Devil's Desire {A BWLM Novella}

4

Chapter 4

Alex: Hey, gorgeous.

Athena:I don't want to see you again. I told you not to contact me.

Alex:Oh! The horror!... but seriously, you left so abruptly the other night, I didn't get a chance to invite you out again.

Athena:You don't take rejection well, do you?

Alex:You have no idea...

Athena:Someone paid off my student loans. Would you happen to know something about that?

Alex:😮 I'm jealous. How could I compete with that?

Athena:🤦🏾‍♀️

Alex:Okay, it was me😁

My hands shook as I stared at those words. I could hardly type my next response. What kind of man just drops forty grand like it's pocket change?

Athena:Why would you do that?

Alex:Because I want you, obviously😒

Athena:So, you're trying to buy me?

Alex: You're cute but it's the twenty-first century. That would be illegal.

Somehow, I got the impression this man didn't exactly care about legality.

Athena:You know what I mean. Stop playing with me.

Alex:You'd like that wouldn't you. Me, playing with you. Just say the word and I'll take you there...

I bit my lip, my mind betraying me as I pictured him undressing me, kissing me, pushing me to my limits and beyond—and that right there was the problem. That's what scared me. He scared me.

Athena:I'm logging off now. Leave me alone.

Alex:I'll see you soon.

Athena:No you won't 'cause I have a gun.

Alex:So do I 😏

I stared at the chat, my mind spinning in circles, repeating those words 'it was me' over and over again. He spent over forty grand like it was nothing. Did men really go to such lengths just to sleep with a woman? Was I supposed to feel obligated now? Should I be nicer? More grateful? No. That would just send the wrong message, and I'd already done enough of that by going on that damn date in the first place.

I never should've gone to that restaurant. My instincts practically screamed at me to turn around, to get out while I still could. But no, I just had to have that free meal. And now? Now I had to figure out how to ride this storm out—or maybe get a restraining order. The idea sounded ridiculous, but then again, was it? He was technically stalking me, wasn't he? I'd told him more than once to leave me alone, and yet, here he was, worming his way deeper into my life.

Okay, fine—I'll admit it. Alex was sexy as hell. The kind of sexy that makes you want to climb him like a tree. I'd never felt that instant, overwhelming pull of attraction before. Sure, I'd had crushes, those innocent little butterflies that flitted in my stomach at the sight of a cute guy. But Alex? Alex was different. He awakened something in me—an ache, a need I didn't know I had. And that scared me even more.

But I wasn't that kind of girl. I didn't chase after lust or fleeting emotions. I wanted something real, something lasting. I dreamed of long walks on the beach, sweet kisses under the sunset, surprise romantic dinners, and roses showing up at my job just because he was thinking of me. I wanted the big white wedding, the tender lovemaking on our wedding night. I wanted a husband.