Page 159 of Stranger to Love

"Dig in," I said smoothly. My hand slipped beneath the table, my fingers tracing a slow, possessive circle through the sheer fabric at the small of her back. "I want to make sure everyone is... thoroughly satisfied tonight."

Mia took a bite of the pasta and let out a moan so dramatic it bordered on indecent. "Oh my god. Dr. Carter, if Alex doesn’t marry you soon, I swear to god I will leave Adrian and beg you to take me in instead. This is life-changing."

Alex choked mid-chew, dropping her fork as a frantic cough escaped her into a linen napkin. I watched her internal panic with a wave of deep, dark amusement. I knew exactly what she was terrified of—she thought Mia was one drink away from exposing every single unfiltered confession Alex had ever made.

Instead of freezing them out with academic disdain, I leaned back in my chair, elegantly swirling my wine, letting my fun side run the table.

"I appreciate the offer, Mia," I purred, my voice low and smooth. "But I think I’ll stick with Alex. She’s... quite a lot to handle, but I’ve grown fond of the challenge."

I dropped my gaze to Alex’s lips, before my hand slid firmly down her thigh. I pressed my palm against the tight leather of her trousers, my thumb stroking with a heavy, grounding pressure that told her exactly who she belonged to.

"Besides," I continued, locking my eyes onto her breathless gaze as I took a slow sip, "Alex has certain... qualities that I suspect would be very hard to replace."

Mia wiggled her eyebrows, completely oblivious to the high-voltage wire taut between us. "Oh, I bet. She’s been walking around like a lovesick puppy for weeks. Haven't you, Lex? You've been so distracted, I practically have to scream your name to get you to—"

"So, Adrian!" Alex cut in loudly, her voice a note too high as she desperately tried to steer the ship away from the rocks. "How is the new job going? You mentioned something about a promotion earlier?"

Adrian smoothly took the bait, explaining his new corporate strategy and the significant bonus that had accompanied it. I listened with quiet, professional interest, tracking the conversation but keeping my focus primarily on the girl beside me. Mia gushed about how Adrian had surprised her by booking a summer holiday, her face luminous with a genuine joy that caused Alex's expression to soften into a warm, protective glow.

I noted the fleeting, tiny pang of longing in Alex's eyes—the realisation that her best friend was finally being treated with the respect and security she deserved. It made me want to give Alex the world tenfold.

"It sounds lovely, Adrian," I said finally, setting my fork down with surgical precision. "A change of scenery is often... enlightening. Though, I’ve always found that the most memorable trips are the ones where you don't even need to leave the bedroom."

Mia let out a loud, barking laugh, nearly choking on her own wine. "See! Dr. Carter gets it! I keep telling you, Lex, you need to live a little."

Alex rolled her eyes, sipping her Bordeaux to hide her burning cheeks. "You two constantly have your heads in the gutter. In fact, you're usually leading the charge."

I let out a low, vibrating hum that echoed through the table. "Exactly. You don't usually mind, princess."

The word hung in the air like a physical brand. Mia’s eyes went completely wide, her mouth dropping open as she silently mouthed, 'Princess?' across the table.

Alex’s fork clattered loudly against her china plate as she stabbed her fork into a potato unnecessarily hard. "I did not bank on you both ganging up on me tonight," she grumbled, throwing Mia a lethal glare that screamed drop it or you're dead.

I felt that tell-tale twitch at the corner of my lips, fighting back a full smile. But as I looked at Alex—even as she huffed and groaned and stared firmly at her plate—I could see the hidden, dizzying happiness in the curve of her shoulders. She was secretly thriving. She was absolutely loving the fact that Mia and I were banding together, that her old world and her new world were fusing perfectly over my dining table, even if it came at the expense of her dignity.

Eventually, we had migrated to the lounge, the atmosphere shifting into something far more intimate. I pointed the remote at the hearth, and the fireplace instantly roared to life, casting long, amber shadows across the minimalist room. I sank onto the sofa, immediately pulling Alex into my side and pressing a lingering, possessive kiss to her temple. Opposite us, Mia curled up in Adrian's lap, loosely clutching a fresh glass of white wine—having already lost count of how many she’d poured since dinner.

Adrian and I began trading thoughts on corporate margins, finding a strange, easy rhythm in corporate strategy. But I was keeping a sharp eye on Mia. I saw the exact moment the liquid courage hit her brain—that chaotic, bright glint in her eyes right before she dropped a bomb.

She leaned forward, completely unfiltered. “So, Dr. Vixen... I’ve gotta know. Are you just a regular millionaire, or are you secretly the mafia type?”

Alex nearly choked on her own breath. "Mia! What the actual fuck?"

Adrian froze, looking as though he wished the floor would swallow him whole. I didn't even blink. I slowly swivelled the amber liquid in my glass, the ice clinking softly against the crystal as I turned my smoky gaze toward the girl's chaotic best friend. I let a slow, predatory smirk spread across my face.

"Well, Mia," I purred, letting my voice drop into a calm, dangerous grace. "I’ve always found that regular is such a boring way to live. But if I were the mafia type, do you really think I’d tell you... or would I just make sure you were too well-fed to ask questions?”

Beside me, I felt Alex’s posture give way to pure heat. I shifted my hand, my fingers tangling firmly into the hair at the nape of her neck, pulling her head back just an inch in a deliberate, public display of total ownership. "What do you think, Alex? Do I seem like the type to keep secrets?"

Alex smirked, the wine finally stripping away her academic caution. "Well, my love, you do give off major mafia energy," she teased, leaning directly into my warmth. "And honestly? I wouldn't mind being a mob wife."

The room went entirely still.

The playful banter vanished, replaced by a thick, heavy oxygen-deprived tension. My eyes darkened to midnight. My love. She had just called me my love in front of her friends, casually tossing out an admission that sounded dangerously close to a lifetime vow. A rare, startled thrill hit my chest, followed immediately by my possessive instincts flaring to life.

I leaned in, my lips hovering an inch from her ear. "I’m not going to ignore the fact that you swore in my presence, princess," I whispered, a low, vibrating warning meant for her alone. "We'll discuss your lack of discipline later."

Then, pulling back with seamless grace, I flashed Mia and Adrian a sharp, charming hostess grin. "But for your own safety, I think it’s best if I don’t divulge any further. Some secrets are better left in the family."