LOGINAlexander’s POVHer silver heel scrapes against the tiles as she steps back while pulling me. And she trips, losing her footing. Her grip on my wrist tightens. Her eyes spread. A tiny sound escapes her throat, her hair flailing behind her head.I grab her left arm and pull her toward me. She freezes, eyes glued to mine. Blinking.Again, I don’t know if it’s the blush on her cheeks, but she’s very crimson now. Embarrassed, she drops her eyes and walks straight into my chest.Prepared to receive her, my arms curve around her waist as an inaudible chuckle slips out of my lips.“You’re laughing at me,” she murmurs, poking a finger between my ribs.I press my lips together, fighting to ensure no sound comes out of me. Every day, she becomes more amusing.“Your ankles are always at risk,” I mutter, stroking her back in this unrequited embrace. My eyes stay glued to the red birthday decoration hanging on the wall at the other end of the room.“It’s all your fault.” She whines.“My fault?”Sh
Sophia’s POV~19:10: Dinnertime~Classic piano tunes travel to my ears from a distance. I run my palms over the ruffles of my dress as I take slow steps after the female staff who came to get me from our suite.The path is dimly lit and quiet. Vintage and classical decorative pieces animate the hotel passages.We get to the arched entryway, and she stops. I pause and meet her smiling gaze. Gesturing in, she says, “He’s waiting for you over there.”My eyes shift in the direction of her hand and land on a stunning dark-haired Alexander in a long-sleeved midnight blue shirt and white pants, legs crossed, with a foot dangling in suede coffee-brown bit loafers. Seated in the corner of the private space, he holds his phone in his right hand, typing as he sips water from a glass. He’s had his hair restyled elegantly to the back. My heart skips and begins a marathon. I turn to the staff and murmur, “Thank you.”“The pleasure is mine. Have a lovely evening,” she answers and turns to leave.
Sophia’s POVGarvey brings the car to a stop.Still in Alexander’s lap, I fix my eyes on the right window, staring at a fancy cream building.GEORGIA ‘N’ GEORGINA.I know this place. It’s a fine dining establishment. I’ve been here once with my parents. It was an experience of a lifetime.Alexander’s hands lazily drop in my lap. He sits upright, bringing his face to my right ear to whisper, “It’s time to feed you.” I lean into his chest, slipping my hands into his and staring at his lips without shame, unable to hide that the whole drive here had me in my feels. He prods my ribs and kisses my cheek instead, tickling me again. “Let’s go have lunch.”I push myself forward, smiling silly and wide as I get off his lap. I wish I didn’t have to.He scoffs with a smirk and exits the car first. I smooth my hair and dress inside the car, watching as he adjusts my purse on his body. Then he stretches a hand to me. I take it and let him help me out of the car.Unable to stop blushing, I twist
Sophia’s POVAlexander nods in response.The female attendant turns to me, wearing a pleasant smile, “Hello, Miss Sophia.”“Hello,” I mutter.“This way, please,” she says, ushering us inside with her hands.Alexander puts his arm around my waist and takes the first step after the attendant, who leads us somewhere.Shoppers stop to stare at us; uniformed attendants pause to smile and greet Alexander, then greet me. Our path is cleared faster than I can blink. Heat prickles my cheeks as I’m filled with an awareness of how much attention my man commands.He turns to meet my eyes. His fingers strum on my waist as he holds my gaze, sending light, tickling sensations through me. He doesn’t care that eyes are on us. A tiny giggle escapes my lips. I put my face against his arm, and he shifts his fingers to my elbow, giving it a gentle stroke.Always tickling me every chance he gets.The attendant pushes a door for us. It’s labeled: VIP. She holds the door open, we go in, and she shuts it.Pri
Sophia’s POVHe stands still, eyes fixed on mine, with a black medium-sized suitcase in his grip. My purse still hangs across his body. His eyes drop to the picture frame in my hand, and tears finally leak out of my eyes.Choking, I palm my face with my right hand, breaking down in tears.“Sophia?” He calls softly.In a few seconds, my head is pulled against his hard chest. I shut my eyes and pull the frame to my chest.“What is it?”I shake my head, sobbing. Frame still in my grip, my arms go around him. He does the same, pulling me closer with his arms wrapped around my back. He strokes it with gentleness as I keep sniffling.A memory rushes into my mind: that CEOs and Business Owners Charity Gala—the words he uttered when he dedicated his CEO of the Year Award to me.‘Without knowing, she gave me the push I didn’t know I needed… You’re my reason and will to keep going forward… When I thought I’d drown, life gave you to me…’I couldn’t make sense of it at that time. I thought I didn
Sophia’s POVIt’s pitch black. My heart pounds with reckless excitement mixed with slight unease as I touch my fingers to the blindfold. The fabric is soft against my skin.Alexander quietly ties it behind me.“How many fingers do I have up?” He asks.A strained chuckle slips out of me. “I can’t– I can’t see anything… um…”My hands tremble just a little.Heat from his body caresses me as he moves. I feel him standing very close, right before me.“Soph?”“Mm?” I mumble, swallowing hard.His fingers go around my wrists and peel my hands off the blindfold. Then, they slide to hold my shaky hands. “You’re safe with me.” He utters in a calm, sad tone, lifting my hands to his lips. He kisses my right knuckles first, then the left ones, and keeps his mouth on my hand. His breath is warm against my hands.I nod, hoping he doesn’t feel too bad that I panicked.“If you’re not comfortable, I can take off the blindfold and have you just close your eyes.”“No,” I shake my head and go close, tight
Sophia’s POVHe breaks our kiss, hands going still on my thighs. I lock gaze with him, seeing how dark and dilated his pupils have turned. He’s panting just as I am, looking unusually unsettled. His face is frozen—an expression of shock I don’t miss. My body trembles, but I shake my head weakly, l
Sophia’s POV“It’s a guest bedroom,” he says, rolling the strap of my purse around his knuckles. I stare at my purse, mouth dry and open. I don’t know if it’s shock from learning that I’m spending the night in his bedroom or from having my purse snatched from me. My phone, my money, my passport—all
Sophia’s POV“Your daughter’s run away?” Alexander utters as if it’s news to him. He takes the phone off his ear, taps the screen, and switches to loudspeaker.“Sophia’s never acted out like this,” my dad’s frantic voice echoes. “She’s just… she’s a little sensitive…” My heart shatters.“The news m
Sophia’s POV“Y-your bride?” I stammer.His eyes glint with something unreadable, like an almost predatory amusement. It’s all the answer I need.The man I’m to marry is Alexander Thorne? This lethally beautiful, seducing billionaire, who’s spent the past months haunting my quietest thoughts?An eng







