Page 18 of Alex (Men of Forbidden Temptation #4)

ELISE

Alex doesn’t give me time to recover from the shock of his dirty words. His lips are back on mine, eager to taste more of me, and I’m eager to see what else Alex has planned for me tonight.

That is, after I let him kiss me some more.

I moan into his mouth as his tongue swipes along my bottom lip. Wrapping my hands through his long locks, I pull him away so I can speak. “Alex, if you keep this up, I’ll drag you back into the office for round two.”

He chuckles. “I don’t mind. In fact, I have a better idea. You can help me break in my new car.”

“Your car is too small for sex.” There’s no room for two people in one seat. It would be too cramped for that kind of extracurricular activity.

“Not if you sit in my lap.” His voice is deep and husky, like he’s thought about this a time or two.

Just the thought of Alex taking me in his car without a care in the world for who could see has moisture gathering in my pants.

“I don’t know what kind of magic you have over me, Alex, but I want to be carefree and wild. I want to experience new things and I want to share them all with you. You make me a wanton woman.”

Alex growls and pushes me tighter against the wall as his erection pokes into my stomach. “You’re mine, Elise.”

The possessiveness in his tone leaves me craving more.

His mouth attacks mine, stealing all thought from my mind. His lips command mine, demanding them to part so he can explore my mouth and taste me.

This kiss is soul-consuming and mind-numbing, leaving me a whimpering mess. I cling to Alex, unable to stand on my own.

My heart races as it tries to break free from the confines of my chest. I’m falling for Alex, that much I know, but these feelings are deeper than just the fun and exciting sex we’ve been having.

Before I can process these feelings and freak myself out about how fast things seem to be moving, Alex trails kisses down my neck, lightly sucking on the skin before kissing his way back to my lips.

A shrill voice echoes off the walls of the hallway and cries out, “What in the ever loving fuck, Alex?”

It takes several moments for Alex to register his name being spoken by someone other than me .

The woman’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard, immediately chilling the lustful fire that’s burning inside of me.

After several long moments, Alex pulls away from our kiss and turns toward the angry voice.

Neither one of them speaks as I give the mystery woman a once over.

She’s tall and thin with long straight blonde hair. Her skin is perfectly tanned- more than likely thanks to a tanning salon and not from being outside for hours on end. She’s perfect in every way and definitely model material.

She reminds me of Kate, except for the long blonde hair.

Wealth and privilege ooze off of her. From her expensive designer clothing to her perfectly manicured nails, she’s the definition of excess and frivolity.

Glancing from her to Alex back to her, their narrowed brows and pursed lips alert me they know one another, and it’s more than a long-lost friendship. They intimately know one another.

There’s a lot of tension between the two of them. I can cut it with a knife. It’s almost as if it wasn’t an amicable break up.

I hold back a giggle that’s threatening to escape as I picture my favorite childhood cartoon where the character actually cuts the air with a knife.

Alex opens his mouth to speak but slams it shut and clenches his jaw when she props her hand on her hip .

“What are you doing here, Alex?” Her tone is like acid, and her glare is full of hatred.

Alex glances toward me before turning his gaze back to the blonde. “I just came to enjoy a night out on the town.”

Thankfully, he skips the part of the night out where he fucked me on an office desk.

“So why are you hanging out right outside of my father’s office, making out with some skank you just met? You know no one goes in there. There are important documents in there pertaining to the club and the workers.”

I ignore her insult about being a skank and concentrate on the pertinent information for now. There will be plenty of time to think about her jab later.

Her father owns this club? Why would Alex risk getting caught entering and exiting the owner’s office?

Alex growls and steps in front of me. “Elise is not some skank I just met.”

The mystery woman peers around Alex to give me another once over. “She’s not like me.”

I would thank her for the compliment, but I know she didn’t intend to make it sound positive. Either way, I’m glad I’m not like her. I would never dream of making a scene like this in a packed club.

Alex reaches back to grab my hand. “That’s kind of the point, Bianca. I learned from my past mistakes and have made better decisions when it comes to women. ”

My stomach somersaults as his thumb rubs circles on my hand.

Bianca scoffs. “Where did you find her? The small town where you and your dad have been holed up over the past several years?”

I don’t have to ask her opinion on small town living. Her tone says it all. Living in a small town is the equivalent of dumpster diving behind a fast-food restaurant in Bianca’s book.

Alex huffs with anger. “Have you been keeping tabs on me over the past few years? That’s a little stalkerish, even for an ex-girlfriend.”

She’s his ex-girlfriend? When and how long did they date? Why would he bring me to her father’s club? Was this night out only to try to make her jealous?

I was the one to kiss Alex and ask for sex, but he didn’t pull back and say no.

What guy would? I practically threw myself at him.

Bianca crosses her arms and rolls her eyes. “So, why did you come here?”

Alex mimics Bianca by crossing his arms across his chest. Anger radiates off him. “I already told you. I came to enjoy a night out since I’m back in town for a couple of days. If you want us to leave, just say so.”

Alex stands straighter, like he’s preparing for a fight.

Did he know his ex-girlfriend would be here? Is that why he pulled me into her father’s office? So she wouldn’t see us on the dance floor ?

I’m lost in my thoughts with these questions circling, demanding an answer. I can’t ask any questions. I can only stand by and listen to the two of them argue.

Her tightened expression softens for a moment. “Well, you did buy drinks, so I guess if you want to spend your money here, then so be it, but I could have given you free drinks, like I used to.”

“Don’t act like you care. You stopped caring long before things ended.”

He makes it seem like the breakup was her fault. Maybe it is.

Did she cheat on him?

Bianca tightens her lips but doesn’t defend her past actions. She turns her glare on me. “Who are you, if you aren’t Alex’s fling? How long have you two been seeing one another?”

I don’t answer her. I can see her fakeness from a mile away. If she wants to kick us out of her father’s club, then so be it, but I’m not giving her my name.

Alex squeezes my hand. “Her name is Elise.”

He tells her my name, but doesn’t tell her I’m his dad’s executive assistant. For that, I’m grateful. I don’t need his ex-girlfriend looking me up or trying to get me fired.

“Hmph. Isn’t that a grandma’s name? You look too young for such an old name.”

Alex interjects. “What’s your point, Bianca? Is this conversation going somewhere, or are you stalling?”

“I was just trying to make polite conversation with someone I used to know. Although, my boyfriend wouldn’t like you coming here and bringing your whores to make out in front of the entire staff.”

Her tone is completely fake, but she hooks Alex like it was her devious plan all along. Already seeing through her, I can tell there’s more going on than meets the eye.

Alex narrows his eyes at her. “Why would your boyfriend care what I do or who I bring here? Who is he?”

Alex is shaking with anger, but for a few seconds, he looks terrified. Who would scare him this much? What happened between Alex and Bianca that he actually looks worried?

Someone shoves Alex from the side. He slams into me and my back makes contact with the hard wall.

Ouch. That’s going to hurt tomorrow.

I think he can see the pain in my eyes because he swears.

“Shit. Elise, I’m so sorry. Who the fuck-”

His ex-girlfriend cuts his swear off by pushing past him. Our gazes follow her as she runs into the arms of a man that looks to be our age, but he looks like he owns the world.

Wealth, power, and control exude off him. If I thought Mr. Strickland was bad, this guy is the devil incarnate.

Alex pales, and I feel more like an outsider by the second .

I shouldn’t have come here. Or in the office, my mind adds. I should have insisted I stay at the hotel and relax. This is my vacation, too.

If I wanted to feel like an outcast, I could have stayed home. I shouldn’t be feeling like this.

The mystery man kisses Bianca with the same intensity that Alex kissed me. She giggles as the stranger squeezes her ass, pulling her body up against his.

He’s attractive in an arrogant douchebag kind of way.

His hair is cut short on the sides and a little shaggy on top. He’s either freshly shaved, or he can’t grow a mustache and beard. It helps give him a youthful look, but doesn’t help him look less dangerous.

His black piercing eyes cut through me as he gives me a once over. His gaze lingers longer than necessary, making me feel uncomfortable.

I step to hide behind Alex, but the mystery man speaks, causing me to stop in my tracks.

“Who’s the hottie?”

Alex growls and steps toward him. Bianca laughs at his statement. “I’m right here.”

The mystery man’s gaze stays locked on mine. “I meant Alex’s date.”

Bianca pulls away from her boyfriend. “Are you fucking serious right now? How dare you insult me like that?”

The man tears his gaze away from mine, takes a step toward Bianca, and whispers something in her ear.

Her face pales for a millisecond before her expression turns deadly toward me. If looks could kill, I’d be ashes on the ground.

When the man turns back to face me, Alex moves closer to me. I loop my arm in his and push my body against his side. His muscles tense, like he’s preparing for war.

I whisper so only Alex can hear me. “Alex, what the hell is going on? Who is that, and why do you hate him?”

Alex shakes his head ever so slightly.

The man clears his throat. “So, where were we?”

He glances around at the three of us before meeting my gaze and saying, “I’m Adam. Who are you?”

Bianca rolls her eyes. “That’s-”

Adam cuts her off. “I was asking her, not you.”

Bianca shuts her mouth so hard I think I hear a tooth crack. Adam gives me a friendly smile. If Alex didn’t clench his fist beside me, I would honestly think Adam was really being friendly.

“Umm, I’m Elise.”

Adam steps toward me. “Well, Elise, it’s nice to meet you. Why don’t the four of us go somewhere quieter and all get to know one another?”

The look he shoots over my head to Alex is nothing short of menacing, with a hidden agenda.

Alex shakes his head. “The fuck you will. Don’t you think you’ve taken enough from me? I won’t let you take her, too.”

Adam leans his head back and laughs.

“First off, I haven’t destroyed you nearly as much as I plan to. I plan to stop your dad’s newest acquisition and make it mine. Second, I have no plans to take Elise from you, despite how good she’d look on my arm. I’ll let her come on her own.”

Bianca and Alex turn their angry expressions to me as if I was the one who said all of that.

I want to run away. To forget tonight ever happened. To forget about Bianca and Alex’s past. To forget about Adam and all the questions swarming around my head.

I want the truth, but at what cost?

Will Alex answer my questions if we leave right now?

Will Adam and Bianca fill me in on their past?

Will the two of them lie and make Alex seem like the villain while they are the victims?

Without glancing at Alex, I give Adam a small smile. “I truly appreciate the offer, Adam, but I think Alex and I should have a chat first before the four of us sit down together. Is that alright?”

I use my patented friendly customer service voice that I’ve perfected over the past six months. It seems to work on Adam because he nods his head as he beams.

“Sure, no problem. Bianca and I will be at the bar. Come find me when you’re ready.” He winks before turning away and walking down the hallway towards the bar and dance floor.

Alex stretches his neck and lets out a long, frustrated sigh. I turn to face him and gently place my hand on his face.

“I don’t know what happened in the past, but I can promise you that Adam is the last person I’d leave you for. Can we get out of here? Can we go outside and get some fresh air while we talk?”

“Yeah. Fresh air sounds good right about now.”

“We can head back to the hotel and pretend this weird conversation never happened.”

I won’t be able to forget about it that easily, but I can see there is still bad blood between the three of them and I deserve to hear Alex’s side of things.

Besides, from the sounds of it, Adam is planning on taking over the company that I’ve put way too many hours into helping Mr. Strickland gain, and I’ll be damned if I let that arrogant asshole fuck with my work.

Alex glances around before pulling me toward the emergency exit. “I can’t drive when I’m this upset. I won’t risk your safety or your life. You deserve to know the truth about why I wanted to leave the city.”