CHAPTER 40

Xander's POV

Wifey❤️

Have you landed in NY? Should I come pick you? I'm not too late, am I?

I stare at the message from Alexa for the umpteenth time, my lips stretching into a smile. She has on idea I have landed in NY already and I am going to keep it like that till I return home. Even though it didn't really settle well with me that I'm leaving her on read.

‘So, this is me…” Carly drawl as we step out of the airport. I didn't even realize that we had stepped out of the airport because I've been busy staring at the text on my phone, grinning widely like a Cheshire cat.

Talk about a gone man and I shall appear.

“Do you need a ride home?” I ask my assistant, my eyes skimming over her face to be sure she is fine. The last few days we've been out of the country have been really stressful..

It had been work, endless meetings, and more work. I wanted to leave too, so I made sure we were quick with the whole thing, so I could return home on time to see my wife.

I've missed her too much to be alright.

And I can't even begin to comprehend any of it.

“Nope,” Carly shakes her head, her lips stretched in a grin. “I have everything sorted out. I'm going to leave now. And say hello to the wife!” she rushes out before I can say anything.

I stand there and watch her leave, shaking my head before I turn and head in the direction of the airport where I know the chauffeur must be waiting for me. Stanley rushes toward me the moment he sees me approaching. I nod quietly to him, suddenly feeling too tired to say anything.

I get in the car and he starts the car. My phone pings again and I pick it up from beside me. I stare at my phone, my brows creasing into a frown. It's a message from Dave, and even though all he's sent me is an address, I know what it means.

“Stanley,” I call him as I put my phone away.

“Yes, Mr. Gold?” He asks, tipping his head back to look at me briefly.

I tell him to take me to the address instead. It is time to address something I haven't been able to. Lane still hasn't left New York since the dinner whereas the others are happily settled in London again, doing their thing. We've left him to do his thing for the most part, but since he's been actively avoiding me, I haven't been able to speak to him and that sucks.

Besides, I still need his help. So, he can avoid me all he wants but I will be seeing him today.

I close my eyes and lean into my seat while Stanley transports us to the venue. When we arrive at the venue about thirty minutes later, I step out of the car and proceed into the restaurant. It's where he is currently dining even though he lives in one of the best hotels in town.

I spot him as soon as I walk in, but Lane doesn't see me which gives me time to play out how I want our exchange to go in my head. Regardless of what I have planning in my head, I get to his table, and take my seat in front of him.

Lane stiffens for a few seconds before he slowly looks up from his phone. He puts his phone away when he sees that it's me, a light smirk grazing his face.

“What a coincidence, Xander.” He says while reaching for the tumbler filled with water before him.

“Not much of a confidence if I knew where to find you.” I grumble watching the smirk disappear off his face. “Is Danielle the one keeping you away, Lane?” I ask as I reach for the bottle of alcohol on his table to fill the other glass in front of him.

“Let's skip the small talk,” His eyes narrow at me.

“No. The small talk is one of the reasons you haven't been around much. We can as well talk about it.” I insist.

“Talk about what?” His brow inches up as he glowers at me, face hardening. “Talk about how you can't get over the fact that you can't accept your ex-fiance as my now fiance? Why? Because she left you stranded?” He chuckles, running his fingers over the rim of the water glass.

“Tough, but that's not going to happen to me.”

“I love how sure you are.” I click my tongue as I stare at him, keeping my voice even. “I also love how you just admitted to her being in a relationship once with me since that somehow skipped over your head. I love how you didn't see the need to give me a fuckiinf heads up before bringing her with you to my house. To my home. My space!” I grit.

“Piss off, Xander. You could have chosen to host us anywhere but you chose your home. How is that my problem?” he glares at me.

I stare at Lane for a few seconds, tempted to punch some sense into him since he doesn't seem to have one anymore. Lane hasn't always been very considerate of other people's feelings from the onset which is why he is an idiot. But this. This is beyond me.

“I'm going to assume that you realize why thar is a problem but you are just choosing to be stupid about it. Your…fiance or not, I do not give a fuck. We've been friends for a very long time, Lane. Why you are doing this, I have no idea. But I do need your help.” I tell him, broaching the subject I really want.

“You want me to help you with Eva.” He says dryly as he puts away the water. I'm not surprised that he knows already. “Forget it,” he adds.

“Excuse me?”

“I have no interest in helping you, Xander. We may be friends but I'm not obligated to,” he adds.

I'm sitting, stunned by what he is saying. “No. But you owe me. And you owe me big time or the crap you pulled at Dinner. So start thinking about it because you're gonna help me. I'm going to make sure of that.” I tell him.

I don't wait for Lane to reply before I get on my feet and walk away. I have no idea what is going on with Lane. I have no idea what to think so I don't think.

*********

Moments later, I walk through the doors of the mansion tiredly and stop when I see my wife walking down the stairs in a black robe that leaves nothing to the imagination. I don't realize how hungry I am until I see her.

“Welcome back, Mr. Gold,”

Alexa is grinning as she climbs down slowly. One of the maids steps up to receive my briefcase but I'm not looking at it. My eyes are glued to my wife's. When she finally stops in front of me, I take a step closer and breathe in that familiar fragrance of hers I've missed so much.

“Fuck, give your husband a hug, Alexa. I've missed you so much.” I grumble.

Alexa chuckles before leaning in to wrap me into a hug. I melt in her embrace, cocoon by her essence. Apart from smelling so good, she looks so good too. We stand there, hugging for what feels like hours.

“I'm hungry,” I say to her as she pulls away, cradling my face gently.

“Come on, Mr. Gold,” she says tugging at my arm. “I have prepared the best meal for you. We won't be eating in the dining room today. The sky is so beautiful tonight so I have our dinner set in the balcony of our room. You will love it.” She gushes, excitedly.

“I hope,” she adds.

“Of course, I will. I love everything you do.” I tell her, holding her hand tightly.

Heat creeps up her cheeks but she doesn't shy away from my hold.  We take the steps slowly until we get to the room. Exhaling tiredly, I fall on the bed with a thud while she watches me.

“I’m so tired,” I mutter, a yawn busting out of my lips. “I could sleep now but I won't sleep for long because I'm hungry.” I say, my hungry gaze roving over the length of her.

If she notices, she doesn't say.

“Okay,” she bit her lips as she watches me. Like she can see something I can't see. “Want to talk about it?” She ask, coming to sit beside me on the bed.

I turn to her. “What do you mean?”

“We've been chatting nonstop and facetiming. You didn't seem so tired. And I get it. The trip was long. But what drained your energy?” She asks.

I almost veer back at how right she is. It should scare me how much she's knowing me so well. But instead, there is a fluttering feeling down my chest to my stomach that makes me want to pull her close and kiss the life out of her.

And that is what I do.

My fingers snake around her waist and I draw her closer to me till she is sitting on my laps. She doesn't object, digging her fingers into the curls of my hair while slowly tugging at it, and soothing my scalp. A hungry moan tear out of my lips as I breathe her in once again.

Her scent is calming. It feels and smells like home.

It is home.

Unable to help myself, I raise my head and take her lips with mine, kissing her slowly for all I'm worth. A moan escapes her lips into mine as I mold her waist, gently kissing and tugging her closer.

I don't know how long we kiss but it is enough to render us breathless. Alexa pulls away first, her forehead resting on mine as she gazes into my eyes. The room is silence except from the sounds of our breaths.

“I missed you,” she says in a quiet voice. I almost don't hear her.

She missed me….

Those words tug at my heartstrings and I can't help shutting my eyes briefly as I hold her, heart racing endlessly. I'm glad the feeling is mutual and even though I want to talk about it, Alexa is already hopping off my thighs and pulling my hand.

“Come on,” she calls, tugging. “The food is getting cold.”

I oblige and allow her to lead me to the balcony where she's set up a romantic dinner for the both of us. All my favorite meals are before me. I kiss her cheeks as I draw out her chair so she can sit. And then I take my seat too. We start to eat, Alexa telling me about her day and what she's been up to while I listen to her.

“These taste so good,” I tell her as I take another juicy bite of the chicken.

“I'm glad you like it,”

“Are you kidding me? I love it!” I say instead and she blushes.  I tell her about Lane and my meeting with him. She is quiet for a few seconds after I finish.

“Maybe you should give him time. He will certainly feel guilty and come around.” She proposes.

“He better do,” I shrug.

We finish dinner and while Alexa rings the maid to come clear out the table, I proceed to go take my bath. I step out of the shower, wiping my hair with a smaller towel when something catches my eye. Frowning, I edge closer toward it.

My body freezes at the sight of it.

It's…

It's a pregnancy test strip.

I pick it up, noting that it doesn't say pregnant. It doesn't have two pink lines but staring at it has me thinking. Alexa bought this. And she's been testing herself. She wants to get pregnant.

Of course, she wants to get pregnant. We had a deal! How quick I am to forget that.

My heart squeezes as I hide the strip away from sight. Maybe I should talk about it with her. I step out of the bathroom to the closet where I put on my sleep wear. When I step into the room, the bulb has been dimmed. And my wife is sitting on the bed wearing the most scandalous lingerie I have ever seen, back arched with confidence.

“Well, Mr. Gold,” she calls seductively, peaking NY arousal immediately.  “I hope you are hungry,” she adds.

I am.

Fuck,  I am. And I show it to her just how hungry I am.