She started to push him away, but the moment her hands landed on his chest, Nathan chose the same moment to deepen the kiss, the movements of his tongue becoming bolder and more thorough.
Her blood
He never did do anything she expected, and her hands clenched as Alyx found herself clutching his shirt instead.
When Nathan lifted his head, he was quietly satisfied at the way Alyx was staring at him. He didn’t hesitate to take advantage of it either, curling an arm around her waist to pull her closer to him.
As he turned both of them to face Fredericka, Alyx’s cousin grinned at him. “How impressive.” Both of them knew it took a very special – and skilled – man to render Alyx dazed and speechless, and they were just as certain Alyx would kill herself if she knew how she looked right now.
“She’s always found me irresistible,” Nathan deadpanned.
It took more than a moment for Nathan’s words to register, but when it did, Alyx jerked, the ex-model’s too-confident claim shoving her back to the shameful reality of her body’s reaction to his kiss.
Dammit!
She furiously shrugged Nathan’s hold off her, demanding under her breath, “What are you doing here?”
“Am I not allowed to miss my girlfriend?” Nathan countered charmingly.
“Aww.” Freddie was openly enjoying herself. “How sweet.”
“It’s not sweet,” Alyx growled just before turning back to Nathan, hissing, “Will you stop saying I’m your girlfriend?”
“But you are,” Nathan said easily. “After all, if you weren’t my girlfriend, then how is it on our first date---”
Aaaaargh! Her hand quickly slapped over his mouth, and she gritted out, “You’re right. I’m your girlfriend. How could I have possibly forgotten?” Taking her hand off his mouth, she said under her breath, “Satisfied?”
Not even close, sweetheart, Nathan thought, his amusement only deepening at the furious look that Alyx threw at him. Ah, he could practically see the headlines now. The press would have another field day, being able to take another smiling photo of him. Such pictures used to be as rare as winning the lottery, but ever since Alyx entered his life---
It was exactly as Fawn, his friend’s fiancée, had blurted out to him earlier. The three of them – Fawn, his friend Reid Chalkias, and Nathan – had been at the waiting room of a renowned surgeon when Fawn had shown him a Facebook video that was fast becoming viral, collecting thousands of likes by the minute. At first, Nathan had been unconcerned, thinking it was a typical fanboy video. But then he saw the teenager getting a little too close for comfort to Alyx, and he had found himself raising a brow.
Beside him, he saw Fawn whisper something to her fiancé, and afterwards the man that the world knew as the Prince of Darkness turned to Nathan, drawling, “She says it’s the first time she’s seen you so human.”
“Prince!” Fawn had looked properly aghast.
In the video, Alyx’s face popped out once more, and this time she was saying rather darkly, “He’s not all that. In fact, any other guy would be better than Nathan Callis---”
The video ended, and silence fell.
Finally, Fawn stammered, “I only meant, it’s rare to see you come to life outside your friends’ company or where other people are concerned. Most of the time, you’re like a mannequin, or like you need to keep your guard up like you think you’re even more important than the POTUS---”
She paused.
Then---
In a very small voice, Fawn had said, “I babbled again, didn’t I?”
She had, but she had also been right.
In front of him, Alyx’s lovely face was a picture of smiling determination. “Anyway…” Her voice was even more determined, and he was tempted to laugh out loud. No doubt she had another wonderfully silly idea up her sleeve. And he was certain it would be silly, since all her ideas were anchored in the crazy notion that she could ever get the better of him.
“Thank you for dropping by.” She looked like she was about to choke on her words, and his lips twitched.
“I am so touched that you missed me.”
Ah, it was even worse now. She looked like she was being forced to say the words at gunpoint.
“But…” The look of disappointment on her face was so badly done, a three-year-old could have probably been more convincing at it.
“Freddie and I still have loads to do, so…” Alyx cleared her throat meaningfully, hoping the ex-model would take the hint and leave.
He didn’t.
“You don’t need to worry about me interrupting your work, sweetheart. I’ll be more than happy to wait.” And be entertained while I’m at it, Nathan added silently. While most women tripped over their feet to throw themselves at him, here was Alyx Marshall, doing her best to get rid of him.
At least she was trying to be polite about it, Nathan mused. He should take that as a compliment, he supposed, considering how bitchy she could be if she was in a mind to.