Page 160 of Stranger to Love

Mia and Adrian burst into roars of laughter, the heavy tension breaking. "See!" Mia crowed, pointing a finger at Alex. "I knew it! You’re totally the Don of this house, Carrie. Alex is just the pretty distraction."

"She is," I agreed smoothly, my hand shifting to rest heavily on Alex's shoulder. "A very pretty, very loud distraction."

"So, like... Alex could be a kept woman then? Is that the vibe?" Mia continued, a dog with a bone.

I looked down at Alex, who was currently staring into the bottom of her wine glass as if praying for an earthquake. "If Alex would let me, she would be," I said, my tone light, but the absolute gravity of the truth ringing clearly beneath it. I tilted my head, surveying my stubborn girl. "But I like the spark of independence in her. It makes the challenge of... managing her... much more rewarding."

"You know," Mia mused, her brain firing on entirely chaotic cylinders then. "Lex has always wanted one of those fancy high-tech readers."

Alex rolled her eyes. "You mean a Kindle, Mia? That’s not exactly a high-stakes investment."

"It is when you’re scraping pennies like we do!" Mia countered.

I sipped my drink, my jaw tightening slightly at the phrase scraping pennies. I picked up my phone from the arm of the sofa.

"Well, they’re like a hundred quid, aren't they?" Mia chuckled. "A bit much for a birthday, let alone a Tuesday."

"Exactly!" Alex groaned. "That’s like a whole long-ass shift at the bar. I'm not spending a week's grocery money on a screen."

I didn't say a word. My thumb moved rapidly over the glass screen for three seconds, navigating to my account, and I tapped the screen with a final, decisive click. I placed the phone face-down on the cushion and leaned in, my lips brushing her burning cheek.

"It’ll arrive tomorrow, darling," I whispered.

Alex froze, her heart practically stopping against my side. "Carrie, no. You didn't. I was just—Mia was just talking shit."

"I know what Mia was doing," I said, locking my eyes onto hers with dark, proprietary heat. "But I don't like the idea of my princess scraping pennies for something she wants."

She shook her head, her voice dropping into a small, humiliated whisper. "No, Carrie... it’s too much. Please."

"Don't be tedious, Alex. It's a tool for your studies. If you're going to be difficult about the device, I'll at least let you choose the aesthetics." I held the phone back out, displaying the various leather cover options.

Before Alex could take it, Mia’s hand darted across the table, snatching my phone right out of the air. "Oh, let me look! If Dr. Carter is buying, Lex, you are legally required to get the sleek cognac leather. Look at it, it’s ridiculously fancy—it practically screams that you live in a mansion now."

"Mia, stop! Hand it back!" Alex groaned, making a desperate swipe, but Mia dodged her with effortless, wine-fuelled agility.

Alex shot me a panicked glance, clearly waiting for me to vaporise her friend for touching my personal belongings. Instead, I sank deeper into the sofa cushion, highly entertained by the spectacle. "Feel free to pick one out for yourself as well, Mia," I offered smoothly. "Consider it a gift."

Mia’s eyes went wide. "Shut up! For real? Adrian, look! Dr. Vixen is officially my favourite person in the world. I'm taking the metallic jade."

"Mia, you don't even read!" Alex hissed, burying her face in her hands.

"I'll start!" she shot back, winking at me. "For a hundred quid, I'll learn to read Latin if I have to."

I let out a low, rich laugh that vibrated against Alex's side, pulling her closer by the waist. "See, Alex? Your friend understands the value of a gift. Perhaps you should take notes."

Mia added the matching rose gold cover and handed the phone back. I didn't even look at the total; I tapped the screen once, the confirmation chime echoing through the quiet lounge.

"I am going to kill you, Mia. Slowly. In your sleep," Alex muttered, rubbing her temples.

Adrian chuckled, pulling Mia back into his side. "She’s a menace. But she’s your menace, Lex."

I tangled my fingers back into the hair at the nape of Alex's neck, tilting her face up toward mine. "Don't be so grumpy, darling. It’s becoming a bit tedious." I looked over at Mia with a sharp, knowing glint. "In fact, I might just hand Mia my credit card next. She seems to be the only one in this room who truly appreciates how much I want to spoil you."

Mia raised her glass in triumph. "See? Dr. Carter knows what’s up."

"I'm not stubborn," Alex muttered, though the fight had completely left her. "I just... I'm not used to this."

"I know," I whispered, my lips ghosting over the shell of her ear so only she could hear. "But you’ll learn. By the time I’m done with you, you won't remember how to want for anything else."