Chapter 227
Sarah’s POV
He kissed me.
Not out of hesitation, not out of pity—but with a kind of desperate certainty that stole the breath from my lungs.
And in that moment, something became painfully clear to me:
If Alexander really despised me, he wouldn’t have done this.
He had a thousand ways to push me away–but not this. Not a kiss like that.
So why?
“Alexander…” I whispered his name, gathering every ounce of courage I had left. “Do you… have feelings for me?
The question hung in the air between us, making the hospital room feel suddenly too small, too intimate. My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched his face, searching for any crack in that perfect mask of indifference.
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly before he answered, his voice cold and flat. “No p>
Just that. One syllable that shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did.
“Then why did you kiss me just now?” I pressed, refusing to back down despite the sting of rejection. “Why save me from that car p>
Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Don’t read too much into it. I don’t like troublesome women, Sarah. You’re nothing but complications p>
Something in his dismissive tone ignited a spark of defiance in me. If he truly felt nothing, why had his pupils dilated when our lips met? Why had his pulse quickened beneath my fingertips?
Before I could second–guess myself, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, my hands framing his face before he could retreat.
For one breathtaking moment, he went completely still. Then his hands gripped my wrists, pulling them away from his face as he broke the kiss.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he growled, his voice dangerously low.
“Testing a theory,” I whispered, emboldened by the heat I’d glimpsed in his eyes. Without waiting for his response, I slid onto his lap, straddling him in the hospital chair.
“Sarah,” he warned, his hands moving to my hips, though whether to hold me in place or push me away, I couldn’t tell. “Get off. Now p>
“No,” I said simply, my face inches from his. “Not until you tell me the truth p>
His expression darkened. “There’s nothing to tell. This is inappropriate and childish p>
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Chapter 229
+25 BONUS
“Is it?” I challenged, shifting slightly on his lap and feeling his body’s instant response–a response that directly contradicted his words. “Your body seems to disagree, Alpha p>
Alexander’s hands tightened painfully on my hips. “I’m warning you. Get off me before I lose my patience p>
“Or what?” I whispered, my lips hovering near his. “You’ll kiss me again to shut me up p>
His eyes flashed dangerously. “I’ll leave you here. Pack your things and go back to Silver Creek where you belong.
The threat should have scared me, but something in his voice–a slight catch, an underlying tension–told me he didn’t mean it. Not completely.
“You wouldn’t,” I said softly. “Thea needs me p>
“Thea will be fine,” he countered. “She has family who actually care about her well–being, not strangers who endanger her life with their carelessness p>
The barb hit its mark, making me flinch. But I refused to be deterred.
“I made a mistake,” I admitted. “One I’ll never make again. But that doesn’t explain why you’re fighting this so hard, Alexander p>
I leaned closer, my breath mingling with his. “Why are you so afraid of wanting me p>
“Sarah,” he growled, a final warning. “Last chance p>
I should have backed down. The rational part of my brain screamed at me to retreat, to stop pushing this dangerous, powerful man. But some deeper instinct told me we were on the edge of something important— something real.
“No,” I whispered, and brushed my lips against his once more.
This time, he didn’t pull away immediately. For one heart–stopping second, his lips moved against mine, his grip on my hips softening from restraint to something more like possession.
Then, as if catching himself, Alexander stood abruptly, nearly toppling me to the floor. Only his quick reflexes saved me from falling as he set me aside and strode toward the door.
“Alexander, wait!” I called after him, but he was already leaving, his broad shoulders rigid with tension.
I hurried to the doorway, poking my head out into the corridor. “Alexander p>
He turned, his expression thunderous. “Get back in that room and stay there. Must you defy every instruction I give you p>
“Maybe if your instructions made sense, I wouldn’t need to defy them,” I shot back, stepping into the hallway. That’s when I noticed it—the unmistakable bulge straining against his pants. My eyes widened slightly, and before I could stop myself, a knowing smile curved my lips.
“Is that why you’re running away so fast, Alpha? Afraid I might notice how much you don’t want me p>
3/2
Chapter 229
+25 BONUS
Alexander’s face darkened with fury—and something else that made my heart race. In three long strides, he was back in front of me, crowding me against the wall.
“You think this is funny?” he hissed, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “You think it’s appropriate to behave like this in a hospital where my niece is recovering p>
I swallowed hard, my bravado faltering under the intensity of his gaze.
“That’s not what I-
“No,” he cut me off. “You’ve said quite enough p>
Without warning, he grabbed my wrist and began pulling me down the corridor, away from Thea’s room.
“Where are we going?” I asked, half–jogging to keep up with his long strides as we moved through the hospital corridor.
“Somewhere private,” he bit out, not slowing his pace. “Since you seem determined to make a scene.
I barely had time to process his words before we were outside, the cold night air biting at my skin as he led me across the parking lot.
His grip on my wrist was firm but not painful—just unrelenting.
He didn’t speak again as we got into the car. The drive was tense, silent, the kind of silence that hummed with everything unsaid. My heart pounded the entire way.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up in front of a hotel–modern, discreet. He got out first, tossing the keys to the valet without a word, and I followed, nerves tangled in my chest.
The elevator ride was short. Neither of us spoke.
When we reached the room, he swiped the key card and pushed the door open. The suite was dimly lit, sleek and sterile, like it had been prepared for a conversation neither of us wanted to have.
Alexander didn’t wait. He all but shoved me inside, closing the door behind us with a sharp, deliberate click.
“Alexander, I p>
“You wanted my attention,” he interrupted, his voice dangerously quiet as he advanced. “Well, now you have it. Happy p>
I backed away until the backs of my knees hit the edge of the bed, trapping me between the mattress and the heat of his presence.
“This is what happens when you push, Sarah,” he said, stopping mere inches away. “This is what you asked for.
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Chapter 230
Chapter 230