The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 200

Olivia

We stood there for several minutes, watching boats pass and lights dance on the water. Other couples strolled by, some arm in arm, others holding hands. To any observer, we probably looked like just another pair of tourists enjoying a romantic evening in London.

The thought should have felt false. Instead, it felt dangerously close to reality.

“Cold?” Alexander asked, feeling me shiver.

“A little.”

“Let’s head back. We can order dessert from room service. I know you didn’t get enough food at the pub because you were too busy plotting Sophie’s demise.”

“I ate plenty!”

“You shredded your fish like it personally offended you. That’s not eating, that’s assault.”

I turned in his arms to face him. “Fine. Dessert sounds good. But only if it’s chocolate.”

“Anything you want.” His hands settled on my hips, holding me close. The streetlamps cast shadows across his face, making his features look sharper, more defined. Beautiful.

I went up on my toes, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before I could overthink it. “Let’s go before I freeze to death.”

The hotel room wrapped around us in warm luxury as we returned from the river. Alexander closed the door behind us, and the quiet intimacy of the space settled over my shoulders like a blanket.

He pulled two small bottles of whiskey and ice from the bar cart and poured generous measures into crystal glasses. The amber liquid caught the lamplight and glowed like captured sunshine.

I kicked off my shoes and sank onto the plush sofa, tucking my legs beneath me. The city lights sparkled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, London spreading out below us in a glittering tapestry.

Alexander handed me a glass before settling beside me, close enough that his thigh pressed against mine. The warmth of him seeped through the fabric of my jeans.

The whiskey burned pleasantly down my throat, smooth and expensive. Everything in Alexander’s world was expensive. I was getting used to it, which probably should have worried me more than it did.

“She really got under your skin, Alexander observed, his fingers playing with a strand of my hair.

“She was practically humping your leg while her husband waited outside. That’s not getting under my skin, that’s just basic human decency being offended.”

rumbled through his

to my shoulder, his thumb tracing lazy

murmured, tugging me

was tucked against his side, my head resting on his shoulder. His arm wrapped around me, holding me secure. This felt different from the heated intensity of our usual encounters. Softer. More intimate in ways that had nothing to do

nice,” I admitted

His lips brushed my

whiskey warmed my blood, relaxing muscles I hadn’t realized were tense. Alexander’s fingers traced patterns on my arm, gentle and unhurried.

do your meetings start tomorrow?” I asked, my words slightly muffled against

be done by three. Thought we could do Tower Bridge after, like I mentioned.

terrified,” I confessed. “But I want to do it

tightened

casual possessiveness in his words should have

and neither of us was in any hurry to move. The whiskey left me pleasantly fuzzy at the edges,

Alexander said eventually, his

but made no

asleep

fault for being

smooth motion, Alexander stood and scooped me

can walk,” I

fun in

before disappearing into the bathroom. I heard water running, the sound of his toothbrush. The mundane domesticity of it struck me as

intimate.

changed into my nightgown and was already under

boxers unselfconsciously before sliding in beside

he said again, pulling

over my waist, holding me close. The heat of him seeped into my skin, chasing away the slight

he murmured against

“Night, Alex.”

in Alexander’s warmth with the soft sounds of London outside our

the curtains and the smell of coffee. I opened my eyes to find Alexander already dressed in

he said, catching me watching him. “How’d

accepting the coffee he

the bed, sipping his own coffee. “I have to leave in twenty minutes. Geoffrey will be available if you