Chapter 4

ALEXANDER

Seeing her standing there by the door, I couldn't help but swallow loudly.

It's been almost a year since I last saw her. I didn't even know she was graduating until I walked in here and saw her name written on the large poster.

I knew I was to blame but I couldn't deny the fact that I had to go away and clear my head.

She was only eighteen when I first started having these strange feelings, and I was twenty three.

I knew she had a crush on me since she was in high school but I pretended not to notice. Then she started growing into a fine woman and I just couldn't take my eyes off her.

Fuck!!

And now, standing there in a very short dress that showed off her slender legs, topped with the oversized hoodie she'd stolen from my closet two years ago.

Her hair was all over the place like she'd just had it ruffled by someone and God I hoped that someone was Lexis and not someone else.

The mere thought of her with someone else was enough to make my blood boil. My grip tightened around the wine glass in my hand as I fought to steady myself.

As soon as our eyes met, a smile spread across my face... masking whatever I was feeling seconds ago.

"Hey, sunshine."

I called, spreading my arms open for a hug. Sunshine was the nickname I gave her since she was little because she was so bright, she never failed to light up a place.

“It’s Andrea, not sunshine” she grumbled, her face flushing a deep red as I struggled to hold back my laughter.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, and the moment I did, I felt her soften against me, a contented sigh escaping as I stroked her back.

I loved how perfectly she fit in my arms...like she was always meant to be there, like she was already mine.

I could feel her heart beating as I pressed her body tightly against mine.

"Uhm..." She stuttered as she pushed me lightly.

After our usual banter, she suddenly grabbed my glass and downed the wine, only to break down into a coughing fit.

As I wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, my mind betrayed me, drifting somewhere it shouldn’t.

I imagined her beneath me...messy, breathless, eyes glazed as she begged me for more.

I clenched my jaw and cursed under my breath.

I wasn’t some horny teenager anymore, I was twenty seven, a grown fucking man. And yet, whenever she was near, I could barely keep myself in check.

With a sigh, I scooped her up the moment she said she was sleepy and carried her straight to my room, somewhere I could keep her close, where I could see her.

I laid her gently on my bed and let my fingers brush across her face, the same face that had haunted my dreams for years.

She murmured softly in her sleep, her rose coloured lips parting slightly, tempting me, taunting me, the very same lips that had been wrapped around my cock in my dream just last night.

Same lips that begged for mercy as I pressed against her, as I thrust deep inside of her, begging for me to go faster and I did.

Fuck!!

A painful ache tightened in my pants as thoughts of those dreams...dreams I’d had for years tormented me again.

“Shit… I can’t take this anymore” I hissed, pressing my fingers hard against my forehead as the beginnings of a headache pulsed at the side of my head.

One last glance at her sleeping form, and I forced myself out of the room, heading downstairs for another drink. Lately, I’d been drinking far too much.

By the time I was halfway through the bottle of wine, I was already feeling tipsy.

I felt a presence behind me, but I didn’t bother turning around to know who it was.

"Hello!"

I heard a voice behind me, it was sickeningly sweet and soft. I immediately felt disgusted.

Frowning slightly, I decided to ignore her as my mind was still filled with thoughts of Andy.

"Uhm… I don’t think you should be drinking that much.” The voice came again, softer this time, laced with concern.

I set my glass down and finally turned, my frown deepening when I saw the pure white gown she was wearing.

Amelia...Alexis’s stepsister. I’d never really given her much thought since she joined the Dale family.

My gaze swept over her from head to toe, and the first thing that crossed my mind was, Who the hell wears white to a night party?

Maybe it was all the complaints I’d heard from Alexis, but irritation pierced through me as she reached for the bottle of wine in my hand.

"And you are?” I asked, my glare sharp with irritation.

“I’m Amelia. Seems you’re too drunk to remember me.”

I didn’t bother responding. Pushing past her, I rose to my feet and head towards the stairs. Andy was the only thing on my mind, the only reason i was here in the first place.

“Wait!” she called after me, reaching out to grab my arm. I shifted smoothly to the side, avoiding her touch without stopping to look back.

I pushed the door open and slipped inside quietly, careful not to wake Andy. She was still fast asleep on my bed, her breathing steady and peaceful.

I glanced at the clock on the wall and it was already seven, but I decided to let her rest a little longer.

Noticing how uncomfortable she seemed sleeping in her hoodie, I carefully slipped it off, only to instantly regret it when her cleavage came into view.

Knock, knock!

The sound of knocking on the door prevented me from staring any further.

Andy stirred on the bed, and I frowned. Striding quickly to the door, I pulled it open and hissed in a harsh whisper, “I told you to fuck off.”

“Uhm…” Lexis blinked at me, confusion flashing across her face as her brows twitched.

I groaned, dragging a hand over my face. “Sorry… I’ve just been stressed lately” I muttered.

“It’s fine. I just came to ask if Andy was here.” Lexis smile, like she understood the reason for my annoyance.

“Yeah, she’s here, but she’s sleeping” I said firmly, planting myself in the doorway. I knew her...give her half a chance, and she’d leap on Andy just to wake her.

She rolled her eyes, scoffing as she turned away. “Fine. Just make sure you wake her up” she said over her shoulder before heading downstairs.

Chuckling, I closed the door and decided to take a quick shower before waking Andy up.

But when I stepped out of the shower, drying my hair with a towel, I heard the sharp sound of the door opening and closing in a hurry. Rushing out, I found the room empty...she was already gone.

Glancing towards the bed, I saw that she left her hoodie and I picked it up, it smelled just like her, the sweet scent of lavender that she always carried around.

Remembering how much of her cleavage was showing, I scowled... thinking about how she'd be walking around in that dress without any coverage.

I threw on my sweatpants and a T-shirt in a rush, grabbed the hoodie, and hurried out. Calling her would have been easier, but the music was deafening.

The living room was packed, bodies everywhere, but she was nowhere in sight.

“Looking for Andy?” That same gratingly familiar voice sounded up behind me.

“Yes” I replied curtly, my tone ice cold.

“I know where she is. She asked me to give you this.” She held out a glass of wine, her wide eyes urging me to take it.

I raised a brow, ready to walk past, but then she added, “She also told me to come get her hoodie. The drink is her way of thanking you for letting her crash in your room.”

Thinking back to how Andy bolted earlier, I figured she didn’t want to face me. With a sigh, I handed over the hoodie and reluctantly took the glass.

Amelia’s smile never faltered. She just stood there like she was waiting for me to drink it

Suppressing my unease, I lifted the glass to my lips and drained it in one go before handing it back. Her smile widened before she turned and walked away.

Ignoring the heavy feeling in the air, I headed to my study. I needed a distraction. Settling into the chair, I flipped through some documents, scanning them carefully.

But before long, dizziness swept over me, pressing down like a weight. I let my head rest against the desk, telling myself it would only be for a moment.

“Alex… hurry…” Andy’s voice, soft and trembling, echoed in my head. She looked at me with glassy eyes, just like in the dreams that had been tormenting me more and more often.

Knock knock!

The sound woke me up. Still groggy, I staggered toward the door and pulled it open.

“I knew you were sleeping in here” Alexis huffed, grabbing my arm and dragging me down the hall.

By the time we reached my room, the dizziness was back, my body heavy. I stopped at the door. “Thanks" I muttered before slipping inside and shutting it behind me.

“Melvin?” Andy’s voice sounded softly from the bed, calling out a name I haven't heard before.

"Who's Melvin?" I asked angrily.

This was probably just another dream, she was on my bed like just moments ago but this time she was calling out to someone else, not me.