Chapter 66

This was hands down the best date I’d ever been on, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. I didn’t need to inflate his ego any more than it already was.

As we prepare to leave, he guides me down the stairs, his hand securely holding mine. He positions himself in front of me, ready to catch me should I stumble in my heels.

Reaching the bottom, he doesn’t release my hand. We move together towards the elevator, which opens immediately. The building is eerily quiet tonight, a result of his careful planning to ensure our solitude.

He leans against the elevator wall, his gaze intense as he studies me. He doesn’t need to say anything; our hands are entwined, our fingers brushing against each other in a silent conversation.

I feel like I’m floating on cloud nine, a giddy teenager once again. As we reach the ground floor, I glance out the windows to see paparazzi stationed outside.

“Great,” he comments with a hint of sarcasm. “Okay, so...I have a driver waiting for us in my Audi. It’s right out front. Just keep walking and ignore them, alright? Stay close to me, baby doll.”

Halfway through his sentence, the flashes start going off, and all I want to do is sprint to the car. He opens the door for me, and the flashes intensify, the screams growing louder.

“Did you take her out, Carter? Is it official between you two?”

“How was your date?”

“Did you rent out the building for her, Knox?”

“Did you propose?”

“Let’s see the ring!”

“You look beautiful tonight, Alex!”

“That guy just stole my line,” Knox whispers to me, making me laugh. We reach the car, and he opens the door for me to slide in. He slips into the back seat with me, and the driver pulls away from the building, heading towards Knox’s condo where we’re both staying.

The entire journey home, we’re pursued by the relentless flashes from the paparazzi’s cameras. We maintain a careful distance from each other, trying to appear as though we’re not cozying up.

But I miss his touch. I keep my head down, my face as covered as possible from the intrusive cameras.

Stepping out of the car, I walk with Knox, greeted by a mix of fans and paparazzi. I continue walking while he pauses to sign a few autographs.

The blast of air conditioning hits me as I enter the building, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin. I wave at the receptionist behind the gleaming white desk, a friendly face I met yesterday.

It’s midnight now, and I notice the elevator dinging beside me. A group of girls strut out, their bodies showcased in tight dresses and playsuits. I recognize them from yesterday, including Tara.

As they prepare to leave, Tara spots me and stops. The rest of them turn their pretty heads towards me and approach.

Just what I needed. I groan out loud before she comes within hearing distance.

“Awww, did he fuck and dump you? Yeah, that’s what I thought. He always comes back to me. I feel bad for you, you thought you actually had a chance with him.”

Her condescending tone grates on my nerves, but I simply smile at her, refusing to waste my breath. Her friends snigger like mean girls in a movie, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

I roll my eyes at their childishness. Knox enters the building, pausing to chat with an older lady. They share a laugh, their conversation continuing.

“Stay the fuck away from him, he’s my man. Got it? I will bring you down one story at a time. I’m the one he wants, not you, or anybody else for that matter,” Tara spews, her words laced with venom.

I’ve had enough of her mouth. It’s time to shut her up.

“He only fucked you for convenience. Don’t think of yourself as special because you’re not. You’re like the rest of them. So get off your high horse and keep walking.”

Knox makes his way over to me, placing a hand on my back. I stand there, sizing Tara up. She may be taller, prettier, and have a better body than me, but I know I have one advantage—I’m smarter than her.

“Everything good here?” Knox asks, and I turn to face him and the older woman, who is squinting at Tara. I nod, but Tara interrupts with a squeaky protest.

“No, Knox, she was being so bitchy to me. Like she called me all these names—” She starts to fake cry, and I can’t help but groan and roll my eyes.

“I don’t like her, just come out with us and she can get a hotel or something,” she pleads, grasping his arm and trying to pull him towards the door. He removes her hand quickly and guides me towards the elevator.

The older lady follows us, and we all step into the elevator, leaving Tara glaring at me from the lobby.

“She can be a right spoiled brat when she wants to be. Don’t worry about her, just ignore her. She’s been like that since the first day she moved in here with daddy’s money—”

The woman has a British accent and extends her hand to me. “I’m Sally,” she says, and I shake her hand, introducing myself.

“This the girl you’ve been telling me about, Carter?” she teases Knox, who blushes slightly, making me smile.

“Uh—maybe?” He rubs the back of his neck, looking over at Sally with an embarrassed grin. “Sally is like another mom to me. She bakes a lot and sends them up to me, trying to make me fat.”

“Kind of like what your mom does to me,” I quip, sparking laughter from both of us in the steel cage of the elevator. As it reaches her floor, she steps out, waving and shooting Knox a playful wink and a thumbs up.

Then, it’s just us. Alone in the elevator, he takes my hands, pulling them closer to his body as he leans against the sidewall. Our fingers intertwine once he’s satisfied with our proximity.

I smile up at him, and he returns it, biting his lip. He ducks his head down to my level and murmurs, “Tonight was perfect for me. I hope you liked it, baby doll.”

“I enjoyed myself, Knox, thank you. Who knew under that tough exterior you’d be such a softy,” I tease him gently, while he continues to draw me closer.

“Who knew you’d be such a goo—” His words trail off as he pulls me closer with each syllable until his lips meet mine, effectively silencing me. Not that I’m complaining.

His hands release mine to cup my face, making the kiss more intimate. The elevator dings, interrupting us before we can take it any further.

He twirls me around, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and guiding me to the red doors. He pushes them open with his key card and, taking hold of my waist, he lifts me onto his kitchen island, stepping in between my legs.

“Where were we?” He smirks, and his lips find mine once more. The touch of his lips is smooth and warm, making me melt from the inside. I’m just a puddle of goo on the countertop.

He slides his tongue along my lower lip, asking for permission, and I open up, allowing our tongues to meet and caress each other gently. There’s no rush with this kiss; we’re simply exploring each other’s mouths softly and intimately.

His hands cup my face again while I let my hands roam up his chest, wrapping both arms around his neck to pull him closer. The kiss deepens, but the pace remains the same.

Tilting our heads from side to side slowly, he releases a throaty moan when my hands start to play with his hair. I know he likes that.

His hands travel down to my waist before he wraps his arms around me, making our bodies touch even more. I don’t know how long we kissed, but we came in around midnight, and I don’t want it to stop.

We pull away from each other, panting heavily, our foreheads resting against each other’s. He’s the first to speak.

“That... was amazing... wow... baby doll... today was amazing for... me... Can I take... you out on another date?” His chest rises and falls against mine, and I smile and nod at him, giving him a light peck.

“Really? I get another one?” I start to laugh at how adorable he’s being. He’s like a child on Christmas morning. He punches the air and bellows out a “Yes!” grinning like he’s just won the lottery.

“I mean, I’ll have to run it by Adam,” I tease, poking his nose and causing another grin to form on his face.

“I can handle a three-year-old, don’t you worry, baby doll. He needs to learn how to share anyway,” he jokes back.

“Something you Carter boys have to learn,” I flirt with him. He rolls his eyes and huffs playfully.

“I don’t share, especially when it comes to a girl I like,” he declares, kissing me once more before setting me down off the counter.

We both change into our night clothes and head to bed, saying goodnight to each other and exchanging far too many goodnight kisses to count.

An hour later, I can’t sleep. I’m tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position, but my mind is racing through the events of the day. My stomach is full of excited butterflies, and I can’t wipe the grin off my face.

That’s it, I decide. I’m going to stay with him in his room. I always sleep better with him.

~Or should I? I mean, you just had your first date with him. Does it not seem desperate?~ I debate with myself.

I open my door and walk across the hallway to see his door is closed shut.

~Turn back around and fall asleep, Alex. Don’t come off the same way the other girls have with him.~

~But I’ve slept with him before, like actually slept, no funny business.~

~That was before you went out on a date with him.~

~But I can’t sleep.~

~That’s it. I’m going in.~

After pacing outside his door, debating whether I should go in, I open his door to find the lights off and the sound of even breathing. He’s asleep.

I close the door behind me and walk carefully over to the bed he’s lying in and pull back the covers. I slide in beside him, causing him to stir a little, and I shuffle across the sheets to cuddle up to him.

He flips his body over from his side onto his back and whispers, “Come here, baby doll.” He lifts me up so I’m lying on top of his body with his arms around me, pulling up his covers so I’m comfortable.

I smile into his chest and lie happily on top of him. He kisses my head and his hands travel down my back, resting on the lower part of it. I fall asleep on him instantly, as if I’d never had trouble before. It was perfect.