Page 51 of Rivals Next Door

“Bye, Alex, and thanks again for everything.”

18

ALEX

As much as I hated the fact now, I probably knew Olivia Brentwood better than anyone else. She was terrified. I could hear it in her voice and see it in the way she hunched her shoulders as if trying to make herself smaller. It was a defense mechanism I’d seen her use, especially when her anxiety was on the rise.

Despite her outer poise and command, Olivia had always harbored a vulnerability that she masked with sharp intellect and bravado. Tonight, the facade was cracking. However, she’d never admit that, and I doubted she realized that she was showing her fear. I tried so hard to tamp down the fierce protectiveness for her that used to surface.

I fought it tooth and nail and I almost won the battle until she wrapped her arms around herself and said, “Before you go…” Her cheeks took on a slight pink hue. “Is it alright if one of those officers comes up?” She looked around her foyer. “Or maybe it will be weird to have a stranger in here.” She lifted her hand and carried it to her mouth but used it to smooth her hair at the last second. “But it’s the police, right? And you know them…”

Her nervous gesture and air of uncertainty broke me, completely demolishing my defenses. There was no way I’d let another man stay with her. She was mine to protect… I mean, she used to be and I could make an exception this once… Aw, hell.

With a soft sigh, I stepped away from the elevator as I loosened the button on my jacket.

Olivia took a retreating step. “What are you doing?” she asked.

Eyes locked with hers, I said, “Some strange man isn’t staying with you in your apartment. If you want company that badly, I’ll stay.”

“But…” Her eyebrows furrowed as she watched me with confusion and what I suspected was a hint of relief. She blew out a breath. “Okay… thanks… I just want someone here, you know? Mostly to avoid messing up whatever you have planned in case one of those guys contacts me. I mean, I wouldn’t know what to do if one of them called…” When she pulled her lower lip between her teeth to nibble, I was a goner.

I mean, look at her. She was my Olivia. Dressed down, fresh-faced, and showing vulnerability… being human. Standing before me was the woman who once held my heart in the palm of her dainty hands, and I cracked like a code in the hands of a master hacker. All the old feelings, the ones I had meticulously compartmentalized and stored away, came rushing back with a vengeance. Muttering a curse because I was pissed at myself for being weak, I covered the distance between us.

I’ll go back to seeking my revenge tomorrow… or maybe the day after, I promised myself just as I cupped her face and pressed my lips to hers. Without hesitation, her lips moved under mine as if she’d been waiting for this. Heat surged between us and I deepened the kiss. As my tongue tangled with hers, she lifted her arms to circle my shoulders and things got super intense. It was like we poured years of pain, contempt, regret, and longing into that one kiss.

As much as the logical part of my brain screamed that crossing the line with Olivia was a bad idea, there was no stopping. I was too far gone, too hungry to get a taste of the passion I’d only ever felt with the woman in my arms. The longer we stayed connected, the more memories of better times together surfaced. That fueled my arousal and all lingering thoughts of consequences fled.

We became wilder… desperate to get closer. I didn’t know where the bedroom was, but we didn’t need a bed. I backed her into the living room toward one of the sectionals while she tore at the buttons of my shirt. She shoved my jacket and shirt off my shoulders, and I broke contact to shrug them off. One by one, articles of clothing hit the floor until I was only in pants and she was only in her panties.

She stumbled against the back of the couch, and as I steadied her, our eyes locked in an intense stare. Maybe we were both wondering what the hell we were doing. However, all uncertainty… and logic vanished when she reached between us to unbuckle my belt. I didn’t bother to go around the couch to get us settled on the more comfortable cushions. As my pants dropped, I lifted her to sit on the back of the couch, and her legs wrapped around my waist.

With growing urgency, I slid her underwear aside and thrust into her. I paused, suddenly realizing that in my aroused haze, I didn’t even make sure she was ready. I would have felt guilty if she wasn’t soaked when I slid into her tight heat. The way she moaned my name, her voice thick with need, spurred me on. I rocked into her and she moved her hips in sync with me. God, she felt good. Better than good. The familiarity of her body against mine seemed to make the moment hotter.

Feeling a little overwhelmed by us being like this together again, I hid my face in the crook of her neck. I couldn’t risk her seeing something I didn’t want her to. As hot as this moment was, I refused to get pulled back into that gut-wrenching, scary-as-fuck emotional web. It was hard to resist her pull each time she moaned my name though. It was a melody that I admittedly missed.

I shuddered as her hands roamed my back. Her touch always soothed me as well as made me burn with desire. The way her nails dug into my skin told me she was getting close. Her walls tightened around me and her breaths came in ragged gasps. I couldn’t help myself. I had to see her erupt. It used to be spectacular to watch.

Lifting my head, I peered at her, taking in the ecstasy flitting across her face. She was beautiful… as she’d always been.

“Alex, I’m close,” she panted.

I blinked, rescued from spiraling into the past. “I know. I always know when you’re about to come, Liv.”

Her already flushed cheeks reddened some more. I could have kicked myself for saying that, as if it hadn’t been years since we’d been in this position. I basically just alluded to the fact that I remember our lovemaking in detail.

Pushing aside my annoyance at that slip of the tongue, I thrust harder. The second one sent her over the edge. Her cry of pleasure echoed, and I fell apart right along with her. Our mouths were inches apart as we shuddered and tried to catch our breaths. I fought the temptation to kiss her and lost. I captured her lips, swallowing her soft moan even as I continued to move inside her. Her walls still spasmed, and it felt amazing on my semi-hard cock.

When I pulled away, she made a sound of protest that almost made me smile. However, my amusement vanished when we made eye contact again. This strange energy swirled around us. It was a mixture of uncertainty, satisfaction, and awkwardness. I had wild hot sex with my ex-girlfriend, whom I was supposed to despise, and it was spectacular. What the fuck should I do now?

“Alex, um…” Olivia gazed at me with wide eyes. Clearly, she didn’t know what to do or say either. She was still wrapped around me, and I was still inside her. Why hadn’t we moved…?

“That was uh…” I swallowed. “I’m sorry. I was a little rough. Are you okay?”

Her eyes softened, and a little smile stretched her lips. “I’m fine. Do you want to get cleaned up?”

“Sure.” Anything to move from here and escape the awkwardness…

You’d think I’d keep my hands and my dick to myself after slipping up and fucking my ex-girlfriend, wouldn’t you? Well, I wouldn’t be the impulsive Alex everyone knew and loved…

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