Chapter 266

Sienna

"You're going to pay for this mistake for the rest of your life, Flower."

Those were his last words before I left. Whispered against my ear as his hands gripped my hips and pulled me flush against him. And ever since then-those words lingered.

They didn't fade. They didn't dull. They haunted me still. just as deeply as they had the moment he said them.

No matter how hard I tried, Alexander Grayson had carved himself into me. Even when I breathed, I could almost taste his cologne in the air. When I closed my eyes, I wanted to wake up startled-his touch still ghosting across my skin. And when I slept, he followed me into my dreams.

I couldn't tell when that man had gotten so deep under my skin, but purging him out seemed impossible.

Was there something wrong with me? Maybe.

There had to be.

Or else, why would I be so deep into a man I have spent most of my trying to hate?

"Princess, your dad and I have planned something," Mom said, her fingers clicking over the gaming controller. I sat on the edge of the coffee table, trying to shake off the thoughts that always found their way back to him.

"What is it?" I asked, taking a bite of the chocolate bar beside me.

"Well, we were thinking of inviting your friend over for dinner tomorrow," Dad chimed in, eyes still fixed on the screen, battling it out with Mom like two kids.

Friend?

"What friend? I don't have any friends," I said, genuinely confused.

Mom let out a soft laugh. "Did you two really fight again? I thought you'd made up at the office."

That's when I realized-she was talking about Alex.

Heat crept up my cheeks. Yeah, we'd "made up" in the office. Very well. In ways that would not be deemed appropriate in any universe's office environment.

I shrugged the thoughts off as soon as they started to flood my mind I'd rather not remember that, or risk getting flushed all over again.

"Alex isn't my friend, Mom," I rolled my eyes, though I could feel the smile tugging at my lips.

Just thinking of him made me feel like a child handed her favorite candy.

Except this candy wasn't sweet. He was the kind that burned slow and left you aching for more. He was women's eye candy indeed-every part of him made you want to trace your tongue down, and taste.

"He's a good kid, Sienna," Dad said, maneuvering through the game. "Got you, baby," he shouted, tackling Mom's avatar.

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Mom panicked, mashing buttons.

Were these two serious?

This wasn't even a hard game-a ten-year-old could win it.

But I stayed quiet. If I said anything, they'd team up and remind me how they'd never called my choices stupid.

"What's that got to do with me?" I muttered. "If he's a good kid, make him your friend. I'm not interested."

I'd already made him something else entirely-and that was enough.

"His company will help you," Dad said, pausing his game to look at me. "You haven't exactly had the best people around you, have you? Learn something from him. Teach him something in return. That's how it works. You need good people in your life, Sienna. Otherwise, you won't survive."

That was Dad-always right.

Even Grandpa couldn't argue with him when he stole Mom away at his own wedding.

"Fine," I said with a sigh, looking out the window. "Do whatever you want." Everyone around me seemed to like Alex.

And the more time I spent with him, the harder it was to find anything I didn't.

I'd thought resisting him would be easy.

Except...it wasn't.

"So that's a yes on the invitation?" Mom asked carefully.

"It's not like you two ever listen to me anyway," I said, waving them off. "Invite your beloved Alexander."

They both laughed, their amusement filling the room.

Of course they'd invite him.

And of course-

I was already waiting for him.

***

I was getting ready.

There was no pretending I wasn't. Secretly. For Alex.

I didn't want Mom and Dad to know I was thinking of him, or that

something was simmering between us, so I did the bare

minimum-barely any makeup.ne

enough gloss to look like I'd tried

and failed. The kind of look that says "I'm effortless" when really my heart was doing cartwheels.

I was acting crazy, I knew it but there was no helping it out.

Then I heard the car-raw and familiar—and ran to the balcony. There he was, engine purring, already below. Of course he was already here.

I smiled like an idiot as I hurried down the stairs, breath coming fast. My hand hovered over the door, my pulse louder than the house. One ring, and the bell cut through everything.

"Sienna go check-" Mom started from the kitchen, but I didn't wait for the rest.

I tore to the door and opened it, breathless.

He filled the frame-stubble

frame

shadowing a jaw I loved to hate, the

clean ache of cologne and shower wash clinging to him, a grey T shirt clinging to muscle he clearly didn't try to hide. "Well, hello," he said, eyes tracing me from my shoes up to my flushed face.

I was in a short dress, spaghetti straps, hair shoved into a messy bun, lips slick with gloss. My face was warm from running and,

something else anticipation

you will

shame, hunger all it what you

"I'm afraid Jacob's menu might need upgrading if he wants to satisfy the guest of

honor," he murmured, then grabbed my neck and stole a kiss.

I tried to push him away-Mom and Dad could catch us at any second-but he didn't let go until he left me breathless. The moment he released me, footsteps sounded down the hall.

Panic slammed into me. I smoothed my dress, tried to tamp down the wild drum of my heart, whilst he wiped the gloss on his lips with the back of his hand.

"Alex," Dad said behind us, eyes on us both. "Welcome. Come on in."

Alex played it like the devil he is. "Well then, Jacob, your daughter doesn't seem thrilled to see me," he teased, brow arched, smile dangerous. "Didn't even invite me inside."

I opened my mouth-then shut it.

Could I really argue this in front of Dad and reveal why exactly I couldn't invite him inside?

That this man had shoved his tongue into my mouth right after seeing me?

No way.

"What?" Alex cocked an eyebrow at my reaction as if I'd accused him of something mortally offensive. "What did I do, Sienna?"

This goddamn handsome piece of shit.

"She doesn't mean it," Dad said, already rolling with Alex's joke, leading him in.

"She's just a little bitter sometimes."

"Dad!" I shot him a look of pure betrayal.

"Sorry, Princess," he said with that small, infuriating smile. "Can't defend you when you're wrong."

Two minutes in and Alex had me outplayed-turned my father to his side with nothing but charm and a smug smile.

"You're going to pay for this, Alex," I hissed.

He chuckled with Dad's amusement matching his, as he spoke up, "We'll see about that," he winked and followed my father further into the house.

I closed the door on the tail end of their laughter and stood there, breath still

unsteady, heart doing its ridiculous rehearsals.

This man was going to be the death of me.