Chapter 4 A Night Like Forever

Alexander spotted Reagan near the champagne fountain, talking loudly to his friends like he owned the place. The sight of him made Alexander's blood boil.

"Well, well, well," Alexander said, walking up behind Reagan. "Look what the cat dragged in."

Reagan turned around, his fake smile faltering when he saw who it was. "Alexander. What a... surprise."

"I was invited," Alexander said coldly. "And you? Still hunting for your next wealthy victim?"

Reagan's smile returned, but it was sharp and mean. "No need for that anymore. My divorce settlement from your dear cousin was more than enough to set me up for life." He paused, enjoying the way Alexander's jaw tightened. "I really must thank you again for introducing us. You made it all possible."

Alexander's hands clenched into fists. His cousin Sophie had been like a little sister to him ever since their parents died when she was just a baby. She had lived with his family, and he had watched her grow up sweet and trusting. Too trusting.

And this snake had destroyed her.

"Now, if you don't mind," Reagan said with that smug smile, "I'm going to find my date. She's probably wondering where I am."

That was the last straw.

"You mean Emma?" Alexander asked casually.

Reagan stopped walking. His back went straight as he slowly turned around. "How do you know her name?"

"Oh, we've just met," Alexander said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "But I plan to know her much better. Very soon."

"You can't be serious." Reagan's face was turning red with anger. "She's my date. You can't just...."

His phone buzzed. Reagan pulled it out of his pocket, and Alexander watched his face change as he read the message. Emma's goodbye text.

Alexander's smile grew wider. "Having trouble with your date?"

"This is impossible," Reagan muttered, staring at his phone. "She was fine an hour ago."

"Was she?" Alexander stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Because from where I was standing, she looked pretty miserable. Being treated like a servant doesn't suit a woman like Emma."

Reagan's eyes flashed with understanding. "You. You did this somehow."

"I didn't do anything," Alexander said innocently. "I just offered her what you clearly couldn't."

"And what's that?"

"Respect. Attention. A man who knows how to treat a lady properly." Alexander's voice turned dangerous. "So while you're standing here alone tonight, you can think about Emma and me together. And believe me, Reagan, she won't be missing you at all. I'll make sure of that."

Before Reagan could respond, Alexander turned and walked away, leaving him standing there with his mouth open like a fish.

---

Emma bit her lip nervously as she waited outside the building. The cool night air made her shiver, or maybe it was what she was about to do. Either way, it was too late to change her mind now. And honestly? She didn't want to.

Her phone beeped. A message from Reagan: "I hope you feel better tomorrow, Emma. Sleep tight."

Emma winced. She hated lying, but what else could she do? Tell him she was running off with a mysterious prince she'd just met? That would go over well.

Before she could put her phone away, it beeped again. This time it was from her brother Jake: "Hope you're having a great birthday. Wish I could have been there."

Emma's heart did a little flip. She was having a great birthday. And for the first time, she was glad Jake hadn't come home to New York. If he had, she never would have taken this job tonight. She never would have met Alexander.

She typed back quickly: "Having a wonderful time. Miss you too. Thanks for remembering."

A sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The back door opened, and Alexander stepped out. Even in the dim streetlight, he looked like something from a dream.

"Hi," Emma said shyly.

Something was different about his face. His cheeks were flushed, his jaw tight like he was angry about something. But when he looked at her, his expression softened into a smile that made her stomach flutter with butterflies.

"Ready?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Emma took it and let him help her into the car. The interior was all soft leather and quiet luxury. As soon as Alexander settled beside her, the engine purred to life, and a dark screen slid up between them and the driver.

They were completely alone.

Alexander turned to face her, and Emma saw something in his eyes that made her breath catch. Despite her lack of experience with men, she could tell he was as surprised by the strength of what was happening between them as she was.

When he kissed her, it was slow and careful at first, like he was afraid she might break. But that wasn't what Emma wanted. Not tonight.

This time, she was the one who deepened the kiss, pressing closer to him as the car moved through the glittering streets of Manhattan. She felt wild and free and completely unlike herself.

She groaned against his lips, wanting more, needing more. Her hands moved to his chest, feeling his heart racing beneath her palms.

"Emma," Alexander breathed against her neck, his voice rough with desire.

"I want you," she whispered, surprised by her own boldness.

Alexander pulled back to look at her, his dark eyes searching her face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Emma said without hesitation. "I've never been more sure of anything."

The car began to slow, and Emma looked out the window to see they were pulling up to the most elegant hotel she had ever seen. The doorman rushed to open their door.

"The penthouse suite," Alexander told her as they walked through the marble lobby. "Just like I promised."

The elevator ride to the top floor felt like it took forever, the tension between them crackling like electricity. When the doors finally opened, Emma gasped.

The suite was breathtaking. Floor-to-ceiling windows showed the entire city spread out below them like a blanket of stars. Soft lighting cast everything in a golden glow.

"It's beautiful," Emma whispered.

"Not as beautiful as you," Alexander said, moving closer to her.

When he kissed her this time, there was no holding back. Emma melted into his arms, letting herself get lost in the feeling of being wanted so completely. For once in her life, she wasn't thinking about her responsibilities or her fears about the future.

She was just Emma, and she was exactly where she wanted to be.

Later, as they held each other in the huge bed, the city lights twinkling beyond the windows, Emma felt something she'd never experienced before. Complete contentment.

"That was..." she started to say.

"Just the beginning," Alexander finished quietly.

Emma's eyes flew open, and she looked up at him. The way he said it, so serious and certain, made her heart race all over again.

But even as pleasure spread through her like warm honey, a tiny voice in the back of her mind whispered a warning. Alexander had told her from the start that this would only be one night.

She pushed the thought away. Right now, in his arms, one night felt like forever.

And forever was enough.