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“Now I need to prepare for the invasion of privacy that’s going to potentially come hurtling in this direction, all because you two couldn’t keep it in your pants until you got back to the hotel.” Francine pointed a bony finger at Alex again. “Everythingwe planned is going perfectly. The last thing you need is a shitty headline.” She waved her hand slowly across the imaginary headline. “Sasha’s sex shocker in holy crypt.” She clapped her hands together. “Bravo.”

“This is my fault.” Alex sighed. “You’re right, okay, whatever happens, it’s on me. I seduced her—”

“You did not,” Morgan jumped in. “You make it sound like I’m some naïve girl who didn’t understand what was happening.”

Alex turned abruptly back to Morgan, thrusting out a hand to her. “I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant at all. I just mean, this is on me. I know the game, and I should have considered that before getting you involved.”

“So, you wouldn’t have got involved had you thought more about it?” Morgan began to feel an anger brewing.

“No, I’m not saying that.” Alex sighed. “Look, you and I will go back to the hotel and talk, and you and I,” she turned to Francine, “will talk in the morning.”

“Oh, you bet we will,” Francine said, storming off just as Mack appeared at the door. His brow was raised, but he said nothing, turning to speak to his man who’d been guarding the door and could easily fill him in.

“I’m sorry,” Morgan whispered.

Alex turned slowly. “What for?”

Red cheeks and the threat of tears faced her. “Because…well, I wasn’t quiet, and—”

“Do you think I wanted you quiet?” Alex’s eyes bore into her. “I should have had the sense to wait, that’s what I meant, but I didn’t. I let my euphoria and need for you overrule my headand—” She shook herself. “This is all on me.” She leaned in and kissed her slowly. “All on me.”

“It’s not all on you. I really wish you would stop doing that,” Morgan said.

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“Then stop, stop treating me as though I’ve had no say in this, or that I’ve just followed along like a lost little sheep. I’m in this because I’m utterly attracted to you, and I don’t care who knows it. I don’t take my clothes off for you because you demand it and I’m just too weak to say no. I do it because right there and then, I want you to fuck me till I’m ruined, do you understand?”

Exhaling slowly, Alex nodded. “Yes, I understand. I’m sorry.”

She went to walk away, but Alex grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“Never apologise to me for enjoying what we do together. I want to play your body like a symphony. Every moan or gasp, every time you cry out, I like hearing it. I want to hear it. I don’t ever want you to feel like you have to hold back because you’re worried about headlines. And I will protect you from those when I can, not because I think you’re weak, but because I know how this game works and they will eat you up. They will try and find every embarrassing photo of you, they will hunt down stories and find your ex-partners for any juicy titbit they can use to sell a story, all because you fell for me. I won’t just let that happen, not without a fight.”

“Well, I don’t know how we get around that without you gagging me, or sound proofing every room we end up alone in, because I’m not going to stop you from sharing the euphoria with me.” Morgan smiled.

“Gagging, huh?” Alex winked. “Now, there’s a thought.”

Chapter Fifty-One

The car ride back to the hotel had been silent. Francine sat with her head in her phone, typing frantic short messages and huffing with each send she pressed. Mack spent the short journey watching every car and pedestrian they passed. And Morgan stared absently out of the window, aware that this was not the time and place to try small talk.

When the car stopped outside of the hotel, Alex opened the door and got out.

“Ms Montgomery, will you please wait for me to do that?” Mack said, his patience wearing thin.

Alex rolled her eyes, and when Morgan stepped out, they all walked towards the hotel. The small gaggle of people waiting outside were all but ignored. A simple wave from Alex was all she could muster.

When they got to the suite, Mack said, “Alright, wait here and I’ll—”

“Is this really necessary?” Alex sighed. “We’re tired.”

“Won’t take a moment to quickly scan the room for any intruder,” he said confidently.

“I’ll be in my room,” Francine said, continuing down the hallway without another glance in their direction.

“We’ve really pissed her off,” Morgan said sadly.

Alex grabbed Morgan by the hand and pulled her into a tight hug.