Page 15 of Alex (Men of Forbidden Temptation #4)

ELISE

A fucking helicopter.

That’s how we get to the city.

I didn’t even know Mr. Strickland or Strickland Enterprises owned a helicopter.

It was a beautiful trip up here, but for two and a half hours, I was pressed against Alex. Smelling his amber and woodsy scent. Craving him.

He kept brushing his hand against my thigh, teasing me. Whether or not it was done on purpose, I’ll never know, but I felt like I was going to explode the entire flight.

If his dad, my boss, wasn’t a few feet away, I would have moved his hand to where I really wanted it and taken things further.

Maybe next time.

I follow behind Mr. Strickland as we walk through the hotel. Our footsteps echo throughout the very elegant, upscale hotel lobby. Alex links his hand with mine as the three of us get into the elevator.

Even before Mr. Strickland pulled out a tiny golden key from his pants pocket, I should have known this wasn’t going to be a normal hotel room stay.

As soon as he inserts and turns the key in the elevator control panel, an automated female voice sounds from a hidden speaker.

“Welcome back, Mr. Strickland.”

A second later, the elevator moves.

The numbers on the control panel get higher as we arrive at each floor. I should have looked up when we first got to the hotel because there’s no telling how many floors this building has.

Fourteen.

Fifteen.

Sixteen.

Seventeen.

The elevator stops and a bell chimes as the number changes to eighteen.

As soon as the elevator doors open, my mouth falls open. Alex chuckles from beside me and cups my chin with his hand before closing my mouth.

I don’t know what I was expecting the hotel room to look like, but it wasn’t a fucking house in a hotel.

“We’re staying here?” I ask Alex as we get out of the elevator.

Mr. Strickland heads down a hallway, like he knows exactly where he is going .

Alex gestures toward the expansive open room that functions as a living room, wet bar, and piano area. “Welcome to the Strickland penthouse suite.”

“Penthouse suite? So this is part hotel, part house?”

His chuckle is light and carefree. “Something like that.”

“How often do you come here?”

I can’t remember the last time Mr. Strickland missed work or was out of town, especially not with this merger quickly approaching, but I never paid attention to Alex’s schedule because he was never consistent with his work days.

“Not as much as I’d like.” At my frown, he adds, “Don’t get me wrong, I love the beach, but there’s something about the hustle and bustle of city life that I miss. The late night cravings that end with ordering too much Chinese food, or the twenty-four-hour diners.”

That does sound convenient and enjoyable. I can picture a pleasant life in the city, but as much as it pains me to say this, the beach will always be home.

“Come on.” Alex pulls on my hand. “Let me show you to your room. Dad’s room is down on that end of the house with an office and a conference room, and our rooms are down here.”

He opens a door and shows me his room first. It’s an enormous room that is elegantly furnished with a large king bed against one wall, a closet and bathroom on the other, and an entire wall of windows that overlook the city skyline .

“Wow, that view is incredible.”

“Wait until you see your view.” He leads me down the short hallway to the room right next door to his room.

I open the bedroom door and gasp. The room is set up almost identical to his, except this bedroom has a wall and a half of floor to ceiling windows.

“The entire corner is nothing but glass.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t shatter. Plus, look.” He points directly to the corner of the room, through the glass, to the river.

The rays of the sun are shining off the water as the sun begins to dip behind the buildings.

“Alright, let’s go.” Alex turns away from the windows and heads to the bedroom door.

I glance at my packed duffle bag. “What about my stuff?”

“You can unpack later. Let’s go shopping.”

His extra wide grin only makes me want to crawl under the covers and hide for the entire trip.

“I’d rather just stay here and relax. I saw there was a pool downstairs.” I try to think of an excuse to get out of going on a shopping trip.

Thankfully, I packed a bathing suit.

“You can go swimming tomorrow. Tonight, we’re going out and enjoying the city life.”

I walk toward him. “Fine, but if I hate the club, we leave.”

Alex purses his lips for a moment before saying, “Only if you give the club and the entire experience at least thirty minutes. ”

That seems like a really long time, but I could enjoy the night out without worrying about work or babysitting Kate.

“Deal.”

I link my hand with his and let him lead me to the elevator. Once inside, he pulls me toward him until I’m nestled in his arms.

“How are we going to get around? We don’t have a car here.”

Instead of heading out the lobby doors to the front of the hotel, Alex pulls me in the opposite direction.

“There’s a parking garage attached to this hotel and Dad and I both have a car parked here for when we visit.”

When I’m sure no one is around to see, I roll my eyes. Of course they do. They have multiple houses, so it only makes sense that they would have multiple cars as well.

“What kind of car do you keep here?”

He glances at me and grins. “You’ll see.”

I follow him through a large metal door that leads outside to the parking garage. He clicks a button on the tiny remote to unlock his car doors.

Glancing around, I try to find whichever car’s lights turn on. Flashing lights out the corner of my eye draw my attention to the right.

The car that’s currently lighting up is the perfect sky blue shade with an extra glossy sheen to it.

If I thought his car at home was a luxury sports car, this one blows that one out of the water .

“A Corvette?” I ask in disbelief.

He nods but says, “Not just any Corvette. It’s a Z06.”

I don’t know what those numbers mean, but clearly he does.

He opens my door, allowing me to slide in. The black and blue leather seats scream racecar, but they cup my body in all the right ways.

After closing my door, Alex walks around to the driver’s side and slides into his seat. He starts the car, and it purrs to life.

The roar of the engine as he pulls out of the parking garage and punches the gas, causes my stomach to perform several somersaults.

Alex glances over at me with worry in his eyes. “Am I driving too fast?”

“No.”

I’m not lying. He hasn’t been able to drive faster than fifty miles per hour.

His eyebrow raises. “You look like you’re going to be sick.”

“I’m fine. This car is definitely a different caliber than your other one.” This car likes to growl and move the millisecond his foot pushes down on the pedal.

Alex’s grin widens. “Yeah, this one is so much better.”

I guess faster and louder means better.

I sink into the seat as Alex navigates the crowded streets. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people walk on the sidewalks dipping in and out of shops and restaurants.

Alex pulls into a parking garage and parks on the bottom floor. There are only a few cars parked here.

“Where are we going?”

Alex grabs my hand and pulls me towards the pedestrian exit as he locks his car doors. “Just around the corner.”

True to his word, as soon as we round the corner, Alex pulls me into a boutique.

The lady behind the cash register smiles at Alex before letting her gaze wander over his very toned body. “What can I help you find today?”

“We’re shopping for club attire.”

Her gaze moves from him to me and immediately turns into a frown.

I know what she’s thinking. How did a sexy as fuck guy like Alex end up with someone not sexy like me? He should be with someone like her. Someone who travels the world and lives in the big city.

Alex pulls me into his arms. His whisper is like a growl in my ear. “Don’tdo that.”

I turn my head to whisper back, “Do what?”

“Whatever you were just thinking, stop. I can see the look on your face, and I don’t like it.”

When I nod, he pulls me over to a wall full of dresses.

“What do you think about something like this?” He holds up a dress that looks like it’s the length of a t-shirt. Not to mention the huge cutouts along the sides.

“No, thanks. Plus, I don’t think a dress is such a good idea, especially a really short one. I don’t want everyone seeing what color panties I’m wearing.”

Alex’s eyes darken as he swallows. “I want to see.”

I chuckle as I walk deeper into the store. “You can see whenever you want. Just not while we’re dancing at the club.”

The lady rolls her eyes and plays with something on the counter as I walk past.

“What about shorts?” Alex asks, while holding up a pair of black shiny shorts.

“I don’t know. Doesn’t it get chilly at night here? I mean, we are further north. Also, what if someone spills a drink? Then my legs will be sticky and messy.”

Alex puts them back.

Rack after rack, we look at the clothes and weigh every option before putting them back where we found them. Alex takes it all in stride and never complains.

In fact, I think he’s enjoying this more than I am.

Alex disappears for a few moments before coming back, just as I’m ready to give up.

“I got you a fitting room. Try on the outfit I picked out and let me know what you think.”

“Is it something short and skimpy?”

He leans his head back and laughs. “No. Quite the opposite. I chose a pair of pants. ”

That’s a surprise. I figured he would choose the smallest amount of clothes possible.

“Okay, I’ll try it on. It’s not like I’ve found something better.”

He leads me toward the fitting rooms. “Thank you. I’ll be sitting right here on this couch. Take your time.”

Nervously, I head inside the large fitting room. There’s a fan attached to the top of the wall, gently blowing a soft cool breeze.

In one corner, there’s a plush chair next to a bench. The back wall is a giant mirror.

I take my time studying the clothing items before slipping them on. Giving my reflection a once over, I make my way out of the fitting room to show Alex.

He stands and walks over to me as I do a playful twirl for him.

The black leather leggings hug me like a second skin and the shimmery silver halter top bares my entire back and is only connected at the small of my back.

This outfit feels luxurious and expensive.

“I’ve never had clothes this nice before. I almost don’t want to wear them.”

Alex leans back to look me in the eye. “Why? This outfit was made for you.”

I step in front of the large mirror that’s hanging on the wall. He’s right, this outfit fits me so well and makes me look and feel sexier than I ever have, so I tell him the truth .

“I don’t have extra money to waste on frivolous things. I just signed a new lease on my apartment, and my fucking landlord decided to double my rent.”

The money I was planning on putting towards mom’s medical bills is now going to rent.

“Who’s your landlord?”

Does it really matter? Alex can’t do anything about it when I already signed the lease.

I rattle off his name, anyway. “Cole Williamson.”

Alex scoffs. “He’s a greedy motherfucker. I’d offer to talk to him for you, but that wouldn’t do any good. Everyone knows he’s the town shark.”

That’s the perfect description of him. He senses fear and exploits it.

I look at my reflection and sigh. “I need a miracle to terminate my lease, so I can find a cheaper place.”

And hopefully a cleaner, safer, and nicer place.

I turn to the side to check out my ass in the mirror. These pants impress me with how great they make me look.

Alex wraps his arms around my waist from behind. “I really, really, really, love this outfit. I think you should go take it off, so I can pay for it before I follow you back into your fitting room and say fuck going out.”

His words give me all the encouragement I need. I turn around in his arms and crash my lips to his .

His hand trails up the nape of my neck and tangles itself in my hair.

Before the kiss can get carried away, I head back to the fitting room to change back into my normal clothes.

I love the way I feel in this sexier outfit, and Alex seems to love it just as much. I refrain from looking at the price tags because I know they are way too much, and I’d probably have a heart attack if I knew.

Alex pays for my new outfit as I get dressed. I meet him at the front doors.

“Ready to head back?” He asks.

“Sure, but we probably need to eat something before we dance the night away. Or whatever you’re planning on doing all night.”

He waits until we are outside and heading to the parking garage to speak. “If I have the option, I’d love to do you all night.”

My face flames. “I meant at the club.”

“There too. I’ll take you anywhere you let me.”

He opens the passenger door of his car for me and closes it once I am seated inside before taking his seat behind the wheel.

“How about in this car?” I ask, thinking he wouldn’t want to risk getting such a nice car dirty.

Alex doesn’t hesitate. “Hell yeah. Right here, right now.”

I giggle as I try to come up with another option. “Nude beach?”

He shrugs. “Sure, why not? ”

“On top of a building?” Not that I know of any building that we would have roof access to.

“Anytime, anywhere, baby girl.”

My insides melt and a fire burns in my core at his nickname for me. It takes all my strength to not reach over and rub his very obvious erection.

He drives back to the hotel and parks in the same spot as before.

“How about we grab a quick bite to eat at the restaurant here, and then get changed and head to the club?”

Remembering how sexy I felt in the club outfit, I grin and say, “I can’t wait.”