Page 6 of Rival Hearts

2

CHARLOTTE

Alex was everything I would never have looked for in a man, and at the same time, he wasperfect.

He didn’t like talking about himself, which was the first thing I’d found endearing. He wore a suit like he dominated boardrooms rather than working in a factory, and his haughty attitude had made me think he would be full of himself when he’d walked into that party… until Candice—one of my brother’s friend’s sisters—had trapped Alex and he’d looked positively terrified.

I’d just had to save him.

And now, I was in his car, and he was whisking me away to his home, and a little voice at the back of my mind screamed at me that this was a bad idea.

I shut it down.Nothingabout Alex was a bad idea.

I didn’t really know him. I knew almost nothing about what he did, only that he liked overly expensive cars and still thought it was too much. He was aware of his shortcomings, which was the second endearing thing.

Not only that, helistened.

How many men in my life had listened? My father sure as shit never did—not to my mom while she was around, and not to me after she’d gone. My dad had believed women had to shut up and do their chores, and I’d found that a lot of men had the same attitude.

But not Alex. When I talked, he hung on every word like everything I said mattered.

If his face—chiseled and handsome with high cheekbones and steely-blue eyes, with that bold neck tattoo covering every inch of his throat —wasn’t enough to make me sit up and beg for him, then the way he looked at me like I was the only woman in the world was.

I wasn’t generally drawn to guys who were this attractive. I mean, hot was hot, sure, but usually the hot onesthoughtthey were that hot, and that just made them unattractive to me.

But Alex didn’t seem to think he was an Adonis, and that sealed the deal when he asked if we could get out of there.

We drove into an underground parking area beneath a tall high-rise in a classy area of Newport, and Alex got out.

I joined him, and he snaked his arm around my waist, and his hand branded my skin where it rested on my hip through my jeans.

He led me to the elevators and pressed the penthouse button.

Whatever he did for a living in that factory, he got him enough cash to afford the top suite of this high-rise.

In the elevator, Alex dipped his head and nuzzled my neck. It sent goosebumps over my shoulders and arms, and I gasped.

His beard tickled my skin, and I giggled, but my giggle turned into a moan as he nibbled on the delicate skin on my neck, working his way up until he sucked my earlobe into his mouth.

Holy. Shit.

My body was on fire. Heat washed over me and pooled between my legs. I was so hot for him.

The doors pinged and slid open into a private foyer, and Alex unlocked the front door to the only apartment up here. This was all his.

We went inside, and Alex closed the door behind me. I glanced around. The apartment was sleek and modern, with state-of-the-arteverything.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Alex asked.

“No,” I breathed, and I kissed him. I was thirsty, but for him.

Alex kissed me back, wrapping his arms around my body. He pressed up against me, and I could feel his hard length.

Oh, wow.

He was huge.

His tongue slid into my mouth, tasting, exploring, and I moaned. His hands slid over my body. He cupped my ass with one hand, and the other went to my neck. His hands were large and more than capable, and slowly, he made his way down my chest until his hand rested on my breast.