The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 26

Olivia

In the elevator, I caught him staring at my reflection in the mirrored walls.

“See something you like?” I asked, throwing his earlier words back at him.

His eyes met mine in the mirror. “Several things.”

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat spreading through my body. The elevator continued its descent, the silence between us electric.

“You need to understand something,” Alexander said, his voice low. “In public, you’re my girlfriend. Not my employee, not my contractual wife–to–be. My girlfriend.”

“I get it,” I replied, adjusting the necklace he’d fastened around my neck.

“I don’t think you do.” He stepped closer, his chest nearly touching my back. “This isn’t just about appearances. The entire arrangement collapses if this plan fails because you can’t maintain the facade.”

I turned to face him, finding myself trapped between his body and the elevator wall. “I can act like your girlfriend, Alexander. I’m not an idiot.”

“Alex,” he corrected. “When we’re together, you call me Alex. Girlfriends use nicknames.”

“Fine, Alex.” The shortened name felt strangely intimate on my tongue. “And what will you call me? Liv?”

Something darkened in his eyes. “Among other things.”

The elevator doors slid open before I could respond. Alexander placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me across the lobby. His touch was light but possessive, sending tingling up my spine.

“Even in front of your driver?” I whispered as we approached the building’s exit.

“Especially in front of my driver,” he murmured against my ear. “Everyone in my life must believe this is real. No exceptions.” “Okay,” I agreed, leaning slightly into his touch despite myself.

into the

flipped. “That’s

from my back to my waist, pulling me closer. They’re not easily

trying to ignore how good his hand felt on my waist.

sleek and black like everything else in his life. Alex opened the door for me, his hand never leaving my body as

necessary, his thigh pressing against mine. The car pulled away from

going?” I asked, acutely

hand finding my knee.

glanced down at his large hand against the red fabric of my dress is fingers traced small circles on my knee, each movement sending shivers up my thigh.

Alexander asked, his voice low and

my head, meeting

+25 BONUS

Chapter 26

Just follow my

dancing along the edge of

dipped between my breasts. “Red suits you.” “I think you just like how

His fingers continued their lazy exploration of my exposed thigh. “But can you blame me?

my stomach flip. I felt desired, wanted in a way Ryan had never made me feel. “You clean up pretty

He raised an

closer, inhaling his cologne. “Fishing for

my tongue, intimate and forbidden.

Always.” His thumb traced higher, finding the sensitive skin where my

a whisper,

he countered, his eyes never leaving mine. “Not

warm. The car slowed, pulling up to the restaurant entrance. Alexander reluctantly

like I was stepping

over white tablecloths. A maitre d‘ greeted Alexander by name and

the small of my back as we walked, guiding me through the crowded dining room. His touch was confident,