Heir of Deception | (for mature audience)

*Chapter 44: Christian

Christian

---

I left work a little earlier to prepare for my dinner with Alexandria. She had confirmed she would come—just for one dinner. To me, that meant something significant. As I waited for her, my mind spiraled through endless scenarios of what could go wrong.

What if she only agreed to come so she could finally call it off? People only deliver bad news in person, right?

Or worse, what if she showed up to tell me she was moving across the ocean to escape my relentless apology letters?

Fuck.

I glanced at my watch and realized I was already five minutes past our meeting time. She wouldn’t just bail on me without an explanation. If she was late, there had to be a good reason. Besides, traffic in New York was a notorious bitch.

Another five minutes crawled by, and still no text. I signaled the waiter for another glass of scotch, downing it like water. I had asked Matthew to close the restaurant for yet another night, and here I was—alone and drowning in my own anxiety.

My thoughts were abruptly cut off when I spotted a tall, stunning figure strutting through the entrance of the restaurant. It was Alexandria. A smile instantly formed on my face as she approached, her presence lighting up the dimly lit room.

“Thanks for coming,” I said as she sat down across from me. “Would you like something to drink?”

I was nervous—a rare feeling for me—but she always had that effect on me.

“Christian, I had a long day, so please just say what you want,” she said, her tone direct, slicing through the tension in the air.

“I want you, Alexandria,” I confessed, the words tumbling out before I could think. “You’re the only thing I want. The last two months have been hell without you, princess.”

“Christian, you really hurt me,” she replied, her eyes searching mine for sincerity, for any hint that I wasn’t just a man spouting empty promises.

“Baby, I know, and I want to make it up to you,” I said, desperation creeping into my voice. “I fucked up massively, and nothing I do can truly make up for it.”

She looked at me, silent and unreadable. The absence of emotion on her face scared me more than I cared to admit.

“Here.” I handed her the brown envelope, my heart pounding. “I bought the land back from the company, and I wanted you to have it.”

“I don’t want this, Christian. I want nothing to do with a piece of stupid dirt that cost me our relationship.” Her frustration laced her voice. “Why do you think this would be a good gift?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling the weight of my foolishness crush me. “I just—Fuck, I don’t even know why I thought this would work.”

“Is this all?” she asked, her expression hardening, the ice in her gaze sending chills through me.

“No,” I replied, my voice thick with emotion. “I wanted to see you again. I miss you so damn much, princess. I’ve been in hell without you.”

“Living without you wasn’t easy either,” she murmured, her gaze softening just a touch, and I felt a glimmer of hope flicker to life.

I smiled, desperation and hope colliding in my chest. “I love you so much, Alexandria. I’m so, so terribly sorry for the pain I caused you, especially knowing everything you’ve been through in your past.”

Just then, the waiter arrived, interrupting us as he set our food on the table, the clatter cutting through the tension. I impatiently waited as he opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for each of us.

“Alexandria, please just give me one last chance,” I pleaded, my voice a mix of desperation and fervor.

“As much as I want to, I don’t think I can trust you anymore, Christian,” she said, her words landing like a punch to my gut.

Fuck.

The glimmer of hope I had a few minutes ago extinguished, leaving me in the dark. I knew it would be hard to win her back, but now I was beginning to think there was absolutely no chance.

“I understand,” I said, my heart sinking. “I won’t bother you any further after tonight.”

“That’s not what I want, Christian.” She reached over, resting her perfectly manicured hand on mine, grounding me. “We can work on it, slowly.”

“I promise I’ll do anything to win you back, even if it means I have to stay in this fucking place for another two years,” I said, squeezing her hand, feeling the warmth of her touch seep into my bones.

We finished dinner and left the restaurant, the world outside a blur as we made our way to my suite before I drove her home to the penthouse. The ride was intoxicating, not just from the wine but from the floral scent of her perfume that filled the car, wrapping around me like a drug.

Every subtle movement she made sent sparks of desire through me—the way her lips curled into a playful smile, how her hair fell softly over her shoulders, making it impossible to focus on anything but her. I could feel the heat radiating off her skin, and the anticipation hung between us, thick and electric.

When we stepped into the elevator, the space felt charged, the air thick with unspoken words. I leaned closer, unable to resist the pull any longer.

“Come here, princess.” I cupped her face, my thumb brushing against her cheek as I pressed my lips against hers.

As our lips met, the world outside faded away, leaving only the intoxicating sensation of her body pressed against mine. Her hands tangled in my hair, pulling me deeper into the kiss, igniting a fire that consumed me. I could taste the sweetness of her lips, awakening a primal hunger that had been dormant for far too long.

But it was the way her hands began to roam over my body, exploring my chest and shoulders, that made it clear she wanted more. She pressed herself against me, her hips grinding subtly, an invitation that sent shockwaves of need coursing through me.

“Christian,” she moaned into my mouth, her breath hot against my skin as she pulled me closer, pressing my hard erection, confined behind layers of clothes, against her stomach. “We…” A loud moan escaped her lips as my fingers quickly unbuttoned her pants.

I pushed my fingers into her pants, feeling her warm arousal on my fingertips. With ease, I slipped my fingers inside her, stroking slowly. She gasped against my mouth, the sound igniting a primal desire within me. The tension that had been simmering between us erupted, and I could feel the heat radiating off her body, mixing with my own urgency.

“Christian,” she breathed, her voice a sultry whisper that sent shivers down my spine. “I need you.”

“Tell me what you want, princess,” I murmured, my lips brushing against her ear as I continued to tease her, my fingers finding the rhythm that drove her wild.

“I want you… now,” she gasped, her breath hitching as I pressed harder against her. The urgency in her voice made my heart race, and I knew we were teetering on the edge of something dangerously beautiful.