Page 41 of His Stolen Queen
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me in an accusatory way, unsure how to react.
Our trance was broken when her phone beeped. Relief flooded her features, even though I felt her reluctance to leave.
"Excuse me. I need to take this." Without another word, she turned and hurried away.
I reached into my pocket and took out a plastic ziplock bag. I placed the small strands of hair I collected inside before sealing it closed.
Chapter 15
Alice
Ijerked awake, my heart beating that familiar rhythm. The last remnants of my dream faded like water between fingers. My mind fought against the loss, desperately attempting to grasp onto the lingering pictures.
As always, I couldn't remember my dream. But I knew it had been intense. My panties were wet, and the warm hand of arousal still had its grasp on me. I buried my face in my hands, noting how they shook. I couldn’t do this anymore. It wasn't a coincidence that my dreams were becoming more frequent and explicit the more time I spent in Acheron Angelou's presence. I couldn't deny the effect he had on me.
The project was wrapping up this week, but I just couldn’t be near him anymore. It was bad enough that he was invading my waking thoughts, but now, I surely had him encroaching on my sleeping ones.
David was also rapidly losing patience with me.
"You need to see someone," he'd told me, his jaw clenched. He could barely look me in the eye.
"Your nightmares are becoming more frequent. Are you sure you're taking your medication?"
I couldn't keep lying to him.
So, in a fit of desperation, I sent an urgent message to Acheron to meet me at his penthouse.
"I need to pass this project onto another member of my team," I told him. I was proud of how steady I kept my voice, even though my heart was beating wildly and my palms were sweaty with nerves.
"No." His gaze glittered in anger as he stared me down.
A throaty growl rose from me, and I almost stamped my foot in frustration. "That's not a suggestion. This is me telling you that—"
"I will allow you to quit if you can admit that you want me."
The rebuttal died on my lips. I stared at him, slack-jawed. "Wha-what?"
"Admit that you want me, and I will allow you to resign your services."
"You-you’re being ridiculous."
"That is not an answer."
I snorted in disbelief, the pulse at my neck beating oddly. I brushed my fingers against the tingle, and his eyes followed the movement, flaring in interest.
My hand dropped, and I lifted my chin in one last defiance. "I don't need to justify my reasons to you."
"Actually, you do. Need I remind you that you will be in breach of contract? My terms stipulate that I will only work with you."
I met his words with seething silence because he was right. His contractdidstipulate that he would only work with me, unless there were good reasons not to. I should have prepared in advance, but desperation had me acting out of character.
"Give me one valid reason why you wish to quit, and I shall release you from your contract."
"B-because I have other projects that—"
"Try again."
He moved closer.
