Page 204 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions
“No.”
“Good.” He melted, flopping onto the bed with a sigh. He leaned back on his arms, legs spread wide to accommodate the girth of his cock, his chest flexing. When he arched a brow my way, my stomach filled with butterflies.
“Where have you been all my life?” Alex said.
It was an accusation as much as it was flirting.
Like he was irritated I’d waited until we were both in our thirties to stumble upon Roderick’s wedding. Like we should have met earlier. Which was…a sentiment I shared, despite how fanciful and illogical it was.
I ignored the question, twisting around to catalog the rest of the details of his most personal space. Like the sporty posters on the back wall. As well as the walk-in closet stocked with designer suits in a neat row on one side, and a half-open dresser on the other. Ticket stubs to hockey games littered the window sill, draped curtains framing the moonlit panes. Beside the takeout container on the nightstand, a few wayward coins sat in a clunky-lookingceramic bowl I was almost certain one of Alex’s cousins had made for him.
Alex didn’t interrupt me. His eyes carried a weight to them as he watched me wander. He snorted in amusement when I bent to pick up the socks he’d tried to kick beneath the bed, before tossing them into the dirty pile where they belonged.
“Iknewthey bothered you, you adorable little liar.” Alex’s eyes were dancing as he stayed reclined.
“They don’t.” I glared at him, reaching for the takeout container next. I stacked it along with the empty Diet Coke bottles I’d found littered about. Alex chuckled the whole time as I walked into the en suite bathroom—oh nice, a glass shower!—to deposit them in the trash bin beside the sink.
“If they don’t bother you, why are you cleaning them up?” Alex called after me. He sounded way too amused. But still…I liked that. Even if he was laughing at me.
When I returned, I paused a few feet in front of him, scrubbing my hands off on my pants. I huffed and crossed my arms. It was hard to look at him, my cheeks burning, eyes downcast.
Why was I cleaning?
It was rude, wasn’t it?
But Alex didn’t seem to think so.
“I…don’t know,” I admitted, because Ididn’t. It was almost as though I felt…the need to care for his space like it was my own. “I…”
“Are you nesting?” Alex teased. “Marking your territory with your neat lil fingers.” I scowled and his voice went honey sweet. “I don’t mind, baby. Fuss over me all you want.”
“You read too much omegaverse.”
“What can I say? I like my books knot-ty.”
“Ha, ha.” I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks still felt hot.
“I’m serious,” Alex’s cockiness was back. “I like that you care. I like that you’re nosy. I like that you can’t help but fix things. I like that you feelwelcome enough here to touch my stuff. I want you to.” He spread his legs invitingly. “Now, come here—unless there’s more cleaning you’re dying to do before it’s finally my turn to take care of you.”
I followed his command immediately, pulled by the magnetic force of his warmth. Pausing between his spread legs, my heart pounding, I took a moment to get my bearings.
It was late. Far too late, considering the lack of sleep I’d gotten the night before. I was running on fumes and nothing else—and yet, somehow—I’d never felt more awake.
“Sit on my lap, Duchess.” Alex’s voice went low and buttery. I shuddered, nipples perking up, as I straddled his hips. The mattress dipped beneath our combined weight, and Alex lifted up, shifting back a few inches so we were more steady as though my weight didn’t matter at all. “That’s better.”
I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so they simply hovered, useless at my sides.
Alex was different now. His earlier teasing energy was gone. Instead…replaced by the almost predatory intensity I’d grown to associate with him, maybe even more than his smile. Like he was looking at me—reallylooking at me. Seeing beneath my surface to the gooey center hidden deep inside.
And I let him.
I let him see me as clearly as I saw him.
I was happy…to let him see me.
As vulnerable as that was.
“Arms around my neck,” Alex said, voice rumbling. Relieved to be told what to do, I slung my arms around him, eager to hear what he’d say next. “How’s your pussy feel?” Gravelly and soft, Alex’s voice was full of concern. “Is it still sore?”
