Page 68 of Stranger to Love

I stood there on the side of the street, the cold night air biting at my exposed chest, watching the rear lights of the expensive car disappear around the corner.

Pack a bag? What the fuck?

My body shivered, this time not from the cold, but from the sudden, sharp anticipation of what that woman had planned for when she picked me up after work the next day. This was not a casual proposition; this was an executive decision from a hot supervillain. She wanted me to stay at hers? I clutched my bag strap tightly, grinning despite myself. Fine. I was ready for the plot twist.

Chapter 16

Alex

I was actually, genuinely fucking nervous.

It had taken a series of incredibly awkward lies to convince my parents that I wouldn't be coming home that night. Now, I was staring like an idiot at my backpack. I had no idea what Dr. Carter wanted me to pack or where we were even going, so I just threw in the bare minimum: a toothbrush, a change of clothes, and some joggers. I didn't even bother with nice underwear. The woman had devoured me in a sports bra the previous day; I doubted she cared about lace, and given how unpredictable she was, she might not even see it anyway.

“I’m pretty sure she’s going to storm down those stairs if you don’t move your arse,” Mia chuckled, throwing her bag over her shoulder.

My nerves were shot. “She just... she makes me fucking nervous.”

Mia’s smirk widened. “That’s a first for you.” She pulled me into a tight, chest-smothering hug. “You want to do this, right?”

“Yeah,” I said instantly, the certainty cutting through the anxiety. “I fucking do.”

“Then get a grip, Lex. Your spark is half the reason that woman wants you in the first place. Sort your shit out.”

Every step toward the exit made my stomach do violent flips. Come on, Alex. Find a backbone. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and pushed the doors open.

My insides twisted hard the second I spotted her. She was in her usual spot, leaning against her car with the cool, calculated posture of a high-end operative on a covert mission. Mia let out a muffled squeak of excitement, nudged my hip with hers, and bolted toward her boyfriend's car.

I forced my legs forward, plastering on a cheeky, confident grin to mask the erratic pounding in my chest.

She raised an eyebrow as I approached, her warm hands reaching out to frame my face. “How was your shift?”

“Not terrible, actually,” I replied.

She nodded, her thumbs grazing softly over my cheeks before her hands slid down to smooth over my arms. “Let’s go, darling.”

As usual, she took her time hanging up her coat in the back of the car. When she slid into the driver’s seat, I completely lost my breath. She looked menacing in the best way possible: high-waisted black trousers and a wine-red silk shirt, her sleeves rolled up to display those toned forearms.

She caught me immediately. “You’re staring.”

“Yeah. I can’t not.”

“I told you before, Alex, it’s rude.”

“So, if I look away for a few seconds but keep looking back, it’s all good?” I teased, looking at the road, counting to three, and snapping my gaze back to her.

She shook her head, a trace of amusement colouring her face. “You like to push too much.”

As the city lights faded, I realised we were definitely not heading to Heeley Street. I shifted in my seat, watching her profile. “Do you not like it when I push you, Dr. Carter?”

She took a deep, steadying breath as we reached a red light. The crimson glow illuminated the sharp, flawless angles of her face. “Not when I’m driving and have to keep pulling over to teach you a lesson. Do you think you can be good for me until we get to my house, darling?”

My throat went dry, my core throbbing instantly. I managed a nod. “Yeah. I can be good for you.”

“Good girl. I know you can.”

The rest of the drive was agonisingly quiet as we left the university district behind, winding back into her familiar, affluent neighbourhood with its high stone walls and mature trees. She pulled through the automatic gates and parked inside the massive garage I’d come to recognise all too well.

Dr. Carter rested her hands on the steering wheel, her dark eyes locking onto mine with a deep, thrilling focus. “You only have your backpack,” she observed.