CHAPTER EIGHT

The moment I stepped through the door, I knew I'd made the right decision.

The air was better, clearer. I'd never felt oxygen so clean and devoid of all the waste these foreign companies soil our city with.

Up here, everything was clear and freeing.

I found a swinging chair with no space to swing, so with great strength, I turned it around to face the glass doors I'd slid open to come here and I sat down on it, and gradually swung myself, bobbing my head to the sound of the music from inside and looking out at the beautiful view ahead of me.

It was amazing; the bright lights, buildings, and people, everyone in their own little bubble.

I felt a bit of resentment towards my father for keeping me away from these views, even though it was for my protection.

“It makes everything feel so insignificant, doesn't it?” A voice spoke out, making me turn so quickly I nearly had whiplash.

I gaped like a fish out of water for a while as I took in the creature before me.

I wasn't new to the thought of men, I didn't have much experience, but I had all the magazines a girl could have, and I knew how to appreciate the gender.

But before me stood a man that had a rough exterior yet it seemed like his soul was melting with each second.

His jawline was perfectly constructed and his rough shave made me want to rub my face against it.

‘Control yourself, Carla,’ I scolded myself back to reality.

“Um, sorry I didn't… I didn't catch what you said,” I finally spoke up.

“Oh I was beginning to think I imagined you there,” he replied with a small smile, walking towards me. I looked at his hazel-coloured eyes in the dim light, getting drowned in them again. “I said,” he began again and I nodded my head to avoid disgracing myself, “that this view makes all the struggles and madness seem insignificant.”

“Considering how we're like speckles of dust when you see the bigger picture from the Milky Way alone, not even the entire universe, you have a point. But since we can't see the bigger picture every time except with a microscope, we don't have a choice but to keep trying to see if our reality can be good enough.”

“You're a reader,” he noted.

“It's written on my forehead? Oops,” I giggled, the sound totally different.

I needed to leave to avoid him thinking I was flirting with him so I got up.

“Oh don't leave on my account,” he stopped me, “I don't deserve to see this all by myself.”

I nodded, dumbfounded, and went back to staring across the skyline.

But that lasted no longer than five seconds.

A view better than the beautiful sky was right before me, a sheer force of masculine attraction.

And he was looking at me too.

“Is it crazy that I want to ravish you right now?” He growled, the words coming from somewhere deep in his throat. “But still, I want to wait, savor you one bite at a time.”

“Is that what you tell all the girls you meet on this balcony?” I said without thinking, my fingers close to shaking.

He burst out in laughter so rich he should monetize it.

“You're smart and funny. And with that face, you should contest for presidency Miss,” he winked at me.

“Will you vote for me?”

“With pleasure. And no, I have no need to woo girls. My life and job bring them my way all the time. I'm even shocked you don't know me.”

“You're an actor?” I asked with a frown; I would know if he was, all I do is watch movies when I'm not learning something new.

“No, Moy Svet, I have no patience for theatrics, but don't worry, it's good you don't know.”

“Hmm, no problem mystery man,” I replied with a sigh. “I should probably get back inside; my friends must be wondering where I'm off to, and Bertram is with my phone.”

“Who's Bethram?” He asked immediately, a strain to his tone.

“Why? You're jealous?” I asked, remembering a scene I'd watched.

“Jealousy is beneath me, beautiful. I just want to know if I should stop having this insane urge to kiss you. I wouldn't want to take what belongs to another man.”

“I'm not a property that will belong to anybody and Bertram is my security guard and friend!” I snapped, trying to walk around him after my venting.

‘Why did I even tell him about Bertram?’ I wondered as I tried to get past.

But he took my hand and steadied me in front of him.

“I apologize,” he said, immediately melting my defenses which weren't even strong to begin with. The man could lay a siege on the United States with those eyes of his. “I'm used to certain lingo with certain people and you definitely do not belong in that world. What's your name?”

I opened my lips to say my name but immediately remembered my security training.

“Lucy,” I said instead while looking away from his eyes.

He breathed deeply like he was inhaling the fake name and making it a part of him. It physically hurt that I didn't tell him my real name. But I'd already gone through so much and I didn't want to expose myself to another.

“Can I kiss you, Lucy?” He asked with a gravelly tone, melting my insides.

I had never thought of another man besides Micah and right there, as his face came to my mind, I didn't care anymore.

“What's your name?”

“Alec.”

“Please kiss me Alec,” I whispered, my eyes melting into his.

He took a deep breath at first, placing his forehead on mine like he was having second thoughts.

But then he placed his lips on mine and I realized he was trying not to overwhelm me.

At first, it was tentative and I knew he was holding back.

He grunted as he tasted my lips, his tongue going deeper for a better experience.

Then he drew me impossibly closer, placing one hand behind my neck, and devoured my lips, just like he promised.

A loud moan escaped my throat and into his, the sound making him shake.

That unleashed something inside of him, and the innocent, tentative kiss turned into something wild, untamed, and totally mind-blowing.

All of me was on fire, and I wanted to be consumed. His hands took a trip around my body, eliciting feelings and sparking up nerves I didn't know existed.

Despite the loud noise from the club inside, my moans were loud enough to affect him and his feral desire to consume me was unquenchable.

He went from my lips down to my earlobe and straight to my sweet spot.

“Oh, there you are!” I heard as Vivi came through the glass doors, shattering the glazier of emotions we'd built up. “I've been looking all over for you.”