Chapter 28

Olivia

Alexander stood by the window, his back to me. He'd changed into a simple gray t-shirt and black shorts that hung low on his hips. The casual clothes did nothing to diminish his commanding presence.

He turned at the sound of the door, his eyes immediately taking in my bare legs. "Feel better?"

"I'd feel better in my own clothes in my own apartment," I replied, crossing my arms over my chest. The movement only emphasized my breasts beneath the thin fabric.

His eyes darkened slightly. "I usually sleep naked, but I thought that might make you uncomfortable."

"How considerate," I said dryly. "This whole situation is your fault, you know. Who arranges a date without planning for overnight accommodations?"

"Someone who doesn't have the luxury of time," he replied, running a hand through his hair. "I have less than four months to make this marriage happen, or I lose controlling shares in Carter Enterprises."

"I thought your grandfather gave you six months."

"He did. Two months ago." Alexander moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "I've been evaluating potential candidates since then."

"Lucky me, making the final cut," I muttered.

"You have no idea how lucky you are," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "There were over thirty women on my initial list."

I rolled my eyes. "Should I be flattered?"

"You should be practical." He patted the bed beside him. "Come sit."

"I'm fine standing."

"Olivia." Just my name, but said with such authority that I found myself moving toward the bed before I could stop myself.

I perched on the edge, keeping a good foot of space between us. The mattress was ridiculously comfortable, sinking just enough under my weight.

"You'll sleep here tonight," he said, nodding toward the king-sized bed.

"With you? I don't think so."

"I'm not forcing you to share the bed," he clarified. "It was merely a suggestion to improve our chemistry. We'll need to be convincing as a couple."

"Chemistry isn't our problem," I blurted, then immediately regretted it when his lips curved into a knowing smirk.

"No," he agreed. "It certainly isn't."

I cleared my throat. "The couch looks comfortable enough."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm not making my wife sleep on the couch."

"I'm not your wife yet," I reminded him. "And the couch might be uncomfortable for you. You're..." I gestured vaguely at his tall frame.

"Too big?" he supplied, amusement dancing in his eyes.

I felt my cheeks heat. "Tall. I was going to say tall."

"Right." His smirk widened. "So, what do you suggest?"

I chewed my lip, considering my options. The bed was massive, big enough for two people to sleep without touching. And I didn't want to sleep on the couch, no matter how expensive it looked.

"We could share," I said finally. "The bed's big enough. Just... stay on your side."

Alexander's eyes darkened. "I can control myself, Olivia. Can you?"

"Excuse me?"

"You've been looking at me like you want to devour me since we met."

I scoffed, ignoring the heat creeping up my neck. "That's ridiculous."

"Is it?" He leaned closer, his cologne enveloping me. "Your pupils dilate when I get near you. Your breathing changes. Your nipples harden."

My hand flew to my chest instinctively. "That's—that's just the air conditioning."

"If you say so."

"I do say so," I insisted, standing abruptly. "And I'm going to sleep on the couch."

Alexander rose in one fluid motion, towering over me. "Don't be ridiculous. The bed is more than large enough for both of us."

"Fine," I relented, too exhausted to argue. "But stay on your side."

"I already promised I would." His voice held a hint of amusement. "Unless you're worried about your self-control?"

"You wish," I muttered, climbing onto the bed. The mattress felt like heaven, soft yet supportive in all the right places. I sank into it with a barely suppressed groan of pleasure.

Alexander flicked off the lights, plunging the room into darkness broken only by the city lights filtering through the windows.

I felt the mattress dip as he slid in beside me, keeping a respectable distance between us.

"Goodnight, Olivia," he said, his voice a low rumble in the darkness.

"Goodnight, Alex," I replied, curling onto my side facing away from him.

I lay awake, hyperaware of his presence just feet away.

The enormity of what I'd agreed to earlier kept replaying in my mind. A marriage contract. A fake relationship. Living with this man, I barely knew.

"Stop thinking so loudly," Alexander murmured, his voice startling me.

"I'm not—"

"I can practically hear the gears turning in your brain," he interrupted. "Go to sleep. Tomorrow's problems can wait until tomorrow."

"Easy for you to say," I grumbled. "You're not the one who just agreed to a fake marriage."

"Neither are you," he pointed out. "You agreed to a real marriage with predetermined terms and an end date."

"Semantics."

"Details matter in business, Olivia. You'd do well to remember that."

"Is that what I am to you? Business?"

The silence stretched between us, and for a moment, I thought he might not answer.

"For now," he finally said, his voice unreadable in the darkness.

What the hell did that mean? I wanted to press him, but exhaustion was rapidly overtaking me. The last thing I remembered was the distant sound of traffic below and Alexander's steady breathing beside me.

I jolted awake to warmth and the steady heartbeat rhythm beneath my cheek. Confusion clouded my mind until I realized with horror that I was draped across Alexander's chest like a human blanket. My leg was thrown over his, my arm wrapped around his torso, and my face nuzzled into the crook of his neck.

"Oh god," I whispered, barely audible.

I tried to move slowly but froze when I felt something hard pressing against my thigh. Something big. And unmistakably male.

Alexander's cock was rock-hard beneath his shorts, the impressive length of it pushing against the fabric. My body responded instantly, a rush of heat flooding between my legs.