He's Captured My Trust (Captured Series Book 2) (34 page)

Alex texts back, “OK. X.”

The kitchen is organised and cleared down for the night, and we’re nearly done in the restaurant. The bar was busy, so I asked Max earlier to work there. At eleven, the restaurant is cleared and has been set up for breakfast in the morning. It’s lights out, and I head in the direction of the bar to help out until Alex gets here, which I know won’t be long.

The bar is still busy, and I’m glad I asked Max to stay on. I clear some empty glasses from the tables, because from the look of the bar, I don’t know when the staff will get around to it. I’ve already spotted the four men who were in the restaurant sitting at a table near the bar. I saw them the first time I dropped off glasses at the bar, but I’m leaving that table to last.

“Looky here, men. Missy from the restaurant has come to join us.”

I would know that bloody voice anywhere. I turn and face the table and put on a smile as I walk over. “Gents. I trust you’ve had a good evening?” I’m being polite, but I don’t really want them to answer.

“Yep, and it’s about to get a whole lot better,” the man says as he slaps my backside, and the table erupts with laughter.
Seriously,
he didn’t just do that.

“I can’t see how it’s going to get better. At this rate, you could all be looking for alternative accommodation for tonight.”

“Oh, come on. I know I only want some fun.” The man pulls me, and somehow I end up sitting on his knee. I squirm as his hands come around my waist and I struggle to get free. Max looks over from behind the bar, and I know it won’t be long until he’s at the table. As I struggle, the man’s grip on me gets a little tighter.

I pull at his hands. “Some fun,” I say, taking hold of the man’s left hand and lifting it up. “If you wanted that kind of fun, you should have brought your wife with you. Now bloody remove your hands,” I snap. The others at the table laugh.

“Get your fucking hands off her!” I would recognise that voice anywhere. Alex.

One minute, I’m still in the man’s arms, and the next I’m standing at the side of the table with Alex in front of me, his fists clenched and body shaking with rage. I quickly look at the man who has been the most vocal of the party all night, to see him holding his jaw in shock.

“What the fuck?” the man yells. I try to sidestep Alex in an attempt to diffuse the situation, but he won’t let me. Max is now beside us as well.

“Gentlemen, I think you have overstepped the mark tonight,” I say moving from behind Alex. “If you have any sense, I suggest you all retire to your rooms, because one more stunt like this, and you’ll be out. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear. And as for you, maybe next time you’re going to be away from home, you should take your wife.” I turn and walk from the table, leaving Alex still standing there, and Max to take care of everything else.

I SLAM THE DOOR SHUT
as I slide into the driver’s seat. Alex gets in and stares.

“What the fuck did you hit him for?” I ask.

“I won’t talk until you calm down, although why you’re so angry, I have no idea. Did you think I’d stand back and let someone touch you?”

“I had the situation under control.” I put the car into drive and my foot down—not quite the speed he was driving my car at earlier today, but still faster than I would usually go.

“I don’t doubt you did. I heard you. But don’t expect me to sit back and do nothing. Where you are concerned, I would go to hell and back to ensure your safety.” His voice is warm and tender as he speaks.

“You do realise that I’ve always taken care of myself.” I sound like an ungrateful bitch.

“Yes, but you’ll also have to realise that I’ll do whatever I think is necessary to protect what’s mine, and that includes taking care of you.”

“Yours?”

“Yes, mine.”

“Oh boy.” I sigh. The remainder of the drive home is quiet. He tries to talk a few times, but I shut him out. I’ll have to phone the hotel in the morning and make sure there haven’t been repercussions from Alex hitting the guy. That’s the last thing I need for the hotel. I work hard to ensure its reputation. That is one thing I won’t compromise on, the hotel.

I park the car in what is now my usual spot, just along the street. I get out and quickly grab my bag and walk to the entrance, leaving Alex following behind, but he has my bloody keys. I lean against the brickwork, waiting.

“How long are you going to keep this up?” he asks as he stops in front of me and leans his arms on the building beside me. His breath is icy against my skin.

“All night if I have to.”

“I think we both know that’s not going to happen.” His face is almost touching mine.

“We’ll see.”

He plants a kiss hard on my lips, and I fight hard not to respond. He pulls away, leaving me breathless and wanting, and opens the door.

I trudge wearily up the stairs behind him. In the space of a week he’s been in a fight with James back home in New York because he was dancing with me, and now a hotel guest who was behaving inappropriately. I am going to have my work cut out with him. He is going to have to learn to control that bloody temper. I have a job to do and sometimes, usually men do come across a bit full on, but I do know how to handle men like the one tonight. He’s waiting at the front door as I reach it. “You look tired. It’s been a long night, hasn’t it?” He reaches out and tugs me straight into his arms. I crumble, like I knew I would. Alex probably knew that too.

“Yeah, it has.” I tip my head back and see him staring. I offer him my mouth. He doesn’t need to be asked more than once. He takes the kiss slowly, sweet and simple, and, with it, everything else goes away, and our connection is made.

“So we’re back on speaking terms then?” he asks, pulling me gently into the apartment and straight in the direction of the kitchen.

“Yes, but you do have to try and rein it in.”

He frowns as he takes a bottle of wine from the fridge.

“There is no way anything would’ve happened tonight. Look how busy the bar was, and Max was already watching and ready to step in if it got out of hand. I just hope I don’t have to do some damage control tomorrow.” I sit at the table as he brings over the wine and two glasses. I watch the expression on his face as he pours.

“I’ve already told you that where you’re concerned, I won’t leave anything to chance. If I have to step in and stop a situation before it starts to get ugly, I will. Isn’t that what you do when you love someone?”

I know he’s right. I did the exact same thing with Katherine at his home. I stepped in when she was being a complete bitch when she turned up uninvited.

“Now, what did you have for dinner tonight?”

Oh shit. He’s going to be angry for a whole new reason now.

“I know the answer to that from the look on your face. What did you tell me earlier about how you’ve always taken care of yourself? At the moment you’re not doing a great job of that. So what would you like?”

“It’s after midnight. I can’t eat now.”

“You will eat something even if it’s only some toast.”

I frown.

“I have some lovely cold meats from the deli today, so maybe some antipasti with sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and olives.”

“Oh, alright,” I say, sighing heavily. “You’ve twisted my arm.”

“I don’t want to twist your arm. I just want you healthy again.”

There’s no point arguing my case, because he’s won’t listen. I watch him move about the kitchen, finding everything he needs as I sip on the wine, which is rather nice—not my usual cheap bottles.

“Did you get some clothes tonight?” I ask as he works away, plating up.

“Yeah, I got a few bits and pieces. I’ve already put some of them away. I hope you don’t mind.”

Why would I mind that he’s making himself at home? That’s what I want. Of course, I want him here with me. I’m just hoping and praying things will go well. I’m not used to living with anyone. Even with Jeff I needed my space. Maybe I knew it wouldn’t work out with him, because although he had talked about moving in together, I wasn’t interested.

The next few weeks will be interesting, especially when Murphy and Joan get here as well. Here I was, thinking my apartment is too big. In the space of a few short weeks, the place will be full. It’s just as well I haven’t said anything to Kirsty.

“Here we go,” he says, putting the plates down on the table. I top up both glasses, even though Alex has barely touched his. “After we’ve eaten, I’ll run you a bath.”

I raise my eyebrows, and I know there must be a smirk on my face.

“I can join you if you want. I just thought it would be nice since you’ve been on your feet all night.”

He’s right. I ache. Sometimes he shows that he’s thoughtful, especially when it’s just the two of us.

“Okay. A bath could be fun. So what else did you get up to while I was working?”

“I went for a bite to eat with your parents.”

“What? Without me?” I mirror the question he asked when I was going out with his.

“Of course. Best time to get information.”

“What information could you get from my parents that you couldn’t just ask me?”

“That would be telling.” He looks mighty shifty. “Now can you get eating?” Mr. Bossy has returned. I continue eating because it’s all delicious, not because he’s insisting. The wine goes perfectly with it, but if I drink much more of it, I’ll be drunk. It’s already going straight to my head. I blame the long and extremely tiring week.

I surprise myself and Alex by finishing my food. I don’t know why it’s such a surprise, because I do love my food. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I regain the weight I lost, especially if I continue to eat at ridiculous times of the night. I stand to clear up since Alex put it all together.

“What are you doing?” Alex takes the plates out of my hands and puts them back on the table.

“Clearing up.”

“No, you’re going upstairs. These can be done tomorrow.” He takes me by the shoulders and ushers me out of the kitchen and all the way up to the bedroom, where he sits me down on the bed and goes into the bathroom. There are a lot of bags lying about. So much for a few bits and pieces. I suppose we’ll need to make room tomorrow for everything.

I hear the bath running. It’ll be just what I need—a long hot soak, although given the fact that Alex is here with me, I don’t think it will be relaxing. Interesting, maybe. With the thoughts running through my head right now,
interesting
and
pleasurable
seem like the right words.

I look up and see Alex leaning against the doorframe, watching me. “I’ll sort out the rest of my things tomorrow. I wanted to check with you before we maybe moved some things around.”

I walk over to him and lean up and kiss him softly. “I couldn’t care less what we do with everything. I’m just glad we’re here together,” I say as I pull my lips away from his.

“Me too. Come on. Let’s get you into a bath.” He pulls me gently into the steam-filled bathroom and unzips my dress. He pulls it over my head, and I feel his breath against my neck. My skin prickles with anticipation. He runs his hands down my sides, stopping at my hips. My eyes close and my body relaxes. He pulls the stockings off slowly, one at a time. Then he slides the waistband of my panties down until they drop to the floor, and I step out of them. He unclips my bra and lets it fall to the floor.

“Right, baby, in you get.” He takes me by the shoulders and urges me to move.

I don’t want to go anywhere. I grab a clip for my hair and pin it up. It’s far too late to think about washing and drying it all. He helps me into the bath.
Boy,
does it feel good.

“Are you just going to stand there or are you joining me?”

“I’ll join you,” he says, pulling off his T-shirt and revealing his well-defined abs. He spends little time unbuttoning his jeans and removing them and his boxers. “Move forward a little.” He climbs into the bath at my back. The water level rises as he sits down and wraps his arms around me, pulling me tight to him. I could lean here against him forever—well, until the water gets cold.

“Mm, this is nice,” I mumble.

“It is. I’m going to enjoy all our time together,” he whispers. “Lean forward a little.” He lathers the soap in his hands before embarking on a tour of my back, working in circular motions to remove all traces and thoughts of the past week.

His touch sends a tremor through my whole body. As if sensing what I’m thinking, his hands leave my back and travel to my breasts. I inhale deeply as he massages them. Instinctively my body arches, pushing them further into his hands. My nipples harden under his touch.

All my thoughts are of here and now and
us.

And about what I want right now. Right now, I want him deep inside me, losing himself within me. I try to turn myself as gracefully as I can, but it doesn’t work. Water goes everywhere—all down the sides of the tub and onto the floor. But I don’t care. He watches me with amusement in his eyes. He moves slightly, allowing me the access I need, and smiles warmly, inviting me in. As if I needed the invitation.

I wrap my arms around his neck as I slowly lower myself onto him.

“You know, when I thought it would be nice to run a bath for you, this wasn’t what I had in mind.”