All Chapters of BECOMING MR. CROSS: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

ALEXI woke up with a hangover from hell and a ring on my finger.My head pounded like a goddamn drumline, my mouth tasted like stale whiskey and regret, and my tongue felt like sandpaper scraping against my teeth. The sheets beneath me were soft , too soft like a thousand thread count, luxury hotel soft. Definitely not the scratchy, budget motel kind I remembered checking into last night.I cracked an eye open, the morning light slicing through the floor to ceiling windows like a blade. And that’s when the panic set in.This wasn’t my room.This wasn’t even my hotel.I bolted upright, instantly regretting the move as nausea punched me square in the gut. My pulse raced as I took in the unfamiliar space …..sleek, modern furniture, abstract art on the walls, a view of the Vegas strip that screamed money. And there, on the marble nightstand beside the bed, a shiny Diamond ring caught the light, glinting accusingly at me.On my hand.“What the actual fuck….”A low, gravelly voice cut

ALEXI wasn’t prepared for any of this.The second the sleek black car pulled up to the front of the hotel, the world outside exploded. Cameras flashed like lightning, reporters shouted over each other, and a sea of faces pressed up against the velvet ropes. My stomach twisted so hard I thought I might throw up right there in Damon’s million dollar car.“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, shrinking back in the seat. “There’s a whole damn army out there.”Damon, cool as ever in a tailored black suit and those stupidly perfect sunglasses, glanced over at me with a crooked grin. “Welcome to the circus, husband.”I shot him a glare. “Stop calling me that.”His smirk widened. “But it suits you.”Before I could come up with a smart-ass response, the driver opened Damon’s door, and the cameras went wild. The flashes reflected off the car like a disco ball, and for a split second, I considered diving onto the floor and hiding under the seat.Damon slid out like he’d done this a thousand times, which,

DAMON I closed the door to Alex’s room with a soft click, leaning against it for a second longer than necessary. My heartbeat hadn’t quite settled from the moment before that single, suspended breath between us when his lips were just within reach. I could still feel the heat radiating off his damp skin, the ghost of a droplet trailing down his chest.And that towel.Christ.A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth as I exhaled, rubbing a hand down my face. If I’d stayed a second longer, I would’ve caved. I almost did. Hell, I’d wanted to kiss him so badly it physically hurt to pull away.Patience, Damon.I had waited this long.I straightened, the polished floors reflecting the flicker of dimmed hallway lights as I made my way to my study. The mansion was quiet now, the staff retiring for the evening, the endless hum of the day settling into peaceful silence. In here, the world felt manageable. Predictable.Unlike him.I poured myself a drink, something dark and smooth with a bite t