Chapter 31

Olivia

"Can I get up now?" I asked, shifting on his lap.

"Do you want to?" His eyes gleamed with challenge.

No, a traitorous part of me whispered. I wanted to stay right where I was, maybe even rock against him a little more, feel that impressive cock straining toward me...

"Yes," I lied, forcing myself to sound firm.

Alexander released his hold, allowing me to slide off his lap. The loss of contact left me strangely bereft.

"Shower's all yours," he said, leaning back against the headboard with a knowing smirk. "Towels are in the cabinet."

I rushed to the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind me. Leaning against it, I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart.

What the hell was wrong with me? One minute, I was annoyed by his arrogance; the next, I was practically melting on his lap. This arrangement was supposed to be business, not... whatever this was.

I turned on the shower, letting the water heat up while I peeled off his t-shirt. My nipples were still hard, and my pussy was embarrassingly wet. All from sitting on his lap for a few minutes.

"Get it together," I muttered, stepping under the hot spray.

As the water cascaded over me, I tried to think rationally about his offer. Living here would make our charade more convincing. It would eliminate my commute to work. And the penthouse was certainly more luxurious than my cramped apartment.

But it would also mean being around Alexander constantly. Sharing his space, his bed. Dealing with that maddening sexual tension every day.

Could I handle that? More importantly, could I handle it without giving in to the desire that flared every time he touched me?

I wasn't sure. But as I shampooed my hair with his expensive products, breathing in his scent, I had a sinking feeling I was going to find out.

After drying off, I wrapped myself in a plush robe hanging on the bathroom door. It swallowed me whole, the sleeves falling past my fingertips. Alexander's, obviously.

I peeked out of the bathroom, relieved to find the bedroom empty. No sign of Alexander or his knowing smirk. Good. I needed space to think without his distracting presence.

I cinched the oversized robe tighter around my waist and padded across the plush carpet, leaving damp footprints behind me. The hallway was silent except for the faint sound of a phone conversation coming from somewhere in the penthouse.

A door stood slightly ajar halfway down the corridor—the boutique room from last night. I pushed it open and slipped inside, wondering if Alexander had left it open intentionally for me.

The racks of designer clothing gleamed under the recessed lighting, organized by color like a high-end store display.

I pulled open a drawer, finding neatly arranged lingerie sets in various sizes. Another drawer revealed yoga pants and athletic wear. The third drawer contained silky pajamas and nightgowns.

"What the hell?" I muttered, opening more drawers.

It dawned on me that Alexander could have brought me here last night instead of giving me his T-shirt to sleep in. He had an entire wardrobe of women's sleepwear at his disposal. So why did he put me in his shirt instead?

I shook off the thought and focused on finding something to wear.

I selected a cream silk blouse and black tailored pants that looked like they might fit. In another drawer, I found bras still in their packaging. After some digging, I located one in my size—how many women's measurements did Alexander keep track of?—and grabbed matching panties.

Five minutes later, I stood in front of the mirror, fully dressed. The clothes fit perfectly as if they'd been chosen specifically for me. I quickly applied some mascara and lip gloss, running my fingers through my damp hair to tame it.

"Decent clothes?" Alexander's voice came from the doorway.

I jumped, nearly poking myself in the eye with the mascara wand. "Jesus! Don't sneak up on me like that."

"In my own home?" His eyebrow arched in amusement.

"Yes, in your own home," I snapped, gesturing at the racks of clothing. "And since we're on the subject, why did you make me wear your t-shirt last night when you have an entire collection of pajamas and nightgowns right here?"

Alexander leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes traveled down my body, taking in the outfit I'd selected.

"Maybe I liked seeing you in my clothes." His voice dropped lower. "You looked good wearing something that belonged to me."

Heat rushed to my face. "That's... that's not the point."

"The point is that you're upset I didn't offer you designer sleepwear?" He pushed off the doorframe and walked toward me, each step deliberate. "You can wear them from now on if you'd prefer. Silk nightgowns, lace teddies—whatever suits your fancy."

I stepped back, bumping into the clothing rack behind me. "I haven't agreed to stay here with you yet."

"I'm just saying," he replied, stopping a few feet away. "The option is there. All of this—" he gestured around the room "—is at your disposal if you decide to move in."

"I'll think about it and let you know," I said, straightening my shoulders. The silk blouse felt cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the heat of his gaze.

"Alright." He nodded, stepping aside to clear my path to the door. "Take your time. But not too much time. We have appearances to maintain."

He left me standing there, surrounded by designer clothes.

I finished applying my makeup and made my way to the living room, where Alexander sat scrolling through a tablet. Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the space in golden light.

"Perfect timing," Alexander said without looking up. He patted the space beside him on the leather sofa. "Come see this."

I hesitated, then crossed the room and perched on the edge of the cushion, careful to maintain some distance between us. Alexander immediately slid closer, his thigh pressing against mine as he angled the tablet toward me.

"That didn't take long," he said, his voice tinged with satisfaction.

My stomach dropped as I stared at the screen. There we were, splashed across Page Six's website. The headline read: "CARTER ENTERPRISES CEO ALEXANDER CARTER'S NEW FLAME?"

"Oh my god." I grabbed the tablet from his hands.

The main photo showed us leaving the restaurant, Alexander's hand possessively curved around my waist. My face was partially turned away from the camera, but my profile and distinctive red dress were clearly visible.