Alex grinned, happiness exploding inside his heart. “Right.”
“Okay.”
“Zander!” Jillian’s blonde head appeared at table level. “Come pway!”
“Okay!” Alex was sorry the moment with Angel was interrupted, but he adored Jillian. “I’m all yours.”
“Yay!” Jillian clapped as Alex stood.
He was about to let go of Angel’s hand and go off with Jillian but he stopped. “Why don’t you come play, too, Anga.” He smirked at her. “You’re so good at playing,” he insinuated with a wink. Angel laughed lightly, and blushed despite herself. Alex was always surprised at how often she left him stunned. She was so beautiful, and he loved her more than anything.
“Yeah, Anga! You come!” Jillian insisted.
Becca slid back into the booth, laughing. “Go practice, you two.”
Angel shot her a warning look.
“Yes, let’s practice,” Alex agreed, bending to lift Jillian with one arm while still holding Angel’s hand. “What should we play?” he asked the little girl.
4
Under Wraps
Alex was anxious about the coming evening. He’d spoken to his father about Angel more than his mother, but that was to be expected. He spent more time alone with his father over business lunches and at the office, and since his mom was constantly nagging him to settle down, he’d always done his best to avoid the subject with her. Alex had no doubt his father would be taken with Angel, as she was accomplished and beautiful, even though Charles would be decidedly pickier about his son’s choice than his mother would. And he might be shocked that Alex had gotten so serious so fast, given his past aversion to commitment. His mother, Cora, had never worked outside the home, but she was heavily into the charity scene, which would give her and Angel quite a lot to talk about. This was going to be good. Finally, his mother would get what she’d been after since he’d graduated college.
His father made reservations for 7 PM at Chicago Cut, which was an elegant steak house complete with white linen, candlelight, and crystal. It was one of Charles’ favorite places to take Cora; the food was delicious and consisted mostly of succulent steak and fresh seafood. There were private dining rooms, and Alex had no doubt one of those had been reserved. This was an important evening, and noise and distractions of others dining nearby would not be allowed to intrude.
He was anxious, but Alex sensed Angel was nervous. She’d taken the afternoon off to shop and had Cole deliver her to his apartment without protest, allowing the couple to get ready together. Alex could see her distorted image through the steamy glass on the shower door in his large bathroom, water rushing over him as he rinsed his hair. She was still wrapped in a towel, her hair in some obnoxiously large rollers the size of beer cans, and rubbing lotion scented like her perfume all over her legs. He loved that scent, mixed in with the smell of her body, which was already ingrained in his subconscious. He loved how, when she was excited and the pulse at the base of her throat throbbed, the heat released it all around him when he made love to her. His cock twitched at the direction of his thoughts, and he chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. I just like having you here. I never thought I’d want to share a bathroom with all this girly shit, but it’s nice.” He smiled and turned to rinse off his body, away from her so maybe she wouldn’t see the reaction of his body at her mere presence. Not that he needed or wanted to hide it, necessarily, but they had reservations, and tonight was important. He didn’t want to be late by starting something he would need to finish. “Are you feeling okay about tonight?”
By now, Angel had placed an overnight bag on the vanity, flipped it open, withdrew a small, pale pink bag filled with her makeup, and was putting some sort of moisturizer on her face. She was beautiful, without a stitch of makeup on, but when she made herself up, she was stunning. He couldn’t wait for the first seconds of his father’s reaction.
Alex’s thoughts raced back to their first night together; the near backless dress that had given him a perpetual boner the entire evening and later. He groaned inwardly as his erection bloomed full and hard, throbbing and bobbing as if it had a mind of its own. Fuck, he mused. He shut off the water and grabbed the towel he’d hung over the top of the shower, waiting for his use.
“I’m a little bit on edge. I can’t decide if I’m anxious or excited.”
Alex stepped out of the shower, his hair dripping, water cascading down his muscled arms, broad shoulders and chest, and the towel hanging on and supported only by his dick. He grinned at her, and Angel’s brown eyes slid down his body. The corner of her mouth lifted, and her eyebrow cocked simultaneously.
“Looks like you’re the excited one.”
“Yeah, but we can’t,” he said regretfully, running the flat of his hand down her back, over the curve of her butt, stopping to squeeze playfully. “I was remembering our first night together. After Tru.” He bent to kiss her shoulder, lingering over the soft, scented skin; he ran the tip of his nose along its line. “Mmmm… you smell amazing.”
Angel watched them both in the mirror that was half-fogged over with steam; a shiver running through her and making goose bumps pop out on her arms. She couldn’t tear her eyes from the reflection.
He was so beautiful. Physically perfect with that gorgeous face, but also so loving and protective. She heard it in his voice, could see it in his green eyes as they smoldered over her, and felt it in his briefest touch. His lips moved up the curve of her shoulder to the cord of her neck, his hot breath mixing with the soft sucking of his open mouth, and a shiver skittered over the entire surface of her skin. She leaned into him slightly and closed her eyes. It felt right, being here with Alex. Her heart overflowed, and she wanted nothing more than to melt into him and disappear. “I love you,” she stated softly.
Alex’s gentle nuzzling stopped suddenly as he lifted his head to look at her, but the hand at her hip pulled her tightly against him. God, were more absolute words ever spoken? Angel was still facing the mirror, and Alex watched her profile. Her hand came up to cover his in a gentle squeeze.
“Yeah. This is it. Us, I mean.” There was no hesitation or question in his voice. He commanded this as he did everything else, except it didn’t sound or feel like it to Angel. It was a simple statement of the inevitability that was Alexander Avery. If she didn’t have a choice; it was because of God or fate or the revolving of the planets as much as it was Alex’s subtle demands.
This is it. Thud. Angel’s heart banged against her chest with the strength of an atomic bomb. It was true. She knew it, too. She was going to grow old with this man. Her eyes burned and her throat ached. Alex’s hand wrapped around the back of her neck, his thumb rubbing beneath her ear as he used the hand at her hip to turn her fully into his embrace. His eyes burned, into hers, his hard cock pressing into her stomach; she couldn’t help herself, her body leaned into his, pushing against his erection as her arms slid up his arms and over his shoulders to hold him back.
His breath rushed over her lips, and his forehead touched hers as he waited for her response.
“Yes, it is.”
Alex’s heart swelled to the point of pain as a brilliant smile lit up his handsome face. He didn’t realize how much he needed to hear her admit she was his, would be his… always. It hurt, yet it was a relief; one he craved.
“Right, so don’t be anxious about tonight.” He smiled gently, pulling her into a tight hug, his hands sliding down, both hands moving up beneath the edge of her towel to cup her naked ass and squeeze. They were so close, his towel now discarded, and he wanted nothing more than to throw hers to the floor and take her right there. He wouldn’t, but he couldn’t resist a passionate kiss, his mouth claiming hers in hungry ardor.
“Oh, babe,” he groaned, finally pulling his mouth away. Angel sucked on his lower lip and nipped at it with her teeth, her breathing heavy. “I wish we had time. I’d lay you out and lick every inch of you.”
She
let out a breathy sigh, her fingers digging into his back, her forehead coming to rest against the smooth skin of his neck. “I know. I wish I didn’t have to go to the station later, either.”
“I can call Darian,” Alex said softly, his voice a low, hungry growl. “We could go to the estate and stay the whole weekend alone together.” She was still wrapped in the arms of this glorious, naked man, and she never wanted to leave.
Angel wanted to kick herself for being so fucking Angel. “It’s too last minute to bail on him. I can’t. Dammit!”
“That’s another job you should re-think.” Alex reluctantly released her and retrieved his towel from the dark brown marble floor. Soon, it was covering his head and he was briskly rubbing his hair dry as he moved from the bathroom into the bedroom.
Angel frowned. “So, do you intend to lock me in the basement as your sex slave, then? Is that to be the only thing I’m good for?”
“No.” It came as a low rumble from the other room. “But it sounds good in theory, and I’d make it worth your while.”
Angel’s lips curved into a soft smile. No doubt. She resumed her makeup application and could hear Alex moving around, opening dresser drawers as he began to dress. It wasn’t long before he reappeared in dark dress slacks and a light yellow, Egyptian cotton button-down. The fabric had a soft, but very expensive sheen to it, and it was still unbuttoned over his magnificent chest. Angel couldn’t help letting her eyes soak him in while he went about shaving and putting a small amount of hair gel through his dark strands. He wasn’t wearing a belt, and the top button to his slacks was also open, leaving the thin trail of hair that moved south from his navel visible. He was so hot. She licked her lips then reached for a dark burgundy lip gloss and began to apply it to her full lips, trying to ignore the way her body was reacting, the scent of his cologne wafting around her in a delicious dance.
Alex was watching her in the mirror beside him as she applied it. Her face was perfectly made up, her hair now piled on top of her head in soft curls, some falling out in a deliberate mess that was absolutely irresistible. Her brown eyes were glowing out of a lush blanket of black lashes and smoky shadow. “You’re so gorgeous; you should be illegal.”
“Funny, I was thinking how completely fuckable you are.”
He glared at her with mock admonishment. “Don’t start with me.”
She smiled and turned into the bedroom to retrieve the dress bag hanging on the back of Alex’s closet door. “Who would you have me start with then?” she teased softly.
He chuckled and finished getting ready, letting Angel do the same. Never in his life would he have considered sharing his space, his home, his life, with anyone. Ever. But, damn, if this wasn’t fucking perfect.
*****
Alex was a lot of things as he stepped out of the car at the valet station at the restaurant, but the most prominent was proud. It was a classy, high-end establishment, and he exited his Audi, leaving the keys in the ignition, discretely handing a folded twenty-dollar bill to the uniformed attendant.
“Thank you, Mr. Avery,” was the quiet response as the man waited to enter the car while another attendant opened the door on Angel’s side. Alex watched how the young man’s eyes widened, a small smile and a look of awed admiration settled on his face. He was little more than a boy, but he was male; and Angel was too beautiful for words.
Alex was bathed in satisfaction when she shook her head silently and waited until he was able to move around the back of the vehicle; extending his own hand to help her out of the car. Something about the gesture made him feel like a fucking god. This woman, probably the most independent he’d ever known, chose him, not just to help her from the car, but as her partner, and it made him feel invincible.
The world moved in slow motion as her manicured hand came out and found its way into his; her long legs, sheathed in sheer black silk stockings, swung around; and those amazing black pumps, which sparkled softly in the low lights of the entrance, found their way onto the pavement as he helped her from the car. Electricity passed between them as their hands touched, his warmly closing around her more delicate one.
Angel was wrapped in an elegant black shawl that completely covered her wool cocktail dress to protect her from the cool fall air, but he’d seen the breathtaking dress that lay beneath. Those incredible legs and stunning face with her classic, delicate features, red lips, and sultry eyes as she looked at him; stopped his heart. She was elegant and perfect. And, she was his. Possessiveness It reverberated through every cell of his body and filled the air around them.
Everyone knew it. Restaurant employees and other guests stopped and stared at the stunning couple as they made their way inside, though they barely noticed anyone other than each other. Alex, imposing in his perfectly tailored, black Hugo Boss suit, light yellow shirt, and patterned tie in shades of pale yellow, charcoal, and black, curved an arm around his ravishing model-esque date as he led her through the heavy cherry doors, held open by yet another uniformed attendant. The couple was elegant and perfectly groomed, as if they were stepping out of the pages of a magazine. Even with Angel in five-inch stiletto pumps and her hair piled up, Alex was half a head taller. They were a perfect match and looked magnificent together.
“Good evening, sir. Madame.” The attendant nodded.
Angel smiled at the man as Alex answered, “Good evening.”
In the entry, Alex removed Angel’s shawl and handed it to the coat check girl with another generous tip before turning her toward the hostess stand with a hand gently guiding on the small of her back. Angel’s dress had a modest neckline in front and neat cap sleeves, but the fitted style echoed her curvy figure and stopped two inches above her knees. The back had a keyhole opening that was again modest but subtly sexy. She wore a single long strand of pearls and small matching earrings. Alex thought she couldn’t have picked anything better for meeting his parents. She looked the part of a socialite who would easily fit in with his family and their obligations. He shook his head in astonishment. Angel was so many and varied things. She could be easy and carefree, angry with eyes blazing, the accomplished psychologist, the soft, sexy and sometimes demanding lover, the gentle nurturer she turned into with Jillian, or the wild cat with the potty mouth who argued with him at every turn. He fucking loved every exquisite side of her.
As they waited for the hostess to end a phone call, his lingering grin was telling.
“What is it?” she questioned. Gazing up into his face with a smile.
“Nothing. I just think you’re pretty unbelievable.”
“Birds of a feather.”
Alex laughed out loud, his eyes alight with amusement. “Right. So, let’s nest.”
Angel rolled her eyes playfully, unable to hold back a small giggle. “Well, I walked right into that one.”
“This way, please.” When the hostess asked them to follow her in, Angel took in the opulence of the restaurant as they were ushered through the main dining room toward the back of the restaurant. She noticed the clinking of the fine china and crystal, the tuxedo-clad servers, the candles twinkling, and the dark wood lining the ceiling and up the walls in sections against the rich cream wallpaper. It was nothing less than she expected, but it paled in comparison to the elation she felt being at Alex’s side. Some discrete and other not so inhibited glances told her that other women found him attractive and were envious of the possessive hand at the small of her back which guided her between the tables. The smile tugging gently at her lips would not be denied. She knew the position she was in, and she was euphoric.
They reached a small room and the woman stopped, using her arm to indicate they continue on without her. “Here you are. Your parents are already inside, sir. Enjoy your evening,” she said pleasantly.
“Thank you, Sandra.” Alex noticed the almost imperceptible lifting of Angel’s brows at his familiarity with the hostess, and his devilish grin spoke volumes. “We always came here for my mother’s birthday. It’s her favorite rest
aurant in Chicago,” he murmured in her ear. “Relax. They’re going to love you.”
Inside the small room, one table sat in the center, and a man rose from his seat next to a very elegant woman. The man was an older version of Alex, with graying at his temples and a few deeper lines to his face, but still breathtakingly handsome. His mother was elegant and beautiful, appearing much younger than her age. She had deep green eyes that matched her son’s.
“Mom, Dad, may I present, Dr. Angeline Hemming.”
His father reached for Angel’s hand and covered it warmly with his other one. “It’s very nice to meet you, my dear. I’m Charles Avery, and this is my wife, Cora.”
“Very nice to meet you.”
Alex pulled out the chair next to his mother for Angel, and once she was settled, took the one to her left.
“Perfect, son.” Charles’ eyes twinkled. “I have a very good view from here.”
“Don’t get any ideas, Dad,” Alex chided, amused. He winked at Angel.
Cora reached out and covered Angel’s hand with hers. “Don’t pay any attention to them, darling. I’ve been dying to meet you ever since Allison mentioned Alex was seeing someone.”
Angel smiled. “We’ve only been dating a short while.” She sat back as the waiter appeared and laid the linen napkin in her lap. “We’re not… um, it’s not—”
“Nonsense!” Cora scoffed. She leaned closer, happiness shining from her face. “This is a quite a big deal. My son hasn’t brought anyone to a family dinner since his senior year in high school. I was beginning to wonder if he’d ever find a nice girl and settle down. That last one…”
“Mother,” Alex warned gently. “No embarrassing childhood memories or unneeded rehashing. Angel is more than aware of my past aversion to close relationships.”
Alex’s father smiled at Angel and reached for the wine list, his expression telling her this topic was not one Alex embraced.