "Last I checked, you were firmly on Team Daniel."Fiona's eyes narrowed. "That's none of your business."I took a moment to really look at her. The Fiona Kingston I knew was always perfectly put together—designer clothes, flawless makeup, not a hair out of place. The woman standing in front of me was... different. Thinner, yes, with dark circles under her eyes. But there was something else, something in the way she carried herself.She kept shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Her eyes darted around, never settling on one spot for long. And her hands—they wouldn't stay still, constantly adju
AlexI checked the rearview mirror for the tenth time. Maya and Olivia were still passed out in the backseat, heads lolling against each other like exhausted children after a long day. Maya's mouth hung slightly open, and even in the dim light, I could see a small dark spot on Olivia's shoulder where Maya had apparently drooled. Not exactly the elegant Foundation CEO image she worked so hard to maintain.I'd seen Maya drunk before. Once, about a month ago, We'd gone to dinner, and she'd had a few glasses of wine in quick succession. I'd driven her back to my place that night too, since she'd been in no condition to get herself home.But this felt different. Maybe because we'd been sleeping together for days now. Or maybe because she'd actually reached out to me tonight.I hadn't caught her call—I'd been in the shower when my phone rang. But I'd seen her text immediately after:Alx im st liqiud and im drink. come plsFollowed by a dropped pin of her location.The message itself was con