Page 184 of Stranger to Love

Carrie let out a long, dramatic sigh of resignation, though the way she was holding me told a completely different story. "I know. I'm a soft touch. Clearly, I’ve lost all my edge since you moved in."

"Don't worry," I teased, trailing my fingers down the centre of her chest, just over the lacy edge of her bra. "But we need to establish one more rule for the puppy. He definitely sleeps downstairs. In a very comfortable, very expensive bed in the kitchen."

Carrie arched an eyebrow, her interest piqued by my sudden shift in tone. "Oh? And here I thought you were going to insist on a family bed. Why the sudden change of heart, princess?"

I leaned in, my lips brushing against the shell of her ear as I lowered my voice to a sultry whisper. "Because I don't want a dog watching from the corner when Mommy is busy... tending to her princess. I need your undivided attention, Carrie. No distractions."

I felt her breath hitch, that familiar, heavy heat flaring up between us instantly. The playful debate was forgotten in a heartbeat. Carrie’s hand slid from my waist to the back of my neck, her grip tightening just enough to let me know the switch had been flipped all the way on.

"You really are a brat," she breathed, her gaze darkening as she looked down at me. "Thinking about what I’m going to do to you while we’re still talking about pets."

"It's a very important logistical consideration," I murmured, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Is it?" Carrie smirked, her thumb pressing firmly against my bottom lip. "Well, since it’s only eight-thirty and my phone is officially dead to the world, I think we should start that 'tending' process right now. Just to make sure the dog knows exactly where the boundaries are."

She didn't wait for an answer. She leaned down, claiming my mouth with a hunger that told me the movie was the furthest thing from her mind.

Chapter 39

Dr. Carter

One month left. What a spectacular, utterly transformative year it had been.

If someone had told me twelve months prior that I would have the fierce, brilliant girl from The Dam living under my roof—undressing under my gaze and challenging every clinical, orderly corner of my life—I would have dismissed it as an academic impossibility. Back then, Alex’s life was an exhausting cycle of survival: sticky bar floors, stressing over her mother’s health, and staring down an electricity meter that threatened to empty her pockets.

Now, the pieces had finally fallen into place. Her father had a secure, respectable income. Her mother could breathe without the looming spectre of financial ruin. And Alex? She hadn't worked a gruelling late-night shift in months. She belonged right here, in the sanctuary we built.

Though right then, she was proving to be an incredibly distracting student.

From the podium, I could feel her eyes tracking me across the seminar room. I was wearing the wine-coloured structured dress she’d helped me zip into that morning, paired with my sharpest heels. I’d chosen it with deliberate intent, knowing precisely the type of quiet torture it would inflict on my beautiful, bratty girl. Her Economic final coursework was due the following week, and it was already flawless. I hadn't given her a First out of affection; I tore her early drafts apart with the same ruthless, analytical eye I applied to every student. The only difference was that Alex got to press me against the mahogany desk, nibbling on my neck and taste-testing my lips between my critiques.

The heavy oak door clicked open, and Ms. Davies walked in to hand me a stack of administrative papers.

We exchanged a brief, perfectly civil murmur. I noted the faint tension in the room, but internally, there was only peace. When Alex had confessed to me about her panicked, reckless stunt with Billie—admitting she’d used the woman in a desperate bid to run from the terrifying weight of what she felt for me—I didn't destroy Ms. Davies' career. Alex was the one who had broken my rules; therefore, Alex was the one who had earned the quiet, devastating punishments behind closed doors. Punishments she would gladly beg for all over again.

As Billie turned to leave, she caught Alex's eye. Alex offered her a genuine, redemptive smile, and Billie returned it softly. I didn't feel a flicker of possessiveness. I knew Ms. Davies was a competent colleague, and more importantly, I knew exactly who owned Alex Fischer. I caught Alex's lingering gaze and shot her a look of dry amusement: You’re cute, and I’m honestly surprised you didn't check out her arse in that skirt.

"I miss you at The Dam," a whiny, dramatic voice cut through the quiet of the classroom.

It was Holly, leaning over her desk with her blonde curls spilling across her notes, pouting up at my girl. "It was always so much fun seeing you behind the bar. Mia is looking out for me—I haven't paid for a drink in weeks—but it’s not the same."

I pretended to organise the lecture slides on my laptop, but my focus narrowed entirely to the front row.

"I know, sorry sweetheart," Alex replied, her voice carrying a soft, nostalgic chuckle. "But moving on was the best thing for me."

"I get it," Holly shrugged, her eyes alight with curiosity. "Your dad’s job must be going well, then? Must be nice to actually have him home for dinner every day."

"My mum is loving it," Alex smirked, her tone laced with that beautiful, lazy confidence I adored. "But I haven't actually been there much to see it. I’ve moved in with my girlfriend."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Holly practically short-circuit. She stared at Alex, her jaw dropping for a full three seconds. "Wait. First of all, you have a girlfriend? And you’re serious enough to move in? How did I not know this? Why didn't you say anything?"

"She’s private," Alex murmured, her smirk widening. I could feel the heat of her gaze burning right through my back.

"Fucking hell, Alex! Tell me about her! What’s she like?"

I gripped the edge of my podium, my heart giving a strange, uncharacteristic thud as I waited for her response.

"Well," Alex began, her voice dropping into a warm, reverent cadence that made my breath catch in my throat. "She is the type of beautiful that makes you think a god has landed on earth. She’s soft, generous, and kind in ways I didn’t realise were possible from someone so... strong."