Page 76 of Alluring

Alexis was quiet as they sat at the dining room table eating dinner. Well, Jack ate. Alexis picked at her food.

Jack put his fork down. "Tell me what's wrong."

His words pulled her from her musings. She gave him a weak smile. The last thing she wanted was for him to become suspicions. He'd keep a sharper eye on her, and then all her planning would be for naught. "Sorry. Guess, I'm missing Emily."

Jack took her hand from across the table. "Well, this should cheer you up. I told mom and dad about our engagement. They flew in from Rome today and want to throw us an engagement party on Saturday."

Alexis sucked in a silent breath. A party would be perfect. All day she'd wracked her brain, trying to think of a way to leak their engagement to the press. She wanted her stalker to know that Jack was fully committed to her, that he wanted to marry her. She figured that would drive her stalker over the edge, draw her out, make her take action. Throwing an elaborate party was a sure-fire way of getting their engagement in the paper.

She gave Jack a brilliant smile. "That's wonderful news. I can't wait to see your parents again."

Jack eyed her quizzically. "While I thought you might be mildly excited, if not a bit apprehensive, at the thought of attending a party in our honor, with a bunch of people you don't know, I definitely didn't think you would be this enthusiastic. It's out of character for you." He pondered her a few moments longer. "Tell me what's going on Alexis, because I now know, it's not you missing your sister."

Alexis picked up her glass and took a sip of her water. She had to play this just right. "Nothing's going on. If I seemed overly excited, it's because Iamexcited to see your parents. I wasn't really thinking about the party and what that all entailed. But, now that you mention it, that doesn't sound fun at all, maybe the four of us can just go out to dinner instead?" She gave him what she hoped was a coy smile.

He still looked at her funny. She willed herself not to fidget.

"You're hiding something from me. I realize it's something you don't want to share, but let me tell you this, if this is something you should tell me aboutnow,and I find out about it later, and make no mistake I will find out, there will be severe consequences for you." He picked up his water glass, took a sip then carefully set it back down on the table. All the while, keeping his eyes trained on hers. "Now, would you like to change your mind and tell me what's going on?"

Alexis swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. She shook her head. "There's nothing to tell."

He gave a curt nod. "Alright. Just so we're clear. You have been warned."

Alexis gave him a slight nod back. She understood, but there was no way he would find out. She was the only one who knew, andshewasn't going to tell him.

He abruptly stood from the table. "It's time for bed."

Alexis looked up startled. "It's still early. I'm not tired yet."

"We won't be sleeping."

She could tell he was angry. His words were clipped and his jaw was tense. She looked at the mess on the table. "I need to do the dishes."

He looked down at the table as if calculating. "You have ten minutes. If I have to come looking for you, I won't be happy." He walked away from the table and out of sight.

"You're not happy now," she mumbled to herself. She stacked the dishes and carried them into the kitchen. She didn't understand why he was so angry. Just because hethoughtshe was hiding something from him. Never mind the fact that she was, he didn'tknowthat.

Alexis slowly made her way up the stairs. She wasn't scared, per se, just a bit apprehensive. Jack could be a bit intimidating and while he rarely showed her that side of him, she knew what he was capable of, especially if he didn't get his way. Jack liked to get his way, usually demanded it. He liked to be in control of all things.

But he had to understand, some things wereoutof his control. This stalker was out of his control. This stalker wasincontrol unless she could somehow turn the tables on her stalker. And that's what she hoped to achieve with The Plan. Jack didn't fit into the plan. Jack was a shoot first ask questions later type of guy. The plan needed finesse. The plan needed to be subtle, or else the stalker would see it coming from a mile away.

Alexis huffed out one last sigh as she topped the stairs. She inched her way to the bedroom. Jack was in bed, the sheet pulled to his waist. His chest was bare. His arms stacked behind his head, resting against his pillow. His muscles were at attention, in this position. His biceps bulged. His pecks strained. His abs rippled. God, he was a beautiful sight. A sight she would never grow tired of.

Her eyes devoured him, as if he were a feast, and she hadn't eaten in days. Her eyes roamed his length, and as she watched, the sheet slowly tented. Her eyes flew to his face.

"That's what your stare does to me. I see the longing in your eyes, and knowing that look is all for me, makes me want to do all kinds of filthy things to you." He kicked the sheet down, exposing himself. "Do you want that, sweetheart? Me, doing indecent things to your body."

God that mouth of his. Was that going to be her punishment? His dirty mouth, doing dirty things to her body? She could live with that.

* * * * *

He sat up in the bed, leaning back against the headboard, ankles crossed, arms crossed over his chest. "Stay by the door. Take your clothes off. Slowly. I'm in the mood to fulfill one of my fantasies."

"Just one?" she purred, slowly pulling her tank top up and over her head. She held her arm out to her side and let the garment fall to the floor.

"Sweetheart, I have so many fantasies about you, it would take til we're a hundred to reenact them all."

She shimmied out of her shorts, kicking them over by her top. "Then I guess we'd better get started." She reached behind to unfasten her bra.

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