Page 21 of Checkmate
“I’ve invited Josh and Liv for drinks this evening,” Alex said, fastening the button on his sleeve. She resisted the urge to pout, hiding her face behind her hair as she smoothed down the front of her skirt. Alex always said he could read her like a book, and sure enough, he was there in front of her within seconds, tilting her chin towards him.
“What’s that?” He asked, amusement flickering in his eyes. “What’s that irritation?”
“Not irritated, darling,” she insisted. “It just means longer before we can be intimate again.” Alex chuckled, the sound rich and warm.
“I don’t know about that. We managed alright last time, didn’t we?”
Erica flushed at the memory of Alex pinning her to the kitchen counter, hand covering her mouth as he fucked her with his fingers, their guests drinking mere meters away.
“You’re right,” she said, moving her hands over his chest. “We do alright.”
His head swooped, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. Her heart leapt at the passion of his lips and the strength of his hands as he grabbed her behind.
Eight years of marriage and their passion for one another had never waned. Alex only had to look at her a certain way to get her excited, and she knew beyond a doubt it wasn’t just her who would wait anxiously for their guests to leave tonight.
“Mr Carr, I—” Erica pulled away from the kiss, looking over Alex’s shoulder where Sophie stood lingering awkwardly by the door. “My apologies, I didn’t realise you had company.”
“No apologies needed, Sophie,” Alex said, turning to face her. He slipped an arm around Erica’s back, his hand patting her butt.
“Your 9 o’clock arrived early, sir. And they seem pretty impatient.”
“I have a meeting?” He asked with a frown. Erica glanced up at him, arching a brow. It wasn’t like him to forget something so important.”
“It’s the London group,” Sophie said with a shrug, her eyes glued to Alex. She was probably imagining it, but Erica was sure she was being deliberately vague to keep her out of the loop. “They called an urgent meeting first thing this—”
“Right. Right, yes. Of course.” Alex cleared his throat and squeezed Erica’s side. “I remember now. Give us a minute please, Soph.”
“Of course, Sir.” With a stilted smile, she looked between them before leaving the room as quickly as she came.
“Does she always call you sir?” Erica asked, running her fingers through her hair to tidy it. “Or is that for my benefit?”
“She’s more formal in front of people, I suppose,” Alex replied, straightening his tie. Already, it was the London group that had his focus.
“What’s got you worried?” She asked, tilting her head. Now she was looking, she could see the telltale signs of stress lingering over him like a dark cloud. “I’ve not seen you this agitated in a while.”
He stared at her without really seeing her, and for one horrible moment, she thought he wasn’t going to say anything.
Sophie would love that.
“It’s the fucking London group,” he said, leaning back against his desk. “Something has got them spooked and they’re suddenly scheduling urgent meetings.”
“And you don’t know why?”
“I have no idea. We’re in the best position we’ve ever been in. But something has rattled them.”
“Can I do anything?” She asked, glancing around the room as though the solution was staring her in the face.
“Not this time, love,” he said with a shrug. “Not when I don’t know what the issue is.”
“Then I suppose that’s my cue to leave,” she said, pulling away from him to gather her bag. “And to think I only came to bring you coffee.”
“What’s a man to do when his wife looks so delicious when bringing him coffee?” He asked, his tone playful, but his expression stony. This was Alex in business mode, the flirtatious man from five minutes ago long gone.
“What time are Josh and Liv arriving?”
“Seven, I believe,” he said absent mindlessly, running his hand through his hair once again. Erica observed him for a moment before taking a step towards him and placing a soothing hand on his chest.
“Hey, you’re gonna smash it,” she said, fixing his tie. “You’ve never lost a client you really wanted, and you won’t be starting today.” She kissed him once. “You’ve got this.”
