Page 55 of The Substitute Fiancée

Her eyes are uncertain, her lips swollen from our kiss. She’s beautiful, and I realize I don’t want to lie anymore, don’t want to pretend. Not with her. Not now.

“Come home with me tonight,” I murmur against her neck, my voice rough with desire and urgency.

She shivers against me. Her warm breath grazes my skin.

“Alexander…” she begins.

“Please. We need to talk. Really talk.”

She looks at me for a long moment, searching my eyes for something. An answer. A promise. Then she slowly nods.

18. Confessions

Alexander

Despite the questions hanging between us, neither of us speaks in the car. Our conversation will have to wait until we’re alone. Still, I can feel the tension radiating from her. Without a word, I lift our joined hands and press a kiss to the back of hers. A soft, soothing kiss. She turns her head toward me, and a trusting smile curves her lips.

In the rearview mirror, I catch Gilles’s discreet smile—a smile I’d never seen when he used to drive me around with Kristel.

When I open the door to my penthouse, Sam steps inside timidly, her eyes widening slightly as she takes in the space. It’s the first time she’s been here. I’m suddenly glad I erased every trace of Kristel from this place. New décor. New furniture. New bedding.

I help Sam take off her coat and hang it next to mine. She walks toward the bay window to admire the view of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower glowing in the distance.

Without a word, I move closer and wrap my arms around her from behind. She leans into the embrace for a few seconds before turning to face me, her eyes full of questions. We’re both standing on the edge of a cliff. After tonight, nothing will ever be the same.

Yes, we need to talk.

But before that, I want to kiss her one more time.

When I lean toward her, she tilts her head up and her lips meet mine. This time, I take my time—tasting her, savoring the softness and warmth of her mouth. Our tongues seek each other out, discover, learn. There’s nothing left but sensation. Desire ignites between us.

My body is screaming at me to make her mine, but my conscience pulls me back.

Not like this.

Not before we talk.

I force myself to pull away, my breath unsteady.

“We need to talk.”

She nods, resting her forehead against my shoulder, as if she needs the contact just to stay upright.

“I know.”

Gently, I guide her to the couch, where we sit facing each other. I keep her hand in mine, my thumb brushing over her delicate knuckles. I stare at our intertwined hands. The contact grounds me, keeps me from losing my train of thought.

The silence stretches as I search for the right words. I take a deep breath.

“As you’ve probably guessed by now, I have feelings for you.”

She holds her breath, her fingers tightening around mine, but I continue.

“All of this happened very suddenly, and I’m not sure I fully understand what’s happening to me. I don’t understand why I’m not more broken by your sister’s betrayal, nor why all I can think about is you. About the kiss we shared. About the way you defended me in front of your father. The way you chose me.”

I pause before laying my soul completely bare.

“But I feel like I’m betraying your sister—even though she betrayed me first. It’s stupid, I know. But it’s how I feel. I feel like an asshole for wanting you the way I do. That’s why I tried to put some distance between us this week. I needed clarity. I thought I was protecting you.”