Chapter 102

[Third-Person’s POV]

Alexander ever-so-carefully lifted Evelyn off the ground, holding her close to his chest. He really wished she hadn’t passed out. It was, undoubtedly from the shock of seeing him without the wheelchair, he knew that much.

He had reached the point where he couldn’t bear the thought of hiding from her anymore. But Alexander could easily tell that there was something terribly wrong with his Luna. Evelyn had a thin sheen of sweat covering her skin. Her breathing was labored just as it had been when she had been poisoned by the Belladonna.

Evelyn was slowly coming in and out of consciousness. Her body was still shaking as her limbs were straining against him.

“It’s alright,” he said soothingly to her. “I have you.”

Alexander needed to know what was going on with her. Has she been poisoned? Drugged? Had she accidentally ingested something herself? Or, had someone slipped her something?

“Evelyn, can you hear me?” She let out a low hum in acknowledgment. “Can you tell me what’s happened? Did someone give you something?”

When she opened her eyes, Alexander’s stomach lurched from seeing how unnaturally dilated her pupils were. Her body was buzzing and the heat that rolled off her was starting to seep through his own shirt. A strange, faintly familiar scent hit his nose.

Sweet and luscious.

The only other times he picked up on that same smell was when Evelyn would be aroused...

His eyes widened. “Oh my God,” he cursed under his breath. “Someone gave you an aphrodisiac.”

A lot of things were beginning to make sense. Part of him was glad that this wasn’t another poisoning; however, it opened up a whole new array of struggles for the two of them.

He dared to turn his head toward Michael who looked seconds away from collapsing. The guy shook his head and spat out a mouthful of blood.

“I didn’t drug her, asshole,” he bit out.

“No, you were just more than happy to extend a ‘helping hand’, right?” Alexander growled in disdain. “Doesn’t matter anyway. You never get the chance to ever get near her again.”

He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of Evelyn’s head. She grabbed at the material of Alexander’s shirt, trying to get his attention. Both her cheeks were deeply flushed. Her full lips were parted, revealing her small pink tongue.

“Come on, I’m gonna get you out of here,” he said.

Evelyn looked like she was having the hardest time finding the ability to speak coherently.

“C-Can’t leave m-my br-brother,” she said breathlessly.

Oliver spoke out. “I’ll stay behind until we can get someone else out here to properly guard the room.”

Alexander nodded his head in thanks. “Oliver, while you’re at it, call another pair of soldiers to come here. I want Michael detained.”

He heard his Stepbrother mutter something rude under his breath but he was too focussed on the woman in his arms. Still holding her firmly against his chest, he headed out toward the car and instructed the driver to take them back to the manor.

Alexander tried to get Evelyn into her own seat but she wasn’t having it. It was as if she refused to be parted from him. Most aphrodisiacs were fast-acting and time-sensitive. If she couldn’t go without some sort of physical contact for too long.

With that in mind, he placed her back on his lap and curled his arms around her. Evelyn tucked her head into the crook of his neck.

“Alexander...It’s so warm,” she breathed. “I can’t...I can’t take it.”

Through wide eyes, he watches Evelyn try and tear away at her own clothes. He reached out to stop her hands from going any further. He told the driver to step on it.

“It’s going to be alright—”

“Will you touch me?” she asked with a hint of desperation in her voice.

A warm, possessive feeling simmered beneath his own skin. Oh God, yes. He wanted to touch her. He’d been wanting to feel the silken softness of her skin since the first time he saw her gorgeous body bare.

He mindlessly let his hands roam down her leg toward the hem of her long skirt.

Wait. Goddamnit. This isn’t right.

How could he touch her when she wasn’t even fully coherent? It didn’t feel right. Alexander was worried that he would ultimately be taking advantage of her in such a state.

With all the willpower he could muster, he slowly shook his head. “Evelyn, I can’t.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “Why? Why can’t you?” He hated how she sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

“Because you’re under the influence of a drug,” he explained. “For all I know, you don’t actually want this. I won’t be able to live with myself if, come tomorrow, you end up regretting everything.”

Evelyn reached out to take his face in her hands.

“You listen to me,” she said. “I may be feeling the effects of the drug but I know exactly who you are. You are Alexander. You are my husband. You are the only man that I ever want touching me.”

Everything she was saying felt like a deep stroke to his ego. “Only me?”

She boldly pressed her pelvis into his lower abdomen. “Only you,” she purred. “Michael tried to touch me and it was repulsive.”

Alexander curled a hand through her hair and tugged her closer. He bared his teeth in a contemptuous smile.

“Do not mention that vile little bastard if you know what’s good for you,” he husked.

His eyes dropped to her full lips and captured her mouth in a needy kiss. He swallowed each and every moan that slipped from her throat. Evelyn tasted of herbal tea and her own natural sweetness.

They broke apart to catch their own breath, leaving the two of them dazed.

“How do you know what’s good for me?” she asked, teasingly.

The corner of his mouth curled into a knowing smirk as his hand slipped beneath the hem of her skirt. His fingers played at the inner side of her thigh and eased up toward the lacey material of her panties. Evelyn’s mouth fell open; her eyes fluttered closed. Alexander hummed in gracious approval having found her soaked with arousal.

“Oh, baby. You’re so wet,” he groaned.

“Please,” she gasped.

As soon as the car pulled up to the manor, Alexander stormed through the main doors with Evelyn hauled up in his arms. Neither one of them cared about any of the bewildered glances they got from the staff as they headed straight for the bedroom.

He wasted no time placing her down in the center of the mattress. She was utterly stunning. Flushed, needy, and eagerly waiting for him to continue what he started back in the car.

He could see that the effects of the drug were taking a deeper hold on her. “Alexander,” she panted. “Would you just fuck me already?”

Holy shit.

Hearing her speak like that made his cock swell in his pants. He certainly didn’t need to be told twice. Alexander returned his hand back to its winding trail up her leg.

A tantalizing smile splayed across his face and tsked. “No, sweetheart. I’m not going to fuck you. Not yet. You seem to forget that I know you’re still a virgin. I will not take you under such circumstances where I know you are not your normal self.”

Evelyn whined in displeasure at his declaration but was swiftly sated when she felt the palm of his hand press against her clit.

“But I will be more than happy to take the edge off until then.”