Page 30 of Flames of Desire

He smiled, his eyes filled with warmth. “There’s something I want to ask you.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath, his gaze locking onto mine. “Remember when I said I needed to tell you about my family? Well, I’m the sole heir to the Sinclair fortune.”

I blinked, the significance of his words sinking in. “The Sinclair fortune?”

“Yeah,” he said, his grip on me tightening slightly as if to anchor himself. “My father is Marcus Sinclair, the CEO of Sinclair Healthcare.”

My eyes widened in shock. “Sinclair Healthcare? That’s one of the largest healthcare companies in the country.”

He nodded, his expression a mix of pride and discomfort. “Growing up, it was a huge part of my life. My father had high expectations for me, expectations I never quite fit into. That’s part of why I left.”

His gaze drifted, and he looked miserable. “Then there was my mother dying of cancer.”

I squeezed his hand, offering silent support. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I didn’t want you to see me differently,” he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability. “I’m not proud of how my father runs things, and I didn’t want his reputation to taint what we have. I wanted you to know me for who I am, not for my family name.”

His honesty touched me deeply. “Thank you for telling me, Alex. It must have been hard to keep that to yourself.”

“It was,” he confessed. “But there’s more. I have to go to the Sinclair Family Villa this weekend. My father wants to discuss something important related to my mother. I was wondering if you’d come with me. It would mean a lot to have you by my side.”

I stared at him, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. The thought of meeting his family was daunting, but the sincerity in his eyes made me want to be there for him. “Of course, Alex. I’d be honored to go with you.”

He looked relieved, his shoulders relaxing. “Thank you, Lily. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

We finished our meal, and as we walked out into the night, the city lights casting a soft glow around us, Alex pulled me close. We strolled hand in hand, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant hum of traffic. It felt like we were in our own little world, separate from everything else.

As we reached my apartment, Alex turned to me, his eyes intense and filled with emotion. “Lily, tonight has been incredible. I don’t want it to end.”

“Me neither,” I whispered, feeling a surge of affection for him.

He leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a tender kiss that quickly deepened, sending shivers down my spine. When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other.

“Stay with me tonight,” I murmured, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Alex nodded, his eyes dark with desire. “I’d love to.”

We walked inside, the door closing softly behind us. As we moved through my apartment, shedding our clothes and inhibitions, it felt like the world outside disappeared. It was just us, wrapped in each other’s arms, sharing something that felt perfect in every way.

That night, we didn’t fuck, but we made love with a tenderness and passion that left me feeling more connected to Alex than ever before. As we lay together afterward, our bodies entwined, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of contentment.

The thought of meeting Alex’s family kept flooding my mind, filling me with anxiety. However, turning to look at the sleeping man beside me, I couldn’t help but smile softly. This was the man I fell in love with, and I would do anything for him.

Chapter sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - FLAMES OF ACCEPTANCE

Idrove down the familiar road leading to my family villa, the scenery passing by in a blur. Nostalgia mingled with anger and anxiety, making my pulse race and my grip on the wheel tighten. I pressed harder on the gas pedal, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.

"We're almost there Lil," I said, my voice tense.

Her hand found its way to my bicep, caressing it softly. "Hey," she said gently. "It's going to be okay."

I glanced at her, my tension easing just a fraction at the sight of her reassuring smile. "Thanks," I replied, squeezing her hand and kissing it lightly. Holding it firmly in mine, I didn't let go as I turned my focus back to the road, grateful that I wouldn't have to face my father alone.

The gates of the Sinclair family villa loomed ahead, and a lump formed in my throat. I hesitated momentarily, then drove through as they swung open automatically, the familiar crunch of gravel beneath the tires echoing in my ears. The sprawling estate came into view, every detail etched into my memory from years of growing up in its shadow.

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