The doors slid open and Eva emerged from the elevator with her heart pounding in her chest. She slowly approached Alexander’s apartment, only to see the door left unlocked. What was wrong with Alexander? Did he know she would be here to collect her phone? She pushed the door slightly but froze at hearing the sounds of their yelling coming from inside.
“Why are you overreacting? All I did was kiss you. We’re engaged, for God’s sake,” yelled Beatrix.
“Don’t fu*king touch me, Beatrix. We may be engaged, but it’s only out of compulsion. You do not have my heart or soul. The next time you force yourself on me, I won’t be so nice.” Eva’s eyes widened at Alexander’s tone. There was no doubt he was trembling with fury!
“I have every right to kiss my fiance. If you have a problem, check your se*ual orientation. Every couple does much more. They live together and enjoy physical intimacy with each other, but here you are threatening me because of a little kiss. Are you sure you’re straight?” she gritted out, clearly not subdued by his threat.
Eva felt shocked to see the actual state of affairs between them. She was right that something was really amiss. However, she now knew exactly what was wrong with them! So, why did Alexander react this way to a simple kiss from Beatrix when he had kissed her many times of his own free will? Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a crazy sense of euphoria spread all over her. Despite Beatrix’s claim, they didn’t have the magic in their relationship that she and Alexander shared with one another!
“How dare you insinuate such a thing? Get out, now!” growled Alexander, surprising Beatrix.
“You are angry because I’m right,” she said bravely.
“Get out, now Beatrix, before I forget that you’re a woman. I’m very much straight, but it’s a pity that you cannot arouse me in any way,” he spat at her.
“Really? On the contrary, no woman can arouse a grouch such as you, Alexander. I pity you,” said Beatrix, marching towards the door to leave while Alexander stormed into his bedroom. Eva immediately rushed to the corner to hide behind a pillar after hearing Beatrix approaching the main door. They shouldn’t know that she had witnessed their fight. Beatrix stormed out in a fit of rage towards the elevators while Eva stood hidden with her breath stuck in her throat. After she left, Eva went towards Alexander’s door, relieved to find the door still open. She tiptoed inside and looked around for her mobile phone. It was nowhere to be seen. Where could Alexander have kept it? Was it still in his car?
Eva stood indecisively outside his bedroom, wondering whether to knock or go inside. She had no wish to face him after knowing the mood he would be in. That heated exchange with Beatrix surely would have him boiling with anger, on the verge of an explosion. Yet she needed her phone badly. It had the new duty schedule that Nurse Solomon had sent her earlier. She hadn’t been able to check her new timings for tomorrow.
Taking a deep breath and saying a silent prayer, she knocked on his door. “Get lost, Beatrix,” yelled Alexander from inside. Eva rolled her eyes and gathered all the courage she had within her. She peered inside and blinked to focus well in the dim lights. However, she stilled the moment she saw him sitting on his bed, scrolling through her phone!
What the hell was he doing with her phone? How could he access her phone in her absence? She hadn’t expected him to stoop so low. How did he unlock it in the first place? ‘That’s easy. Who asked you to set the password to Alex?’ reminded her inner mind. Still, she was furious at his behavior and stormed inside angrily. Going near him, she stood with her hands on her waist, right in front of him.
“And what exactly do you think you’re doing, Alexander?” she asked, already flushed and angry. Startled, Alexander looked up to see a mad Eva within kissing distance from him. Beatrix’s words echoed in his head, driving him crazy.
Are you sure you’re straight?
No woman can arouse a grouch such as you, Alexander.
I pity you.
“Eva!” he groaned, his eyes darkening to portray the storm brewing inside him. No, Beatrix was wrong. There was someone who aroused him to the point of no return, and she was right in front of him. Wearing a pristine white, simple dress, her face glowed under the dim lights of his bedroom, attracting him like a magnet. Her silky strands invited him for a touch. How long could he deny himself when she was here, right in front of him? He wasn’t so strong!
Before Eva could realize what was going on in his mind, his arm shot out and grabbing her wrist, pulled her onto his lap. Shocked out of her wit, Eva tumbled over him, straddled on his lap, her face inches away from his.
“What the hell?” she gasped, more out of shock than fury. Alexander caught the back of her neck and crashed his lips to hers fiercely, hungrily, taking her by surprise. Her body involuntarily responded, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to support her traitorous body. His mouth totally enveloped hers and he nudged her lips apart to plunge his tongue deep within. Instantly, her body came alive just as it did every time he kissed her! His tongue slid against hers, slowly intoxicating, deepening the kiss to a new level altogether.
Eva was powerless to resist him, feverishly returning his kiss, surrendering to her own need for him. As he devoured her mouth, his arm pulled her closer into his body, till not an inch of space was left between them. Molded against him, she could feel how aroused he was, and a sense of happiness filled her heart, knowing it was only because of her. He hadn’t felt this at all with Beatrix! They both battled for domination like wild cats, not getting enough of one another.
His hand traced her bare legs, stroking them, inching slowly upwards. The dress hitched up to her waist as she sat straddled on his lap, revealing her white lace panties. Soon, his fingers reached her hips and dipped inside her underwear. A deep moan escaped her, but she instantly froze. Whatever the situation was between him and Beatrix, he was still engaged to her. This was wrong! This was betrayal!
“No, Alexander. I can’t do this,” she cried, wrenching her mouth free as panic settled inside her heart. How could she have forgotten her resolution of staying away from him? He wasn’t hers. He belonged to Beatrix now. Alexander froze, but didn’t have the mental strength to let her go.
“I can’t do this. You aren’t mine,” she whispered, getting up from his lap with tears in her eyes. He could see the hurt clearly in them as she took a step backward. Then, picking up her phone that was lying beside him, she ran out of his apartment and down the stairs as if chased by demons. Tears fell from Eva’s eyes as she realized just what she had done. How could she forget herself and stoop so low? No, this shouldn’t have happened. She had to stay away from Alexander.
She entered Alyssa’s apartment and went straight to her room in a dazed state. Staring at her swollen lips in the mirror, she burst into helpless sobs. Why was it this way? She knew Alexander desired only her. She knew that the magic she shared with him was no ordinary feeling. The need they felt for one another was unique. You don’t feel that way with everyone. It was a once-in-a-lifetime feeling that should be cherished, but how could she when Alexander failed to acknowledge it?
Alexander sat in the dark, dimly lit room in a state of daze. There was no denying the magic he shared with her. Why did he always lose his mind when she was around? Why can’t he feel a thing for anyone else than her? The whole evening he had been waiting to have dinner with her, to see her, to talk to her. Despite being with Beatrix, his attention had been solely on her. Why? It couldn’t be just out of concern for her. This definitely was something deeper. Was he in love with her? Was this strange, intoxicating feeling, love? He loved Eva, and it didn’t happen overnight. His subconscious mind had always loved her. It answered why he always behaved so strangely around her.
He closed his eyes and fell backward onto his bed, unable to believe it. Alexander Van Every was finally in love, that too with a girl, six years younger than him! He hadn’t even realized when she sneaked into his heart and stole it away!
Now the biggest question was, what would he do? How could he get rid of Beatrix from his life without hurting his parents? It was like he was back at square one!