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“I know you do, sweetheart. Are you feeling better now?” he asks.
“So much better,” I mewl. I hear Thelma and Harold around the corner, so I slide down Alexander’s body and readjust my underwear as he tucks himself away. I take hold of his hand as we walk together back to the rose garden to have our photo taken.
Later, when I am sitting in front of the computer that Alexander purchased for me, we look at the photos taken of us today. I have a beautiful blush to my cheeks, that only we know is from our lovemaking just moments before it was taken. We settle on three photographs. The photo of him on bended knee in mock proposal; him swinging me around in the air, large smiles on both our faces; and a close up of us both staring right into the camera, my left hand outstretched and showing off my spectacular engagement ring.
“I hit Post now and it’s out there, no going back,” I say, my hand hovering over the button.
Alexander’s hand joins mine and hits the icon with me. “I’m exactly where I want to be, with exactly who I want to be with. I’m never changing my mind.” He finishes by kissing me passionately.
“Me too.” I kiss him again, before pulling back a little and looking him directly in the eyes. “I also wanted to thank you for your letter. I feel the exact same way about you too, love.”
~ Chapter Eighteen ~
Rebecca
The announcement of our engagementworked exactly as we had hoped it would. It had gone viral in less than twelve hours. Alexander received so many phone calls congratulating him, yet I didn’t hear from my parents, even though Alexander had given me back my phone. I wondered for a moment if their numbers had been blocked but he assured me he hadn’t touched my phone. I accepted the fact that they more than likely didn’t care about my life anymore, not since they discarded me close to half a year ago now.
Richard Lexington III graces us with his presence two days later. I dress like the perfect trophy wife, in a classic black cocktail dress that sits just above the knee and the same black kitten heels I wore for our engagement photos.
Richard walks into our house, wearing a pale gray three-piece suit, nowhere near as expertly tailored as the one Alexander wears. However, they are clearly both wealthy man with lavish taste. His cold green eyes lazily gaze over my body, beginning at my feet, up my naked legs, and continue their slow ascent to my cleavage before finally landing on my eyes.
I curve my lips into a false smile as I say, “Richard,” and try my best to at least put some semblance of warmth into my voice.
“Miss Kennedy, or should I say the future Mrs. Black. Pleasure to see you again, lass.” He reaches out and takes my free hand in his and lifts it slowly to his lips. My skin crawls the moment they press against my flesh. I have to remind myself internally that flinching away from his touch will not show him that I am in complete control, so instead I let him linger on my skin for three seconds before he lowers my hand and finally lets go.
I pull my hand back as soon as I can and reach up to stroke the firm, muscular chest of the man I love. “Mrs. Black does have a wonderful ring to it. Doesn’t it, my love?” I lift my head to look up at Alexander, wanting him to relax into me. If he can feel my body completely at ease, it will help lessen the tension he is currently carrying within his magnificent frame.
“That is does, sweetheart,” he leans down, eliminating the distance between us. He kisses my lips, claiming me in front of Lexington. I melt into his touch and a small moan of appreciation escapes my lips as the possessiveness of his kiss takes over.
We hear Lexington clear his throat behind us. “All right, Black, you don’t need to devour her, right here in front of me, although I honestly don’t mind watching.”
We finally break apart, Alexander’s eyes shining with desire. I can read him like a book—he wants to do more than just kiss me right now. He turns away from me with a final smile and faces the man into whom we need to instill fear. It’s the only way to ensure he backs away from us and won’t try to do anything to interfere with Alexander’s business.
“Richard. What brings you all the way out here to our home that couldn’t wait for a business meeting in town during the week?”
“I’m here to offer you my congratulations on your engagement, of course. Your chosen bride-to-be will indeed make the perfect trophy wife to have on your arm.” His eyes glance up to me and his lips quirk in a slow smirk.
“Well, you would know all about trophy wives, wouldn’t you, Richard. What number wife are you on now? Three perhaps?” Alexander’s question is meant to get Richard to bite back, but instead he doesn’t take the bait.
“What can I say? I love women, beautiful women especially,” he said lazily. “A pity you won’t consider selling this one to me. Blonde hair, blue eyes, with pale skin. Women like her are highly sought after, they also command the top prices, you know.”
I feel Alexander’s hand tighten on my own, almost to the point of pain. His temper is beginning to flare. “Sell me? Oh, Richard, you are a funny one.” I fake laugh, trying to ease the tension in the room between the two men, who are now staring at each other.
I know Richard means what he said, after all this is exactly what would have happened to me if his men had gotten away with me a week ago. Thank God Alexander showed up to save me. But in this moment he all but confirms that he is indeed involved in the business of trafficking women. My skin crawls again, and I want to get as far away from this man as possibly. I promised Alexander though, that I would stay polite and quiet tonight, letting him handle this situation.
“I don’t find it funny at all, actually. What would it take for you to sell her to me, Black? How much do you need?” he asks.
“Fifty million pounds,” Alexander throws back without hesitation.
And I feel sick. My stomach almost falls through the floor. This isn’t at all what we discussed as our plan of attack for today. Offering me up as bait…? Just who does he think he is? That isn’t what he’s doing, is it? Surely, he doesn’t really mean to sell me. “Alexander…,” I start.
“Be quiet,” he snaps back at me, immediately stopping my thoughts in their tracks. He doesn’t take his eyes off Richard. I look down at my feet. Can he really be serious?
“She may be worth more than the usual blonde-haired, blue-eyed creature we get, due to who she is, but fifty million is too much. I’ll ask around for you, though. Until then, enjoy your last days of freedom, lass.” Richard taunts me.
I don’t raise my head until the click of the door closing rings through the foyer. I pull my hand from Alexander’s and slap his face as hard and with as much strength as I can muster. Happy to see the red handprint appearing almost immediately, I reach for my engagement ring and attempt to pull it off my finger.
“Stop, sweetheart. He is gone now, no more acting,” he soothes.
