Despite what they said, Emma could see how much Robert loved his son. Watching them, she couldn’t help but smile. It was sweet to see how much Alex cared for his father. He was, after all, the only family Alex really had.
Alex caught her eye, and she stopped breathing at the look he gave her. Moments later they were up in his room, with Alex creating a new memory for this house to hold.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ALEXANDEMMAdidn’t leave for London until late the next day. For the first time Alex felt the manor wasn’t an imposing prison for his soul, waiting for him like an over-eager jailer. The sun beamed down over the rolling hills, and even though it didn’t warm them, Alex wanted to enjoy it for just a little while.
Soon enough the life in this manor would claim him, and the freedom he craved would be gone. When that happened he would at least have these two days to think on. A small reminder that once upon a time, these walls had held laughter and that three-letter word he yearned for. Fun.
When they arrived back in London, Alex realised how well his father knew him. He had been right. Alexdidneed the city. As soon as he stepped into his flat he felt the tension that had pulled him so taut ebb away.
Alex didn’t show Emma around his flat that night. He simply took her to bed. And that was where they stayed until he blearily opened his eyes and needed a moment to figure out where he was. Then everything came rushing back and he was suddenly wide awake.
He ran a hand through his tousled hair. The room was still dark, and after finding the control pad on his side table he pressed the button that would raise the blinds. The sky beyond the large window looked like steel. He missed the sunshine.
Taking a moment before he looked over at the sleeping woman beside him, Alex still couldn’t quite believe that Emma had flown all this way to be with him and expected nothing in return. Her hair fanned over the pillow. Light was falling over the curve of her breasts, the sheet only just hiding her nipples from view. This woman—this tremendously beautiful woman—had him stirring without even trying.
Emma was still fast asleep. He rolled onto his side with his head propped up on his arm. She looked so peaceful that he didn’t want to wake her. But need coursed through him so painfully that he couldn’t bear not to.
‘Emma,’ he said softly, brushing her hair away from her face.
Her brows knitted together as she slowly woke, blinking away the sleep from her eyes. ‘Morning...’
She bathed him in a glorious smile and he felt his heart clench. Still stroking her hair, for a moment he wondered how he would ever walk away from her. Why he would want to. Their attraction showed no sign of dissipating. Frustrating. That was what it was. Because it seemed ridiculous that he should deny himself. But what if this attraction never died? Then what? He didn’t care for strings. For relationships. For love.
Emma leaned into his touch, her eyes closed. His hand slid from her hair, grazing her cheek as his thumb traced the line of her lips. Slowly, she opened her blue-grey eyes wide. The embodiment of winter. Those eyes would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Something shifted in them, as if she’d suddenly realised that for once he was there with her in bed. Alex had been so careful. Even at the manor he had always woken before she had. Broken boundaries. That was what this was. And he was the one who’d done it.
Idiot, he chastised himself.
Surprise flickered in her gaze, but then her eyes turned molten. Reflecting what she must see in his.
‘Shower first?’ His voice was rough.
She agreed. Another broken boundary.
Jets of hot water spurted overhead as the two of them climbed into the large glass cubicle. He pulled her under the water, pressed her body against his and claimed her lips in a fierce kiss. He’d wanted to see how she would fit into his life, and now he knew. Wanted it despite himself. A life with Emma. A terrifying thought. He wanted it, but he could never have it.
‘Thank you for being here,’ he said, looking down into the depths of her eyes.
‘I wouldn’t be anywhere else, Alexander.’
Emma kissed him once more. Sensing that there was some sort of vicious battle raging inside him, she wanted to lighten the atmosphere. To take him back to having a good time and taking over the world. Carry his burden. That was why she was here. Because he needed her. What he didn’t need was being needled for information. To talk about things he didn’t want to.
With the water falling around them like rain, running down their bodies and pitter-pattering, on the tiled floor, Emma kissed a line down his torso as she went to her knees. His sky-blue eyes clouded over with lust, pupils dilating as he watched her lick his length.
Emma took him in her mouth and he groaned, low and deep. He was like steel encased in velvet in her hands. Teasing him with her tongue and her fingers and her warm, wet mouth, she watched him coming apart at the seams. One of his hands gently rested on the back of her head, the other was braced against the wet tiled wall as his hips began moving of their own accord.
Emma felt more alive than she ever had. Control and power ran through her veins, along with an arousal so strong it seared through her.Shewas making Alex come apart. This man that Aphrodite herself could have carved.
‘Emma...’ he said.
A breathless warning. One she wouldn’t heed. Emma sucked deeper and his hips stilled, his body becoming rigid as he found his release. He pulled her up and kissed her thoroughly.
Laughter bubbled up, filling the space between them. Becausethathad been fun and overwhelming and consuming. Then, still breathing raggedly, and with a roguish smile, Alex returned the favour.
The breakfast that Alex had ordered was delivered soon after they got out of the shower, and Emma chose to finish her coffee out on the high-up balcony overlooking the river below. This apartment was so different from his other one. Just as luxurious. Filled with light and glass. But more masculine, with dark wood and brooding colours. The view was incredible too. There was no questioning which city she was in, with all the beautiful landmarks she could see.